Biography of Emperor Xinde of Kang Shi—Emperor Xinde was a native of Taiyang Zhongfu in the Great Kang Kingdom. His surname was Long, and his given name was Tianyue. His father was Ming Gong, and his mother was Fang Wen. He was eight feet tall, possessed astonishing strength, and had the power to bind tigers and wrestle dragons.
I don't know if my father has that kind of strength, but there is no doubt that he is physically strong. He should be seventy-three years old this year, but he looks like he is in his fifties, and even looks much younger than many of my brothers.
As my father passed by me, I loudly proclaimed, "Your subject Yin Kong wishes Your Majesty boundless happiness and longevity!"
Emperor Xinde stopped in his tracks. If I hadn't shouted my blessings, he wouldn't have noticed me kneeling in the snow.
"You are..." He couldn't remember which of my sons I was for a moment.
The chief eunuch, Duolong, whispered, "Your Majesty, he is your thirty-first prince, Yin Kong." He paused for a breath and added, "The son of Consort Ping..."
My father gave a soft "oh" and took a few steps toward me: "Yinkong, raise your head!"
I obeyed and raised my head, my clear eyes looking at my father with respect. Although this was just my disguise, my arrogant father would never see through it.
Emperor Xinde nodded and exclaimed, "You've grown so much, I almost didn't recognize you!"
A strange sadness welled up inside me. To live in the same imperial city as my father every day, yet not recognize him even though we are face to face, is the most tragic thing in the world.
He reached out and pulled me up from the snow. He looked me over for a long time before saying, "You are more like your mother after all." His words reminded me that I suddenly realized that there were indeed very few similarities between my father and me.
Emperor Xinde asked, "Why are you back so late?"
"Brother Qinwang is hosting a banquet at his residence and has invited us brothers to get together, so I returned a little late."
Emperor Xinde nodded and turned to Duolong, saying, "In a couple of days, summon all of them to the palace. I've been busy with state affairs all day and haven't seen them for some time."
Duolong readily agreed.
Just as Emperor Xinde was about to leave, Consort Zhen, supported by her maid Yu Suo, stumbled after him, crying out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I really didn't mean to upset you!"
Emperor Xinde's expression suddenly turned cold, and he heavily flicked his sleeve: "Drag her back!" After saying that, he walked forward without looking back.
Consort Zhen was pushed to the ground in the snow by two eunuchs, one of whom grabbed one of her arms and dragged her backward with all his might.
I sighed and said to the two eunuchs, "You two go back first. I will take Consort Zhen back."
After Emperor Xinde left, Consort Zhen and Yu Suo remained weeping in each other's arms on the snow. I gestured for Yi An to lead the carriage back first, and slowly approached Consort Zhen: "Consort Zhen, the snow is heavy and the wind is cold, you should go back to the palace to rest."
Tears streamed down Consort Zhen's beautiful eyes, and she was too weak to stand up from the snow. I took off my cloak and draped it over Consort Zhen's shoulders. I never imagined that in just one night, my cloak would protect two women from the cold.
Yu Suo and I helped Consort Zhen back to Shude Palace. It was much quieter than Qingyue Palace, where I lived. Only Consort Zhen and Yu Suo lived in the huge palace.
It seems that the Emperor is truly angry with Consort Zhen, as he hasn't even arranged for her to be a lowly eunuch.
Yu Suo said timidly, "Your Highness, I'll go prepare some hot water for you!"
Watching Yu Suo's petite figure disappear into the distance, Consort Zhen smiled sadly and said, "Your Highness...hehe...who will still remember me, Your Highness..." Her peerless beauty appeared particularly haggard under the dim lamplight, and her two beautiful eyes rippled with a poignant sadness.
I couldn't bear to watch any longer, so I got up and said goodbye to her.
Consort Zhen said in a trembling voice, "You don't mean to look down on me... and don't even want to say a word to me, do you?"
I laughed and said, "Why do you say that, Consort Zhen? In Yin Kong's heart, Your Highness is no different from his birth mother. How could a son look down on his mother?" Actually, Consort Zhen and I are only three years apart. According to age, I should at most call her "elder sister." However, we are of different generations. Let alone three years, even if we were three hours apart, I would still treat her with respect.
Consort Zhen said leisurely, "If I remember correctly, tonight should be the Lantern Festival. At this time last year, I was enjoying the lanterns with His Majesty at the Wan Hua Tower, but now..."
It was then that I noticed the sandalwood table in the room was laden with wine and dishes, as well as two sets of bowls and chopsticks. It seemed that Consort Zhen was preparing to enjoy the meal with the Emperor.
Consort Zhen rose and said, "Since noon today, I have been preparing His Majesty's dinner in the kitchen. Chief Eunuch Duolong specifically instructed me to prepare the dish 'Farewell My Concubine' for His Majesty..." Her voice began to tremble, "How could I have imagined... that this would be His Majesty's greatest taboo..."
I have now understood the whole story. It turns out that it was the Grand Eunuch Duolong who was behind this. But thinking about it, it's not surprising. Duolong was a trusted confidant who was promoted by Empress Xiaocheng. Empress Xiaocheng has always regarded Consort Zhen as a thorn in her side. For the sake of her mistress, how could he let Consort Zhen seize this opportunity to regain favor?
Seeing Consort Zhen's pitiful appearance, it's no wonder that the ancients said: "Since ancient times, there have been many resentful women in the deep palace. In order to gain the emperor's favor, which one of them is not scheming and plotting? But how many of them are truly favored, and how long can they last after gaining favor?"
Consort Zhen said, "If you don't mind that the food and wine are cold, how about having a couple of drinks with me?"
I nodded. My abstinence from alcohol in front of my brothers was just an act. I have a very high alcohol tolerance, and I have never been drunk since I secretly started drinking at the age of seven.
Consort Zhen and I sat down at the table.
Consort Zhen gently poured me a full glass of wine, and then filled her own cup as well, saying softly, "Enjoy life to the fullest when you are successful, and don't let the golden goblet face the moon empty."
But I was reminded of the saying, "Drowning one's sorrows in wine only makes them worse."
We clinked our glasses and downed our drinks in one gulp.
The pot of fine wine was quickly emptied, and Consort Zhen was already a little tipsy, her emotions having calmed down considerably. When she saw the scroll in my arms, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's painted on it?"
I shook my head. Ever since Cao Rui gave Cai Xue this painting, we haven't had a chance to unfold it, so I don't know what's depicted on it.
"Let me see!" Consort Zhen stretched out her slender, snow-white hand towards me. Naturally, I couldn't refuse, so I handed the ancient painting to her.
Consort Zhen slowly unfolded the painting, and I also went over to look. I saw that the ancient painting actually depicted more than ten pairs of little figures in different poses. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an erotic painting.
Consort Zhen blushed and said softly and coquettishly, "You little brat, Yin Kong, you're so young and you're already reading these things."
I never expected that it would contain such obscene images, and I wonder how Cao Rui could have given the erotic picture to Cai Xue. I immediately thought that Consort Zhen might have thought I had deliberately shown the erotic picture to her.
I hurriedly rolled up the ancient painting, about to apologize.
At this moment, Yu Suo brought hot water to the hall and said, "Your Highness, the hot water is ready."
Consort Zhen nodded: "Suo'er, you should go and rest."
Yu Suo glanced at me, then tactfully walked towards the side hall.
I picked up the ancient painting, bowed to Consort Zhen, and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I truly did not know that such things were depicted in the ancient painting. I will take it and burn it immediately!"
Consort Zhen said softly, "Don't rush to burn it. I saw that the little figure was painted very exquisitely. Perhaps this ancient painting is a treasure..."
My heart skipped a beat, and I happened to meet Consort Zhen's gentle gaze. I hurriedly lowered my head.
Consort Zhen stood up: "I'm going to take a bath..." She suddenly let out a soft cry, and her delicate body went limp as she fell to the ground. I reached out my arms and caught her in time.
Consort Zhen suddenly turned around and hugged me, her supple body nestled tightly in my arms. The ancient painting fell from my hands to the ground, and I mechanically tensed my body.
Consort Zhen's burning lips gently kissed my neck, her soft, fragrant tongue slowly tracing the muscles of my neck.
My blood rushed to my head, and my remaining reason still held on for the last time: "Your Majesty, I..." Before I could finish speaking, Consort Zhen had already guided my hand into her soft and full breasts.
I suddenly pulled Consort Zhen into my arms with all my might, and carried her delicate body towards the bed...
Consort Zhen and I lay nestled together in the hot tub. After the fervor of the moment, I was left with a deep fear. I knew the palace rules very well. If word got out about what Consort Zhen and I had done tonight, we would face far more than just beheading.
Consort Zhen rose from the water like a lotus emerging from the water, her slender legs gracefully stepping out of the pool. Water droplets dripped from her long black hair and fell onto her beautiful, flawless bare back, creating an indescribably beautiful scene.
She reached out and pushed open the wooden lattice window; outside, snow was still falling heavily.
"Be careful not to catch a cold!" I whispered a reminder.
Consort Zhen turned around and smiled sweetly at me: "Yinkong! Will you forget me?"
I shook my head. This was the first time in my life, how could I forget it? But I'd rather forget...
Consort Zhen carefully dried the water off my body with a bath towel, her slender hand gently stroking my strong chest: "You are not as weak as you appear."
I smiled faintly, and with her help, I put on my outer robe. We walked hand in hand into the outer hall.
Consort Zhen bent down and picked up the ancient painting. I said softly, "If you like it, you can keep it."
Consort Zhen slowly shook her head and handed the ancient painting back to me: "For me, preserving memories is more real than anything else."
I stared at her blankly, then suddenly leaned down, cupped her pretty face in my hands, and kissed her lips passionately. Our lips and tongues intertwined tightly, and we seemed to merge into this deep kiss.
After a long while, we finally parted ways. Consort Zhen said softly, "It's late, you should go back and rest!"
I nodded silently, turned and walked towards the door. When I got outside, I looked back and saw Consort Zhen still standing in the snow, dressed in a red palace gown.
As I left Shude Palace, Yi'an suddenly emerged from the darkness, startling me.
"Little master!" Yi An raised an umbrella to shield me from the falling snow.
I grabbed him and hurriedly walked towards Qingyue Palace. Only when we were far away from the courtyard wall of Shude Palace did Yi'an cautiously say to me, "Don't worry, young master, no one else will be passing by tonight!"
I could naturally understand the meaning behind Yi An's words, and I glared at him fiercely, saying, "Say less, and no one will think you're mute!" Yi An hurriedly lowered his head. I wasn't worried about Yi An at all. He and Yan Ping were two trusted confidants left to me by my mother. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to grow up smoothly in this perilous palace.
Although the incident is over, I can't forget it. I spent the next few days in a state of anxiety. Fortunately, Consort Zhen didn't contact me. The palace remained peaceful as ever, and my heart gradually calmed down. Consort Zhen was well-versed in the rules of the palace; she should be better at weighing the pros and cons than I was.
Yanping's visit home was scheduled to end, and she returned to the palace on time. Caixue continued to live in her home. She spoke highly of Caixue, the intelligent girl who had taken on the responsibility of caring for her mother.
On the 21st day of the first month, eight days after I killed King Mu, his body was finally discovered.
"Young master!" Yi'an rushed in from outside the palace in a panic. I was copying Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion at the table when his sudden appearance ruined my work.
Yi'an immediately understood what I was looking at and carefully said, "Young master! King Mu is dead, and his body was found in the well in the King Qin's back garden!"
I feigned surprise and said "Oh," then put down the wolf-hair brush and asked, "Have you found out the cause of his death?"
Yi An said, "We haven't received any specific information yet!"
My heart sank. I had been thinking about Consort Zhen these past few days and had overlooked this matter. Perhaps I was deliberately avoiding it.
A forlorn voice came from outside the door: "His Highness the Thirty-First Prince!"
I frowned, disliking the awkward form of address from the bottom of my heart.
Stepping outside, I saw a dejected man standing timidly in the courtyard. He was arguably the most wretched-looking man in the entire palace, with the face of a born chicken thief.
"Your Highness the Thirty-First Prince, His Majesty summons you to the Guangde Hall for a meeting."
My heart started racing. Guangde Hall was where my father discussed state affairs, and in my memory, he had never let me go there before. Could it be that my killing of King Mu had been exposed? I immediately dismissed the idea. If my killing of King Mu had been exposed, it certainly wouldn't be this little eunuch Luo Mo who came to invite me.
Luo Mo respectfully said, "Thirty-first prince, please come with me immediately."
I nodded, changed my clothes, and followed him toward Guangde Hall.
As I passed by the winding bridge in front of Shude Palace, I happened to see Consort Zhen sitting on the bridge railing, lost in thought, accompanied by Yu Suo. When Yu Suo saw me, she lowered her head and whispered something to Consort Zhen, who then looked up at me.
My heart skipped a beat again. It seemed that Consort Zhen and her maid Yu Suo had reached a point where they could talk about anything. I wondered if Yu Suo would find out about what happened between us that night. An unspeakable regret filled my heart. The price of impulsiveness is often unbearable.
I said to Luo Mo, "Wait a moment, I'll speak with Consort Zhen and then come over." Luo Mo nodded and obediently stood still.
I strolled leisurely toward Consort Zhen. Consort Zhen was also surprised that I would take the initiative to meet her, and a hint of tenderness appeared in her eyes.
"Greetings, Your Highness Consort Zhen!" I greeted her respectfully.
Consort Zhen waved her hand at me: "No need for such formalities. I haven't seen you these days. What have you been doing hiding in Qingyue Palace?" She cleverly used the word "hiding" to indirectly point out that I had been hiding from her all along.
Yu Suo had already tactfully walked towards Luo Mo. This girl was exceptionally clever; she not only knew when to leave, but also knew how to divert other people's attention.
I gave a silent smile and said in a low voice, "Your Highness Consort Zhen is wise. Yin Kong has been suffering from a cold these days and has been bedridden."
Consort Zhen raised her eyebrows slightly: "So... it was I who wronged you?"
"Your Highness Consort Zhen's care for me is deeply appreciated."
Consort Zhen blushed slightly, her beautiful eyes revealing a seductive charm, and she said softly, "If I had a son like you, I would be driven to my death by you sooner or later."
A slight anger and reproach stirred something within me. Remembering my father's summons, I hurriedly took my leave, saying, "Your father has summoned us to the Guangde Hall for a meeting. Your son must take his leave now."
Consort Zhen called me over and said, "Yin Kong, I heard that Prince Mu died in the Qin Prince's Mansion. His Majesty summoned you there probably for this reason."
I nodded.
Consort Zhen said, "You must remember that there is intrigue and backstabbing everywhere in the palace. The more this happens, the better it is for each other to kill each other. No matter what others do, remember to protect yourself. Don't appear too shrewd. The more cowardly you appear in front of others, the more they will lower their guard against you." Her concern for me was evident in her words.
I gladly accept your instruction.
Upon arriving at Guangde Hall, I found that most of my imperial brothers and nephews were already there, gathered in small groups discussing the death of Prince Mu. Apart from Prince An, Yinxiang, who was about my age, the others didn't even notice my presence.
Yinxiang came to my side and said, "Yinkong, you've finally arrived! I was just about to ask you about your eighth brother!"
I put on a heartbroken expression: "My brother was perfectly fine when we went out together that night, how could he suddenly..." My eyes reddened, and I burst into tears.
When Yinxiang saw my appearance, his heart ached and he also shed tears.
Prince Qin then noticed my presence. He frowned and said, "Why are you two crying? Father will be here soon. If he sees you looking so pathetic, he'll be even more upset."
A rough voice said, "What do you mean by that, Fifth Prince? We brothers are all deeply saddened by the death of Eighth Prince. How can you use the word 'coward' to slander his state of mind!" The speaker was the Sixth Prince, Prince Xing, Yin Tao. He and Prince Qin had always been at odds, and having caught Prince Qin in a compromising situation, he was naturally unwilling to let it go easily.
The Prince Qin angrily said, "I am only thinking of my father. I am just as sad as you are about my eighth brother's misfortune. But what is the use of just crying? Only by finding the real culprit as soon as possible can we comfort his soul in heaven."
King Xing snorted coldly: "I don't think all of these brothers are truly grieving!"
The loyalist angrily said, "Sixth brother, what do you mean by that?"
Prince Xing said, "Why did it take so many days to discover that my eighth brother died in the back garden of Prince Qin's residence? If you want to find out the real culprit, Fifth Brother, you should first clarify what's going on in your own residence!"
The loyal prince roared, "How dare you slander my innocence? My eighth brother and I are like brothers, how could I possibly harm him?"
Prince Xing sneered, "What a fine phrase, 'like brothers'! Brothers born of the same father, and this is what you say? My eighth brother and I were born of the same mother. It seems that in Prince Qin's heart, only my eighth brother and I are true brothers!" The situation immediately descended into chaos.
I chuckled inwardly. I never expected that the seemingly dull Prince Xing would be so eloquent, attacking Prince Qin's vitals with every word. His purpose in attacking Prince Qin was obvious: if he eliminated Prince Qin, he would be the obvious choice to become the crown prince.
Thinking of this, I felt relieved. Even if I hadn't killed Zhongfu, no one would have suspected me. Just as Consort Zhen said, everyone would use the death of King Mu as an opportunity to eliminate dissidents. I was not enough for them to take me seriously.
"His Majesty has arrived!" With a long shout from Chief Eunuch Duolong, the chaotic scene immediately quieted down. Prince Qin and Prince Xing glared at each other hatefully before returning to their respective ranks.
Accompanied by several ministers, Emperor Xinde strode towards the dragon throne. He always exuded an indescribable majesty, which made it difficult for us princes and grandsons to utter a word.
I stood at the very end of the princes' ranks, while half of the princes' nephews opposite me had already been granted the title of prince. In their eyes, I, their uncle, was still just a child.
The Emperor sighed deeply: "You all know that Prince Mu, Yinshang, has died young..." He rubbed his hand hard on the armrest of the dragon throne: "I, an old man, have lost my son, and I am filled with sorrow..." But there was not much sadness in his voice. I understood his strength. After all, he was the ruler of a country. As he said, every subject within his territory was his child. If that were really the case, wouldn't he be filled with sorrow every moment?
The Emperor said, "The cause of Prince Mu's death has been investigated, so you don't need to speculate in private." He paused and then said loudly, "Prince Mu fell into a well after drinking and drowned. The steward of the Prince Qin's residence was mistakenly pulled into the water while trying to save him."
While I felt relieved, I was also a little puzzled. I had already stripped the steward of his outer garment and shoes. Did they simply ignore it? Later, I learned that King Mu not only had a fondness for women, but also for male actors. Only a few of his brothers knew about this, and the matter was hastily concluded, probably because they didn't want to spread the family scandal.
Like me, Prince Qin also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Prince Mu died in his residence. Now that the Emperor has made a decision, his suspicions have been completely cleared. There is no longer any need to worry about Prince Xing and his ilk making a big fuss about this matter.
Emperor Xinde said, "The reason I summoned you here today is to discuss an important matter." From his solemn expression, we could already guess that this matter was of utmost importance.
Emperor Xinde said, "Since Emperor Tuo established the dynasty, our Great Kang Kingdom has worked diligently and strived to strengthen itself, transforming a small country with a territory of less than a thousand miles and a population of less than one million into a great nation with a territory of more than five thousand miles and a population of more than thirty million!" We were already used to his opening remarks. Every time Father Emperor began his lectures, he would always recount the achievements of the previous emperors.
The Emperor said, "Unfortunately, in the past three years, natural disasters have been constant. First there was flooding, then plague. The people of our Great Kang Kingdom have suffered unprecedented damage. We are surrounded by seven kingdoms to the east, west, and south, and the barbarian tribes to the north are constantly invading and disturbing our people." He looked at us, as if waiting for us to speak.
The Prince Qin spoke first: "Father, our Great Kang Kingdom has many soldiers and generals, so why would we be afraid of these petty villains? Just give the order, and your sons will lead the troops to personally lead the expedition and crush these tiger-wolf kingdoms."
King Xing said, "My father has already said that the most urgent task for our Great Kang Kingdom is to recuperate and rebuild. Starting a war now will not benefit our country in any way." He was good at understanding his father's thoughts and had already gained the upper hand without even realizing it.
Emperor Xinde nodded appreciatively: "Yintao's words resonate deeply with me!"
The loyalist, his face flushed, retreated.
Emperor Xinde turned to Prince Xing and said, "Yintao, since you have such a statement, you must already have a plan in mind. Why don't you share it with everyone!"
Prince Xing said, "Your subject dares to suggest a method, and I humbly request Your Majesty's guidance."
He strode to the center of the palace and said loudly, "The northern barbarians, though brave, are still barbaric. We can adopt a policy of appeasement and exchange gold, silver and silk for temporary peace with them. The three western states of Yan, Han and Jin are far weaker than ours. They would never dare to launch an attack on our Great Kang. We only need to send envoys to explain the advantages and disadvantages, and the crisis can be easily resolved."
Emperor Xinde nodded repeatedly.
King Xing was overjoyed to see King Qin in his presence. He deliberately took two steps toward King Qin and said, "The Southern Han and Qi kingdoms have long been related to our country by marriage. This matter should be addressed by starting with kinship. We can have the princesses of both countries take the opportunity of visiting their relatives to show goodwill to their rulers. It shouldn't be too difficult to resolve the crisis."
After he finished speaking, he returned to the main point: "Our real enemies are actually the Qin state and Zhongshan in the east. Zhongshan has long been a vassal state of Qin, and everything it does is at Qin's beck and call. As long as we resolve the crisis of the Qin state, we don't need to worry about the Zhongshan state."
Emperor Xinde asked with great interest, "Do you have a good plan to get Great Qin and our country to be on good terms for the time being?"
Prince Xing asked, "Father, have you ever heard of the hostage system in the previous dynasty?"
Emperor Xinde nodded and said, "I have heard of this matter. The party seeking peace sends its own crown prince to the enemy country as a hostage to show its sincerity. There was indeed such a precedent in the previous dynasty."
We all immediately understood Prince Xing's true intentions. Among all the princes, Prince Qin, Yinli, was the most qualified to become the crown prince. If his hostage plan was to succeed, then Prince Qin would be sent to Da Qin as a hostage, and Prince Xing, who remained in the country, would naturally become the best candidate for crown prince. This plan was indeed ruthless and could achieve two goals with one action.
Qin Wang said, "Xing Wang's plan is ingenious, but if any of our brothers are sent to Qin, wouldn't we all surely die if war breaks out between the two countries!"
King Xing said passionately, "As sons, we should prioritize filial piety; as subjects, we should prioritize the nation. In times of crisis, we should relieve our father's worries and help the country overcome difficulties. How can we be concerned with personal gains and losses!"
Qin Wang sneered, "Xing Wang's words have enlightened me. If I am not mistaken, Xing Wang should take the initiative to go to Qin!" He finally seized the opportunity to counterattack and defeated the enemy with a single move at the crucial moment.
King Xing was speechless. He had schemed and plotted to send Qin to the Qin Dynasty, but he never expected that the king would seize the opportunity and turn it against him.
The scene suddenly fell into a stalemate. Emperor Xinde smiled and said, "Actually, before coming here, I had already discussed the decision with my ministers. The reason I didn't bring it up at the beginning was to see what you all thought."
His gaze swept across our faces one by one: "The matter of the barbarians has been decided, Yinxiang!" His gaze finally settled on Prince An.
"Your subject is here!" Yinxiang stepped forward from the crowd, his voice trembling slightly.
"I hereby order you to go to the Hu tribe and marry the Hu princess!" This was like a bolt from the blue for Yinxiang. His face turned deathly pale, and after a long while, he finally said, "Father, you are wise. I have just become engaged to the daughter of the Imperial Censor Liu Dongchen..."
"The affairs of the state must take precedence. I have already cancelled that engagement for you." My father's words extinguished Yinxiang's last glimmer of hope. He returned to my side with great difficulty, murmuring, "I've actually become a prisoner in a foreign land..."
I suddenly remembered the word "prisoner" that Cao Rui had given me on the night of the fifteenth, and my heart trembled. A person becomes a prisoner when they enter a foreign land, but for me, wasn't I also a prisoner within the Great Kang Kingdom? As long as I could walk out of the heavily fortified walls of the Great Kang Kingdom, there might be a sliver of hope for my future.
Emperor Xinde said, "I have already reached an agreement with Great Qin on the matter of the hostage. Which of you is willing to go?"