As November arrived, freezing temperatures swept through the Forbidden City, bringing a severe crisis: the Grand Empress Dowager fell ill.
Context: In this era, reaching the age of seventy was a statistical anomaly; the average life expectancy, even for nobles, hovered in the forties. At her advanced age, a minor winter cold was a lethal threat.
Terrified of losing her, Emperor Kangxi and Crown Prince Yinreng visited the Cining Palace constantly. During this crisis, Concubine Daijia took the initiative. She practically moved into the Grand Empress Dowager's bedchamber, meticulously administering medicine and serving her day and night.
Her dedication deeply moved the Grand Empress Dowager and, consequently, earned Emperor Kangxi's profound approval. Following the matriarch's recovery, Kangxi summoned Concubine Daijia to his bedchamber for several consecutive nights, showering her with rewards.
***
At Yuqing Palace, Yinreng listened to this report with a complicated expression.
He looked up at his head maid, Aunt Fang. "You do not need to report the details of my Imperial Father's bedroom habits to me."
"Your Highness," Aunt Fang corrected him firmly, "while you currently have no direct conflict with the harem, every concubine represents a royal prince and a potential faction. I am reporting this so you understand the shifting balance of power."
Yinreng stared at her, confused.
Analysis: Aunt Fang was originally assigned to him from Kangxi's personal tea room. Why was a servant supposedly loyal to Kangxi—an Emperor who desperately wanted his sons to love each other—teaching the Crown Prince how to play ruthless harem politics?
"The Emperor explicitly ordered me to serve you," Fang explained, reading his hesitation. "Therefore, my priority is the Crown Prince's survival. I have an operational suggestion. You should form a political alliance with Concubine Daijia."
"Why?" Yinreng asked, his interest piqued.
"You understand the concept of the 'pillow wind'—the subtle influence a woman wields over a man in private," Fang explained. "The Emperor is a wise ruler, but he is still human. You lack a biological mother in the inner court. You need a trusted voice near his pillow to advocate for you. Concubine Daijia is the perfect candidate."
Context & Logic: Fang laid out the variables. "Her family background is low, and she is estranged from her only powerful relative. Most importantly, her son, the Seventh Prince Yin You, was born with a crippled foot."
By Qing Dynasty law, any prince with a physical deformity was absolutely disqualified from inheriting the throne. Thus, Daijia's son posed zero threat to Yinreng's position.
"Is she truly a safe investment?" Yinreng tested Fang's logic. "She is young. She could easily bear another son who is perfectly healthy."
"I merely present the variables and the risks," Fang bowed. "The final decision is yours."
Yinreng pushed further, testing her true allegiance. "Why do I need a concubine's help at all? Imperial Father loves me, and I have the Grand Empress Dowager to protect me."
Aunt Fang did not argue, nor did she push the issue. "As Your Highness decides," she accepted smoothly.
Internal Monologue: Yinreng processed her reaction. If Kangxi had ordered her to test his political ambition, she would have pushed harder to provoke a response. She wasn't acting on Kangxi's orders. So who was she working for?
Seeing his calculating gaze, Aunt Fang dropped her cover entirely. "Before I managed the Emperor's tea room, I served the Grand Empress Dowager for five years."
Reaction: Absolute shock. She was the Grand Empress Dowager's deep-cover agent!
***
Later that day, Yinreng immediately brought Aunt Fang with him to the Cining Palace to verify her claim.
The Grand Empress Dowager took one look at them and dismissed all other servants from the room. She beckoned Yinreng over, stroking his head affectionately. "Do not blame me for keeping secrets, Baocheng. Her original name is Xueqing, and she is absolutely loyal to you."
"Great-Grandmother," Yinreng asked, his mind racing to connect the dots. "Do you actually like Concubine Daijia?"
"Like or dislike is irrelevant," the old woman stated pragmatically. "I observed her. She is cautious, knows her place, and does not become arrogant when the Emperor favors her. More importantly, she repays her debts. She is a tool."
Realization: Yinreng gasped, the grand strategy clicking into place. "You kept her in the Cining Palace. You gave her face, allowed her to serve you, and pushed her into Imperial Father's bed... all to build a political shield for me?"
The Grand Empress Dowager did not deny it. "I am old, Baocheng. I cannot protect you forever. Your father loves you now, but he has many sons, and he will have more. Your greatest vulnerability is that you have no mother to defend you in the inner court."
Her voice grew heavy with grim realism. "If the day comes when you and your father have a falling out, the entire court will turn on you. You need a voice in the harem to mitigate the damage. You must secure Daijia's loyalty now, before the storm hits."
Yinreng's nose stung. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he hugged the frail old woman tightly. "No! Great-Grandmother will live to be a hundred! You won't leave me!"
"Alright, a hundred years," she coaxed gently, wiping his tears, though they both knew it was a lie.
Once he calmed down, the Grand Empress Dowager shifted to a tone of absolute authority. She had two final strategic warnings for him to memorize.
"First, exactly as Xueqing warned you, Daijia is young. If she gives birth to a healthy brother, her ambitions may change. Never trust her blindly."
"Second, I strongly suspect Concubine Uya (Concubine De) is the hidden strategist secretly guiding Daijia's actions."
Yinreng nodded. He had suspected the exact same thing.
Analysis of a Rival: "Uya climbed from a lowly bondservant to a main palace master under Empress Tongjia's nose," the Grand Empress evaluated coldly. "She is highly intelligent, exceptionally patient, and ruthlessly pragmatic. Because she is smart, she will never openly target you while your position as Crown Prince is secure. She will act perfectly subservient to ensure her sons survive."
Her eyes locked onto Yinreng's. "But the absolute second you expose a fatal weakness, or lose your father's trust, she will strike to tear you down. She will not hesitate."
Yinreng took a deep breath. The matriarch's read on harem psychology was terrifyingly accurate.
Actionable Orders: "You are a growing prince; you cannot spend too much time interacting directly with your father's concubines," the Grand Empress instructed, laying out his operational plan. "Instead, direct your efforts toward her crippled son. Visit the Eastern Palaces frequently. Show genuine care and affection for the Seventh Prince."
Logic: By valuing the child that Daijia knew was useless for the throne, Yinreng would secure the mother's absolute, emotional loyalty without violating palace protocol.
"If you ever need guidance on how to balance utilizing these women while defending against them, ask Xueqing," the Grand Empress finished.
Every word, every meticulously laid trap, and every manipulated concubine was designed solely to ensure Yinreng's survival after she died. Overwhelmed by the brutal pragmatism of her love, Yinreng broke down, weeping uncontrollably into her robes.