Spring in the Hall of Paintings

The wedding of the Eighth Prince Yinti and the daughter of the loyal and brave Marquis Tong Rongxuan was a grand and luxurious affair, approved silently by Emperor Kangxi. The streets were flooded with curious onlookers, and their praises filled the air. Yun Wei, sitting in the soft sedan, was adorned with a large red embroidered veil. The large East pearls attached to her crown felt heavy, and she took a deep breath, wondering if the Eighth Prince would like her. Before leaving, Fucha had subtly reminded her, and Yun Wei’s face flushed with embarrassment. While virtue was important for a woman, beauty was even more crucial in winning the prince’s affection. To earn the Eighth Prince’s love, it would have to begin on their wedding night.

Yun Wei thought back to the admiring gazes of the inner palace maids when she had applied her makeup, feeling a bit more confident. Beauty was captivating, and the Eighth Prince might not be someone to act frivolously, but it was clear he appreciated beauty. Fucha had already subtly passed on this message, and Yun Wei knew that her wedding night would be her most beautiful moment, where she could capture his heart.

The sedan, carried by sixteen men, stopped. Yun Wei was helped out by the palace maids, stepping over the fire basin, and then the Eighth Prince held her hand as they knelt to pay their respects to Heaven and Earth. From beneath her red veil, Yun Wei could see Prince Yinti, dressed in his ceremonial robes, kneeling like a soaring dragon. He was the man who would accompany her for life. Yun Wei was helped up and escorted to the bridal chamber.

The Eighth Prince’s residence had recently been renovated, decorated in red for the wedding. Princes, nobles, and heirs arrived to congratulate him on his marriage. They were well-informed about the changes in the Eighth Prince’s choice of bride. Yinti appeared calm, neither overly excited nor disappointed, treating the Fourth Prince Yinzhen, who had married Yun Lan a fortnight ago, with respect. This caused disappointment for those who had expected to see a spectacle.

Yun Lan, the Fourth Prince’s side concubine, had been greatly favored by him in their early days of marriage. Yun Lan seemed to bring good fortune, as just three days after entering the household, the Fourth Prince’s main consort, Nara, was reported to be pregnant. Despite years of marriage with no children, Yinzhen was pleased to hear the news and instructed Nara to take care of herself. As Yinzhen’s most beloved side concubine and Yun Wei’s cousin, Yun Lan attended the wedding to observe.

Yun Lan, who had been watching since her palanquin left the Marquis’ residence, saw Yun Wei being escorted into the bridal chamber. She sat among the other side concubines, drinking the bitter wine from her cup. While a wedding is something every woman hopes for, Yun Lan’s own wedding had been full of excitement but lacked grandeur. Yun Wei’s dowry list, carried by 120 people, stunned most of the guests. It was only then that they realized Yun Wei’s high status in the Tong family. Yun Lan envied Yun Wei’s dowry and the crimson royal wedding robes—things she had never received. Yun Lan knew that even if she got what she wanted in the end, she would always feel regret. Nara, known for being a virtuous and wise consort, would not make things difficult for Yun Lan publicly, but her subtle methods made it hard for Yun Lan to guard against. Fortunately, Yun Lan had heeded the advice of the old lady and kept the palace’s teaching maids by her side. With them managing things from high to low, Yun Lan managed to handle the situation. Pregnant Nara would not allow Yun Lan to be idle. Although Yun Lan was told to serve the Fourth Prince well, in reality, every morning, she had to go to Nara’s bedchamber to pay her respects. While she was not required to assist with Nara’s grooming, the rules of treating her as a concubine still applied. Yun Lan, on her first day, ended up breaking a cup.

Yinzhen’s eyes flashed with a moment of heartache, but he didn’t say anything. Yun Lan remembered the feeling of grievance when she had knelt before Nara to serve tea. Nara seemed to show concern for Yun Lan, repeatedly reminding her of the rules of the Fourth Prince’s residence. Yun Lan’s entire life would be spent wearing clothes close to red, and this was Nara’s kindness.

“Concubine Tong.”

Yun Lan snapped back to reality, rose, and knelt, “Greetings, Ninth Consort.”

“The Eighth Consort’s wedding will surely bring joy to Concubine Tong. The Eighth Consort’s happiness relies on your support.” The Ninth Consort sat, and Yun Lan could only stand to respond. Even though Yinzhen was a prince and Yintang was only a noble son, the hierarchy of the imperial family, with its distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate, was still strictly observed. Yun Lan put aside her envy and smiled lightly, “Ninth Consort, you are mistaken. His Majesty personally arranged the marriage and betrothed Miss Yun Wei to the Eighth Prince.”

Ninth Consort Guo Luoluo stared at Yun Lan and whispered, “All this extravagance, I find it hard to believe you won’t regret it.”

Yun Lan’s gaze shifted to Yinzhen, sitting among the princes. He was so aloof, so out of place. Yun Lan forgot all her grievances and pain. “I have no regrets. Ninth Consort, let me offer you some advice—forget the past and treat the Ninth Brother sincerely. You will live peacefully.”

Yun Lan personally poured wine for the Ninth Consort Guo Luoluo, occasionally feeling Yinzhen’s gaze. She smiled softly. He cared for her, and that was enough. He had his own difficulties, but when he could make decisions, she would live peacefully.

“Fourth Brother, your side concubine Tong Jia is truly beautiful.” The Crown Prince, Yinreng, withdrew his gaze from Yun Lan. “She has such an air about her, not like a side consort. No wonder…”

“Second Brother, drink up.”

Yinzhen toasted the Crown Prince. He wasn’t without pride. Yun Lan’s gentleness and thoughtfulness, how she never made things difficult for him, were the things Yinzhen loved most. Nara, being pregnant, couldn’t have relations with him, but Yinzhen was willing to be with Yun Lan. Even when Wu Gege entered the residence at the same time, Yun Lan used her charm to keep Yinzhen from going to Wu Gege’s chambers for the night. Yinzhen was a man of rules. Nara would never force him to favor any woman, and she knew that Yinzhen hated being controlled by women. Besides keeping an eye on Yun Lan, Nara had no other way to deal with her. In the matter of winning his favor, Yun Lan had already bested Nara. With a few graceful moves, she had defused the traps set by Emperor Kangxi and Nara. The emperor, busy with state affairs, might be angry with Yun Lan, but for the sake of face, he would never interfere in matters of which woman Yinzhen favored. Nara could not make this public, as it would bring shame to her and to the entire Fourth Prince’s residence. If the inner court was in disarray, it would be a disgrace to Nala to let a side consort rise above her.

Fortunately, Nara, knowing that she was pregnant, relaxed her heart. After being advised by her maids, when she gave birth to the Fourth Prince’s legitimate son, Yun Lan, no matter how she struggled, was left with no other choice but to let go of her desire for favor.

“Eighth Brother, later I’ll accompany you to see the Eighth Sister-in-law.”

The Ninth Prince, Yintang, shot a disdainful glance at the Crown Prince. Yinti smiled calmly and said, “No need, Ninth Brother. Your Eighth Sister-in-law is shy.”

“Eighth Brother, you say we couldn’t even enter the bridal chamber?” The curious Tenth Prince asked. He had discussed with Yintang how to stir trouble in Yinti’s bridal chamber. Most of the princes would have already met their new wives before their wedding, but Yinti was an exception—after all, the bride had changed midway. Yun Wei didn’t like going out, and with Yun Lan ahead of her, few noticed her. The princes were all curious about what kind of woman the emperor had arranged for Yinti. Was he too pitied by the arrangement?

Yinzhen quietly looked at Yinti, feeling some guilt but also a hint of pride. His emotions were complicated and hard to read. He raised his cup and said, “Eighth Brother, I drink to you.”

“Thank you, Fourth Brother.”

Yinti and Yinzhen drank to each other without suspicion. They were like good brothers, and there had been no tension between them over the marriage arrangement. This situation, when it reached the ears of Emperor Kangxi, only made it clearer that Yinzhen and Yinti were good sons who would never let a woman come between their brotherly bond.

The Tenth Prince nudged Yintang and quietly asked, “Aren’t we going to cause a ruckus in the bridal chamber?”

“Looking at Eighth Brother, it seems like making a scene in the bridal chamber won’t be easy. Anyway, Father Emperor said that tomorrow, when the Eighth Brother and Eighth Sister-in-law go to the palace to express their thanks, we all have to be there. We’ll see them then.”

“Ninth Brother, aren’t you curious?”

“How could I not be curious?”

Yintang glanced around at the people nearby who were also listening intently. They, too, were curious, so they began discussing ways to sneak a peek at the bride without Yinti noticing. The rule was that a large group could not be punished for something small, so it seemed unlikely that the Eighth Brother would get angry during his wedding, especially with so many people around. They planned to wait in the shadows and, if Eighth Brother appeared pleased, they would rush in. If the bride didn’t meet his expectations, they would know to discreetly leave. Yintang, like them, didn’t want to embarrass the Eighth Brother.

“Do you think the Fourth Brother is out of his mind? Is Tong Jia Yun Lan really that great? Is that why he actively sought to marry her?”

The Tenth Prince scanned Yun Lan from head to toe with a look of disdain. “She’s indeed beautiful, dazzling even, but do we really lack beautiful women? If I were the Eighth Brother, I’d make a big scene.”

“You’re foolish. When it comes to marriage, one should marry someone virtuous. Eighth Sister-in-law’s background is much better than Tong Jia Yun Lan’s. No matter what happened in the past, the Eighth Brother has come out ahead.”

“Bullshit, I just don’t accept it.”

Yintang sighed. “That’s why you’re not the Eighth Brother. Tong Jia Yun Lan should be taught a lesson so she doesn’t think she can manipulate our royal family however she likes.”

The Tenth Prince held back a laugh and whispered, “Ninth Brother, haven’t you had enough fun messing with Fourth Brother when he married Tong Jia? You had her completely subdued; it was her wedding night, and you made her look so ridiculous.”

Yintang casually took a sip of wine and glanced at Yun Lan. “It was just a warning. If I get the chance, I’ll still help Eighth Brother get some relief. The dignity of a prince cannot be offended.”

“Fourth Brother dotes on Tong Jia quite a lot.”

“So what if he does? I don’t believe the Fourth Brother would break the rules for her and create friction between us brothers.”

Yintang gathered a group of younger princes and royal relatives, all skilled in causing trouble, and they started discussing how to disrupt the bridal chamber and teach Yun Lan a lesson to vent their frustrations for Yinti.

As the banquet progressed, Yinti pretended to be drunk and smiled apologetically to the guests, “I will make amends another day.”

The Crown Prince, Yinreng, couldn’t stand seeing Yinti acting all coy after getting what he wanted. Yun Wei was stronger in every way than Yun Lan, and when it came to the dowry, honestly, it shocked all the princes. Just from the dowry, they could tell that the Count’s family was far from poor and that Yun Wei was deeply loved in her family.

The guests, feeling sympathy for Yinti, all spoke in unison, “Congratulations to the Eighth Prince on his wedding. We’ll drink to our heart’s content another time and not delay the Eighth Prince’s wonderful evening.”

Yinti thanked everyone one by one, then gracefully turned to leave. The Ninth Prince encouraged everyone to follow, and even the Crown Prince, Eldest Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince, curious about what Yun Wei looked like, played along with Yintang’s plan. They all snuck behind the mischievous princes to eavesdrop on the bridal chamber. This rare collective action by Emperor Kangxi’s sons was all for the purpose of stirring trouble in Yinti’s bridal chamber, and Emperor Kangxi might not be pleased if he found out.

In the bridal chamber, Yun Wei sat quietly on the bed that had already been arranged. The room was filled with her dowry, and according to Qing Dynasty customs, the groom’s family only needed to paint and prepare the room, while the bride was responsible for the arrangements. Yun Wei felt particularly nervous; her fingers slightly curled as she thought about the upcoming night with Yinti. She couldn’t help but wonder if Yinti would like her or if he was just giving her the status of a legitimate consort. Her mind was full of doubts.

“Your Highness.”

Yun Wei’s fingers quickly slipped into her sleeve, her heartbeat quickening, and her face felt warm. He was here. Would he like her? Yinti’s footsteps grew clearer. Yun Wei remembered the Eighth Prince she had secretly seen, and a mix of joy and uncertainty filled her chest.

“Please, Master, use the auspicious scale to lift the veil. We, the servants, wish for the Eighth Prince and the Eighth Consort to be content and satisfied.”

Yinti also remembered those bright, watery eyes. He took the auspicious scale and gently lifted the veil, wondering what kind of beauty the owner of those eyes would have. The bright red veil floated in the air, and Yun Wei, shy and joyful, slightly lowered her face. Yinti paused for a moment. Even though he didn’t see her full face, he understood right away that he had found something precious—extraordinarily beautiful. Yun Wei’s beauty was indescribable, like a dream or a fantasy. Yinti, treating her as though she were a priceless antique, gently lifted her chin. Around him, the air was filled with gasps. He glanced around, and the attending maids all lowered their heads but couldn’t resist stealing glances at the bride. Their eyes were dazed; this Eighth Consort was even more beautiful than the immortal-like beauties in the paintings.

“Don’t push me, don’t push me.”

Just then, the Tenth Prince was pushed into the room, stumbling as he barely managed to steady himself. He angrily shouted towards the door, “You guys are so heartless, pushing me in here? Ah, is it because…”

“Old Ten,” Yinti sharply interrupted. The Tenth Prince awkwardly turned around and explained, “Eighth Brother won’t blame me, it’s them… it’s them…”

The Tenth Prince’s gaze fixed on Yun Wei’s face. He was so stunned that he couldn’t say a word, just standing there in a daze. Yun Wei had never seen such an amusing prince, and her nervous heart relaxed considerably. She let out a soft laugh, her voice pleasant to hear: “Tenth Prince.”

The Tenth Prince, who had barely managed to stand just moments ago, now plopped down onto the ground like a fool. “So beautiful, so beautiful.”

Yinti stood in front of Yun Wei, his discomfort rising at the fact that Yun Wei’s first call was for the Tenth Prince. He acknowledged his displeasure and quickly pulled the red veil back over Yun Wei’s head to shield her from everyone’s gaze. He then walked directly to the Tenth Prince, grabbed him by the collar, yanked him to his feet, and shoved him toward the door. In a low, stern voice, he said, “Old Ten, this is your Eighth Sister-in-law, my legitimate consort. You must avoid any misunderstandings, do you understand?”

“So beautiful, I don’t understand,” the Tenth Prince innocently replied. Yinti, realizing he couldn’t reason with him, directly tossed him out of the room, personally closing the door behind him. He raised his voice and called out, “Brothers who are concerned about Yinti, please give me some time, and I will return the favor later.”

The princes standing outside heard the displeasure in Yinti’s tone and started to guess whether something had happened with the bride. Seeing the Tenth Prince standing there in a daze only confirmed their suspicions. Yintang slapped the Tenth Prince on the head in frustration.

“Tenth Brother, what does the new sister-in-law look like?”

It took several calls before the Tenth Prince finally came to his senses. Looking around at the curious crowd, he straightened his royal attire, adjusted his crown, and reluctantly glanced back at the brightly lit bridal chamber. With a teasing tone, he said, “You’re curious? Well, I’m not telling you. Serves you right for pushing me in.”

“Old Ten!” Yintang shouted angrily, almost ready to tear into the Tenth Prince. The Tenth Prince, as if savoring the scent, said, “Ninth Brother, you’ll find out tomorrow. All I can say is, the Eighth Brother is very lucky.”