The Job of an Imperial Concubine

Feng Qi had only been six years old when he was conferred the position of crown prince. He had two healthy older brothers, yet the one to become the crown prince was him.

He had often heard other people say that his imperial father favored his consort-mother greatly, that his imperial father attached much importance to him. But he never took those words to heart. The only thing Feng Qi remembered was what his consort-mother had told him when he became the crown prince.

She had said, “You are now the crown prince, but do not forget that you are a son.”

His youthful self thought that she was telling him to be filial. However, later on, he understood that she was reminding him how to be a good crown prince.

His consort-mother had never forbidden him from doing anything. Rather, she asked Feng Qi what he wanted to do. His childhood had not been as full of pressure as others imagined; on the contrary, it had been full of joy.

His imperial father had once said that Feng Qi possessed something he never did. Feng Qi still did not understand what that meant. His imperial father’s words had always been somewhat profound. But he treated Feng Qi very well.

In the year that the empress dowager passed away, Feng Qi was only seven years old. The empress dowager had treated his consort-mother neutrally, but had treated him well. On the day she was buried, he discovered that sorrow painted his imperial father’s face, one that he could not understand. Afterward, when he asked his consort-mother, she replied that she also did not understand.

In the year that his consort-mother fell gravely ill, Feng Qi understood for the first time what it was to feel sad. He heard the palace servants say that without her, his imperial father would treat him coldly. That without her, the other imperial concubines would definitely frame him and harm him. In reality, he wasn’t afraid of such things. This was because his consort-mother had once said the following: When truly capable people faced a predicament, what they should be doing was how to handle the matter, not worry about how others would treat them.

But Feng Qi was afraid of his consort-mother leaving the world. He liked when she would give him different snacks and food every day, told him stories, and taught him how to write characters. And he liked how gentle she appeared when she called him “Baozi.” His imperial father had many imperial concubines, but Feng Qi only had one consort-mother.

On the day his consort-mother woke up, he seemed to catch the eyes of his imperial father growing red. But later on, he thought that his imperial father was a man who could support heaven and earth. How could such a man have reddened eyes?

There were many women in the imperial harem. Sometimes, he would hear that his imperial father went to a different woman’s residence. Each time that happened, Feng Qi would go to his consort-mother and listen to her stories. The stories she told were very novel and interesting. His consort-mother’s expression would also be gentle and soft to a great degree, as though she were not broken-hearted that his imperial father was not around.

“Consort-Mother, today, the Imperial Tutor gave a lecture about the ‘Doctrine of the Mean.’ Son feels that the doctrine of the mean is not at all suitable for Son-Official. I am the crown prince. What’s the use of following it?” After Feng Qi had said this, he noticed something strange about his consort-mother’s gaze. As if her thoughts were elsewhere.

“The Four Books and the Five Classics of Confucianism only help you comprehend the reasoning and principles of literature and philosophy. But it is up to you how to do things,” said his consort-mother, placing her hand on the top of his head. It felt very warm. “As long as you understand whether an action is advantageous and suits the current situation.”

He nodded in a well-behaved fashion. “Is this what it means to think before leaping, then observe the results?”

Afterward, he caught sight of his consort-mother smiling in a praising manner. At once, he felt enthusiastic about properly continuing his studies. After all, how could he have the heart to make her reveal a disappointed expression?

From his sixth year onward, he received more and more teachers. That said, he did not find those texts and books difficult. He also did not understand why those teachers always told his imperial father how much of a prodigy he was. There obviously were some stories in those books that were clear and easy to comprehend, yet they just had to explain said stories in an incomparably profound manner.

In the nineteenth year of the Chengxuan Era, during a day in winter, Feng Qi’s eldest brother was conferred the title of Prince Ping and left the imperial palace to establish his own estate. His eldest brother was his senior by eight years. Word had it that his birth-mother had been a low-ranking imperial concubine who passed away early on. Later on, Her Highness Consort Xian raised him by her side for a few years before he was to live by himself in the palace. Consort Xian passed away three years ago. After that, his eldest brother grew ever more taciturn.

Feng Qi and his eldest brother were not close. However, when his eldest brother went to establish his own estate, Feng Qi rode a carriage there to join in on the fun.

Although his eldest brother was conferred the title of Prince Ping, it was an empty order of feudal nobility. He had no fief, no military forces. After Feng Qi had given his congratulatory gifts, his eldest brother suddenly said to him the following:

“Sometimes, Eldest Brother is truly envious of Your Highness the crown prince.”

Despite the fact that Feng Qi was barely nine years old, he understood what his eldest brother meant. As his consort-mother’s sole son, he was the crown prince who towered above others, the heir apparent to the throne. And his eldest brother was merely a powerless first-ranked prince with the title of “Ping.”

“Do you know where your Second Brother is?” Prince Ping smiled as he looked at Feng Qi, the smile tranquil yet carrying a chill. “He is fifteen this year, yet is still living in the temporary imperial residence in the suburbs of the capital city.”

Feng Qi indeed had never met this second brother of his. Even during his imperial father’s birthday celebrations, he had never once seen his second brother summoned back into the imperial palace. Feng Qi had heard that his imperial father disliked his second brother to an immense degree.

“Do you know why he’s confined in the temporary imperial residence?” Prince Ping’s smile revealed a trace of ridicule. “Because Consort Ning, who was raising him, framed your consort-mother. Because he treated your consort-mother with disrespect. And so, he was sent away. From then on, Imperial Father did not spare him a single glance.”

What did these words mean? Was he trying to say his consort-mother had profound schemes or that she was malicious? Did he want Feng Qi to grow discontent with his consort-mother or to sympathize with his second brother?

Feng Qi gave Prince Ping a strange look. Following that, he said in a tranquil manner, “Since that’s the case, why shouldn’t he have been sent away? He was disrespectful to my consort-mother and had no sense of propriety with his conduct. Why should Imperial Father still like him?”

Prince Ping found the barely nine-years-old crown prince before him somewhat frightening in his calmness.

“Did Eldest Brother think I would question my consort-mother because of these words?” He snickered. “Don’t treat me like an ignorant child. I am very clear on who was right and who was wrong. There’s no need for Eldest Brother to inform me.”

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

Feng Qi clasped his hands behind his back, slightly raising his chin. His eyes that resembled those of Noble Consort Zhao seemed like a sword streaking across Prince Ping. “If Eldest Brother has these thoughts, it would be better to properly cultivate your moral character and mental aspects. So as to fully understand what words should and should not be said.”

Following that, Feng Qi turned and left, not giving Prince Ping a sliver of face.

This matter reached Feng Jin’s ears in a flash. Feng Jin did not say much. He merely bestowed the “Classic of Filial Piety” to Prince Ping three days later.

There were many rumors regarding his consort-mother and imperial father in the world outside the imperial palace. But in these tales, his imperial father was an emperor deep in love and his consort-mother was an imperial concubine who would cause ruin to and overturn the state. Feng Qi scoffed at such tales. Because there were other women in the harem apart from his consort-mother, it was impossible for his imperial father to act like his counterpart in those stories, seeing his consort-mother every day, unwilling to lay eyes on another woman. That said, his imperial father did in fact visit other women less than he visited his consort-mother.

And his consort-mother said, “There are many stories in the world that tell lies. It’s possible that whatever you read or hear is fake. The only thing that you can trust is your brain.”

He did not know what type of love was shared between his imperial father and consort-mother, but there was one point he felt certain of: His imperial father and consort-mother treated him extremely well.

Feng Qi could vaguely remember a scene from when he was very, very young. And that was of his consort-mother holding his hand as they strolled through the imperial gardens, basking in the light of the sun.

“Your Highness the crown prince, Her Highness Noble Consort Zhao has sent over some light refreshments.”

He shifted his gaze to said light refreshments. It was the type he typically liked, exquisite to the max in their make.

After eating some, he rose to his feet and made for Xihe Palace. Just as Feng Qi arrived at the lotus pond, he caught sight of his consort-mother sitting at the side of the pond and bathing in the sun. His imperial father stood behind her, a gentle and soft smile on his face.

He stopped in his tracks. Turned around and went on the path back.

Although he did not understand why, for some reason when he saw his imperial father looking at his consort-mother with such a gaze, Feng Qi did not feel like disturbing them.

Yes, he was Noble Consort Zhao’s sole son, Jiuzhou Country’s honorable crown prince, his imperial father’s most favorite imperial prince. Not a nine-year-old child.

Feng Qi raised his head and took in the large sun in the sky. Revealed a huge grin.

Today’s sunshine was truly great. His mood was awfully great as well.

He turned his head to look in the direction of the lotus pond. Perhaps his imperial father was in a great mood too.

Aaaand that’s a wrap! Thank you so much for following this novel with me, everyone! Your comments and likes made my day, and your donations warmed my heart. I hope you all enjoyed the novel and that my translations did it justice.

Before I forget (because I am rather scatter-brained), you can click hereto support the author and click here for a guide on how to use JJWXC.

I honestly wouldn’t mind more extras on the crown prince (or any extras in general). I would read a spin-off on him or Feng Jin HAHA!

Anyway, here is a bit more of a history note: Typically imperial princes could only live in the same residence of their consort-mother until they were twelve years old, after which they would move to their own residence within the imperial palace. Often times, this would happen before they turned twelve. Then, once they reached 15-20 years old, if they did not commit any crimes, the emperor would confer them the position of First-Ranked Prince (Qinwang), a title (ex: Prince Ping), land/fief, and possibly military forces. They would also have to establish their own estate outside the imperial palace, as the only virile man allowed in the palace was the emperor (imperial guards are not allowed in the rear palace where the imperial concubines and princesses are). An exception was the crown prince, who lived in a residence within the imperial palace called the Eastern Palace.

Also, I don’t remember if I mentioned this recently (though I’m sure I mentioned it before), but the reason why the crown prince Feng Qi calls our girl ZL “consort-mother” and not “mother” is because imperial princes not born from the empress had two mothers in theory: They would call their birth-mother “consort-mother” and they would call the empress “imperial mother.” The empress is considered their true mother, and they cannot just call their birth-mother “mother” in public all nilly willy.

If you guys haven’t already, I would love if you check out my other main project, The Times Spent in Pretense. It’s also by Miss Butterfly and is more comedic in tone, but still a joy to read. 𝑓𝙧𝙚𝙚w𝙚𝙗𝒏oν𝐞l. c𝑜𝙢

P.S. Plugging my BL novel project, with my own summary below:

By the emperor’s decree, Fu Ming is to marry Jin Yi and become his male wife. The initial reception is cold. Can the two sort things out between them, the winter departing and the snow thawing?

If you’re interested, you can find it here.