Consort Rong's Versailles-Style Daily Life in the Qing Dynasty

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Blurb:

In the 16th year of the Kangxi era, the Eight Banners held their selection of consorts. Every household appeared delighted, but in truth they were all beset by gloom.

There was only one reason: the emperor couldn't father children.

Candidate 1: Shh, don't say that outside.

Candidate 2: Sigh, if he can't have children, what's the point of becoming a consort?

Candidate 3: Sigh, how lucky Consort Rong is, to have borne the only prince!

Candidate 4: Maybe I'll get lucky and bear a prince, becoming the next Consort Rong.

The candidates, in unison: Consort Rong, our dream!

Meanwhile, in the palace...

Consort Rong: Sigh, the emperor is such a nuisance. Luckily, I was clever enough to make him infertile. Otherwise, I'd have turned into a breeding sow.

Versailles System: Don't celebrate too soon. Without enough Versailles Points, you'll keep reincarnating in this era until you die.

Consort Rong sighed and decided to dress up nicely. She would go to Consort Hui and lament that her beauty was fading, then complain to the empress that the emperor visited her too often.

Once the selected women entered the palace, she figured she would soon have a huge crop of Versailles Points to harvest.

Content warnings:

1. In this story, the female lead has made Kangxi infertile. There is no struggle among the nine princes for the throne. If that bothers you, read with caution.

2. Kangxi has only one son, and the Qing dynasty will not fall.

3. The female lead and Kangxi do not have a happily-ever-after, lifelong exclusive relationship.

4. This story is entirely fictional. Please don't conflate it with real history.

[Upcoming 1] Raising Honghui, the Mischievous Kid, in the Qing Dynasty

Blurb:

When Fourth Prince Yinzhen saw his newborn legitimate eldest son, his joy was beyond words. He vowed to raise Honghui to become the most outstanding imperial grandson.

A month after Honghui was born, he cried in the middle of the night.

Yinzhen hurried out of bed to check on him, only to find that Honghui stopped crying as soon as he entered the room.

He couldn't help thinking: As expected, father and son are connected at heart. This shows that Honghui likes me as his father.

With his beloved son filter on, he would smile and let it pass even when Honghui yanked his braid painfully or smashed his favorite Duan inkstone.

Until later:

Lady Li came to complain: My lord, Prince Honghui has wrecked my entire garden.

Fourth Prince Yinzhen comforted his beloved concubine: It's fine. I'll plant more flowers for you.

Fourth Prince's Consort also complained: My lord, when Honghui went to the palace to pay his respects, he put a bug in Mother's tea. He's far too mischievous.

Fourth Prince Yinzhen quietly clenched his fists: I don't know why, but my hands are itching. It's been raining a lot lately. Maybe it's time to beat the child.

Then Fourteenth Prince Yinzhen came to complain: Fourth Brother, Honghui cut off my braid while I was asleep!

Fourth Prince Yinzhen silently repeated: Honghui is my own son. My own son.

He turned around and ordered someone to bring Honghui over, swearing he would give him a proper scolding.

Soon after, Su Peisheng came running back, nearly rolling on the ground as he reported: This is terrible, my lord! Prince Honghui smashed the emperor's jade seal. His Majesty wants you to hurry to the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Heavenly Purity...

Honghui looked innocent: Imperial Grandpa, I didn't break the jade seal. The kitty knocked it over.

Kangxi's temples throbbed. The cat had run into the Hall of Heavenly Purity and knocked over the jade seal because it didn't want him to shave off all its fur.

His grandson was too young to hit. He'd just wait for Yinzhen to arrive and beat his own son instead.

Honghui wiped the cold sweat from his brow: System, was that mischievous enough? Can you really keep me alive?

His fated death was only three years away. He had no choice but to turn into a troublemaking child. Being a little menace was good for your health.

System: Don't worry, Host. As long as you cause enough trouble, the System guarantees you'll live to a hundred.

[Upcoming 2]

The Fourth Prince's Consort's Extravagant Spending in the Qing Dynasty

Blurb:

In the 43rd year of the Kangxi era, Yinzhen's legitimate eldest son died. The Fourth Prince's Consort fell gravely ill and nearly died.

Worried his wife wouldn't make it, Yinzhen said, "My dear, if you survive, I'll agree to anything you ask."

The Fourth Prince's Consort stirred slightly, a brilliant light flashing in her eyes. "Really?"

Yinzhen thought his wife was experiencing a last burst of energy. Tears nearly filled his eyes as he nodded firmly. "Really."

The Fourth Prince's Consort moved her eyes. "Then I want new clothes. Lots and lots of new clothes."

"I'll have them made, as many as you want." Yinzhen swore by the heavens.

For many years afterward, Yinzhen silently wept over those words.

He knew his wife wanted lots of clothes, but he hadn't realized she would empty the entire storeroom to pay for them.

At that moment, the Fourth Prince's Consort sat in a hundred-square-meter walk-in closet, counting silver until she was out of breath. "System, you're something else. You've drained the entire Fourth Prince's residence."

Ancient Costume Livestream System: Here are next season's clothing designs. Please showcase them as soon as possible, Host.

The Fourth Prince's Consort looked up at the sixty outfits the System had released and mourned Yinzhen's increasingly bald head.

Last night, he had cried in his sleep, "My dear, please stop making clothes."

He didn't know that the System was constantly upgrading, and that the clothes she had to make would only keep multiplying. Once the System reached its highest level, Honghui would be able to come back.

Even if she wore a different outfit every day and couldn't remember how many she owned, she was happy to do it all for Honghui.

Making clothes cost money, but luckily her dowry included shops along an entire street, where she could sell the clothes at a discount. This walk-in closet was her private treasury, and she could give it to Honghui someday.

Of course, the Fourth Prince knew nothing about this money.

As a result, everyone knew that the Fourth Prince was so scrupulously honest that his household lived frugally. Even Nian Gengyao's sister didn't dare marry into the family.

When Kangxi heard about it, he was speechless at his honest son and waved his hand, sending a steady stream of rewards into the Fourth Prince's residence. Naturally, they ultimately flowed into the Fourth Prince's Consort's private purse.

In the end, Emperor Yongzheng worked overtime day and night, and outsiders all praised his diligence.

Only those in the palace knew the emperor had no choice. The empress was the greatest spendthrift under heaven, and the treasury couldn't take it if the emperor didn't work hard.

Theme: Self-respect and self-love