Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

Tong Jia was posthumously honored as Empress Xiaoyi.

Although Tong Jia only served as empress for two days, in terms of blood relation, she shared a close kinship with Emperor Kangxi. Furthermore, she had accompanied him for over thirteen years, a bond that was deeper than that of the previous two empresses.

After Tong Jia’s death, Kangxi was deeply grieved. He not only went to the coffin every day to mourn, but also spent three consecutive days at the place where her body lay in state, keeping vigil. He was eventually persuaded to leave by the Crown Prince, along with numerous senior ministers, scholars, and officials, who knelt and begged him to return.

He wrote elegiac couplets and mourning poems for Tong Jia, personally supporting her coffin and overseeing her burial.

On the day Empress Xiaoyi passed, according to tradition, a small funeral ceremony was to be held. Under Kangxi’s leadership, all the princes, princesses, kings, concubines, and officials were required to change into mourning clothes and remove their decorative feathers. One of the most important parts of the ceremony was for the biological or adopted son of the deceased to dress the body in its burial garments and cut off a portion of their hair to place in the coffin.

Tong Jia had no biological children, and the only adopted son who had officially been named with a jade seal was the Fourth Prince.

In ancient times, it was considered improper to cut hair except during national mourning or the death of one’s parents.

However… Concubine De, the Fourth Prince’s birth mother, was still alive!

Even Kangxi hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Yinzhen stood at the front of the line of princes. As the adopted son of the late Empress, he was the closest to her in terms of legal filial piety. Even Yinti could only stand beside him.

The head of the Imperial Household Department and officials from the Ministry of Rites exchanged uncertain glances, contemplating whether to step forward and ask the Emperor for guidance.

After all, Empress Xiaoyi had raised several princes. Perhaps it wouldn’t be inappropriate to have one of the younger, more easily influenced princes perform the small funeral rites. Eighth Prince would be an ideal candidate… His birth mother, Concubine Wei, came from a humble background, and the fact that he could perform the ritual as her son would be seen as a special honor.

Yinti immediately understood the situation. Although young, he had been raised with wisdom. He had been formally raised under the care of Concubine Hui, but it was actually Concubine Wei who had nurtured him with great love. His affection for her far exceeded that for Tong Jia, so he didn’t want to upset his birth mother. At this moment, he lowered his head even further, shrinking behind Yinyou, unwilling to let his father think of him.

Before Kangxi could speak, however, Yinzhen took the initiative. He stepped out from the line of princes and, under the gaze of everyone, knelt by Tong Jia’s bed, bowing three times. Then, he carefully covered her with the burial cloth and pressed the lock of hair he had cut into her hand. His voice broke as he choked out the words.

After a long pause, he finally managed to say in a hoarse, trembling voice, “Mother, I have come to send you off.”

Kangxi, overcome with emotion, found his own tears soaking his robes.

The others… the others were all secretly glancing at Concubine De from the corner of their eyes.

Concubine De stood fourth among the concubines. In front of her were Concubine Niu, Concubine Hui, and Concubine Yi, while behind her stood Concubine Rong.

She was graceful and gentle in appearance. Even though she was over thirty and had given birth to several children, she still maintained her beauty. Her features were striking, and even now, her face remained composed as usual, though her back was slightly stiff.

Concubine Hui turned her head, pretending to wipe away tears, but in reality, she took a quick glance at Concubine De’s feigned calm expression, feeling a sense of satisfaction in her heart.

Uya, how does it feel, watching your own son mourn and pay respects to another woman, cutting his hair in mourning, with no regard for you as his birth mother? Does it hurt, seeing your own son deliver the blow?

The Sixth Prince is gone, and now you remember your eldest son, but it’s too late. He only has eyes for his foster mother! Earlier, you mocked my precious Baoqing in front of the Emperor, and now, it seems like karma has come. Serves you right!

Consort Yi also covered her eyes with a handkerchief, pretending to sob pitifully, while secretly eyeing her son, Yinqi.

Yinqi wasn’t among the princes; instead, he was supporting the Empress Dowager, speaking in a soft Mongolian tone to comfort her, his eyes reddened.

Earlier, Uya had used the Fourth Prince to gain favor with Tong Jia, taking the initiative to switch to a higher rank. People said she was clever, but Consort Yi thought otherwise. Uya wasn’t clever; she was just ruthless.

She wanted to be promoted to the position of the head of the harem as soon as possible, so that all her future children could stay with her.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. She couldn’t keep the Sixth Prince.

Though last year, Uya gave birth to the Fourteenth Prince, he was still only one year old, and no one knew what the future would hold. Once the older princes grew up, who knew whether she would even manage to secure a title of prince for him? That’s why, when the princes were all punished and confined to the study, she secretly sent cakes to the Fourth Prince. Was she trying to get him to recognize her as his birth mother, or was it for the future of the Fourteenth Prince?

Both had abandoned their eldest sons, but Consort Yi would rather the Fifth Prince be neglected by the Empress Dowager than use her son as a pawn for promotion. After all, the Fifth Prince would always remain her son if he stayed with the Empress Dowager. But if he was raised by someone else, it wouldn’t be so certain. Although on the surface, she and Uya had both abandoned one child, the reality was entirely different.

Consort Yi glanced downward and saw that Empress Dowager De’s hand was clenched into a fist, the armor digging deep into her palm.

Look at this, a servant-born person has such a small-minded nature. Consort Yi sneered. She had previously appeared to want to get close to the Fourth Prince, but now, for this matter, she hated her own son? To her, the Fourth Prince seemed like a child who had feelings and loyalty. What was the big deal with cutting a little hair? If it were Yinqi, she wouldn’t be angry; she would even praise him for being clever.

This was a chance to greatly raise his standing in front of the Emperor. Didn’t you see the way the Emperor looked at the Fourth Prince? It was completely different.

Yinti was also feeling uneasy inside, but at this moment, he couldn’t care about much else.

He couldn’t let people mock his mother. He couldn’t allow anyone to laugh at the fact that his mother had raised him for eleven years but couldn’t even have him perform his last rites. If that happened, he would truly feel like he wasn’t human.

The funeral of the late Empress was also considered a national mourning period. The entire country mourned, and all royal family members, noble officials, consorts, princesses, and princes had to mourn twice daily, from the day the body was placed for mourning until the twenty-seventh day, when they could remove their mourning attire. For a hundred days, no weddings or celebrations could take place anywhere in the country. Mongolian tribes and vassal states had to send envoys to pay their respects.

The Crown Prince, who had been accompanying the grieving Emperor Kangxi, hardly returned to Yuqing Palace. Side Concubine Li had to go mourning both morning and evening, so she was also too busy to handle things. All the matters in the inner court of Yuqing Palace had to be left to the old maid, Ling Mama, to make decisions. However, Ling Mama was old, and she couldn’t manage everything alone.

Wang Gege was pregnant, who would dare ask her to do anything?

As for Cheng Wanyun… when Ling Mama arrived, she immediately served tea and patted her chest, indicating that as long as the Mama gave her instructions, she would follow them without hesitation, ensuring there would be no mistakes, like plucking flowers without pulling out weeds. She promised to cooperate fully.

The implication was clear: there was no hope of expecting a lazy person to work, but as long as she followed the rules and didn’t cause trouble, there was no problem.

Ling Mama knew that this particular concubine had a special place in the Crown Prince’s heart, so she didn’t dare to use force to pressure her. Besides, she knew that Cheng Wanyun wasn’t lying. Based on her usual behavior, she really didn’t contribute much except for eating.

Therefore, Ling Mama had no choice but to turn to Tang Gege, who was more robust.

Coincidentally, Tang Gege also wanted to prove her worth, even if it was just to earn a reputation as capable in front of the Crown Prince. So, Ling Mama quickly enlisted Tang Gege to start preparing for the mourning period in earnest.

The first thing was the clothing fabric. Everyone had to remove any embroidery, and no one was allowed to wear bright red or green.

Next was the food. Snacks were reduced, and no one was allowed to eat big fish or meat.

Furthermore, for the servants, if there was any task to be done outside, they had to inform either Tang Gege or Ling Mama. Only with their permission could they leave with a formal pass. Once outside, they were not allowed to wander or delay, they had to return quickly.

The most important rule was that no one was allowed to drink alcohol, sing opera, or shave their heads. If anyone was caught, they would be severely punished without mercy.

All these rules were clearly laid out, and Cheng Wanyun knew well that in such a special time, causing trouble was absolutely forbidden. There had been instances in the Kang, Yong, and Qianlong reigns where princes were stripped of their titles for not showing enough mourning at a funeral. Therefore, not eating snacks or indulging in entertainment was really no big deal.

Ling Mama’s strictness was for everyone’s own good, and she was typically a quiet person. She wouldn’t interfere with the inner court affairs unless instructed by the Crown Prince. This strong-handed approach must have been with his authorization.

She immediately grasped the meaning from the higher-ups and called everyone from her small courtyard together to reinforce the rules: “I don’t care about others, but the rules I set, you all need to keep them in mind. You’re all from the Imperial Household Department, and you understand the rules better than I do. If anyone gets caught with a small mistake, at this time, I won’t have any face to plead with the Crown Prince. We all need to focus and carry out our duties properly. Understand?”

Since Ling Mama reduced the snacks, Cheng Wanyun led by example and ate the meals prepared by the kitchen, instructing everyone in the courtyard not to accept any further offerings from the kitchen, simplifying everything. She also noticed that although the Crown Prince didn’t show as much outward grief as the Fourth Prince, her emotional radar told her that the Crown Prince’s pain was by no means less.

She certainly didn’t want to prick at the Crown Prince’s heart at this moment.

Cheng Wanyun hadn’t expected that the Crown Prince’s feelings for Empress Tong Jia were so deep. According to the historical trajectory, the Tong family would later support the Eighth Prince, a staunch anti-Crown Prince faction, just like Mingzhu.

In history, after Kangxi deposed the Crown Prince, he quickly regretted it and considered reinstating him. However, he was hesitant to change his decision, so he tested the ministers by asking them to recommend a new Crown Prince. His intention was to have understanding ministers propose the reinstatement of the Crown Prince. But those he trusted most, including Tong Guowei, all enthusiastically recommended the Eighth Prince.

As a result, this “Tong half-court” faction was dismissed in anger by Kangxi and sent back home to retire.

She couldn’t understand how it turned out this way. According to logic, Tong Guowei would have had a grudge against the Crown Prince due to the death of Tong Guogang and his association with Suoetu, so it was understandable that he might not like the Crown Prince. However, he should have supported the Fourth Prince, right? How did he end up becoming a firm supporter of the Eighth Prince?

Cheng Wanyun couldn’t figure it out. Her understanding of history was limited, and since she couldn’t make sense of it, she quickly pushed the thought aside.

Lazy reasoning: an empty head lives longer!

After the seventh-day mourning period ended, Kangxi finally returned to the Qianqing Palace under the repeated pleas of the officials. The Crown Prince was also able to return to the Yuqing Palace to rest. Whenever he had the chance, he would come to Cheng Wanyun’s room, but no one paid any attention to him. He would collapse onto the bed and immediately fall asleep.

The Crown Prince had lost a lot of weight and had dark circles under his eyes.

Cheng Wanyun carefully helped him take off his shoes, socks, and white mourning attire. When she slightly rolled up his satin trousers, she noticed that both of his knees were bruised, dark purple and swollen from kneeling for so long.

He Baozhong, who was holding his legs, burst into tears. “The Emperor stayed at the spirit hall, and the Crown Prince had to kneel with him. Sometimes, he had to follow the shaman around the coffin, kneeling every time they circled. The shaman would chant for an entire hour, and there were no mats in front of the coffin, so they had to kneel directly on the cold stone slabs…”

Summer clothes were thin, and kneeling felt almost like kneeling bare-skinned.

Kangxi was the Emperor, so after the seventh-day mourning, it wasn’t appropriate for him to continue staying at the spirit hall, but the Crown Prince, as the heir, had to lead all the princes to the Jingren Palace for mourning. The Empress’s coffin had to be kept in the hall for twenty-seven days.

“Bring a basin of ice water. Apply it for an hour first, then use blood-activating ointment to massage.” Cheng Wanyun instructed, also asking He Baozhong to bring the Crown Prince’s clean clothes.

Cheng Wanyun had once bought a type of heating knee pad designed for elderly people with “automatic heating.” It could be filled with mugwort and other medicinal herbs and had an electric function that warmed up the knee area, which felt very comfortable. Don’t ask her why she bought elderly knee pads at such a young age in her previous life. She also had a massage chair and foot massager. After working 996 for so many years, her physical condition was probably worse than the elderly people in parks doing single-arm spins.

However, the awkward part was that, despite her best efforts to take care of her health, she still passed away very quickly.

Recalling the knee pad, she called the palace maids and, using the fabric and color of the Crown Prince’s clothes as a reference, chose a similar color to make knee pads. This way, when worn under clothing, the color difference wouldn’t be noticeable.

She planned to make a thin knee pad to wear under the pants, especially thickening the area around the kneecap. Inside, she would stuff it with mugwort paste, but she didn’t want it to be too thick, as it might create an uncomfortable bulge and become more noticeable.

The thickness should be moderate, hidden under the pants, not affecting movement while providing some protection.

After making one, she tested it herself. She used the least noticeable fabric from the pile the Crown Prince had previously given her—a piece of old cotton, which felt like worn-out clothing but was still soft and breathable. She added a thin layer of cotton in some areas, leaving an opening in the cotton part for easy replacement. She could take out the cotton and replace it with mugwort anytime. Using mugwort as filling was also very comfortable.

Mugwort warms the meridians, dispels cold, stops bleeding, and reduces inflammation, which can greatly relieve chronic knee pain. When she bought the knee pads, the description on the product page was exactly as advertised.

Fortunately, there was still quite a bit of mugwort left over from the Dragon Boat Festival. Cheng Wanyun wrapped it in gauze to make sachets. Now, she called Qingxing over, cut open the sachets, and instructed her to crush the mugwort with ginger and fragrant herbs, grind it into a powder, then mix it with peppermint essential oil and ice flakes to make a paste. This could be applied to the knees for long-lasting relief.

He Baozhong stood there, stunned.

In his eyes, Cheng Wanyun had always seemed like a decorative vase cherished by the Crown Prince—pretty but useless. He never expected that she would be so resourceful. She spoke and acted quickly, and in no time at all, she had made three or four pairs of knee pads.

Before long, a jar of mugwort paste was also ready.

When Yinreng woke up from a deep sleep, he felt something on his knees. Looking down, he saw a pair of knee pads. Curiously, he lifted them and found a layer inside. The pouch contained dark, sticky ointment with a faint scent of mugwort.

The ointment had a cooling sensation, and the wind made it feel even colder.

He Baozhong kneeled and said, “This was made by Cheng Gege.”

“Where is Cheng Gege?” He stood up and walked a few steps, feeling much of the pain in his knees ease.

He Baozhong turned his head, and Yinreng followed his gaze out the door. In the courtyard, there were two or three wicker baskets, each filled with mugwort leaves. Cheng Wanyun and several palace maids were drying them.

“Cheng Gege made this mugwort ointment for your legs, but it will only last for two days. She went to ask Mama Ling’s permission and had someone go to the Imperial Pharmacy to fetch more mugwort leaves and ice flakes. She’s planning to make more for you,” He Baozhong explained from behind.

Seeing the busy figure of a woman drying herbs, Yinreng felt a warm sensation in his eyes.

In the palace, the rituals were strict, and everyone had grown accustomed to kneeling. He didn’t mind the small injury to his legs.

It wasn’t uncommon for any of the princes to kneel until their legs were sore, especially during the Longevity Festival or the New Year, when some would even end up with swollen heads from bowing.

For such a great mourning, it was even less of an issue.

Yinreng had experienced the mourning of Empress Xiaozhao before. He was younger then, but as the Crown Prince, he had to perform rites for Niu Hulu and cut his hair, smash bowls, kneel, and mourn. His knees had become so sore that only He Baozhong cried and rubbed ointment on them.

Kangxi noticed these things, but he was a practitioner of ancient “wolfish education”—paying respects to his birth mother was an act of filial piety. How could one complain about filial piety? Kneeling for a few days was nothing. If a man couldn’t endure such hardship, how could he rule the world in the future?

Afterward, the best Kangxi did for the Crown Prince was to bestow medicine or rewards.

Other princes didn’t even get a bottle of medicine.

But they each had their own mothers—things like knee pads, medicinal oils, stews secretly hidden at the bottom of bowls, and exclusive “Oh, my dear, how did you hurt yourself like this?” hugs and comfort, all were readily available.

But this time, he too had someone thinking of him, sewing knee pads for him, and they were much better than those his brothers had. They could even hold medicine inside!

Comfortable and practical.

Yinreng’s heart swelled with emotion. Even with a limp, he took big strides towards her. As he stretched his arms to hug her from behind, the distant, sorrowful sound of the mourning bell began to toll. He sighed.

Cheng Wanyun also turned and embraced him, resting her head on his chest, softly whispering, “Second Master, take care of yourself. Your health is what matters.”

When they were alone, she liked to call him “Second Master” instead of “Crown Prince.” It felt more intimate, more equal between them, though it was just a form of self-deception.

But the Crown Prince had never minded this. His tolerance for her was always in these small details. The ancestral family laws, the royal rules—Yinreng could not break them for her. But when the door was closed and no one else was around, he was still willing to give her that intimate title.

“You too, don’t neglect yourself. Stay well at home.” Yinreng briefly hugged her and patted her head. He had so many things on his mind that he wanted to say to her, but he had no time and had to leave in a hurry.

Arriving at the Lu Pavilion in Jingren Palace, where the mourning rites were being held, the bell had not yet tolled its full 81 strokes. Most of the princes and consorts were still on their way. Under the dim, yellow glow of the palace lanterns in the night, only Fourth Prince was still kneeling in front of the brazier, burning paper offerings.

Yinreng approached and patted him on the shoulder.

“Second Brother…” Yinzhen turned around. His voice was hoarse and his eyes were swollen to the point of resembling fish eyes.

The Fourth Prince’s knees were in bad shape too, but Kangxi, pitying his young age and his filial piety to Empress Dowager Xiaoyi, had ordered a thick cushion to be placed under him while he knelt. Yinreng was too embarrassed to share his knee pads with him, knowing that Fourth Prince, with his stubborn nature, would never accept them.

Still, he had He Baozhong give a jar of mugwort paste and medicinal oil to Su Peisheng, the Fourth Prince’s personal eunuch.

Over the past few days, Yinreng’s deep sorrow had gradually eased. By the time they knelt in worship, he no longer shed tears. Others were the same; even the Tong family members only occasionally choked back a sob. There was no crying from the concubines and other royal family members who weren’t particularly close.

The sound of the eunuchs’ high-pitched, sharp wails gradually filled the Lu Pavilion, as well as the ceremonial orders of “Kneel!” which made everyone numbly kneel down.

Only Yinzhen, when he closed his eyes, would recall Tong Jia’s voice and smile, and even wake up crying in his dreams.

Yinreng knelt beside him, carefully folding a stack of paper money into gold ingots, which he threw into the fire.

The sparks from the fire flickered, and the ashes flew up with the wind.

“Second Brother,” Yinzhen blankly stared at the firelight and the occasional crackling sounds from the fire. “Do you think people really have a next life?”

Yinreng didn’t know how to respond. It was clear that The Fourth Prince was somewhat dazed.

“I wonder if Mother will be able to reincarnate into a good family in her next life.”

“Tong Mother was such a good person; she will definitely have good fortune in her next life,” Yinreng said softly, pulling The Fourth Prince to his feet. By now, most people had arrived. “Stop thinking about that now. Let’s send Tong Mother off properly, so she can rest in peace.”

They knelt until late into the night. Yinreng, exhausted, climbed onto the sedan chair and fell asleep on the way back to Yuqing Palace. The young eunuchs carrying the sedan chair were unsure of what to do. “Master He, what should we do?”

He Baozhong thought for a moment and waved his hand. “Take him to Cheng Gege’s place.”

The sound of the night watch bell had just passed when Cheng Wanyun sat on the bed, making shoe insoles. When she took off the Crown Prince’s shoes earlier that day, she noticed that his insoles had worn thin. She quietly measured the size with her hands and decided to make new ones.

It seemed that the Crown Prince’s daily shoes, socks, and caps were usually prepared by Side Concubine Li. However, Side Concubine Li had been exhausted recently. Cheng Wanyun had heard that just a few days ago, after kneeling, Side Concubine Li nearly fainted on the steps. She couldn’t let anyone speak ill of Yuqing Palace, so after standing up through dizziness and gritting her teeth, she walked to a quiet place and had the eunuch carry her back. She was given two bowls of medicine and slept the afternoon away before going back in the evening.

Most likely, Side Concubine Li hadn’t had time to pay attention to these details.

Now, Cheng Wanyun had become even more idle than Wang Gege. Wang Gege still had the important task of carrying the child. Every day, Ling Mama went to check on her, fearing that if there was a rush, she might not care for the baby properly.

At this moment, everyone in Yuqing Palace had to pull together as one. There was no room for division. She would help with what she could.

Just then, she heard a sound from outside. It was Bitao, who was on night watch, exclaiming. Cheng Wanyun quickly stuck her head out from behind the bed curtain and saw He Baozhong, panting as he carried the Crown Prince inside. She was startled. “What happened?”

“He’s exhausted,” He Baozhong said, sweating profusely as he carefully placed the Crown Prince on the bed.

Cheng Wanyun took a look and saw the Crown Prince with his eyes tightly shut, sleeping deeply.

Unable to resist, she gently placed her hand on his forehead and then on his face. His temperature was normal, and she let out a sigh of relief.

People are most susceptible to illness when they’re exhausted. Thankfully, he was fine.

“Thanks to your skills, Gege,” He Baozhong said sincerely as he helped clean the Crown Prince’s face, wipe his feet, and undress him. After making sure the Crown Prince was settled, he kneeled and kowtowed. “The Crown Prince didn’t suffer too much tonight.”

“Quick, get up, get up,” Cheng Wanyun hurriedly asked Bitao to help him up. She then instructed Tianjin to bring fresh bedding and a change of clothes for He Baozhong and have him rest in the adjacent room for a while.

The Crown Prince curled up in the blanket, sleeping soundly, though his brow was slightly furrowed, as though he was uneasy. Cheng Wanyun watched him for a long time, then she reached out her finger to smooth his brow. Only after she had done so did she lower her head and return to her sewing.

She had finished making one insole and had just compared it to the Crown Prince’s foot. It fit perfectly. She set down the needle and thread and planned to wake up early tomorrow to make the other one.

After blowing out the light, Cheng Wanyun naturally snuggled into the Crown Prince’s arms. Listening to his heartbeat, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

But as she was adjusting his foot to compare sizes, the Crown Prince, half awake and groggy, stirred. However, when he smelled the familiar jasmine scent in her room and heard her quietly exclaim, “I’m really amazing, huh? Heh, my eyes are like a ruler, and I did it perfectly on the first try!” he was on the verge of laughing if he weren’t so exhausted.

But realizing that A Wan was right beside him, he relaxed without thinking. Just moments ago, he was thinking, “Who praises themselves like that?” and the next moment, he fell into a strange dream.

He dreamed of a heavy rain.

A dark night, with the Forbidden City completely enveloped in rain and mist.

He was walking in the pitch-black palace alley, with only the sound of rain pouring down, and there were almost no other sounds to be heard.

He felt that strange sensation again. The dream was so vivid, yet he was clearly aware that it was just a dream.

The last time he had such a strange dream was two months ago, when he dreamt of the negotiations.

This time…

He wandered aimlessly through the rain. Suddenly, a faint flicker of light appeared at the end of the palace alley.

Because the night was so dark, the dim light, weakened by the rain, seemed to float in mid-air. He stopped in his tracks, watching the flickering light approach… closer… closer…

Finally, the light broke through the mist.

It was an octagonal lantern, the handle gripped in the mouth of a eunuch.

The eunuch was drenched, and someone was lying on his back.

Next to them, two rough eunuchs held large 28-bone oil-paper umbrellas high above, desperately trying to shield the person being carried. The four of them ran through the pouring rain, their steps splashing water.

As they passed by him, their feet splashed up large waves of water, but the brief flicker of the light allowed him to clearly see their faces.

The person on the eunuch’s back was an eleven or twelve-year-old boy, dressed in plain white mourning clothes. He seemed ill, his cheeks flushed with an unusual redness, and he lay drowsily on the eunuch’s shoulder.

The eunuch was a familiar face, about the same age as the boy. His face was indistinguishable from the rain or tears, and he mumbled through the handle of the lantern as he ran, “Master, we’re almost there, almost there…”

It was the Fourth Prince.

Yinreng was stunned and instinctively followed them.

They ran toward the eastern part of the inner palace, seemingly heading toward… Yonghe Palace?