The Yikun Palace was built in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign. Originally named the Wan'an Palace, it was renamed Yikun Palace in the fourteenth year of the Jiajing reign. "Yi" signifies assistance, and the Empress's residence is the Kunning Palace. Thus, Yikun Palace means "assisting the Empress in managing the inner court."
Noble Consort Yuan resided in Yikun Palace, and her status within the inner court was self-evident. She had claimed that there was a cat in Yikun Palace that could do backflips, but Emperor Chongzhen naturally did not believe her. The cat was merely a pretext; her true intention was to capture his attention. He understood her purpose: she was simply afraid that he would send Prince Yong, Zhu Cizhao, to the battlefield, where he might meet with an accident.
"I have been busy lately, let us go another day," Emperor Chongzhen declined Noble Consort Yuan's invitation with a polite refusal.
Chapter 784