Liang Jiugong stole a glance at Kangxi’s expression but couldn’t discern whether the emperor was pleased or displeased.
When it didn’t involve Fang He, His Majesty’s composure had grown increasingly inscrutable.
He bowed in acknowledgment and, when fetching Cao Yin, cautiously hinted,
“His Majesty earlier inquired about Fang… the Zhasihuli lady, but the young mistress wasn’t at the villa.”
Seizing the opportunity, Cao Yin discreetly slipped a pouch of silver to Liang Jiugong.
Entering, he performed his formal greeting with utmost solemnity-more precise than freshly inspected soldiers determined not to give Kangxi no reason to vent his temper.
Yet Kangxi had no intention of taking his frustration out on others.
He simply strode up to Cao Yin with a stern expression.
“Ziqing, there are few capable men by my side. Of those I can trust, you are the only one!”
Cao Yin promptly adopted a moved and remorseful expression.
“It’s all because of this useless servant’s incompetence, failing to recruit more capable talents for Your Majesty. In the future, this servant…..”
“No need to wait for the future.” Emperor Kangxi interrupted Cao Yin with uncharacteristic severity, his expression growing graver.
Placing a hand on Cao Yin’s shoulder, his gaze became sharper than ever before.
“I have an important matter to entrust to you now.”
“If accomplished successfully, it would be a tremendous contribution to the succession of our Great Qing Dynasty. You shall be handsomely rewarded.”
“However, should this matter be leaked, neither you nor your entire family’s lives could be spared-not even I could protect you. Think carefully before answering…”
Cao Yin felt his blood surge with fervor, his body trembling slightly.
With a loud thud, he knelt and kowtowed repeatedly—
“This servant is willing to serve Your Majesty with the loyalty of a dog or horse, even if it means dying ten thousand deaths!”
“This servant stakes his head as guarantee—not a single word shall reach any unrelated person. Should it leak, this servant is willing to atone with death!”
Kangxi smiled in satisfaction and helped Cao Yin up.
“I knew it among all my retainers, you, Cao Ziqing, are the most trustworthy!”
Before Cao Yin could offer modest words, Kangxi leaned close to his ear and whispered something that shocked Cao Yin to his core, making him forget all humility.
“You want men to please… ouch!” Cao Yin hopped on one leg as if possessed, clutching his shin.
Men… pleasing women?
Who pleases whom??
Where???
He is a pillar of masculinity with three wives and four concubines.
How would he know about such things!
He thought His Majesty was entrusting him with affairs of state, but it turned out to be this absurd matter?!
Still unconvinced, Cao Yin lowered his voice: “Your Majesty must explain how this has anything to do with the succession of Great Qing?”
What-if men can’t please women, the dynasty can’t continue…
Oh!
If it’s about teaching Your Majesty to… produce more little princes in the palace, then indeed it relates to succession!
If word got out that the mighty Qing Emperor wanted to learn such… such servile arts, the ancestors would surely rise from their graves in fury to beat him to death.
If even His Majesty couldn’t bear the shame, would it be excessive for the Cao family to be buried with him?
Cao Yin stared blankly as Kangxi calmly returned to the imperial desk, leisurely sipping tea with infuriating composure; he nearly committed treason by snatching the cup away.
“Just tell me whether you can do it or not.”
Having spoken the unspeakable, Kangxi now showed no trace of embarrassment.
He gave Cao Yin a meaningful look.
“I was planning to recall you to Jiangning in a few years to guard the south for me. If you can’t handle this small matter…”
Cao Yin immediately bowed solemnly: “This servant will absolutely fulfill Your Majesty’s trust!”
“No, I’ve entrusted you with nothing.” Kangxi chuckled, sipping his tea while regarding Cao Yin with amusement.
“Isn’t it Cao Yin who wishes to study bedroom arts to produce more heirs for the Cao family?”
Cao Yin: “……”
Have some shame, will you!
Only male brothels have that sort of thing-who in their right mind would seek heirs from a male courtesan?!
With a heavy heart, he left the villa.
Upon returning home, his deathly pallor startled both Cao Xi and Sun Shi, the wet nurse of the Kangxi Emperor’s mother.
Cao Xi asked, “What’s the matter with you?”
Sun Shi, knowing Cao Yin had just returned from the villa, pressed anxiously, “Did His Majesty assign you some impossible task…?”
“No!”
Cao Yin reflexively denied, then sighed deeply.
“I just… suddenly met someone I fancied, entertained some disgraceful thoughts, and got thoroughly scolded by His Majesty.”
Both Cao Xi and Sun Shi exhaled in relief.
Pah!
Their estate was vast enough to accommodate ten or eight more without issue.
Sun Shi swatted Cao Yin’s arm.
“You foolish boy, if you’ve taken a liking to someone, just bring them into the household… If their status is unsuitable, there’s no need to stir up trouble yourself-have your brother Cao Quan arrange a separate residence.”
Though Cao Yin was born of a concubine while Cao Quan was Sun Shi’s own son, the family’s fortunes rested entirely on Cao Yin’s shoulders, given Cao Quan’s lack of prospects.
Sun Shi, who had risen from humble origins to her current glory, was no fool.
She didn’t mind her own son handling unsavory matters for Cao Yin.
But this was one affair Cao Yin couldn’t explain.
He merely gave Cao Xi and Sun Shi a bitter smile.
“This person can’t be brought home. I only hope the two of you won’t take it to heart later.”
Their stomachs dropped.
Had Cao Yin taken after the Aisin-Gioro clan and set his sights on someone’s wife?
If word got out in Jiangnan, where moral integrity was prized above all, he’d be reviled to death!
Yet the couple never imagined Cao Yin would do something far worse than invite scorn-he’d fallen for a male courtesan and even bought his freedom to keep him as an outside companion.
When Cao Xi found out, he nearly fainted from shock.
Cao Yin had been married for only three years.
His wife, Lady Gu, remained in their hometown tending to Sun Shi and hadn’t accompanied him to the capital.
As for his concubines in Beijing, none had borne him children.
With the Cao lineage hanging by a thread, Cao Yin had taken a liking to men?!
Even Sun Shi grew anxious.
While Jiangnan literati often indulged in same-sex affairs, since Cao Yin wasn’t her biological son, she cared little-she’d even happily have Cao Quan’s children adopted under Cao Yin’s name.
But the problem was Cao Quan himself had yet to produce an heir.
If no son was born, she’d have no face to meet the Cao ancestors.
Lady Gu wept hysterically, fainting repeatedly.
Between sobs, she threatened to return to her family-if only she had the strength to rise from bed.
The entire household was in chaos, leaving Cao Yin utterly overwhelmed.
By the time the imperial procession departed for the capital on the seventeenth of June, Cao Yin had to flee under literal blows from Cao Xi and Sun Shi’s canes to smuggle the courtesan onto his boat.
When the memorial reached the Emperor, Cao Yin could barely walk straight.
Red-eyed and on the verge of tears, he gazed at Kangxi.
“Your Majesty, this servant has lost all dignity. I’ve brought him along, lest you… lest I fail to learn my lesson.”
“Lady Gu is demanding a divorce! I’m at my wits’ end trying to placate her!”
Kangxi, expression unreadable, placed a locked wooden case on the display shelf.
With a faint smile, he gestured for Liang Jiugong to serve Cao Yin tea, soothing him.
“It’s just a matter of same-sex inclinations. As long as you treat Lady Gu better than before and stop exerting effort in the wrong places, she naturally won’t-“
When it came to coaxing women, Emperor Kangxi was quite eloquent-except when dealing with that particular scoundrel he couldn’t handle.
“Later, I’ll reward you with some imperial jewelry. Send it back with the imperial physician to help Lady Gu recover. Have her come to the capital to witness your reformation with her own eyes-then she can rest easy.”
Cao Yin: “……”
As if I’d believe such nonsense!
He could only grimace and mutter indistinctly, “Next time something happens… I’ll find someone else!”
Kangxi chuckled: “Who else could be as trustworthy as you, Zi Qing? Your loyalty is noted. I won’t let you down in the future.”
“……” Maybe you should let me down instead!
Cao Yin thought bitterly-being the sole target of His Majesty’s whims was truly unbearable.
While master and servant exchanged veiled words, Fang He personally supervised Chunlai and Wei Zhu as they arranged the luggage gifted by everyone at the inn, then was escorted aboard the imperial barge.
When she arrived before the emperor, Cao Yin hastily requested an imperial physician to be sent back to his residence-worried his father and wife might not survive until his return to the capital.
Now aboard the dragon boat, Kangxi was in much better spirits than during their time in Jiangning.
Smiling, he led Fang He to sit by the window.
“You haven’t returned to the capital in years, you might experience discomfort from the change. I’ve asked Chief Physician Lu to examine you personally. Take some mild tonic soup in advance to prepare your constitution.”
Fang He raised an eyebrow-what about Physician Qin?
But she didn’t ask, simply rising quietly to sit beside Kangxi, resting her head on his shoulder as she gazed outside.
Watching the receding riverbank, melancholy welled in her heart.
Oh, the agony of returning to the grind after a year and a half of vacation -who could understand?!
“If you’re reluctant to leave the inn, I’ll bring you back during our next southern tour,” Kangxi offered.
With her already securely by his side and behaving so docilely, the emperor’s heart softened considerably, his manner growing tender.
Noticing their rare harmony, Liang Jiugong smilingly waved everyone out.
Fang He turned her head, lightly bumping her chin against Kangxi’s shoulder.
“Your Majesty, from now on, you’re all I have.”
“If someday someone falsely accuses or harms me, and you don’t immediately stand by me-don’t give me a chance to explain-I’ll never forgive you.”
She wouldn’t do anything foolish, knowing death was the most pathetic solution.
These past days preparing to resume her duties had worn her legs thin from all the running!
Hearing her seriousness, Kangxi turned to press his forehead against hers.
“Don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.”
Fang He smiled, burying her face in his shoulder to hide her skepticism.
Across two lifetimes, she’d never considered relying on men-her probably pitch-black heart belonged entirely to herself.
If that day ever came, she’d become a vengeful spirit, dragging everyone down to hell with her.
Such was the price for being forced back to work by the boss.
When passing Shandong, the dragon boat stopped again.
Never one to spare any effort in appearances when consolidating southern scholars’ loyalty and strengthening the empire’s foundations, Kangxi led his accompanying ministers and literati willing to serve the court to ascend Mount Tai and worship at Confucius Temple.
Demonstrating his commitment to Han learning throughout the land while inspecting river embankments during the return journey.
This matter had nothing to do with the womenfolk.
Fang He merely took Chunlai for a leisurely stroll nearby.
When they boarded the boat the next day, they happened to run into Consort De, who was also about to embark.
“Lady Za.”
Consort De took the initiative to greet Fang He.
Her soft, smiling voice made her warm, oval face appear even gentler, like water-so much so that it was impossible to respond with a cold expression.
No wonder Kangxi had favored Consort De and Consort Yi the most in the past.
These two were like fire and water, offering two entirely different kinds of pleasure…
Tsk, tsk—those who had tried it would understand.
Fang He returned the greeting politely with a curtsy and smiled as well.
“Your Highness, you may just call me San Niu. Or my courtesy name, Xinguo, if you prefer.”
Originally, Fang He had been puzzled by the name “San Niu.”
But after carefully recalling the original host’s memories, she realized that many women of the Qing Dynasty, especially those from the Manchu banners, didn’t have proper names.
If you shouted “Niu Niu” or “So-and-so Niu” on the street, eight out of ten Manchu women would turn their heads.
After marriage, their husbands would usually give them a courtesy name.
The real Za Sihuli’s courtesy name was Quying-probably because she sang well.
Unlike her, whose only in-tune songs were the national anthem, “Little Cabbage,” and “Song of the Hero.”
Of course, Kangxi wouldn’t let her keep a name given by another man, so she had to inherit the name “San Niu.”
Fang He simply chose her own courtesy name.
She had initially wanted “Jinguo,” but since the character “Jin” (gold) couldn’t be used casually by commoners, she settled on “Xinguo” instead.
Consort De nodded with a smile.
“Sister Xin’s courtesy name… sounds particularly auspicious.”
Fang He raised a brow slightly-clearly, the other woman already knew she was Za San Niu.
Noticing Fang He’s questioning look, Consort De signaled Hedong to present the greeting gift.
“I’ve long wanted to get closer to you, sister, but I heard you were busy praying for the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, so I didn’t dare disturb you.”
Her smile grew even gentler, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“Still, given the emperor’s favor toward you, I imagine we’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future.”
“I heard you’ve been widowed for less than a year, so I specially had someone prepare a consecrated Guanyin statue-a wish for you to achieve your heart’s desire sooner rather than later.”
Chunlai took the box from Hedong’s hands, and Fang He nearly laughed inwardly.
This Consort De wasn’t just highly skilled-she was also quite amusing.
Fang He hadn’t even officially entered the palace yet, and the woman was already calling her “sister.”
Was this to confirm that her rank would definitely be below that of a consort?
She flashed Consort De a bright smile.
“Your Highness must be joking. How could a widow like me have any favor?”
“I’m only entering the palace to serve Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and attend to the Grand Empress Dowager. Please don’t misunderstand.”
Even so, if she wanted to enter the palace as a favored guest and secure a stable position as an imperial concubine, she had to maintain her virtuous facade.
Consort De hesitated for a moment before biting her lip and stepping forward with a troubled expression, lowering her voice earnestly.
“Don’t blame me for speaking out of turn, sister. As your elder, I feel compelled to remind you that if you wish to serve His Majesty, my fellow sisters and I in the palace would be overjoyed to have someone as lovely as you join us.”
“But if you don’t wish to serve His Majesty, then you must carefully consider your position. Your health is frail, and accompanying the Empress Dowager or tending to the sick is no easy task. You should start making plans for yourself sooner rather than later.”
Without waiting for Fang He’s response, Consort De nodded with a smile and turned to leave.
Lost in thought, Fang He made her way toward the dragon boat.
Chunlai followed behind, frowning as she held the wooden box.
“What did Consort De mean by reminding you to mind your status?”
“In the past, I always heard Consort De was one of the rare kind souls in the palace-helping struggling junior concubines when times were hard. Her reputation preceded her, but now it seems…”
Her reputation didn’t match reality.
Fang He stood on the deck with a light laugh.
“Truly good people don’t survive in the palace. Given how quickly she rose through the ranks, if she were genuinely virtuous, she’d undoubtedly be His Majesty’s true love!”
Then where would that leave me?
Before Chunlai could respond, Fang He suddenly chuckled.
“But this time, she genuinely meant well-probably wants me to owe her a favor.”
As a widow who’d been married for three years before her husband’s death, entering the palace still a virgin would indeed raise eyebrows.
Whether Consort De’s “kindness” was a warning that she knew Fang He’s secret or an encouragement to seduce Emperor Kangxi remained unclear.
Fang He feared none of Consort Hui, Rong, or Yi because their tactics were straightforward.
Only Consort De was unpredictable, which made one instinctively wary.
Something about Consort De felt off, though Fang He couldn’t pinpoint what.
After half a day on the dragon boat, still pondering in her cabin, she remained clueless.
Ah, perhaps all her brains were spent dealing with that scoundrel.
“It’s raining!” Chunlai pushed open half a window, exclaiming softly.
Fang He peered out. Midsummer rain poured heavily, sheeting across the river, the pitter-patter on water and deck like a fanfare announcing her debut.
Giving up on unraveling the mystery, she rose to leave.
“Miss, where are you going in this rain?” Chunlai hurried after with an umbrella.
Fang He smiled and said: “I’m going to see if the rain can get even wilder!”
Chunlai:”…..”Â
The boats behind are barely visible-isn’t it stormy enough already??