Both Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager had the same thought cross their minds-had Fang He truly grown tired of living?
The prophecy of becoming an empress wasn’t something to be casually claimed after consulting some random Taoist priest.
If exposed as false, it would be a grave crime of coveting the throne.
A wave of helpless anger gradually welled up in Kangxi’s heart.
Even if it were true, such a fate should be kept strictly hidden to avoid fatal consequences.
Yet this reckless woman acted as if she didn’t know the meaning of the word “death.”
Not even Kangxi was certain whether he could protect Fang He from ancestral laws and the Empress Dowager’s severe punishment.
But Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang merely raised an eyebrow at Fang He, secretly amused.
Truly one of the rogues she approved of this girl had far more audacity than Lady Tong Jia.
Lady Tong Jia was the first to react among those present.
She viciously voiced what all the other concubines were silently cursing in their hearts:
“How dare someone like you claim such a thing!”
Fang He ignored her completely.
Under Xiaozhuang’s half-smiling gaze, she calmly explained, “I wouldn’t dare lie about such matters. At that time, my husband was still alive, and I kept it secret from everyone, thinking I’d merely encountered some deranged wandering priest.”
When she visited the Yu family village, she first accused Yu Yinji of causing her trouble with Kangxi to demand compensation, then lured him with the promise of documenting the history of the Dong’e Yu clan-forcing him to rehearse their story with her, completely unafraid of exposure.
The Empress Dowager thought to herself:
Fang He was perfectly fine in the palace at that time-did she meet this priest in a dream?
Fang He continued, “Not long after, my husband fell seriously ill and passed away. The physicians said there was nothing wrong with my health, and though my husband was frail, it shouldn’t have affected our ability to have children. Yet after three years of marriage, I never conceived.”
Kangxi: “……”
This rogue was still a virgin earlier this year if she’d ever been pregnant, it would’ve been a miracle.
Unaware of their silent criticisms, Fang He became increasingly absorbed in her performance, looking genuinely bewildered as if she’d truly lost a husband.
“In my grief, I encountered that priest again. He said my destiny was too noble for common bloodlines to withstand. Distraught and half- believing, I visited every major temple across Jiangnan.”
A husband-killer?
Childless?
She’d known these accusations were unavoidable ever since taking on the Zhasihuli identity-so why not turn these flaws into advantages?
Fang He still winced at the memory-half of her ten thousand taels had gone into temple donations.
With reddened eyes, she clutched her chest and looked up, her anguish appearing heartbreakingly genuine.
“Several masters I consulted gave similar readings. Sob of course they’d say nice things after seeing all that donation money!”
“Though none dared mention ’empress destiny,’ they all said my fate was extraordinarily noble. The Imperial Noble Consort was right—it was indeed my fault that my husband died and I remained childless… sob”
All those silver taels!
Covering her mouth to suppress her sobs, the corners of her lips curled slightly beneath her palm.
Lady Tong Jia had two witnesses?
How unfortunate-Fang He had a whole crowd of them.
How infuriating!
Kangxi’s expression darkened as he listened, shooting a cold glare at Chunlai.
She accompanied Fang He everywhere-how dare she fail to report such significant matters?
Chunlai prostrated herself, remembering what Fang He had told her after leaving the Yu village:
“I won’t stop you from being the Emperor’s informant. But barring unforeseen circumstances, you’ll serve by my side for life—you should know what kind of person I am by now.”
“Regarding matters unrelated to His Majesty, you should know what to say and what not to say-for the sake of your life and your mother’s.”
Chunlai understood that everything the young mistress did was to survive in the palace, just as she herself had become a hidden guard merely to leverage imperial influence to protect her widowed mother at home.
Thus, unless Emperor Kangxi specifically inquired about Fang He’s private preparations, she revealed nothing.
Lady Tong Jia couldn’t resist speaking again, her voice turning shrill:
“Who knows if you’ve bribed some wandering monk from afar? How can they compare to Master Wenkong of Fayuan Temple?”
She kowtowed urgently to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang:
“Your Majesty, you mustn’t believe this wretch’s nonsense! If she remains in the palace, even if her deceit is uncovered, what if she continues harming those around her, endangering the Emperor’s and Your Majesty’s health?”
The Grand Empress Dowager had been frequently ill in recent years—no one could guarantee her continued well-being.
Lady Tong Jia, keenly aware of this, exploited people’s fear of death to force Fang He out of the palace.
Once expelled, with her ill-omened reputation spreading, the Tong family could easily deal with her outside.
If even a shred of Fang He’s words held credibility, Lady Tong Jia—who had long coveted the empress’s position-would tolerate her even less.
Pointing at Fang He, she stared resolutely at Kangxi:
“Cousin! You know my temperament-I would never jest about Your Majesty’s, the Grand Empress Dowager’s, or the Empress Dowager’s health. How could you trust this wretch over—”
“Your Highness’s thoughts align perfectly with mine,” Fang He interjected calmly, her voice gentler than Lady Tong Jia’s.
“As a widow, I had no place in the palace. I refused to spend my remaining years alone, clinging to some illusory prophecy of imperial destiny. Thus, I sought every means to find liberation and finally met Master Liaokong of Dinglin Temple.”
Kangxi’s initial panic during this absurd farce gradually hardened into stifled fury, flames of anger surging in his chest.
He had assumed her visits to Dinglin Temple were gestures of goodwill toward him-only to realize now it was all for her own sake.
This brazen liar made one thing painfully clear: Fang He had never trusted him, not even slightly.
At the mention of Liaokong, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang abruptly sat up, genuine surprise flickering across her face.
“Liaokong? The master who spent three years preaching under the open sky at Wutai Mountain, clad only in robes with a single alms bowl?”
After Emperor Shunzhi’s death, Xiaozhuang had been consumed by guilt, believing herself responsible for her son’s demise.
It wasn’t until Kangxi took the throne that she journeyed to Wutai Mountain, where she encountered Liaokong blue with cold yet serenely delivering sermons.
His guidance had freed her from torment.
Memories stirred melancholy in her.
“He’s alive? At Dinglin Temple?”
Lady Tong Jia’s heart sank.
If Fang He invoked Liaokong, she must have prepared defenses against accusations about her fate.
Desperate, she cried, “Your Majesty, you can’t possibly “
“Tong Jia!” Xiaozhuang cut her off sharply, silencing the woman’s escalating hysteria with a frosty glare.
“Remember your place. I’ve warned you time and again not to jump to conclusions, yet you never listen.”
“You’ve been audacious before the Emperor, and now you dare override even my authority?”
Tong Jia’s face flushed crimson then paled as she bit her lip hard and kowtowed deeply.
“Soryy……”
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang ignored her, turning instead to Fang He.
“Continue.”
Having laid sufficient groundwork, Fang He delivered her conclusion directly, once again startling the concubines outside who were itching to rush in and slap Tong Jia on her behalf.
With a serene smile, she declared, “Master Liaokong said I’m no ordinary reincarnation-destined for the imperial family, though my path is fraught with trials. Only through sacrifice can liberation be attained.”
She truly admired Liaokong.
The monk had clearly discerned she wasn’t of this world, even understood her schemes, yet chose to aid her before his death.
For this alone, donating all remaining silver to Dinglin Temple was no regret.
“After His Majesty brought me to court, unwilling to sow discord, I begged Master Liaokong to help me relinquish my phoenix destiny-to exchange it for Heaven’s blessing upon Your Majesties’ longevity!”
Among Qing dynasty luminaries, few matched Xiaozhuang, the Empress Dowager, and Kangxi in lifespan.
Even if Xiaozhuang passed soon, none could deny her enduring fortune.
While Kangxi and the Empress Dowager remained skeptical, Xiaozhuang was mostly convinced.
At her age, she could distinguish truth from deception.
She stood abruptly.
“Such a method exists… and you’d willingly forsake it?”
Were this known, the Qing empress’s position might never stabilize again.
Noting Xiaozhuang’s frown, Fang He alleviated her concerns.
“Master Liaokong, through boundless virtue, received celestial guidance in dreams ascension awaited only his nirvana. Any monk seeking to emulate must first weigh their willingness to die and their spiritual merit.”
“With his final breath, he channeled lifelong merits to suppress my phoenix destiny through relics. So long as these remain intact, they’ll eternally safeguard the Qing!”
Without certain techniques from later generations that she knew or Liaokong’s mineral-rich mountain diet, what monk could guarantee leaving relics?
“The abbot of Dinglin Temple witnessed our conversation.”
And eagerly awaited her five-thousand-tael donation.
“The relics now reside in my chamber. Send attendants to verify them, or dispatch investigators to Jiangnan!”
Tong Jia collapsed weakly, her face ashen.
Outside, concubines sat drained-first gloating, then exhilarated at Fang He’s potential expulsion, only to be stunned speechless by her account, their energy spent.
Consort De’s barely concealed malice surfaced as she clasped hands in prayer, murmuring a Buddhist chant to mask her darkness.
All recognized: the Imperial Noble Consort’s aggressive farce had been dismantled completely by Fang He, her scheme backfiring to implicate the entire Tong family.
True to form, Kangxi’s icy voice cut through the hall:
“Enough! Past rumors accused me of bringing spouses misfortune you know well how I abhor such superstitions!”
“Today’s events will be thoroughly investigated. The slightest fabrication will meet severe punishment!”
“From this day forward, the Tongjia clan is confined to Chengqian Palace. The Sixth Princess is to be sent back to Zhongcui Palace and placed under Consort Rong’s care for now.”
“As for Zasuhuli-she is to be confined to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!”
Tong Jia clutched her chest in fury before collapsing weakly to the ground.
She was being confined to Chengqian Palace, while that wretched woman was being sent before the Emperor?!
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang could tell at a glance that her grandson had been completely kept in the dark.
Given his controlling nature, he must be seething with anger.
If Fang He was going to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, things might not end well for her.
After a moment’s thought, Xiaozhuang said calmly, “It’s of no consequence. I don’t believe—”
“Imperial Grandmother!” The Kangxi Emperor interrupted expressionlessly, his voice grave.
“It’s better to believe something exists than to risk its absence. Whatever her fate may be, I am the true Son of Heaven and fear no hindrance. But I dare not expose Your Majesty to even the slightest risk.”
Xiaozhuang: “……”
If you’re so capable, why not keep her confined in the Grand Buddha Hall!
Seeing her grandson’s determination to take the woman away, she didn’t stand in his way.
After all this commotion, her headache was unbearable, and she couldn’t spare any concern for how Fang He would face the Emperor’s wrath.
Noticing the Empress Dowager about to speak, Xiaozhuang subtly shook her head.
She reckoned that since Fang He could handle such a life-threatening crisis with such composure, soothing a man’s anger should be well within her capabilities.
Let these two troublemakers sort out their own mess.
This time, Fang He wasn’t granted the privilege of a sedan chair.
From the moment they left Cining Palace, the Emperor hadn’t uttered a word.
Chunlai was immediately taken away by Liang Jiugong, presumably for thorough questioning about what had transpired.
Fang He followed beside the imperial palanquin with downcast eyes, carefully pondering Tong Jia’s earlier words without even glancing inside.
Seeing her calm demeanor through the curtain only stoked the Emperor’s fury.
As it was nearly time for the midday meal, the Third Prince Yinzhi and Fourth Prince Yinzhen emerged from the study hall just as the Emperor was returning through Yuehua Gate.
Yinzhen immediately moved to pay respects, but Yinzhi yanked him back.
“Are you blind? Can’t you see the expressions on the eunuchs carrying the palanquin?”
Their heads were practically buried in their chests-clearly, the Emperor was in a foul mood.
Why would they want to invite trouble?
Yinzhi tried to pull Yinzhen into hiding.
Yinzhen frowned.
“Propriety cannot be neglected—”
“Enough of that! When you roll your eyes at me, where’s your respect for your elder brother?”
Peeking out cautiously, Yinzhi spotted the demure Fang He as the procession drew nearer.
Clicking his tongue, he remarked, “Tsk tsk, looks like this Lady Za stirred up quite a scene at Cining Palace, just like before—”
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
With Yinzhi’s talent for recognizing people by their bone structure, he was certain Fang He and Zasuhuli were one and the same but this was something others mustn’t hear.
Shaking his head, he continued silently: Only the Emperor could bring himself to be angry with such a beauty.
If it were him, he’d treasure her like a precious jewel.
“Let’s go, I’m starving. We should eat quickly and return to our studies. If Father’s in a bad mood and decides to test us, we’ll be in trouble.”
Ever since Consort Rong became devoted to Buddhist practices, she’d largely withdrawn from the petty rivalries of the inner court.
The hostility in Empress Dowager’s demeanor had lessened, making it easier for Yinzhi to approach her.
Lately, he’d been rather… ahem… lax with his studies.
He wanted no trouble at all and had no intention of seeking out the Emperor.
Using his greater strength, he practically dragged the slender Yinzhen away like a chick.
After the two left, Cui Wei finally peeked out from behind a pillar in the corridor.
Lost in thought, she watched as Kangxi and Fang He headed toward Zhaoren Hall.
Her eyes flickered with mischief before she turned and headed to the imperial tea kitchen.
The Mid-Autumn family banquet hadn’t been grand, and Fang He, given her status, hadn’t attended-so the two hadn’t met.
Cui Wei had assumed they wouldn’t see each other until the Emperor’s birthday celebration, and she’d already prepared some juicy gossip… but who knew she’d get to witness Fang He’s predicament first?
With Aunt Qin now serving as the head matron in the Imperial Household Department, Cui Wei-now “Aunt Cui”-had plenty of free time to… heh heh…
By the time Cui Wei carried the tea tray toward Zhaoren Hall, Fang He was already kneeling inside.
She didn’t understand why Kangxi was so furious-she was the one who’d nearly been confined, yet she wasn’t the one fuming.
But this was the palace, and she couldn’t afford to provoke the fire-breathing dragon.
Kangxi forced himself to suppress his anger, sitting on the soft couch as he spoke with forced calm.
“Do you resent me for ordering your confinement?”
Fang He shook her head obediently.
“No, Your Majesty has been more than kind to me. How could I dare?”
She didn’t expect him to suddenly become lovestruck-that would only make things worse.
Given Kangxi’s position, his measured punishment could already be considered favoritism.
Kangxi nodded.
“Good. Then tell me if you had plans all along, why hide them from me?”
Fang He finally grasped the reason for his anger and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
“I was preparing for the worst. The methods weren’t exactly honorable, and I hoped they wouldn’t be necessary. Your Majesty is burdened with countless affairs…”
“You know that’s not what I wanted to hear!” Kangxi cut her off impatiently, pulling her to her feet.
“I’ve been sincere with you. If you had even a shred of affection for me, you wouldn’t have kept me in the dark!”
Fang He was genuinely stunned, staring at him with wide, incredulous eyes.
She’d seen hypocritical officials before, but never one this shameless.
Suppressing an absurd urge to laugh, she answered patiently, “If I had no feelings for Your Majesty, why would I have returned with “
Kangxi sneered, interrupting again.
“If I hadn’t sought you out, if I hadn’t threatened those people at the inn, would you have come back with me?”
Fang He lowered her gaze and stayed silent.
“Speak!” Kangxi snapped.
Fang He sighed in exasperation.
“What do you want me to say?
“That Your Majesty was so sincerely moved by your cousin’s fragility that when she framed me and tried to kill me, your first instinct was to ask me to endure the injustice?”
“Or that Your Majesty sincerely wanted my trust, yet never gave me a chance to speak?”
The more she spoke, the more absurd it felt.
“Why do you keep asking if I trust you, if I would have returned with you… I’m already here. My future depends on you. “