Like stones dropping into water, ripples spread, accompanied by the faint clinks of jade bracelets and pillows colliding.
Two figures entangled, embraced from behind like watching snow fall.
After a long time, a few muffled groans were heard, and the snow finally settled. Â
The next morning at court, Kangxi rose refreshed, not waking Fang He.
Only before entering the hall did he force himself to suppress the smile on his face, sitting expressionless on the Dragon Throne.
Having given his “explanation” to his little fox, it was now time to give one to the court!
“The new grain from all regions should have arrived by July, yet our Qing soldiers were beaten helplessly by the Jungars simply because they had no food. How is the Inner Cabinet and the Six Ministries doing their duties?”
“In late September, the northern Mongols suffered from cold weather and insufficient supplies. Before I left the capital, I had already ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to raise grain and provisions in Shandong, Henan, and other areas. Yet you let the soldiers retreat to Bo Luohetun due to lack of supplies. Tell me, where did all the silver in the national treasury go?”
Kangxi furiously slammed the memorial on the white jade steps, sending it crashing down on the ministers.
“While I fought the enemy with the soldiers outside, you had the heart to defend the grievances of the harem? What, is the court business going poorly and you want to come serve me in the palace?”
Suo’etu and Mingzhu grimaced and quickly knelt.
Because the Crown Prince was beaten, Suo’etu was somewhat dissatisfied.
Gualdan’s escape was the fault of Prince Yu and the Eldest Prince, so what did he have to do with it? Â
Now that the Jungar escape was settled, Suo’etu naturally cared more about the Crown Prince’s face.
He spoke up for the ministers who had submitted memorials, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, riding on Your Majesty’s favor, treats the harem concubines like slaves and even dares to bully the Crown Prince. This is no longer just a matter of the harem!”
The moment Suo’etu spoke, the Crown Prince knew it was bad.
He hurriedly said, “Minister Suo, it is my failure in governing that frightened the Consort. There is no need to discuss this matter further…”
Suo’etu snorted coldly, “Even if some in the harem acted recklessly and were beaten or killed, so what? What does this have to do with the Crown Prince?”
“If this spreads, Noble Consort’s actions will destabilize the Crown Prince’s position and the hearts of the people…”
Kangxi coldly interrupted Suo’etu, “Are the ones you call ‘reckless’ Consort Ping and Consort Xi?”
“Do you want the Consort to beat and kill them? I was unaware that you, Hesheri, decide how to run the harem!”
Suo’etu stiffened his neck and dared not answer, “The two ladies were merely collateral damage.”
“We believe, no matter what, the Consort should never lay hands on the Crown Prince. That is usurpation, which will eventually shake the realm.”
“Please, Your Majesty, rule in favor of the Crown Prince!”
Kangxi stared coldly at Suo’etu for a moment.
The murderous intent in his eyes made even old minister Mingzhu sweat. Â
But Suo’etu, thinking himself wholeheartedly loyal and having military achievements, was determined to defend the Crown Prince.
Kangxi probably understood his thoughts and laughed angrily.
“Very well, what you say makes sense. Suo’etu, I ask you—if I were to move against the Crown Prince, would that not be usurpation?”
Crown Prince: “!!!”
He hadn’t done anything! Â
Suo’etu sensed Kangxi’s wrath but could not back down.
If he gave in now, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan would forever dominate the Crown Prince. Â
He gritted his teeth, “Your Majesty teaches the Crown Prince rightfully, but the Consort should not…”
“Consort previously helped me teach the Crown Prince.” Kangxi interrupted again, this time with no coldness, rather unusually gentle.
“But I understand your meaning, Minister. I will not have the Consort intervene on my behalf anymore.”
“Regarding the Six Ministries’ dereliction, the Inner Cabinet must draft a report for me quickly. I will not mention this matter again. Court is dismissed.”
“The Crown Prince and Suo’etu, come with me—I will give you an explanation first.”
Yinreng almost cried but could not lose face in court.
Once inside Hongde Hall, Yinreng immediately knelt.
“Father, your son needs no explanation. I know my mistake!”
“It was my evil intention to remove the Consort’s unborn child. I am willing to accept punishment and will never think such thoughts again.”
Yinreng knew his father’s temperament well. When he was angry, it was straightforward; when not angry, it meant the evidence was conclusive, and he was to be discarded.
Suo’etu was alarmed.
His men acting near the Crown Prince had used Consort Ping and Consort Xi but left no evidence. Â
Even if Noble Consort Zhaoyuan had proof of the Crown Prince’s guilt, she never claimed he harmed her child.
Why would the Crown Prince admit it? Â
Kangxi looked at him coldly.
Yinreng choked up. Â
Yinreng: “Since I know my mistake, I will take the punishment. The Consort was humble and only fought half-heartedly for me.”
“…”
“Yes, I accept the punishment!”
He didn’t even glance at Suo’etu, who was confused, and left Hongde Hall with red eyes.
Soon, the sound of the rod striking wood came from outside the door.
Suo’etu, kneeling on the floor, panicked and called out. Â
“Your Majesty—hiss!”
Before he finished, a memorial was thrown down, hitting his forehead painfully.
Kangxi looked coldly at him, “Do you think I don’t know about the men Hesheri left around Baocheng?”
“Or do you take the Forbidden City as your own home, doing whatever you please? The Imperial Household Department’s Imperial Inspectorate is not for show!”
Suo’etu didn’t dare touch his wounded forehead but picked up the memorial and read a few lines before his face turned pale.
The memorial detailed all the secret spies exposed by Zhao Chang and the Shadow Guard, not only in Hesheri’s faction but also in the Niuhulu, Tongjia, Guoluo, Ma Jia, and Nara clans. Â
Some of Hesheri’s spies had served Empress Hesheri, others seemed unrelated, and some had been placed during Suoni’s time.
Since Suo’etu took over as family head, these men were under his control alone.
That was why he was confident the attack in the Imperial Garden wouldn’t be uncovered.
At most, Consort Ping’s unfounded accusations, and the near-death quarrel involving Consorts Duan and Xi, would never be traced back to Hesheri.
If not for Fang He’s indiscriminate crackdown without evidence, he would still be holding his breath.
But the memorial in Suo’etu’s hand had exposed nearly 90% of Hesheri’s spies.
Including those who attacked by the lake in the Imperial Garden, those who passed messages between Consorts Duan and Ping, and those who smuggled safflower powder to Consort Xi—all meticulously recorded by the Imperial Inspectorate.
Cold sweat dripped down Suo’etu’s temples, stinging his wound and making his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
He lost all his earlier bravado and pressed his head to the ground.
“I… I deserve death! This has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. It was my betrayal. I feared the Consort’s child would take the Crown Prince’s favor from Your Majesty. It was all my doing. Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!”
Since the Emperor had summoned them to the Shang Shufang, Suo’etu understood his meaning.
The Crown Prince must not bear the sin of harming the imperial heir, but someone must be punished for acting against the Consort.
Kangxi now had no intention of sparing Suo’etu, harshly berating him until he could not raise his head.
“If not for you, Baocheng wouldn’t have been so foolish. My good Crown Prince was spoiled by you. You are beyond blame! Â
“In the past, I tolerated your schemes for Baocheng and Xiaokang’s sake, repeatedly advised you, but you ignored it all. How did Suoni give birth to such an undutiful son?!”
“Now that you have harmed the Consort, I wonder if next time I anger you, you’ll poison me to keep your Hesheri clan in glory?”
Suo’etu wept bitterly, never daring to reply.
“I was foolish! A moment of weakness, no intention to deceive Your Majesty or incite the Crown Prince. Your Majesty, please believe me!”
Kangxi didn’t want to argue further.
After the Imperial Inspectorate uncovered the spies in the Imperial Manor and their connections, they had been waiting for this day to catch the culprit red-handed. Â
“Hesheri Xin Yu and Fa Bao repeatedly violated Qing laws, neglecting duties and abusing power. That is due to your poor discipline.”
“Now you arrogantly think yourself the Crown Prince’s uncle, growing more spoiled each day, even meddling in my household affairs. I will not tolerate you stirring up trouble in the palace!”
“Go home and reflect properly. You are no longer permitted to see the Crown Prince!”
Kangxi ordered the guards to drag the sobbing Suo’etu out.
Soon after, an Imperial Edict was issued: the three Hesheri brothers—Xin Yu was stripped of office and forever banned from court, becoming a mere idle royal; Fa Bao was stripped of rank and office and sent to Shengjing to reflect in seclusion; Suo’etu was stripped of his positions as Councillor, Inner Minister, and Crown Prince’s tutor, demoted to a battalion commander, and assigned to Liulichang with no permission to enter the palace.
The Crown Prince was beaten, Suo’etu was stripped bare, and the entire capital buzzed with gossip.
The consorts in the harem who had planned to undermine Fang He now bitterly regretted praying for the Emperor’s swift return.
Without the Emperor, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan was untouchable.
Though frightened, none dared request the Imperial Physician’s help.
Mercy and wrath alike are manifestations of the Emperor’s grace.
Asking for the Imperial Physician now would be courting death. Â
No one in the palace blamed Noble Consort Zhaoyuan for losing her mind.
Compared to the crazed Kangxi of the previous reign, they preferred being beaten by a madwoman. Â
But it was too late for regrets.
With Kangxi’s harsh purge, the entire harem fell into line.
The former court was silenced, and no one dared oppose him. Â
At that moment, everyone realized that the Emperor’s seeming patience and leniency before had been like boiling a frog slowly, luring them unknowingly into the guillotine.
This military campaign against the Jungars was not just to confront them, but an opportunity for the Emperor to set a trap and strike at their vital points during his absence.
It was also a battle between the Emperor and the former harem factions.
After being numbed for so long, they were utterly defeated, with the Emperor the sole victor.
“Fang He, the Tong family was not implicated this time, but I fear they will be scheming a lot from now on.”  Concubine Jing said calmly in Yanxi Palace to Fang He. Â
“Just wait. They’ll send someone to persuade me to vie for favor by the New Year.”
Fang He was puzzled, “Isn’t that normal? The Tong family has benefited so much they never gave up advancing through women.”
Neither of them had ever asked each other about their backgrounds, but they both tacitly understood their incongruous identities from the past life.
Concubine Jing smiled and explained, “The Eldest Prince may have made mistakes but has military achievements, so he stands firm in the Ministry of War.
“The Crown Prince is weak now. To maintain balance, the Emperor will sooner or later recall Suo’etu. The Tong family knows this. With the Hesheri faction toppled, Nalan Mingzhu and Tong Guowei won’t miss this opportunity to place their people in court.” Â
“Nalan Mingzhu is backed by the Eldest Prince and has long opposed Suo’etu, so even if Suo’etu returns, he is not afraid. But the Tong family is different. Yinzhen won’t speak for the Tong family, and I have no favor with the Emperor now, so I have no influence.” Â
Concubine Jing smiled, “When Suo’etu returns, the Crown Prince will surely plead for the Hesheri faction, and the Emperor won’t disregard the Crown Prince’s face.”
“If the Tong family doesn’t want to give up their gains, they will find a way to get someone in the palace who can speak for them before the Emperor. Only then can there be balance.”
Fang He saw Concubine Jing smiling at her and understood the meaning behind her words.
She asked, “Do you want me to help you win the Emperor’s favor?”
If so, she would have to disappoint Concubine Jing.
That man was hers now, and she wouldn’t share him with anyone.
But Fang He was somewhat curious,  “You… really willing to serve the Emperor?” Â
Concubine Jing calmly sipped her tea, “Who said I want to serve the Emperor? Even if I serve, I don’t want to serve the Emperor.”
Fang He nibbled a walnut kernel and casually asked, “Then who do you want to serve?”
Concubine Jing looked up at her, “You.”
“Cough, cough, cough…” Fang He choked violently on the walnut kernel and drank several sips of tea to wash it down.
She clutched her chest, eyes wide with caution.
“I… I like men, not women!”
Concubine Jing smiled, “What a coincidence—we’re kindred spirits.”
Fang He relaxed, “Then what do you mean?” Â
Concubine Jing leaned forward slightly and gently wiped the walnut residue from Fang He’s lips, her eyes full of charm.
“I will serve you as the one above all others, the rest of my life devoted to you. Let you control everything about me. As long as you grant me a title so I can openly keep male favorites, how about that?”
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