Fang He weakly waved her hand, protesting seriously, “It’s really just my wrists that hurt. My health is fine! Of course, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it, is there?”
Under Consort De’s knowing yet indulgent gentle persuasion, Fang He eventually took her leave with Chunlai, gracefully bidding farewell to Consort Yi and Noble Lady An before returning to Chunhui Hall.
When Consort De returned to Wanfang Studio, the Fifth and Seventh Princesses were playing in the side hall.
She couldn’t hold back any longer; she tore a handkerchief to shreds.
If Fang He bore a child, wouldn’t her own children be overshadowed, reduced to second-class status?
She hadn’t schemed and endured in the palace all these years just to become someone else’s stepping stone.
That wretch wasn’t worthy!
Hedong worriedly presented a cup of honeysuckle tea, softly advising, “She’s just a plaything, and the Grand Empress Dowager is still watching over things.”
“Mistress, why must you give Consort Zhao this face? After all, you hold a higher rank and have greater blessings. No matter how favored she is, she’s still just a consort.”
Consort De curled her lips.
“The Grand Empress Dowager? Hah…”
Who could say how much longer that old crone would live?
Fang He already enjoyed immense favor.
If the Grand Empress Dowager passed, the Empress Dowager would likely treat that wretch as her own daughter.
Who could keep Consort Zhao in check then?
Consort Hui and Consort Rong didn’t care about favor because they were already past their prime.
Consort Yi had given up after bearing three sons.
But what about her?
She rubbed her stomach repeatedly, knowing she couldn’t afford to rush the more impatient she was, the more likely she’d make mistakes.
She closed her eyes, struggling to suppress her anger.
It took her a while to regain her composure before she coldly asked, “Why hasn’t the fabric prepared for the Fifth and Seventh Princesses been delivered yet?”
Hedong quickly replied, “Your Highness, the Imperial Household Department said that His Majesty personally instructed that all items for Yun- I mean, for the Fifth and Seventh Princesses must be handled with utmost care. They estimate it will take a few more days to deliver.”
Noble Consort De picked up a plain white handkerchief from her embroidery basket with an air of indifference.
Slowly selecting apricot- colored thread-Galuudai’s favorite-she removed her tortoiseshell nail guards and secured the handkerchief with an embroidery hoop.
She ran the needle through her hair to smooth it.
Only after completing these motions did she give a faint acknowledgment.
“Tell the Imperial Household Department that children’s health is fragile and requires special attention. Matters concerning the imperial heirs cannot be delayed-order them to hurry!”
“Yes, this servant will remember,” Hedong responded.
She could tell her mistress had no intention of allowing Consort Zhao to carry that child to term.
Yet inexplicably, Hedong felt an indescribable unease—perhaps fearing that too much blood on their hands might hinder the accumulation of blessings for their own young master…
Fang He stayed in Chunhui Hall for several more days, unexpectedly finding herself in harmonious intimacy with the Kangxi Emperor.
When this lord wasn’t behaving like a ravenous wolf-when he wasn’t angry or sarcastic he could actually be quite decent.
Between the bed curtains, the perpetual motion machine mostly provided comfort after all.
Not being one to hold back in such settings, with both parties eager, even the illustrated manuals contributed by the Empress Dowager found their way behind the curtains.
The frequency of hot water requests from the imperial chambers increased noticeably.
But Fang He remained mindful of her earlier schemes, worried that excessive commotion might arouse Noble Consort De’s suspicions, so she deliberately insisted on returning to Yunya Pavilion.
Of course, there was also the matter of having had too much meat and craving some vegetables.
Pleasurable activities should be enjoyed in moderation-no place could withstand daily indulgence!
She was always bold and enthusiastic in the beginning, but her stamina simply couldn’t keep up in the later stages.
Kangxi seemed like some ancient version of Superman-the man never tired.
Especially when encountering positions he hadn’t tried before, his studious enthusiasm and energy left Fang He utterly awestruck.
The sessions typically ended with whimpers and moans, often concluding with swollen, reddened eyelids.
The noises made even Cui Wei and the other maids reluctant to listen too closely, lest they become inflamed.
Sometimes Fang He grew so frustrated she wanted to bite him, but she always lacked the strength.
Whenever she tried any clever tricks to provoke him, Kangxi would simply avoid biteable areas, blocking both her mouths instead, making her cry even harder-even giving her a taste of heavenly dew.
She couldn’t take it anymore-she needed to escape!
Let the boss go find her elder or younger sister-in-law instead!
One thing became clear: Noble Consort De wouldn’t make her move in the imperial chambers.
No wonder she’s remained favored for so many years.
Fang He had to admit she couldn’t match Noble Consort De’s caution and patience.
Coincidentally, a major incident occurred at court.
Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Guo Xiu publicly impeached Nalan Mingzhu for five grave offenses: monopolizing state affairs, selling official posts, controlling access to the Grand Secretariat, among others, causing an uproar throughout the court.
Even Yinli’s father-in-law, Kerkun, became implicated.
Upon hearing the news, the six-months-pregnant primary consort Irgen Gioro fainted on the spot, nearly miscarrying.
With Yinli kneeling in Chunhui Hall pleading for his father-in-law’s mercy, it really wasn’t appropriate for Fang He to remain any longer.
Kangxi didn’t like Fang He interacting too much with the Crown Prince and the imperial princes, not out of concern for propriety between men and women, but because he feared this troublemaker might lead them astray-the imperial court was already lively enough as it was.
Fang He had always been aware of this.
Even with the Crown Prince, who appeared most frequently at court, she rarely had any contact.
This time, when she took the initiative to request to return, Kangxi was quite pleased.
This troublemaker had become much more considerate than before, so with a wave of his hand, he bestowed upon her many rewards from his private treasury.
Before leaving, Fang He made an excuse to have Cui Wei and Fule send the rewards back first, while also keeping an eye on cleaning her quarters and warming incense in advance to dispel the dampness from the nearby lake.
Kangxi knew exactly what she was up to, and it left him feeling a bit uneasy.
This child hasn’t even shown up yet…
What he didn’t know was that while Fang He intended to trap her prey, she wouldn’t underestimate Consort De’s methods or put herself in danger.
When Cui Wei returned to accompany Fang He back to Yunya Pavilion, she subtly shook her head, signaling that nothing unusual had been found.
Fang He was puzzled.
Had Consort De suddenly changed her ways and turned over a new leaf?
Impossible!
Even when Fang He was favored, Consort De had schemed to suppress her.
Now, under the mistaken belief that Fang He was pregnant while she herself had no child to rely on, how could she possibly sit still?
Unless… had she also conceived?
Speaking of which, when did Consort De give birth to the Fourteenth Prince?
Fang He cursed herself for not paying closer attention when Geng Shuning had talked about her idol back in the day, leaving her completely in the dark now.
Helpless, Fang He could only instruct Fule:
“Keep a close watch, especially in my quarters and the places I frequent. Check three times a day -don’t slack off.”
Fule nodded earnestly.
“This servant will remember.”
She was meticulous by nature and had an excellent memory.
The slightest irregularity would catch her attention immediately.
But perhaps due to the upheaval in the imperial court, Yunya Pavilion remained entirely undisturbed.
Even when Yinzhi knelt until he couldn’t stand and had to be carried back to the princes’ quarters by Kangxi’s order, and when Mingzhu’s faction members, including Jinde Hong and Yu Guozhu, were stripped of their ranks due to irrefutable evidence of crimes.
Even Li Zhifang, the Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary who had made great contributions in suppressing the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, was forced to retire in disgrace and return to his hometown.
The Manchu Ministers of Revenue, Fulun, and Personnel, Kerkun, along with the Han Minister of Works, Xiong Yixiao, were all dismissed and investigated.
Several provincial governors connected to Mingzhu were even executed and their families purged.
This was the most significant upheaval since Kangxi ascended the throne.
Compared with the previous covert treatment of concubines in the harem to deter the previous dynasty, Kangxi no longer concealed his control over the imperial power and his swift and decisive actions and issued an order directly.
Even though the censors said that the emperor’s actions were too much and would make the meritorious official feel cold, Kangxi did not change his mind at all.
He even criticized the censors for not properly supervising the officials, and punished several stubborn censors and a large number of officials in the Southern Study.
The dynasty had such a big commotion, and the news spread faster in Changchun Garden.
The harem got the news much faster than in the palace.
There was no movement in Ruijingxuan, and Xiaozhuang even exempted the concubine from paying respects, and asked them to stay in their own palaces to copy scriptures and meditate.
Knowing that Kangxi was determined to clean up the court, she really didn’t want to hear the concubines crying.
Fang He was naturally happy that she didn’t have to go out, or even serve the emperor in the bedroom.
She could finally lie down and relax.
When Consort An sent over the embroidery patterns from Consort Jing, Fang He found herself idly holding a small garment while Cui Wei and Chunlai were busy with their needlework.
Finding the main hall too stuffy, Fang He led her maids to the second-floor terrace by the water.
Sitting there with the lake breeze, she began her embroidery.
To her surprise, she didn’t even prick her fingers!
Testing her skills.
Fang He was thrilled though her cooking was abysmal, perhaps her talents lay in needlework instead.
Cui Wei and Chunlai, initially overjoyed, thought their mistress might be with child-until they remembered she had just finished her monthly cycle.
Fang He explained, “I’m making this for my godson, but there’s no way to explain it properly. Just assume I’m eager for a child.”
Cui Wei glanced discreetly at the fabric in Fang He’s hands and tactfully suggested, “Perhaps… could this servant do it for you?”
Otherwise, she feared that with her mistress’s embroidery skills, by the time the little garment was finished -the child would have already outgrown it.
Fang He shook her head with exaggerated solemnity.
“No, no. This godson’s clothes must carry the love stitched by his godmother’s own hands. I must do it myself.”
Chunlai: “…… How about sewing a pouch instead?”
The sleeves were practically sewn to the hem!
At least a pouch only had one opening and could be tucked out of sight-no need to worry about sizing.
Fang He pondered and agreed.
She, too, noticed something off about the sleeves but couldn’t figure it out.
Better to focus on a pouch-embroidering a golden ingot, something she was sure she could manage.
At worst, she could outline the shape first and fill it in with simple stitches.
Pleased, she tossed aside the messily stitched pale blue fabric and asked Cui Wei to fetch the indigo brocade with golden clouds-blue and gold made a fine pairing.
As for how she had obtained the fabric under the pretense of making clothes for Kangxi…
Well, she could always use the leftover scraps to sew Kangxi a pair of underpants!
Just as she was scheming, Fule hurried in.
“Mistress, this servant has discovered something amiss the sachet by your bed’s canopy, the stuffing in your daybed, and even the lamp oil you use at night are all tainted!”
Fule’s face was grim as she swiftly helped Fang He up, steering her away from the daybed toward better-ventilated space.
“This servant should have noticed yesterday when the Imperial Household Department delivered your monthly supplies, but the issues were hidden undetectable until they began to release their effects. This servant was careless!”
Fang He wasn’t surprised.
She had been waiting for this.
Calmly, she asked, “What exactly is the problem? Explain in detail.”
“The sachet’s fragrance was soaked in oleander water. The daybed’s padding contains cassia twigs, and the lamp oil has been mixed with purslane!”
Chunlai immediately fetched scissors and cut open the daybed’s stuffing.
Sure enough, cassia twigs were found inside.
Fule’s face darkened.
“Oleander is minimally toxic if untouched, but when inhaled alongside cassia, it greatly increases the risk of miscarriage.”
“Purslane not only induces abortion but is also called the ‘cold herb.’ Prolonged exposure makes one’s pulse mimic signs of a cold constitution, hindering conception.”
Kneeling before Fang He, Fule checked her pulse with trembling hands.
If her mistress had been breathing this all night, any potential pregnancy could already be affected.
Fang He smirked coldly.
Thankfully, she had just finished her cycle.
Consort De never failed to deliver-when she struck, she went all out.
“Cui Wei, summon His Majesty and the Noble Consort.”
“Chunlai, fetch Head Matron Su and Matron Wu.”
Such a grand spectacle would be a waste of Consort De’s thoughtful arrangements if the high-ranking officials didn’t get to witness it!
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