Liang Jiugong silently had Ranxia lead the maids out and guarded the door himself.
Kangxi sat beside Fang He with a smile, unconcerned about the ashes on the roasted sweet potatoes.
He broke one open himself and fed it to Fang He.
Fang He, biting into the sweet, soft roasted sweet potato, squinted with delight.
“I remember, the first time I threw Your Majesty onto the dragon bed, I was still working here in the Imperial Teahouse. Not long after, I was transferred to serve up front. At that time, Your Majesty already had evil intentions toward me, didn’t you?”
Kangxi: “Earlier than that.”
Fang He’s eyes widened curiously, “When was it then?”
Kangxi didn’t answer, just smiled and tapped her head.
He’d wanted to do that the first time he saw Fang He popping her head up.
Thinking back now, Kangxi actually found it incredible.
In the palace, any servant daring to peek at the imperial presence would, by his temperament, have been dealt with harshly.
But with that little gopher, he’d never even thought of punishing her.
Now, he couldn’t even recall why.
Perhaps, he’d already set his sights on her back then, just hadn’t realized it.
Fortunately, he hadn’t missed out on this lively troublemaker.
How lucky, to experience this world’s fireworks brought by her.
Fang He didn’t pursue the question.
After they finished eating sweet potatoes, she asked the questions she couldn’t ask in Qianqing or Yanxi Palace.
“You’ve made up your mind? It isn’t quite fair to him. No other emperor in the future could possibly tolerate him.”
Although she cooperated with Kangxi in pressing the Crown Prince, she knew Kangxi wasn’t heartless with his children.
He wouldn’t let the Crown Prince come to mortal harm; he’d even consider a way out for Yinreng, just not sure what Kangxi planned.
The best way out was probably to personally raise another heir and instill in him the idea of treating Yinreng well.
This new heir, it could only be Er Bao.
But Fang He didn’t want Er Bao to bear such a heavy responsibility at such a young age.
Other places weren’t suitable for such a talk, afraid someone might be eavesdropping.
She had first switched to Shoukang Palace maid attire, then to Qianqing Palace attire.
The plan came on a whim—no one could have guessed that the two most noble people in the palace would be squatting in the little Imperial Teahouse eating roasted sweet potatoes.
Kangxi finished the half piece Fang He refused to eat, his expression calm.
“Gualdan has gathered his old troops at Kobdo. The Luosha have lent him ten cannons and several hundred muskets. Next year, I will campaign in person again.”
“I’ll give him one last chance. If he can’t grasp it, I’ve already picked out a princely residence for him in Zhengjiazhuang.”
Kangxi didn’t say that no matter what, this was his legitimate son in whom he’d invested the most.
As long as he was alive, Yinreng would be safe.
If he was gone, he’d leave an imperial edict for the new emperor to treat Yinreng kindly.
Except for the eldest, the others’ temperaments wouldn’t let them harm Yinreng, no matter who took the throne.
Fang He understood.
Wasn’t Yinreng historically confined at Zhengjiazhuang?
But she thought, for Yinreng to be locked up for decades so young was such a pity.
Though he wasn’t suited to be a conservative emperor, maybe he could have been a good pioneer.
She rose with a smile and extended her hand to Kangxi and said, “I have a better idea. Does My Lord want to hear it?”
Kangxi stood, smiling, and squeezed Fang He’s hand with intent.
“I’d rather see how you’re coming along in your ‘matters of adulthood.’ I don’t mind teaching you properly.”
Fang He: “…..”
‘Is it appropriate to joke when I’m being serious?!’
Maybe it was reminiscing, or maybe because Fang He was so relaxed and trusting with Kangxi, a new spark flared between them.
Anyone with eyes could see… Imperial Consort Zhen, who already dominated the harem, was somehow even more favored.
It was no illusion.
She was practically living in Qianqing Palace!
Sometimes Jiujiu and Er Bao, unable to find their mother in Yanxi Palace or Qianqing Palace, started to wonder if they were accidental children.
As the New Year passed, their game of hide-and-seek hadn’t ended.
The places for teaching “matters of adulthood” grew more and more numerous.
Even the hot spring and rock garden of the imperial villa—where Kangxi had once seen ghosts—were not immune to the couple’s shenanigans.
The hidden guards didn’t dare get too close—no one knew what was going on between the emperor and consort.
By May, news finally arrived from Beimeng: Gualdan, leading his old troops, had attacked Khalkha’s Cheng Han of Khalkha.
The Jungar troops pillaged and burned along their path, claiming they would take Monan, then move north to attack Rehe and capture the capital in one swoop.
Kangxi flew into a rage.
He immediately ordered Fuquan and Changning to split their forces east and west, leading fifty thousand troops (including Shengjing Troops and Hotun Troops) north, with Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei supervising, to help Khalkha reclaim lost ground and crush the rebellious Mongol factions following Gualdan.
Kangxi himself, along with Zhenwu General Sun Sike and Fuyuan Grand General Feiyan Gu, would lead another fifty thousand soldiers straight up the central route, to meet the eastern and western armies at the upper reaches of Wengjin River in Monan.
Now that the Grand Empress Dowager had passed, the Empress Dowager worried but could not stop the emperor.
Many officials even sought access to Yanxi Palace, asking Fang He to persuade the emperor to stay in the capital and command from there.
Fang He ignored the officials and their wives, heeding only Concubine Jing’s advice.
She prepared the best medicines and Western pharmaceuticals from the Imperial Medical Institute and Imperial Pharmacy for Kangxi.
“A frugal home but a wealthy journey; sometimes Western medicine works faster than Chinese.”
She carefully labeled every medicine box with its name and function, sticking the notes on the lid, and arranged them all in large wooden chests for easy access and portability.
“I also had Xinzi make over a dozen pairs of thousand-layered-soled boots for you. It’s getting colder up north. The foot-soaking medicinal packets are packed as well—remember, no matter how busy, you must soak your feet, understand?”
“Fule and Elder Sister of Liang sent nourishing recipes. I’ve already handed them to Physician Zhang Yuyi.”
“I’ve instructed him to check your pulse daily and report to me every three days. If I find out you’re neglecting your health, don’t think about stepping foot into Yanxi Palace when you return!”
Hearing Fang He, who rarely nagged, Kangxi’s heart grew ever softer.
This was a tenderness he’d never known.
She didn’t say a single word of objection, but every word was an entreaty to stay.
Truly, it’s hardest to endure gentle pleas.
Her soft voice made him want to stay.
Kangxi simply stood up, pulled Fang He into an embrace, and kissed her.
As their breaths intertwined, Kangxi whispered at Fang He’s lips.
“Guoguo, no matter what happens, I will not let you down.”
Fang He paused, looking up at Kangxi.
In the past, this man always said, “Guoguo, don’t let Me down.”
Now, at some point, he only said he wouldn’t let her down.
They had both changed.
She smiled and hugged Kangxi tightly, rubbing against him.
“I’ll wait for Your Majesty’s triumphant return!”
Kangxi’s gaze flickered as he kissed Fang He’s brow with a smile.
This gentle, sweet atmosphere made even those serving in the hall smile unconsciously—none of them noticed that His Lordship hadn’t actually given Fang He a definite answer.
On the third day of the eighth lunar month, Kangxi led the central army out of the capital, heading north.
He left the Crown Prince as regent, taking First Prince Yin Xi, Third Prince Yinzhi, Fourth Prince Yinzhen, and Fifth Prince Yinqi with him.
Yinreng personally saw Kangxi off atop the city wall, toasting him with wine, never showing any unusual expression.
Only after the imperial carriage vanished from view did Yinreng reveal an almost crazed smile.
He’d been biding his time for over half a year—like in childhood, quietly and obediently staying in Shang Shufang, teaching his brothers, appearing to devote himself to study, until he finally gained his father’s trust and was left in charge of the Great Qing.
This time, he did not plan to return the regency.
As he descended the city tower, Yinreng quietly instructed Xu Bao at his side.
“Send word to Suo’etu—it’s time to act.”
Xu Bao shuddered inwardly but dared not show it, responding at once.
Ten days later, Concubine Jing and Gu Wenxing hurried into Yanxi Palace, one after the other.
“The Crown Prince has gone mad—he’s rebelling!”
“My lady, the Crown Prince has detained Prince Jian Yabu and sealed off the Outer City!”
Fang He wasn’t surprised.
The Crown Prince now was nothing like the one pampered by Kangxi in history.
Because of her, Jiujiu, and Er Bao, and because of Kangxi’s change in attitude, the Crown Prince had been forced into a corner much earlier, forgetting he had other choices and setting off down a path bound to fail.
She told Gu Wenxing, “We don’t need to do anything—just guard Yanxi Palace.”
Once Gu Wenxing left, she rose and solemnly bowed deeply to Concubine Jing.
Concubine Jing hurriedly stood up and asked, “What are you doing?”
She actually knew Fang He would be fine.
But with Fang He’s intervention, and since Kangxi likely wouldn’t be trapped at Gubeikou with malaria, Concubine Jing worried the Crown Prince might have more time for mischief.
Even if Fang He, the story’s main character, stayed safe, no one could promise the same for those she loved.
If things really came to that, Concubine Jing even had a hunch the whole story would collapse.
Fang He insisted on finishing the deep courtesy before rising solemnly and said, “I’ll have Jiujiu and Er Bao stay at Shoukang Palace. I have a request.”
Concubine Jing’s heart skipped, nodding at her vague suspicion.
“Go ahead.”
“You should move into Shoukang Palace, too. I know you have abilities others don’t. I’m entrusting Jiujiu and Er Bao to you.”
“If you can protect them, I’ll owe you two lives. Whatever you wish, I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”
Concubine Jing suddenly stood, lowering her voice.
“Are you planning to—”
“My lady! My lady!” Cui Wei burst in, pale and panicked.
“The Crown Prince and Chief Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace are coming with a squad of guards—Chief Eunuch is carrying an imperial edict!”
Though Cui Wei didn’t know what had happened, rumors had been swirling in the palace these days.
The eunuchs from the Household Department couldn’t even go to the outer offices, and every palace had shut its doors.
Seeing Liang Jiugong suddenly return, Cui Wei’s nerves were on edge.
Fang He and Concubine Jing had no time for more words and hurried out to greet Liang Jiugong, the bearer of the edict.
Liang Jiugong looked especially haggard.
As soon as he saw Fang He, he knelt and began to weep.
“Lady Zhen, My Lord is gravely ill—he urgently summons the Crown Prince and you to attend him!”
He raised the imperial edict, shoulders trembling, unable to suppress his sobs.
Fang He’s heart raced in confusion—’was Liang Jiugong’s acting just too good, or was Kangxi truly ill?’
Though Kangxi had hinted at this earlier, seeing Liang Jiugong like this, even she went pale, stumbling forward to snatch the edict.
The imperial edict was written by Kangxi’s own hand.
Seeing the trembling, blurred script, Fang He took a deep breath, cast a long look at Concubine Jing, then rushed into the hall.
“Hurry! Help me change—I’m leaving at once!”
The Crown Prince, meanwhile, calmly observed both Liang Jiugong and Fang He’s reactions.
He’d originally arranged with Suo’etu to act in five days—waiting until all the guards at the palace gates had been replaced and he’d obtained the military tally from the suburban camp.
Then, he’d imprison the Empress Dowager and Imperial Noble Consort and use them to force the emperor’s abdication.
But such a move would forever carry the stain of unfilial and disloyal conduct.
Now, this sudden opportunity presented itself—a perfect solution.
From the grief and panic on Liang Jiugong and Fang He’s faces, however coincidental, it didn’t seem fake.
Yinreng’s long-held darkness was about to be unleashed—he was both excited and hesitant.
Should he proceed with the plan for a swift, ruthless coup, or go to his father’s deathbed and seek a safer outcome?
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