Ever since Kangxi had been so enraged that he spat out blood, his demeanor toward Fang He had become much more peaceful.
There was even a hint of gentleness that occasionally made her daze.
It was a familiarity that reminded her of her own Dog-thing, yet she could clearly distinguish that he was merely similar, not actually her Kangxi.
This made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
She missed him, yet she was angry at herself for missing him.
She always felt that her jerk was definitely here somewhere.
Although it was nothing more than a groundless guess, she was unwilling to just wait around.
She felt the need to provoke him a bit to test her theory.
But Kangxi never took the bait again.
He couldn’t help it.
Every time he saw Fang He, three words would echo in his mind—get used to it, get used to it, get used to it…
If he were to lose his temper according to his natural disposition, and if—as the other version of himself had said—he truly made this brat lose her patience and she gave him a slap…
Even if he killed Fang He, he would never be able to regain his lost dignity.
Furthermore, he was very aware of Fang He’s importance.
Feeling enraged enough to kill someone was one thing, but killing Fang He would bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit.
He would never do such a thing.
What else could he do?
He could only coax her.
As for Liang Jiugong, after being warned by the other Kangxi, the current Kangxi didn’t give him much of a good face either.
Let alone trying to find ways to trip up Fang He, Liang Jiugong felt his own head was barely stable on his shoulders.
He wished for nothing more than to shrink into the shadows and have no presence at all.
All the palace servants and eunuchs serving the Emperor soon noticed their master’s and the Head Eunuch’s indulgence and deference toward this Noble Lady Lan.
They all began to serve her with extreme caution.
Those who served the Emperor understood one principle very well.
It didn’t matter if the person before them was a lower-ranked lady or a consort—even if she were just an ordinary palace maid—as long as the Emperor liked her and indulged her, they had to serve her like an ancestor.
Once Zhao Chang had used the Shadow Guards to purge everyone serving the Emperor, news from the imperial presence became difficult to leak.
It wasn’t until the beginning of the thirty-fourth year of Kangxi’s reign, when the selection of new ladies was approaching, that Noble Consort Tongjia came to discuss the matter and encountered Fang He, finally discovering the subtle shift in power.
Because the Fifth Prince, Seventh Prince, Eighth Prince, and Ninth Prince were all to choose their primary wives during this selection, Noble Consort Tongjia brought Consort Yi along.
The three of them arrived one after another; Noble Consort Tongjia and Consort Yi were in front, while Fang He followed behind.
In her current status as Noble Lady Lan, Fang He had no right to a sedan chair, but she was riding in one from the Emperor’s own fleet.
Although Tongjia Wanying had become a Noble Consort, she was clever.
She knew she didn’t share the same bond of affection her elder sister had once held with her cousin, the Emperor.
She had always made a point of being dutiful and staying in her place, which allowed her to be promoted from a mere Noble Lady to Noble Consort within two years of entering the palace.
Seeing the bright yellow sedan chair behind her, Noble Consort Tongjia quickly stepped down to greet it.
Consort Yi followed suit, and both stood to the side of the path, waiting to pay their respects.
Then, they saw the curtain of the bright yellow sedan chair lifted.
Fang He arched an eyebrow and gave them a subtle nod with a complicated expression before the chair passed by…
It wasn’t that Fang He was being intentionally rude.
After over a year, thanks to Kangxi’s indulgence, her dynamic with him was no different from how it had been with her own Kangxi in her previous life.
She had long since stopped offering formal greetings.
Even the Empress Dowager no longer accepted her bows, treating her like a biological daughter and keeping her close during major festivals so that no one would have the chance to slight her.
Because she had been feeling unwell, Noble Consort Tongjia had been recuperating at the detached palace.
She had only moved back to the Imperial Palace after the first seven days of mourning for Noble Consort Wenxi had passed.
Whether she truly was ill or simply didn’t want to keep watch over Noble Consort Wenxi’s coffin was anyone’s guess.
Fang He hadn’t seen this second lady of the Tongjia clan for many years.
She had heard that the woman had lived quite well in Shengjing, fighting fiercely in the internal struggles of her household.
Seeing Wanying in the palace now, and seeing that she was even on good terms with Consort Yi, Fang He found it somewhat amusing.
In truth, Consort Yi was the smartest one; she always knew how to judge the situation.
If the Ninth Prince hadn’t been so determined to follow the Eighth Prince and oppose Yinzhen, her final end might have been different.
Fang He passed by without much thought, but her actions left Noble Consort Tongjia and Consort Yi with sour expressions.
How could a mere Noble Lady dare to let them line the path to welcome her?
She hadn’t even stepped down from her sedan chair to bow!
Noble Consort Tongjia let out a soft, mocking laugh and said, “I have been away from the palace for a long time. I didn’t know the rules of the harem had changed so much that insubordination is no longer considered a fault?”
Consort Yi was actually very curious about Fang He.
However, since Fang He didn’t come out to pay respects and was protected by both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor—yet notably never slept with him—everyone remained curious but didn’t take it too seriously.
She smiled and tried to smooth things over, “When we meet later, I’m sure Noble Lady Lan will remember the rules. There’s no need to rush, is there?”
She believed that Fang He couldn’t possibly be as arrogant in front of Kangxi as she was outside.
Noble Consort Tongjia, meanwhile, thought this was a perfect opportunity to complain to her cousin.
If the power over the harem weren’t held by the four consorts, how could she, a Noble Consort, be looked down upon by a mere Noble Lady?
Slighting her was the same as slighting the Emperor’s maternal family.
No matter how much the Emperor favored that Noble Lady Lan, he couldn’t possibly ignore the dignity of the Tong family, could he?
Both women had their own schemes as they entered Qianqing Palace one after the other after Liang Jiugong announced them.
As soon as they entered the main hall, before they could even bow, they looked up and saw Fang He sitting cross-legged across from Kangxi.
The Emperor was currently holding a teapot, pouring water for her.
Fang He had her head tilted, leaning her chin on her hand lazily as she watched.
She showed no reaction when they entered.
The two women were dumbfounded, even forgetting to bow.
Hearing the movement, Kangxi turned his head as if nothing unusual were happening.
“The Noble Consort and Consort Yi are here? No need for formalities. Come and sit.”
Noble Consort Tongjia held back her frustration and eventually performed a small curtsey.
She stared fixedly at Fang He, her tone sounding particularly aggrieved, “Your Majesty, I would love to sit, but there is no place for me in this hall!”
A Noble Consort was expected to sit on a round stool, while a mere Noble Lady sat face-to-face with the Emperor on the Luohan couch?
Fang He was amused.
She tilted her head toward Kangxi and asked, “Then should I leave?”
“Just stay quiet,” Kangxi said without changing his expression, giving Noble Consort Tongjia a lukewarm glance.
“If you don’t want to sit, then stand.”
Consort Yi was speechless, ‘Wait, I haven’t even said anything!’
However, ignoring Noble Consort Tongjia, whose face was turning various shades of red and blue, Consort Yi felt waves of shock in her heart.
She had always known Fang He was favored, but she hadn’t realized she acted like this in front of the Emperor.
This wasn’t the Emperor calling a lady for company; it was him calling an ancestor to serve.
She was very certain the Emperor hadn’t gone mad.
That meant Fang He’s identity must have a significant origin!
Consort Yi immediately smiled and pulled over two stools, continuing to play the peacemaker.
“Sister Lan knows how to be lazy, and I’m not a hardworking person either. I can’t bear to stand for long. It seems Noble Consort Sister is the one who values rules the most, likely afraid that word will get out and harm Sister Lan.”
Kangxi smiled and pointed at her, “Always so quick-witted.”
Then he looked at Noble Consort Tongjia, his tone finally softening, “The Zashuhu Li girl is no ordinary person. She is the reincarnation of royal blood. Do not view her as a common concubine. In the future, if the Empress Dowager is unable to look after her, make sure you help watch over her.”
Noble Consort Tongjia was no fool.
Whether this reincarnation story was true or not, the Emperor was the one elevating her and giving Tongjia a way out.
She immediately sat down as if nothing had happened, her face full of wonder as she looked at Fang He.
“If Your Majesty hadn’t said it, I would have thought Sister Lan… that Noble Lady Lan looked quite familiar. So it was such a serendipitous fate. This is truly the heavens protecting our Great Qing!”
Fang He smiled, ‘Familiar?’
‘Probably because she got trimmed down so well in our previous life.’
Kangxi smiled and accepted the remark.
Since he had spoken those words, he intended to give Fang He a status different from commoners, allowing her to appear openly in more venues.
Over the past year, using the excuse of ‘dreams’ triggered by seeing certain people, Fang He had revealed much information to him.
For example, regarding the princes who were being raised like fighting insects, she noted that Yinreng had the talent of a general.
Kangxi subsequently assigned him to the Ministry of War, telling him to focus on leading troops.
The Third Prince, Yin Xi, had literary talent, so Kangxi placed him in the Hanlin Academy to compile a series of massive works for posterity, such as the ‘Kangxi Dictionary”, the “Origins of Law and the Calendar”, and the “Grand Collection of Ancient and Modern Books and Illustrations*.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, was the most meticulous and upright, valuing rules above all else.
He was assigned to the Ministry of Justice.
The Fifth Prince, Yinqi, though lacking in great administrative talent, had a personality that allowed him to get along with anyone and was exceptionally good at gathering information.
He was sent to the Zongrenfu to follow Fuquan, preparing to take over as the Director of the Imperial Clan Court.
The Seventh Prince, Yin Hui, despite his leg deformity, was no less skilled in riding and archery than Yinreng.
He was sent to the Ministry of Works to oversee the improvement of various equipment needed for the Qing army.
The Eighth Prince, Yinsi, was still young, but he already showed signs of being smooth and sophisticated.
He was sent to the Ministry of Rites to serve under Minister Wang Yan.
The Ninth and Tenth Princes were assigned to the Lifan Yuan to deal with Northern Mongolia.
The remaining younger princes were still in the Shufangzhai, but Kangxi kept a close eye on their studies.
Every three days, they were required to write policy essays based on reports from the Six Ministries, a task that tortured the young boys to no end.
Although Yinreng had not been deposed yet, the officials in court could already sense the Crown Prince’s loss of power.
Except for the Crown Prince, virtually all the other princes were being driven to work hard by Kangxi’s metaphorical whip.
As long as a prince felt he had the ability, he could have as many assignments as he wanted.
Originally, everyone thought the Emperor was promoting the princes to select a new Crown Prince, and they were prepared to argue if the Emperor tried to depose Yinreng… but Kangxi never mentioned it.
Everyone also expected the other princes to seize this chance to drag the Crown Prince down and fight for the throne with all their might… but they simply didn’t have the energy.
Yinreng spent every day rushing between the military camps in the outskirts and the Ministry of War.
He was so tired he sometimes didn’t have time to go home, let alone have children or plot for power. q
He had no choice; his Father had heart-to-heartedly told him that the heavy responsibility of defending the Great Qing could only be borne by him.
Yinzhi had ambition, but he had an older brother above him and spent every day in the Hanlin Academy facing a sea of books.
His brain was so fogged from reading that he lacked the capability to plot.
When he thought of going on strike, his Father would say that the reputation the Great Qing would leave in history depended entirely on him.
As for Yinzhen… Yinzhen didn’t have much of a desire for the throne.
Initially, he stood by the Crown Prince’s side and even requested audiences with Kangxi several times to plead for him.
But after Kangxi laid out the evidence found by Zhao Chang and patted his shoulder, saying earnestly that the future of the Great Qing would depend on him, a fired-up Yinzhen dove headfirst into the laws of the Great Qing, once again becoming a tireless workhorse.
As for the Fifth Prince, who loved excitement, one didn’t even need to say much to him before he happily trotted off to find Fuquan.
The Seventh Prince, Yin Hui, and the Eighth Prince, Yinsi, were even easier to handle.
After Kangxi promoted their mothers to the rank of Consort and moved them into Xianfu Palace and Chuxiu Palace respectively, the two were ready to bleed and die for the Emperor.
In private, Fang He complained to Cui Xi, “The Emperor is using his sons like donkeys. Isn’t he afraid that when they all become capable, the fighting will be even fiercer?”