If the evidence was true, Kangxi’s pride was nothing but a joke!
He had been deceived and manipulated by the servants around him like a fool…
Abruptly, he stood up, casting a deep glance at Fang He, who knelt silently with her head bowed.
Without a word, his face ashen, he turned and strode out of Yunyaguan.
Only after he had left and some time had passed did Fang He seem to snap out of a daze, collapsing to the floor.
She realized then that she was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
She had seen Kangxi furious before—raging, wielding a sword to kill wolves, exuding an aura of menace and thought she had grown immune.
But now she understood that when Kangxi became the aloof emperor, facing those who might mock him, his suppressed killing intent and overwhelming presence made it hard to even breathe.
“Master, are you… alright?” Chunlai entered and helped Fang He up, her voice filled with concern.
The hidden murderous aura Kangxi had emitted when he left had left Xinke and the others still trembling, their legs weak.
Fang He staggered back to the couch, her expression calm.
“I should be fine.”
If she wasn’t, it would be a matter of life and death.
She knew this move was risky.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would have been a better choice.
Xiaozhuang only cared about whether the outcome benefited the royal family, not whether her dignity had been slighted.
This matriarch who had lived through three reigns had long passed the age of building her authority with bloodshed.
But Fang He couldn’t take that risk.
If anything happened to Xiaozhuang’s health… she would surely die.
So she had to trust Kangxi this once.
Not to trust whether he would stand up for her and punish Consort De, but to trust that he wouldn’t use her flesh and blood to cement his imperial authority.
But she wouldn’t place all her hopes on Kangxi either, so the trust she’d shown at Chunhui Hall had already diminished upon her return.
Using the pretext of needing an afternoon nap, she had Chunlai guard the door while she meticulously studied the remaining papers she hadn’t yet revealed, committing them to memory before lighting them with a fire starter and tossing them into the spittoon.
A cup of warm tea exchanged for wisps of smoke that blurred Fang He’s delicate yet exceptionally composed features.
Meanwhile, Kangxi returned directly to the study in the eastern warm chamber of Chunhui Hall.
Before Liang Jiugong could even open his mouth to inquire, the emperor suddenly swept all objects off a side table with a violent crash.
The shattering sounds frightened Liang Jiugong, Li Dequan, and the others to their knees, not daring to utter a word.
The commotion felt like successive slaps across Kangxi’s own face.
The pain from his anger-seared heart and bruised knuckles finally cooled his temper.
“Liang Jiugong, go to the palace. Using discussions about the northern Mongol campaign as pretext, summon Fuquan immediately!”
“Li Dequan, deliver my oral decree to the rear palace. With Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration little over a month away, all consorts are to spend one hour daily in prayer at the Buddhist hall, and spend remaining time transcribing longevity scriptures in advance.”
After both men departed, Kangxi coldly addressed the empty chamber: “Tell Zhao Chang to get his worthless self before me immediately!”
A few faint sounds of acknowledgment came from the roof beams, then silence.
As Kangxi spent increasing time at Changchun Garden, security patrols by guards and eunuchs intensified, preventing any news of Chunhui Hall’s disturbances from reaching the rear palaces.
Apart from Fang He, no one questioned the sudden devotions at the Grand Buddhist Hall near Peach Blossom Embankment.
Instead, they wondered why Fang He had become so docile lately.
Only when whispers spread about Kangxi storming out of Yunya Pavilion without summoning Fang He again did the consorts begin to understand-oh!
The favored concubine had finally fallen from grace!
When Consort Duan and Consort Xi heard, they nearly laughed aloud in the Buddhist hall.
At last their wait was over!
While maintaining decorum inside, their malicious gossip flowed freely afterward-especially from Concubine Xi, who’d suffered Fang He’s slap.
After prayers concluded that day, Concubine Xi avoided approaching Fang He directly she instead whisperd loudly with Consort Duan where all could hear:
“Aiya, His Majesty proves wise indeed-recognizing some are just embroidered pillows with pretty surfaces. At last he’s spared this suffering!”
Consort Duan chimed in: “Quite so! If you ask me, Noble Consort De is truly blessed. They say His Majesty dined at Wanfangzhai just yesterday.”
Concubine Xi sneered, “Dining’s nothing! Even Concubine Tongjia served his bed yet remains dutiful in prayers, never stirring trouble like some.”
“Such behavior never belonged in the palace,” Consort Duan tittered.
“Were it me, I’d be too ashamed to show my face. Hiding when appropriate, yet she prances about!”
“Perhaps still hoping for a chance encounter with His Majesty?”
Their laughter grated on Concubine Yi, who turned to rebuke them.
Why hadn’t they spoken up when Concubine Zhao was favored?
Now they cackled like fishwives, repeating this performance three days straight!
But as she turned, she saw Noble Consort De sigh resignedly, shaking her head slightly.
They hadn’t even left the Buddhist hall-any disturbance now would mean charges of filial impiety if reported.
“They’re just making some harmless remarks. Consort Xi and Consort Duan wouldn’t dare go too far,” Consort De advised softly in her gentle manner.
Consort Yi frowned-the more Consort De spoke, the less she wanted to listen.
Another consort chimed in quietly, “Sister Consort Zhao isn’t the type to just sit back and take it. You really shouldn’t worry so much, Consort Yi.”
Consort Yi glanced at the departing procession of the Noble Consort’s palanquin, then turned her gaze to Fang He, who was strolling leisurely ahead.
In the end, she said nothing.
Meanwhile, Consort An deliberately walked up beside Fang He, glaring fiercely at Consort Xi and Consort Duan.
“Those two are so annoying! His Majesty hasn’t even favored them-what are they so smug about?” Consort An muttered under her breath, barely moving her lips.
“Want me to beat them up for you?”
Fang He chuckled lightly, raising her handkerchief to cover the corner of her lips as she replied just as softly, “No need. Let them talk. It’s not often we get to hear dogs barking in the palace, is it?”
Consort An froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
She couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not even angry listening to their nonsense?”
Never mind the insults-just hearing about which palace the Emperor dined at today or who he summoned to his chambers tomorrow would be enough to drive anyone mad, especially someone who had once been as favored as Fang He.
If it were her, Consort An thought, she’d probably lose her mind.
Fang He’s smile didn’t waver.
Consort An: “……”
“Why would anyone get angry at dogs?”
Wait she wasn’t talking about these two!
Fang He understood, but in her eyes, both were equally despicable.
She knew exactly why Kangxi was neglecting her.
No one wanted to face the person who had witnessed—or worse, exposed their most humiliating moment.
As for him favoring others?
That didn’t bother her in the slightest.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known all along how many mistresses her “boss” had.
“Well… I suppose you’re right. Might as well endure it,” Consort An sighed after a moment’s thought.
In the palace, favor was everything.
Without it, no matter how high one’s rank, even a newly favored low-ranking lady would outshine them.
Even the Noble Consort had bowed to Fang He before, understanding this truth.
Fang He raised a delicate brow.
“Who said anything about enduring?”
It was true that she couldn’t flaunt the authority of a favored consort right now, but Fang He had never been one to let others walk all over her without retaliation.
Consort Xi and Consort Duan probably didn’t realize—she had more tricks up her sleeve than just stirring up trouble.
As they exited the grand Buddha hall, Consort Xi and Consort Duan deliberately shoved past Fang He and Consort An to walk ahead, their words growing even more venomous.
“We’re all of the same rank, Sister Duan. You should yield to me—after all, we can’t be like those useless creatures who hog the nest without laying any eggs.”
Before Consort Duan could respond, Fang He gave a light cough, immediately drawing their attention.
Or rather, the two had been waiting for her to react all along.
Now that His Majesty wouldn’t back this wretched woman anymore, what did they have to fear?
Noticing the commotion, the maids of Consort Yi, Consort Rong, and Consort De quickly informed their mistresses inside their palanquins.
The three consorts’ processions halted ahead.
Though none stepped out, their curtains were drawn as they watched the scene unfold.
Fang He slowly approached Consort Xi and Consort Duan, offering them a frail, delicate smile.
“You still have time to apologize to me now.”
Consort Xi sneered and replied, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
“You call me a barren hen, but you’ve both served far longer than I have, haven’t you?” Fang He’s voice remained soft, laced with sweetness as she delivered the cruelest words.
“Then what does that make you? Filthy bugs squatting over the latrine without ever relieving yourselves?”
“You!” Consort Duan trembled with rage.
Raised in utmost luxury since childhood, she had never heard such vulgar words before.
Consort Xi, overcome by fury, raised her hand to slap Fang He in return.
But before her arm could descend, Fang He suddenly let out a piercing scream.
Like a leaf battered by a storm, she clutched her chest and collapsed unsteadily.
“My lady!!!” Cui Wei rushed to catch her mistress, crying out in alarm.
She glared at the consorts, nearly weeping in despair.
“Even if our lady has fallen from favor, this is no way to treat her! You’ve insulted her enough-must you actually strike her unconscious? I’d rather die than let this go unpunished before the Empress Dowager!”
Consort Xi stood dumbfounded, her hand hadn’t even come close to Fang He!
Consort An, excited as if holding her father’s saber for the first time, stepped forward imposingly.
“I saw everything!” she declared loudly.
“Consort Xi took revenge during prayers for Her Majesty! If this ruins the Grand Buddha Hall’s feng shui, how will you explain yourself to Their Majesties?”
“I never touched her!” Consort Xi protested frantically.
“Consort Duan, you saw—”
“Lies!” Consort An cut her off sharply.
“Consort Duan was behind you, completely blocked from view! How could she have seen? Let’s go to Ruijing Pavilion and have Her Majesty settle this!” She grabbed Consort Xi’s wrist and marched off.
Consort Xi struggled to break free as her maids hurried to intervene.
Only then did they remember or rather, recall what they’d deliberately forgotten when making those veiled insults earlier that while Fang He might have lost the Emperor’s favor, she still held the Empress Dowager’s affection!
When Fang He was carried back to Yunya Pavilion, the Empress Dowager rushed over immediately upon hearing the news.
Even Liang Jiugong arrived with Imperial Physician Lu Wuning, both bowing hastily.
“Your Majesty,” Liang Jiugong said, “His Majesty sent Physician Lu upon hearing Consort Zhao was struck unconscious…..”
In truth, when informed of Fang He’s collapse, Emperor Kangxi had merely sneered, sending the physician to verify whether she’d truly fainted.
The other consorts who came to spectate wore blank expressions clearly, they’d misjudged Fang He’s standing.
The Empress Dowager ignored these implications.
“Since the Emperor is too busy for Consort Zhao,” she said coldly, “he needn’t trouble himself. I’ll take her to the Ruijing Pavilion to recuperate. You may return to serve His Majesty-lest further ‘incidents’ leave me no peace at all!”
Liang Jiugong hesitated-how was he to relay this?
If the Emperor wished to visit, he certainly couldn’t go to the Ruijing Pavilion!
But he dared not argue with the furious Dowager.
As the distressed eunuch retreated with awkward bows, Consort Xi wished she could turn that slap against herself for such forgetfulness.
Even Consort Duan hung her head in shame.
Clearly, Consort Zhao’s “fall from grace” was anything but!
She’s just moving to a new place to be treated like royalty!