Chapter 105 (2/2): Discipline in Yanxi Palace

But Fang He was unwilling to wait, and even less willing to let these blooming young women wait in vain.  

Violent suppression was the fastest method, and the rest depended on Master Kangxi’s willingness to play along.  

She smiled as she glanced around the bedchamber.

This time, she believed Kangxi wouldn’t disappoint her.  

At the end of October, the Imperial Majesty returned to the capital.  

The news reached the palace two days early.  

The Crown Prince, accompanied by the imperial princes and civil and military officials, waited outside the North City Gate to welcome the Emperor back, while Fang He gathered all the consorts at Shoukang Palace to await Kangxi’s arrival.  

Originally, Fang He should have waited with the consorts and princesses at the Meridian Gate, but the bitter cold and lingering snow made her refuse to endure the chill.  

She had already sent Li Dequan to spread the word everywhere, and everyone gathered at Shoukang Palace, warming themselves by the fire and sipping hot milk tea.  

Thanks to the many times she had sent business to the Office of Punishment and Investigation these past months, even the consorts who privately hated Fang He didn’t dare to act out now.  

Noble Consort Wenxi had lain down immediately upon returning from the Imperial Garden, still ill and not venturing out today, staying quietly in Yongshou Palace.  

Consort Hui, though punished, was not seriously hurt—mostly her pride was bruised.  

She had caught a cold that day and now looked pale and haggard, head bowed quietly alongside Consort Rong.  

Consort Ping and Consort Duan both suffered serious illnesses.

Consort Ping’s clothes looked large enough to fit another herself, while Consort Duan appeared ten years older overnight.  

Consort Yi raised an eyebrow at Fang He.

She hadn’t dared to say openly, but secretly many consorts had tried to undermine her.  

Dressed unusually flamboyantly in a dark red pomegranate-patterned peony gown, Fang He, though pregnant and avoiding makeup, used homemade rouge around her eyes, brows, and cheeks, standing out starkly among the weary consorts.  

She smiled at Consort Yi and sipped her milk tea with relish.  

Too many lice don’t itch; it’s still the roe deer… cough cough.

A little separation makes the heart grow fonder.  

After half an hour, Chang Mao entered Shoukang Palace to report.  

“Mistress, ladies, the imperial carriage has entered the palace through Meridian Gate.”  

The Empress Dowager, who had been coaxing the sleepy Jiujiu to bed, showed a pleased but worried expression.  

“Why is the return so late? Didn’t the Crown prince said that the carriages would reach the North Gate before dawn?”  

Judging by the pace, an early return meant no overnight stay at the palaces outside the capital.  

No one dared to delay Kangxi too long—they had to get the Emperor home to rest as soon as possible.  

But the reported time was the Yin hour, and the consorts’ greetings came at the Chen hour; it was almost the Si hour now.

It had taken two full hours just to enter Meridian Gate.

The Crown Prince, princes, and officials were behaving irresponsibly.  

Chang Mao’s expression stiffened as he bowed and sais, “Reporting to Mistress, the Emperor lost his temper outside the North Gate. He reprimanded the Crown Prince and princes and ordered the officials sent to greet him to retrieve their respective messages.”  

Consort Hui, already standing, staggered and looked at Chang Mao in disbelief.  

“Retrieve their messages? What does that mean?”  

The Empress Dowager also asked, “What messages? The Emperor must be tired from the journey; why delay outside the city?”  

Chang Mao bowed lower and replied, “I… do not know.”  

The Empress Dowager grew restless and told Wuyunzhu to support Fang He, then helped Nanny Liu walk outside.  

“That’s enough, you may leave. I’ll go take a look.”  

Chang Mao hurriedly added, “The Emperor sent word that he’ll arrive shortly and doesn’t want to disturb Your Majesty.”  

Only then did the Empress Dowager halt and urgently order, “Quick, have more milk tea prepared to warm the Emperor.”  

As she spoke, Kangxi entered the hall, carrying the chill and snow from outside.  

Fang He rose and, with the other consorts lifting their heads, bowed to Kangxi.  

Kangxi didn’t look at anyone else but strode forward, gently lifting Fang He, tapping her head before releasing her, then called the princesses over to greet him.  

He nodded in response and glanced at Jiujiu, who was still sound asleep despite the commotion.

Let her sleep.  

“Your son pays respects to the Empress Dowager.” Kangxi smiled and saluted, then took the Empress Dowager’s hand and sat beside her.  

“I made you worry—my fault.”  

Fang He lightly touched her forehead, feeling Kangxi’s hand cool.

Before the other consorts rose, she slipped the bronze handwarmer into Kangxi’s palm and sat at his left side.  

Kangxi held the handwarmer, rubbing it.

The annoyance caused earlier at the city gate by the Crown Prince and officials eased slightly.  

The Empress Dowager scrutinized Kangxi, her eyes moist, “You’ve lost weight and suffered a lot outside. Your staff isn’t caring for the consorts properly.”  

The consorts’ eyes reddened as well, the princesses wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Consort Yi and Concubine Jing showed looks of sympathy.  

Fang He, about to reach for the snack plate, cursed inwardly—forgot to bring the mint-scented handkerchief.  

Consort Yi discreetly passed her one, which Fang He promptly grasped and dabbed under her eyes, managing to keep up with the group.  

Kangxi noticed the incongruous handkerchief and gave her a teasing look.  

Turning to the Empress Dowager, he joked, “Your Majesty is too harsh on them. I ate roe deer meat and drank wine daily at Bo Luohetun. Maybe it’s from eating too much meat and drinking too much that I slimmed down on the way back.”  

Fang He suppressed the urge to wipe her lips, mouth watering.  

She really dreamed of iron pot stewed roe deer and iron pot stewed big goose.

Too bad the palace kitchen can’t make those dishes.  

If he hadn’t brought some back for her, she’d never forgive him!  

The Empress Dowager laughed heartily and asked, “What happened outside the city? Why the delay?”  

Kangxi said, “I saw Baocheng and the others looking exhausted and thought they had been studying hard, planning to praise them after the exams. But their minds weren’t on the right things.”  

His face darkened, “There were those with nothing better to do, who forgot their duties as ministers, and took advantage of my absence to cause chaos.”  

The consorts collectively held their breath, unconsciously glancing at Fang He—she was the one most capable of stirring up trouble, and yet she was sitting right behind the Emperor.

Why didn’t she intervene?  

The Empress Dowager pretended not to hear, patting Kangxi’s hand.  

“Don’t waste anger on those ignorant ones and ruin your health.”  

Kangxi smiled again, “Your Majesty is right. I’m not angry.”  

He casually said, “I’ll have them reflect on their own. If they don’t repent, I’ll send them to the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Punishment and Investigation for a thorough wake-up call.”  

Consort Hui’s teacup trembled, spilling tea on her gown, but she barely noticed, her face filled with despair.  

They had thought the Emperor’s return meant someone would take charge, but hearing this… the Emperor had more places for punishments than even Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.  

Consorts who had planned to make moves found themselves uncertain after sensing Kangxi’s anger.

No one dared look at the Emperor’s weary face.  

The Empress Dowager didn’t linger either, “You should rest first. We’ll talk when you’re rested.”  

Kangxi readily agreed and rose by saying, “I’ll return to Qianqing Palace and pay respects to Your Majesty tomorrow.”  

He glanced at the consorts, all looking worn in their own ways.  

Consort Hui and the others quickly reddened their eyes, hesitant to speak but pouring all their grievances and longing into their gaze.  

Kangxi looked at Fang He once more and left without a word.  

Outside Shoukang Palace, Consort Hui couldn’t help but glance at Fang He.  

“The Emperor looked displeased. Noble Consort Zhaoyuan was arrogant in the Imperial Garden before; why is she so quiet now?”  

Fang He shrugged lightly, “If I flirted openly with the Emperor in front of you all, wouldn’t that make everyone even more haggard? That’d be my crime.”  

“I’m kindhearted, Consort Hui, you know that well. Otherwise, how could you be standing here spewing nonsense?”  

Consort Hui flushed with anger.  

Now that Yin Zhi had returned, she didn’t know what he had done, but with Prince Yu’s recent victory, Yin Zhi must have earned merit.  

With the Emperor back, she no longer feared the three things Fang He held over her.  

She sneered, “There’s never been a consort braver than Noble Consort Zhaoyuan to lay hands on the Crown Prince.”  

“If the Emperor knew that their academic delays were due to palace turmoil, I wonder how the Noble Consort plans to explain it.”  

She turned and left, barely holding back the urge to kick Fang He’s swollen belly.  

Since she had been pinned beneath the stool in the Imperial Garden, she was at odds with Fang He for life.  

Consort Hui’s angry thoughts ended abruptly as she stopped at Shoukang Palace’s gate.  

Liang Jiugong, surprised to see Consort Hui leave first, thought, ‘The Noble Consort hasn’t come out yet. Consort Hui, the rules are getting stricter.’  

Fang He didn’t compete with her, slowly circling past Consort Hui’s side while supporting Xinhua’s hand.  

Liang Jiugong immediately approached, smiling brighter than a flower.  

“Noble Consort, please hurry. The Emperor is waiting.”  

Fang He nodded seriously, “Earlier, Consort Hui reminded me I should properly inform the Emperor about the palace’s unrest. It’s fortunate the Emperor is already waiting.”  

“Looks like the Emperor and Consort Hui are really in sync. Quite enviable.”  

As Fang He was helped into the imperial carriage, faint sounds of Consort Hui’s maids softly calling her name drifted behind.  

Fang He grasped Kangxi’s hand, about to say something, but hearing the commotion, she nimbly leaned over his lap—her movements surprisingly agile for her condition—and secretly lifted the curtain.  

“Oh ho,”  ‘Consort Hui had fainted. Serves her right!’ 

She wasn’t the only one punished.

Everyone knew to behave quietly now, but she jumped the highest, with no clue why.  

Kangxi helplessly steadied Fang He, told her to sit upright, and knocked on the carriage.  

Once the carriage started moving, he pulled Fang He close and eagerly kissed her.  

“Your mouth… you can say the harshest things and yet make people think of you all the more.”  

Fang He tilted her head back to accept his cool kiss, reaching out to hold his icy hand inside her muffler.  

“You should wear more layers. When you poked my head earlier, your hand was so cold the baby was rolling around in my belly.”  

Kangxi’s originally cold hand, warmed by her soft grasp inside the muffler, rested gently on Fang He’s rounded belly.  

He moved his fingers slightly and kissed her forehead.  

“While I’m not in the palace, you’ve worked hard.”  

Fang He looked up at him, smiling, and kissed his forehead twice.  

“When you’re away, the Office of Punishment and Investigation bears the brunt.”  

Kangxi:  “….”

Their eyes met.

The footsteps and the carriage’s sway outside seemed to vanish, leaving only each other.  

The longing of nearly a hundred days apart transformed into a profound joy rolling warmly in their hearts.  

Kangxi thought to himself, ‘this scoundrel is honest and has gained weight but has become even more charming!’  

Fang He thought, ‘a little separation is better than no honeymoon. Six months isn’t too long to keep up appearances! ‘ 

“Guoguo, have you thought about how to explain things to me?”  

“When will Your Majesty settle your taxes?”  

‘Hmm?’

Both froze.  

Their once tender, lingering gaze instantly turned dangerously sharp.