The only ones who could influence the selection of candidates for the palace, besides Kangxi, were the princes and high-ranking officials.
For Great Qing, the selection was not merely a family matter—it was a matter of state.
Even Kangxi himself, without proper justification, could not simply halt the selection without causing turmoil at court, and doing so would put Fang He in the eye of the storm.
If Fang He were alone, she wouldn’t fear these troubles.
But now she had children.
For their safety, she would rather achieve her goals through twists and turns than let her children suffer verbal attacks and danger.
Concubine Jing thought Fang He was worrying unnecessarily.
Throughout history, any ruler who reached the top, regardless of age or gender, stepped over the blood and crises of others.
Such troubles were inevitable sooner or later.
Fang He said, “That’s something for the future. Perhaps Jiujiu and Er Bao don’t have the heart to vie for power? They will decide their own paths. I can be their support, but not their master.”
Concubine Jing had no choice but to follow Fang He’s wishes.
But before setting out on the mission, she looked at Fang He for a long time.
“You people of that era are truly fortunate. Sometimes I really wish, in my next life, I could be reborn there and have the chance to see it.”
If everyone could control their own lives, she wouldn’t have had to watch her father die at the hands of Empress Wu.
Nor would she have been trapped beside the Martial Emperor, caught in the whirlpool of power struggles with no escape, ending in a dishonorable death.
Upon hearing this, Fang He spoke seriously to Concubine Jing, “I hope your dreams come true in your next life. That is also my dream.”
She longed to return to that world that haunted her soul… sob—she hadn’t even finished spending her savings yet!!
With Concubine Jing’s deep insight, she immediately sensed Fang He’s sincerity.
For the sake of this sincerity alone, Concubine Jing spared no effort, using the limited personnel outside the palace to complete the promised tasks before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
***
Werewolf Kill was even more popular outside the palace than inside.
Because within the former harem, everyone had to be wary of the Crown Prince’s presence—not everyone was an heir, and no one dared risk offending him by pretending to be the Crown Prince.
Outside the palace, however, such restrictions were less strict.
After all, the emperor himself called upon the noble ladies to play, meaning there was no taboo.
Regardless of status—nobles or commoners—everyone was wildly enthusiastic, and Werewolf Kill quickly became a trend in the capital, even spreading beyond.
Who didn’t dream of being the Crown Prince, calling themselves “I” and having their own subjects, imperial physicians, guards, and ha ha beads?
In fact, the phrase “Crown Prince faction” had become more attractive than the game itself.
Even children could claim to be the Crown Prince during the game without getting spanked by adults.
Because of the game, promises made during play carried extra weight.
Some were frivolous, like children’s role-playing or fun in the inner chambers—just verbal promises no one cared if they kept.
But more were modeled after the emperor and the Crown Prince themselves.
Kangxi noticed that the game helped train the thinking of the Crown Prince and officials.
If someone got too agitated, Kangxi could even learn secrets otherwise unknown.
Thus, he tacitly allowed the game’s expansion.
In his leisure, Kangxi had the Zaoban Office produce a special gold certificate paper for promises.
It bore the palace’s seal and was registered and sold by the Imperial Household Department’s shops outside the palace.
Promises signed on this gold certificate were mockingly called “Saint’s Notes.”
Anyone who signed one dared not break their promise lightly.
Rumor had it the emperor was implying that a promise was as valuable as a saint’s word.
Anyone who broke it—noble or commoner—would lose their reputation and could no longer live decently.
Concubine Jing’s palace contacts had won two whole boxes of these Saint’s Notes in teahouses, taverns, and pleasure houses.
She ordered her people to bring these notes to the powerful and wealthy.
Anyone with influence would be asked to collaborate in building thirty academies in the capital and its surrounding areas.
As for the commoners who signed promises, her agents would visit households to count the women, urging them to send their daughters to these academies.
Meanwhile, Concubine Jing took the Saint’s Notes won by Fang He and herself, along with those won by Imperial Noble Consort Niuhulu, to the Crown Prince, the princes, and various consorts, asking them to spare time to serve as teachers at these academies.
Upon hearing Concubine Jing’s intentions, Yinreng immediately scoffed.
In front of Concubine Jing, he did not maintain the good temper he had shown before Kangxi and Fang He.
“Is Concubine Jing still new to the palace, or has the Tong family failed to teach their daughter? Don’t you know that after palace women enter, without His Majesty’s permission, they may not leave the palace?”
“Do you want me to break palace rules and be impeached by the ministers? I advise Concubine Jing to bring her brains when leaving the palace.”
Concubine Jing’s expression did not change as she said, “This is the will of Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.”
“Don’t use the noble consort to pressure me. Even she must not violate the ancestral rules,” Yinreng said coldly.
“I think the noble consort is so favored by His Majesty that she’s forgotten her place!”
Concubine Jing watched the rage on Yinreng’s face with interest.
In front of the emperor and consorts, he didn’t show such hostility.
As Crown Prince, he behaved no better than an ordinary palace eunuch, fully versed in kowtowing to superiors and trampling on inferiors.
His demeanor couldn’t compare to the three princes she had served before.
No wonder Kangxi had deposed him.
She still smiled and said, “I believe the Crown Prince misunderstood.”
“My meaning is, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan holds a Saint’s Note personally bestowed by the emperor. Naturally, this matter has His Majesty’s approval. It’s only that when consorts and princesses travel outside, the Crown Prince and the princes need to accompany them.”
“Absolutely not.”
“When did His Majesty…” Yinreng paused, his face clearing slightly but his brow furrowing deeper.
He did not remember His Majesty ever losing to anyone, and with His Majesty’s temperament, he would never lose to a woman… unless intentionally.
Yinreng recalled the first time they played in Jiayin Hall, when Noble Consort Zhaoyuan demanded His Majesty grant the winner a promise.
His Majesty had not refused.
That time, it was Noble Consort Zhaoyuan who won.
Kangxi never mentioned it again, and Yinreng and the other princes assumed Kangxi had not agreed.
Now he thought perhaps His Majesty favored Noble Consort Zhaoyuan even more than they imagined.
Thinking of Yin Hui, a flicker of irritation and shadow passed in Yinreng’s eyes.
After a moment’s thought, he said with a solemn face, “I wouldn’t have difficulty agreeing, but as for these women’s academies… ha, this is unheard of and contrary to customary rites. The ministers would never consent.”
His tone was mocking.
“If Noble Consort Zhaoyuan were so powerful that even the princes and ministers could not oppose her, then by all means, agree all you want.”
Concubine Jing hadn’t expected to succeed at once.
According to the plan and Fang He’s words, she was only preparing.
The real performance was up to Fang He herself.
“Your words, Crown Prince, are noted. I will relay them to the noble consort.”
Yinreng glared coldly as Concubine Jing left, immediately ordering Xu Bao to send a letter to Suo’etu.
The choice of Crown Prince’s consort was in Kangxi’s hands.
This matter had no direct impact on Yinreng, but he did not want Fang He—still a consort—to recklessly stir up power struggles inside the palace, at court, and beyond.
Once she became Imperial Noble Consort, with Yin Hui there, it would only be a matter of time before she ruined his plans.
***
The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Ministry of Rites, the Supervisory Office, and the Hanlin Academy Dean all impeached Noble Consort Zhaoyuan in court.
They accused her of openly defying the world’s norms, interfering in state affairs, violating rites and laws, and threatening the peace of the realm.
“Your Majesty, the noble consort’s actions will unsettle all the young women properly waiting to marry at home, as well as the women tending households, causing widespread disorder. This is truly unacceptable!”
“Sire, as the saying goes, to manage one’s family is to govern the country and bring peace to the world. If our Great Qing’s men can’t even keep their families in order, how can they devote themselves to the court? The noble consort’s intentions deserve condemnation; Your Majesty must see this clearly!”
“Your Majesty, Shizu once said women must not interfere in politics. We do not oppose women learning, but with female tutors and family instruction, no precedent exists for women studying outside the home in all previous dynasties. You must not allow the noble consort to act recklessly!”
At the season of golden grain harvest, Kangxi’s mind was also troubled by the hidden dangers in Moxi.
Recently, he had been busy incognito inspecting the grain yield across regions and was truly unaware that Fang He had stirred such widespread dissatisfaction among court officials in just half a month.
With a mix of disbelief and helplessness, Kangxi couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
There was never enough chaos inside the palace, and whenever she stirred, no place was peaceful.
After court, Kangxi went straight from Jiugong Sanshi Hall to Jiayin Hall, ignoring that Fang He had not yet risen.
He lifted the curtain and slapped the round, thick embroidered quilt.
Fearing he wouldn’t wake the especially sound-sleeping Fang He, Kangxi applied a little more force.
But just as the slap landed, Kangxi felt something was off.
The next moment, he heard a soft, shocked cry.
The quilt was pushed aside with rustling, revealing Jiujiu covering her bottom.
“Am I being hit by Father?” The three-and-a-half-year-old Jiujiu’s shock, wide eyes, and grievance flashed vividly on her chubby little face, finally settling into a determined “I must make a fuss” expression.
Kangxi was helpless.
Because he and Fang He had been…
Well, quite busy at night recently, they hadn’t allowed anyone to bring Jiujiu in.
Kangxi hadn’t finished feeling helpless when Jiujiu, wearing an expression of determined accusation, twisted her small body and plopped onto Fang He’s quilt, bursting into tears.
Her wails and cries did not stop her clear articulation:
“Mommy, come see! Your baby got hit, wah~”
“Mommy, Father doesn’t love Jiujiu. He made Jiujiu hurt, wah wah~”
“Jiujiu is so sad. Mommy, don’t you care? Wahhh~”
Kangxi: “….”
The force he used, through the thick quilt, could at most have made the little one’s bottom tingle.
But since it was his precious Jiujiu who got caught up in the commotion, Kangxi felt guilty and could only sit beside her to coax.