Seeing Yinreng uneasy, Kangxi said meaningfully, “In my heart, you are all the same. No matter what mistakes you make, I’ve got your back. I just hope you learn from your mistakes and don’t be foolish.”
“You can still correct your mistakes now. When you become emperor, you cannot afford to err. Otherwise, you harm all the people, sometimes irreparably. The way of a ruler is to speak cautiously and act slowly. Never be rash, and never act without consultation like Jiujiu.”
Just then, Jiujiu, hearing her name, twitched on Kangxi’s shoulder and hummed, about to wake.
Kangxi gently patted her and softly soothed her.
Yinreng looked at his father’s gentle expression, unable to imagine Kangxi had ever treated him this way.
In his memory, His Majesty had always been more severe than tender with him.
He lowered his eyes and, after Jiujiu fell asleep again, quietly said, “I will remember Your Majesty’s teachings.”
But he also remembered, Father is the emperor first, then father afterward.
He wanted to be clear-headed and proceed slowly, but only if His Majesty would entrust him with the empire someday.
While father and son exchanged barbs over the garden incident, Concubine Jing was earnestly explaining the way of rulership to Fang He.
“Any rule change has pros and cons. Especially when reforms harm the nobility’s interests, benefits are slow to appear while drawbacks show immediately. When an edict reaches the localities, there is lip service but no real compliance. Greed and corruption have never been few. How to supervise and deal with entrenched problems must be fully considered before implementation.”
“Otherwise, even well-intentioned reforms can silently become weapons in the hands of those with ill intent, plunging women across the empire into deeper suffering.”
Fang He, resting her head on her hand, stared blankly at the empty sheet of paper, her growing drowsiness only held at bay by her anxious heart.
After taking charge of palace affairs, Fang He gradually understood that sometimes her light words could save the lives of many struggling palace women, but could also doom even more who were already struggling.
This was entirely different from managing a hotel.
In her past life, she had screamed herself hoarse, at most able to influence whether her employees stayed employed and how much money was earned.
In the future, losing a job meant just finding another.
Though life had difficulties, most were not matters of life and death.
Now she understood why Kangxi always said, “Wait, wait some more.”
In that position, it was better to endure some grievances and torment than to make mistakes, because the consequences could cost countless lives.
She slowly wrote two lines on the paper:
“Regulations for the Women’s Academy—”
“Selection Regulation Adjustment”
She mustered her strength and looked at Concubine Jing ans said, “After establishing the Women’s Academy, we’ll need someone to supervise outside. We’re not suitable for that. The Wives of Prince Yu and Prince Gong should be capable. Once the regulations are drafted, we can invite them to the palace to discuss. The earliest the academy can open is after the initial selection, so there’s no rush.”
“The selection is urgent. Usually, in September, the Imperial Edict is issued everywhere. Since this is the first reform, it’s unrealistic to spread it like the imperial exams to all counties. It will likely be limited to prefecture cities. At that time, the palace must send people to supervise. This is a good chance for you to go out.”
Concubine Jing neither agreed nor disagreed; she wasn’t in a hurry to leave the palace.
Her body was still weak; early defloration was actually not good for girls.
“I’m willing to go out and walk around, but you must understand this affects not only the interests of princes and nobles but also makes the Crown Prince wary. If you can influence one court session, you can influence the second. Suo’etu won’t just watch you rise in popularity among the people and easily be promoted to Noble Consort to support the Fifteenth Prince.”
“If they want to act, they can’t reach the prefecture cities, but making trouble in the capital and Shengjing is easy for them.”
Fang He had already thought of this.
She pondered, “I heard the wife of the eldest prince is always in poor health, even the Third Princess is a bit weak. I asked Fule, and she said the wife and her daughter will be raised well, easier than the Eleventh Prince.”
Concubine Jing immediately understood: The enemy’s enemy is a friend.
The Crown Prince and Eldest Prince were at odds.
If they could get Eldest Prince on their side, or more precisely Mingzhu, it would be hard for the Crown Prince to interfere.
She smiled at Fang He and said, “Setting aside Consort Hui’s hatred for you, whether Eldest Prince is willing to help us depends on Mingzhu… I watch coldly. He’s no simpleton. Cooperating with him could easily capsize the boat. Mingzhu’s greed and lust for power rival Wusan Si’s. He’s even more cunning, better at reading the situation, stirring up trouble in court several times, all timed to the Emperor’s thoughts.”
Fang He sighed, propping her face in her hands, “I know that too. Consort Hui’s side isn’t hard to handle. Though Eldest Prince seems to follow Consort Hui. Yinzhi’s persistence leaves Consort Hui no choice; all her actions are for Yinzhi’s benefit.”
“The growing conflict between the prince and wife is no secret in the harem, especially regarding the ladies producing heirs. This is the main reason Consort Hui’s illness never heals. If we can persuade his wife, we’ll have Eldest Prince in our hands.”
As for Mingzhu, Fang He recalled the bells and golden chains delivered to the bedchamber yesterday, took a deep breath, and sat upright.
“Rather than binding Mingzhu to our cause, better to bind the emperor. As long as the emperor stands with us, we needn’t fear him turning against us. Although Mingzhu has many corrupt traits, he’s sensible. Compared to that skill, who does he fear?”
Concubine Jing’s eyes sparkled with a sly smile, lightly saying, “Then please have our noble lady take more care. If the emperor is well coaxed, the edict will be issued sooner. Otherwise, the longer it drags, the more people will try to stop it…”
“If you don’t know how to bind someone, I can prepare strong but harmless silk ribbons and deerskin straps for you.” Speaking of bedchamber affairs, Concubine Jing, who had never lacked suitors in her past life, smiled with increasing playfulness.
She lightly clapped her hands, growing more interested.
“Oh, I also know of a scented wax that can be dripped on a person. When passion rises, the fragrance spreads—it’s the finest Hehexiang.”
Fang He shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum.
“Thanks, but maybe in ten or twenty years.”
With Master Kang’s stamina, she wanted to live several more years.
Concubine Jing smiled, “Then what are you waiting for?”
Fang He: “…………”
‘Waiting for the garden trouble to fall into place.’
It can’t be that His Majesty is already declining.
No matter how much Fang He dawdled, by early evening she slowly returned to Jiayin Hall.
Before entering, she felt something was off, as if she’d forgotten something.
But once inside, she saw two sulky faces—one large, one small.
The larger was half-smiling; the smaller was about to cry but held back.
Fang He just wanted to turn and run, completely forgetting what felt wrong.
“Mother~” Jiujiu’s eyes were still swollen and red.
She ran over and clung to Fang He’s leg, whining, “You don’t love Jiujiu anymore~”
Fang He couldn’t run anymore and had to answer righteously.
“Who said that? Say it, and see if Mother doesn’t beat him! You’re Mother’s precious little treasure. Mother wishes she could roll you into a little ball and carry you in her arms everywhere.”
At least a little ball in the arms wouldn’t jump around and cause trouble.
Don’t people say that children aged eight or nine are a handful even for dogs?
Her Jiujiu showed those signs at three!
Jiujiu pouted her little mouth high.
“Mother’s lying! Auntie called for backup, Mother played hide-and-seek, you did it on purpose!”
“Called for backup? What’s going on?” Fang He immediately put on a confused look, blinking her big eyes like Jiujiu’s, and scooped her up to Kangxi’s side.
“I’ve been busy today with matters of leaving the palace, hoping to settle things early so that Jiujiu will also have chances to go out and play. Emperor, don’t you agree?”
Jiujiu immediately forgot the garden grievance.
Her sorrow had already been soothed by Papa’s promise of a little pony.
No child can resist the words “go out and play.”
Jiujiu, like her mother, blinked her still-red eyes and looked at Kangxi.
Kangxi gave Fang He a subtle glance, smiling as he pinched Jiujiu’s cheek and lightly passed the topic-shifting blame back to Fang He.
“Whether Jiujiu can go out to play depends on how well her mother behaves. If she is as obedient as Jiujiu, Papa will surely take Jiujiu out to play.”
Jiujiu immediately looked up expectantly at Fang He.
Fang He: “…..”
‘So she’s called ‘Papa’ too?’