Fang He was silent for a moment.
Though Cui Wei’s scolding made her want to deduct wages, it was quite reasonable.
She pretended not to have heard and only asked, “Then why are you so sleepy?”
“Last night, I waited in the storage room to bring water in, listening to those bell sounds for most of the night. What do you think?”
Fang He: “….”
“…Did many people hear them?”
“Only us in Jiayin Hall and a few people close to the Emperor.”
Fang He: “…..”
‘Might as well say everyone heard them.’
Even thick-skinned Fang He found it a bit too much to bear after listening to such a spectacle all night.
She knew drinking always caused her to lose face.
That’s why in her past life, she never asked about her drunken escapades.
Now, she shoved those scattered images aside and shouted, “Bring breakfast quickly. I left Erbao at Ruijing Pavilion yesterday and needed to bring him back early. Otherwise, if Erbao can’t see me, he’ll…”
Cui Wei couldn’t help but laugh, “By the time you remember, our little prince has probably already worn his voice out crying.”
“When the Emperor came yesterday, he already sent your clothes to Ruijing Pavilion, saying you were busy with the Women’s Academy and selection affairs. For now, the little prince and the princess are to stay at Ruijing Pavilion until you finish, then they’ll be brought back.”
Cui Wei’s face flushed as she continued, “The Emperor said during court that he would come over to have dinner with you these days, then after this period, follow the three days on, two days off plan. Physician Zhang Yuyi has even prepared special ointments to make sure you don’t get tired.”
Fang He: “…”
Did she slur her words after drinking again?
Though he said “these days,” Kangxi stayed at Jiayin Hall continuously for half a month, never missing the first or fifteenth days.
If it had been the past, the whole Changchun Garden would have reeked of sour jealousy from the harem women.
Now, no one even felt jealous.
In fact, the consorts long understood that since the 29th year began, the Emperor had not visited any other palace but hers.
They had become mere decorations.
Before, they had to bitterly endure life in the palace, pretending not to know, hoping for the day Fang He would fall from favor so they could have some hope for the rest of their lives.
Now, seeing signs of leaving the palace and possibly becoming a teacher in the Women’s Academy, teaching a few female disciples, why would they continue to suffer in hopelessness?
Whether willing to leave or not, the edict was not yet issued, so everyone quietly waited in their own palaces for news.
Though the harem was quiet, many court officials with ears to the ground saw how Noble Consort Zhaoyuan’s singular favor remained undiminished, but they could not watch Fang He dominate the harem alone.
Suo’etu paced with a gloomy face in Danning Residence.
“The edict from the Imperial Study has been submitted. Counting the days, the decree should be issued within half a month. Once the selection system changes, no one can stop Noble Consort Zhaoyuan’s rising influence.”
The crown prince Yinreng calmly played chess by himself.
Suo’etu anxiously stepped forward, “Your Highness, if Noble Consort Zhaoyuan and the Tong family take over the selection reform, all marriages and funerals in the families will be at her whim!”
“If this continues, her reputation among the people and nobles will surpass yours sooner or later. We cannot just sit and wait!”
Yinreng smiled, “Only the Emperor can issue the edict. Do you want to go against the Emperor alone?”
Suo’etu frowned, “This can be left to me. That bet was a joke from the start. Many Censors already think Noble Consort Zhaoyuan is a femme fatale corrupting the Emperor. If more officials petition, maybe we can stop this…”
“Uncle is wrong,” Yinreng interrupted lightly.
“The Emperor taught me to learn from mistakes. Now I understand something.”
He looked up at Suo’etu and continued, “Noble Consort Zhaoyuan’s power in court and harem all comes from the Emperor. If we try to stop the edict, it’s not to cut her down but to oppose the Emperor.”
His eyes flashed with ridicule.
“To the Emperor, though I am the crown prince, I’m still only the heir apparent. Noble Consort Zhaoyuan controls court affairs because the Emperor allows it—she is under his command. If I dared to seize the Emperor’s power, even father and son, the Emperor wouldn’t tolerate it.”
The more Yinreng understood ruling, the more he understood Kangxi.
If he were Emperor, he wouldn’t let his son meddle with imperial authority.
But as crown prince, no one succeeded without first controlling some power in hand.
Throughout history, very few heirs smoothly ascended.
Seeing Suo’etu silent, Yinreng smiled and said, “To destroy a person, you don’t have to act before the fact. Just like the harem, many brothers died young after I was born.”
Suo’etu’s eyes brightened, “Your Highness means the Eleventh Prince…”
He made a slashing gesture at his neck.
Yinreng sighed at Suo’etu’s harshness.
“I don’t care how you act outside, but in the palace, you can’t be so ruthless or the Emperor won’t tolerate you.”
Suo’etu was clever but accustomed to solving problems simply since his power surpassed most.
Except the Emperor.
He thought for a moment and said, “You mean to wait until after the edict is issued before making a move?”
Yinreng nodded, “The selection is next year’s matter, so no rush. Something can easily happen outside the palace, but you must prepare in advance.”
“I heard the thirty Women’s Academies from the ‘Werewolf Kill’ game, which was said to be the palace’s idea to please Noble Consort, are almost finished.” Yinreng’s cold smile curled.
“She wants to be the model woman in the world, a living Bodhisattva among the people. Even if she can’t become Empress, she will be the foremost in the harem. As the son of the Emperor, I can’t watch this happen.”
Suo’etu immediately said, “I can handle this.”
He sneered, “Women’s Academies are nonsense. Women should behave, keep their virtue and duty! If any academy dares to open, I’ll arrange for some scholars to throw ink water, write scolding poems, and spread them around. Let’s see how long they last.”
“Women’s honor is a family matter. If one daughter loses her reputation, the others will have a hard time marrying. Just let the women go to those academies.”
“If people understand that girls in the academies are immoral, families with multiple daughters won’t dare oppose. Spread stories of women selling themselves there, and the academy will be seen as a brothel without a sign. Even if the academy opens, no woman would dare go.”
While they talked, Fang He invited the First Lady of Tongjia Clan to the garden to admire the redesigned Jade Pear White Chrysanthemums.
After the flower-viewing feast, the jade-white blossoms bloomed even more splendidly, adding a touch of elegance amid the colorful display.
Irgen Jueluo, the First Lady of Tongjia Clan, had been under Consort Hui’s strict rules since marrying into the palace.
Although she was the only daughter-in-law in the palace, she felt little presence.
After years of giving birth only to daughters, she was physically weak and rarely left the prince’s residence except to greet Consort Hui.
Now invited by Fang He, she felt uneasy.
She was well aware of the discord between her husband, the eldest prince, and Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.
Though invited by the noble consort, as merely a prince’s wife, she dared not refuse and felt anxious on the way.
After resting a while in a nearby pavilion beside the flowers, she felt a chill in her arms.
“May I ask if Noble Consort summoned me for an important matter?” She pursed her pale lips and blushed.
Cui Wei quickly ordered the pavilion curtains lowered to block prying eyes.
Fang He smiled and pushed the fire brazier closer to the First Lady without saying anything.
She asked, “I heard you and the eldest prince are not on good terms. Will you reconcile sooner or later?”
The First Lady gripped her handkerchief and lowered her gaze, silent.
In truth, every day she persuaded herself to give in to the eldest prince.
There were no divorces in the royal family; eventually, she would leave the palace and the prince’s household.
If she didn’t want to be squeezed out by concubines, she had to humble herself.
Though she no longer felt affection for the eldest prince and secretly resented his roughness—dragging her into the tent without care—she knew she had no choice.
She had to plan for herself and her three daughters.
The only reason she hadn’t given in yet was to recover her health and try to have a legitimate son soon.
Fang He didn’t wait for an answer and continued, “I reviewed your pulse diagnosis. Even if you reconcile and bear a son, who knows if more little princesses will come? Can your health hold up?”
“If you sacrifice your life to bear a son, would you be willing to see your children living under others?”
“Are you willing for your daughters, the earliest imperial grandchildren, to live dull lives simply because they’re girls and then die on the Beimeng steppes?”
Fang He’s relentless questions made the First Lady’s eyes redden, tears suddenly spilling out.
She took deep breaths to calm herself, wiping tears, looking quite disheveled.
“Noble Consort, I understand. Even if I’m miserable, I haven’t lost my composure.”
She softly raised her head to meet Fang He’s gaze.
“But I’m not you, nor one of those women who dared to bet with the Emperor. I lack that courage. My father was dismissed in disgrace, and the Irgen Jueluo Clan has declined. If I act recklessly, no one can protect me.”
“If I slip up, my mother-in-law and eldest prince will lose face. I won’t have a foothold in the palace or protect my children.”
Tears gathered but never fell.
She forced a bitter smile and said, “I once wished I could be as bold as you, but I was taught to obey since childhood. I can’t be someone like Noble Consort.”
Actually, the First Lady liked Fang He.
No one ever suffered for her or spoke up for her—not even her own mother or father, who secretly blamed her for her inability to bear sons.
Only Fang He had understood her pain that time in the Imperial Garden.
But she couldn’t repay Fang He’s kindness.
Like drifting weeds, she had to side with the eldest prince and Consort Hui, wrong to the end.
Fang He didn’t rush to speak, letting the First Lady quietly shed tears.
Crying was forbidden in the palace.
Palace maids watched, and children or husbands could come anytime.
Even if heartbroken, she had little chance to cry freely.
When the First Lady calmed down, Fang He spoke gently, “Actually, there is no unsolvable conflict between me and the eldest prince. Except for the dragon throne, I can help him achieve whatever he wants.”
The First Lady suddenly looked up, surprised Fang He was so straightforward.
Fang He chuckled, “I’d say that even before the Emperor. As the eldest son, he deserves the respect due. His disputes with the crown prince are between them. As for you, you say you can’t be me, but you can become the person you want to be.”
Fang He leaned forward slightly and pushed the tea toward the First Lady.
“Try this tea. I asked Fule to specially prepare this health tonic based on your pulse diagnosis. Drink it for a few years and it may restore the lifespan you’ve lost.”
The First Lady fidgeted uneasily, “Noble Consort, what exactly do you want me and the eldest prince to do?”
No good thing is free.
The temptation Fang He offered was great, but the price to pay terrified the First Lady, who dared not touch the tea cup.