With something weighing on her mind, Fang He couldn’t get a proper night’s sleep.
When she woke up, it was still before dawn.
Hearing faint voices in the tent, Fang He’s eyes flew open as she sat up, staring straight at Kangxi, who was leaning against the headboard.
That robust body of his that always made people linger in fascination—how many days had it been, and already the bright yellow inner robe was hanging loosely on him.
‘Ugh~’ She suddenly felt a vague sense of grievance she couldn’t put into words.
The golden rice bowl she’d tended with such care—look at what a mess it had been reduced to.
Kangxi was startled by her movement, and when he turned, he saw Fang He’s eyes quickly fill with redness, then a misty haze, making those clear, limpid eyes all the more pitiful.
He saw that Fang He seemed to be in a trance, dazed as if on the verge of tears, and hurriedly waved Liang Jiugong away, gesturing for him to leave first, then carefully drew Fang He into his embrace.
“Guoguo, don’t be afraid. I’m right here.”
Fang He leaned against his now rather bony shoulder, her mind slowly clearing.
She grumbled inwardly—’he was still here now, but in a few days, who knew whether he’d be in the heavens or in the earth.’
She sniffed, suppressing her lingering fatigue and the irritability of waking up, and asked him hoarsely what he and Liang Jiugong had been talking about just now.
“How did the medicine trial go? Maybe I should try some too—small doses, multiple times, I think that’d be safer.”
The storm always lurking in Kangxi’s eyes softened into a faint smile at her words.
He teased, “This isn’t the time for the Imperial Noble Consort to be secretly spiking medicine, is it?”
Jiujiu and Er Bao both took after Fang He—especially hating bitter medicine decoctions.
But no matter how sturdy adults and children are, there are always times when they catch cold or fall ill.
To encourage the children to take medicine, Fang He would bravely down it in front of them each time, then when no one was around, cry for sweets.
As long as the children didn’t see, the medicine never ended up in this rascal’s belly; the ever-green potted plants in Yanxi Palace had been changed several times over because of it.
Fang He lazily yawned, “That’s only because some adults are even less sensible than children and make people worry. Otherwise, why would I have to suffer so much?”
After being jostled in a carriage for so long, her whole body ached badly.
Because of the disrupted schedule, her period hadn’t come—only a dull pain in her belly, making her even more lethargic.
Kangxi paused, lowered his head, and gently kissed Fang He’s forehead without saying a word.
He knew that this rascal now truly cared about him in her heart.
He didn’t know how much, nor did he want to know why; as long as she held him in her heart, that was enough.
They still had a lifetime to talk about love and deepen their bond…
But just as his gaze was turning tender and lingering, Fang He gave him an especially disgusted push, missed her aim, and smacked him right on the jaw.
“Your lips are cracked, it’s like touching bark, Your Majesty—enough with the tender gazes, all I can feel right now is tree bark!”
Kangxi: “…”
‘Why did this rascal even have a mouth!’
He grumpily patted her head and instructed in an even tone, “I’m sick these few days. You shouldn’t rest here; lest you catch my illness. I’ve told Liang Jiugong to prepare a tent for you.”
“Take Jinghao with you and rest well in the tent for a few days. After all, there are many soldiers and officers coming and going, and who knows if there are Moxi scouts lurking about. Don’t wander around.”
Fang He didn’t want to move and replied, “You still haven’t answered me, Your Majesty. When will you take your medicine? and I’m too lazy to fuss with all this. Just get someone to fetch a couch for me, I’ll keep watch for you at night.”
She’d already spent a night here—if there was anything to catch, she would have caught it already.
She’d just get Jinghao to find her a mask later.
“I’ll get better for sure,” Kangxi said softly, without further explanation.
“Guoguo, be good. Don’t make me worry. There are too many people coming and going here—you’re not safe here.”
Fang He hadn’t sensed anything strange at first, but after years of sharing a bed, she could read this man’s oddities perfectly.
The imperial tent was huge—the sleeping area and the meeting area were not together, separated by several layers of screens.
How could it be inconvenient—unless those coming and going were all the Emperor’s personal men, or “trusted insiders.”
She raised her brows slightly and asked, “Can Your Majesty guarantee your own safety?”
Kangxi looked at her steadily for a long time, then helplessly smiled and raised his hand.
“Do you want me to swear an oath?”
Fang He yawned again, sat up, called Jinghao in to help her dress, and before leaving, turned back.
“I’ll come over at mealtime—have my food prepared, I’ll keep an eye on you eating.”
Kangxi smiled again and didn’t refuse.
If Fang He ate outside, he’d be even less at ease.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you at lunch.”
Only then did Fang He follow Jinghao to the neighboring tent.
Once inside, she still felt tired, so she lay down and slept again.
It wasn’t until nearly noon that Jinghao woke her.
She washed up and entered the imperial tent, discovering that the Crown Prince was also there.
Seeing her, Yinreng stood up a bit awkwardly but maintained his composure and cupped his hands to Fang He.
“Zhen Niangniang.”
Fang He asked casually, “How did the medicine trial go, Crown Prince?”
Yinreng replied with a smile, “I already took Cinchona powder twice last night and this morning, as prescribed by the Imperial Physicians for the dosage that should help Father’s illness. I feel no discomfort. In the afternoon, we can give Father the medicine.”
Fang He felt a bit relieved and replied, “That’s good.”
After that, the two had nothing more to say.
Kangxi also didn’t have the strength to talk and simply lay with his eyes closed.
He looked even more wan than when Fang He had left in the morning, lips pale but with two spots of red on his cheeks.
Seeing Fang He frowning at Kangxi, Yinreng lowered his eyes and stood up.
He said softly, “Father’s fever is up again. I’ll go urge the Imperial Physicians and Lu Yuanpan to treat him as soon as possible.”
Fang He nodded, sitting at Kangxi’s side and holding his hand.
When Yinreng left, Kangxi finally opened his eyes, the red lines in his phoenix-shaped eyes flashing with pain and anger before he regained his composure.
He looked up at Fang He.
Seeing her calm gaze, his nose suddenly stung with sourness, like the feeling of being wronged as a child.
But as a child, he couldn’t say this to his mother, his father, or his wet nurse.
Now, though, he finally had someone to confide in.
He grasped Fang He’s hand tightly and said softly, “Was it my fault?”
Is that why Yinreng hates him so much?
Fang He didn’t brush him off.
She quietly thought for a while, then leaned over the bed and replied, “As long as you truly love him, then you aren’t wrong. No one is born knowing how to love others—even emperors aren’t omnipotent.”
“But this isn’t your first time being a father, while it’s his first time being a child. There are causes and effects—if he’s at fault, so are you; if you’re not at fault, then he naturally isn’t either.”
Kangxi looked at Fang He in surprise—he’d never considered it this way before.
After pondering for a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Ever since seeing Yinreng, his mood had grown heavier and heavier, but thanks to Fang He’s words, he suddenly felt a lot lighter.
“I thought you’d never speak up for the Crown Prince.” Kangxi pinched Fang He’s cheek as she leaned on the bed.
“You’ve always been different from everyone else.”
When he thought she’d speak for Yinreng, she bluntly said he’d never make a good emperor.
But now, when she could easily add insult to injury, this rascal was speaking up for Yinreng instead.
“Yes, yes, don’t you just love maverick pigs?” Fang He rolled her eyes and told Liang Jiugong to bring the food.
The Crown Prince could be deposed, but she would never do something as low as sowing discord between father and son.
Who knew what grudge this master might hold over her for the fate of a deposed Crown Prince in the future.
The Aisin Gioro family’s pettiness had always been guaranteed, no matter the scale.
Kangxi was amused by Fang He.
This rascal never forgot to bring up old scores—she even remembered the time they went to the Halahai River.
Because of his illness, Kangxi had been in a daze most of the time and hadn’t eaten properly in days.
Now that Fang He was here, he forced himself to eat a few more bites for her sake and to show Yinreng, but could only manage a little before giving up.
Fang He, having lost her appetite from the journey, also stopped eating after seeing Kangxi eat so little.
This worried Kangxi, who nervously felt her forehead.
“Are you not feeling well?”
“Liang Jiugong, call Lu Wuning over…”
Fang He pulled his hand down, cutting him off, “I’m fine, just tired from the journey. Isn’t it said that husband and wife are connected at heart? If you get better, I’ll feel better too.”
Kangxi didn’t insist on having Fang He’s pulse checked.
The little tigress was already surprising him by volunteering for medicine trials.
After Lu Wuning checked her pulse, he’d just prescribe some nourishing tonic, which she didn’t like anyway.
Slightly delirious from the fever, Kangxi squeezed Fang He’s hand before he drifted off.
“Then you go rest some more. I’ll have dinner with you tonight.”
Fang He waited until Kangxi fell asleep before sighing, watching the shadows, and leaving the imperial tent.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and she felt a heaviness in her chest.
“Is it going to rain?” Fang He asked worriedly, turning to Jinghao.
“On the steppe, each autumn rain brings more cold. Go tell Liang Jiugong to put a few more braziers by His Majesty’s side, so he doesn’t catch a cold.”
Jinghao answered concisely, first settling Fang He into a deep sleep before slipping out and bowing in the corner.
“Zhen Mistress is asleep. I’ve lit calming incense—she won’t wake until dinner.”
Zhao Chang stepped from the shadows and said quietly, “Good. No matter what happens, stay by Zhen Mistress’s side. His Majesty’s orders—protect her safety at all costs.”
Jinghao knelt and promised, then quietly retreated into the tent.
Moments later, huge raindrops started pounding on the tent, drowning out all other noise—only the sound of rain remained.
As the downpour blotted out the sky and sun, Qi Sanfu carried a tray into the imperial tent.
A moment later, a muffled grunt and the sound of something wooden and ceramic dropping could faintly be heard, then all was silent.
After that, several figures in black rushed out from the imperial tent, moving at top speed toward the Imperial Physicians’ and Crown Prince’s tents.
Half an hour later, all Imperial Physicians except Lu Wuning were being held in their tents, and blood slowly leaked from the Crown Prince’s tent, only to be washed clean by the rain.
Yinreng, his face pale, was dragged into the imperial tent by the black-clad men, soaked through and forced to kneel before the Yuxi Hall’s desk like a wooden doll, unmoving.
Two hours passed, the rain showed no sign of letting up, and darkness deepened.
When the first lamp was lit in the imperial tent, Kangxi, supported by Liang Jiugong, emerged from behind the screens and sat at the Yuxi Hall desk.
Without needing a word from Kangxi, everyone except Zhao Chang, who was guarding Yinreng, and Liang Jiugong, who served the master, withdrew from the tent.
Kangxi ordered Zhao Chang, “Find a cushion for him.”
Yinreng seemed to notice Kangxi only now.
He looked up expressionlessly and said, “No need. If Father has something to say, just say it—I’m fine kneeling like this.”