Kangxi’s breathing grew heavy.
He hadn’t touched Fang He since the seventh month of the previous year.
Even when he couldn’t restrain himself, it had only been through clothes—he hadn’t really had her for over a year.
Though busy, he hadn’t neglected to conserve his strength; now, he truly couldn’t resist provocation.
He caught Fang He’s hand, helpless he asked, “Aren’t you afraid Liang Madam will make you drink bitter decoctions?”
Liang Madam had repeatedly warned Fang He to use medicinal food properly and abstain from intimacy for at least half a year, or else her body, weakened from three births, would not recover and her lifespan might be affected.
If not for her husband and children outside the palace, Liang Madam would never have left.
Kangxi had even given Liang Madam a special waist token for palace access, letting her come every half-month to check Fang He’s pulse.
Before leaving, Liang Madam had threatened Fang He: “If I find out you’re being reckless again, don’t blame me for being harsh—I’ll put huanglian in all your medicine!”
In front of Liang Madam, Fang He was as obedient as a kitten—but as soon as she left, she reverted to her old self.
Kangxi looked at Fang He with a deep gaze.
She only bullied the Emperor, fierce at home!
Fang He sprawled across him, blinking and smiling, “Doesn’t Your Majesty want to?”
Kangxi smirked, raised his brow, and pulled her into his arms.
“What do you think?”
Fang He felt a pang in her heart, and her rear didn’t feel too safe either—she quickly behaved.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong…I was just happy and wanted Your Majesty to be happy too.”
Kangxi was slightly moved and asked, “Happy for what?”
Fang He propped herself up on the bright yellow quilt, her grin triumphant.
“As the immortal wind of your wishes enters dreams, the mysterious realm is hidden in the clouds. Is Your Majesty using your own name and my honorific to tell others that we’re an immortal couple?”[Note]
Kangxi looked a bit embarrassed and was about to kiss her to stop her mouth.
But even as their lips entwined, Fang He still chuckled and muttered, “Tsk tsk, I knew Your Majesty loves me deeply… Immortal couple, with lush leaves—your confession is so cryptic, mm…”
Kangxi kissed her fiercely, his eyes full of laughter, completely masking his first-time awkwardness at a love confession.
This rascal really understood him more and more.
The more Kangxi had once disliked those three children, afraid they’d endanger Fang He, the more he now loved them.
Those three children were like a sea-stabilizing needle, anchoring this always-drifting little demon at his side, and claiming a piece of his heart.
Just as Kangxi grew ever more emotional, Fang He suddenly asserted control, pressing with a little force.
“From now on, Your Majesty mustn’t anger me again. If I get upset, I might want to drink. And after drinking…who knows, maybe I’ll share your sappy love words with the Imperial Mother, heh heh…”
Kangxi: “…..”
He smacked her hatefully, but in the end pressed her down, tore the offending gauzy robe, pinned her legs, and stifled all her mischief.
Outside the hall, Liang Jiugong heard ambiguous sounds returning at last from within, and was momentarily startled—but quickly recovered.
Liang Madam hadn’t avoided the Emperor when giving her warnings; maybe she’d done it on purpose.
Given how much the Emperor cared for his Consort, there was no way there was real fighting inside.
He calmly instructed the servants to prepare hot water, and reminded them, “Bring plenty of cold water too, and get some cooling tea for His Majesty.”
He could only help his master this much.
Having pent up for so long, Kangxi found mere teasing could not quench his desires.
He was easily ignited, and once Fang He was exhausted and asleep, he could only go and bathe in cold water.
Once he’d cooled off, the sleepiness was gone.
Sitting on the bed, watching the little troublemaker hugging her pillow, he couldn’t help giving her another smack.
Fang He just wriggled like she’d been scratched, muttered twice, turned over, and kept sleeping.
Kangxi: “…..”
‘Just two more months—let’s see if this rascal can still laugh then!’
***
Two months hadn’t even passed.
Right after the Mid-Autumn Festival, another war report arrived from the north.
Gualdan had indeed fallen for Changning and Sun Sining’s stratagem and, with only ten thousand men, launched an attack at Zhao Modo.
He hadn’t expected the Qing army to occupy the high ground, slaughtering over three thousand with arrows and crossbows, nearly reaching the Jungar women and camel herds.
This was the most crucial asset for survival in Moxi—Gualdan immediately led his rattan-shield troops to break out.
His wife, Anu Khatan, covered the retreat, feinting elsewhere and using her life to help Gualdan escape west with his men.
Changning led his forces to pursue the scattered remnants, while Sun Sining and Tong Guogang chased Gualdan.
But Gualdan, cunning as ever, took a few hundred cavalry into the marshy meadows, trapping Sun Sining and some soldiers.
Tong Guogang, tracking in the forest, refused to give up, chasing with his guards until Gualdan had only a few dozen men left.
Gualdan had no intention of counterattacking, fleeing like a dog in distress.
Thinking Gualdan was at the end of his rope, Tong Guogang disregarded Sun Sining’s warnings and pressed the pursuit, only to fall into an ambush Gualdan had set at the Moxi pass.
He was struck by several arrows and died of his wounds at Zhao Modo.
In the end, over a thousand of the Moxi tribespeople were captured, Anu Khatan was slain, but Gualdan escaped.[Note]
When news of Tong Guogang’s death reached the Eastern Army and Feiyan Gu’s camp, Tong Guowei was beside himself with grief, grabbing his blade and trying to kill Gualdan, but was knocked out by Feiyan Gu and sent back to the capital.
Concubine Jing, upon hearing of her father’s death, fell gravely ill in Yunya Guan, and soon the news was reported to Chunhui Hall.
Fang He left the three little ones in Jiujiu’s care and hurried to Yunya Guan with Xinhua and Xinzi.
Upon entering, she dismissed the attendants and asked Concubine Jing, “Do you want to leave the palace?”
Tong Guogang, her father, hadn’t cared for Concubine Jing as much as Wu Jia Side Consort.
Ever since it became clear Concubine Jing had no chance of favor, he had only instructed Tong Guowei’s wife, Hesheri, to visit occasionally, never once bothering with his daughter in the palace.
Who would believe she’d grieve herself sick over such a father?
Concubine Jing couldn’t even be bothered to feign illness, lazily propping her cheek on her arm and smiling at Fang He.
“I’ve seen enough excitement in the palace. I don’t want to miss out on the liveliness outside.”
In the stories, Tianya Inn would become quite interesting.
“There’s another draft next year. Don’t you want some peace in the palace?”
Fang He snorted, “Graveyards are quiet. Do you think I like that?”
Truthfully, she was reluctant to see Concubine Jing leave.
Over time, Fang He realized that this famous female minister from history was, in fact, a perfect confidante.
She was erudite, resourceful, silently solved problems, and in managing palace affairs, she could match Hui, Rong, and Yi combined, leaving Fang He little to worry about.
As for her temperament—if someone offended Concubine Jing, she dealt with it directly; at all other times, she was easygoing, even able to discuss shocking things without care, making Fang He feel truly at ease.
Concubine Jing laughed, “I’m only leaving the palace, not dying. When I’m out, I’ll still take care of things for you, so you can come and go as you please…”
Fang He immediately hid her reluctance and quickly asked, “All right, when are you leaving? Is tomorrow too soon? Need help packing?”
Concubine Jing: “…..”
‘Such touching sisterly affection, ha…’
She replied carelessly, “As long as you can persuade His Majesty to grant me a title, any time is fine. I have no wish to return to the Tong family and listen to those inner-court women wailing.”
Fang He understood—Tong Guogang’s concubines and sons, like Erlundai and Fahai, were enough to make things lively.
There was no need for Concubine Jing to return.
She stood, “Leave it to me, I’ll go find His Majesty now!”
The draft procedures were now so detailed they could hardly be improved, just waiting to be put into practice.
Women’s Academies were only just starting up outside the capital, those in the city had barely taken shape, and things were in a state of rebuilding.
With just Prince Yu and Prince Gong’s consorts, it was impossible to manage everything.
As long as the imperial consorts behaved, they could leave the palace to teach at the Women’s Academy for noble girls, so they should be free to choose whether to stay or leave.
If not for her own childbirth and the unfinished northern war, Fang He would have proposed this earlier.
But now…
***
After returning to Chunhui Hall, Fang He found Liang Jiugong waiting outside and knew Kangxi hadn’t gone to the Imperial Study.
Taking a deep breath, she entered the hall with a smile, and called out, “Your Majesty, I have a huge matter to discuss. You must hear me out, or else I’ll drink and play monkey tricks for you!”
Liang Jiugong didn’t even have a chance to stop her before her lively and brash voice carried right into the hall.
The moment the words left her lips, she entered with a smile—then her face froze.
There, in front of the Luohan Couch, stood Minister of War Mingzhu, Minister of Revenue Ma Qi, Minister of Rites Xiong Cilu, Minister of Personnel Zhang Yushu, Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Tingjing, and other key officials—all staring at her, heads tilted in shock.
Fang He blinked, blinked again, took a deep breath, then, with utmost poise, nodded gracefully to the ministers, pressed Xinhua’s hand, spun on one foot, and elegantly walked right out again.
“Oh dear, I must be dreaming—otherwise, why don’t I feel any pain?”
“How could His Majesty suddenly gather the ministers here instead of the Imperial Study? The Imperial Study isn’t just for show, right?”
“Are the triplets crying? Let’s go check, and nap a bit more, and finish the dream.”
Inside the hall, the less familiar Ma Qi, Zhang Yushu, and Chen Tingjing all glanced at Kangxi.
So this was the Emperor’s so-called heavenly auspicious, virtuous, and gentle Empress Yuan Zhen?
Was this auspicious sign a monkey spirit came to life?
Kangxi calmly waved at Liang Jiugong to comfort the ancestor, then asked with a smile, “Where were we, Chen? Oh, about how Duke Tong shouldn’t have pursued the desperate enemy, right?”
Sun Sining and Duke Tong were at fault, but since Gualdan was no longer a threat, rewards should come first, lest the soldiers be discouraged.
“Let Duke Tong be buried with the honors of a top-ranked Duke. The Ministry of Rites will draft the decree, and his son Erlundai will inherit the title.”
He paused, but when no one responded, he lifted his eyelids to glance over.
“What, do any of you object?”
Xiong Cilu and Ma Qi hurriedly answered.
They had no objections—just a bout of second-hand embarrassment.