Scholars, repeatedly stung by ridicule, couldn’t stand it any longer—some reclusive scions of old families even came out to sit the civil exams.
Now, truly, all scholars were bent on leaping the dragon’s gate—if only to dash themselves to death against this upside-down Imperial Noble Consort in the palace!
Seeing the silent court, Kangxi coughed lightly and said, “Still, even though the results are good, Xiong Cilu was a bit reckless. I never told him to run a Qing Gazette and let all manner of things be publicized—doesn’t this damage the imperial family’s dignity?”
“Perhaps we should shut down the Qing Gazette, and dock Xiong Cilu’s salary for two years as a warning…”
“Imperial Father!” The Fifth Prince, now old enough to attend court, could not help but anxiously interrupt Kangxi.
If the Qing Gazette was gone, where else could he read such fascinating stories, or even those anonymous inner-court scandals?
“Your son believes, since Lord Xiong acted on your verbal order, it shouldn’t count as dereliction. Isn’t this punishment too severe?”
He tugged at his Fourth Brother in front, “Big brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, what do you say?”
The Third Prince who also loved the Qing Gazette and secretly submitted poems, hurriedly nodded and said, “Your son believes the Qing Gazette promotes communication between the court and the people, making them more loyal—it’s really not necessary to abolish it.”
Even Crown Prince Yinreng nodded, adding blandly, “I too think, those who accomplish great deeds need not sweat the small stuff. If Lord Xiong is at fault, a salary fine is enough.”
Yuqing Palace was now a quiet place; he, too, enjoyed reading the Qing Gazette in his free time.
Fourth Prince paused; he actually didn’t like the Qing Gazette.
After all, he spent huge amounts of energy each day studying its poems and prose, just to write structured rebuttals—what a waste of time!
He only turned to the others: “As for the law, I recall that Shuntian Prefecture has piled up quite a number of unresolved cases. Before judging others, should we not judge ourselves? What do you gentlemen think?”
Yinzhen most enjoyed reviewing legal documents, and he had a keen interest in law.
After finishing the palace files, he begged Kangxi for access to the Ministry of Justice and Shuntian Prefecture cases from past years.
Having read enough, he discovered some tricks within Shuntian Prefecture.
These unresolved cases were not about murder or major crimes—mostly cases of young lords oppressing commoners, imperial relatives riding horses through the streets, a minister’s brother-in-law forcibly buying and selling…
These incidents abounded, nearly filling the entire case library of Shuntian Prefecture.
For cases involving lives, Shuntian Prefecture would mostly act.
But if not, they simply organized and filed them, sending the records into the palace for the Emperor’s decision.
Kangxi was lenient with his subordinates but couldn’t possibly oversee so many cases, so every month he’d set aside time in the Nanshufang, picking out a portion from the Ministry of Justice and Shuntian Prefecture to review and sentence.
Lighter offenses merited scolding, fines, and house arrest, plus consolation for the victims.
Heavier ones could result in seizure of property and titles but those cases Shuntian Prefecture couldn’t handle were left to pile up in the storeroom.
If those cases were brought out and presented to Kangxi, he certainly wouldn’t let them slide.
Hearing this, many officials looked uneasy and grew less impassioned.
Immediately, one minister spoke: “Your Majesty, Lord Xiong has always been upright and loyal. For this one incident, he does not deserve harsh punishment.”
“Yes, yes, I agree. The Qing Gazette is truly worth promoting. A little trimming is all it needs.”
“I propose the Qing Gazette be managed by the Hanlin Academy. This would also help the court select talented people!”
Kangxi looked at the now-compliant ministers with an ambiguous smile, crowding the Yushi out so they had nothing more to say, listening at his leisure.
“Since all of you believe Xiong Cilu is forgivable in this, let him be docked one year’s salary. If he offends again, I will not let it go!”
There was a moment of quiet, then everyone knelt, even the Yushi—under Kangxi’s slightly firm tone, they had to kneel, exclaiming together, “Long live the Emperor!”
***
After leaving the hall, someone grabbed a few still-indignant elder Yushi who wanted to chase down the Emperor in the imperial study to submit more memorials.
“I say, gentlemen, why not take it easy!” Prince Jian Yabu said helplessly to the elder Yushi.
“Have you not thought, if not for My Lord’s verbal order, would I dare accept the Ministry of Rites’ stamped regulations and follow their directions?”
“Some things My Lord does not wish to state openly, just to preserve our dignity. Must you force him to display his favor for the Imperial Noble Consort for all to see? What good would that do for you?”
One elder Yushi’s face darkened further and he said, “We receive the ruler’s pay; we must not be idle. We cannot let a femme fatale bring disaster, bewitched by a woman…”
“I advise you to mind your words!” Mingzhu interjected coolly, passing by.
“The previous Yongding River corruption case implicated many—yet you didn’t intervene, and now you focus only on His Majesty’s harem. Do you think the Imperial Noble Consort is easy prey?”
“Regardless of what this selection reform ultimately brings, she is now beloved by the people. Are you the only wise man, and the whole world full of fools?”
“Whom do you think the Emperor will trust: the people, or a single household’s word?”
With that, Mingzhu and Prince Jian exchanged glances, offered their respects, and left.
Good advice can’t save those courting death; these Yushi merely wanted to provoke the Emperor into resenting the Imperial Noble Consort and restoring “equal favor” among the concubines, just because no new people entered the palace this time.
But they failed to notice—even the Crown Prince now called Yuan Zhen “Imperial Mother,” and even took the Fifteenth Prince to her, to raise as the next heir.
Her skill was plain to see.
Would the Emperor alienate the Imperial Noble Consort over a few stubborn troublemakers?
They should ask themselves if their heads were hard enough first.
Of the three Yushi who insisted that the Imperial Noble Consort meant to usurp authority, two fell silent and left after Prince Jian and Mingzhu spoke.
Yet there was still one stubborn Qin Yushi, who insisted on seeking an audience with the Emperor in imperial study.
But he only met Liang Jiugong, holding a black-covered secret memorial, waiting for him outside Hongde Hall.
“Lord Qin, My Lord is currently busy and truly has no time to meet with you.”
Liang Jiugong smiled extra politely at Qin Yushi and continued, “However, My Lord knows your character well, and expected you’d come. He asked me to give you this, and hopes you will think things through.”
Qin Yushi, expressionless, accepted the secret memorial.
He had always been upright, never corrupt, never built factions, nothing to hide—’Keep the heart pure, conduct upright,’ was his creed.
That’s why he was so stubborn.
Could the Emperor conjure up charges from thin air?
Qin Yushi opened the secret memorial, and after reading just two lines, his eyes widened and he trembled all over.
His wife had used her dowry to open an opera house outside, now full of plays about the Selected Lady, earning fortunes, and even opened two more opera houses in the Jingji Region.
No wonder his wife had complained that morning that they couldn’t pay the servants’ salaries, so she wouldn’t make new clothes this year, just wear the courtly robes bestowed by the palace outside and old clothes at home.
He’d long thought his wife’s and household’s underclothes were off—turns out all the money was spent out of his sight.
Her “hardship” must have been quite the performance.
His son had once mingled with Ling Pu and even Hesheri Xinyu.
Although he hadn’t participated in high-interest loans, he’d wavered, but dared not join in, fearing his father.
Yet his other son, a scribe at the Ministry of Works, had his wife open several shops selling Selected Lady merchandise, now doing as well as his mother-in-law.
His grandson, even, was a regular at the Zhugongzi, and to hide it from the family, needed money to support his favorite—he’d already become a star anonymous writer for the Qing Gazette, working for the Princess of Chengyuan.
He, indeed, was upright but his whole family was hiding all their filth from him!
Though not guilty of great crimes, the secret memorial made Qin Yushi’s face burn with shame—he could only wish to faint dead away.
Yet Qin Yushi was now even more certain: Yuan Zhen, the Imperial Noble Consort, was a disaster incarnate. Not only the palace—his whole family was ensnared!
As Qin Yushi hobbled home to settle scores with his family, Kangxi was also in Zhaoren Hall, settling accounts with Fang He.
***
“So tell me, just what are you up to, stirring the capital into a frenzy again?” Kangxi asked.
Fang He smiled, pushing tea toward Kangxi and leaning against his shoulder she said, “I just heard the national treasury was empty and got worried for My Lord!”
“I even forgot where I heard it, but they said, if you want more silver, you have to stimulate its circulation. If everyone spends, the court collects more taxes; more taxes mean more can be done for the people; and so it cycles, making Great Qing prosperous.”
Kangxi turned, lifted her chin, raising his brows in a half-smile he urged, “Tell the truth.”
Fang He: “……”
Damn, he’d found a chance to say those three words again.
This man, with his cold, languid manner, was truly… heart-throbbing!
No help for it—she’d reached the age of a hungry tigress.
Fang He pouted and shook her head, then straddled his lap face-to-face, still righteous yet slightly provocative, tracing circles on his chest with a finger.
“I just want women to have higher status. Why should they be bound by the three obediences and four virtues, while men can have three wives and four concubines?”
“Just thinking that someday Jiujiu and Minbao’s consorts might also take concubines, I want to wipe out all the faithless men in this world!”
Her delicate hands slipped down like a fish, her beautiful eyes half-closed as she asked, “I know, even the excitement of the selection of Palace Ladies has spread beyond the capital, and returning officials are all asking if we’re going to let women hold office, right?”
Her lips brushed Kangxi’s, her breath warm.
“Mn… and there are probably students sitting in protest too?”
Her hands suddenly tightened, her voice even softer, “Will Your Majesty plead on their behalf?”
Kangxi only felt a sudden tension beneath his dragon robes, his breath catching, as he helplessly grabbed Fang He’s wrist.
She’d just finished her period—he hadn’t even had his way with her yet, and now she was taking the initiative!
Kangxi: “I haven’t said anything yet…”
Fang He laughed and pushed him down, soft and sweet, cutting off his words with a fierce tone that made Kangxi’s heart pound, “Then don’t say anything at all—let’s do something else!”