The thirty-ninth year of Kangxi, autumn.
Because the search by imperial soldiers for missing persons around the Yongding River was so intense, the news that His Majesty and the Fifteenth Prince had been swept away by the waters quickly spread throughout Jingcheng.
During the days when the rumors were at their wildest, there was some unrest in the city.
Some said the Emperor of Great Qing had committed too many sins and thus could not meet a good end, that Heaven had taken him away early.
Some said Imperial Consort Zhen was a beauty who brought disaster to the nation, a calamity star, causing His Majesty and the Fifteenth Prince to fall into danger.
Still others claimed it was because the court had reformed the beauty selection process and vigorously promoted foreign grains, thus violating ancestral rules and rites, so the ancestors had summoned the Emperor and the Fifteenth Prince for a scolding—and whether they’d be allowed back was anyone’s guess.
Everyone had something to say.
Inside Tianya Inn, Liang Madam and Naren both heard these rumors and were quite worried for Fang He.
But Fang He, who had always seemed disinterested in court affairs and only cared for enjoyment and affectation, swiftly revealed a ruthless decisiveness that amazed and even shocked everyone.
She quickly gathered the two most powerful princes within and without Jingcheng: Prince Yu and Prince Jian.
She ordered Prince Yu to take Prince Zhi of the Second Rank out of the city to search for His Majesty and the Fifteenth Prince, and had Prince Jian lock down Jingcheng, forbidding anyone to enter or leave without permission.
Then, Fang He summoned the new Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department, Nalan Mingzhu, and the two deputy stewards including Qiao Cheng, and issued a series of imperial decrees.
Every residence and mansion of the princes and nobles, inside and outside the palace, was surrounded by eunuchs of the Office Of Punishment and Investigation and infantry from the Imperial Guards Headquarters.
Fang He asked Princess Chengyuan to step forward with all the princesses, borrowing retainers from the Tong Family, the Nalan Family, and Prince Gong’s residence, and swept through Jingcheng, arresting everyone spreading rumors.
The princesses themselves escorted the offenders to the Ministry of Justice’s prison and took turns guarding them, letting no one escape.
Even if some of the rumor-mongers were of the imperial clan or high-ranking officials, Fang He showed no leniency.
Did anyone resist?
Of course there were those who did.
There were a few in Jingcheng, apart from the Emperor, who answered to no one—powerful “red sashes” with venerable old Fuqin at home, senior even to the princesses.
Whenever they stirred up trouble, even the Empress Dowager dared to promise she could suppress them.
But Fang He could.
Because she possessed the Grand Empress Dowager’s “death decree trinity”—never before used.
Faced with those who resisted and dared speak recklessly, Fang He had Princess Chengyuan and the princesses deliver just one message, patiently explaining to those people again and again.
“If you do not care for your elders at home, are not afraid your wives and daughters might, because of your treasonous acts, be executed on the Grand Empress Dowager’s orders—if you’d rather be unfaithful, unfilial, and unrighteous, the path is there. No one will stop you.”
Those rebellious nobles, looking at the imperial edict in Princess Chengyuan’s hand, thought carefully.
After all, the Emperor was only missing, not dead, and so they all quieted down.
It seemed as though Jingcheng became tranquil overnight.
Even the gentle early autumn wind seemed bleak and forlorn.
Fang He, serving under the Empress Dowager’s command, quickly returned to the palace and resided in Jiaotai Hall, sending Nalan Mingzhu to convey her words to the Inner Cabinet.
“All court affairs are to be temporarily managed by the Inner Cabinet, but all decrees must be stamped by at least three ministers and then sealed in Jiaotai Hall before being issued. No delay in governmental matters will be tolerated.”
Fang He feared the Inner Cabinet might take advantage of the Emperor’s absence to collude with Yinreng or the northern barbarians, stirring up trouble.
She did not understand the factions among the ministers, nor could she read the memorials, so she brought Princess Chengyuan into the palace and let her review the memorials.
Some ministers in the Inner Cabinet were displeased with Fang He’s near-total control over state affairs.
Even more, it was the former Concubine Jing reviewing the memorials—wasn’t this the proverbial “hen crowing at dawn”?
Someone proposed, “Why not let Prince Li of the First Rank come forward? Though His Majesty has deposed the Crown Prince, Prince Li, aside from poor health, is much better at handling state affairs than the Imperial Noble Consort or Princess Chengyuan, is he not?”
Nalan Mingzhu remembered the instructions Imperial Noble Consort had given in the hall and lost any intention of stirring muddy waters.
The Emperor held the true power.
Even the Imperial Noble Consort had anticipated that a few shortsighted ministers would bring this up, and had left instructions for how to suppress them…
Once the Emperor returned, anyone who spoke up wouldn’t last long in the Inner Cabinet.
For now, it was simply a bet that the Emperor was still alive.
Nalan Mingzhu had never lacked the guts for such a wager.
Smiling amiably yet firmly, he addressed the ministers, “If you wish the Empress Dowager to come forward personally, to bring Prince Li of the First Rank into the palace and let him bear the accusation of unfilial rebellion, go right ahead.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you: if Prince Li is willing to step out of his residence, the Imperial Noble Consort will never say another word.”
“Think carefully—if Prince Li does not step up and His Majesty returns, can your whole family bear the charge of treason?”
With that, he turned and walked off.
As always, too much talking only spurs the reckless.
There will always be those wise enough to do what must be done.
The more said, the more likely one is to provoke rebellious intent.
The minister wanted to say more, but the others were no fools.
This one’s wife’s sister, after all, was the Fuqin of the Hesher family.
Everyone turned at once, each busying themselves.
Unwilling to give up, the man stepped outside but finally stopped at the office doorway, gritted his teeth, and sat down again to deal with the memorials in hand.
It was not until nearly the end of August that Fuquan sent word from the Yongding River—they had found His Majesty and the Fifteenth Prince.
The two had been swept down to the lower reaches of the Wenyu River east of Babaoshan.
Both injured, they’d been found and cared for by a local hunter for over a month.
In Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager anxiously asked Fang He, who was reading the letter, “What does the letter say?”
Fang He lifted her head calmly and replied, “Imperial Mother, please don’t worry. His Majesty hurt his head and forgot who he was, which is why he was delayed so long.”
“He remembers now, and immediately contacted Prince Yu, who was searching for him. They should return to Jingcheng in about ten days.”
The Empress Dowager frowned.
Head injuries were no small matter.
But she did not forget to ask, “And Yin Hui? How is Yin Hui?”
Fang He took a deep breath and spoke softly, “Yin Hui was struck on the back with a blade, badly wounded, but has recovered for the most part. Once back in the palace, Fule and the Imperial Doctors will look after him, and he should be fine.”
She would do everything in her power to keep Yin Hui safe!
Princess Chengyuan, sitting quietly at the side, observed Fang He’s expression.
In the storybook, Kangxi didn’t lose his memory, but Yin Hui’s injury was indeed serious.
This was likely the worst argument the couple ever had before the storybook ended.
For two full years, the two did not speak, and only with the help of the children—Jiujiu and Yin Hui—who bantered and relayed messages, did they reconcile.
Then the storybook ended.
But then, Fang He did not avoid the Crown Prince’s schemes, and already had some friction with Kangxi.
Now that she had avoided Yinreng’s taint, would they still fight so fiercely?
Just for the fun of it, Princess Chengyuan, already impatient with administrative duties, stayed a few extra days to help Fang He sort out her actions over the past two months, even helping her draft a report for the Golden Throne Hall for the officials to read.
Ten days later.
It was the Double Ninth Festival, a time to ascend heights and admire flowers, but every part of Jingcheng remained heavily guarded, as if no one lived there.
Yet the previous tension had vanished.
The once-restless Prince Cheng of the Second Rank’s residence and the itching-to-move Prince Li of the First Rank’s residence were now calm.
When the imperial procession entered from the north city gate, Yabu choked up, leading the soldiers of the Imperial Guards Headquarters to kneel with a resounding call of “Long live His Majesty!”
Kangxi did not emerge, but issued a hoarse order: “Rise, all of you. Maintain martial law. Without my decree, no one may enter or leave Jingcheng.”
Yabu was startled.
Though he was a bit chatty, he was smart enough to inherit his father’s military honors, not just live off imperial favor, but take on real duties.
From His Majesty’s tone, it seemed this incident was no mere accident, nor just a problem at Yongding River.
There were those inside Jingcheng colluding with Yongding River officials, which led to repeated breaches of the embankment.
He hurried to obey, personally riding out to all the gates and mansions to ensure even tighter security.
Kangxi entered the palace through the Meridian Gate.
Crossing the moat, he saw Fang He standing beneath the bridge, supporting the Empress Dowager, eyes bright with hope fixed on him.
The murderous aura that had built up in Kangxi after entering the city stalled for a moment.
He glanced at the still-sleeping Yin Hui behind him, his heart troubled.
Liang Jiugong helped Kangxi down from the Imperial Palanquin.
As Kangxi stepped forward to greet the Empress Dowager, she quickly reached out to support him.
“Emperor, why have you lost so much weight? Where are you hurt? Are you alright now?”
Kangxi glanced at Fang He, then replied awkwardly, “Imperial Mother… I am fine, only I still cannot recall much of the past.”
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