If it weren’t for the fact that life in the palace wasn’t what she desired, she would have been more than willing to become the Empress Dowager’s daughter-in-law.
They would have gotten along as well as a mother and daughter.
However, even though she lacked strong moral principles, she still had her limits.
She couldn’t easily use the things the Empress Dowager gave her; sooner or later, she would have to return them.
She pondered, “A small shop in the capital only costs a little over a hundred taels of silver. Is a two-story shop in this small county really that expensive?”
“Then we could buy a piece of land in a place with a lot of traveling merchants and build an inn ourselves. As long as the land and the building cost less than four hundred taels, the remaining silver should be enough to furnish it. I’ll control the costs.”
In her previous life, during middle management meetings, she had listened to the housekeeping manager’s reports many times and had a rough idea of how to make the rooms look more luxurious and comfortable while keeping costs low.
Speaking of her expertise, Fang He patted her head, “Oh right, we also need to save some silver to hire a few good-looking staff members.”
“It would be best to hire those who are about to be sold into brothels, allowing them to redeem themselves through years of service and monthly wages.”
Having been reborn into this era, she didn’t dwell on the morality of buying and selling people.
Instead, she focused on helping as many as she could within her means.
Rather than simply buying someone’s freedom and leaving them to fend for themselves, it was better to give them hope-something this world sorely lacked.
Naren’s gaze at Fang He grew softer, and her smile deepened.
Though it might have looked more intimidating, it only felt warm and gentle.
“If it’s just a small inn, there’s no need to buy one for now. There are plenty on the estate. We can buy one later when we need it, following your plan.”
Fang He didn’t quite understand, “Are these the Han people you saved, Sister? And what about the Fan family did you buy them?”
Naren shook her head, “No, I saved them all. The Fan family are ordinary slaves, but those on the estate…”
She suddenly struggled to find the right words in Chinese to describe their status.
Fang He understood, “Concubines? Playthings?”
Naren nodded.
It wasn’t out of any sense of mercy.
As a former noblewoman, her education had taught her that one person’s strength was too weak to rely on Tana to help her seek revenge.
Based on her past knowledge of the nobles from surrounding tribes, she had observed for a long time and saved those she deemed trustworthy, regardless of age or gender.
Some were suited for household work, while others were too good-looking or skilled in areas other than labor.
These she placed on the estate, teaching them how to work.
Fang He’s eyes sparkled with even greater enthusiasm, “So these young men and women must be talented and exceptionally good at communication?”
For the inn to make money without being too extravagant, the rooms had to be as comfortable, cozy, and clean as possible.
The main focus, of course, would be on food and unique entertainment.
Training people with no foundation to protect themselves while also attracting attention wasn’t easy.
But if they were people who had already experienced such hardships, it would save a lot of effort.
Allowing them to earn a living through their own skills would also give them a sense of security.
After listening to Fang He’s explanation, Naren smiled again and said:
“They can play all kinds of instruments and sing, but protecting themselves… it’s an instinct for the Han people in Beimeng to survive.”
Fang He eagerly urged Naren: “Shall we go take a look at the village first? We can also inquire around to see if there’s a suitable place to build an inn.”
Naren didn’t stop her; Fang He’s desire to go out was almost overflowing from her eyes, making Naren feel inexplicably noisy.
“Just right, you can see if there’s anyone suitable for you to disguise yourself among them, and solve the issue of your identity first.”
Fang He nodded vigorously.
Since she was going to disguise herself as a man, she didn’t want to make herself too ugly.
If she could dress up as twins with a handsome young man, she would be thrilled!
Perhaps she and Liang Niangzi’s little husband could solve things internally, hehe…
***
Just as Fang He was happily heading towards a better life, it started snowing in the capital.
This snow came more than ten days earlier than last year, and it was heavy snow right from the start.
By evening, it had already covered then glazed tiles with a thick layer.
Liang Jiugong stood outside the Hongde Hall, somewhat lost in thought, as if the heavens knew that the little ancestor was gone and wanted to drape the entire Forbidden City in white mourning clothes.
Although the snowy weather wasn’t that cold yet, Liang Jiugong felt that the Qianqing Palace could chill one to the bone, otherwise why was it so quiet?
Li Dequan, standing nearby, heard the commotion and whispered a reminder: “Godfather, Eunuch Gu is here.”
Liang Jiugong paused, turned around with a bitter smile, and shook his head slightly at Gu Wenxing.
Gu Wenxing frowned: “Is His Majesty still unwilling to flip the concubine plates?”
It’s been almost two months since the northern tour… no, even during the northern tour, because of the war with the Russians, the Emperor didn’t spend much time with his concubines.
It’s been over three months since anyone served in the bedchamber.
This won’t do; even during the suppression of the Three Feudatories, it wasn’t like this.
Prolonged abstinence will harm the Emperor’s health.
Liang Jiugong refused to say more, only stating:
“There have been many affairs in the court recently, with troubles from Korea and the Russians. His Majesty probably isn’t in the mood.”
Gu Wenxing sighed, “The Banjin Festival is in a month. With so many nobles coming and going, this matter can’t be hidden, and the Empress Dowager will surely inquire.”
If the Empress Dowager found out that the Emperor hadn’t entered the harem for so long, both Gu Wenxing and Liang Jiugong would be in trouble.
Liang Jiugong was also worried, but after entering the hall and seeing the Emperor unconsciously lost in thought while looking at the screen in the corner, he didn’t dare to say more.
Wei Zhu, who was serving nearby, was in a similar state.
Although Liang Jiugong didn’t get along with Fang He and Wei Zhu at first, he somewhat understood the feelings of his master and Wei Zhu.
Some things, if never possessed, would be fine.
But knowing the goodness and then losing it before possession, Liang Jiugong sometimes felt a bit sad when he saw Wei Zhu and Cuiwei.
“What did Eunuch Gu say?” Kangxi, hearing Liang Jiugong’s movement, naturally came back to his senses and asked indifferently.
Liang Jiugong bowed and replied: “Your Majesty, Eunuch Gu said that with the Banjin Festival approaching, the matter of Your Majesty not entering the harem for a long time probably can’t be hidden from the Empress Dowager.”
Kangxi nodded in understanding: “He’s right. I’ve been too busy lately. Tell Li Dequan to inform Eunuch Gu that I will go to the Chengqian Palace tomorrow.”
Liang Jiugong was startled at first, but then he felt a slight relief and joy, smiling as he agreed.
Emperor Kangxi not only went to the Chengqian Palace but also visited the Yongshou Palace of Consort Niohuru, followed by the Changchun Palace, Zhongcui Palace, Yikun Palace, and Yonghe Palace, leaving none out.
However, when he went to the Changchun Palace, Emperor Kangxi rested in the side hall where Noble Consort Liang resided, not even bothering to give Consort Hui face by having a meal with her.
Consort Hui’s heart was pounding with anxiety.
When she learned that the Emperor had gone to the Zhongcui Palace and similarly did not meet with Consort Rong, instead heading straight to the rear hall of Consort Tong, her anxious heart finally sank to the bottom.
She knew that her previous attempt to bribe the two guards, hoping they would take advantage of Fang He or ruin her face, had likely been discovered by the Emperor.
Consort Rong probably hadn’t been idle either.
Although the third-rank guard Majia Rongshang was not punished and was even promoted to second-rank guard for his meritorious service in protecting the Emperor, he never got close to the Emperor again.
The Emperor probably had no evidence, but somehow, he must have known that she and Consort Rong had meddled…
But even if they had meddled, they only wanted Fang He to lose favor; the assassination attempt had nothing to do with them!
She couldn’t rest easy and urgently instructed Banxia, “Go to the East Three Halls and tell the Eldest Prince to inform Mingzhu-never mind, just tell him to behave recently and not provoke his father!”
Banxia was puzzled, “What if the Emperor finds out something? Shouldn’t we inform Minister Ming to help us clean up the mess…”
“Foolish!”
“The investigation can only lead to Consort Jin.”
“We didn’t personally bribe those two, and the money didn’t come from our hands. Even if…”
Consort Hui scolded in a low voice, she had only slightly tempted Consort Jin, who couldn’t hold back and handled the matter for her.
When the two spoke, no one else was around to hear, and Banxia personally guarded the door, so even if Consort Jin wanted to control her, she couldn’t.
“Now you want Mingzhu to clean up the mess, are you afraid the Emperor won’t catch our evidence?” Banxia suddenly understood and quickly slapped herself, “You’re right, mistress. I was foolish. I’ll go now.”
The master and servant didn’t know that on the roof of the Changchun Palace’s main hall, a black-clad figure almost blending into the night was lying there.
Before Banxia came out, this person had silently jumped into the passage behind the Changchun Palace and quickly left.
Consort Rong didn’t think too much about it.
She knew the Emperor was warning her, but hadn’t the Emperor warned her before?
Anyway, there was no evidence of what she had instructed Rongshang to do.
Given Rongshang’s background, if the Emperor suspected, it would be impossible to hide.
Rongshang’s father had died in the suppression of the Three Feudatories, and the Emperor couldn’t possibly kill the descendant of a meritorious official for a dead woman.
With Yinzhi and the Third Princess around, the Emperor couldn’t strip her of her consort status over unprovable matters.
As for being cold-shouldered…
Consort Rong sneered repeatedly in her chamber.
In recent years, the number of times she had been summoned to the emperor’s chambers was far fewer than those of Consort De and Consort Yi.
It was practically the same as being left out in the cold.
After much deliberation, Consort Rong felt she had nothing to fear.
Under the worried gaze of her maid, Bai Shao, she flicked her handkerchief and entered the small Buddhist chapel in the side hall, deciding it was better to turn a blind eye.
Emperor Kangxi followed his routine of visiting his consorts every three days, making his rounds to Consort Tong, Consort Duan, Consort Jing, Consort An, Consort Xi, and Consort Ping.
However, he conspicuously skipped Consort Jin’s residence, Xianfu Palace.
Consort Jin was so anxious that she became feverish, while Consort Hui fell ill out of fear.
Had the emperor really uncovered something?
How much did he know?
Consort Hui was so terrified that she developed a fever before the Banjin Festival, hesitating whether to send a message to her brother, Mingzhu.
Before she could make up her mind, an edict arrived from the Qianqing Palace.
Consort Jin was accused of colluding with rebels and plotting to assassinate the emperor.
She was demoted to a commoner and confined to the cold palace, Yanchun Pavilion.
Consort Hui broke into a cold sweat, her clothes sticking uncomfortably to her skin, making her feel faint.
She suddenly sat up and called out, “Ban Xia! We can’t wait any longer!”
Another maid, Du Juan, entered, her voice was trembling as she said:
“Mistress, the Imperial Punishment Office has taken Ban Xia away. They said she stole a jade pendant that His Majesty had gifted to the eldest prince. They’ve taken her in for questioning.”
Consort Hui was stunned, her body going limp as if all her bones had been removed.