That scoundrel only knew how to anger people, it would be more reasonable to curse Nalan Rongruo for leaving him, what was wrong with him?
He must just be angry because something that belonged to him was taken away, trapped in the palace unable to do anything, and humiliated in front of everyone by the Empress Dowager, that’s why he was so furious…
Kangxi closed his eyes, wearily pinching the bridge of his nose, and after a moment of despondency, he opened his eyes again, his composure restored.
In a hoarse voice, he said indifferently, “That palace maid, tell her to go back to where she came from!”
“Spread my decree, if a single word of what happened in the palace today gets out, everyone involved will be sent to the Punishment Department. Anyone who leaks imperial information will have their two clans exterminated!”
Advisor Gu breathed a sigh of relief, not daring to mention the summoning again, and kowtowed with a trembling heart.
“Hey!”
The commotion in the Qianqing Palace was significant, and on any other day, it would surely have led to endless inquiries.
But unfortunately, that very night, the little princess born to Consort Niohuru passed away.
Kangxi was summoned to the Yongshou Palace, where the Tenth Prince Yin’e was crying loudly in the side hall, but Consort Niohuru, who was almost fainting from crying, could not care less, and the entire Yongshou Palace was in chaos.
Seeing this, Kangxi openly vented his anger, suppressing the earlier commotion in the Qianqing Palace.
“What are you all doing? Letting the Tenth Prince cry like this, if his voice is ruined, I will have your lives!”
“Take the Tenth Prince to the Shoukang Palace, and drag out all the palace maids who served the little princess, execute them with sticks!”
“Hurry up and take care of your mistress, call the imperial physician!”
Consort Niohuru refused, crying and kneeling at Kangxi’s feet, grabbing the hem of his robe, her face even more frantic than Kangxi’s earlier.
Her eyes were bloodshot, as if about to bleed, “Your Majesty, what use is killing these palace maids? I beg you to seek justice for the little princess, she was murdered!”
Kangxi frowned, knowing that Consort Niohuru’s pregnancy had been difficult, and the imperial physician had found no signs of poisoning in the little princess.
He sighed helplessly, helping Consort Niohuru up, and asked her, “Do you have any evidence?”
Consort Niohuru tightly grasped Kangxi’s shoulders, “It was the Imperial Noble Consort, it must be her!”
“She has long been displeased with me, and Consort Hui, her own little princess did not survive, she couldn’t bear to see other little princesses live, and…”
“Enough!” Kangxi shook off Niohuru’s hands and barked, “I see you’re so distraught you’ve lost your senses!”
He turned and ordered, “Someone, escort the Imperial Consort back to rest…”
As he walked away, Niohuru was still shouting, “It must be them! They harmed my child!”
“The child I carried for ten months, why couldn’t he survive―mmph!”
Listening to the sound of Niohuru being muffled and dragged away, Kangxi’s anger dissipated.
On his way back to the Qianqing Palace, it began to snow again.
When he reached Yuehua Gate, Kangxi stepped down from his palanquin.
Li Dequan came forward with an umbrella, but he simply waved him off and walked calmly through the snow, trying to clear his mind.
Seeing Niohuru was like seeing himself unable to accept the loss of someone dear, he could only blame fate.
Even as the emperor, he was just a powerless mortal.
No matter how much he did, it only proved his helplessness.
The one he loved was gone… and would never return.
Before retiring for the night, he lay behind the curtains and calmly instructed Wei Zhu, “Tomorrow, go tell Eunuch Gu to select a few court ladies to serve in the palace. They must be completely different from your sister, not even the slightest resemblance.”
The entanglement of the harem with court affairs had left him truly drained.
With the imperial selection approaching after the New Year, he needed to reassure the Empress Dowager and everyone inside and outside the palace.
***
The next day, in the main courtyard of the Fan family’s old residence in Yizhen County, Jiangnan, before dawn, the night-duty maid heard a startled cry from inside.
“Ah!” Fang He sat up in bed, drenched in sweat, clutching her neck, still shaken.
She had actually dreamed of Kangxi.
The man had discovered her feigned death and escape from the palace, had her tied up and taken to the Punishment Bureau, heated a knife, and was about to personally flay her alive!
Coming to her senses, she was so angry her nose almost twisted.
Damn it, she had been his little jester for so long, even had a brief romance with him before leaving, and nearly lost her life for him.
And this was how he treated her?
Hah… she had made the right choice to leave!
“What’s wrong?” Madam Liang, pulled over by the maid from the side room, asked with a yawn.
“A nightmare?”
Fang He puffed her cheeks, her face full of bitterness and replied:
“Not exactly a nightmare. I was just so worried in the dream that I accidentally cried out.”
She didn’t want anyone to know she had dreamed of Kangxi.
She wasn’t heartless; Kangxi had been good to her, and to say she didn’t miss him at all would be a lie.
But she felt that, given that scoundrel’s nature, he might truly have her killed without a trace.
She never wanted to have the slightest connection with that man again.
Madam Liang, curious, sat by her bed and casually checked Fang He’s pulse.
She was a descendant of a family of imperial physicians from the previous dynasty.
Her grandfather had once served the former emperor, but she and her parents had been captured and enslaved by the Mongols.
After her parents passed away, the lonely and helpless woman fell in love with a man she shouldn’t have.
In the end, it proved that no man was worth trusting.
Because she had secretly administered a sterility drug to the man, and she didn’t spare his three sons either.
When her actions were discovered, she was beaten half to death and thrown to the wolves, but Naren saved her.
Now, she easily noticed that Fang He’s pulse indicated a state of fear and anxiety, and she raised her eyebrows slightly.
“What’s got you so worried that you’re scared like this?”
Fang He sighed softly and looked at Madam Liang with a distant gaze.
“Tell me, who would be more caring, the calm and scholarly older brother, or the sunny and cheerful younger brother?”
“And then there’s the one who’s so melancholic it breaks your heart, the one who’s funny, the one with a great body but isn’t talkative… There are just too many, really too many. I don’t want to give up on any of them. In my dreams, they all come rushing at me…”
Madam Liang:”…..”
“No wonder you’re so scared. If it were me… Hmm, I guess being overly excited might also show a similar pulse?”
She gave Fang He a flirtatious glance and teased, “If you can’t choose, just take them all!”
Fang He’s expression turned subtle: “Well, you could handle that, sister, but I’m not exactly in the best of health…”
Madam Liang: “Stop messing around and get up!”
“First, think of a name for the inn, have a sign made, and hang it up. There’ll be plenty of time for you to slowly train them.”
“Over time, you’ll naturally make your choice. If it’s too hard, there’s always the next one.”
Fang He instantly flashed her pearly white teeth: “You’re so smart, sister! That makes sense!”
She quickly sprang back to life, chattering away to Madam Liang as she got dressed.
“I’ve thought of a name, let’s call it ‘The Horizon Inn.’ ‘The horizon is as close as a neighbor, and a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.’ Everyone who comes here will be like family, heart and soul!”
Madam Liang and Sanxi, the little maid who came in to help Fang He braid her hair, both burst into laughter.
Sanxi teased, “But the most important thing is that they’ll be spending money, right?”
Fang He pinched Sanxi’s chubby little cheek and winked at her, “Why do you have to tell the truth?”
The two laughed again, and after tidying up the room, Uncle Qin had the carriage ready.
Yunsheng, who had returned south with Naren, was driving the carriage.
Yunsheng was a taciturn Han man, but he was tall and sturdy, with a long scar running from his jaw down into his neck, giving him a bit of a northern Mongolian vibe, though his delicate features didn’t quite match the northern look.
When they arrived at the newly built inn, which was still undergoing interior decoration, Yunsheng didn’t even glance inside before driving the carriage back.
Fang He and Madam Liang exchanged a look, their eyes filled with a hint of something… well, let’s just say, meaningful.
Madam Liang asked, “Did Naren not return to the Fan family last night?”
Fang He played along, “Exactly. She came over early the day before yesterday, didn’t even change her clothes. According to Sanxi, she came through the side courtyard…”
Madam Liang chuckled, “She’s moving faster than we are.”
Fang He made a sound of disagreement and shook her head, “With Yunsheng sulking like this, the meal probably isn’t even ready yet.”
Madam Liang covered her mouth, her whole body trembling with laughter, “So what should we do…”
“I’m twenty this year, it’s about time I had a big son!” Fang He, in the middle of winter, swayed her paper fan and strutted inside.
Madam Liang’s eyes sparkled with a lightness she hadn’t felt in her thirty-odd years, even carrying a hint of girlish mischief as she hurried after him.
“Young master, wait for me~ If you want a son, you can’t do it alone without me~”
Fang He shuddered and quickened his pace.
When Sister Liang acted coquettish, her voice carried more twists and turns than Geng Shuning’s acting cute.
She really couldn’t handle it.
As soon as they entered, a particularly handsome and beaming waiter rushed over.
Ah… this kind of service was always welcome.
“Welcome, guests! How many of you are there…”
Fang He snapped his fan shut, tucked it behind his neck, and interrupted with an impatient tone.
“Are you blind? Can’t you see how many of us there are?”
The waiter, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, paused.
His smile stiffened slightly but remained bright.
“Please come in, both of you. Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?”
Fang He plopped down, propping her feet on the stool, and snorted gruffly.
“None of your damn business! I’ll do as I please! Stop the chatter and bring out the best wine and meat. If it’s not good, I’ll smash your place!”
The waiter’s smile grew even stiffer, barely holding on.
He took a deep breath and said seriously, “Sir, if you keep talking like that, you might get punched!”
Madam Liang and the other girls practicing acrobatics nearby burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs.
Fang He tucked his legs back under him, looking disapproving.
“A guest is a guest, and guests are like heaven… they should be treated as such.”
“You might feel good punching someone, but we’re here to make money, not spend it bailing people out of jail!”
The waiter retorted, “I’ve been polite enough. If this were the north… or in the past, I’d have whipped you already!”
This waiter was once the beloved pet of an old prince’s consort.
After the consort passed away, her sons beat him half to death and threw him to the beasts…
Well, the northern Mongols had a very unified and eco-friendly way of dealing with the dead, which oddly worked in his favor.
Fang He didn’t argue further.
He pulled the fan from behind his neck and handed it to the waiter, smiling at him.
“Alright, you play the rude guest, and I’ll be the waiter.”
The others perked up at this.
Another waiter subtly tried to snatch the fan.
The half-choked waiter, relying on his excellent skills… and particularly agile hips, squeezed past the others and rushed to the door.
When he lifted the curtain and came back in, he shouted, “Where is everyone? Are you all dead—”
“Oh! You, sir, look so distinguished! Your presence here truly brings honor to our humble establishment!”
Fang He hurried over, greeting the guest with a polite smile.
The waiter was stunned, his harsh words stuck in his throat, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Wait, their new master usually seemed decent.
Why was he acting so obsequious at a crucial moment?
Fang He had more flattery ready, smiling as he stepped aside.
“Judging by your demeanor, you must either be a lone wolf in the martial world or leading a caravan for trade, right? Please come in and have some hot water to refresh yourself!”
The others exchanged subtle glances.
This speech… didn’t really clarify anything.
How many people were there, still unknown!
She led the guest, who was nearly overwhelmed by the flattery, further inside.
The waiter sat down, pouring tea with such enthusiasm that it left no room for anyone else to speak.
Fang He, gentle yet swift, chimed in, “Our signature dishes today are braised lion’s head, emerald dumplings, and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish absolutely divine. Would you like to give them a try?”
The waiter: “…Sure, let’s try them!”
“Great! By the way, sir, business has been booming these days, and our inn is quite comfortable. We only have two deluxe rooms, three standard rooms, and three budget rooms left. Just let us know if you need more—we also have dormitory beds available.”
The waiter: “…”
Wait, isn’t that all the rooms they have?
He hesitated for a moment but then remembered to slam the table with a gruff tone, “Why ask so many questions? Think I can’t afford it? Reserve them all for me!”
“Got it! Deluxe rooms are one tael of silver per day, standard rooms are half a tael, and budget rooms are just ten copper coins. Dormitory beds are six copper coins,” Fang He quickly listed the prices, flashing a slightly warmer smile.
“Here, you don’t need to worry about a thing. Just leave a deposit of ten taels with us, and we’ll take care of everything-food, drinks, and all your needs.”
“Sir, you clearly have no shortage of money. Would you prefer to pay with silver notes or silver ingots?”
The others: “…”
Since when did they have such a rule?
The waiter immediately caught on and retorted sharply, “I’ve traveled far and wide, but I’ve never seen such an outrageous rule. Payment is always settled upon departure. Are you trying to rob me?”
Fang He smiled even more warmly, “Our inn is different from others. Once you stay, you’ll understand—it’s worth every penny…”
“None of my business!” The waiter found his rhythm and cut her off quickly.
“I’ll pay when I leave. Are you trying to force me to stay?”
Fang He asked with a smile, “Sir, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”
The waiter shook his head, but before he could utter any harsh words, Fang He stepped forward and splashed a pot of cold water all over his face.
“Dare to cause trouble in our inn without paying? Looking for a beating? Someone, kick him out!”
The other waiters, who hadn’t had a chance to act, quickly responded, “On it!”
The fake troublemaker, Lin Chen, hurriedly wiped his face and dodged, “Wait, boss, didn’t you say we should treat customers like gods…”
Fang He nodded with a smile, “Exactly. Those who pay are customers. Those who don’t are just looking for trouble. Why keep them around? For the New Year?”
After all, she had already greased the palms of the local constables.
She didn’t want trouble, but she wasn’t afraid of it either.
She clapped her hands, gathering all the staff together.
“Today’s training is about how to extract money from customers with the fastest and most enthusiastic attitude!”
“Sweet words cost nothing. Just remember one principle: the more honey you pour, the bigger your bonus!”
“If you’re really bad at flattery, treat them like a dying ancestor-be as careful and filial as possible!”
Madam Liang listened with great interest, sighing to Naren, “Tsk, tsk, this isn’t an inn—it’s darker than a brothel. What a waste of our young Master Fan’s talents.”
“If I hadn’t sold my flower boat, we could’ve each taught one of the two mouths, and you could’ve learned how to charm Yun Sheng. Maybe we’d already be expecting triplets by now, don’t you think?”
Naren: “…”
No thanks.
She already regretted learning Chinese so well.