“If you’re willing to stay with me, I’ll treat you well for the rest of your life. I can’t promise you marriage, but I can guarantee the child will be yours.”
“If you’re not willing, I’ll help you marry and have children. We’ll be like brothers from different parents, and I’ll support your whole family for life!”
Outside, Lin Chen and Madam Liang were holding back laughter until their stomachs hurt.
So even if he buys back his freedom, he’s still bound to serve her for life?
That honeyed tongue of hers is truly something!
Qiao Xiaoyuan was an introverted man.
Though tall and sturdy, he had grown up isolated with his master and wasn’t good at socializing.
Hearing Fang He’s words, his face turned red, and he waved his hands in a fluster.
Fang He thought it was hopeless and couldn’t help pouting.
Then she heard Qiao Xiaoyuan stammer, “I… I won’t buy back my freedom. I’ll stay with you for life. As long as the child is yours, I’m willing… willing to cook for you…”
By this point, Qiao Xiaoyuan’s face was burning red.
He didn’t really understand love, but he enjoyed learning new dishes with Fang He every day.
To him, this was a good way to spend his life.
In his life, cooking was the most important thing.
If he got too busy with cooking, he didn’t really care whether the child was his or not.
Seeing everyone’s attention drawn to them, Naren thought:
Is there really such a foolish man?
“This is like a turtle meeting a mung bean-they’re just meant to be together,” Lin Chen muttered, utterly defeated.
Fang He, still grinning, went upstairs, counting the days on her fingers.
When they’d hold hands, when they’d kiss, when they’d get closer, and then they could do this and that!
As for love, she didn’t understand it, nor did she plan to look for more.
As long as she could enjoy delicious food both in and out of bed for the rest of her life, what more could she ask for?
“Hehe, hehe…” The more she counted, the happier she got just nine more months!
They could take their time with the romance; no rush.
Madam Liang and Naren, watching from behind, couldn’t stop laughing at her antics.
Sometimes Fang He’s self-satisfied joy made them feel like their past lives were just a nightmare, and every day after waking up was a good one.
The three of them chattered upstairs, sharing their emotional states-mostly Fang He gossiping, Madam Liang complaining, and Naren listening.
Just as they were getting into it, they overheard someone downstairs discussing Emperor Kangxi.
“I heard His Majesty is planning to go to Northern Mongolia for the autumn hunt in September. He’s probably already left the capital by now, right?”
“Probably another half a month. We’ll have to avoid the Ghost Festival. By then, we can prepare the goods from the south and head north to sell them.”
“I think it’s a good idea. With the Emperor and most officials away from the capital, the ladies in the inner courtyards are more willing to spend money. When the Emperor returns, we can also bring back a batch of fur goods to sell. It’s a win-win.”
Naren and Madam Liang listened for a while, their eyes involuntarily falling on Fang He.
It wasn’t because they were overly sensitive to the mention of Kangxi, but because the more Fang He listened to the people below, the heavier her expression became.
She even started biting her fingers.
The two exchanged a glance.
Could it be that this little rascal still hadn’t gotten over her feelings for the Emperor?
Madam Liang leaned closer to Fang He, intending to offer some advice: “Guoguo…”
Fang He suddenly slammed the table, startling Madam Liang, who clutched her chest and wanted to kick her.
“Why are you so jumpy?”
Fang He quickly straightened up.
“I just remembered, since he’s going on a northern tour, he’ll definitely…” go on a southern tour.
She didn’t need to say the last two words; the two of them understood.
“Better safe than sorry. If any clues are discovered by those around him, we’ll need an explanation to ensure we can continue living freely. At worst, we won’t be completely wiped out.”
Naren was silent for a moment before asking, “If it’s really discovered, and you don’t want to go back…”
“I’m willing!” Fang He spread her hands openly, giving them a carefree smile.
“I’ve already enjoyed everything I wanted to enjoy. You know me- I won’t fight against fate.”
“If that day really comes, as long as he doesn’t cross my bottom line, changing my way of life isn’t a big deal.”
The first time she dreamed of being sliced to pieces by Kangxi, she had already considered this possibility.
She was never one to stubbornly resist, and the people she cared about were growing in number.
How foolish would it be to pit an egg against a stone?
“Of course, we can’t just sit back and do nothing. I have a half-baked idea. Listen to it…”
***
Meanwhile, outside the Qianqing Palace, Li Dequan was quite surprised to see Wu Yunzhu approaching with a food box.
“Why is the nanny here at this hour? His Majesty is taking his midday rest.”
Wu Yunzhu smiled and handed the box to Li Dequan.
“I know, but my mistress is anxious and couldn’t wait. She sent me ahead. There’s no need to request an audience with His Majesty.”
“Originally, my mistress wasn’t planning to join the Mulan Autumn Hunt this time. But upon hearing that Lady Lakshin is seriously ill, she couldn’t rest easy and changed her mind, wanting to go along.”
“After all, apart from… the few in the palace, Lady Lakshin is the only one my mistress still truly cares about.”
Li Dequan understood and respectfully took the food box, smiling. “Nanny, rest assured. When His Majesty wakes, I’ll relay the message word for word to him.”
Wu Yunzhu handed Li Dequan a pouch and returned to the Shoukang Palace.
After hearing Li Dequan’s report, Kangxi had no objections.
“Let her go.”
“Empress Dowager and the Empress have spent their entire lives in the palace. The people they care about are gradually passing away, and they rarely get to return to the grasslands. I’m more than happy to accompany them back.”
“Empress Dowager’s health has improved this year, and I’d like to take her back to the grasslands once more.”
“But the Grand Empress Dowager doesn’t want to trouble herself, and the Empress Dowager originally planned to stay behind to keep her company.”
Now that she wanted to go again, Emperor Kangxi immediately ordered people to send messages to the Palace of Longevity and Health and the Imperial Household Department.
They were set to depart on the eighteenth day of the seventh month, leaving only half a month for preparations, which was quite tight.
However, Kangxi was somewhat puzzled.
Except for last year, why hadn’t he noticed before how close the Empress Dowager and Lady Lakshin were?
Prince Lakshin was from the Left Wing of the Chahar Khanate, while the Empress Dowager was from the Right Wing of the Zasagtu Khanate.
In the past, due to the strained relations between the two wings, there had been little interaction.
Even during the New Year and festivals when gifts were sent to Northern Mongolia, Lady Lakshin had rarely received any.
But… since the beginning of last year, it seemed to have become more frequent.
A faint glimmer of insight flashed through Kangxi’s mind, but he instinctively leaned toward the idea that the Left Wing’s Central Banner might be trying to improve relations with the Right Wing’s forces.
On the eighteenth day of the seventh month, Emperor Kangxi, accompanied by the Empress Dowager, left the capital and headed north.
By the twenty-third day of the eighth month, after a long and arduous journey, they arrived at the Rehe Palace.
This time, the palace had been fully completed.
Compared to last year when everyone had to squeeze into a corner, the palace was now much more spacious.
The accompanying concubines could each have their own courtyard, which delighted them greatly.
Living with others, if the Emperor came, it was easy for someone to steal his attention.
Now, they only needed to use all their charms to attract the Emperor’s attention.
If they could lure him to their courtyard, they wouldn’t have to worry about others.
Kangxi had just settled into the newly built Wanhe Songfeng Hall, which was welcoming its first master, when he was greeted by numerous palace maids bringing soup for their mistresses.
Kangxi: “With all this commotion, they probably haven’t even figured out their own quarters yet, but they already know where the kitchen is, right?”
It reminded him of something…
Kangxi suddenly paused, then chuckled and scolded Liang Jiugong, who was trying to suppress a laugh.
“It’s so hot, if you want to drink that hot soup, go ahead. Tell them to calm down.”
“Bring some chilled bowls over, and send some to the Empress Dowager as well. Ask if she’s doing well, and have Qin Xinrong go pay his respects to Her Majesty for her well-being.”
Liang Jiugong bowed with a smile, “Yes, I’ll go personally. But as for telling the ladies to calm down… I dare not. If the Empress Dowager finds out, she’ll reward me with a beating.”
Kangxi raised his foot to kick him, but Liang Jiugong quickly scurried away with a laugh.
When only Wei Zhu remained in the hall, Kangxi sat in thought for a while, then finally shook his head with a smile, pushing a certain figure out of his mind to focus on official matters.
After the Qing Dynasty took a firm stance, Korea quickly softened its position and had more or less settled down.
But Russia was like a tough bone to crack, and the Western Mongols were still causing trouble.
During this year’s Mulan Autumn Hunt, Kangxi not only planned to train troops in Rehe but also intended to do so at the Mulan Hunting Grounds to intimidate the Western Mongols.
After the suppression of the Three Feudatories and the annexation of Taiwan, the Qing Dynasty had only enjoyed a few years of stability.
The treasury was not abundant, and the soldiers needed rest.
It was not yet time to confront the Dzungars.
Unfolding the map, Kangxi sat in silence for a long time.
After pondering thoroughly, he finally instructed Wei Zhu, “Go, summon Alan Tai to see me.”
Wei Zhu acknowledged and left.
Liang Jiugong returned with the chilled bowls, his expression slightly peculiar.
“Is Her Majesty unwell?” Kangxi asked casually, catching a glimpse of Liang Jiugong’s expression.
If the Empress Dowager was unwell, he would have to visit her Fangyuan Residence after meeting with Alan Tai.
Liang Jiugong approached hesitantly and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is in good health, but Zhao Chang just sent a message to this servant.”
“He said that the Empress Dowager has already sent someone to visit Lady Lakshin, and it was someone unfamiliar.”
“This servant noticed that Mother Wuyunzhu… seemed unaware and was still preparing the gift list for Lady Lakshin.”
Kangxi leisurely picked up his teacup, lowering his gaze in contemplation.
Mother Wuyunzhu was the Empress Dowager’s chief stewardess.
Logically, something like visiting the sick shouldn’t be kept from her.
Yet the Empress Dowager sent an unfamiliar person to visit ahead of time.
Judging by the speed at which the message was delivered, it must have been arranged immediately upon arrival.
Such eagerness…
What secret could the Empress Dowager and Lady Lakshin be hiding that they couldn’t let Mother Wuyunzhu, or perhaps even the Emperor, know about?
He had some suspicions, but after turning them over in his mind, he felt he might be overthinking it.
The Empress Dowager would never be involved in an assassination attempt; otherwise, she wouldn’t have fainted in shock at the time.
But whatever the Empress Dowager and Lady Lakshin were hiding—
“Tell Zhao Chang to send someone to investigate,” Kangxi ordered calmly, though a storm brewed in his eyes that no one could see.
“Inform him that I allow him to use any means necessary, but remember one thing: it must not be noticed by anyone!”
Liang Jiugong was slightly startled but dared not ask further, “Yes, Your Majesty! This servant will go at once.”