Kangxi had suffered numerous injuries in the training grounds and wrestling halls.
During the capture of Ao Bai, he was even kicked flying in the wrestling hall.
If not for Cao Yin desperately cushioning his fall, he might have ended up with broken limbs…
But the stinging pain that now spread across his face didn’t provoke fury-his first reaction was bewilderment.
Never had he imagined a day would come when he’d be slapped across the face.
Before he could even summon his anger, Fang He’s earth-shaking wails instantly doused the flames of his rage.
In the palace, crying was forbidden.
Even tears had to be shed silently, lest the inauspicious sound reach others’ ears.
Even if beaten to death, no one dared to scream.
The imperial consorts did cry at times either delicately like weeping willows or in mournful lament, but always in subdued sobs.
None were as unrestrained as Fang He, who seemed determined to let the entire palace know.
Just a wall away was the Cining Palace…
Kangxi, ignoring the pain on his face, hurriedly covered Fang He’s mouth.
“Do you have a death wish, risking alerting the Empress Dowager?”
Feeling the dampness against his palm, Kangxi grew even more exasperated.
Truth be told, the first time Fang He had humiliated him, he had already envisioned countless ways to make her die a gruesome death.
But this time… he could only say it was unexpected yet not entirely surprising.
Hadn’t this troublemaker crossed the line time and again?
Lowering his voice, he suppressed his anger and hissed, “I’m the one who was struck, yet here you are acting aggrieved. You—”
Fang He raised her tear-filled eyes, the gathered droplets cascading down in rapid succession, yet unable to mask the despair and devastation in her gaze.
Kangxi’s words died in his throat.
Instinctively, he tightened his grip on her shoulders, as though fearing she might dissipate like a gust of wind at any moment.
Fang He continued to sob against his palm.
“If you can’t protect me, then why did you bring me back to the palace at all?”
“Your Majesty is always so considerate, always putting others first, only to let yourself and those you care about suffer. Who ever considers you? Whose empire is this, truly? Wuwuwu…”
“I knew I’d die in this palace sooner or later. Can’t I just accept my fate? Fine-why don’t you kill me right now? Then no one else has to suffer because of me…”
If anyone discovered the mark on Kangxi’s face, given his current constrained position, her life or death might not even be up to his will.
This slap made Fang He feel closer to death than when she had been struck by an arrow in Northern Mongolia.
The more terrified she grew, the more a fierce resolve surged within her.
Trembling violently, her cries leaked through Kangxi’s fingers despite his efforts to muffle them.
“You asked if I held you in my heart… How I wish I didn’t care! Wuwu… If I didn’t care, why would I endure such torment in the palace for your sake?”
Kangxi’s heart jolted violently.
Her words, muffled by tears and his hand, were indistinct.
Had she just uttered the very words he most longed to hear?
Seeing her face pale from crying, nearly breathless, he knew this wasn’t the time to press further.
He wanted to lift her up before she harmed herself from weeping.
Scooping her into his arms, he felt her flinch sharply, her sobs abruptly ceasing.
Looking down, he saw her tears still falling relentlessly, yet her expression was hollow, as though her soul had fled her body.
“Zhao, you…” Kangxi sighed and laid her on the divan, realizing she must be utterly terrified.
“Alright, don’t be afraid. I know it wasn’t intentional. I was the one who let go first, and I won’t hold it against you…”
Fang He was placed on the soft couch, hugging her knees as she spoke in a hoarse voice, “No, I did it on purpose. I did it on purpose… Kill…”
“I won’t run away anymore, never again, alright…?”
She clutched her stomach, her eyes gleaming with an eerie light that stood out starkly against her pale face.
Her words began to tumble out incoherently.
“I have no shame, haha… I can throw away my dignity, endure humiliation for Your Majesty, but I can’t let my future child suffer the same fate.”
“If anyone dares to point at their nose and mock them for having a concubine mother, if that day ever comes, I’ll take them all down with me -kill their entire family!!”
“Your Majesty, spare me… please spare me…”
The hatred and desperation in Fang He’s words startled Kangxi so much that he abruptly stood up, staring fixedly at her broken figure.
His heart ached far more sharply than his face.
Suddenly, he understood what mattered most to Fang He.
She wanted a child-that was why she had been so diligent in taking medicine to restore her health.
He had assumed she was carefree, indifferent to the petty storms outside, that waiting a little longer wouldn’t matter since she would ultimately be the one laughing last.
Because his heart, as the emperor, stood firmly on her side.Â
No one else in the palace had more security than her.
But what she could endure, her child might not.
Even as imperial descendants, she couldn’t bear to see her own child treated as inferior, nor let them suffer such indignities.
This was a kind of familial love he had never experienced, even when his own mother was alive, a love he had only fantasized about countless times after her death, wondering how it would feel if she were still here.
He had always believed himself a good emperor, a good father, a good husband…
Yet in the end, every role he played was fraught with too many constraints and considerations.
And not a single one of his kin had ever shielded him from the storm like Fang He…
Slowly, he sat down beside her, hesitating for a moment before gently stroking her hair.
“I…” His voice was so dry it hurt his throat, and a surge of ruthless anger rose in his chest, yet his mind had never been clearer.
Softly, he continued, “I can’t accept it either.”
He couldn’t bear the thought of his and Fang He’s child being humiliated like that.
Fang He rested her chin on the back of her hand, tears falling silently as if she hadn’t heard a word.
But inwardly, she let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Cui Wei had been right.
Kangxi had always harbored an obstinate reverence for Jingren Palace.
Less a tribute to his late mother and more a sanctuary where he could soothe his own grievances.
She had turned that sanctuary into reality—into a family he could truly have.
Was this temptation enough to save her life?
Remembering the slap earlier, the back of her hand and wrist still burned.
She didn’t even need to pinch herself—just pressing her chin down was enough to make the tears flow uncontrollably.
Suddenly, Kangxi raised his voice and commanded, “Chunlai, come in and attend to her!”
“Liang Jiugong, seal off the Tousuo Hall-no one enters or leaves, and no one is to wander freely!”
Outside, Cui Wei and Wei Zhu were nearly frantic with worry.
The muffled sobs and whispers from inside were impossible to decipher.
They only knew their master was crying uncontrollably.
Yu Quangui from Cining Palace had just come to inquire-likely because the commotion had reached Cining Palace, and the Dowager Empress had sent him over.
Yet none of them understood what had truly happened.
Liang Jiugong hinted obliquely that the Emperor had flown into a rage, and no one dared intervene.
Only then did Yu Quangui cautiously withdraw from the Tousuo Hall.
Now, hearing Kangxi’s icy, bone-chilling orders, Cui Wei and Wei Zhu grew increasingly anxious but didn’t dare act rashly again.
They weren’t afraid of being beaten-what terrified them was that if they were punished, they wouldn’t be able to serve their master when needed.
Chunlai reacted swiftly, slipping inside and moving toward the two figures seated by the window.
Kangxi had his back turned and only turned around after hearing the door shut.
The moment Chunlai caught a glimpse of Kangxi’s face from the corner of her eye, she dropped to her knees with a thud, pressing her forehead to the floor, not daring to make a sound.
Fang He winced at the sight, shuddering involuntarily.
Even Chunlai, who had witnessed everything, seemed convinced they might not survive this.
Her chances of keeping her head…
Her tears suddenly fell harder, her face flushed red with sobs.
She wished she could faint on the spot and have her head roll off in her sleep at least it wouldn’t hurt as much.
Damn Fule for restoring her health so well!
Despite crying until her head throbbed, she showed no signs of passing out.
But to Kangxi, it seemed she might collapse from weeping.
He sighed, pulling her into his arms and patting her back gently to soothe her.
The reason he had called Chunlai in was to save this fool’s life.
Liang Jiugong was loyal-but only to him.
If he discovered someone had shown such disrespect, he might not cover for Fang He.
Cui Wei and Wei Zhu… one’s loyalty was uncertain, the other too young and unreliable.
He couldn’t trust either.
Only Chunlai, as a shadow guard, was bound to serve him the Emperor for life.
Having spent so long by Fang He’s side, Chunlai had grown partial to this fool, making her the perfect choice.
Kangxi’s voice was low and firm.
“Earlier, in a fit of rage, I accidentally gripped Consort Zhao’s wrist too hard and injured her face. You understand what must be done, don’t you?”
Chunlai took several deep breaths before stammering out a reply.
“Th-this servant understands! This servant will fetch water to clean the wound and ask Liang Ande to bring imperial ointment to… reduce the swelling.”
Fang He lifted her head in a daze.
They could spin it like this?
Kangxi gave a faint hum.
“I must placate Consort Zhao. Lunch and dinner will both be served in the Tousui Hall today. She has a temper -aside from you, no one else is to see her in such a state. Understood?”
This slap could only be one that Fang He had “endured.”
But he also didn’t want anyone to think she had fallen out of favor.
This was the safest arrangement.
Chunlai exhaled stealthily in relief, kowtowed, and hurried out to carry out her orders.
The moment she stepped outside, Liang Jiugong, Cui Wei, and Wei Zhu surrounded her.
Keeping her eyes downcast, Chunlai followed the Emperor’s instructions, speaking evasively before casting a worried glance back at the main hall.
“His Majesty is waiting. Our master’s… face is too swollen to even look at. Hurry and prepare what’s needed!”
Without another word, Cui Wei forgot even to acknowledge Liang Jiugong and bolted toward Fule’s quarters.
When it came to reducing swelling, Fule’s ointments might not match the imperial ones, but at least a calming tonic had to be readied.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhu frantically gestured at Chen Shun and Liu Xi to rush to the kitchens for hot water.
Liang Jiugong stood guard at the door, forbidding anyone from approaching.
The medicinal ointment was naturally sent for by Li Dequan.
No one gave it much thought, merely pitying Fang He in their hearts.
With His Majesty’s strength, Consort Zhao probably wouldn’t be able to show her face for several days.
Though it was claimed to be an accident, judging by the earlier sounds of argument from the room, Liang Jiugong even privately speculated that His Majesty must have been so furious this time that he momentarily lost control of his temper.
Tsk, tsk.
Let’s just hope that after this beating, the little ancestor remembers the pain and doesn’t dare to push her luck again.
“Was it really an accident?” Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang eventually found out and was somewhat skeptical.
The Tousuo Hall was located in the narrow alley east of Cining Palace.
If the weather was warm and the windows were open, Fang He’s cries could even reach the main hall of Cining Palace directly.
Yu Quangui had people keeping watch near the Cining Gate.
When Li Dequan emerged, Yu Quangui personally went to inquire.
Knowing it was the Empress Dowager asking, Li Dequan didn’t dare hide the truth and vaguely hinted at a few things, even more subtly than Chunlai.