Yu Quangui privately also felt it was unlikely to have been an accident.
“This servant heard from the eunuch guarding the door that His Majesty entered in a rage and drove everyone out… This servant boldly surmises that His Majesty must have been blinded by anger and later regretted it.”
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang thought this explanation made more sense.
She frowned slightly.
“I thought his temper had improved since childhood, but when provoked, he still acts recklessly. Even palace servants aren’t struck in the face this is truly… I’ll have to speak with the Emperor properly later.”
No matter what, one shouldn’t resort to violence so casually!
Then she grew somewhat annoyed at Fang He’s constant tantrums.
“She’s the only one with such a temper-even Wulinzhu isn’t like this. She refuses to live peacefully when everything’s fine. If word gets out, Qiqige will be heartbroken again.”
Su’moer, standing nearby, gently soothed, “His Majesty is still young, and Consort Zhao is also quite young. When you were her age, you also…”
She was referring to Dorgon, so Su’moer trailed off mid-sentence.
Back when Hailanzhu entered the Shengjing Palace, the others hardly received any favor.
Dorgon had always harbored some feelings for Her Majesty and often found excuses to visit Empress Zhezhe’s palace…
In any case, the two of them had their fair share of quarrels back then.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang shot Su’moer a glare.
“She’s not of my bloodline-why must you compare her to me?”
But after glaring, she couldn’t help but laugh and waved her hand helplessly.
“Fine, let them bicker as they please.”
“Prepare more ointment. Who knows if he’ll fail to placate her and end up getting scratched by that girl? I won’t interfere this time.”
In the end, no one believed Fang He would dare to slap Kangxi.
So it was even more unimaginable that at this moment, aside from Fang He—her face flushed from crying-there was also an Emperor with a slightly swollen cheek, washing his face with warm water.
The ointment was actually for the Emperor.
Chunlai held it for a long time, too afraid to apply it.
If she hurt His Majesty, her mistress might be spared, but who knew if the Emperor, in his humiliation and anger, would have her head?
Fang He, her face pale, stepped forward silently and took the ointment from Chunlai, gently applying it to Kangxi’s face.
Kangxi winced at the sting and instinctively wrapped an arm around Fang He’s waist, pulling her slightly closer.
Chunlai quietly withdrew.
Once they were alone again, Kangxi finally spoke.
“Still angry?”
Fang He lowered her eyes and shook her head, her voice hoarse as she whispered, “Actually, Your Majesty has treated this concubine very well… It’s just that I’m insatiably greedy.”
“That’s also because I spoiled you.”
Kangxi tilted his head back, gazing steadily at Fang He’s red and swollen eyes.
Dipping his fingers in some ointment, he gently applied it beneath her eyes.
“You’re right. You shouldn’t have had to endure this grievance. In the end, it’s because this emperor is too—”
Fang He pressed the porcelain ointment box against Kangxi’s lips, stopping him from continuing.
Having committed a grave offense, she needed to say something conciliatory to prevent His Majesty from holding a grudge later.
“This concubine spoke out of turn. In truth, Your Majesty is more formidable than anyone else. No one could match you—a body worth a thousand gold, yet daring to risk it all, while still being able to slay enemies from a hundred miles away.”
“It’s only because Your Majesty bears the weight of the nation, considering the livelihoods of millions and the continuation of our dynasty, that you must endure grievances no emperor should suffer. This concubine is narrow-minded, simply less tolerant than you.”
Kangxi: “……”
The first part was flattering, but was the latter half still praise?
After applying the ointment, he pulled Fang He onto the soft couch with him.
In the daylight, he carefully applied medicine to her tear- swollen eyelids and the tip of her nose before embracing her.
“In the future, you may quarrel or make scenes as you wish, but never again speak of death. This emperor cannot bear to hear it.”
Fang He remained silent for a moment before tightly wrapping her arms around Kangxi’s waist and softly murmuring her assent.
Lunch was served by Chunlai.
When Liang Jiugong and the imperial kitchen staff entered to set the meal, Kangxi remained lying down with Fang He in his arms.
As for dinner, neither had much appetite.
They merely drank some cooling soup and ate a plate of pastries before retiring early.
Having erred during the day, Fang He didn’t dare act out in the slightest, behaving more obediently than even the most pampered cats of the Forbidden City-removing her clothes when told, lying properly when instructed.
When Kangxi lay down, she even dutifully rolled into his embrace.
In both her lifetimes, she had never struck anyone’s face, let alone someone as critically important as this.
Though she lacked the inclination, she had prepared herself for the physical labor of making amends in bed.
Kangxi, thinking she was still frightened, gathered her closer like a child, gently patting her shoulder.
Fang He looked up at him in surprise, meeting only deep yet forgiving eyes.
Kangxi kissed her ear.
“Sleep. Tomorrow you must rise early to apply my medicine.”
That night, Fang He dreamed she was choking Kangxi while slapping him repeatedly across the face like a maniac, indulging in the dark satisfaction she hadn’t dared savor during the day.
She even laughed in her dream, her body trembling slightly.
Kangxi woke startled, carefully examining her face by candlelight-her eyes were closed but her expression was full of terror.
Just as Fang He was enjoying her dreamt assault, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang’s voice suddenly boomed around her like Buddha’s pronouncement:
“Impudent monkey concubine! Daring to assault your superior and attempt regicide! You deserve death by a thousand cuts- lingchi punishment!”
“Guards! Skin her alive, chop her into pieces to render oil for sky lanterns~ Sky lanterns! Sky lanterns!!”
Fang He watched as countless knives flew from all directions straight at her forehead were they going to start skinning from the top of her head?
Ahhhh!
No!
Her head is too small for so many knives!!
“Zhao? Zhao!”
Fang He felt as if a knife were pressed against her face.
Startled, she let out a low cry and sat up abruptly, drenched in sweat.
When she saw Kangxi, she couldn’t help shrinking back slightly.
Oh no had she said anything in her sleep?
She’d certainly spoken her mind when slapping him earlier!
A particularly complex emotion flickered in Kangxi’s eyes.
He hadn’t expected this fearless little troublemaker to be so terrified that she’d
dream of being subjected to lingchi (death by a thousand cuts) even in her sleep.
Not wanting to frighten her further, he gently pulled her back down, pressing her against his chest.
“Zhao… you never need to fear me.”
Still half-asleep, Fang He murmured, “But Your Majesty can’t travel to the future. How do you know how long ‘forever’ really is?”
Kangxi chuckled softly, then after a pause, pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“A fair point. I’ll have to think carefully about just how long this ‘forever’ can be.”
Lulled by Kangxi’s soothing pats, Fang He drifted back to sleep.
She slept dreamlessly until the fourth watch, when Chunlai came to wake her.
Fang He instinctively glanced at Kangxi’s face.
Though she’d struck with all her strength, it couldn’t compare to a man’s force and since she’d used the back of her hand, only faint traces of the incomplete slap mark remained.
She splashed cold water on her face to clear her head, then with her hair still loose, personally attended to Kangxi’s morning routine, applying medicine to his injury.
Chunlai handed her a box of powder used by imperial guards.
Fang He hesitated before accepting it, applying a thin layer to Kangxi’s face.
She then took out her own powder and did the same.
Only then did Chunlai open the door to admit the attendants.
Liang Jiugong stood waiting outside, holding the dragon robe.
As he entered, Liang Jiugong stole a sidelong glance at Fang He.
Seeing her complexion slightly dulled by powder, he grew even more certain that
His Majesty must have exerted considerable force the previous night.
While inwardly marveling, he failed to notice that Kangxi’s profile also looked somewhat different than usual.
Still refusing to let others assist, Fang He dressed Kangxi herself, fastening his belt with an almost embrace-like motion.
As she moved to stand, Kangxi mischievously pressed down on her back to keep her in place.
He then removed the dragon-patterned jade pendant from his waist and slipped it into Fang He’s palm where her hand hung at her side.
Leaning down to whisper in her ear-while the others, thinking their masters wanted a private moment, hastily retreated to the doorway.
He said: “This jade was personally chosen for me by my imperial grandmother the year I ascended the throne. It has accompanied me for twenty- seven years and holds special meaning.”
He gave her hand a squeeze.
“Let it represent those twenty-seven years. For the next twenty-seven years, as long as you do not threaten the empire or harm my heirs, no matter what crimes you commit… I will show leniency because of what this jade means to me.”
“If I haven’t died of anger by then, I’ll give you a new one.”
She didn’t trust his promises, so he only pledged not to contradict himself-surely that would reassure her?
Fang He froze as he deliberately teased, “Unless you need to use it, don’t casually take it out for others to see. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would never forgive-me. I don’t want to…” apply medicine again.
The last three words went unspoken, as Kangxi feared eavesdroppers.
Fang He’s eyes quickly reddened this was the first time she genuinely felt moved by Kangxi.
Life wasn’t a drama; there wasn’t that much theatrics to it.
Yesterday, she had cried out of desperation, ready to spend her life in Yanshun Pavilion or become a nun even if she reacted swiftly.
Yet this man before her had never shown the slightest anger over being slapped.
She sniffled, trying not to cry, but the bittersweet relief of surviving the ordeal made her eyes uncontrollably moist.
Choking up, she hugged Kangxi.
“Your Majesty, why are you so good to me?”
Kangxi fell silent for a moment.
Truthfully, he wasn’t entirely sure either.
His indulgence toward this troublemaker hadn’t been there from the start-it had probably grown bit by bit.
“You once said that I always weigh pros and cons excessively, thinking too much. Bringing you into the palace might be the only willful thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
“I don’t want this rare act of willfulness to become a mistake. Unconsciously, I’ve kept you in my heart, so I can only treat you, this troublemaker, a little better.”
Fang He tilted her head back, resting her chin on Kangxi’s dragon robe, letting her tears slide down her cheeks without staining his freshly changed attire.
Sobbing, she said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m so touched. From now on, I’ll definitely treat you even better!”
But his heart held far more than just her-the empire, the people, heirs, women…
He never lacked her alone.
So, she was indeed moved, but that was all.
With teary eyes, she stood at the palace door, watching Kangxi’s figure disappear into the lantern-lit shadows of the courtyard.
By the time she turned around, she had wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her expression calm once more.
Cui Wei and Wei Zhu hurried over to console their mistress, only to be stunned by Fang He’s composed demeanor.
Exchanging a glance, they silently stepped forward.
Chunlai instinctively went to guard the door, wishing she could plug her ears-she already felt she knew too much and didn’t want to learn more.
“Wei Zhu, go to my uncle. There’s something I need to ask of him…” Fang He whispered instructions into his ear.
Wei Zhu slipped out of the palace before dawn, when it was harder to be noticed.
As for Cui Wei, Fang He’s orders remained unchanged.
“In a few days, we should know exactly what His Majesty has uncovered.”
“Keep a close watch on Chengqian Palace, Yonghe Palace, Yikun Palace, Changchun Palace, and Zhongcui Palace. Don’t spare any silver, but don’t let anyone notice.”