After Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang finished speaking, Emperor Kangxi rose and knelt before her.
“Grandmother, your grandson understands all these points well.”
Xiaozhuang was puzzled.
“If you understand, then why…”
“Grandmother, do you recall the circumstances when I first ascended the throne?” Kangxi lifted his head to look at her, interrupting her words.
“The regents controlled the court, and Oboi even dared to kill in my presence. To consolidate power, I had to choose Lady Heseri as empress at thirteen and bring Ebilun’s daughter into the palace… You endured, and so did I.”
Xiaozhuang was momentarily stunned.
Indeed, those days had been even harder than when Fulin took the throne.
She had originally intended to make Consort Hui the empress in a few years, which was why she had brought the girl into the palace early.
But for the stability of the Qing Dynasty, she had to yield to Sonin and select Lady Heseri.
Even though Lady Heseri was dignified, Ebilun’s daughter had suffered in the palace.
The grievances of grandmother and grandson still weighed heavily on them.
“Later, Oboi died, but the Three Feudatories grew powerful, increasingly disregarding the court. I could only struggle to balance the court and the non-imperial princes-still enduring.”
“When war broke out, you selected many daughters of meritorious officials to enter the palace. In their presence, I had to think twice before speaking loudly. Our ancestors probably never imagined their emperor would be so humiliated.”
Both Consort Jing and Consort An were good women.
They should have been able to live freely outside the palace.
But they had no choice but to enter.
Consort Jing even had someone she loved…
He knew everything but had to pretend ignorance.
That was why he rarely favored Consort Jing and allowed Consort An to indulge in martial arts, seldom visiting her palace.
“Now the Qing Dynasty is barely stable. I will deal with the unrest in the Western Regions sooner or later. I refuse to endure any longer- otherwise, who knows who this empire will belong to?”
Kangxi’s expression grew cold and resolute.
“The stability of the realm, the court, and the welfare of the people… these are duties I must diligently uphold for life.”
“I am now thirty, and the Qing is far stronger than before. I dare not claim credit, but I will not tolerate disrespect!”
“All must serve me. Those who cannot be replaced. If they refuse to serve the court but expect me to yield to them—that is unacceptable!”
Xiaozhuang sighed.
She knew Kangxi had endured much, but this decision, like his earlier move to weaken the feudatories, still seemed impulsive.
“If you insist on this, you will bring yourself much trouble. You…”
Seeing Kangxi’s increasingly stubborn gaze, she shook her head.
“Never mind. You are the emperor. Even your father could not have done better. I can no longer interfere. You must bear the consequences.”
Yet after speaking, she suddenly noticed a faint red mark on Kangxi’s chin, suspecting he might be venting his anger for Fang He-perhaps to console her for that slap.
“Just one thing: if you must vent your temper in the future, don’t do it near my Cining Palace. The Qianqing Palace has plenty of people for you to take it out on. Save me the trouble.”
“At my age, I still have to worry about you!”
Kangxi choked back his frustration, lowering his eyes in resignation.
“Your grandson will remember.”
After Kangxi left, Sumala entered, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang chuckled.
“What did I say? These two troublemakers are equally infuriating both with such audacious claws.”
Sumala looked incredulous.
“Did Consort Zhao really… lay hands on His Majesty? Should I send ointment to him?”
Xiaozhuang rolled her eyes.
“Enough. Right now, I can still pretend not to know. If I send medicine, I’ll have to punish Consort Zhao, and then Kangxi can’t just punish a few concubines to appease her.”
She sighed, “A wise elder plays deaf and dumb-it’s not like the emperor was slapped. Let them be.”
After leaving Cining Palace, Kangxi initially intended to turn left toward the Tousuo Hall.
But after a few steps, he suddenly halted and changed direction.
Li Dequan asked in confusion, “Your Majesty?”
“Return to Qianqing Palace!” Kangxi boarded the palanquin, tapping its edge as he issued the order calmly.
Back in Qianqing Palace, Kangxi didn’t go to Hongde Hall.
Instead, he spent some time in the Southern Study before summoning Zhao Chang to Zhaoren Hall before dinner.
As soon as Zhao Chang entered, a dragon boot came flying at him.
Startled, he dodged but not completely, taking the hit on his side.
Kangxi sneered, “Zhao Chang, oh Zhao Chang, you’ve truly brought me great honor. I doubt even the Eight Banners of Manchu, Mongol, and Han could produce someone as remarkable as you.”
Zhao Chang knelt slowly, bewildered; this didn’t sound like praise.
But… had he done anything wrong?
“I ordered you to ensure Consort Zhao didn’t uncover evidence before you. Instead, you spared my dignity by blocking her path. How impressive!”
The more Kangxi spoke, the angrier he became.
That wretch hadn’t slapped him deliberately, but upon reflection, the argument was clearly intentional.
Even in her fury, she’d still managed to provoke him every barbed remark carried insinuations.
The most infuriating?
That she couldn’t find anything.
No one but the secret guards had that capability.
Pointing at his own face, Kangxi mocked the dumbfounded Zhao Chang, “Look! Thanks to you, my face has an extra layer-swollen! How should I thank you?”
Zhao Chang: “…”
He shrank his neck and whispered, “This servant only acted before Cui Wei and Wei Zhu could investigate…”
“Imperial affairs must never leak. The secret guards hold the Heaven Token-of course they’d stay silent-“
Another boot flew, striking Zhao Chang’s chest.
“You ignore my words, and I should praise your thoroughness?”
Kangxi had made his meaning clear-Zhao Chang wasn’t stupid.
He’d simply disregarded it.
Pointing at the door, Kangxi snapped, “Fine, then I must reward you. Go receive thirty lashes!”
After suffering a slap himself, not punishing Zhao Chang would leave his resentment unquenched.
As Zhao Chang shuffled out miserably, Kangxi suddenly called, “Wait! After the beating, deliver the Lin family’s land deed to Chunlai. Tell her to ask Consort Zhao to rename it-a reward from me.”
The Lin family was Chunlai’s maternal clan.
Zhao Chang was momentarily stunned.
This…
The Shadow Guards were bound for life never to betray their master.
Was the Emperor implying that Chunlai should switch allegiance?
Kangxi offered no further explanation.
Shadow Guards couldn’t change masters, nor was he suggesting Chunlai betray hers.
But earlier, when Liang Jiugong questioned why Chunlai had concealed matters for Fang He, she’d mentioned seeing similarities between Fang He’s situation and her own mother’s.
By showing her the land deed, Kangxi was tacitly permitting Chunlai to withhold information regarding Fang He in the future.
When the hall emptied, Liang Jiugong approached with anti-swelling ointment, eagerly asking, “Your Majesty, shall we go to the Tousuo Hall… or shall this servant apply the medicine?”
Ever since Liang Jiugong smelled the medicinal scent on Kangxi and slapped himself twice, the Emperor knew he wouldn’t speak carelessly again.
With a dismissive wave, Kangxi said, “You do it. I’m not going anywhere today!”
After enduring slaps, venting anger for that wretch, tirelessly cleaning up the mess, and completing all the placating gestures if this got out, no one would dare believe it.
Having gone to such lengths, if that wretch still showed no response, she could rot in the Tousuo Palace for all he cared.
He couldn’t afford to keep such a demanding ancestor.
The Qingming rains had passed, and with each passing day the weather grew warmer until, by month’s end, the heat became unbearable.
Kangxi felt steam rising from his scalp, prompting him to decree an early May departure for the summer retreat.
Liang Jiugong fanned him listlessly, the breeze carrying nothing but stifling heat that grated on the nerves.
With a cold expression, Kangxi asked, “Did my imperial grandmother say anything about me skipping the Cining Palace visit today?”
Liang Jiugong bowed woodenly, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager urged care for the imperial health… The consort in the Tousuo Hall is still copying scriptures… Aiyo!”
Before he could finish, the jade scepter came flying at him.
Catching it clumsily, Liang Jiugong broke out in a cold sweat.
Kangxi sneered, “Did I ask about that wretch? Spare me your unsolicited comments! Get out!”
Liang Jiugong hesitated, “Shall this servant summon Li Dequan to fan Your Majesty—”
“Unnecessary!” Kangxi’s face remained impassive.
“A tranquil mind brings natural coolness. I couldn’t possibly trouble you all! Out!”
Liang Jiugong: “……”
Though hot, it wasn’t nearly as scorching as previous years’ peaks!
Exiting the hall, he hid behind a dragon-carved pillar, removing his hat to knock his head against the column.
He debated whether to send word to that demanding ancestor.
Another twenty-odd days had passed.
While other consorts showed proper deference, this one-after committing acts worthy of familial extermination couldn’t even bother currying favor?
The summer retreat entourage list remained undecided.
Every consort with ambition scurried about seeking information, yet this particular ancestor remained conspicuously silent.
She had changed her surname to Zasihuli-could it be that she even had her eyes on their ancestral graves?
Li Dequan saw his adoptive father’s distress and, after witnessing the Emperor’s unpredictable moods lately, understood exactly what was troubling him.
His eyes darted around before he whispered, “Father, should I tip off that Wei Zhu kid?”
Between men and women, it was always one thing—either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east.
The Emperor’s east wind was clearly holding the imperial stance-impossible to be overpowered so the west wind had better learn some sense.
Otherwise, they’d be the ones suffering again.
Commander Zhao’s backside hadn’t even fully healed yet, and Li Dequan had no desire to follow in those footsteps.
No… He’d call Wei Zhu “brother” if needed.
If Wei Zhu were any younger, he’d even call him “grandpa”-it wasn’t like it’d cost him any flesh.
Liang Jiugong thought it feasible and was about to nod when the master of tranquility inside the hall emerged like a scorching gust, striding briskly toward Yuehua Gate.
“Your Majesty? Your Majesty!” Liang Jiugong hurried after him, calling softly.
“It’s hot, I’ll prepare a sedan chair for you….”
Kangxi turned a deaf ear to him.
He shouldn’t have expected that bastard to have a conscience.
His good words that day might have been a fatal mistake, and was so scared that she lied to deceive the emperor!
He had to punish that bastard for deceiving the emperor…..
No,maybe she was scared out of his wits and didn’t want to see him, so she felt that he was despised by her, so she could only act like a good boy in the Tousuo Hall?
Kangxi felt cold and hot in his heart, and he went into Cining Palace under the blazing sun.
Since he had time to come here, he couldn’t directly go to the Tousuo Hall, otherwise Xiaozhuang would beat him and the bastard together.
Fang He was racking her brains to draw lines among a large group of people when receiving the news sent by Wei Zhu.
If not for Li Dequan desperately dragging him in while frantically calling him “brother”-giving Wei Zhu the creeps he wouldn’t have dared disturb his sister.
“Master, His Majesty went to Cining Palace and will likely come here soon. Should you change clothes to receive him?”
Fang He marked a star beside one name without looking up.
“No need. If I changed, that’s when His Majesty would truly get angry.”
What Cui Wei couldn’t uncover didn’t mean she was entirely without methods.
In her past life working at a hotel, beyond various necessary and unnecessary minor skills, what she did daily was assigning responsibilities, tracking check-ins and signatures at fixed times and locations.
Also using cross-referencing to pinpoint accountability whenever errors occurred.
Earlier, she’d sent Wei Zhu to deliver a thousand taels to Qiao Cheng, entrusting him with three tasks.
First, compile as complete a list as possible of all outsiders connected to the Uya clan and their marital relatives.