Kangxi wasn’t angry either.
Watching Fang He eat so heartily, he even had an extra bowl of rice.
The more he understood her temperament, the more he knew how infuriating she could be.
If he insisted on arguing, she’d only lead him around by the nose.
Only after the meal, when Fang He wiped her mouth and stood up, did Kangxi finally speak.
“Since you can’t sleep well in my chambers, you may move to the side palace. I’ve already told Liang Jiugong to prepare it for you.”
Fang He bowed respectfully.
“As Your Majesty commands. This concubine will return to Yunya Pavilion at once and never trouble Your Majesty’s sight again.”
With that, she turned to leave.
But the expected roar of anger never came.
Instead, Kangxi let out a faint, icy chuckle.
“Zhashihuli, if you dare defy my order today, I will have every servant in your palace dragged out and given thirty strokes.”
“For every day you refuse to learn propriety, they will suffer another day of punishment…”
“Your Majesty, there’s really no need for such trouble.” Fang He turned back respectfully, walked up to Kangxi, and knelt, looking up at him.
“If you wish to quarrel, I’ll quarrel with you. If you can’t be bothered, just punish me directly. But hurting those around me would only damage our rapport-that wouldn’t be good.”
Kangxi smirked coldly.
“Now you remember we have rapport to speak of?”
Fang He nodded matter-of-factly.
“Of course we do. Though it’s not much, that’s exactly why we shouldn’t waste it. Don’t you agree?”
Kangxi: “…”
He grabbed her arm, pulling her close, and glared down at her.
“I’ll give you one last chance—”
“No!”
Fang He looked up at him with a pitiful expression.
“This concubine sat too low during lunch—it made me choke. I can’t handle opportunities right now. Your Majesty shouldn’t waste your emotions!”
“If I’d known Your Majesty’s gentleness would only last a few days, I’d never have dared to be so bold, fantasizing about bearing the imperial heir in front of others.”
“From now on, I won’t dare disobey again. Whatever you say, I’ll do it. I promise not to make a single mistake.”
So Kangxi didn’t want to argue with this troublemaker, he just wanted to intimidate her.
Because once she started, even his sharp tongue couldn’t get a word in.
Before he could speak, Fang He’s eyes reddened as she glanced around.
“Where’s Chief Eunuch Liang? Shouldn’t he prepare a cup of poisoned wine so I can prove my loyalty?”
“Or perhaps Your Majesty could let go first, allowing this concubine to retrieve the jade pendant you bestowed? You’re scaring me half to death…”
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Emperor Kangxi pressed her onto his lap and silenced those vexing words by capturing her small mouth with his own.
Only after kissing her until her cheeks flushed pink did Kangxi raise his head, gazing at Fang He with complex emotions in his eyes.
“Is there truly nothing in this world that frightens you?”
Languidly leaning against his chest while tugging playfully at his ear, Fang He replied, “Of course there is. I fear death, pain, and poverty most of all—and you’ve already made me experience all three.”
Kangxi: “……”
Well then.
Not only had he failed to extract answers, but this minx was now dredging up old grievances.
He tapped her forehead irritably.
“Aside from the Empress Dowager and Noble Consorts, no one in the entire palace has more treasures in their coffers than you. Are you suggesting you intend to return them all to me?”
Fang He’s expression instantly shifted.
She sat up abruptly, her smile turning noticeably more ingratiating.
“Your Majesty, as the Emperor, your words are as precious as gold. How could you take back what you’ve already given?”
Massaging his temples with delicate fingers, her voice softened further.
“Why don’t you just tell me what’s angering you? Must I keep guessing?”
Their physical intimacy had led to deeper understanding beyond mere bodily exploration-they’d come to comprehend each other’s temperaments more thoroughly.
Fang He knew Kangxi’s true anger didn’t manifest this way.
His cold treatment today didn’t concern her; in fact, she detected an element of bluster in it and deliberately alternated between provoking and soothing him.
After careful consideration of last night’s events, she leaned against his shoulder.
“Are you upset because I mentioned going to Ruijing Pavilion?”
“It’s just that I can’t bear the heat-you know how excessive you were being. We practically could’ve fried eggs between us… Mmmph!”
Kangxi wearily covered her mouth, shooting a glance at Liang Jiugong who promptly ushered everyone out with practiced efficiency.
Once they were alone, the Emperor tapped her head again.
“In future, think twice before speaking. Must you voice every thought before others? If such words spread, I still have dignity to maintain!”
Fang He: “……”
So were they currently with people or not?
Could she continue speaking?
Pouting exaggeratedly while covering her mouth, she stared at Kangxi with exaggerated innocence.
But Kangxi knew better-it was all a pretense.
Setting her aside, he asked solemnly, “What exactly are you hiding from me?”
“Whether you believe me or not…”
A trace of self-mockery entered his eyes, “…at least don’t wait until matters escalate beyond my power to protect you.”
Fang He hesitated.
She knew that if Kangxi could be trusted, there’d be no need for Qiao Cheng’s elaborate arrangements; the imperial guards’ efficiency far surpassed any outsiders Qiao could mobilize.
Yet inexplicably, she resisted revealing anything.
It wasn’t affectation, but rather that unaddressed question lingering in her mind:
He had too many women, and she’d missed too many years of his life.
With concrete evidence, he might favor her.
But without proof-just suspicions and some possibly inexplicable diagrams would he truly act harshly against mothers of several imperial heirs for her sake?
After all, the Noble Consort, Consort Hui, and Lady Guoluoluo had all borne his children.
Even if he supported her, it would likely be only superficial…
The only one who faced serious consequences was Consort Xuan, who was simply barred from returning to the palace.
Though she remained unscathed, it was only temporary for her at least.
She had never believed in emotions.
Even if she’d lost her mind, she wouldn’t gamble on how much favor she truly held.
Kangxi, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed Fang He’s hesitation.
A flicker of disappointment passed through his gaze, but he merely sighed softly and patted her head.
“Fine, if you truly don’t wish to speak, then don’t. But promise me this, don’t do anything you’ll regret or that will put me in a difficult position.”
This time, Fang He didn’t hesitate.
She asked quietly, “If the mastermind behind the incident at Yunya Pavilion was a consort trying to harm me or the child I might carry… what would you do?”
Kangxi answered without hesitation, “Demote her to a common consort and exile her to Yanchun Pavilion.”
He loathed nothing more than threats to the imperial lineage.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kill-death was too merciful.
Only a lifetime of torment in Yanchun Pavilion could quell his fury.
“What if it were the Noble Consort, the Imperial Noble Consort, or one of the four principal consorts?”
Fang He didn’t believe him.
Kangxi paused, his scrutiny deepening.
“…Would you still do the same?”
“You don’t suspect the Imperial Noble Consort… You already have someone in mind.”
This wasn’t a question.
Fang He lowered her eyes and stayed silent.
Kangxi rubbed his brow with his thumb ring and sighed faintly.
“If it were any of them… I might have to show some leniency.”
“Punishing them isn’t just a matter of the inner court-it would involve the princes and the imperial court.”
That was why he had been cautious in granting ranks earlier, wary of being constrained.
He pulled Fang He into his arms.
“But I won’t let you suffer injustice either.”
“Even if I show leniency, it’s only to stabilize the court and preserve the princes’ dignity. Privately, I won’t let them off lightly.”
Such was the way of the imperial family—everything was about appearances.
Yet in the palace, making someone disappear with dignity was never difficult.
Fang He wrapped her arms around his waist and murmured softly, “Truthfully, this concubine was just overthinking things. Hearing about the deaths made me paranoid.”
She looked up at Kangxi, her expression earnest.
“If I ever find out who’s responsible, I’ll tell you immediately!”
His answer didn’t satisfy her.
Even if someone were to “fall ill,” their honors would remain untouched-perhaps even enhanced.
Harming her and expecting a peaceful end?
She’d make sure they slept soundly permanently.
Fortunately, deception wasn’t exclusive to men-women were even better at it.
Kangxi studied Fang He’s expression carefully and believed her.
This troublemaker’s boldness had always been hard to predict, but he was a suspicious man by nature.
He doubted she had told him everything.
He gazed at her deeply.
“Remember this no matter what, I’ll always stand behind you. Don’t disappoint me.”
Otherwise, no matter how much he regretted it, he would let her go.
As emperor, he would never tolerate deceit, duplicity, or insatiable greed…
Nalan Mingzhu was proof of that!
Ironically, these were precisely the things Fang He excelled at.
She had no intention of telling Kangxi anything.
She would wait until she had irrefutable evidence against Consort De, then let the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager handle it.
As women, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and the Empress Dowager understood better than Kangxi the devastation a venomous woman could wreak in the Forbidden City.
They wouldn’t hold back.
When the hottest days arrived, the Noble Consort finally uncovered some leads from the Imperial Household Department.
But before she could investigate further, all the clues were cut off outside the palace.
None of the leads pointed to Consort De-instead, the trail vaguely led to the White Lotus Sect.
The Noble Consort dared not let the Duke of Niu’s residence continue probing.
She hastily presented her findings to the Emperor.
A few days later, Kangxi dealt with several officials from the Guangchu Division of the Imperial Household Department, bringing the matter to a close.
Before Fang He returned to Yunya Hall, Kangxi took her aside and carefully explained the situation.
Before Yinzhi was born, the palace children had struggled to survive not only due to their frailty but also because of faint traces of the White Lotus Sect’s influence.
Watching child after child perish, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Kangxi had no choice but to send the surviving children to the homes of high-ranking officials and thoroughly cleanse the Forbidden City.
Yet, remnants of the White Lotus Sect still lingered outside the palace.
“I will order Hailasun to assist Prince Yu in a thorough investigation of the Imperial Household Department. From now on, keep your maid close and be cautious.”
Fang He was baffled-Consort De had the means to collaborate with the White Lotus Sect?
What kind of nonsense was this?!
She didn’t believe it at all, yet she couldn’t help but be stunned by the consort’s capabilities.
No wonder she became the final victor-with such cunning and schemes, who could outmaneuver her?
Fang He felt a creeping dread but had no immediate solution.
She could only pin her hopes on Qiao Cheng, praying he’d uncover some useful evidence.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Cheng delivered a shocking surprise.
At the end of June, under the pretext of delivering the outer treasury ledgers to Gu Wenxing at Changchun Garden, Qiao Cheng personally handed the evidence to Fang He.
Fang He had guards posted at the door.
When she unfolded the papers, the lines of evidence left her horrified.
“Uncle “Her voice was hoarse with fear as she finished reading.
She gulped down hot tea to steady herself before whispering, “Uncle… are you certain the silenced were from the Liujia and Majia clans, and that Qin—”
“-Xinrong and a child from the Uya branch are still alive outside?”
This was just the tip of the iceberg-far beyond what she could handle.
If true, three of the four major bondservant clans were involved…
Seeing Qiao Cheng nod grimly, Fang He took several deep breaths before standing abruptly.
Perhaps her mind had gone numb-she decided, for once, to trust Kangxi!