What shocked everyone wasn’t Fang He being granted the title of Consort.
Consort Zhao Pin’s favor was well-known, even in the previous court.
Everyone understood it was only a matter of time before she was promoted.
What truly unsettled them was that the Emperor made Fang He the head of the Four Consorts, and even permitted her to live alone in Yanxi Palace.
Even in the Imperial Noble Consort’s Chengqian Palace, there were still several Noble Ladies and Attendants residing!
Except for Jingren Palace and the unoccupied Jingyang Palace, there wasn’t a single consort’s palace among the Six Eastern and Western Palaces where someone lived alone.
This kind of privilege… what came to everyone’s mind was Kunning Palace.
The eastern side hall of Kunning Palace was reserved for Shamanic rituals, so the living quarters weren’t large.
But because of the Empress’s status, even if she sent someone to serve the Emperor in her stead, they wouldn’t stay in Kunning Palace afterwards, but move to Jiaotai Hall or another palace.
Let alone being head of the Four Consorts…
Although the Four Consorts—Hui, Yi, De, and Rong—didn’t come from particularly high backgrounds, even the lowest-ranked Uya-shi, her grandfather, had once served the Founding Emperor.
Consort Hui’s Father was a Ministry of War Langzhong and had familial ties to the Nalan Clan, a solid foundation.
Consort Yi’s Father, Sanguanbao, not only saved the previous Emperor but was also a Palace Guard stationed in Shengjing, a long-serving minister of the Great Qing.
Consort Rong’s background was lower, but the Majia Clan had fought alongside the Founding Emperor.
Though the main line had declined, there were still many branches, and her Father was a Fifth Rank Official of the Zhenghuang Banner.
But Fang He?
Those in the know tacitly acknowledged her humble status as a bondservant under the Zhengbai Banner.
As for the rest, they only heard about the Zashuhu Li clan—aside from the Zhenglan Banner Commander exiled for crimes, there was nothing noteworthy.
In terms of status, Consort Zhao Pin couldn’t compare.
Even in terms of children, the others had more, and had served the Emperor longer.
Why her?
But, dissatisfaction aside, after the Emperor’s furious outburst in the Imperial Study, and the Imperial Edict stating “for saving His Majesty and her filial piety,” no one dared openly object.
Didn’t you see?
Even the Yushi were stripped of their Daihua Ling and expelled from Jingcheng!
The Great Qing is governed by filial piety—who would dare, at such a time, to say one shouldn’t be filial?
That would be courting death.
So, in the following days, the palace was exceptionally calm.
The Emperor canceled daily palace banquets, leaving only the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day.
The consorts were freed from the daily banquets and secretly breathed sighs of relief.
No one dared visit each other; everyone just pondered in their hearts how Uya-shi ended up with over a dozen charges.
The Grand Empress Dowager hadn’t recovered yet, and the Emperor forbade anyone from disturbing her.
Most of the charges, the consorts could more or less guess, except for one—”spreading discord”—which never quite made sense.
Even Fang He sat cross-legged on a soft couch with Cui Wei, cracking open the pumpkin seeds roasted by Xinnan, racking her brains over gossip.
“Could it be that the little palace maid tried to assassinate the Old Ancestor?”
Fang He propped her chin, spat out a seed shell, then smacked her lips and shook her head.
“No, the Old Ancestor wouldn’t get so worked up over such a reckless act. And Nanny Liu isn’t one to just stand by and watch.”
“You think… could it be some secret involving the previous Emperor?”
Fang He covered her mouth, her voice mysterious as she whispered to Cui Wei.
Cui Wei, cracking walnuts for Fang He, wished she could smack her Master’s mouth with the hammer.
“Oh, my Master! You dare say anything!”
“If you want to know, just let His Majesty in and ask a few good-natured questions. Why keep guessing in circles?”
Even Chunlai joined in to persuade her, “You’ve already shut the Emperor out three times. It’s been quiet in the palace these days, but if you keep this up and someone finds out, it won’t end well.”
Cui Wei clapped her hands and nodded hard.
“Exactly! You’re a Consort now, Master, right at the center of attention! Don’t make waves—please give us a way to survive!”
Wei Zhu chimed in, “The Emperor has already dealt with Uya-shi, so what are you still angry about, Sister? Tell me, and I’ll mention it to Li Dequan.”
“He knocked yesterday, and when he caught Liu An, he called him ‘Brother’ and scared Liu An so much he dropped to his knees.”
Everyone in Yanxi Palace was of the same mind—advising Fang He to let things go while the going was good.
No matter what, even if you want to reach for the sky, you have to do it in front of the Emperor.
With Yanxi Palace’s current situation, keeping him out is unwise.
But Fang He remained unhurried, her little mouth popping out seed shells as she pouted and said:
“The Emperor told me to come to the main hall, didn’t he? That means I can close the doors. If I’m not worried, why are you?”
Xinke asked curiously, “Then how long do you plan to keep the palace doors closed, Master?”
Liu An and Chen Shun, who were in charge of meals, perked up their ears.
They had no choice; these days, the meal room was so enthusiastic it made them nervous.
This kind of prosperity felt unstable, as if a single misstep would bring disaster.
Seeing Cui Wei about to bang her head on the short table, Fang He relented and asked Fule, “How is it? Is my pulse stable?”
She wasn’t unwilling to see Kangxi.
If he was willing to take a step down, she wasn’t crazy enough to push away an olive branch.
She’d give birth in a few months anyway, and reconciliation was inevitable.
The situation was better than she’d hoped, so there was no need to swallow her grievances.
She was a Consort now—shouldn’t she put on a bit of a show?
Everyone turned their burning gazes to Fule, making her shrink back uncomfortably.
She drew her neck in and whispered, “It’s stable. A couple more rounds of medicinal meals will be even better.
Adding today, tomorrow should be about right.”
Fang He slapped the table.
“Good! Then tomorrow, there’s no need to keep Yanxi Palace’s doors closed. It’s the fifth day of the Lunar month, the day of welcoming the God of Wealth! Light every palace lantern for me!”
***
By dusk the next day, Qi Sanfu practically sprinted back to the Emperor’s side and his lungs were about to burst.
“Yan… Yanxi Palace, the lanterns are lit…”
Before he finished, Li Dequan dashed into the hall.
His face bloomed like a chrysanthemum as he smiled and reported to Kangxi, who was looking over the Globe with a magnifying glass.
“Your Majesty, Yanxi Palace has lit its lanterns!”
Kangxi didn’t look up, still studying the location of the Great Wall, and the borders of Beimeng and Luosha.
He still found Nan Huairen’s Globe too crude.
He soon stood up, cleaned his hands, and walked out, casually instructing Liang Jiugong, “Take Nan Huairen’s new map to the Zaoban Office. Tell them to use a copper ring for the equator and make several more globes for me.”
Liang Jiugong bowed with a smile.
When he looked up, his Master had already gone far ahead.
‘Tsk tsk, wasn’t he supposed to be unhurried?’
On the first day, after being turned away at Yanxi Palace, the Emperor had calmly told them not to remind him, lest he lose face for Qianqing Palace.
But now he was dashing off faster than a rabbit—so much for saving face!
Holding back laughter, Liang Jiugong relayed the orders to Qi Sanfu, had Li Dequan wait at Qianqing Palace, and followed the Emperor into Yanxi Palace.
Fang He, holding her belly, stood in the courtyard.
When she saw Kangxi, she didn’t pretend to be weighed down by pregnancy, but deftly knelt in greeting.
“Your concubine greets Your Majesty.”
She moved so quickly that Kangxi didn’t have time to help her up.
‘This troublemaker still seemed angry…’
Kangxi paused, then gently lifted Fang He’s arm to help her stand.
“It’s freezing. No need to wait outside in the future. With no outsiders present, there’s no need for so many formalities.”
Fang He nodded compliantly, her voice carrying a hint of laughter.
“I understand, but I remember Your Majesty’s rules, and I am grateful for your boundless favor. I dare not be presumptuous. In the future, I’ll just wait for you at the door.”
Once inside, Kangxi held her hand, checked that it wasn’t cold, waved everyone out, and sat down with her, smiling as he looked Fang He over.
Her delicate, lotus-like face was even more radiant now.
She should be twenty-seven after the New Year, but while others aged, she seemed to grow younger, her cheeks plump, her eyes bright and full of watery light, making her look almost like a child.
She looked even younger than when she first came to Qianqing Palace.
Kangxi gently pinched Fang He’s cheek and grinned, “Pregnancy has given you an ethereal glow—your skin is as smooth as jade, radiant enough to outshine the stars. Anyone who didn’t know you might mistake you for a fox spirit who’s wandered into the palace.”
Fang He: “….”
She politely suppressed the urge to rub her arm.
This compliment… how to put it, it wasn’t crude, but coming from Kangxi’s mouth, it was just too abrupt and made her uncomfortable.
Had he taken the wrong medicine?
She tried her best to give a gentle, agreeable smile and softly returned the compliment.
“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s kindness and tolerance, not holding my faults against me, and ensuring I’m well cared for. I am deeply grateful.”
Kangxi: “….”
Suddenly, both fell silent.
Perhaps after months without real conversation, the intimacy and ease they once shared felt separated by a veil.
Kangxi imitated Cao Yin’s flowery tone, and Fang He was more courteous and yielding than any other consort, but this surface-level harmony felt stifling.
“Are you… still angry with me?” Kangxi sighed and pulled Fang He to lean against him.
“It was my fault. That night in Yanxi Palace, I shouldn’t have said those things. I was just worried the storms outside would hurt you and lost my head for a moment.”
When Fang He didn’t reply, Kangxi lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, his voice growing softer.
“I’ve told you, just be yourself. You don’t have to be like anyone else. I won’t blame you for it…”
“Really?” Fang He suddenly interrupted in a whisper, as if in a dream, looking up quietly at Kangxi.
“Can I really be myself?”
Kangxi smiled and nodded, “Of course—”
This time, Fang He didn’t reply, and his words abruptly stopped.
Because Fang He pressed her lips together, one hand wiping her forehead with a handkerchief, the other pushing him away.
“Guoguo…” Kangxi hurriedly held Fang He tighter.
Stubbornness deepened in her eyes, and tears welled up, threatening to spill.
“Don’t call me Guoguo! Let go of me!”
Even though her voice wasn’t loud, the tears in her eyes fell directly onto Kangxi’s dragon robe.
“Aren’t you disgusted by me? Then don’t touch me! All you ever do is talk!”
Kangxi instinctively wanted to let go, but remembered Cao Yin’s advice.
He’d said that when a woman is angry, she tends to say the opposite of what she means.
If you let go now, it’ll be even harder to reach out later.
Forcing down his discomfort, Kangxi didn’t let go, afraid she’d fall if she struggled.
But he wasn’t Cao Yin; Kangxi’s face remained calm.
He didn’t understand—aside from dealing with Uya-shi, what more did she want?
Letting her leave the palace was impossible.
Even if she resented him, she’d remain by his side forever.
“Guo… Fang He, what do you want from me? Tell me, even if it’s just because you saved the Empress Dowager, I’ll do whatever I can for you.”
“Or…” Kangxi gripped her shoulders, “do you hate me so much you never want to see me again?”
“Fang He, that’s not like you.”
“Shouldn’t I be angry?” Fang He looked up at him, tears brimming with anger.
“I never owed you anything. When you first trusted and favored me, I risked my life for you in Beimeng.”
“If I hadn’t run, I could’ve become a captive of the Dzungars, and after three months in a coma, you still cared more about my supposed crime of deceiving the Emperor than my safety!”
Kangxi’s heart clenched.
He was even more confused.
“When did I ever blame you for that?”
“If you didn’t, why did you threaten me with the lives of everyone at Tianya Inn to force me into the palace?”
Fang He’s tears fell even faster, her voice muffled as she sobbed.
“You always say you treat me well, but isn’t bringing me into the palace your duty?”
“Even if I slapped you, didn’t I repay you with trust?”
“Exposing the bondservants’ rebellion was a merit, but instead of rewarding me, you made me hide it, watch myself blunder like a fool while you cleaned up my mess. In the end, I’m the one who owes you? Am I just childish?”
“I get bullied by your consorts—if they can act on the first day, why can’t I retaliate on the fifteenth?”
“By any measure, you’re the one who owes me, yet you’re disappointed in me. So, should I not have saved you, or not have trusted you?”
She pushed at Kangxi with all her strength, her anger mounting.
“Should I have stood by and watched the bondservants gain influence? Should I mimic you and the rest of the palace—claiming to care, but never showing envy, never permitted to make a mistake? Is that the only way to earn your approval, the only way to enjoy a few moments of peace?”
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