Kangxi truly was at Yanxi Palace.
These days, just to spend more time interacting with the baby in Fang He’s belly, he even insisted on doing that so-called “prenatal education” for the child in Fang He’s stead.
As long as he wasn’t summoning ministers, Kangxi would handle memorials in the side hall of Yanxi Palace.
He bathed before lunch, dined together with Fang He, then read a bit of the Zizhi Tongjian to her.
As for whether he read anything else, Fang He wasn’t quite sure—after all, there were plenty of books stacked behind the bed screen.
She always got drowsy after a few sentences, but her afternoon naps were especially restful.
Fortunately, Kangxi never minded.
If the increasingly pregnant troublemaker could obediently sleep, it wouldn’t interfere with his lessons to the child, and he could also review the essence of his own studies.
He actually found great enjoyment in it.
When Su’moer arrived, Fang He had just woken up, still sprawled dazedly on the soft couch.
Before she could react, Kangxi instinctively stood up.
“If the Imperial Matron has something to instruct, why not let me go over and have a look? This little rascal can’t speak—if she angers the Imperial Matron into falling ill, that would be most improper.”
Fang He: “…”
‘Who’s he talking about? Is there anyone with a fouler mouth than this dog in front of me??’
She patted her cheeks, gathered her wits, oh, so he meant her.
Fang He reached for her belly, trying to rise, but Kangxi pressed her shoulder down.
“Be honest! With one wrong move, you’ll fly off to the heavens. If you end up hurting the little prince in your belly, just see how I deal with you!”
Fang He: “……………… Your Majesty’s lesson is well taken.”
She resolved to have Cui Wei request an ironwood washboard from the Workshops later!
Su’moer smiled as she watched the Emperor talking to himself like this, with Fang He too groggy to get a word in—her eyes only grew more amused.
She’d cared for children since young, always adept at weighing pros and cons, never sparing her own health.
Yet now, she actually knew how to feel for others.
She laughed, “My lady said, she just wants to chat with Consort Zhao, she won’t make things difficult for Your Ladyship. Your Majesty needn’t worry.”
Kangxi wanted to ask if it was related to his recent frequent visits to Yanxi Palace, but after a pause, he only smiled and nodded.
“The Imperial Matron has always been kind and gentle. I’m not worried, it’s just that this troublemaker is unreliable. I’ll go along as well, and talk to the Imperial Matron about the little princes’ studies.”
Su’moer squatted with a smile.
“My lady instructed, please let Your Ladyship go alone.”
“Su’moer…” Kangxi frowned slightly.
“My lady is weak these days, and dislikes having her wishes defied. I ask Your Majesty to be more accommodating.” Su’moer gently interrupted Kangxi.
“However I escort her there, I will be sure to bring her back safely.”
Kangxi was still uneasy.
No one understood the Imperial Matron’s stubbornness and decisiveness better than he did, and Fang He was hardly one to swallow grievances.
He couldn’t help but feel unsettled.
But Fang He, after a few sips of warm water, was now fully awake.
Leaning on Chunlai’s hand to stand, she stopped Kangxi from making things difficult.
“Isn’t Your Majesty going back to Qianqing Palace to summon ministers? I trust our ancestor—let Chunlai come with me, that’s enough.”
When Kangxi looked at her, Fang He patted her belly and smiled at him, her gaze calm but resolute.
“You know I’m not that fragile.”
Ever since their first quarrel in Yanxi Palace, Kangxi gradually understood that Fang He did not want to be treated like a delicate flower in a greenhouse.
She had her own resilience for weathering storms.
He swallowed his worries, smiled at Su’moer.
“Since I have to return to Qianqing Palace anyway, let’s go together. The Imperial Palanquin is steadier after all.”
Fang He didn’t need him to fuss over every little thing.
Kangxi had always been quick to learn and could draw inferences from one thing to another.
Thus, Kangxi wouldn’t be bound by convention.
If Fang He wanted to fly, so be it—he would simply clear obstacles for her from behind.
Su’moer understood well.
The Emperor wanted his lady to know he valued Consort Zhao and her child.
She said no more; the men of Aisin Gioro Clan were always like this—one more or less made no difference.
***
The Imperial Palanquin halted outside the gates of Cining Palace.
Yu Quangui had already spotted them and hurried out with his attendants to welcome them.
Seeing only Fang He, supported by Chunlai, alighting, Yu Quangui was a bit surprised and instinctively glanced at Su’moer.
Su’moer stepped forward to help Fang He, smiling, “Let me escort you inside, Your Ladyship. Have your maids wait outside, it won’t take long.”
Fang He hesitated, feeling something was off about this display.
But she didn’t have any bad premonitions.
Even if the old lady disliked her, she wouldn’t harm Kangxi’s child, not to mention Fang He had once saved Xiaozhuang.
Fang He didn’t want conflict with Xiaozhuang, so she said to the worried Chunlai, “Let’s listen to the ancestor. You wait here for me.”
Chunlai was anxious, but dared not disobey, only watching helplessly as her mistress entered Cining Palace.
As soon as Fang He stepped through the gate, Yu Quangui immediately led his people to close the palace doors.
Chunlai’s face changed dramatically.
Regardless of her mistress’s orders, she turned and rushed straight to Qianqing Palace.
‘This doesn’t look like a simple chat at all!’
Fang He heard the “BANG” of the closing doors, and wanted to look back, but after passing the screen wall and entering the courtyard, she saw Nanny Liu standing outside the hall.
Nanny Liu held a black tray in her hands; its contents were plain to see—White Silk, a Dagger, a pot of wine.
The classic suicide trio, and they all looked rather high-end.
Fang He stopped in her tracks at once, her face stinging a little.
She’d just trusted her own instincts, and now this?
She’s a country bumpkin, not one to enjoy such classy stuff!
‘And what’s with this grandmother and grandson? Why do they both love scaring people the same way?’
“Your Ladyship?” Su’moer gently reminded her.
Fang He looked at Su’moer with a complicated expression.
“Nanny Su, maybe let Chunlai come in after all? This setup has made my legs go weak, I can’t walk any further!”
Yu Quangui’s footsteps approached, neither heavy nor light. He spoke softly, “Forgive my boldness, but let me serve you, Your Ladyship.”
Fang He was helpless.
Well, running with a belly was pointless anyway.
‘Forget it, may as well let things play out,’ she thought, letting the two of them help her slowly into the hall.
Inside, only Xiaozhuang was present.
Fang He made a proper bow, then looked at Xiaozhuang with pitiful eyes.
“Ancestor, my legs are a bit weak. May I sit and talk with you?”
“Come sit beside me, the soft couch isn’t so hard.” Xiaozhuang beckoned her with a smile.
“What’s this, you’re afraid now?”
“Not at all.” Fang He shuffled over and sat down in front of Xiaozhuang, then spoke honestly, looking up with a clever smile.
“I know the ancestor wouldn’t harm me, nor make the Empress Dowager or the Emperor grieve. Even if those things are for me, I doubt they’re for use now. I’m just heavy with child and tired, that’s all.”
Xiaozhuang was amused, tapping Fang He’s forehead.
“You! Already a consort, yet you still dare say anything.”
“I hear you’re monopolizing the Emperor. If you serve him in your condition, you disregard the heir’s safety. If you don’t serve him, you’re seducing him and disturbing the harem’s balance. Shouldn’t I punish you?”
“All these years, I’ve regretted not giving Dong E a cup of poison when she first entered the palace.”
Xiaozhuang’s smile faded, her face turning solemn.
“Even if the Empress Dowager and the Emperor resent me, I’m almost in my coffin anyway—out of sight, out of mind. As long as I can rid the court of a seductress, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
Fang He, having listened seriously, suddenly burst out laughing.
Xiaozhuang’s cloudy eyes grew cold as she looked at Fang He.
“Do you think I wouldn’t dare?”
Fang He quickly stifled her laughter and argued softly, “You’ve lived through three reigns, and at critical moments, you stabilized the court time and again. Without you, the Great Qing wouldn’t be this prosperous. There’s nothing you wouldn’t dare.”
Xiaozhuang gave a cold snort.
If nothing else, this girl was good at flattery.
“Then why are you laughing?”
“I laugh because the ancestor, clearly a heroic woman, insists on acting like a fragile lady of the inner chambers. It’s hard to take seriously.” Fang He grinned.
“I don’t believe you regret not poisoning Honored Consort Dong’e. If you did, the Dong E clan wouldn’t still be favored by the court, nor would she have given birth to Prince Rong.”
“And if I were truly a seductress, you could have stopped me from entering the palace the second time!”
The more Fang He spoke, the more confident her smile became.
“And after all the fuss between me and the Emperor, if you cared, you wouldn’t have waited until after I saved you to act.”
She’d always thought, with Xiaozhuang’s stature—equal to Wu Zetian among great female politicians—she’d never concern herself with whether the Emperor was faithful, or who shared his bed.
Fang He came simply to know what Xiaozhuang was truly worried about.
Xiaozhuang shook her head with a smile.
“I’m old. Can’t even fool a child anymore.”
She spoke lightly, “I don’t mind if the Emperor loves you. In this vast Forbidden City, countless women come and go—there’s always someone in favor. If not you, it’d be someone else. I don’t have the energy to care.”
“But the things Nanny Liu holds are indeed for you.”
Fang He nodded in understanding.
Even Kangxi had handed her poisoned wine; it was only natural for his grandmother, the old ginger, to prepare more.
“I don’t understand what I did wrong.”
Xiaozhuang’s tone softened as she changed the subject.
“Beimeng is in turmoil. From what I know of Jungar, in at most two years, there’ll be war. When that happens, both inside and outside the capital, waves will arise.”
“And the Great Qing’s debts in Jiangnan after entering the pass have left the Southland unstable. The Emperor’s two tours barely brought surface peace.”
“After lifting the Hai Jin, those foreign enemies eyeing us will have to be dealt with sooner or later. The Emperor has it hard.”
Fang He didn’t know much about politics, but she vaguely understood what Xiaozhuang was getting at, which made her want to laugh again.
“You mean, for lasting peace, the court must be stable, and the harem is the foundation of that stability. There can be favorites, but not one who is too favored?”
Xiaozhuang’s gaze grew even gentler.
“I knew you were a clever girl. I shouldn’t be telling you this now.”
A fleeting favor was nothing in Xiaozhuang’s eyes.
Between men and women, love always fades; even the deepest passions are worn away by time—unless they end at the peak, nothing lasts forever.
Looking at Fang He’s belly with affection, Xiaozhuang sighed, “But I might not live to say this at the right time…”
“Peh, peh, peh! Ancestor, you must live a long life!” Fang He quickly covered her belly and spat a few times for good luck.
“They say, when carrying a girl, the mother gets more beautiful. Look at me now—so beautiful I must be carrying a princess. Still waiting for you to name her!”
Xiaozhuang was amused by Fang He’s shamelessness, laughing heartily.
This girl always knew how to lighten the mood, even melting the heart of someone hardened by a lifetime of tough decisions.
After laughing, Xiaozhuang sighed and looked at Fang He seriously.
“Then I’ll be frank. If you can swear to me that you will never use your favor to unbalance the harem or seize what doesn’t belong to you or your child, I can guarantee prosperity for at least three generations—unmatched glory.”
“But if you use the debt of saving my life to disrupt the harem, sow discord between the imperial father and son, and destabilize the court, I’ll leave an edict gifting you those things outside the door.”
At that moment, Xiaozhuang’s aura—tempered by three reigns—was on full display.
“You’re a smart child. Think carefully about your choice.”
Fang He kept smiling, and when Xiaozhuang finished, she answered crisply, “I can’t swear, nor will I.”
‘Wouldn’t that be cutting off my own child’s future at the root?’
‘That’s a losing deal—I’d never accept it!’
Xiaozhuang seemed surprised, her face growing colder.
But Fang He was unfazed, calmly meeting Xiaozhuang’s increasingly stern gaze.
“You’re worried about the Emperor and the Crown Prince, afraid I’ll be like other consorts, desperate to pull down the Crown Prince so my own child can take the throne?”
With no outsiders in the hall, Fang He spoke her mind.
Since she knew Xiaozhuang’s concern, she might as well be even more direct.
“If you think I alone could destroy the Great Qing, you overestimate me and underestimate the Emperor. He was raised by you—you know his wisdom in governance.”
“And I don’t agree that the court’s stability rests on the harem. If the dynasty ever falls, it’ll be from national weakness and corruption, not because of women. Placing hopes for the future on the harem is still underestimating the Emperor.”
“Even if, one day, something happens to the Emperor or Crown Prince, with the Emperor’s temperament, it would only be the result of the times, never because of a woman. Again, you’re underestimating him.”
“So I can’t swear. In my view, the Emperor may not be a good husband or father, but he has always been a good Emperor.”
‘Praise Kangxi to the skies—that’s the only way to downplay her own role. Besides, that scoundrel can’t hear it anyway.’
Xiaozhuang neither agreed nor disagreed, her gaze dropping.
“You’re right, I raised that child, and I know how indecisive he can be at times. Otherwise, the palace wouldn’t be in such chaos over a single Uya-shi.”
Fang He fell silent for a moment, suddenly feeling a bit sorry for Kangxi.
Xiaozhuang was a great politician, but not much of a grandmother.
“Have you ever trusted the Emperor?” she asked softly.
“Have you ever believed that, no matter what happens, he can protect this empire with his own abilities?”
“Maybe the Emperor has flaws—he’s suspicious, overthinks, and has the faults you mentioned—but have you ever tried trusting him as a grandmother?”
Xiaozhuang frowned and asked, “What are you trying to say?”
Fang He rose, pulling the cushion from the soft couch and slowly kneeling.
“If the Emperor were truly indecisive, distracted by love or anything else, he wouldn’t, after knowing the Xiaokang Empress’s death was tied to you, still respect and honor you—”
“You’re overstepping!” Xiaozhuang slapped the low table with a cold face.
“Are you accusing me of being unkind?”
Fang He looked up calmly and said, “I wouldn’t dare. I just want to say, the Emperor endured smallpox alone outside the palace, lost his parents, and as a child, shouldered the entire Great Qing. He deserves your trust.”
“All these years, your expectations for him have outweighed your care, yet he still became a ruler praised by all, a model father admired by all the princes, and a filial son.”
“But his strength doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel pain. If he knew your distrust ran so deep you’d threaten me and the unborn child with an edict, have you considered how much that would hurt him?”
‘Wow, all those books weren’t for nothing—I can actually spout this stuff!’
While Fang He secretly praised herself, her not-so-sharp questioning made Xiaozhuang’s hand tremble, and the hall fell into sudden silence.
After a long while, Xiaozhuang spoke hoarsely, “Su’moer, help her up.”
Su’moer, who had quietly stood behind the curtains, came over to help Fang He up, wearing a faint smile.
“I told you, Consort Zhao wouldn’t let you lead her by the nose. My lady, if you don’t trust the Emperor, and not even me, I’ll be heartbroken too.”