Fang He was still catching her breath and quickly whispered, “Who exactly is behind all this rumor-mongering?”
Kangxi sat up with a smile, helping her to her seat and slowly getting up.
“I can’t let you bottle up your anger—let’s have a proper argument.”
Fang He: “Huh?”
Wasn’t the argument over already?
Her lips were already swollen from it!
Kangxi looked down at her with a smile and said, “I can’t tell you everything myself. The things Grand Empress Dowager gave you weren’t meant for you to be a crab. The Golden Book and Treasure Seal for managing the harem will end up in your hands sooner or later. I’m waiting for you to tell me.”
Fang He: “Huh??”
When did she ever say she wanted to manage the harem?
Wait, wasn’t this just like getting work without the title or pay in the modern workplace?!
Kangxi just smiled, quietly watching Fang He as he wiped away the lipstick from his lips, straightened his dragon robe, and strode out the door.
Fang He: “….”
Cui Wei soon came in, pale-faced.
“Master, did you really argue with My Lord?”
“We… argued, I guess?” Fang He wasn’t too sure herself, but she wasn’t angry anymore.
Once she came back to herself, she felt a sudden urge to laugh.
But when she looked up and saw Cui Wei’s worried face, she was puzzled.
“What’s wrong?”
Cui Wei sat down on the footstool.
“When My Lord left just now, he was still fuming. It scared me so much that my legs are still weak. Why did you argue with him?”
Fang He: “……”
Wasn’t he just showing off his manly charm in front of her before leaving?
The thought that he could turn on the acting so quickly made Fang He laugh so hard she collapsed onto the low table.
Cui Wei almost wanted to spit and say she quit.
What was with these two ancestors?
Fang He wiped away her tears of laughter and, seeing Cui Wei’s sour expression, quickly pulled her over to explain.
“The Emperor was just putting on a show for others. He probably wants to draw out the people behind the reincarnation rumor. I wanted to argue with him today for the same reason.”
Fang He really didn’t want to use her brain, but thinking of someone wanting to harm Jiujiu, she was afraid even one brain wouldn’t be enough.
“You help me analyze it—what’s really going on?”
Cui Wei, after hearing the Master and Emperor’s conversation, was indeed a bit quicker on the uptake than Fang He.
“They’re raising you and the little princess so high, making the officials request you be made Empress. Even if My Lord doesn’t get suspicious of you, none of the consorts would just sit and watch.”
“This is just putting the Master on the fire to roast.”
Fang He still couldn’t figure it out.
“The Empress Dowager and the Emperor both protect me. Even if the harem dislikes me, unless they can strike a fatal blow, they’ll just have to bear with it. What’s the point?”
Cui Wei disagreed, her expression growing more serious.
“But what if the consorts don’t act, and instead sow discord between you and the Crown Prince?”
“Even worse, if the Emperor refuses to make you Empress, it damages your reputation and makes people question his favor for you. And if the rumors are believed, for the sake of the old ancestor’s face, the little princess might not be able to stay by your side…”
Fang He’s expression instantly turned cold.
The first part didn’t worry her—Kangxi’s gaze was so hot it seemed he wanted to devour her whole.
But if someone tried to take Jiujiu away, that was her life they were after!
Fang He’s mind raced.
“Still not right. Jiujiu is a princess—she doesn’t affect the heir’s position. Unless she’s sent to the Empress Dowager, who else has the right to raise her?”
The Empress Dowager wouldn’t make things difficult for her, so it was as good as not sending her at all.
The logic didn’t add up.
Cui Wei tugged her hair, unable to figure out anything beyond the harem.
She had no clue about court affairs, so she really couldn’t see what other tricks there might be.
Fang He decided that if she couldn’t figure it out, she’d just simplify things.
“There are only two possibilities with this rumor: one is to push me up, the other is to raise me up just to bring me down.”
“Let’s ignore court politics for now. If they push me up, whose interests are harmed? If I fall, who benefits?”
“There are too many hoping for your downfall—it’s hard to say.”
Cui Wei stood up and paced, thinking hard.
“But if the rumors are believed, with the old ancestor’s reincarnation status, she can’t be a concubine’s child. Even if not Empress, she’d have to be…”
“Imperial Noble Consort!” Fang He immediately picked up, “They’re forcing me to compete with the Imperial Noble Consort.”
The Emperor doesn’t want to make her Empress, and the Imperial Noble Consort’s daughter is also a half-legitimate heir.
If someone stirs up talk in court about Tongjia Clan stepping aside, or forces her to give her child to Tongjia, she and the Imperial Noble Consort would be irreconcilable.
This way, either she or the Imperial Noble Consort would fall.
What the other side wants… is the highest position in the harem, or control over the palace!
Fang He immediately ordered, “Have someone keep an eye on Chengqian Palace and Yongshou Palace, especially Yongshou Palace. The most likely suspect is the Noble Consort. If anything happens to the Tong Family, I’ll be the one blamed for pushing the Imperial Noble Consort to her death.”
She continued, “The Emperor, for the sake of her maternal family, will have to give the Tong Family an explanation and can’t continue to favor me. Without the Imperial Noble Consort to keep her in check, the entire harem would be under the control of the Niuhulu Clan.”
Cui Wei quickly caught on and went out to carry out her orders.
Kangxi stayed at Huangxinzhuang for over ten days before returning to the palace, with many memorials piling up.
He sent a fresh-faced eunuch with Li Dequan’s waist token to deliver a message, saying he wouldn’t be coming over for a few days until he finished reviewing the memorials.
The little eunuch also said, “My Lord also instructed that Your Ladyship should study diligently. My Lord will check later. If you have any questions, you can always ask him.”
Fang He: “What kind of sincerity does that scoundrel want this time?”
The hateful thing was, whether at Chengqian Palace or Yongshou Palace, there was no movement lately—how was she supposed to hand in her report?
She sat by Jiujiu’s cradle, fretting.
Looking at the sweetly sleeping little one, Fang He gritted her teeth and reached out.
For the sake of this soft, fragrant dumpling… should she offer up her five-fingered maiden as a token of sincerity?
Kangxi didn’t have time to visit for now, only issuing a decree to move to Changchun Garden for summer retreat in late May.
By then, Fang He would be almost done with her confinement.
The weather would be hot, and Jiujiu wouldn’t catch cold easily, as long as they were careful.
Fang He hadn’t finished her confinement yet, so the court and harem wouldn’t be suspicious during this sensitive time.
Cui Wei teased Fang He, “My Lord is becoming more considerate. The lights in Qianqing Palace have been burning late these days. Should we send some cooling soup to the Emperor?”
Fang He agreed, feeling Kangxi was indeed behaving better than before.
“Then send a bowl of mung bean and lily soup.”
That day, when Kangxi had come over, she’d been threatened by sharp objects for so long that he must have been furious.
A little soup to cool him off couldn’t hurt.
But just as Cui Wei went out, she quickly returned.
“Master, Consort Yi has come, asking if you’re available.”
Since Fang He had given birth, the confinement at Yanxi Palace was lifted.
Though no one had come to visit Yanxi Palace yet, it was only because of mourning and copying sutras for the old ancestor.
Consort Yi was the first to visit Yanxi Palace.
Fang He more or less guessed her reason.
“Invite Consort Yi in.”
Consort Yi came bearing lavish gifts, smiling as she entered.
“The Ninth Princess’s full moon wasn’t celebrated, and it wasn’t proper to visit before. I’ve wronged you and the Ninth Princess. This is my apology gift—Imperial Consort Zhao, you mustn’t refuse.”
Fang He rose with a smile.
“Not at all. In Yanxi Palace, there’s no such thing as returning gifts— the more, the better.”
Consort Yi smiled, sitting opposite Fang He.
“It looks like the wind is about to pick up outside, and you’re still able to sit so calmly.”
“What else can I do? When you have too many lice, you stop itching. I’ll just deal with whatever comes.” Fang He spread her hands helplessly.
Consort Yi chuckled, not in a hurry to continue.
She looked a bit tired, though most of it was covered by powder.
After hesitating, she couldn’t help but ask, “I see you’ve recovered well. May I borrow that maid of yours who’s good at health care?”
Fang He nodded readily.
“I’d already mentioned this to My Lord, but I don’t know if he explained it clearly to you.”
“I understand. Yin was born with a weak constitution. The imperial physicians have all tried, but nothing works. These days he can’t even get up…”
Consort Yi choked up, then forced a smile.
“If she can help Yin Xuan even a little, I’ll be forever grateful. Even if nothing comes of it, I’ll never blame you, Imperial Consort Zhao. It’s my fault as a mother for not being careful enough.”
Fang He had already asked Fule, and indeed, Su Clan’s health recipes included remedies for congenital weakness.
Once Consort Yi spoke plainly, Fang He revealed a little.
“I can’t guarantee Fule can fully cure the Eleventh Prince, but I was once so anemic it affected my lifespan, and now I’m much better. Helping the Eleventh Prince feel a bit more comfortable should be possible.”
Consort Yi stood up in excitement.
“Thank you, Imperial Consort Zhao! I’ll never forget this kindness. No matter what storms come in the harem, as long as you don’t move against Yikun Palace, I’ll never make things difficult for you.”
But Fang He wanted more than just that promise.
She’d thought it through—even if she had to work for cabbage wages, for Jiujiu’s sake, she had to hold palace power to feel at ease.
She couldn’t be a lone wolf—no big corporation ran on a single general.
She needed partners.
Consort Yi, in every respect, was the perfect choice.
Fang He pulled Consort Yi to sit down.
“Let me explain. For a child to grow up safely, not only must their health be good, but their environment must be stable and secure.”
“You and I are both mothers now. I won’t speak in empty terms. I can guarantee Fule will continue to tend to the Eleventh Prince’s health. In the future, if there’s a chance to go south, I can even ask the Liang family, who once cared for me, to help him.”
Consort Yi was quick on the uptake.
“And the condition?”
Fang He: “The condition is simple. Consort Yi, join forces with me. Promise that no matter what happens, you’ll stand by my side and ensure Jiujiu and the Eleventh Prince can grow up safely in the palace.”
“You can think it over. If you agree, Fule will visit Yikun Palace daily. If not, I’ll still give you the health recipe—but only the one from Elder Sister of Liang.”
Fang He had no right to give away the Su Clan’s secret recipe, nor would she force Fule to do so.
Consort Yi didn’t hesitate at all.
Since she’d come, she was ready to pledge allegiance and follow Fang He from now on.
“If I only say it, you won’t believe me,” Consort Yi said after a moment’s thought, calming herself.
“Did you know? Yesterday, the Tong Family submitted a memorial requesting the Emperor to allow the Imperial Noble Consort to step down and become Noble Consort, and for you to be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort?”
Fang He was stunned.
She hadn’t heard that.
How did Consort Yi know?
Consort Yi, sensing Fang He’s confusion, smiled.
“The Guoluo Clan may be in Shengjing, but they still have family in the court, so it’s not hard to get news.”
“The Imperial Noble Consort hasn’t left Chengqian Palace for days. That’s not like her. Ever since she entered the palace, she’s dreamed of being Empress. Now she’s agreed to the Tong Family’s request, bedridden, with her younger sister tending to her. Looks like… she might not make it.”
Fang He frowned deeply.
“If the Imperial Noble Consort is gone, wouldn’t it look like I forced her to death?”
“I think it’s quite the opposite,” Consort Yi said calmly, sipping her tea.
“If it were me, I’d have the Second Lady of Tongjia Clan spread the word that the Imperial Noble Consort fell ill because she stole the old ancestor’s blessing, and once again requested demotion.”
“Once she’s gone, the Tong Family will need someone in the palace. The Second Lady of Tongjia Clan is the best candidate. If you become Imperial Noble Consort, the Emperor, to compensate the Tong Family, will at least make the Second Lady of Tongjia Clan a Noble Consort.”
Fang He was almost stunned by the convoluted logic.
Was this the kind of brain a normal person could have?
“You mean the mastermind is the Tong Family, who want the Second Lady to enter the palace as Noble Consort?”
Consort Yi neither confirmed nor denied.
“The Emperor, in mourning for the Fourth Prince, has stopped the selection of new consorts. In three years, the Second Lady will be too old for selection. The only suitable candidate left in the main branch is a concubine’s daughter.”
Fang He still felt something was off.
“Would the Tong Family really raise me up just to get a Noble Consort position? Did I save their whole family in a past life?”
Seeing Fang He didn’t understand the twists and turns, Consort Yi explained further.
“The Emperor, for the sake of the Fourth Prince, will have a Tong family girl enter the palace. But since the Fourth Prince’s Genealogy Record has been changed, and the princes are growing up, for court stability, the Tong girl’s position won’t be high. The Tong Family knows the Emperor favors you, so this is their safest plan.”
“If the Second Lady of Tongjia Clan enters the palace… I’ve observed her. She’s no pushover. She’s nursed the Imperial Noble Consort twice and never caused a stir, and yet has a reputation for kindness both inside and outside the palace.”
Consort Yi didn’t spell it out, but Fang He quickly caught on and completed the logic.
“So, if I’m pushed up, I won’t refuse, and the Emperor will be satisfied. Compensating the Tong Family with a Noble Consort is nothing. If the Second Lady becomes Noble Consort, my position as Imperial Noble Consort might not be stable.”
No, it definitely won’t be.
The Tong Family’s moves so far had been spotless—their tactics even better than the Uya Clan.
Fang He met Consort Yi’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them.
If such a formidable troublemaker entered the palace, they’d never have a peaceful day again.
Consort Yi watched Fang He go from confusion to realization to calmness, and couldn’t help but admire her composure.
“Imperial Consort Zhao, do you have a plan?”
Fang He smiled and stood up.
“No rush. From now on, just call me Xin Guo. Let’s have Fule diagnose the Eleventh Prince first.”
Perhaps her brain didn’t have the same circuits as the natives, but she had three hundred years of wild solutions they’d never think of.
Now that the problem was identified, there was no hurry.
Let them finish their show—otherwise, even if she stopped them now, what if they wanted to put on another performance later?