Tongjia Wanying had already seen Fang He and Consort Yi sitting in the pavilion chatting.
The Changchun Garden was much larger than the Imperial Garden inside the palace, and it encircled the front lake in an arc, dotted along the lakeside.
This way, one could enjoy the view while boating.
Such a garden not only allowed one to see faraway places from the other side, but there were also many winding paths leading to secluded spots, allowing people to admire flowers without disturbing each other—unlike the Imperial Garden, where you’d run into others at every turn.
So Tongjia Wanying could have easily taken a detour to avoid dealing with the palace ladies.
But now that she had victory in her grasp, she was simply too happy.
Besides, she was especially curious about the much-favored Consort Zhao, so she didn’t avoid them.
When Fang He greeted her warmly, Tongjia Wanying calmly glanced over with the corner of her eye, secretly sizing her up.
Once she got a clear look at Fang He’s beauty—like a blooming lotus, pure yet not seductive—and the regal grace nurtured by imperial favor, Tongjia Wanying immediately felt a surge of envy in her heart.
Consort Yi, who stood not far away, was even more dazzling.
As Consort Yi walked over at a measured pace, it seemed as if the whole world grew brighter, making Tongjia Wanying’s resentment burn even deeper.
All these honors should have belonged to her elder sister, and then to her!
Yet it seemed that the Tong Family’s good looks were monopolized by her elder sister alone; she herself was merely considered delicate and pleasant.
Let alone Consort Yi—even in front of the relatively non-aggressive Fang He, the elegance she painstakingly crafted each day over the course of an hour paled in comparison.
But Tongjia Wanying had always been good at controlling her emotions since childhood.
She showed not a trace on her face, maintaining a respectful and well-behaved demeanor as she lowered herself in a proper salute.
“Your subject’s daughter pays respects to Imperial Consort Zhao, pays respects to Consort Yi.”
Consort Yi didn’t rush to speak, just raised an eyebrow and looked at Fang He.
Fang He beamed as she came forward, personally helping Tongjia Wanying to her feet and immediately offering flattery.
“I’ve long heard that the younger sister of the Imperial Noble Consort is brilliant and gentle, easy to like. Now that I’ve met you, it’s truly hard not to feel delighted. The Imperial Noble Consort’s little sister is our little sister as well. From now on, you must spend more time with us sisters.”
Tongjia Wanying blushed shyly, returning the compliment gently, “Consort Zhao, you jest. When it comes to brilliance, no one in the palace can surpass Consort Yi. You yourself are like a fairy descended to the mortal realm. I am but a withered willow—how could I possibly deserve your praise?”
Consort Yi: “…………”
This was the first time she realized that even Consort Zhao could speak so nicely.
Fang He was completely unaware of Consort Yi’s inward complaints, still holding Tongjia Wanying’s hand, her smile turning meaningful.
“In this palace, if I say my little sister is brilliant, then no one would dare say otherwise. If anyone’s not convinced, they can ask my palm about it.”
She turned to Consort Yi and smiled, “Sister Yi, don’t you agree?”
Consort Yi didn’t know what Fang He was up to, but that didn’t stop her from playing along with the act.
Since they were calling each other sisters now, Consort Zhao must have something up her sleeve.
She smiled and nodded, “Strictly speaking, I should be calling Consort Zhao ‘elder sister.'”
“If Elder Sister Zhao says so, then the Second Princess must be a true beauty, with looks that could sink fish and make birds fall from the sky. I doubt anyone in the palace would dare to argue.”
Tongjia Wanying instinctively wanted to pull her hand back, her annoyance growing.
‘So Consort Zhao was actually an arrogant fool?’
No wonder Consort Duan and the others looked down on this woman with no offspring, and even her elder sister had to avoid her sharpness.
Relying on imperial favor, Consort Zhao probably didn’t even remember her own surname.
But as her hand moved slightly, Tongjia Wanying immediately regained her composure, lowering her head with a shy expression, softly responding.
“Th-thank you for your excessive praise, Your Highness.”
Fang He’s smile grew even more flamboyant, “I’ve already said there’s no need to be so polite. On the day I walk alongside the Emperor, I will surely remember the affection of the Imperial Noble Consort and her younger sister.”
“The Emperor says the Tong Family are trustworthy kin. Both Consort Yi and I have our families far away in Shengjing, so we have nowhere to go in the capital. If you and the Tong Family don’t mind, Consort Yi and I will treat you like family.”
“Though I’m often busy, always serving at the Emperor’s side, when the time comes, I’ll invite you to attend before His Majesty as well. That way, it won’t hinder our closeness. What do you say, little sister?”
Consort Yi immediately understood Fang He’s intentions.
She was hinting to the Second Lady of the Tongjia Clan that if she successfully became Empress or was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, she would help her gain the Emperor’s favor.
For women wanting to enter the palace, imperial favor was everything.
If this Second Princess of the Tong Family wasn’t deep enough, she might not be able to resist being tempted.
Tongjia Wanying, under the gaze of the two, naturally understood.
She looked up at Fang He in surprise, opening her mouth as if so moved she didn’t know what to say.
“Well?” Fang He smiled with exceptional confidence, her air as if she were already Empress.
Tongjia Wanying’s eyes remained calm.
When Fang He’s smile was at its brightest, she suddenly reddened her eyes, jerked her hand free, stumbled a few steps back, and fell to her knees.
“Your Highness, I… I only entered the palace to tend to the Imperial Noble Consort’s illness. I dare not call myself your sister, lest I disturb the hierarchy!”
Her tears fell rapidly to the ground, and she pressed her forehead to the floor in embarrassment, choking up as she spoke.
“I have studied the ‘Precepts for Women’ and ‘Instructions for Women’ since childhood, never daring to break any rule. I do not understand Your Highness’s meaning and can only fail to live up to your kindness. Please forgive me!”
Because the garden was large, Changchun Garden wasn’t so hot, and there were many consorts, palace maids, and eunuchs strolling about.
With people coming and going, Tongjia Wanying didn’t lower her voice, so many overheard.
Soon, several shocked consorts started peeking over here.
Fang He’s face suddenly turned cold, her gaze sweeping around angrily.
“What are you looking at! Can’t I even say a few words to the Second Princess of the Tong Family?”
The figures behind the flowers and trees quickly vanished, further highlighting Fang He’s domineering air.
Consort Yi stepped forward at just the right time to mediate, “Consort Zhao, don’t take offense at the Second Princess. She doesn’t know what’s good for her, but we can’t stoop to her level.”
“It’s about time the Nine Princess woke up. Little Jiu was asking after her sister earlier. Why don’t we go check on the Nine Princess together?”
Fang He was barely pacified, giving Tongjia Wanying a cold look, “Since the Second Princess likes to kneel, then kneel here for an hour before going back!”
A subtle smile flashed in Tongjia Wanying’s eyes as she wiped her tears and choked out her reply.
“Your subject’s daughter will obey Consort Zhao’s command!”
When they returned to Yunya Guan, the chirping little one who was supposed to be awake was still sleeping soundly, so Consort Yi didn’t go to see her.
She wasn’t really here for the Nine Princess anyway.
“You deliberately provoked the Second Princess—what exactly are you planning?” Consort Yi was finding Fang He more and more intriguing.
“You provoked her at this moment—besides giving Suo’etu Faction ammunition against you for being unfit to be Empress, you’re also leaving the Tong Family a handle to impeach you later. There’s no benefit at all.”
Consort Yi prided herself on being no less skilled in palace intrigue than anyone else; otherwise, she wouldn’t have survived among wolves and safely borne three sons.
But Fang He never played by the rules, making it impossible to predict her actions.
Fang He lounged lazily on a soft pillow, completely lacking the domineering aura she had outside.
“I just wanted to confirm—whether these tricks from the Tong Family were Lord Tong’s idea or the Second Princess’s.”
Consort Yi instantly understood, “I noticed she was quite composed, showing no reaction even to imperial favor. Clearly, she’s deeply scheming. Such a direct tactic against the harem—maybe it really was her doing.”
“It’s her,” Fang He said with certainty.
“If it were Young Lord Tong, he’d only instruct his daughter not to cause trouble, ensuring his plan’s success by even pretending to go along.”
She might not know the palace struggles well, but she understood the mentality of modern professionals.
True power players, regardless of gender, can bow or even kneel when necessary.
For them, results are what matter.
“But when I held her hand, I immediately sensed her resistance. Then, while I tried to win her over, she set a trap for me. She clearly can’t wait even a moment to get rid of me.”
Consort Yi frowned, “If you knew it was a trap, why… If the Imperial Noble Consort is truly gravely ill and requests to step down, in this situation, everyone will sympathize with the Tong Family girl, making it even harder for you to ascend.”
If someone didn’t know Fang He, and only heard about what happened, even someone as cautious as Consort Yi would have to do something to lessen her dislike of Fang He.
Fang He sneered, “Raising up Little Jiu’s status, using the opportunity to request my promotion, is just putting me on the fire.”
“If I don’t go along, and act even more brazenly, she won’t underestimate me—who knows what she’ll do next to disgust me.”
She wasn’t good at nor liked playing around in circles.
She couldn’t outdo Tongjia Wanying in pretending to be weak, but when others came at her, she didn’t have the patience for long-term scheming—she’d just use the methods she was best at: strike hard while they’re weak, and finish them off directly.
Fang He leaned in toward Consort Yi, “If I’m right, they’ll make a move in the next few days. I’ll need your help to invite a few people, so we can put on a good show together.”
She whispered in Consort Yi’s ear.
Consort Yi’s eyes widened more and more as she listened, her mouth opening several times in shock, unable to utter a word.
After a while, Consort Yi finally croaked, “Even if this works, the Emperor will surely be furious afterward, blaming both of us. The Tong Family won’t let it go, either…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take full responsibility. The Emperor shouldn’t be too angry,” Fang He explained quietly.
“Earlier, I made a scene with the Emperor, demanding his exclusive favor. He should be done being angry by now, so it’s about time I soften my stance.”
Consort Yi:”……”Â
She feared she’d never be able to look at the words ‘soften her stance’ the same way again.
***
As Fang He had predicted, on the eighth day of the sixth month, the Imperial Noble Consort’s birthday, Tong Guowei presented a memorial personally written by the Imperial Noble Consort to Kangxi at morning court.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort entered the palace on her fifteenth birthday, and it has now been thirteen years. She has received your boundless favor, but is ashamed to be weak and unable to provide heirs for the royal family, nor has she had the energy to manage the harem and repay a fraction of Your Majesty’s kindness. She truly feels unworthy of the royal family.”
“Now that the Grand Empress Dowager has achieved fulfillment and is to be reborn and continue her bond with the royal family, it is Your Majesty’s filial piety that has moved Heaven and Earth. The Imperial Noble Consort is deeply gratified and does not wish for the ancestors to suffer any grievance. She requests to step down and asks that Your Majesty promote Consort Zhao to Imperial Noble Consort, to fulfill her filial duty.”
“I humbly beg Your Majesty’s approval!”
The first to request Consort Zhao’s promotion to Empress was a protégé of Nalan Mingzhu from his days as Vice Censor-in-Chief.
Afterwards, ministers from the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and other departments who were friendly with Mingzhu’s faction all submitted memorials, requesting her promotion.
Suo’etu’s Faction, mainly in the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Justice, couldn’t match Mingzhu’s scholarly supporters, no matter how they quoted classics or argued.
But Suo’etu was no pushover either; the Crown Prince’s tutors had many protégés.
Moreover, among the Manchu and Han Bannermen, many old families supported the Crown Prince, so they gathered many clan members and scholars to jointly submit memorials, fiercely arguing that Consort Zhao was unfit to be Empress.
The two sides quarreled endlessly.
But since the Tong Family submitted a memorial on behalf of the Imperial Noble Consort, asking to step down and let Consort Zhao inherit the Imperial Noble Consort’s position, Suo’etu was so angry he smashed several straw bundles in his residence.
Even if it was the Imperial Noble Consort, she was still a secondary Empress.
The Tong Family’s Imperial Noble Consort was on the verge of death, and had produced only a half-legitimate son.
But thanks to the Uya bloodline, there was no need to worry for now, and the Crown Prince could finally relax.
But if Consort Zhao became Imperial Noble Consort, with her favor, should she bear a prince, and with the Zashuhu Li bloodline, if the Emperor lived a bit longer, she would certainly become a major threat to the Crown Prince.
Yet Suo’etu understood that some things could only be done once.
He had already strongly opposed making her Empress; if he blocked her promotion again and truly angered the Emperor… the wrath of the Son of Heaven was no small matter.
Coincidentally, just as Suo’etu was troubled, Consort Zhao handed him the ladder herself.
After Tong Guowei finished speaking, Suo’etu immediately stepped forward, raising his voice:
“Your Majesty, I believe that if the Nine Princess is truly the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation, then not just the position of Imperial Noble Consort—even the Empress’s seat would be appropriate for Consort Zhao. Young Lord Tong’s words are quite reasonable!”
Kangxi replied blandly, “Wasn’t it you, Suo’etu, who submitted a memorial listing Consort Zhao’s faults earlier?”
Suo’etu was momentarily speechless, quickly kneeling, “Your servant dares not. I only felt Consort Zhao had not been in the palace long enough, and was not qualified to surpass the other consorts.”
“As for the matter of promoting her to Imperial Noble Consort, while I think it reasonable, I have recently heard rumors in the palace that on the day the Grand Empress Dowager passed, Consort Zhao used labor-inducing medicine to give birth to the Nine Princess. This is most suspicious. I ask Your Majesty to investigate!”
Immediately, someone stood up in support: “While on duty, we’ve all heard of Consort Zhao’s arrogance, even making the legitimate daughter of the Tong Family kneel in the Imperial Garden until she fainted, without ever explaining the reason.”
“Such conduct is hard to believe—how could Consort Zhao be the mother of the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation?”
Kangxi neither affirmed nor denied, and turned to Tong Guowei, “What does Young Lord Tong have to say?”
Tong Guowei forced a bitter smile and shook his head, his tone still resolute.
“Your Majesty, I dare not comment on the actions of the harem consorts. I trust Your Majesty will make the right decision.”
The Ministry of Rites officials and censors began whispering among themselves, growing ever more displeased with Consort Zhao’s conduct, even doubting whether requesting her promotion was a mistake.
Tong Guowei’s tiger eyes brimmed with tears, “I do not know if the reincarnation rumor is true, but the Imperial Noble Consort said herself that even if there is the slightest chance, she is willing to let go and not regret being unable to continue serving the ancestors. She voluntarily yields to Consort Zhao. Please, Your Majesty, grant her wish!”