An official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward to praise the Imperial Noble Consort’s filial piety.
“With the Imperial Astronomical Bureau confirming Consort Zhao’s noble fate and the Nine Princess’s extraordinary destiny, the reincarnation rumor surely isn’t baseless. We beseech Your Majesty to promote Consort Zhao to the Imperial Noble Consort and fulfill the Imperial Noble Consort’s filial heart!”
Suo’etu’s Faction immediately objected: “But Consort Zhao’s conduct is unworthy as a model for women of the realm. I believe the Nine Princess should be raised under the Imperial Noble Consort, thus not failing her filial devotion.”
Kangxi turned and asked, “Mingzhu, what do you think?”
Suo’etu suddenly looked up, eyes wide, staring toward the curtain behind Jiugong Sanshi Hall.
Nalan Mingzhu, dressed in the blue robes of the Inner Court Guard Minister, stepped out from behind the curtain.
“Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, whether the Nine Princess is the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation is of great importance and shouldn’t be determined by mere hearsay. It requires careful investigation.”
Suo’etu was dumbfounded.
Wait, wasn’t this old fox the one who insisted the Nine Princess was the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation and pushed for her promotion?
Now he’d changed his tune??
If not for the Crown Prince, Suo’etu would have liked to rebuke Nalan Mingzhu for being ridiculous and insist on the promotion himself.
Nalan Mingzhu ignored the increasingly heated stares from nearby and continued calmly:
“Furthermore, regardless of whether the Nine Princess is the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation, the Imperial Noble Consort’s filial piety is commendable. But Consort Zhao is the Nine Princess’s birth mother, so her wishes should be asked as well.”
Even Kangxi was a bit surprised.
He’d called Nalan Mingzhu out to mediate, so Fang He could be promoted to Noble Consort, and in turn, he could promote Mingzhu and put Suo’etu and the restless Tong Family in their place.
In the South Study, Nalan Mingzhu had assured him that he knew what to do.
What had he figured out?
Kangxi said gravely, “Consort Zhao was injured during childbirth and has been anxious about the rumors affecting the Nine Princess’s fortune. She’s been exhausted lately, so there’s no need to ask her opinion.”
“I think—”
Before Kangxi could finish, the voice of the imperial eunuch rang out from outside—
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!”
The ministers were in an uproar.
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up, circled the imperial desk, and went down the white jade steps to greet her.
“Royal Mother, what brings you here?”
The Empress Dowager, supported by Su’moer and Wuyunzhu, followed by Fang He and the always inconspicuous Consort Ping, entered.
The Empress Dowager’s expression was calm, “I’ve been unwell lately, so I didn’t realize that a baseless rumor has caused such a stir, distracting the Emperor from state affairs and making him focus on these harem matters every day.”
“If I didn’t come see for myself, I fear that even in the afterlife, the Empress Dowager could not rest in peace!”
After Wuyunzhu finished translating, all the ministers, including the Crown Prince and Da Ago standing at the head, knelt in terror.
Kangxi shot Fang He a cold glance, seeing her bow her head like a meek daughter-in-law, and ground his teeth in secret.
This whole mess was surely her doing.
“Royal Mother…”
“I came here today because I can’t bear to see the Empress Dowager worry about Great Qing all her life, only to have to worry for you even in heaven.” The Empress Dowager interrupted Kangxi.
“If it’s just a rumor and the Emperor doesn’t want to hear from Consort Zhao, then let me speak!”
Kangxi had no choice but to have a seat placed by the imperial desk and invited the Empress Dowager to sit first.
Fang He signaled the pale-faced Consort Ping to stand with her, one on each side of the Empress Dowager.
Once everyone had settled, the Empress Dowager wasted no words and spoke directly:
“The rumor is false. Even if the Empress Dowager were to reincarnate, she would not return to the royal family.”
Everyone was shocked.
The Crown Prince couldn’t help but step forward, “Why does Royal Grandmother say this? The Imperial Astronomical Bureau clearly said—”
“The Grand Empress Dowager did not wish to disturb the peace of the former Emperor, so she was temporarily placed at Huangxin Village. Not returning to the ancestral land and being buried at the Western Mausoleum is in accordance with the rules of Eternal Heaven.” The Empress Dowager interrupted the Crown Prince.
Under the protection of Eternal Heaven, any Borjigit bloodline, even if reincarnated, would only return to Eternal Heaven’s embrace.
This, the Shaman who presided over the Grand Empress Dowager’s wake knows best.
Kangxi turned slightly.
He didn’t remember the Empress Dowager being buried according to Northern Mongol customs—could the Empress Dowager be lying?
…Was this Fang He’s doing again?!
Fang He lowered her gaze and stood quietly.
This was just the beginning—if the Tong Family could pull in Mingzhu and Suo’etu, was it too much for her to bring in the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager?
The ministers were in an uproar.
They didn’t know that the Grand Empress Dowager had been buried according to Northern Mongol ancestral rites, or there wouldn’t have been any talk of reincarnation.
Suo’etu immediately said, “The rumor has been around for a long time. If it’s just a rumor, why hasn’t Consort Zhao explained? As I understand, Consort Zhao deliberately induced early labor, causing such rumors. If it’s false, then Consort Zhao is guilty of deceiving the sovereign.”
“Moreover, the source of the rumor isn’t hard to trace—perhaps Consort Zhao colluded with others to seek a higher position?”
Now that the rumor was declared false, both the Tong Family and Consort Zhao would become obstacles to the Crown Prince, and Suo’etu didn’t want to let either go.
As for Nalan Mingzhu, he’d deal with him later!
The Empress Dowager said nothing.
Fang He stepped forward and explained softly.
“What Lord Suo’etu says, I dare not acknowledge. I was in confinement and knew nothing of the outside world.”
Suo’etu snorted, “The rumor spread so widely—even the Emperor visited Yanxi Palace and Yunya Guan several times. Does Consort Zhao dare claim she knew nothing?”
Consort Ping suddenly spoke up, “If we’re to investigate, Lord Suo’etu should start with his own family. I feared my own family would be implicated, so I asked someone to pass a message to my mother, and she said the rumor came from the Hesheri clan.”
Suo’etu glared coldly at Consort Ping, “The harem is forbidden to send private messages. May I ask who you had deliver your message? I will strictly punish them when I return home.”
The Crown Prince rubbed his nose and turned, “It was I who delivered the message for my aunt.”
Suo’etu was dumbfounded.
Of course he knew that Tong Guowei had his wife, Lady Hesheri, spread the rumor through her family.
But he’d kept this under wraps and argued for the Crown Prince’s sake, hadn’t he?
Did the Crown Prince even know whose side he was on?
Seeing that the Crown Prince had shut Suo’etu up, Fang He continued, “I have heard of the rumor, but I never spoke out for a simple reason—”
She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, looking at Tong Guowei with reddened eyes.
“I know the Imperial Noble Consort has always tended to the Grand Empress Dowager, and her filial piety has always moved me. I never thought to take her place.”
“Though the rumor spread ever wider, I begged the Emperor to investigate the truth. I learned it was the Tong Family, out of care for the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort, who started it, which put me at ease.”
“With the Tong Family’s years of loyalty, and the spirit of the Xiaokang Empress watching over us, how could they harm His Majesty or the imperial heirs?”
The Tong Family had lifted her to the clouds—how could she not return the favor?
Tong Guowei was stunned and instinctively looked at Kangxi.
Wait, even if he had done this, he hadn’t brought it to the court himself.
He’d only acted to help the Emperor balance things.
Now Consort Zhao was openly declaring it—wasn’t the Emperor going to do anything?
Fang He turned and knelt, looking up at Kangxi, her tears falling one by one, crying even more delicately than Tongjia Wanying had in the Imperial Garden.
“A few days ago in the Imperial Garden, I thought the Imperial Noble Consort was gentle and kind, so her sister must have the same good intentions as the whole Tong Family, and I felt a bit closer to her.”
“But the Tong Family’s Second Princess misunderstood and thought I started the rumor, using the ‘Precepts for Women’ and ‘Instructions for Women’ to scold me in veiled terms, which made me so angry I punished her lightly.”
“Today the Imperial Noble Consort submitted her memorial… but she heard me swear before the ancestors that I would never be so foolish. She must have her reasons!”
The Tong Family wanted her to oppose the Imperial Noble Consort.
Originally, Fang He planned to have the Empress Dowager request the Imperial Noble Consort’s promotion to Empress, repaying the Tong Family in kind and pitting them against the Crown Prince.
But a few days ago, Danningju suddenly sent some gifts to Yunya Guan, so Fang He changed her mind and invited Su’moer instead.
Kangxi stared at Fang He, wishing he could pick her up and throw her back to Yunya Guan.
With his experience, how could he not see that Fang He was targeting the Tong Family?
All his plans had been thrown into chaos by her unpredictable meddling.
He asked sternly, “What oath did you make?”
Su’moer stepped forward at the right moment and knelt, “In reply to Your Majesty, Consort Zhao declared before the ancestors that her destiny was to bring fortune to the royal family and master, and that she would never become Empress or vie for someone else’s position. At that time, the Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort, and others were all present.”
Kangxi was furious.
Now that Su’moer mentioned it, he remembered being there, too.
What use was it to bring it up now?
The ministers fell into a subtle silence.
They’d vaguely heard of this, but who took it seriously?
Fang He glanced at Nalan Mingzhu through her tears, “The Nine Princess’s early birth was witnessed by Liang Jiugong; it was definitely not intentional on my part, nor is she the Grand Empress Dowager’s reincarnation. But Lord Mingzhu allowed his followers to request my promotion, forcing me to be unfilial!”
Nalan Mingzhu knelt, “…Your servant is guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
“I, too, was deceived by Young Lord Tong, thinking it an act of loyalty, and only wanted to do my humble part to ease Your Majesty’s worries.”
The Da Ago, who had been enjoying the spectacle, was stunned.
Wait, why did his uncle suddenly confess?
Kangxi:Â “……”
‘Very good, this troublemaker had even convinced the old fox Mingzhu.’
Tong Guowei immediately retorted, “We’ve never had any dealings. When did I ever say anything to you? The Tong Family is protected by the Xiaokang Empress and blessed by the Imperial Noble Consort. Why would we frame Consort Zhao?”
“Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!”
At the side, Suo’etu realized what was going on.
The Crown Prince was helping Consort Zhao—could it be that Consort Zhao had promised to restrain Mingzhu and Tong Guowei?
Consort Zhao had no family backing; she relied only on the Empress Dowager and the Emperor’s favor.
If she could be won over, she’d indeed make a sharp weapon!
He was about to speak for Consort Zhao, but Consort Ping quietly spoke up first.
“I heard from Consort Xi and Consort Duan that the Second Princess of the Tong Family has always wanted to enter the palace and serve His Majesty, and has repeatedly hinted to the consorts that the rumor was started by Consort Zhao. When the Imperial Noble Consort was gravely ill, she still found time to stroll in the Imperial Garden, showing no sisterly affection.”
The Crown Prince suddenly understood, “Could it be that, seeing the Imperial Noble Consort’s illness, she wanted to take her place, and so stirred up all this to win Father’s sympathy and enter the palace herself?”
Kangxi’s expression grew darker as he listened.
There was no way this troublemaker could have persuaded the Crown Prince, Empress Dowager, and even Nalan Mingzhu to speak for her.
Consort Yi couldn’t do it either—how had she managed it?!
“Zashuhu Li…” Kangxi spoke with a frosty tone.
Fang He replied sorrowfully, “Your Majesty, I believe the Second Princess of the Tong Family acted out of selfishness. Young Lord Tong is truly loyal and filial; he would never do such a thing, framing your most beloved consort and heir.”
“Your Majesty, I think it would be better to have a more virtuous Tong Family girl enter the palace to tend the Imperial Noble Consort’s illness, so she can care for the Fourth Prince as well. Please reconsider.”
Suo’etu immediately knelt, “Your Majesty, Consort Zhao’s suggestion is wise. There are many suitable girls in the Tong Family to tend the Imperial Noble Consort’s illness; there’s no need to keep a scheming one in the palace.”
Nalan Mingzhu agreed, “I concur. If I’m not mistaken, Young Lord Tong acted out of fear that Your Majesty would grieve too much, and so allowed the rumor to spread.”
He gave Tong Guowei a meaningful look, “But he was used by someone with ulterior motives. If the Imperial Noble Consort is harmed, it would be a great loss. Young Lord Tong, you should investigate your own household—don’t let a small matter ruin everything.”
Tong Guowei’s heart thudded.
He’d had someone prescribe a tonic for the Imperial Noble Consort that was too strong—no one should know about it.
How did Nalan Mingzhu know?
He nearly ground his back teeth to dust, staring at Fang He with eyes that nearly shot fire.
How had this woman managed to win over both the Crown Prince and Nalan Mingzhu, who were usually at odds?
But the tide had turned.
Now, even those least likely to change sides had done so, and what he’d done couldn’t withstand investigation.
He could only acquiesce.
Kangxi was both angry and amused—he’d really underestimated this troublemaker’s methods.
She’d rather make a fuss than let Tongjia Wanying enter the palace.
Previously, when Fang He insisted on exclusive favor and forbade the Tong Family girl from entering the palace, he was both angry and anxious, and had given her the cold shoulder these past few days, feeling miserable himself.
But now Fang He had taken a step back and suggested another Tong Family girl enter the palace…
Kangxi’s feelings were extremely complicated.
Forget it—as long as it’s a Tong Family girl, he didn’t care who entered the palace.
Kangxi turned to the Empress Dowager, “Royal Mother, what do you think?”
“In my opinion, after the mourning period, have the eldest daughter of the Tong Family enter the palace as a concubine to serve the Imperial Noble Consort.”
Kangxi suppressed his anger, giving Fang He—still dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief—a deep look, silently vowing to deal with her later.
Then, he put on a troubled look, glanced at Tong Guowei, and said after some thought, “Young Lord Tong is loyal indeed. Pass on my decree: grant the Second Princess of the Tong Family the title of County Princess and marry her to the Shengjing Jueluo Clan. After the mourning period, the marriage will take place.”
Since Fang He didn’t like her, it was best to send her far away—lest she become an eyesore and cause more trouble about exclusive favor.
***
Inside Danningju Hall, Tongjia Wanying was in a very good mood as she arranged flowers in the outer hall, her happiness plain for all to see.
She knew her father would present her elder sister’s memorial today.
As long as the Emperor promoted that foolish woman to Imperial Noble Consort, her elder sister wouldn’t live much longer, and the edict making her a Noble Consort would come after the mourning period.
In the future, she would gradually take over all of Consort Zhao’s favor.
One day, she would make Consort Zhao kneel at her feet day and night, just like in the Imperial Garden…
The Imperial Noble Consort’s personal maid, Duzhong, hurried in from outside and whispered a few words in her ear.
A smile flashed in the Imperial Noble Consort’s eyes; it seemed her sincerity had been accepted by Consort Zhao.
Now she could rest easy.
She stood up, turned toward her bedchamber, and said softly:
“I’m tired. When the Second Princess leaves, don’t bother to inform me.”
Duzhong glanced at the Second Princess, who was still smiling as she arranged flowers, and silently bowed in response.