During the National Mourning period, marriages, funerals, and weddings were forbidden, and the sounds of string and bamboo instruments were not heard.
However, after the Formal Mourning, grand banquets were not prohibited.
Both the New Year’s Eve Palace Banquet and the Lantern Festival Banquet still had to be held. Â
Only the scale was not comparable to ordinary palace banquets; no foreign officials could enter the palace to attend, and only members of the imperial family could come.
The palace banquets from the first to the fourteenth day of the lunar month were canceled, but the Imperial Household Department still had to assist the Imperial Kitchen in preparing the daily ninety-nine dishes at Qianqing Palace.
These dishes were then distributed by Kangxi to nobles, ministers, and officials returning to the capital, as a sign of imperial favor.
By mid-afternoon, Yanxi Palace was bustling with activity.
Even the youngest, Jiujiu, had to make an appearance, held by the Imperial Consort’s Wet Nurse and led by the Crown Prince to pay respects on behalf of the nanny to the Empress Dowager and Father.
After circling around, she was returned to Yanxi Palace for a long nap.
Fang He, fixed at the dressing table by Cui Wei and Xinhua, watched the servants assigned to Jiujiu—Xinke and Xinnan—and her envy nearly brought tears to her lips.
They had nothing to do but sit and play with Jiujiu at their feet, exhausting the little one’s energy so she could sleep through to dinner time.
After all, when the nanny made the formal greetings, it was better if this little beauty had her eyes open, rather than responding from a dream.
Chunlai stood nearby, smiling broadly.
When she glanced up at the bronze mirror, she saw Imperial Consort Zhao’s mouth practically holding an oil bottle, and her smile deepened.
Fang He not only wanted to swap identities with Consort Yi, but at this moment, she wished she could call Jiujiu “mother” and serve as a good luck charm, just to take a quick spin and come back.
Each palace banquet lasted a long time, requiring the maintenance of one’s image, dealing with so many people, and enduring repeatedly steamed dishes, forcing them down her throat…
After a whole evening, her body felt as exhausted as fighting a half game against Kangxi, and her spirit as drained as if from three full battles.
When she finally finished dressing and helped Cui Wei stand up, she almost cried out loud.
She hadn’t attended during Xiaozhuang’s mourning period, and the Imperial Noble Consort’s mourning required only white, but this was the first time she wore the full consort’s grand attire.
Fang He roughly estimated that with the court crown and court pearls, the weight was nearly twenty jin, and she was still wearing platform shoes!
She staggered a few steps before wanting to collapse onto Jiujiu’s soft couch.
The weight of power and wealth was heartbreakingly heavy, and she needed to hug the little bundle to recover her energy… she’d get up again when it was time to leave!
“Master!” Cui Wei hurried to stop her, “This court dress cannot wrinkle, not even the crown or collar can be pressed.”
“Just hold on a moment. Liu An said Consort Rong of Zhongcui Palace has already set off. In about forty-five minutes, you should be able to leave.”
As the leading consort among the four, Fang He had to enter the hall after the third consort to show rank, but not later than the Noble Consort.
The timing had to be just right—there was no time to redo her makeup.
Jiujiu turned over and laughed, patting the couch with her small hand.
Fang He: “…”
‘My own daughter.’
Not even future supermodels had to endure such hardships.
Life was cruel. Â
As the time approached, Xinke called the nanny in to soothe the little mistress to sleep.
Jiujiu only needed to follow the Crown Prince after he left, sitting in the warm sedan chair behind him.
To avoid the child crying in the hall, Jiujiu didn’t have to observe so many rules.
Fang He watched longingly as Jiujiu was carried into a quiet side hall to eat, looking toward her own chamber, tears streaming for a full forty-five minutes and not stopping even when it was time to go.
The sedan could only stop outside Rijng Gate during the grand banquet.
Cui Wei and Xinhua helped Fang He, escorting her around the corridor from Rijng Gate to Qianqing Palace.
The total area of Qianqing Palace was the size of several football fields.
Even walking half the distance to the main hall was equivalent to running a long race! Â
It would be bearable on an ordinary day, but with twenty jin of extra weight and the wide skirts required by her rank… it was nearly killing her.
At the front of the hall, Fang He grabbed Cui Wei’s arm weakly.
“Not going in just yet, I want to stand outside for a while.”
She needed to recover.
If she went in panting, she would become a laughingstock. Â
She looked up gloomily at the largest square sky in the Forbidden City and wondered how Consort Rong, Consort Hui, and Consort Yi managed to endure this every year.
“Master, it’s almost time. Shall we go in?” Cui Wei whispered after a while.
Fang He shook her head, “A bit longer.” Â
Her body was already exhausted.
The thought of having to socialize with hypocrites inside was enough to make her scalp tingle. Â
Better to delay a little.
The sky gradually dimmed, and at twilight, palace lanterns lit one by one at the Moonlight Gate and the Imperial Teahouse—places Fang He knew all too well.
Snowflakes suddenly drifted down from the horizon.
Fang He was inexplicably moved.
In just one more month, she would have been transmigrated here for six full years.
She remembered that in the first days after she arrived, it had snowed too—like a cycle repeating itself.
Back then, she thought herself cautious but was ambitious beyond measure, wandering around.
Otherwise, Kangxi wouldn’t have noticed her. Â
If it were the present her, she might already have opened a shop, found a son-in-law, and waited for her uncle to retire.
Now, to others she seemed arrogant, but only she knew she was growing more like this world, more cautious inside, and no longer had the energy to fly away.
Once a person has a home and family, no matter how stormy, they no longer think of escaping.
She couldn’t be as reckless as before, utterly unrestrained and carefree…
From afar, Imperial Noble Consort Niuhulu saw several people standing in front of the hall, but only upon getting closer through the dusk did she recognize Fang He.
She was slightly surprised.
‘According to the pace, Imperial Consort Zhao should have arrived about an incense stick’s length of time ago. Why was she still outside?’
And she looked… somewhat sorrowful.
‘Could it be a quarrel with the Emperor?  ‘
Her thoughts raced, but on the surface, Niuhulu showed no change, smiling as she approached Fang He and greeted her.
“Imperial Consort Zhao, are you here to welcome me?”
Fang He came back to her senses, formally kowtowing to the Noble Consort, and smiled while explaining, “If you want to hear a lie, then I am just worried about Your Highness’s health and came out here especially to greet you and serve you in.”
The Noble Consort chuckled, “Is that the truth?”
Fang He touched her nose and grinned sheepishly, “I’m almost exhausted…”
During the New Year, one mustn’t mention death.
She quickly spat the words out and lowered her voice, “I’m utterly worn out. It’s good enough that you didn’t have to support me inside. I’m just resting here so I don’t make a fool of myself in Qianqing Palace.” Â
The Noble Consort laughed out loud but soon coughed for a long while before stopping.
“Imperial Consort Zhao truly is a clever one. No wonder the Emperor likes you, and I do too. I must have been biased before.”
Fang He’s melancholy deepened.
No matter how much Kangxi liked her, she still had to endure this short-distance marathon. Â
Thinking about how after mourning, these events kept coming one after another throughout the year, Fang He wanted to cry even more.
To the Noble Consort and the people of Yongshou Palace, this appearance meant Imperial Consort Zhao would become so upset at the Emperor that she couldn’t even keep a smile…
Rumors had said the two imperial consorts didn’t get along, because Zhao had quarreled with the Emperor many times.
People had been skeptical, but now it was confirmed. Â
It was true.
A glint of amusement flashed in the Noble Consort’s eyes as she patted Fang He’s hand warmer.
“It’s New Year’s, little sister, don’t be sad. When the Emperor cools down, there might still be room to maneuver. You can’t lose heart first, okay?”
Fang He was stunned before realizing, “Oh, so I’m ‘quarreling’ with Kangxi.”
Just as she was about to reply, the Noble Consort walked ahead, tilting her head as she spoke.
“My body really can’t take much more. If I keep working like this, I might not be able to stay by Yin’e’s side for many more years.”
“How about after the New Year, you take over some palace affairs? Having things to do will keep your mind off worries and let me rest. What do you think?”
Fang He was dumbfounded, then slowly blinked and murmured, “Take over palace affairs… That means waking earlier than the roosters, sleeping later than the dogs, and no extra stipend…”
Noble Consort: “You’re so polite, aren’t you?”
“Oh no! What nonsense am I talking! I’m inexperienced, have fewer children than others, and am reckless and careless. How could I possibly handle such an important role!” Fang He snapped back to reality and hurriedly patted her lips.
“Noble Consort, you should ask the other sisters. Don’t make me hold the lantern for you. I’ll wait for you inside; please go slowly!”
She didn’t give the Noble Consort a chance to speak, rattling off her words like rapid-fire, then dashed ahead into the hall like she was on adrenaline.
Noble Consort: “…”
Bewildered. Â
She stood there for a moment, laughing and crying at the same time, then softly asked her personal maid Luyue,  “Do you think she’s telling the truth or lying right now?” Â
***
“Of course it’s the truth!” Fang He gave a dignified smile as she quietly signaled Cui Wei to rise among the consorts bowing inside. Â
Cui Wei was even more puzzled, “But didn’t you say you’d take over eventually?” Â
Fang He sat down with a sigh and quietly explained to Cui Wei.
“Do you think the Noble Consort really wants me to take over palace affairs for my benefit? After the New Year comes the Lantern Festival Banquet, then the Emperor’s Birthday Celebration, then the end of mourning—one event after another, all urgent.”
“Palace relationships are tangled everywhere, and the Imperial Household Department is filled with newly appointed Ba Yi Shi Jia; we haven’t even figured out the pulse of it all yet. Taking over now would just cause a mess. Only a fool would do it at this time.”
Cui Wei thought it over carefully and agreed, her expression turning more serious.
“If the Noble Consort asked the other three consorts to manage palace affairs and we tried to intervene after the mourning, it’d probably be too late, right?”
Fang He glanced around slightly.
Hadn’t Consort Yi said that Concubine Jing would definitely attend the palace banquets?
Why wasn’t she here? Â
Hearing Cui Wei, she looked at Consort Yi with a questioning gaze, who waved her hand carelessly.
“Who says wanting palace power means you have to butt into someone else’s business?”
She wasn’t about to work for free.
To legitimately take over palace affairs without hindering the third consort’s work, of course, the only way was a promotion with a raise to become the boss.
Consort Yi frowned slightly when Fang He gave her an asking look.
She didn’t know why Concubine Jing wasn’t present.
On days like this, unless Jing had tuberculosis, she’d crawl here no matter what. Â
But now she hadn’t come to welcome the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, so there was only one possibility…
Suddenly, the sound of a whistle came from outside.
The Emperor’s procession arriving to escort the Empress Dowager to Shoukang Palace had arrived.
Everyone hurried to stand, waiting to bow after the Empress Dowager and the Emperor entered the hall.
But when the imperial carriage arrived, most present couldn’t help but be stunned and instinctively looked toward Fang He.
Concubine Jing, who had been nowhere to be seen, was entering with the Emperor, each side supporting the Empress Dowager.
The hall was crowded.
Fang He’s sorrowful daze outside had already spread through the consorts, imperial relatives, and ladies-in-waiting. Â
Everyone guessed Imperial Consort Zhao must have quarreled with the Emperor over Concubine Jing’s occupying the main hall of Chengqing Palace.
The Emperor, who usually indulged Imperial Consort Zhao, was now offended and wanted to openly slap her?
But Fang He, not yet accustomed to the weight she bore, swayed as she crouched down, looking all the more lost and disoriented.
The moment Kangxi entered, his eyes caught Fang He swaying, and he almost stepped back out, coldly shooting a glance at Cui Wei.
Feeling the Emperor’s killing intent, Cui Wei quickly steadied her master and dared not lose focus again.
No one else noticed this silent exchange, but most present inwardly struggled not to laugh.
Consort Hui and Consort Rong managed to keep their composure, but Concubine Duan’s face betrayed her joy, and Concubine Xi and Concubine Tong kept their heads lowered with smiling faces.
After all, it was the New Year.
Even with some joy, Imperial Consort Zhao couldn’t do anything to them. Â
Moreover, the Empress Dowager was already supported by Concubine Jing.
Whether she would still care for Imperial Consort Zhao afterward was another matter. Â
It seemed Imperial Consort Zhao was truly falling out of favor.
All the mixed thoughts in the hall were swept away in the blink of an eye when Kangxi called out, and everyone immediately composed themselves, showing no sign of disturbance.
Concubine Jing did not take advantage of her honor to show off; she looked even more modest and reserved than Concubine Duan.
She cautiously avoided the formal bows of others and when greeting the Noble Consort and the four consorts, her voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s hum.
Fang He, curious, studied Concubine Jing a few more times.
Not to mention, Concubine Jing looked more like the Noble Consort than Tongjia Wanying did—quite beautiful, with an air of scholarly refinement.
Though timid, she had the bearing of a noble daughter, her slow movements and gentle, shy nature combined to create a unique elegant aura—one that easily aroused a man’s pity.
Fang He thought that if she were a man, she would probably like this tendril-like beauty very much.
She winked at Kangxi, who happened to glance her way.
The Emperor seemed to understand her glance, narrowing his eyes to warn her to behave before raising his cup to recite the toast and prayer, commemorating the Grand Empress Dowager and all the consorts.
All the imperial relatives raised their cups and shouted “Long live!”
After three rounds of drinking, Jiujiu blinked her grape-like eyes and babbled greetings to Father before being carried back to Yanxi Palace.
Kangxi spoke with the Crown Prince, several princes, and relatives.
The ladies-in-waiting gathered with the consorts in small groups, chatting about daily palace life.
Without music or dance, and no shouting allowed, chatting was all they could do.