No one entering or leaving the palace is allowed to secretly carry letters.
Although Concubine Jing entered the palace with the treatment of a consort, the trunks she brought were carefully inspected.
So what was left for her was a small note hidden inside a hollow hairpin.
“Plan One: Kill with one blow, valuing her son’s status highly, ask for her to be made Empress, sparking dispute among court officials, making the Emperor wary.”
“Plan Two: Step down gracefully, give up the Imperial Noble Consort title, request to be established as a Consort instead, causing the Emperor to feel indebted and bestow high rank on the Tong family.”
“Plan Three: Seize the opportunity; when the Emperor is alienated, the Nine Princess falls gravely ill. Using Imperial Consort Zhao’s greed for the Phoenix position as reason, suppress her with filial piety and motherly kindness, forcing her to abandon the Consort title and change the Nine Princess’s Genealogy Record.”
Nanny Wu was originally the personal nanny of Wu Jia Side Consort; this note had been seen by her, and she knew what was written.
Her face flushed with excitement as she said, “Now that the Emperor and Imperial Consort Zhao are not on good terms, this is the perfect opportunity. Making a baby seriously ill is no hard task—just give the order.”
“No need. Wait and see.” Concubine Jing calmly interrupted Nanny Wu’s excitement.
Wu Jia Side Consort couldn’t even protect her own son; if not for her several interventions, Fahai’s right hand would have been ruined by that reckless Erlundai.
Since entering the palace, Wu Jia Side Consort has only been flaunting her foster mother’s prestige.
Tong Guogang, relying on his uncle’s status, pressured Kangxi to consider the Tong family’s face and favor her.
They were all astonishingly foolish.
To someone like Concubine Jing, once ruling under the Emperor, these plots were riddled with flaws.
They relied solely on Kangxi’s affection for his maternal family and the Emperor’s conscience as their nephew.
Appealing to the Emperor’s conscience?
Throughout history, countless sacrifices paved the way for a general’s success.
No matter how much Kangxi favored a woman, he would never allow such scheming in the imperial harem.
To drag Imperial Consort Zhao down was essentially to oppose Kangxi’s favor, in other words, to challenge imperial authority.
If this had been Concubine Jing’s previous life, the Tong family would have long been thrown into a cruel prison, not still gallivanting around here.
Hah… These Mongol barbarians just don’t get it.
Kangxi’s tolerance, allowing a Tong family daughter to enter the palace, now made sense to Concubine Jing—this northern Mongol battle was imminent.
Nanny Wu’s face turned stern as if scolding a child, her voice harsh: “You must remember your position clearly. If you lose this good chance and anger the master, do you think you’ll still live well in the palace?”
Concubine Jing gave her a half-smile and said, “Nanny, whether I remember my status is none of your concern. You only need to remember whose servant you are now.” Â
She leisurely lit the note on the candle flame and tossed it into the spittoon.
Her voice drifted lightly in the flickering firelight.
“I am now a member of Aisin Gioro. If I want your life, an outsider servant, I don’t even need an excuse. This life of yours, if you want to leave the palace, your only option is the Yizhuang.”
Nanny Wu froze for a moment, a cold shiver bursting from deep within her.
“You can’t—”
“Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I took you into the palace out of pity. Your husband, who manages affairs, has a mistress outside. They already have two children.”
Concubine Jing smiled gently, lowering the curtain and leisurely lying down.
“If I tell Erlundai about your son from the accounting department gambling with public funds, do you think your husband will uphold justice and remarry a beautiful wife, or risk having the entire family beheaded by Erlundai, standing with you and your descendants through thick and thin?”
Nanny Wu instantly collapsed weakly onto the floor, staring at the faintly visible graceful figure behind the curtain like seeing a ghost.
Cold sweat poured down her temples; not a word could she utter.
After a long while, she kowtowed and shivered as she spoke, “Mistress, what… what are you waiting for… Old servant means, if the family asks, how should I answer?”
Concubine Jing yawned, her voice muffled, “Wait until I finish reading the script. Just say I have my own plans; tell them to mind their own business.”
Nanny Wu: “….”
What script?
Is she trying to anger the master and the side consort to death?
***
The next day, Fang He woke up early.
She had sent the Empress Dowager back to Yanxi Palace by around 9 p.m. the previous night and went to check on Jiujiu before sleeping.
Cui Wei, hearing the movement, lifted the curtain and whispered softly, “Mistress, you’re up this early? Won’t you sleep a bit more?”
It was only the hour of the dragon before they were to go to Shoukang Palace to pay respects; half an hour of sleep was still possible.
Fang He was puzzled, “Were you out stealing at night? Why speak so quietly?”
Cui Wei hurriedly signaled to someone nearby with her eyes.
Fang He peeked over and saw a bright yellow figure sleeping on the soft couch against the outer hall—other than Kangxi, no one else.
The room was burning ground dragon incense, not cold.
Fang He wore only her undergarments, her black hair loose, and got up to look. Â
Seeing Kangxi still deeply asleep, she pursed her lips and turned to Cui Wei.
“Why is he here?”
Cui Wei explained softly, “Late last night, Liang Jiugong suddenly knocked on the door, saying the Emperor wanted to question you for leaving without notice and insisted on opening the palace gate.  The night watchmen Cui Fuchuan and Zhang Ji were terrified; if not for the New Year’s Day prohibition on crying, both would have sobbed.” Â
“But when the Emperor entered Yanxi Palace, he didn’t wake you. The Emperor went to the little mistress’s side, stood at the door to glance, then entered the bedchamber. He sat beside your bed for a while, ordered the bedding brought in, and lay down directly on the soft couch.” Â
Cui Wei leaned into Fang He’s ear, beaming, “Your maid guesses the Emperor was afraid his breath smelled of alcohol and would disturb you.”
Even if Concubine Jing held dignity in front of others, so what?
This place ultimately belonged to her master’s family.
Fang He was not as flustered as Cui Wei.
Truly considerate, just don’t get drunk and throw tantrums all the way to Yanxi Palace! Â
She put her hands on her hips and scoffed lightly, “Go get the brush and ink.”
Cui Wei, completely baffled, went to fetch them, watching as her mistress boldly climbed onto the soft couch.
Acting decisively, she started immediately.
Cui Wei blushed and stomped her foot, then hurried out. Â
‘Such a mistress, so early in the morning… Why can’t she avoid people!’
Before closing the hall door, Cui Wei peeked her head back and whispered, “Mistress, you have at most half an hour before you have to dress and go to Shoukang Palace. Pay attention to the time!”
Fang He:Â Â “….”
She’s just drawing a turtle; why is Cui Wei grinning so wildly! Â
She dipped the brush in ink and bent over, about to begin.
But just as she started, Kangxi, eyes closed, grabbed her hand.
“Didn’t you hear your maid’s reminder? Half an hour isn’t enough time for me to teach you to fight.”
“Is it enough to question me?” Fang He pulled a face at Kangxi and deliberately shook her hand.
The ink splattered onto Kangxi’s face. Â
Kangxi opened his eyes helplessly and gently patted her, “Jiujiu is more sensible than you. It’s New Year’s Day; behave.”
Seeing Fang He’s innocent face and her reaching again for the ink, Kangxi took the brush from her hand and placed it on the low table.
Using a deft strength, he pulled Fang He into his embrace.
The mixed scent of warm dragon’s saliva incense and faint wine was not unpleasant, even somewhat tender. Â
Fang He yawned.
She lightly kicked Kangxi’s leg, “Only you are allowed to get drunk and act crazy? Honestly, you’re no more sensible than Jiujiu. We’re even.”
Kangxi caught her leg and smiled, kissing her forehead.
“Last year I was like this, and every year after, I won’t leave you alone in this deep palace.”
Fang He tilted her head, finger against his forehead, “Then why are you sleeping on the soft couch?”
Kangxi smiled, “I’m afraid you’ll wake in the middle of the night and kick me off the bed. It’s bad luck to fall to the ground during the New Year, right? Imperial Consort Zhao said so.”
Fang He shifted, sitting against a side pillow, looking at Kangxi with a half-smile.
“So you know I’ll be laughed at for entering the hall with Concubine Jing yesterday?”
Kangxi sat cross-legged opposite her, expression serious and replied, “Usually, on the first and fifteenth day, me being here with you isn’t a problem. But on New Year’s Day, if I’m here, the censors will impeach me and cause unnecessary trouble.” Â
Kangxi knew Fang He’s temper.
If he entered the hall with Concubine Jing, she would be impatient with the acidic remarks and leave early. Â
If he got drunk and insisted on questioning her, no one could intervene.
He carefully studied her expression and continued gently, “The situation in Northern Mongolia grows tense; I may have to leave the capital at any moment. The harem is deeply intertwined with the previous court; these complicated relationships would only bring you trouble. I want to promote your rank but cannot allow such disputes.” Â
Fang He showed no anger, only a knowing nod.
“So you’re humoring Duke Tong’s wishes, giving Concubine Jing face to make her the scapegoat, then asking the Empress Dowager to support me and take the opportunity to promote me to Noble Consort?”
The smile in Kangxi’s eyes deepened, “I knew you were clever and would understand immediately.”
He had hoped his uncle could be clearer, but the Tong family still had designs on the rear position and even the Crown Prince title.
Tong Guogang was no exception, just more subtle than Tong Guowei. Â