When returning, the dragon boat no longer needed to stop frequently, moving much faster than on the way there.
Kangxi went again to inspect the flood control projects around the Yongding River, specifically appointing Jin Fu as the Grand Governor of the river, and the imperial entourage returned to the capital on the ninth day of the twelfth month.
The ministers were all waiting outside the Zhengyang Gate to welcome the emperor, but Kangxi did not want to be troubled and had people disperse early.
Concubine Tong, not being the Empress, was not qualified to lead people to the Wumen, so she only brought the other concubines to welcome Kangxi at the Qianqing Gate.
The pregnant Niu Hulu Guifei, nearly seven months along, and Tong Pin, who was just five months pregnant, both stood with their prominent bellies in line.
Fang He followed the entourage of palace maids to watch the excitement, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kangxi smiling elegantly as he greeted his cousin, making her blush.
Then he took the hand of the Guifei, and amidst her joyful laughter, teased De Fei and Rong Fei a few times, causing them to lower their heads with smiles, and he did not forget to inquire about Tong Pin’s pregnancy, before cheerfully calling on Yi Fei, heading grandly to Cining Palace to pay respects to the ancestors.
Tsk tsk, Fang He thought to herself, this is a pure big wolf with a tail, calling him a high-end member of the gold medal club is no exaggeration; at least his skill in serving tea is impressive.
What surprised Fang He was that the Niu Hulu Guifei, who had been continuously pregnant and giving birth, should have been pale and weak, yet her complexion was rosy, and she had gained quite a bit of weight since leaving the capital, radiating maternal glow as she walked beside Kangxi.
In contrast, Tong Pin, who was pregnant for the first time, had always been in good health, but now, aside from her watermelon-sized belly, she had lost quite a bit of weight.
In just two months, Tong Pin’s cheeks had even thinned out to reveal her cheekbones, completely losing her previous cuteness and appearing timid, as if she could be blown over by the wind.
Fang He was left speechless; this was not pregnancy, it was as if she was carrying a ghostly fetus, sending chills down her spine.
“Although they all have the capable nanny serving them, and the Empress Dowager often inquires, this is really not surprising. What kind of family background do the noble ladies have?” said Cui Wei, who had come to Fang He’s quarters, filled with envy and gossip.
What a loss.
She looked at Fang He with astonishment, even sighing in a rural accent.
“Oh my heavens, why is it that everyone else is fine, but you went out once and came back looking like a charcoal?”
“With you like this, even if the Emperor is……” she couldn’t finish her thought, fearing the wrath of the seemingly fierce old maid.
Cui Wei dared not speak further.
On one hand, she did not want to discuss their master, and on the other, she feared that the darkened old maid would kick her out.
She had heard some hints from Cen Ying and the others and had come specifically to befriend Fang He.
This was also what Aunt Qin meant.
They both understood Fang He’s character; as long as they treated her a bit better, she, being so kind-hearted, would not let anyone lose face in the future.
What if… she really encountered a blind Emperor?
Fang He rolled her eyes at Cui Wei.
Before leaving the capital, their friendship had capsized; if it weren’t for wanting to know the news from the capital, she wouldn’t even let Cui Wei through the door.
Seeing Cui Wei still playing coy, Fang He threw a piece of unique snow satin fabric from Jiangnan into Cui Wei’s arms.
“No matter how noble the family background, can it compare to the meticulous service in the palace? Doesn’t the ancestor care?”
It wasn’t that Cui Wei was concerned about the childbirth situation in the harem, but that serving in front of the emperor would inevitably involve facing Kangxi’s moods.
She needed to be clear about who to avoid and who not to offend, lest she accidentally cross the line… that cup of poison was no joke.
However, she was well aware that she was not as sharp as the locals in this regard, and she would have to prepare a gift to get Cui Wei to speak.
Fortunately, Yi Fei had rewarded her with eighteen taels of silver rabbit fur.
The quality of that fur was indeed excellent; even the maids and matrons from Jiangning liked it and specifically traded her several pieces made from Jiangning fabric.
As for that stingy master who was so skilled at serving tea?
Ha… he hadn’t even raised her monthly allowance yet.
Cui Wei touched the fabric and smiled broadly.
The satin from Jiangning was thinner and softer than the cotton and silk available in the capital, making it particularly suitable for summer undergarments, breathable and comfortable.
She immediately began to help Fang He tidy up the quarters she had not stayed in for long, slowly explaining the differences in family backgrounds.
“The Duke’s residence is large and powerful; isn’t it easy to send a few family-born sons into the palace through the Ministry of Internal Affairs?”
The late Empress Xiaozhao had also left connections in the palace, all belonging to the Guifei.
The Yongshou Palace was impenetrable, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also attentive; how could the Guifei not be glowing with health?
“The Ula Nara clan of the Plain Yellow Banner has no connection to the powerful Fei Yanggu family; the highest-ranking official is just the concubine’s father, a seventh-rank bannerman…”
“Even if the Empress Dowager is concerned about Tong Pin’s pregnancy, and the Emperor values it, no one dares to neglect the service, yet no one is willing to put in extra effort, to stoke a fire that may or may not be hot…”
Fang He listened calmly with a smile, trying to analyze the reasons behind Kangxi’s suppression of high-ranking concubines, which should be to maintain control over the harem.
Having been out once and seen the true nature of the outside world, Fang He would no longer pity Tong Pin with the mindset of someone watching a soap opera.
Everyone has their own choices, and they must pay the price for them.
Moreover, no matter how pitiful Tong Pin was, she was still far better off than a mere palace maid.
After chatting with Cui Wei about the situation in the palace, Fang He felt much more at ease, and she left without much difference from before.
She just needed to do her duties in front of the emperor well before she put down her pen next year, avoiding the lines she shouldn’t cross, and accurately managing the connections she needed, waiting for a marriage proposal.
Getting close to the Fifth Prince was something Fang He had considered repeatedly.
She knew the Fourth Prince was the more promising candidate, but if Yong Xiaosi followed the historical trajectory, there would definitely be bloodshed around him, and that was not the kind of happy life she wanted.
As for the First and Third Princes, there was no need to think about them; these two spoiled mama’s boys, one hot-tempered and the other self- proclaimed charming, had already shown signs of their nature at a young age.
Only the Fifth Prince, raised by the Empress Dowager, with a favored mother and brothers, was relatively simple-minded.
He would never lack for honor and blessings, and no one dared to bully him; even Yong Xiaosi gave him some face.
No matter what her situation was after leaving the palace, once the Fifth Prince established his residence, the feelings left now would become her protection in business later.
Is there anything more stable than having a prince as a backing?
Well… except for the stingy father of the prince.
Thus, after politely sending Cui Wei away, Fang He began to prepare the gifts she could give to the Fifth Prince.
It would be best if they were also useful to Yi Fei and the Empress Dowager, such as essential oil soap and a delicate version of ancient powder.
This powder could be used as both face powder and prickly heat powder, all meant for the Fifth Prince.
As a palace maid, Fang He could not have any ties with Yi Fei and the Empress Dowager; as long as these could be transformed into the Fifth Prince’s filial piety, that would be enough.
Sooner or later, the Fifth Prince would remember this kindness.
In fact, Fang He had not been so thorough in understanding human relationships before; it was her hotel boyfriend who taught her step by step.
Speaking of which, she missed him a bit.
What love or whatever, Fang He didn’t quite understand; the two of them occasionally quarreled over this, but she just felt that being together was enough for happiness.
Unfortunately, her happiness was smashed away by a wine bottle, never to return.
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