Wei Disheng grinned, revealing two rows of small white teeth, and scratched the back of his head with a chuckle.
“Then I’ll head back first. I need to discuss this with my godfather and get things done quickly while His Majesty is out of the palace,” Wei Disheng said, preparing to leave.
Fang He stopped him.
“Wait. I’ll memorize the formulas as soon as possible and pass them to you. Have your godfather read them to you—but you should also start learning to read yourself.”
Eunuchs were officially forbidden from literacy, but those with real authority always knew how to read and write.
Otherwise, how could they manage account books?
Since their little “family” was preparing for the future, Wei Disheng had to start learning early.
Seeing him nod, Fang He added, “When you have time, buy me some pearl powder, millet, and almond oil. Also, get a lot of sesame seeds—I need them.”
She was leaving the money-making to Wei Disheng for now, but her top priority was ensuring her survival without drawing attention.
If something went wrong with her bangs or her skin improved too noticeably, she needed an extra layer of protection.
She would first make traditional water-based face powder.
Not only did it nourish the skin, but it also allowed precise color control—an essential tool for disguises and appearance modifications.
***
Kangxi showed no rush to return from the Southern Park—he was likely enjoying his time horseback riding before heading back to the palace.
Normally, when the emperor was away, Qianqing Palace should have been peaceful.
But despite the apparent silence, there was an undercurrent of activity within its walls.
With fewer attendants serving in the imperial presence, the eunuchs were personally selected by the Office of Internal Affairs to fill the gaps—carefully chosen individuals like Wei Disheng, who were known for their meticulous and cautious nature.
As for the missing palace maids, replacements were sent over by the Internal Affairs Office.
However, not just anyone could be assigned to serve in the emperor’s presence.
Without connections or silver to grease the wheels, such prestigious posts were nothing more than a pipe dream.
In the imperial tea room, Ru Yue and Wunai were both promoted to serve directly before the emperor.
Only Cuiwei and Fang He remained behind, while four new palace maids were brought in to replace those who had left.
Wunai’s father was still a government official, and she had a cousin in the palace who was already a consort.
Her promotion to the emperor’s service was only a matter of time.
But Ru Yue’s sudden advancement took even Qin Gugu and Cuiwei by surprise.
Fang He had a hunch—it was likely connected to Qiao Wen’s earlier attempt to gain favor at the emperor’s side.
No one knew the details, and Ru Yue herself didn’t say anything.
She simply strutted off, smugly moving from the small side room near the Jiaotai Hall to a better living space behind the Zhaoren Hall.
The four new palace maids in the tea room were young—the eldest only fourteen, the youngest merely twelve.
No matter their backgrounds, they were still in their probationary period, eager to earn favor.
They rushed to take on tasks, even competing to take over Fang He’s job of boiling water.
As Qin Gugu’s niece, Cuiwei was treated like a senior attendant.
The new maids served her like they would an older matron—besides offering her tea, they even fetched her foot-washing water.
Within just a few days, Cuiwei had grown accustomed to this pretense of seniority, her laughter becoming more brazen.
It was a common sight in the palace—new faces were welcomed with smiles, while old ones were forgotten.
Fang He later heard from Wei Disheng that Qiao Wen hadn’t survived her injuries from the flogging.
She had been transferred to Anping Hall, the place where those too weak to serve were sent to waste away.
Unless someone found a way to get her out of the palace, her only fate was to linger on until she was sent to the imperial mortuary.
Fang He had already given all the silver she received from Qiao Cheng to Wei Disheng to manage purchases.
After a long silence, she asked him to send ten taels of silver to Qiao Wen—beyond that, she asked no further questions.
When one lacked the power to change the larger system, being blindly kind and foolishly believing that one could bring goodness into the world alone was a dangerous delusion.
She had lived two lifetimes, and in both, she had been an ordinary person.
Survival was hard enough—ensuring she had no regrets was all she could ask for.
***
When new palace maids arrived at the imperial tea room, had it been the original owner of this body, she would have likely remained silent and diligently helped with the work.
That would have signaled to the newcomers that she was an easy target, subtly leading her to continue being taken advantage of.
But Fang He, taking advantage of this moment of staff reshuffling, subtly changed her demeanor.
She didn’t compete with Cuiwei for attention, nor did she fight for tasks with the new maids.
Instead, she quietly moved to the tea cabinet, using her memories of how Qiao Wen and Ru Yue brewed tea to start practicing the craft herself.
More importantly, the tea cabinet was the best spot for overhearing palace gossip.
It wasn’t even April yet, but the latest rumors from the emperor’s court had already trickled into the back palace like an early spring breeze.
March 28th was Consort Yi’s birthday.
Given Kangxi’s temperament, he usually handled birthdays for lower-ranked consorts by allowing the Office of Internal Affairs to grant them an extra month’s allowance.
For higher-ranked consorts, he would visit their palace for an evening meal, stay the night, and double their rewards the following day.
However, on the morning of Consort Yi’s birthday, just after court was dismissed, an unexpected decree came from Hongde Hall.
Kangxi ordered Liang Jiugong to open the treasury and bestow generous rewards upon Concubines Duan, Jing, and An—recognition for their families’ contributions in seizing tribute from Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the Grand Empress Dowager, citing the joy of the occasion, granted all lower-ranked consorts, noble ladies, and attendants three months’ extra allowance, encouraging them to celebrate together.
The only one who remembered Consort Yi was the Empress Dowager, who sent a birthday gift via her personal attendants.
All day long, the Imperial Noble Consort Tong, Noble Consort Niohuru, and the other three consorts received not a single reward.
The entire palace was watching—it was an utter humiliation.
By evening, as the palace lanterns were lit, Kangxi finally finished reviewing the backlog of memorials from his time in the Southern Park.
Rubbing his temples, he asked, “What time is it?”
A delicate and charming voice promptly replied, “Your Majesty, it’s nearly You Hour.”
It was Wunai, the newly assigned maid serving directly in the emperor’s presence.
Her voice dripped with concern.
“Your Majesty, you must be careful not to exhaust yourself. It’s time for your evening meal. Would you like me to summon the imperial kitchen?”
Kangxi frowned without even looking at her and called out coldly, “Liang Jiugong!”
Liang Jiugong hurried over from the doorway.
“This servant is here.”
“Send her back where she came from. If you don’t want your post in my presence, you can go to Office of Punishments instead!”
At just thirty-one years old, Kangxi had already eliminated Oboi, suppressed the Three Feudatories, and consolidated imperial power entirely under his control.
No one dared challenge his authority anymore.
At the height of his reign, he had no patience for people overstepping their place.
Palace servants were just that—servants.
Where did a mere maid get the audacity to make suggestions in his presence?
Worse yet, she had failed to answer his simple question properly.
Suddenly recalling how a certain unfamiliar palace maid had once replied to him in a straightforward manner, Kangxi grew even more displeased with Liang Jiugong’s poor judgment in handling staff.
Liang Jiugong, sensing the danger, didn’t even bother summoning others.
He personally covered Wunai’s mouth and dragged her out, a cold sweat forming on his back.
He should never have taken the Ula-Nara family’s silver.
If this small bribe ended up costing him his position, he would curse the Ula-Nara ancestors in his grave!
After tossing Wunai outside, he lowered his voice and barked, “The palace doesn’t need such ‘capable’ maids. Inform the Office of Internal Affairs—have her family come retrieve her!”
Wunai was stunned.
She had only been dutifully showing concern for the emperor—how had she suddenly ended up in this disaster?
If she were truly sent back home, she wouldn’t have to suffer in the palace anymore, but her family would be utterly humiliated.
She tried to protest, but Liang Jiugong’s expression turned ice-cold.
Without another word, he kicked her squarely in the stomach.
Had it not been for the silver from the Ula-Nara family and the favor he owed Concubine Tong, he would have beaten this fool to death himself.
As Wunai fainted from the blow, Liang Jiugong shot a glare at Li Dequan.
“What are you waiting for? Drag her away before—”
Before he could finish, Kangxi strode out of Hongde Hall.
Liang Jiugong immediately waved his hand behind his back.
Li Dequan and his men quickly carried Wunai off.
Liang Jiugong carefully inquired, “Your Majesty, are you heading to Yikun Palace? The sedan chair has already been prepared.”
Kangxi gave a light hum of acknowledgment.
He intended to put the high-ranking consorts in their place, but Consort Yi was still one of his favored women—and the mother of the Fifth and Ninth Princes.
He wouldn’t completely disregard her.
Coldly distancing himself for a few days and humiliating her during the day had been punishment enough.
Just as he was stepping onto the sedan chair, in that brief moment when the curtain was about to be drawn, something in the corner of his vision caught his attention.
At the far end of the covered corridor, partially hidden behind a red lacquered pillar, a small head was peeking out.
Hmm…
It looked oddly familiar.