Later, it was also for her that Ulin Zhu hurriedly chose to marry into the Zhasuhuli family, causing that family of fools to suffer…
The Empress Dowager, while hurriedly changing her clothes, repeatedly instructed, “Later, bring me the inventory from my treasury, and gather everything I prepared for Ulin Zhu; I want to recognize that girl as my goddaughter…”
New Year.
Kangxi was busy until the eve of the New Year, finally finishing the backlog of memorials that had piled up for two months.
By the end of the year, the political affairs that needed to be handled were mostly resolved by Suoetu and the other cabinet ministers, who worked day and night, allowing Kangxi to let them go back.
Suo’etu and Nalan Mingzhu didn’t even bother to argue anymore, both bitterly smiling, saying they were going back for the New Year, but in reality, it was just to pass through the palace gates a couple more times.
On the eve of the New Year, the ancestors would lead the concubines and wives to worship the kitchen god, while the Emperor would lead the royal relatives and ministers to worship the ancestors in the Fengxian Hall.
Next, Kangxi had to write the blessings to be sent to the royal relatives and ministers.
The ministers took advantage of these few short days to frantically finish the tasks that needed to be completed before the New Year, rushing to get stamps from various departments, their legs almost worn out.
By the twenty-sixth of the twelfth month, when he put down his pen, Kangxi would visit the concubines who had children, and then comfort the pregnant concubines… if he wasn’t careful, he might even end up staying with the concubines in the side chambers, heading to Cining Palace as if he were rushing to a market.
Outside, families were also busy, taking advantage of these few days to visit relatives, maintaining social ties, and delivering gifts and respects.
Then came the continuous banquets in Qianqing Palace from New Year’s Eve to the fifteenth day of the first month, lasting sixteen days without rest.
Fang He personally experienced a New Year in the Qing Dynasty and began to doubt life itself.
Was this really a New Year, or was it just suffering?
She saw the usually robust Prince Yu, Fuchuan, being supported out of the palace by two tall guards on the fifteenth day of the first month.
The concubine with a better constitution, the Prince Gong’s second concubine, and the martial general’s daughter, the Ma family, were supporting the elderly matron, which left Fang He in shock.
“How many times must he have knelt? Eating those boiled dishes every day, all cold, even iron would not hold up…”
Cuiwei rolled her eyes and handed her a cup of hot tea.
“What does it have to do with you?”
“Ever since the Emperor stopped going to Hongde Hall, you either made excuses to practice writing or to avoid taking on tasks, coming back to help the tea room. Count how much work you’ve done; how dare you complain!”
Fang He chuckled and said nothing.
Her job on the dragon boat was to serve in the study.
The Emperor would be busy discussing state affairs with the ministers who had come to report after entering the capital for ten days after putting down his pen, and to show closeness, he temporarily summoned the ministers in Zhaoren Hall, leaving her no room to shine.
Those palace maids in front of the Emperor didn’t think she should take on tasks, did they?
Of course, she had to be understanding, keeping a distance from the Emperor, doing less to make fewer mistakes, and not doing anything wrong was fine.
After hearing Fang He explain in a huff, Cuiwei used to think she was a bit lazy and felt sorry for her cousin.
After all, someone like her, who avoided work to the point of never thinking of scheming in front of her master, was rare among thousands; Aunt Qin was just unlucky.
It was only after meeting Fang He that she realized this girl had walked through the gates of hell and was definitely possessed by a lazy ghost!
This black girl, in order to do less work, could pull big flags and endure grievances; Liang Jiugong called people to invite her to show off in front of the master, as if he were trying to feed her poison.
Lazy Cuiwei herself was one thing, but to be this lazy… in this world, there was probably only one like this, and Cuiwei couldn’t tell what kind of luck she had.
The Lantern Festival banquet had ended, and both Fang He and Cuiwei didn’t have to be busy anymore; they could tidy up and go back to rest.
At that moment, Li Dequan came again.
Cuiwei’s eyes instinctively brightened, and she stood up to greet him.
Then she felt something was off, realizing she had neglected Fang He, and froze, turning to smile at Fang He.
Fang He stood up expressionlessly; she was used to this plastic sisterhood.
She calmly and naturally asked, “Is there something you need, Brother Li?”
Li Dequan admired Fang He’s ability to remain calm in the face of danger.
For more than half a month during the New Year, everyone in front of the Emperor was almost working themselves to death, yet Fang He had nothing to do.
Yet this ancestor really had no business at all… and still made the masters worry about her; where could one go to reason with that?
He looked particularly tired, but his spirit was still good, politely cupping his hands to Fang He.
“I’m here to wish the young lady a belated New Year. The Fifth Prince asked me to run an errand, saying that tomorrow you can start going to the study, so please prepare.”
Fang He frowned slightly, discreetly curtsying, “I understand, thank you for running this errand, Brother.”
Li Dequan’s eyes flickered, avoiding her gaze and chuckling, “You don’t need to be polite, just make sure you don’t wake up late tomorrow.”
As they exited the Rijing Gate, Cuiwei, who was becoming familiar with Fang He, felt a bit puzzled.
“Why are you frowning? In this palace, having the opportunity to learn to read and write alongside the princes is a huge blessing, not to mention for palace maids; you’re not happy about that?”
If Fang He dared to answer yes, she would definitely strangle this cursed fate!
Fang He remained silent for a long time, until they were almost parting ways at the side chambers and ear chambers, before she sighed softly, “You don’t understand; my fortune is still to come.”
Cuiwei: “…… Go to bed early; no one is calling you.”
Don’t dream too much.
The next day.
Fang He tightly wrapped herself in her coat, holding a sheep-horn lantern, and when she turned the corner of the corridor leading to the study at Rijing Gate, she unexpectedly ran into Liang Jiugong.
Having returned to the capital for over a month, she wasn’t blind; with her professional instincts, she could pick up on the clues.
She reasonably suspected that Master Kang might feel that the master-servant relationship wasn’t secure enough to let her handle errands outside the palace; he wanted a more stimulating relationship.
Liang Jiugong approached with a smile, “Miss Fang He, you’re up early; luckily, you didn’t make me late, delaying the Emperor’s decree.”
Fang He squatted down helplessly, “I’m here to listen to the decree.”
In her heart, she was howling; aside from her bed, she hated stimulating relationships the most, wuwu~
Liang Jiugong: “The Emperor’s decree is that having women enter the study is not quiet enough, so Fang He’s desk will be placed in the corner of Hongde Hall, separated by a screen, and I will personally be her teacher.”
Sure enough.
Fang He coldly laughed in her heart, showing a shocked, dazed expression on her face, as if struck by lightning, eagerly… oh no, it was nervously stepping forward.
“How could this be? What virtue and ability do I have to receive such a grand favor! I truly have no way to repay it, no way to repay it!”
She could only express her greetings to the ancestors of the Aisin Gioro family.
Liang Jiugong: “…………”
Although, this little ancestor’s reaction… is it a bit too enthusiastic?