Her heartache instantly gripped her chest, making her bury her face in the pillow.
No, if she stood for even one more second, she would shamelessly chase after him.
But life in the palace was truly unbearable!
The next day, just after the third watch, Chun Lai woke Fang He up.
“His Majesty has ordered that no matter what you decide, you must fulfill your duties in the imperial presence. Otherwise, you’ll be sent to the imperial estates to farm.”
Having not woken up early for many days, Fang He struggled to get out of bed, so sleepy that even her complaints were delayed.
What’s wrong with farming?
Gold is precious, silver ingots are even more valuable, but if it’s for freedom… well, better not to toss it away.
After Qingming, the weather gradually warmed up, and even the middle of the night wasn’t too cold.
She groggily washed her face with cold water to wake herself up and followed Chun Lai towards the Zhaoren Hall, ready to perform her duties.
But once again, Fang He was stopped, this time by Wen Ling and Wen Xing.
To be honest, after Fang He had unreservedly taught them her skills and even helped them receive rewards, though they inwardly mocked her for being foolish, their attitude towards her had improved significantly.
They couldn’t let others think they were ungrateful, otherwise, if they ever got a promotion, who would dare to be their confidants?
So both wore expressions of concern and subtlety.
Wen Ling said,
“His Majesty has ordered that you continue as before, only serving in the Hongde Hall. You are no longer needed in the main hall.”
Wen Xing added softly,
“When you reach the Hongde Hall, you don’t need to enter the hall. Just stay outside with the Chun-level maids.”
Fang He wasn’t the least bit surprised by Kangxi’s erratic temper.
Advisor Gu had already done this.
Like master, like servant.
She calmly nodded to the two,
“Understood, thank you.”
After Fang He left, Wen Ling wondered,
“She’s lost favor in front of His Majesty, why isn’t she worried at all?”
Wen Xing, who had intentionally provoked Fang He, scoffed,
“If you’ve forgotten how His Majesty only wanted her to serve before, think about how
long it’s been since we last served.”
“It’s best if she loses favor, but I’m afraid His Majesty is deliberately tempering her. If His Majesty is going to such lengths for her, how could she lack a future?”
Wen Ling was stunned, and her expression gradually became somewhat unpleasant.
Indeed, since returning from the hot springs, His Majesty hadn’t summoned any of them to serve.
Not just the two of them, but all the palace maids and official women in the imperial presence, His Majesty hadn’t touched.
If His Majesty didn’t care for Fang He, why would he be so concerned about her feelings and stop touching those in the imperial presence?
Actually, Kangxi hadn’t thought that much.
It was just that after returning, he had to deal with affairs in the harem, couldn’t neglect the high-ranking concubines for too long, and had to attend to court politics and the war in the north.
The official women and maids in the imperial presence were merely for his convenience when he had no time to enter the harem.
He really couldn’t care about their feelings.
But others didn’t see it that way.
In front of the Hongde Hall, many people came and went daily, and Fang He had been too noticeable recently.
Her standing like a statue in the corridor outside the hall attracted much attention.
Especially from the princes who were called over for academic evaluations.
The eldest prince, Yin Zhi, walked at the front, and upon seeing Fang He, he blurted out,
“Why are you here?”
Fang He thought to herself, like father, like son, their questions were equally annoying.
She respectfully crouched,
“Replying to the eldest prince, as the master commands, so does the servant serve. Wherever I am is where I should be.”
Yin Zhi was slightly taken aback but didn’t mind, swallowing the word “fresh” back into his throat, clearly knowing what to say and what not to.
But he inwardly thought that this maid, who had been quite dark-skinned, had won his father’s favor, but now that she had grown much fairer, she was no longer favored.
Could it be that his father liked the ugly ones?
Yin Zhi, who could choose a consort in next year’s selection, was greatly puzzled, but in this aspect, he truly couldn’t emulate his father.
He still liked the beautiful ones.
The crown prince, Yin Reng, remained silent, while Yin Zhi wanted to speak but was dragged inside by Yin Zhen, who kept his eyes straight ahead.
Earlier, Consort Hui and Consort Rong had been reprimanded, and the events at Cining Palace had spread to the harem overnight.
Yin Zhen felt that, out of brotherly affection, it was better not to let the third prince speak.
Yin Zhi, rolling his eyes, was pulled into the hall, leaving only Yin Qi standing awkwardly in front of Fang He.
He whispered, “Are you alright?”
Fang He shifted her weight slightly and smiled softly,
“This servant is fine, thank you for your concern, fifth prince.”
Actually, not so fine.
Having not served for a long time, and even longer since she last stood like a statue, after just two or three hours, her legs felt like they were filled with lead.
But this was her duty as a palace maid.
If Kangxi thought this would make her realize the benefits of staying, he could keep dreaming!
Yin Qi, being honest and kind-hearted, with a sensitive and thoughtful nature, noticed Fang He’s movement.
As Fang He’s little teacher, he really wanted to help her.
Even the Empress Dowager had privately told him that Fang He was good and to help her if he could.
But… he was also afraid of his father.
After thinking about it, he reluctantly handed his purse to Fang He.
Fang He instantly perked up.
Standing outside like a statue, there was also extra income?
Yin Qi: “There’s some beef jerky inside, eat it sparingly. This is my three-day ration…”
He even swallowed his saliva.
Fang He: “…… Thank you, fifth prince. This servant appreciates it, but this servant isn’t hungry.”
Actually, she really wanted to eat it, but seeing the child’s craving… she would have been shameless enough to take it, but these days she had to coax someone, so she had to play the part of Lin Daiyu to the fullest.
But it’s not the sweet-talking kind of coaxing-that’s not a skill, it’s instinct.
In her previous life, she and Geng Shuning became best friends because they had similar personalities.
Both were the type who, if someone made them unhappy, would make that person’s entire family unhappy.
But Geng Shuning had more backbone, having grown up in the mountains.
Her bones were as hard as steel, and she often charged forward like a tank, leaving everyone in chaos.
Fang He couldn’t do that.
Growing up in a precarious environment, she developed a personality that never pushed people to the brink.
If Geng Shuning was a hereditary dog-beating stick, Fang He was more like the gentle palm that dissolves bones.
She always used a coaxing posture, mixing honey with poison, sweet yet vicious.
Children from both her parents’ sides had been driven to the edge by her coaxing.
Her first boyfriend couldn’t last three days; the second, with more experience, managed a week before surrendering.
As for the dog father… a month or two would probably be enough.
After Qingming, the rainy days increased.
As she was mentally strategizing, a light drizzle began, fine as silk, enveloping the entire Qianqing Palace in a hazy mist.
Fang He stood at the junction of the corridor and the palace grounds, exposed to the wind and rain on both sides, quickly soaking the hem of her dress and her embroidered shoes.
Even though the weather was warming up, it wasn’t hot yet. The damp chill of the rainy day crept up her legs like a snake.
Hearing footsteps, Fang He immediately hugged her arms, shivering with a dazed expression, tilting her head at a 45-degree angle to gaze at the sky.
From a distance, ignoring a slight flaw in her complexion, she looked like a painting.
Liang Jiugong sighed inwardly.
If she just served the Emperor well, Fang He’s future would be assured of wealth and honor, and the Emperor would be in a good mood.
It was a win-win situation.
Why couldn’t this ancestor see that?
Approaching, he smiled and asked Fang He,
“Miss, are you cold? If you are, don’t push yourself…”
Fang He remained motionless, feeling a bit excited inside.
Could she go back and rest?
“…Just show some humility to His Majesty, and he surely wouldn’t want you catching a cold here, right?”
Liang Jiugong thought he was being persuasive.
He didn’t show a hint of resentment, wishing this ancestor would bring honor to the Liang family.
But Fang He’s face turned wooden.
So, if she’s humble, he wouldn’t let her suffer, but if she’s not, he would?
So Kangxi, like the imperial concubines, has a flexible temper!
Seeing Fang He unmoved, Liang Jiugong followed her gaze,
“Miss, what are you looking at?”
Fang He sighed softly, her voice light and tender, even with a hint of sweetness, like a sigh to a lover upon waking in the afternoon.
“I really want to serve His Majesty well. He is so majestic, so benevolent, like the Buddha who saves the world, making one can’t help but look up to him…”
Thanks to some sentimental lady, otherwise she couldn’t have come up with such syrupy words.
Liang Jiugong clicked his tongue inwardly.
Isn’t this showing humility?
But what’s the use of showing humility to a servant like me?
You should go in and say it!
Fang He sighed again,
“…But I can’t forget the years of nurturing from my aunt. Before she passed, her tearful expectations appeared in my dreams every night…”
Liang Jiugong felt a chill, involuntary shivering, his throat feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Wait, didn’t Aunt Xu die in Anping Hall, where no one was allowed to visit?
He cautiously took two steps back, forcing a dry laugh,
“The dead aren’t as important as the living. If you have a bright future, Aunt Xu would only be pleased.”
Fang He looked at Liang Jiugong with melancholy, “How do you know, sir?”
Liang Jiugong: “…I guessed.”
After all, he couldn’t go to the underworld to ask.
Fang He turned back, sighing for the third time,
“I guess if I can continue the Xu family line, Aunt Xu can rest in peace, and the Xu ancestors can be at ease.”
“If they are at peace, it’s sunny weather. Looking at the sky now, they might soon crawl out of their graves and enter my dreams.”
“I just hope I haven’t changed too much, so the ancestors won’t mistake someone else for me…”
Liang Jiugong: !!!
The Emperor is the true dragon, impervious to evil spirits.
If they really mistake someone…
Who else could they find?
He felt a chill in his heart, forcing a dry laugh, said nothing more, and hurriedly left a polite remark before rushing back to Hongde Hall.
Fang He smirked inwardly, that eunuch always wanted to play the pimp, let’s see if this scares him to death!
After Kangxi finished examining the princes’ homework, he casually asked Liang Jiugong,
“What did that rascal say?”
It certainly wasn’t anything good, given how pale Liang Jiugong looked when he entered.
Liang Jiugong composed himself and reported Fang He’s words verbatim.
Kangxi sneered, now she’s not comparing him to a sea eagle or the bright moon, but to the Buddha?
He felt a subtle sense of discomfort.
In that rascal’s heart, was he never a person?
“Have her on duty outside in the morning, and in the afternoon, send her to the side room, let Gu Wenxing teach her the rules for handling affairs after leaving the palace.”
Kangxi wasn’t deliberately making things difficult for Fang He, nor was he trying to force her to submit.
In the palace, those unable to serve inside the hall naturally had to do these tasks.
He even chose the lightest work for her.
Let her do needlework like the “Wen” generation of maids, instead of doing miscellaneous tasks in the hall like the “Jing” generation, or sweeping the Qianqing Palace main hall like Chunlai and others.
He was afraid this rascal would get sick and lie down again from exhaustion.
Fang He received the order but didn’t rush to perform.
She obediently went to the side room to learn from Gu Wenxing how to convey messages and control the husband’s family.
How to survive outside, learning more couldn’t hurt.
Since she was to work for the Emperor, Gu Wenxing wouldn’t teach her the “Four Books for Women,” so Fang He was quite happy with the learning.
By the eighteenth of April, Dong’e Pengchun and Langtan had selected their troops.
In front of the Meridian Gate, Kangxi personally beat the drum and offered wine to boost the soldiers’ morale before sending them north.
Fang He only stayed by the city gate tower but could hear over two thousand people outside shouting
“Long live the Emperor.”
The scene was so spectacular that Wei Zhu and Chunlai couldn’t help but feel their hearts surge, their faces flushed as if drunk.
But Fang He had seen grand military parades and wasn’t too impressed.
She just stared thoughtfully at the large and two small gate towers of the Meridian Gate.
She was so close to freedom, just a gate away, yet it was an insurmountable chasm.
Kangxi, coming down from the city gate tower, saw Fang He staring at the Meridian Gate from afar and was too angry to get angry.
He only lifted the curtain of his sedan chair to ask Fang He coldly,
“Looking at the weather, the Xu ancestors should be at peace now, right?”
Fang He: “…”
Why don’t you go down and ask?
She glanced at Kangxi with a mix of coquetry and reproach, then awkwardly looked away.
“I’m too embarrassed to say.”
The army’s departure went smoothly, with clear skies and no issues.
Kangxi was in a good mood and didn’t press further, lowering the curtain.
Upon returning to Hongde Hall, he had her brought inside.
“Now there are no outsiders, speak, I’m listening.”
Liang Jiugong saw this, waved for the day-duty palace servants to leave, and stood guard at the door himself.
But he couldn’t help being curious, stretching his ears to listen.
Fang He looked at Kangxi with worshipful, watery eyes, then twisted her body and lowered her gaze.
“The ancestors came into my dream the other night, scolding me for being ungrateful, when you, my lord, are so wise and mighty…”
Kangxi raised his fan as if to hit her,
“Get to the point!”
Fang He: “…They scolded me for forgetting the word loyalty, being single-minded about leaving the palace, must have been blinded by greed, and shouldn’t have done so, scolding me for half the night.”
Kangxi’s lips curved deeper,
“Did it wake you up?”
Fang He twisted her body, her voice becoming shy,
“I’m foolish, only filled with loyalty, but don’t know how to… ouch!”
She covered her head where she was hit, not daring to ramble anymore.
“The ancestors thought of a perfect solution for me!”
Kangxi knew there was likely no good words from this rascal, but if Fang He was willing to stay, he wouldn’t have to be angry with her anymore.
He picked up his tea, paused, and then silently put it down again.
“What is the perfect solution?”
Fang He gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and quickly said,
“The ancestors said since I want to continue the Xu family line, I can first leave the palace to marry, have a few children to fulfill my nurturing duty, and then return to serve you, my lord, according to our Manchu customs!”
Kangxi: “…Get Out!”
A few more?
He didn’t need to waste his time talking to this bastard!