After Fang He left, Kangxi gradually came to his senses.
Manchu customs did not prohibit widows from remarrying; in fact, they supported it.
But if she wanted to have a few children before returning to the palace to serve, where would that leave her husband’s family?
He couldn’t possibly emulate his father’s ruthless methods of seizing love, risking another royal scandal.
To bring her into the palace in accordance with customs, he would likely have to wait for her supposed husband to pass away naturally.
Kangxi felt both amused and exasperated.
He took several gulps of cold tea to suppress his cold laughter.
So, her so-called “perfect solution” was to return to the palace to serve him in his old age, and then retire there herself?
But Fang He showed no signs of stopping.
Today, she embroidered a pouch for Kangxi, only to use a similar pouch to collect fallen petals from the imperial garden.
She then took Chun Lai to a secluded corner of the garden, saying she wanted to bury her filial piety along with the petals, so she could serve her master with peace of mind in the future.
She even hoped that the petals would reach deep underground, so that the ancestors of the Xu family would understand her dilemma.
Kangxi: “……”
The Xu family’s ancestral graves are in the western suburbs.
Is she trying to summon spirits by burying flowers in the palace?
A few days later, during a lesson with Advisor Gu in her room, Fang He was on the verge of tears, laughing and crying at the same time.
When Advisor Gu asked, she replied,
“I was just remembering how my aunt used to teach me these same principles. She must have done so not to make me bear children for the Xu family, but to teach me how to serve His Majesty.”
“I’m so moved, truly moved. I wonder when I’ll have the chance to burn incense for my aunt and tell her that I was born a Xu and will die a Xu… His Majesty’s boundless grace has allowed me to bring honor to the Xu family!”
She covered her mouth, stifling her sobs to avoid being heard outside.
But Advisor Gu dared not keep this from Kangxi, especially knowing how much His Majesty cared.
With a subtle expression, he reported everything in detail.
Kangxi felt a headache coming on.
If Fang He really did burn incense, wouldn’t it make the Xu ancestors in the underworld think that he, Aisin Gioro Xuanye, was a mere son-in-law?
He held back his frustration, refraining from scolding Fang He.
Out of sight, out of mind he decided to see just how far this troublemaker could go.
But privately, Kangxi instructed Liang Jiugong to switch to the cooling tea used during fasting periods.
Fang He passed by the imperial tea room, catching a glimpse of Cuiwei making faces at her.
She snorted inwardly.
So, His Majesty finally figured out that this tea could douse more than one kind of fire.
Though Fang He’s antics were… relatively small, most palace servants were unaware, unless she wanted to risk her life.
Cuiwei, who was close to Fang He, knew a little.
When they were alone, she couldn’t help but click her tongue in warning.
“Be careful not to overdo it. I’ve been watching for years, and our master is not known for his patience.”
“If you truly anger His Majesty, forget about leaving the palace, surviving here would be a pipe dream.”
Cuiwei didn’t understand Fang He’s motivations.
She could understand not pursuing a better future, but actively pushing away an obvious opportunity?
That was just madness.
Fang He lay lazily on the bed, lost in thought, not bothering to explain to Cuiwei.
Chatting about gossip with Cuiwei was one thing, but pouring her heart out?
That girl couldn’t keep a secret to save her life.
She was nowhere near as extreme as her great-grandmother, who had truly been a force to reckon with.
Ever since discovering her true origins and having Wei Zhu and Chen Ping discreetly investigate, Fang He had learned much more.
About the old matriarch’s notorious reputation in the capital…
Well, her “flower name” was still remembered by many.
Her still-living uncle’s elder was just one of many with unclear paternity.
Was it so wrong for her to want to have a few children with one man?
But when she went to collect her monthly allowance in May, even Qiao Cheng advised her.
“Your aunt used to hold you back, fearing that the Zhashili family’s crimes would implicate you both. But now that the masters know and don’t care, there’s no need for you to leave the palace!”
“Even if you want to continue the Xu family line, adopting a few heirs from the Qiao or Wei families would suffice. Once you’ve established yourself in the palace, you could grant them some favors, ensuring the Xu family’s legacy continues without breaking your aunt’s lineage.”
Fang He didn’t brush off Qiao Cheng like she did with Cuiwei.
She had long noticed that her uncle, though a man of few words, was reliable and kind-hearted.
She and Wei Zhu served the imperial presence, and Qiao Cheng, wary of causing misunderstandings about the eunuchs’ connections, rarely sought them out.
But whenever they needed help, Qiao Cheng was always the first to step in quietly.
“Uncle, I’ll be honest with you. I know leaving the palace might not lead to a better life,”
Fang He admitted dejectedly.
“But I’ve been harboring this desire to leave for years. If I don’t try, I’ll regret it when my looks fade and His Majesty’s favor wanes.”
She was well aware that in this world, leaving the palace wasn’t a good choice.
On the way back to the palace with the Empress Dowager, she had seen how ordinary people lived.
It was undoubtedly harder than Geng Shuning’s life in the mountains.
Serving the Emperor was one thing, but if she displeased him, her duties would be uncertain.
Without power, freedom was relative.
Staying low-key and unnoticed was one thing, but as a time-traveler, she couldn’t predict her fate.
If any nobleman took an interest in her, even the Empress Dowager’s protection might not be enough.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager hadn’t summoned her in months.
Wei Zhu hadn’t uncovered much about the palace’s past, so she wasn’t sure how much goodwill remained.
It had been years since the Fifth Prince had established his household, and she might not have the patience to wait.
But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, she couldn’t let go of that tiny hope.
She wanted to be herself.
Two decades of education had taught her she was a person, not an object.
She wanted a child of her own, one she didn’t have to fight over, one she could love completely.
It was a regret she carried from both her lives.
But she also confided in Qiao Cheng,
“If I try and still can’t succeed, at least I won’t have regrets. Then… I’ll be able to serve His Majesty wholeheartedly.”
Her professional habits from her past life ensured that none of her struggles would lead to a dead end.
Just like now, when she opened up to Qiao Cheng, Chunlai was right outside.
If she tried and found the path still blocked, she wouldn’t stubbornly push forward.
Her current words would pave the way for her to stay in the palace later.
Chunlai didn’t disappoint.
Every word was faithfully relayed to Kangxi, which somewhat eased his anger, though he found it all rather absurd.
He thought to himself, it was no wonder he paid so much attention to Fang He.
In the palace, there was no one as clever, mischievous, and yet so amusing as her.
She was bold, saying whatever she pleased, skirting palace rules, and even being insubordinate… but as the Emperor, Kangxi had seen it all.
He clearly noticed that this little troublemaker always stepped just above his bottom line-bold when she needed to be, cautious when necessary, never deliberately challenging his authority.
Even now, when she was being irritating, she wrapped it in a sugary coating, making it hard to stay angry.
But Fang He had spoken her piece, and Kangxi had his own pride.
He ruled the world, holding everything in his hands.
Why should he insist on a woman whose heart wasn’t with him?
Kangxi instructed Liang Jiugong,
“When we depart, have Fang He serve in the imperial carriage. Make the arrangements in advance.”
Fine, he would give her one last chance.
If, during the northern tour, this little girl still didn’t come to her senses, solely focused on leaving the palace for freedom… out of respect for his late mother, he would arrange a good marriage for her.
Liang Jiugong understood perfectly.
His Majesty was worried that Fang He, upon learning she would be serving closely during the trip, might feign illness or make excuses.
He smiled and bowed,
“I’ll take care of it, Your Majesty. Rest assured, I’ll handle everything properly.”
Pengchun sent an urgent message from the north, reporting that 3,500 soldiers had assembled at Xibo and would soon head to Ula to gather supplies before marching to Solon.
The additional 500 soldiers were from tribes frequently harassed by Russian raiders, led by Prince Lobzang Günbu of Korchin.
These 500 men were familiar with the route to Yakesa, and Lobzang Günbu had personally fought the Russians.
Pengchun estimated that the army would reach Yakesa about ten days earlier than expected.
Kangxi calculated that, given the marching speed, they would arrive in Solon around May 20th.
If the campaign went smoothly, it should be over by the end of June.
He planned to depart on June 3rd, stay in Chengde for ten days to inspect the troops, then head to the Mulan hunting grounds, where he could meet with the Mongol tribes by the end of June.
By then, they could discuss whether to continue the war against Russia or negotiate peace, showcasing the Qing dynasty’s strength and deterring the northern, southern, and western Mongol tribes.
As the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, Liang Jiugong made sure Fang He didn’t catch even a whiff of the preparations.
After the edict was announced in mid-May, no one informed Fang He about her inclusion in the trip.
She continued her duties, standing guard and attending lessons, asking no questions, afraid the Emperor might remember her.
Advisor Gu also showed no signs of anything unusual.
As the head of the eunuch office, he didn’t need to accompany the trip, leaving it to the palace eunuchs to record the imperial activities.
By the end of May, no one had told Fang He to pack.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Not only was Kangxi curious about how long she could keep up her antics, but Fang He herself was puzzled.
For nearly two months, she had been sweet-talking Kangxi, yet he hadn’t shown any reaction.
Was it that the men in her previous life were too weak compared to His Majesty’s resilience, or had her skills deteriorated from disuse?
Seeing that Kangxi hadn’t called her to accompany him, she felt reassured.
Surely, His Majesty couldn’t stand her anymore and didn’t want to see her, hence excluding her from the trip.
If she stayed quietly in the palace for a few months, by the time Kangxi returned, she might even be urged to leave before the year ended.
The thought made her laugh in her dreams.
Then… she was abruptly woken by Chunlai, who quickly dressed her and ushered her into the departing procession.
Fang He was shocked, confused, and panicked.
What was going on?
Even if she was to accompany the trip, shouldn’t she have been informed beforehand?
She had no money, no luggage—she’d stink after a few months away!
Li Dequan approached, whispering respectfully,
“Don’t worry, miss. Chunlai has prepared everything you’ll need for your stay.”
“New clothes are ready for you, made from the finest materials. If you need anything else, just let me know, and I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”
Fang He: “……”
You’re not just missing a few things; you’re missing a conscience!
Why wasn’t she told about this in advance?
Chunlai’s preparations might be more thorough than her own… but her gold, her silver-they were still in her room!
As the imperial carriage passed through the Meridian Gate, Chunlai caught up and stood behind Fang He, soothing her chilled heart.
“Don’t worry, miss. Eunuch Liang instructed me to carefully pack your belongings and hand them to Deputy Qiao. He’ll return them to you along with your monthly allowance.”
Fang He fell silent.
Were they her gold boxes?
The thought of thousands of taels waiting for her return instantly warmed her heart.
Damn Liang Jiugong, why did he have to understand her so well?
Now she couldn’t even stay angry-how infuriating!
Once calmed, Fang He noticed that not only was the Emperor traveling, but the Empress Dowager’s carriage was also following.
Cuiwei’s gossip hadn’t mentioned this.
She only said that the Imperial Noble Consort had fallen ill again, and the Noble Consort Niohuru couldn’t accompany the trip due to her daughter’s poor health and the Tenth Prince’s seasonal cold.
There was also gossip about the four consorts.
The Sixth Prince, Yinzhi, was still bedridden in Yonghe Palace, so Consort De wouldn’t dare leave.
Consort Yi had given birth to the Eleventh Prince on May 7th, and according to Cuiwei’s confident analysis, the child was unwell due to foul play.
Consort Yi, still recovering, couldn’t possibly travel.
Thus, only Consort Hui and Consort Rong were accompanying the trip.
Among the six concubines, Concubine Duan was ill, Concubine Jing was out of favor, Concubine Xi and Concubine Tong were excluded, leaving only Concubine An and Concubine Jin.
The rest were a few low-ranking ladies and the imperial princes from the First to the Fifth.
As Fang He glanced toward the Empress Dowager’s carriage, the imperial procession exited the palace, and Li Dequan came to escort her to the imperial carriage.
Inside, Fang He couldn’t help but marvel-this carriage was enormous!
She had never seen such a large vehicle in her previous life.
It was almost as wide as three buses side by side, with screens separating different areas.
No wonder it required thirty-two horses-it was like pulling a small three-room house.
The outermost area was where Kangxi received ministers and handled state affairs.
At the moment, he wasn’t reviewing memorials but sat behind the left screen, his actions unclear.
As Fang He prepared to kneel, Liang Jiugong approached with a smile.
“If you need to freshen up or change clothes, Wei Zhu and Chunlai are in a carriage behind. They’ll attend to you.”
Fang He was startled.
Attend to her?
She was still a servant herself; how could she have others serving her?
Liang Jiugong added,
“His Majesty has instructed that you’ll be serving in the imperial carriage at all times. If you need anything, just let me or Li Dequan know.”
“What?!”
Fang He couldn’t help exclaiming, her tone clearly shocked.
She quickly covered her mouth, glancing nervously at the screen, then leaned closer to Liang Jiugong, whispering almost inaudibly.
“All twenty-four hours?”
Before Liang Jiugong could respond, Kangxi emerged from behind the screen.
Liang Jiugong bowed and retreated, not daring to say more.
Fang He also knelt, wanting to slap herself.
She must have been too sleepy to control her reaction.
Kangxi’s expression was displeased as he scrutinized Fang He.
She seemed fairer, more radiant, but her words were increasingly unpleasant.
“Are you displeased at the thought of being by my side at all times?”