Hesheli Fangyi was just looking for trouble, and even her maids couldn't understand her.

Tan Yun looked up at her master, who was walking at the front, carrying a soup brought from Kunning Palace.

The soup was very rich, and the ingredients used in it were of very high quality. It would take a lot of time to make a bowl of soup like this. Originally, this soup was carefully prepared for our master, but now that our master has come to the Qianqing Palace, it would be impolite to come empty-handed, so we packed the soup to take with us.

"Your Majesty, I heard from the palace servants that His Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately. Would it be inappropriate for us to come now?"

Tan Yun's words were a subtle reminder to Hesheli Fangyi to be mindful of propriety and timing. After all, the relationship between the Emperor and Empress in Kunning Palace and Qianqing Palace was not as harmonious as it appeared on the surface, and the instability of Kunning Palace's position would have the greatest impact on the still young Prince Baocheng.

Tan Yun doesn't need to elaborate on how much the Hesheli clan outside the palace valued Prince Baocheng. Just the fact that the Hesheli clan continuously sent people to the palace during the annual selection of palace women is enough to show their intentions.

Hearing Tan Yun's words, Hesheli Fangyi's brows furrowed slightly before relaxing again. "It's alright. I came here to discuss something with the Emperor."

Moreover, Baoqing has already returned to the palace, so she needs to ascertain the Emperor's attitude towards Baoqing.

Although Bao Cheng's status as the de facto crown prince is already set, nothing is absolute. Before the emperor issues the decree, Hesheli Fangyi cannot relax.

Compared to Bao Cheng's start with the loss of his mother, if her arrival cannot solidify Bao Cheng's status and allow him to change his fate and ascend to the throne, then what is the point of her arrival?

Before arriving, Hesheli Fangyi was not familiar with this period of Qing Dynasty history. She vaguely knew that Yinreng's later deposition was due to the pressure from his half-brothers and concubines in the harem (in fact, this was not the main contradiction at all). Therefore, she was more worried that her arrival would not change Baocheng's fate.

People all have a sense of being the protagonist, a kind of unique narcissism, whether intentional or unintentional. But everyone who comes to another world will have this mentality, and Hesheli Fangyi is no exception.

Since her master had said so, what could Tan Yun say? She lowered her head and whispered a reply, then picked up the food box and followed closely behind her master.

Soon, they arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

The Qianqing Palace is even more brightly lit at night.

Hesheli Fangyi looked at the shadowy figures outside the main hall, smiled, and walked over. "Eunuch Liang."

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress, may Your Majesty be blessed."

After bowing respectfully, Liang Jiugong looked at the food box in Tan Yun's hand and smiled as he explained the Emperor's current condition.

"Oh, may I ask if Eunuch Liang could inform His Majesty? I have something to discuss with the Emperor."

Empress Hesheli Fangyi kept her body tense, maintaining the demeanor befitting an empress.

Liang Jiugong nodded in agreement, "Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, this servant will go and report back immediately."

"Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Liang."

"..."

After watching Liang Jiugong turn around and go inside and then come out again, Hesheli Fangyi's smile remained unchanged, and even her demeanor when entering was the same as when she came in.

Seeing this, Liang Jiugong shook his head. Sigh, anyway, a eunuch like him wouldn't understand. If he kept himself so tense, the emperor wouldn't be interested.

Qianqing Palace

Hesheli Fangyi first let Tanyun place the food box on the Eight Immortals table. After Tanyun withdrew, she opened the food box herself, took out the soup inside, and served it to Kangxi.

Emperor Kangxi had already gotten up from his desk and was pacing back and forth around the main hall.

Seeing Hesheli Fangyi approach, he lowered his head and took the soup from her. "Why are you here so late?"

There was no other meaning behind it; Kangxi was simply curious.

In the few memories that Kangxi could recall, Consort Hesheli rarely came to the Qianqing Palace, as if she maintained the proper reserve, and would arrange for her maids to deliver messages when necessary.

Kangxi was unaware that the Hesheli Fangyi of this time was no longer the same Hesheli Fangyi of the past.

Her face stiffened for a moment, but Hesheli Fangyi blinked and chuckled, “It’s all for Baoqing. Today is Baoqing’s welcome-back banquet. Baoqing was acting reserved. I was thinking of bringing back the palace servants who used to serve Baoqing outside the palace.”

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

Kangxi put down the soup in his hand and looked at Hesheli Fangyi with a faint gaze.

Hesheli Fangyi lowered her eyes, her hands unconsciously clenching, not even noticing that her fingertips were turning white. "The child is still young. If we suddenly change the environment, I'm worried it won't be good for Baoqing."

Kangxi: ...

If things aren't going well, should we bring in people from outside the palace? Doing things that violate palace rules isn't necessarily good for Baoqing.

Kangxi's gaze sharpened. Hesheli Fangyi was sensitive to his gaze, and upon seeing Kangxi's reaction, she immediately explained that her intentions and starting point were good (but she had some selfish motives mixed in).

But who doesn't have selfish motives? Besides, this should have been Bao Cheng's share.

I kept reassuring myself and building up my mental strength.

Hesheli Fangyi breathed a sigh of relief, and the anxiety she felt after being captured by Kangxi was gone.

Emperor Kangxi paid close attention to Consort Hesheli Fangyi throughout the entire process, and naturally he would not miss her expressions.

Knowing that the other party had adjusted, Kangxi said, "Let Consort Nara handle Baoqing's matter herself. Since she was the one who wanted to bring Baoqing back to the palace in the first place, she should also handle the affairs of Chuxiu Palace in the future."

Hesheli Fangyi was taken aback at first, then quickly nodded, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Emperor Kangxi lowered his voice, "Alright, Empress, if there's nothing else, you should go back soon."

"Then, Your Majesty..."

“I am in the Qianqing Palace tonight,” Kangxi frowned, then patted Hesheli Fangyi’s shoulder. “The court has been in an uproar these past two days because of the vassal kings’ rebellion. I need to deal with it as soon as possible.”

The implication was that it wasn't that he didn't want to keep her or go to Kunning Palace; he simply didn't have the time.

Hesheli Fangyi was somewhat disappointed, but her main purpose in coming here was not to stay overnight. She nodded and told Kangxi to take good care of his health, and added that the soup she brought was very nutritious and he should remember to drink it before turning to leave.

After Consort Hesheli left, Kangxi turned around and sat back down in his chair.

"Liang Jiugong"

"Your servant is here."

"Take away the soup that the Empress sent," Kangxi waved his hand and casually picked up a memorial to read.

...

September brings the cool and refreshing autumn days after the height of summer.

In contrast, the previous dynasty was making great strides in mobilizing troops.

The well-trained soldiers and elite troops were all deployed, and the once bustling capital city suddenly became quiet.

The palace was no longer as lively and turbulent as before, and a large number of the concubines' families and relatives were sent to the battlefield.

Swords and spears have no eyes; along with achievements and fame come countless corpses and deaths.

"My lady, news has arrived from outside the palace that the sons of the Hitara clan are also about to go to the battlefield," Chunyu said, her head slightly lowered, her brows furrowed with worry.

"Even the Manchu nobles were not spared; this is not something we can decide."

Xiu Ning stood up and looked out the window with a faint expression. Yellow leaves were blown up and fell by the wind, creating a desolate scene on the ground.