Chapter 19 Signals

I wonder who will bite the little fishhook that Consort Yi used.

"It's good that His Majesty has already ordered clothes to be made, but the weather is getting colder and colder. When can we return to the capital?"

Her body is truly delicate; she is sensitive to both cold and heat. Initially, she didn't want to come here with him, firstly because she didn't want to endure the bumpy ride, and secondly because it was winter now, and the weather was getting colder and she would feel uncomfortable.

For some reason, it hasn't snowed here even in November this year, which makes her feel a little better. However, the weather has been rather gloomy these past few days, so it looks like it might snow soon.

It hasn't snowed yet, and the temperature will suddenly drop later, which she can't stand.

Emperor Kangxi knew all her little habits, either from the palace maids who served her or from his own observations. Her fear of the cold was naturally easy to discover.

He had someone check and found that the snow was late this year, but since the war had dragged on for so long, it should snow in a few days, and it was time to head back to the capital.

"I'll be back in a couple of days, and I should be able to reach the capital before the snow starts."

We should travel before it snows to avoid any trouble along the way.

The snow fell too late; next year may be tough for the people.

A timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest. If the snow falls late, the insect eggs in the soil won't freeze to death. Next year, there might be a severe locust plague. Thinking of this, Kangxi frowned again.

Is it snowing so late?

When Chen Guanxue saw him frowning again, she knew he was thinking about something bad again.

"Then Your Majesty must make preparations quickly, otherwise I will suffer a lot on the way."

As soon as her tone changed, his thoughts turned to her, and he stopped thinking about anything further. "How could I let you suffer? I've prepared everything so you can return to the capital comfortably."

"Things have been taken care of, and the return trip won't be as rushed as the journey here. If we like a place, we can stop for a couple of days to enjoy the scenery."

He spoke earnestly, but Chen Guanxue wasn't interested. The scenery in the north was beautiful in spring, summer, and autumn, but there was nothing to see in winter. Even the trees in the palace lost all their leaves in winter, let alone the vast grasslands.

I've grown tired of seeing greenery here all this time, and I can't wait to go back to the palace to see it again. I hope she doesn't linger on the way.

Seeing that she didn't respond, he knew she didn't like the arrangement. He was thinking about how to save time on the journey and get back to the capital as soon as possible when he heard her ask, "What colors are the clothes made in the palace?"

She loves bright colors, but there are many rules in the palace, and her identity is unclear. What if they use fabric she doesn't like to make it? That would be more of a bummer than a pleasant surprise.

"These are all the colors you usually wear. There are also tribute fabrics to be presented at the end of the year, and I have already instructed them to save the best ones for you to make clothes."

"With the Emperor showing such favoritism, the ladies in the palace are probably going to be jealous."

Chen Guanxue knew all about the affairs of the palace. Every year, a lot of materials were presented as tribute. In addition to being given as gifts to the concubines, a lot was kept for himself.

He naturally wouldn't use the leftover fabrics from others for her, but there were a few concubines in the palace who also liked brightly colored clothes, so he couldn't ask them to use inferior fabrics. He had to give them other fabrics and let them choose their favorites.

Seeing that she seemed to be joking, yet also serious, Kangxi was unsure which of his words had been wrong.

However, he knew one thing, and looking at her very seriously, he said with sincere eyes, "My heart is naturally biased towards you."

As for the question of whether others would be jealous, he couldn't answer it; let whoever wants to answer such a potentially disastrous question answer it.

Chen Guanxue just smiled.

After hearing him say these things many times, she no longer felt the same racing heart she had at the beginning. It was precisely this familiarity that made her feel at ease.

"Your Majesty is so exhausted that he's starting to talk nonsense. You should get some sleep." After such a long time without sleep and talking to her for so long, no matter how much he tried to hide it, he couldn't erase the weariness in his eyes.

She was genuinely concerned for him. When Kangxi got up, she picked up other small clothes to look at, without giving him any attention, and said, "If you don't like this color, you won't wear it anymore. Whatever clothes you wear are fine."

Chen Guanxue's eyes didn't fall on him, but her eyes suddenly felt hot.

Seeing that she didn't react, only fidgeting with her clothes and not showing any expression, I heard her give a muffled "hmm" after she turned around.

Suppressing his joy, he quickly walked out before instructing Liang Jiugong, "Send word to the Imperial Household Department to select another batch of fine fabrics to make baby clothes."

It goes without saying who wore these little clothes; who else could it be but the child in Chen Guanxue's belly?

She likes to wear new clothes, and naturally she likes her children to wear new clothes as well. If she asks someone to make new clothes for her children as well, she will definitely be happy to see them.

It wasn't that Kangxi ignored the child, but rather that compared to Chen Guanxue, the child seemed to have no presence at all. His heart and eyes were entirely on her, so the child naturally had to be relegated to the back.

If Chen Guanxue knew, she would probably find it rather amusing.

The child is her child; I really don't understand why she has to be put last.

Being an emperor is great; you can just give any order and someone will do it.

After helping him to bed, Liang Jiugong ordered someone to send the message back as quickly as possible. However, the journey was quite long, and even with the fastest horses, it took several days for the message to arrive.

The tribute materials had been transported to the capital some time ago and were to be distributed according to past practice. However, upon seeing the list delivered to them, several of the concubines in charge showed unusual expressions.

Several concubines in charge sat upright, while the stewards of the Imperial Household Department were sweating profusely in the chilly weather.

"Why is there so little fabric left? Did His Majesty order it to be left behind?" Consort Tong, who was closer to Emperor Kangxi and had also received other information, gave him a chance to speak.

The steward then smiled and said, "Your Highness Consort Tong, His Majesty ordered that a batch of brightly colored fabrics be reserved for the Imperial Household Department to make clothes. The fabrics that have been delivered to you ladies are not bad, only slightly different in color."

They handled many things each year, so they naturally knew that the only difference was the color. They wanted to ask about other things, but he said they were kept to make clothes, so they didn't ask any more questions.

Asking too many questions is just guessing the emperor's intentions; they've been in the palace for so long, they know the rules.

However, after shifting her gaze away from him, she looked at Consort Tong's face, trying to discern something.

She knew things that none of them did, and it was clear that the Emperor was closer to the Tong family.

"Since there's no difference in quality, let's discuss how to distribute them. It's getting cold today and the end of the year is approaching. If we don't hurry up and make new clothes, we might not have enough time."

The matter was quickly forgotten, and no one said anything about receiving a color they didn't like, since they had received so many other things in return.

Even those few who held the rank of concubine wouldn't feel wronged.

But not long after, Kangxi started causing trouble again.

Consort Tong's expression remained unchanged upon receiving the news. She simply said, "The Imperial Household Department previously reserved a batch of fabrics, but the fabrics distributed to each palace were not particularly appealing. However, since other people were given as rewards and the people were not around, at least no trouble was caused. Now that this news has spread, I'm afraid each family will take action."

"Your Majesty need not worry. His Majesty cares about the Tong family; otherwise, he would not have sent someone back to inform Your Majesty of the woman's identity."

Consort Tong placed the letter on the table and smiled calmly, "Indeed, instruct the Imperial Household Department to handle things properly. It's fortunate that there are no newborn princes or princesses in the palace, otherwise they would be trampled on from a young age, and who knows what kind of personality they would have when they grow up."

"Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that." She said it lightly, but her hand still went to her stomach.

There was no need for the Tong family's daughter to keep the child. As the emperor's maternal family, she was already powerful enough. Therefore, her family had explained the pros and cons to her before she entered the palace, and now it was her own choice.

"Your Majesty has gained far more than you have lost," the old nanny who accompanied her to the palace advised, fearing she might overthink things.

She knew this, of course, and then talked to her about other things, not continuing to think about it, afraid that the old woman would worry about her.

Fortunately, the fabric used for the little baby wasn't as good as the adult's, and besides, the palace wasn't short of such small amounts of fabric, so it wasn't until several days later that the concubines discovered the problem.

"Why are the embroiderers in the Imperial Household Department always busy?" Consort Hui had been under house arrest, but after her release not long ago, she regained her power. However, everything that happened in the palace was unsatisfactory to her.

She didn't like the color of the previous fabric, but there were other compensations. Now she wants to ask the leading embroiderers to embroider a cloak for her, but they are all busy.

"Your Majesty, those embroiderers are all working on clothes. They finished the last batch in a rush, but I heard that the Imperial Household Department has ordered that no matter which palace they go to, they should be put at the back of the queue. However, I have already given the order to have them finish before the New Year."

Consort Hui knew best who the last set of clothes was made for, and she didn't say anything. So why are there still clothes to be made this time?

"Go ask what kind of clothes they're making. I don't know what other clothes they're making."

Having learned from her previous experience, Consort Hui was much wiser and didn't throw a tantrum immediately. Instead, she noticed that the Imperial Household Department was secretly rushing to make the clothes, which was different from before.

Fortunately, Consort Hui was perceptive, and the palace maid returned shortly afterward, her expression strange and her reply hesitant.

"Your Majesty, the embroiderers of the Imperial Household Department are making little clothes."

Little clothes.

Upon suddenly hearing this word, Consort Hui was somewhat dazed. Which prince or princess wore clothes not made in her own palace?

Whether it was her biological mother or her adopted mother, she wouldn't trust anyone else to make it. The Imperial Household Department had never made such a thing before, and it was ordered from above, so there's probably only one possibility.

The woman the Emperor took with him is pregnant.

She was so favored in the palace even without being pregnant; I wonder what it will be like after she has children. It's one thing for the Emperor to favor her, but with multiple children, will he even be able to see them?

Consort Hui frowned and thought for a long time, but in the end she didn't dare to take the action herself.

"Send someone to investigate who is so fortunate. If they can't find out, send a message to Father to check on the people outside. Perhaps there is a happy event coming soon in the palace."

This person couldn't have appeared out of thin air. She remembered this matter but didn't publicize it, and now it's come in handy. Hopefully, the people in the palace are well-informed and can find out something.

She meant well by giving them a signal.