Kangxi was taken aback, but he thought Lanqin's suggestion was quite good. Wouldn't it be better to confront them openly with force? Those verbal battles at palace banquets were, frankly speaking, just empty talk and had no deterrent effect whatsoever.

"Good, that's a good idea. It's been a long time since I've gone hunting with my princes. Let's take those blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners hunting and let them see the scimitars and cavalry of our Great Qing." Kangxi seemed to be reminiscing about his own hunting trips, his eyes glazing over.

Lanqin sighed inwardly: Kangxi is still stuck in the era of cold weapons, believing he can conquer the world with just scimitars and warhorses. In reality, others have already begun developing firearms. Should she remind Kangxi to focus on the development of firearms?

"Father, is the matter of the vessel settled then?" Lanqin asked, seizing the opportunity.

"Well, let's do it this way. As you said, use the porcelain from the 28th year of Kangxi's reign to entertain them. They're just a bunch of barbarians; it would be a waste to use such precious things," Kangxi said.

Lanqin said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!" A melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, reached Lanqin's ears.

When she turned around, she saw that it was Consort Yi and a palace maid of about sixteen years old, who were kneeling down to pay their respects to Emperor Kangxi.

"Rise! What brings you two here?" Kangxi said hastily upon seeing that they were his concubines.

"I felt a bit stuffy in the room, so I took Consort Ma out for a walk. I didn't expect to run into His Majesty and Consort Niu here." Consort Yi's eyes kept darting around Lanqin, making Lanqin feel uneasy.

"Yes, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are still worth admiring. It's good for you all to come out and move around more." Kangxi looked at Consort Yi, and then at Consort Ma standing to the side.

"Father, Consort Yi, Consort Ma, perhaps I should return to Mother's side to make preparations. After all, the day of the universal tribute is drawing ever closer." Lanqin sensed something was amiss and decided to leave.

"Oh, why does Consort Niu want to leave as soon as she sees us? Why don't we go and admire the autumn flowers over there together?" Consort Yi said, not letting Lanqin off the hook.

"Girl, why don't you stay and enjoy the flowers with Consort Yi and Consort Ma for a while before heading back? I have to go back now; I still have some memorials to deal with," Kangxi said rather unkindly.

Lanqin watched with teary eyes as Kangxi abandoned her, and then she had to put on a smile and deal with Consort Yi.

"Consort Niu has been living in the palace for quite some time now. Is she planning to stay for a long time?" Consort Yi asked.

Damn it, I'm not living in your palace, what's it to you?

“Mother has been busy these days helping Father prepare for the pilgrimage to the West, so I’ll need to help Lanqin a bit more. Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Lanqin said.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Consort Yi? The flowers here are blooming so beautifully, why don't we enjoy them together?" Consort Yi said.

Lanqin could tell from Consort Yi's posture that she was clearly meant to make things difficult for Lanqin. Damn it, that old man Kangxi was so unfair, throwing her into the hands of this jealous woman. Consort Yi was known for her jealousy, but Lanqin was merely a concubine of Kangxi's son; where was this jealousy coming from?

"Your Highness, please!" Lanqin decided not to leave. Everyone said that Consort Yi was difficult to deal with, so she would deal with her today. Actually, she didn't have much to be proud of. Of her sons, one was the Fifth Prince, who was crippled because of a humiliation; the second son, Peach Blossom Ninth, had already been suppressed by the Fourth Prince.

The three of them walked slowly along the road. Since Lanqin had accompanied Kangxi to admire the flowers alone, she had no attendants. She could only walk beside Consort Ma. She looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, and had a pure and lovely appearance.

"I often hear Your Majesty say that my sister is very well-behaved and is favored by the Emperor. She often serves in the Qianqing Palace?" Consort Ma suddenly spoke to Lanqin beside her.

What kind of talk is this that pleases the Emperor?

Lanqin said, "Ma Changzai, Lanqin is the Emperor's daughter-in-law, and I am fortunate to have received some of his favor. Sometimes he will serve me with writing and calligraphy. In addition, Hongli is often in the Qianqing Palace, so I go there to take care of him."

"Hmm, Consort Ma, have you ever heard the story of Yang Yuhuan from the Tang Dynasty?" Consort Yi suddenly asked.

"Your Majesty, I am unaware of this. Please enlighten me," said Consort Ma.

"This Yang Yuhuan, she was originally Emperor Xuanzong's daughter-in-law!" Consort Yi said with a coquettish smile, holding her handkerchief.

"Is Consort Yi implying something about me and Father Emperor?" Lanqin stopped abruptly, refusing to move.

"When did I say that? I was talking about Yang Yuhuan!" Consort Yi said angrily when Lanqin spoke her mind so directly.

"Your Majesty just followed up on Ma Chang's words, saying, 'Isn't it obvious?' Your Majesty is mistaken. My heart is full of devotion to Father Emperor, yet Your Majesty compares me to Yang Guifei and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. It doesn't matter if I am the one who is insulted, but Your Majesty is comparing Father Emperor to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang!" Lanqin retorted without backing down.

"You! When did I ever say anything about the Emperor?!" Consort Yi blushed and felt her ears burning.

"Since Your Highness thinks you didn't say it, then I'll just pretend it was a mule or a horse chattering away, and treat it as something a beast said. Don't take it seriously." Lanqin had no choice but to say this when she saw that Consort Yi was starting to deny it.

"You!" Consort Yi pointed at Lanqin's face with a handkerchief in her handkerchief, but she was so angry that she couldn't utter a single word.

“Your Majesty, this is a momentous occasion for the Emperor to make a name for himself before the foreign envoys. It is inappropriate for Your Majesty to be arranging music and dance instead of bickering with me here. I would like to take my leave and not disturb Your Majesty any longer,” Lanqin said, showing no fear whatsoever towards Consort Yi.

"Your Majesty, I just remembered, weren't you going to see those dancing girls? They're still at the brothel. Why don't you go and take a look?" Seeing the situation, Consort Ma quickly came out to mediate.

"Hmm, I still need to watch the dancers rehearse. Niohuru, you may take your leave." Consort Yi's eyes were practically spitting fire. Lanqin's words had been swift and ruthless, cornering her. Consort Yi had never suffered a loss in a verbal battle before, but today she had actually been defeated by a mere concubine.

Lanqin disappeared from Consort Yi and Consort Ma's sight with cheerful little steps. Consort Yi plucked an unknown little flower from the side and threw it into the waterside pavilion, saying angrily, "Well done, Niohuru clan! I'll remember you today."

Looking at Consort Yi's expression, Consort Ma said, "Your Highness, she is a junior. You don't need to get angry with her like this."

“But she’s currently a favorite of the Emperor. Didn’t you see how happily she was laughing with him just now? It’s not impossible for her to be the Yang Guifei I’m talking about,” Consort Yi said.