Cining Palace

"Grandson greets His Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

When Kangxi entered the palace, he saw Bumbutai and the Empress Dowager chatting in Mongolian. When they looked at Kangxi, he stepped forward and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Xuan Ye is here. Get up quickly and sit down." Bumbutai hurriedly beckoned Kangxi to sit down.

"Now that you are busy with the affairs of the Three Feudatories, you don't need to come and pay your respects to me every day. I have your Empress Dowager and Consort Zhao to accompany me, and that's enough for me." Although Bumbutai said that she didn't want Kangxi to come, the smile on her face never left her face since Kangxi entered.

"It is my duty to pay my respects to my mother," Kangxi replied with a smile.

"Is dinner ready?"

"Grandson has already eaten." Kangxi felt a warmth in his heart, after all, only his imperial mother cared so much about whether he was hungry or thirsty.

"Your Majesty, I have something very important to tell you, concerning state affairs." Kangxi saw that it was getting late and he needed to get down to business.

"Aunt, it's getting late, Tana should head back now."

When Empress Dowager Tana heard that Emperor Kangxi had something important to say to Bumbutai, she wisely suggested that she leave.

"Your Majesty, please take care."

Kangxi bowed to the Empress Dowager. Bumbutai nodded to herself, thinking that Kangxi's respect for Tana made her feel at ease. After she passed away, she would not have to worry about Tana. In truth, it was her fault for dragging Tana into this deep palace, where she could not receive her husband's (Fulin's) favor and respect, which had worn down all of her edges.

Kangxi spoke to Bumbutai only after the Empress Dowager and Sumalagu had left.

"Father, the Three Feudatories are in turmoil, which I started. Therefore, I wish to personally lead the expedition to quell the rebellion." Kangxi said earnestly to Bumbutai with righteous indignation.

"What? You want to personally lead the expedition?" Bumbutai looked at her grandson, whom she had raised, in shock as he spoke nonsensically with a straight face.

"Your Majesty, please grant your grandson's request! I initiated this matter, so I should personally resolve it. I have been practicing Buku diligently, not just to strengthen my body, but for this day."

Kangxi looked at Bumbutai's disapproving expression, which was within his expectations. He was determined to persuade his mother to let him lead the expedition. Kangxi looked at Bumbutai with determination.

"Alright, you should discuss this with the council. I'm old, it's your turn to make the decisions now."

The lesson Bumbutai learned from Fulin was to never refuse the emperor's decision first, but to agree and then proceed slowly and methodically.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I knew you would support me." The happy Emperor Kangxi did not notice the glint in Bumbutai's eyes.

"It's getting late, Xuan Ye, you should go back now!" Bumbutai looked at Kangxi with a slightly tired expression. Kangxi thought that his mother was tired, so he bowed to Bumbutai.

"Your Majesty, please rest early. Your grandson takes his leave."

After Kangxi left, Bumbutai sat there thinking for a very long time.

The next day, Kangxi announced in court with great enthusiasm that he would personally lead an expedition against the Three Feudatories. However, he was met with resistance from various ministers. The news from the front court spread throughout the entire palace in less than half an hour. Of course, Bumbutai was also involved in this.

"What? My cousin wants to lead the army in person? Swords have no eyes on the battlefield. What if something happens to us? No, I must stop my cousin from leading the army in person."

Consort Tong reacted most strongly when she heard that Emperor Kangxi was going to personally lead an expedition. After all, she had not yet become Empress. If Emperor Kangxi were to pass away, she would only be a concubine in Shou Kang Palace.

"Your Highness, please don't be anxious. We can gently persuade him when the Emperor arrives," said Granny Tong, worried that Consort Tong might be confused.

"No, Granny, I'll go to the Qianqing Palace right now to ask my cousin to withdraw the imperial decree." Consort Tong didn't want to wait a moment longer.

"Your Highness, don't be hasty. Not only does Your Highness not want the Emperor to personally lead the expedition, but everyone in the harem does, especially the Empress Dowager. So there's no need for us to step forward so quickly. It wouldn't be good if we angered the Emperor." Granny Tong quickly restrained the restless Consort Tong.

Consort Tong eventually listened to Granny Tong's advice and patiently waited for Emperor Kangxi to come to Chengqian Palace before trying to persuade him.

"My lady, aren't you at all worried that the Emperor will personally lead the campaign against the Three Feudatories?"

Hongxiu watched silently as Wanyi drank tea and ate snacks, while reading a storybook.

"What's there to worry about? There's someone higher up to support you! And your mistress? What can a mere concubine do?"

Wanyi wasn't worried at all, because she knew that Kangxi couldn't go to the battlefield of the Three Feudatories. Putting aside whether the Empress Dowager would agree, which of the court officials or the council would support Kangxi going? Anyone who dared to support him would be going against the Empress Dowager, which would be courting death.

"Several concubines and young ladies from the harem have already gone to the Qianqing Palace to persuade the Emperor to rescind his decree. Aren't you going, young lady?" Hongxiu thought to herself, "So many concubines have gone, it wouldn't be good if you didn't go, young lady!"

"Did they all go?" Wanyi also thought of it; it wouldn't be good if she didn't go when all the concubines went.

"No, neither Consort Ma Jia nor Consort Yehenara went. They just sent their maids with gifts," Hongxiu said after a moment's thought.

"Then let's send some things over too!"

Wanyi nodded; she didn't want to go out—it was too cold outside. She had already prepared enough charcoal for the winter, and with her rations, it would last until March of next year.

"What should the young lady send over?" Hongxiu asked Wanyi with a puzzled look.

"Hmm, this will do! Let Tianxiang make a piping hot one and send it over right now." Wanyi happened to see the pastry she had picked up and made the decision casually.

"That's it? It's too ordinary!" Hongxiu said with some disapproval.

"Then what do you want to send over?"

Wanyi glanced at Hongxiu beside her, as if to say, "If you don't give me a good idea, I'll make you regret it."

"Well, Your Highness, you could send a stewed chicken soup like Consort Yehenara did! That would help nourish the Emperor's body." Hongxiu scratched her head and offered a terrible idea.

"The Emperor has already drunk the tonic soup that Consort Yehenara has given. If I send him another one, how can he possibly drink it?" Wanyi looked speechlessly at the clumsy Hongxiu.

"That's true, then let's send some snacks instead!"

"That's right! Pu'er tea flavored pastries, let Tianxiang make them now, and once they're done, you'll be going to the Qianqing Palace."

Anyway, Liang Jiugong or Wei Zhu would come here from time to time to get snacks or tea to take back. It seems that Kangxi really liked her tea and snacks. The snow water used to make the snacks and brew the tea was mixed with spring water from Wanyi's space.

"Yes, this servant will arrange it right away." Hongxiu bowed and left, adding another pot of charcoal to Wanyi's bowl before she left.