After the talent show, Yuqing Palace gained another concubine, Lin Gege.

Tong Guining stared at the woman adorned with jewels, momentarily speechless.

Although life had been full of ups and downs during this period, she still remembered this Lady Lin. Wasn't this the Tong'er girl who served in the front courtyard? The Crown Prince even punished Hongxi because of her.

These two are incredibly bold. Tong Guining felt increasingly unable to understand the Crown Prince. What was so special about this woman that made the Crown Prince risk giving her an identity?

Could it be that she... is particularly favored by the Crown Prince in that aspect?!

Niohuru, now known as Lin Tong'er, noticed the Crown Princess's strange gaze. She wasn't afraid of being recognized, since the only people who had seen her were those in Yuqing Palace, and no one here dared to disobey the Crown Prince's wishes.

As expected, Tong Guining simply drank her tea as a formality, exchanged some pleasantries about sisterly love and having many children, and then let her leave. Now, in Tong Guining's heart, only Hongzhao was the most important person; even the Crown Prince had to step back. She didn't care what trouble these two caused, as long as it didn't implicate her Hongzhao.

Lin Tong'er waited for the Crown Prince on the very night she entered the mansion.

After dismissing his attendants, the Crown Prince grabbed Lin Tong'er's neck with one hand, applying slight pressure, as if his slender neck could be broken at any moment.

“You’re right. Father Emperor wanted to depose me, but he didn’t want another prince to ascend the throne, so he found a pretext to reinstate me.”

Lin Tong'er's face turned bright red. She didn't beg for mercy, but just stared at him. The Crown Prince slowly released his hand and wiped his fingertips with a handkerchief.

"Your Highness, you've witnessed my abilities firsthand. So, how about we cooperate? Give me Hongli, and I'll tell you what will happen next."

The Crown Prince looked her up and down: "You're a complete madwoman. No wonder my fourth brother wanted to kill you."

Lin Tong'er's expression twisted slightly when she was hit where it hurt: "We have a common enemy. I hate Prince Yong, and you hate that brat Honghui. As long as you succeed in taking the throne, crushing Prince Yong's mansion will be as easy as crushing ants."

The Crown Prince nodded: "As you wish."

While the Crown Prince was being polite and diplomatic with Lin Tong'er, he was thinking to himself that once the deed was done, the first person to die would be this crazy woman!

******

Many concubines entered the palace, among whom one woman was quite unique. She was the thinnest of them all, with an unnatural pale complexion. She never joked with anyone and always had a stern face. In the palace, a place where people greeted each other with a smile, she was quite conspicuous.

This is already the third time Miss Tao'er has served the emperor this month, and Gao Yuan, the eunuch in charge of the green plaques, has taken notice of her.

"Consort Huo, are you comfortable in your room? Would you like me to talk to you about getting a room that faces the sun?"

Huo Tao'er remained aloof: "I dare not trouble you, Father-in-law. I live alone in Fangfei Courtyard. Although there is less sunshine, it is quiet."

"Sigh." Gao Yuan thought to himself, "He has good fortune but doesn't know how to enjoy it; he's destined to suffer."

Huo Tao'er was skilled at brewing tea. When Emperor Kangxi summoned her to handle state affairs, she would wait by his side and brew a pot of fine tea.

Emperor Kangxi loved looking at Huo Tao'er's face, which looked like it could ascend to the moon palace, under the steaming heat. Therefore, he was willing to chat with the beauty for a while.

"Judging from your words and actions, you are clearly well-educated."

"Your Majesty, my father was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), but he was only a minor official of the seventh rank. He died from a cold. My family is destitute. In order to give my father a dignified burial, my sister secretly followed the example of selling herself into servitude, as described in storybooks."

As Kangxi listened to her recount her past experiences in a calm tone, he was inexplicably drawn into the story. He put down his book and listened attentively.

"When this servant found out, my younger sister Ying'er was already engaged. It's quite interesting, actually. The man was none other than Ninth Prince."

“Ninth Master treated Ying’er very well. He even took her with him on his inspection tours outside the Great Wall. During that time, I was able to visit Ninth Master’s residence occasionally to see my sister, and I could also get some money from her to get by.”

"It's hard for a woman like me to make a living without a man in my family, but thankfully I have Ninth Master's protection." Huo Tao'er said with a genuine smile. "Although I have never met Ninth Master, he is good to my sister, so he is a good person in my heart."

Kangxi's heart skipped a beat. He remembered that the Ninth Prince had fallen seriously ill during that tour, and when he came out to meet people afterward, he seemed like a completely different person. Even now, he still needs to call the imperial physician every few days.

"You and your sister have a very good relationship," Kangxi concluded. He also had a deep brotherly bond with Prince Yu, Fuquan, and could deeply appreciate the mutual reliance between the two.

"Yes, but my sister was unfortunate and died of illness like my father." Huo Tao'er forced an ugly expression. "People from Ninth Master's mansion came and rewarded me with some land, asking me what else I wanted."

"This servant wants to enter the palace to serve Your Majesty. This servant does not want to repeat the fate of my father and sister. This servant wants to be cured when I am sick." Huo Tao'er looked up at Kangxi. "This servant is fortunate to see Your Majesty's face. I only hope that Your Majesty will not find this servant uncouth."

"Hahaha." Kangxi couldn't help but laugh. The woman in front of him was youthful and sincere, and had a tragic past. She was a model of being lovable.

Emperor Kangxi stroked Tao'er's loose hair, his gaze seemingly affectionate but actually cold.

Who sent this person? Why was they so carefully selected? And what is their purpose?

Kangxi pondered, "The ninth prince?"

It shouldn't be. Her connection with Lao Jiu is too obvious. There must be other people pulling the strings behind the scenes.

No rush, he has plenty of time to explore.

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