Upon hearing this, An Ke immediately began to "throw a tantrum" (this is just a figure of speech, not a literal tantrum) beside the Empress Dowager. "Grandmother, so you had already agreed! I've been thinking about how to persuade you all this way." An Ke puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be angry.
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly and reached out to pinch An Ke's cheek. "How can I feel at ease if you go alone? It would be better if Qing'er went with you, and the two of you could help me gather information together."
"So it was Grandmother Empress who was worried about An'an and was gathering information? I thought Grandmother Empress was worried about An'an. It seems I was just being presumptuous." An Ke said sarcastically, her head held high. Her expression was incredibly melancholic.
"You! Of course I'm worried about you too. With Qing'er by your side, I feel a little more at ease. Qing'er can also keep an eye on you for me. Besides, didn't you teach Qing'er to ride a horse? I can't keep Qing'er confined in the palace all the time, can I?" The Empress Dowager was very open-minded. One day, Anke and Qing'er would have to leave her, and she couldn't keep the two maids by her side forever.
“Then Grandmother, you must take good care of yourself. An’an will be checking on you when she comes back,” An Ke said, hands on her hips.
"Good, good, good. With you two girls thinking of me, I will definitely take good care of myself. As for you two, you should take care of each other while you are away from home." The Empress Dowager held Anke's hand in one hand and reached out to hold Qing'er's hand in the other, patting Anke's and Qing'er's hands together.
How could Qing'er and An Ke not take care of each other? The two smiled at each other and said in unison, "Yes, you don't need to worry about it."
They chatted about other topics afterward, and the laughter and cheerful conversation in Cining Palace lasted for quite some time.
*
Time flies, and years slip by unnoticed. Before we know it, it's Er Kang's turn to be released from confinement. The much-anticipated incognito tour is finally on the agenda!
Cining Palace
"Princess, this time we're going on a long trip, so please make sure you bring all your clothes." Xingxing muttered to herself as she packed. "Does the princess need to bring these jewelry?"
Anke was eating rose pastries on the table when she heard Xingxing's voice. She turned her head and glanced at them casually. The jewelry was indeed very ornate. "No, we won't wear them. These pieces are too flashy; anyone can tell they're not ordinary. Even Uncle Huang has to disguise himself as a merchant, so we shouldn't add to his troubles. We won't wear any of these; we'll wear something simple and elegant."
"Yes," Xingxing listened to the advice and put down the gorgeous jewelry, picking out some less eye-catching pieces to put away.
"Princess, please prepare some commonly used medicines," Xingxing muttered beside her. Her brows were tightly furrowed, as if she had forgotten something. But she was also afraid that she hadn't thought of everything. She was afraid that the princess would suffer any grievances outside, and she really wanted to bring everything in the entire palace with her.
"Bring some of the usual Plum Blossom Tongue-Clearing Pills, Wound Medicine, Angong Niuhuang Pills, and also the Hundred Poisons Powder that Father sent a few days ago." Anke ate contentedly while thinking, "Hmm, and don't forget the pills."
"Yes, this servant has already prepared everything." Xingxing quickly tidied up a small medicine box.
Anke didn't hold back her praise, giving a thumbs up. "Xingxing, you're getting more and more capable."
"It's all thanks to the Prefectural Bishop!" Xingxing smiled brightly, without any hesitation. "Fortunately, His Majesty agreed this time, and I was able to go with him. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have been at ease."
"Don't just pack my luggage, have you packed yours yet?" Anke suddenly remembered Xingxing's luggage.
Xingxing said proudly, "Ever since I learned that the princess was going on an incognito tour with the emperor, she even brought me along. I packed my luggage a long time ago."
Anke nodded with satisfaction. No wonder she trained him—he's so capable!
"I've heard some gossip these past few days. Princess, would you like to hear it?" Xingxing blinked, looking at her bright and charming princess.
An Ke raised an eyebrow. "Alright, so you've learned to tease me now, huh? Tell me, I'm just feeling a bit bored. I'll listen to some gossip to pass the time." An Ke was eager to hear Xingxing tell her the gossip she had found out. Xingxing usually wouldn't care about these things, so if she was going to tell them, it must be something she was interested in, or something that everyone in the palace knew.
"I heard that the Emperor ordered Princess Huanzhu to carry the ancient chariot to the army before her incognito tour."
After hearing just the beginning, An Ke's interest waned. Oh, it was about carrying ancient texts into the army; it'd been shown in the drama. So An Ke wasn't surprised at all. But she didn't want to dampen Xingxing's enthusiasm. "Okay, continue."
"These past few days, Princess Huanzhu has been practicing swordsmanship in the Shufangzhai, reciting poems while practicing. This servant finds it quite unheard of." Xingxing was also quite surprised when she first found out.
Anke chuckled. It seemed it was her fifth brother's idea again. "And then?"
"After Huanzhuge finished reciting the poem to the Emperor, she asked if she could take Ziwei out to practice horseback riding. But the Emperor refused outright," Xingxing said truthfully.
Hmm? An Ke was somewhat surprised by this, since the emperor in the drama had agreed to it. Could it be because of the butterfly effect she had created? An Ke nodded, signaling Xingxing to continue.
"As it turns out, I never expected that Princess Pearl would drag you into this." Xingxing was so angry that her face turned red.
"Me?" An Ke was completely baffled. "This princess has absolutely nothing to do with them, yet they try to drag me into everything. Ha!" An Ke said coldly, looking at the pastries she liked in her hand, she lost her appetite and put the rose pastry back on the plate.
"They're just sour grapes. Princess, calm down and have some tea." Xingxing quickly handed over a teacup.
"Get angry? They don't deserve it." An Ke said lazily, wiping the crumbs from her hands with a handkerchief. She casually asked, "Who accompanied Princess Huanzhu to recite poems?"
Anke casually inquired about the tea leaves floating in her teacup, seemingly uninterested in their affairs.
"I heard that only the painter Ban, Ziwei from Shufangzhai, and the eldest son of the Fu family are involved," Xingxing said respectfully, while observing the princess's expression.
"Oh?" Anke shifted her attention from the tea leaves. "Isn't Fifth Brother or that Fu Ertai among this group?"
"I inquired, but there was no answer." Xingxing frowned, thought for a moment, and replied, "I heard that after Consort Yu learned that the Fifth Prince was going to accompany the Emperor on his incognito tour, she kept asking him to spend more time with her in Yonghe Palace."
It seems that, both in the drama and in real life, Consort Yu dislikes Xiao Yanzi.
"Hmm," Anke said nothing more, simply setting down her teacup gently. She then rose from the recliner and went outside to see the pomegranate tree in full bloom. A vibrant red, blazing under the sun, passionate and exuberant, it was truly captivating.
Unlike the sighing and lamenting atmosphere in Shufangzhai, Cining Palace was filled with peace and tranquility.
*
On the eve of his departure, Li Yu suddenly visited Cining Palace, saying that the Emperor had sent someone to invite Princess Yong'an to Yangxin Hall.
Anke didn't ask what was going on and just followed along. It was nothing more than the usual matters of an inspection tour.
"Princess, His Majesty is waiting inside." Li Yu led the way with a lantern, chatting with An Ke all the way, until they finally arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
An Ke nodded and went straight in. She saw the Emperor sitting on a soft couch, with a chessboard in front of him.
"Uncle, please don't tell An'an that you brought her here so late at night just to make her play chess with you," An Ke said, though she still bowed respectfully.
Seeing his niece's mischievous appearance, the Emperor didn't say anything and simply gestured for An Ke to sit opposite him.
Anke didn't stand on ceremony; she actually took a seat when offered one!
"I haven't even left the palace yet, and those rats in the shadows are already starting to stir." Those who can become emperors are indeed not simple people. The emperor held a black chess piece, his face cold and stern. It was as if this chessboard represented the entire world, and the emperor was the one manipulating the game, as if nothing in the world could escape the emperor's discerning gaze.
“Since Uncle Huang already knows, he must have instructed Uncle Fu Liu to take precautions.” An Ke smiled, a white chess piece held in her fair, jade-like hand.
"These are the people on the surface, but Fu Heng has already made arrangements for them in secret. When we go on the tour, don't try to get involved in any of the excitement. Just stay obediently by my side. I can protect you a bit." The Emperor finally placed the black piece on the chessboard.
“Everyone’s attention is on the Emperor. Naturally, no one pays attention to someone as insignificant as An’an.” An Ke said casually, placing the white piece in the corresponding position of the black piece.
"Do you think your reputation is insignificant?" the Emperor said sternly, casually placing a black chess piece in his hand. "I can't afford to let anything happen to you. Otherwise, not only the Empress Dowager, but even your father, that rascal, will probably come back to the capital to 'settle accounts' with me. As for the others, I doubt those rats in the shadows will care about them. As for Yongqi, consider this a test I've set for him."
"Uncle, don't worry. If An'an goes to join in the fun, who knows if she'll end up getting herself into the game?" An Ke looked at the chessboard in front of her. Unbeknownst to her, she had already infiltrated the Emperor's "base camp".
"To enter the game myself," the Emperor murmured to himself, seemingly unconcerned about the situation on the chessboard.
“Yes, by taking the initiative, one can overcome fate by taking half a move,” An Ke said calmly and steadily.
Only then did the Emperor notice the chessboard before him. His admiration was undisguised, and he clapped his hands in delight. "Good, good! My Aisin Gioro family should have such spirit. No wonder Zhao Hui, who initially looked down on you, came back and immediately recommended you for merit, praising you as a woman who is no less capable than men. My Great Qing has worthy successors, and talents are emerging one after another! Hahaha!"
An Ke smiled modestly, "Uncle, you don't need to worry. I'm sure Lord Fuheng has already made all the necessary arrangements."
The Emperor nodded in approval; he still trusted Fu Heng implicitly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted him with such a matter concerning his life and fortune.
The two chatted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Afterwards, Li Yu escorted them back to Cining Palace.
——
The next day, all the concubines went to the palace gate to see them off. The grand procession of concubines brought with it waves of fragrance.
The Empress Dowager looked at the two girls with reluctance. "Be careful on the road. You two sisters should look after each other. Otherwise, I will worry about you in the palace."
"You've been repeating those words to the Empress Dowager all morning," An saw that the Empress Dowager was about to burst into tears and quickly interrupted the atmosphere.
"You're the most unbearable to listen to, and you're the one who makes me the least at ease." The moment she was interrupted, the emotions the Empress Dowager had just built up vanished instantly.
The Empress then approached the Empress Dowager and whispered her instructions, "An'an, take good care of yourself on this journey. It's far from home; the mountains and rivers are much more comfortable. Remember to wear warm clothes when it's cold..."
An Ke accepted all the words of concern without question. "An An remembers, Auntie, please rest assured in the palace. When An An comes back, An An will bring you local specialties!"
"Your safe return is the best thing." The Empress smiled, and Rong Momo, seeing the Empress smile, looked at the Princess with kind and worried eyes.
The Empress gave instructions to Anke, while the Empress Dowager gave instructions to Qing'er from the side.
"Yongqi, this time you're traveling incognito, you must stay close to your father, protect him, and also protect An'an." Consort Yu had already given him these instructions the night before, but she couldn't help but repeat them again today.
"Yes, son remembers. Even though I'm not in the palace, Mother remembers to have a bowl of mutton soup every morning and not to eat too much cold food at night. The imperial physician instructed you to avoid raw and cold foods recently. Since I'm not by your side, you must remember this." Yongqi also squeezed his mother's hand tightly.
"Mother has remembered," Consort Yu replied happily.
No matter how peaceful and gentle the atmosphere was here, the loving mother and filial son were all shattered by the strong resistance from the Shufangzhai side.
The Empress Dowager looked at the commotion with great displeasure. "That little swallow is too unruly. Now that she's accompanying the Emperor on his tour, it's bound to be quite a spectacle along the way."
The Empress no longer seemed to care as much, merely glancing at it lightly. But even this single glance caused the propriety-conscious Empress to frown.
How could An Ke not understand what these two were thinking? "Alright, Grandmother and Aunt, the trouble she caused during the tour is now Uncle's responsibility to deal with. You won't see her causing trouble in the palace for a while. Cheer up!"
"You're so good at talking." The old lady's expression, which had been somewhat cold and stern, immediately softened.
Qing'er secretly gave An Ke a thumbs up. Awesome!
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