After it was over, Mingxiu returned to the palace and only breathed a slight sigh of relief after sitting on the couch.
She then frowned in distress. What was going on? When she entered the harem, she clearly intended to live a lowly and timid life. How did things develop in such a high-profile way?
She sighed, recalling her journey from entering the harem to now. She had to admit that she really couldn't survive any longer. As soon as she entered the harem, her rank surpassed most people, which already attracted a lot of attention. However, she didn't have the support of her maternal clan, and she couldn't give up the emperor's favor. Her position was still unstable, and she couldn't afford to lose his favor.
Furthermore, considering her relationship with Yinreng, Mingxiu held her head in anguish.
Well, since I'm already too proud to back down, I might as well be high-profile. It's already like this, so I might as well make the best of it.
However, we can't be without self-protection, so it seems that the palace's defenses need to be strengthened.
It's best not to go out and attract attention if you can avoid it. It's all the same anyway, so just stay in the palace.
Just as Mingxiu was frowning, she heard Yinreng's cheerful voice coming over.
Mingxiu perked up and laughed as she watched Yinreng run away at top speed.
"What brings Your Highness here?"
"Mother Ming, I've come to express my gratitude. Thank you for the toys and food you gave me; I really like them." Yin still smiled and hugged Mingxiu's leg; there had been so many delicious things to eat yesterday.
"If Your Highness likes it, that's good. When the opportunity arises, Consort Ming will send it to Your Highness again."
Yin nodded, smiling broadly, and looked at Mingxiu sweetly, saying, "Mother Ming, I started learning yesterday with my older brother. He originally said he wanted to come too, but his mother had something to attend to, so he went back first. He asked me to convey his thanks to him."
Mingxiu nodded. She knew without even thinking why Consort Hui wanted Yinzhi to go back. It was simply because she didn't want Yinzhi to get too close to her. But it didn't matter. Yinzhi was Yinzhi, and Consort Hui was Consort Hui. She could keep them separate.
After a short delay, it was already lunchtime. Mingxiu had a delicious lunch with Yinreng and then let him go to the side hall for a nap.
The moment Mingxiu moved in, a room was arranged next to it for Yinreng, so that Yinreng could come whenever he wanted and feel a sense of belonging to Yonghe Palace.
Mingxiu also took a nice afternoon nap. She had something on her mind last night and didn't sleep very well. She woke up very early this morning, and this nap was exceptionally long. When Mingxiu groggily woke up, the sun had already set. She sat up in a daze and looked at the weather outside. Mingxiu felt a little like crying.
He rubbed his eyes hard, suppressing the sadness in his heart, sat up, and called for someone to come and serve him.
She doesn't like having anyone around her when she sleeps, so she lets Green Bamboo and the others do other things, and only calls for someone to come in and serve her when she needs something.
As expected, at the Qianqing Palace, the Empress Dowager sent Sumalagu to see Emperor Kangxi.
"Why is Aunt here?" Kangxi raised an eyebrow when he saw the person Liang Jiugong brought in.
Sumalagu bowed and said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager wants to know why the Emperor took Consort Ming out of the palace yesterday. Was there something wrong?"
Kangxi nodded, dismissed the servants, and began to speak: "Yesterday, I did indeed have something to investigate when I left the palace. Bringing Consort Ming along was simply to avoid drawing too much attention. I understand what Your Majesty is worried about, and I assure you, Your Majesty, I will not do such a thing."
Su Mala Gu nodded. "It's good that His Majesty understands. The Empress Dowager was also worried about His Majesty. Since His Majesty understands, then this servant will go back to report."
After watching Sumalagu walk away, Kangxi continued with his work for the day.
Looking at the two account books on the table, Kangxi's expression was dark and inscrutable. The same items had vastly different prices. Kangxi laughed in anger. He had thought that after the last incident, the Imperial Household Department would be more restrained, but he did not expect that they would still not restrain themselves. Did they think everyone was a fool?
He tapped the table and ordered, "Call Nalan Xingde over."
A dark shadow flashed in the hall, and then everything returned to calm.
It was two days later when Mingxiu heard the news. During those two days, Mingxiu stayed in her little palace, eating, drinking, and playing, feeling quite carefree.
Kangxi's handling of the matter this time was not very high-profile; he simply punished all the officials in charge of procurement, without pursuing the matter too much further.
When Mingxiu heard the news, she nodded. She knew that if the water was too clear, there would be no fish. Sometimes you have to turn a blind eye. But this situation was much better. Mingxiu was very satisfied.
We can reform gradually. Making too drastic adjustments would be counterproductive and could easily lead to desperate measures.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor went to Chengqian Palace tonight," Green Bamboo said cautiously from the side.
At this moment, Mingxiu was happily eating grapes and reading a storybook. When she heard the news, she was slightly taken aback, but simply replied that she knew and didn't say anything more.
The grapes in her hand had turned slightly bitter. She had been prepared for this day. As the emperor, it was impossible for him to have only one woman. Since she came here, she had never dreamed of a lifelong monogamous relationship, because she knew it was impossible.
Not to mention Emperor Kangxi, who had more than thirty children in history.
However, suddenly finding out still made me feel a little uncomfortable.
She put down the grapes in her hand, looked up at the sky, and asked, "Green Bamboo, do you think the moon we see is the same one as the moon our parents see?"
Green Bamboo raised her head and shook her head slightly: "This servant doesn't know, but it's probably the same. Anyway, this servant has never seen a different moon."
Mingxiu smiled and said, "Yes, it's all the same. The moon is still the same moon, the sky is still the same sky, and the earth is still the same earth. It's just that the same people are looking at the sky."
When Kangxi entered, he saw the master and servant looking up at something.
He walked over to Mingxiu, picked up a book, and said, "What are you looking up at?"
Mingxiu was startled. "Why is the Emperor here?"
Kangxi didn't speak, but sat down on the stool next to him and said, "Why aren't you welcoming me?"
Mingxiu grinned, "How could that be? I just heard that Huangshang had already gone to another sister's place, and I was a little surprised that he came over so quickly."
Kangxi looked at Mingxiu speechlessly and tapped her head. "Others try to spy on the Emperor's whereabouts very discreetly, but you just blurted it out so carelessly."
Mingxiu chuckled and sat up in Kangxi's arms. "I was just curious. Besides, I think it's good to say what's on your mind. It's so uncomfortable to keep it to yourself."
Kangxi gently patted Mingxiu's head. "Alright, it's getting late. Get ready to wash up and go to bed. You're thinking too much."
After saying this, he instructed someone to prepare water and take Mingxiu to bathe.
That night, naturally, another fierce battle of fairies ensued.
After cleaning up, Kangxi looked at the person who was holding her waist tightly in his arms and softened his expression. Actually, he had just planned to go to Chengqian Palace, but halfway there he suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen her since he left the palace, so he changed his mind and turned around and came to Yonghe Palace.
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