"Impossible, impossible! How dare you!" Kangxi suddenly stood up and slammed his hand on the imperial table. What Qin Mama had just said was utterly shocking; she had actually claimed that Hesheli was the culprit who poisoned so many of his children.
Consort Hui was startled by Kangxi's sudden action, but Granny Qin remained remarkably calm. She continued, "This servant knows His Majesty won't believe it. After all, those people from back then are no longer here. It's difficult for His Majesty to judge right and wrong based on this servant's words alone. But this servant dares to ask His Majesty one question: those infants who died in the princes' quarters, whose children were they? They were all not born to the Empress. After one or two died, His Majesty was furious. Why were those servants so careless? Weren't they afraid of losing their heads?"
Consort Hui gradually calmed down and immediately replied, "Your Majesty, my Third Prince died unjustly. So many children died at that time; I believe someone must have done it."
Kangxi's hand trembled slightly as he said, "It was all due to the carelessness of those servants. What does it have to do with the Empress? You, you dare to slander Empress Hesheli in front of me! You are truly audacious!"
Consort Hui said, “Your Majesty, I know you cannot hear me right now, but I still have to speak. You have been deceived by Empress Hesheli. She appears virtuous and kind in front of Your Majesty, but she does such things behind your back. She is truly unworthy to be the Empress and the Crown Prince’s mother.”
Kangxi looked at Consort Hui, then at Lady Qin, still unable or unwilling to believe what they said. He shouted, "Why didn't you say this sooner? It's clear you planned this all along! I don't believe it!"
Consort Hui hadn't expected Kangxi's reaction to be so strong; she still harbored resentment towards Empress Heseri. If it weren't for the vast difference in their social standing, the position of Empress would surely have been hers. But now, seeing Kangxi's protective and unquestionable attitude when he mentioned Empress Heseri, she felt very uneasy.
“Your Majesty, I am an old woman, and I have absolutely no reason to falsely accuse Your Majesty’s most respected Empress. I just have these things on my mind, and I feel uneasy every time I think about them. Now that I can finally speak these words before Your Majesty, I can die without regrets,” said Granny Qin.
Consort Hui simply wanted to say these things to Emperor Kangxi, hoping that he would be less biased towards the Crown Prince and less hostile towards Prince Heshuo.
"Enough! How dare you slander the Empress, Liang Jiugong!" Kangxi shouted.
"Your Majesty," Consort Hui said, "I only wish to seek justice for my Third Prince. I know how deep Your Majesty's feelings are for the late Empress Hesheli, but doesn't Your Majesty ever consider why so many children died young, yet the Empress's children survived. It's a pity that our eldest son, Yinyou, also died young. Did Empress Hesheli do something against Heaven's will, causing the death of our eldest son?" She couldn't let things end so easily; she had to make a big fuss before she would stop.
Kangxi felt as if a wad of cotton was stuffed inside his heart, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. He truly could not accept what Consort Hui and Granny Qin had said.
“Your Highness, please. I have no choice but to obey the Emperor’s orders,” Liang Jiugong said to Consort De as he approached her with two eunuchs.
"Your Excellency, may I speak with the Emperor a few more times?" Consort Hui refused to give up.
"Your Majesty, I know you cannot accept all of this right now. My eldest son, Yinqi, has done something unforgivable, but haven't the Crown Prince and Empress Hesheli, whom you have been protecting, done anything wrong? Why can they still enjoy high positions and always receive your forgiveness!" Consort Hui said anxiously.
"Insolence! Empress Hesheli and the Crown Prince are not comparable to you and your son. Liang Jiugong, take him away. Without my decree, no one is allowed to come again." Kangxi's face was full of anger, but he was no longer as resolute.
Seeing that she had said enough, Consort Hui left with Granny Qin. After seeing Consort Hui and her party off, Liang Jiugong immediately sent a young eunuch to Yonghe Palace, while he himself hurried back to Emperor Kangxi's side.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Liang Jiugong comforted him.
“That Nara clan is truly despicable. She only said these things to plead for Yinti!” Kangxi said.
"This servant is unaware, but Your Majesty must not let these things upset you and harm your health," Liang Jiugong said.
"She actually said that my Empress is such a vicious woman, how could that be? Empress Hesheli is so gentle and virtuous, she lost her life to give birth to the legitimate son of the Qing Dynasty," Kangxi said.
Just then, a young eunuch ran in to announce that Consort De had arrived.
When Emperor Kangxi heard that it was Consort De, he did not stop her and let her in.
Consort De had already learned of today's events from a message relayed by a young eunuch, and thus rushed over immediately.
"Your Majesty, why don't I accompany you for a stroll in the Imperial Garden?" Consort De said gently.
Every time Emperor Kangxi saw Consort De, his agitation would subside considerably. This was one of the reasons why he favored Consort De so much; it was as if this woman was always a calming remedy.
Emperor Kangxi nodded and then went for a walk in the Imperial Garden with Consort De.
"Your Majesty, look! Those peonies are blooming so beautifully; it's all thanks to the Imperial Flower Room," said Consort De.
"Hmm. Wanxiu, do you still remember Granny Qin from back in the Prince's quarters?" Kangxi asked.
“I remember, I remember she was granted permission by His Majesty to leave the palace,” Consort De said.
"Indeed, today Consort Hui brought her to see me, and she recounted some past events. She said that Empress Hesheli deliberately instructed that Granny Li not to take good care of the princes, which led to the deaths of several of them." Kangxi still felt deep sorrow when he mentioned his own children who had died young. Indeed, quite a few princes had died at that time.
“Your Majesty, I find it too much of a coincidence. Why did Consort Hui find Granny Qin to tell Your Majesty about these things right after Prince Heshuo’s accident?” Consort De said.
"That's what I meant too. She clearly came to plead for Yinti. But that old woman Qin dared to slander Empress Hesheli in front of me, she deserves to die!" Kangxi suddenly said angrily.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Consort Hui would not deliberately deceive you. However, I am very suspicious of this Granny Qin. Why did she suddenly appear?" Consort De said.
"They say she's been in the Cold Palace for over thirty years. I never imagined she'd be there. Her sudden reappearance has caught me completely off guard," Kangxi said. His emotions had calmed considerably.
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