Lanqin hurried along, her heart still uneasy about Consort Yi's words. Although she hadn't lost in conversation, Consort Yi's words had still served as a wake-up call. Had rumors already spread about her free access to the Qianqing Palace?
Oh dear, this damned feudal society is such a suffocating place. My perfectly good reputation has been ruined just like that.
Upon returning to Yonghe Palace, Lanqin informed Consort De of her decision with Emperor Kangxi. She then pondered whether to relay Consort Yi's words to Consort De. After much deliberation, she decided against it, lest it cause further complications.
"Lanqin, you helped your mother persuade the Emperor, and your mother should thank you. Granny De, go and bring out my set of jewelry. I've wanted to give it to her for a long time; let's bestow it upon her today." Consort De breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Kangxi had agreed not to use these precious cultural relics and national treasures. She knew that each of those items was an absolute masterpiece; if they were broken or stolen, she wouldn't be able to explain it to Kangxi. But in such a situation, with so many people around, a single careless act could easily result in something being broken.
"Thank you, Mother! You're the one who loves me the most!" Lanqin said with a smile. "Father said that the palace banquet should just be a symbolic affair, and there's no need to go to great lengths for them. Father will take these people hunting later, and that's not something Mother can worry about."
“You’re quite capable, girl. But His Majesty’s hunting trip is a big deal. If he’s taking a foreign delegation, we’ll have to go to the hunting grounds over there in the western mountains,” Consort De said.
"Mother, did you and Father Emperor go hunting?" Lanqin asked gossipy, noticing that Consort De seemed to be trying to recall something.
"That was a long time ago. Ever since I became a concubine, I haven't gone out of the palace with the Emperor," Consort De said thoughtfully.
The saying goes, "Those who hold high positions and wield great power may find their hearts alienated by power," which roughly describes Consort De's current situation.
"Mother, could I please stop serving Father Emperor from now on? Could you please talk to him about it?" Lanqin decided not to go to Kangxi's place anymore. She had already done what she was supposed to do. She had already told Eunuch Liang how to make purslane vegetable cakes. Making more coarse grains and wild vegetables for Kangxi would be good for his health.
"Why? What did you do?" Consort De asked in surprise.
"No, I just feel that if I stay there for too long, people will gossip. I don't want to cause trouble, so it's better to stay away," Lanqin said.
"Did someone say something?" Consort De asked immediately.
“Mother, your daughter-in-law feels that serving Father Emperor for too long will cause gossip and damage his holy reputation. It would be better to let a palace maid serve him,” Lanqin said.
"Someone must have said something, right? Tell me, who is it that's spreading rumors? I'll have their tongue twisted out!" Consort De said sternly.
“Mother, even if you knew now, it wouldn’t do any good. But people’s opinions are a fearsome thing, so Lanqin thinks it’s best to avoid them,” Lanqin said.
“Your father will also ask. If he finds out, he will surely punish those who gossip,” Consort De said. “Since you are so filial, then I will go and speak on your behalf. But don’t worry about the rumors in the palace. These rumors usually come and go quickly.”
"Yes, daughter-in-law remembers. Thank you for your understanding, Mother," Lanqin said. Although the old man Kangxi wasn't bad to her, Lanqin felt disgusted after hearing Consort Yi's words. Therefore, to avoid such slanderous remarks, Lanqin decided not to go to Kangxi's place.
After having lunch with Consort De, Lanqin took Hongli's arm and went to rest. When she woke up, Consort De told her that Emperor Kangxi wanted her to come over immediately.
Huh? Didn't you promise to help me resign? What's wrong?
Lanqin looked at Consort De with an apologetic expression, felt a surge of resentment in her heart, and then went to the Qianqing Palace after tidying up her appearance.
"Girl, don't you want to come and keep your father entertained?" Kangxi looked at Lanqin and said this as soon as he started.
"Your Majesty," Lanqin said, "I am afraid that people in the palace might see me frequently visiting Your Majesty and saying foul things, which would be an insult to Your Majesty." She didn't want to cause trouble in front of Emperor Kangxi, but now she seemed to have no choice in the matter.
"Who is gossiping about this and what is it? Tell me!" Kangxi said, clearly displeased.
Lanqin lowered her head and hunched her shoulders. She was completely unaware of her high standing in Kangxi's eyes and felt slightly uneasy.
"I only overheard the palace servants talking about it, and I can't say for sure who they were talking about," Lanqin could only say.
"No, she was perfectly fine this morning, but came to resign this afternoon. She must have heard something at noon, right? Was it Consort Yi?" Kangxi was not so easily fooled.
“Father, I feel that serving by your side is causing a lot of gossip, so I’d better leave sooner rather than later. Please don’t ask me any more questions, it’s just that I feel uncomfortable,” Lanqin said.
After a moment's thought, Kangxi said, "It was my oversight. Very well, I will now appoint you as a county prefect. Although you are the fourth prince's concubine, it does not prevent me from appointing you as a county prefect. In this way, you and I will be both father-in-law and daughter-in-law, and also father and daughter."
Lanqin was completely dumbfounded. What was Kangxi doing? It was incredibly capricious.
"Liang Jiugong, draft the decree. I will now confer upon Niohuru the title of Doro Gulun County Magistrate and adopt her as my goddaughter. She resembles my third princess, so I will treat her as my own daughter," Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liang Jiugong replied immediately.
Lanqin stared blankly as Kangxi spoke while the servants beside him wrote, and soon a bright imperial edict was drawn up.
"Niohuru, receive the decree!" Liang Jiugong said to Lanqin, holding the gleaming promotion certificate.
"Daughter-in-law, accept the imperial decree!" Lanqin had no choice but to kneel down according to the decree.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Niohuru Lanqin is of pure and virtuous character, gentle and graceful..." Liang Jiugong read a long string of words above Lanqin's head, and in the end, Lanqin only heard, "Specially conferred the title of Gulun Heshuo Minrou County."
"Your Majesty, I thank you. Long live the Emperor!" Lanqin said numbly as she knelt on the ground, then accepted the imperial edict.
Emperor Kangxi ordered the contents of this imperial edict to be immediately proclaimed throughout the land, and then bestowed upon Lanqin a great many gifts. Lanqin never expected that she, who had come to resign, would end up receiving a county post.
When the news spread throughout the palace, everyone was shocked, especially Consort Yi of the Guoluo clan, who was so angry that she almost went to confront Emperor Kangxi.
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