"Your Majesty, Consort De has arrived!" Liang Jiugong said to Emperor Kangxi, who was leaning against the warm couch.
Kangxi's still somewhat gloomy face softened slightly, and he nodded to Liang Jiugong, signaling him to let Consort De in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Consort De entered alone and bowed to Emperor Kangxi.
"Come here and massage my temples!" Kangxi waved his hand, signaling the palace servants standing in the room to leave. Liang Jiugong immediately beckoned to them, indicating that they should all follow him out.
Consort De walked to Kangxi's side, changed his shoes, got onto the heated couch, moved behind him, and began to massage his temples.
Kangxi closed his eyes and remained silent. A faint fragrance wafted from the incense burner in the room; it was a special incense that Kangxi had prepared for him to refresh his mind. Whenever he was thinking or busy with state affairs, he would have the palace servants light this incense.
"Your massage is still the most comfortable," Kangxi said. "Did the fourth prince and his family go back today?"
"They've all returned. His Majesty is too busy with state affairs to worry about them." Although Consort De said this, she was secretly pleased. Kangxi's concern for the Fourth Prince's family was a clear indication of his care for them.
"Wanxiu, I want you to investigate the people around me. Don't investigate openly, investigate secretly, without making a sound," Kangxi said. "Investigate all these eunuchs and palace maids, with Liang Jiugong cooperating with you."
Consort De's brow twitched, and she asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"Someone has planted a ghost around me! I must find this ghost." Kangxi's voice turned noticeably colder.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will investigate immediately. I will not question them directly, but investigate their family backgrounds." A glint flashed in Consort De's eyes as she immediately replied.
"Yes, it needs to be done quickly. It must be completed before all nations pay tribute," Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will act immediately." Consort De had not expected Kangxi to be so insistent, and she immediately began to plan in her mind.
"Furthermore, I have something to tell you. This matter cannot be told to anyone, and it requires your cooperation," Kangxi added.
When Consort De saw Kangxi dismiss all the palace servants, she knew that Kangxi must have something to say.
"I need to find another 'I' to go hunting in my place. You will stay by that 'I's' side and cooperate well with him," Kangxi said. It turned out that after talking with Lanqin for a long time in the room, Lanqin finally gave him this idea—to find a body double. Disguise techniques existed in ancient times, and the skills were quite sophisticated.
Consort De stopped what she was doing in surprise. She naturally knew what Kangxi meant just now, and whispered, "Your Majesty, what is the ghost by your side planning to do?"
"We must be on guard. There will be many people and so many foreigners present. We must consider the reputation of the Qing Dynasty, but we also need to be wary of the actions of some individuals. I will also disguise myself and attend. However, you must accompany the substitute who will replace me and ensure the overall situation is handled well. I will have someone teach him what to say and do. But your cooperation is still necessary. Do you understand?" Kangxi said. In this harem, the woman he trusted most was the one behind him. From a palace maid serving tea and water, she rose to become the most favored concubine in the harem, Consort De. Kangxi was this woman's everything. She had no family background and relied entirely on Kangxi, entrusting everything to him and trusting him completely. Even though he would still favor other women, Consort De was devoted to Kangxi wholeheartedly. Even Empress Hesheli could not match the purity of Consort De's feelings for Kangxi. It was precisely because Kangxi knew this that he regarded her as his true "pillow mate," someone with whom he could confide his innermost thoughts. Consort De was also exceptionally intelligent, never interfering in the Crown Prince's affairs, which made Emperor Kangxi trust and rely on her even more.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Then all I need to do is cooperate with him?" Consort De was a little bewildered, after all, this was the first time she had ever been asked to cooperate with a substitute.
"Yes. Liang Jiugong will go with him. Just treat him as if he were me. I will have the Imperial Guards investigated as well. You can take care of these servants," Kangxi said.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely investigate them thoroughly," Consort De said calmly, suppressing her inner shock.
"Hmm. As for that Prince Indal, I'd like to arrange a marriage for him with a daughter from the imperial clan. What do you think?" Kangxi asked again.
Consort De suddenly realized that the Emperor thought the same thing as her, except for the Empress Dowager…
"Your Majesty, Indar and the Empress Dowager are aunt and niece. Shouldn't you ask her what she thinks?" Consort De said cautiously.
"No need," Kangxi said. "I have already made up my mind. I will betroth Changning's youngest daughter to him."
"Prince Yu's youngest daughter is said to be born to one of his most beloved concubines. Won't Prince Yu be reluctant to part with her?" Consort De asked. It turned out that the Emperor was already dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager's interference in some of his children's marriages.
"They are all descendants of the Aisin Gioro clan, and should naturally dedicate themselves to the Aisin Gioro clan. I don't even know how many of my princesses have been betrothed, and he's still reluctant to part with his daughters?" Kangxi muttered with slight dissatisfaction. Prince Yu, Changning, was Kangxi's fifth brother, and was a member of the imperial clan who only knew how to enjoy wealth and honor.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right." Consort De only said a few words symbolically, and seeing that Kangxi was displeased, she naturally did not say anything more.
"I heard that the Sixteen Ministers went to the Empress Dowager's side?" Kangxi asked again.
"This, Your Majesty, is not quite sure. However, I often saw the Sixteenth when I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager," said Consort De.
"She's such a worry! Sixteen isn't young anymore, it's time to think about her marriage." Kangxi said, rubbing his eyes.
"Everything still depends on His Majesty's decision," Consort De said, her eyes lowered. She didn't particularly like the Sixteenth Prince either, so she naturally wouldn't interfere much in his marriage.
"Those people in the south are not peaceful again. Why not make peace with them through marriage?" Kangxi pondered.
"Does His Majesty mean to send the Sixteenth Princess to the south for a political marriage?" Consort De asked.
"Yes. The Empress Dowager has already intervened so much; I don't want her to overstep her bounds," Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will speak to Consort Shu. I will also speak to the Empress Dowager." Consort De knew that Kangxi intended for her to inform the two women. In any case, she was always the one to handle matters that might offend others.
"Yes. I only feel at ease when you are by my side. Let's end it here for today. Have someone light the lanterns and let them take their leave." Kangxi had finished discussing matters with Consort De.
The autumn night was slightly chilly, and the dew was heavy as the night deepened. When Consort De came out of the Qianqing Palace, she immediately put on a cotton cloak.
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