Chapter 67 Out-of-Palace Confrontation
"Haha, look at what the Empress is saying. But I've heard that your shop is doing very well these days," Kangxi said with a hint of teasing.
Fanghua rolled her eyes. "Look at what Your Majesty said. It's opening day. I didn't even know what was going on, and Your Majesty came over. Business must be really good, otherwise Your Majesty wouldn't have made this trip."
Fanghua was also happy, after all, good business meant money coming in.
She's going to have two sons; if she doesn't build up her wealth, what will happen when her brothers get married and have children?
You can't wrong your own child, can you?
"Haha, Fang'er is truly clever. However, I've heard that your things are quite good. I wonder if I'll have the honor of seeing them?" Kangxi was also curious at this moment.
"There is nothing wrong with that."
Fanghua was sent to get it.
When the item was presented to him, Kangxi lost interest; after all, he, a grown man, didn't really care about things belonging to a woman.
Besides, how much money can you make from this stuff?
As the Empress said, it's good enough if we don't lose money.
"The Empress's ingenuity." He picked it up, glanced at it, and then put it down.
Anyone with eyes can see that the Emperor has taken a liking to her.
Fanghua wasn't angry; it was better that she didn't like it.
"I am just a woman in the inner palace, and all I can think of are things that girls use. These rouge and face powders are commonly used, so I am quite knowledgeable about them."
Fanghua was very modest.
"My empress is of great virtue and should not belittle herself like this."
"I was just curious, Fang'er. I plan to leave the palace in a few days. Would you be interested in coming with me?" This was his main purpose for coming today.
When the commotion outside the palace reached him, he naturally wanted to go and take a look.
He's been so busy for so long, he deserves to relax a bit.
"Really?" Fanghua was both surprised and excited.
It would be wonderful to be able to leave the palace and take a look.
Unfortunately, she was the Empress, and her every word and action was under the watchful eyes of everyone, so she could not do anything like leaving the palace without permission.
Now that the Emperor has mentioned it, she will naturally agree.
"That's right, when have I ever lied to Fang'er? But," Kangxi whispered in her ear, "shouldn't Fang'er reward her husband properly?"
Fanghua blushed and glared at him, saying, "Your Majesty is never upright."
"Will Fang'er agree?"
"Yes, yes, my lord, if you ask me for something, I have no reason not to."
Seeing the harmonious relationship between the Emperor and Empress, the palace servants attending to them all looked shy.
That night, Emperor Kangxi stayed at the Kunning Palace.
Fanghua waited and waited, and finally the day she could leave the palace arrived.
To her surprise, Kangxi didn't just take her out of the palace alone. Looking at Niohuru waiting there, Fanghua's mouth twitched.
I feel like I've lost out big time these past few days.
I worked so hard, but I ended up benefiting someone else.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings." Niohuru was delighted to see the Empress's changing expression.
"Is Your Majesty seeing that I am unhappy?" Niohuru's mouth was like it was smeared with poison, and the words she spoke were truly unpleasant.
“But His Majesty feels sorry for me, so he said he wants to take me out of the palace for a stroll.”
If Fanghua didn't know what kind of person she was in private, she probably would have been really angry with her right now.
Unfortunately, seeing the wink she gave her, Fanghua couldn't help but want to laugh.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Kangxi stepped forward and stood between them with a helpless expression. "I noticed that the Consort never smiles all day, so I thought I'd take her out of the palace for a stroll, Fang'er." The last part, "Fang'er," was uttered with a sense of helplessness.
Fanghua, of course, would not embarrass him in public. "Your Majesty is right. Since the Consort's miscarriage, she has been crying every day. I cannot understand her sorrow, but Your Majesty's heartache is my heartache too." After saying that, she walked past Kangxi to the carriage.
She didn't even glance at Kangxi until she got into the car.
Niohuru's eyes reddened with anger. She snorted and said, "Your Majesty and the Empress's relationship is truly enviable. Your Majesty should take the Empress with you. I will not disturb you any longer." With that, she curtsied and turned to leave.
How could Kangxi accept this? It was just that he blurted it out, and since he had agreed, how could he go back on his word?
"Rouying, don't be stubborn. I promised the Empress first. Come, get in the carriage with me."
Without giving her a chance to refuse, he simply pulled her into the carriage.
Inside the car, Fanghua had already been resting with her eyes closed, leaning against the window, completely oblivious to their comings and goings.
You could tell from the aura she was exuding that she was unhappy.
Emperor Kangxi was in a real bind.
I am filled with regret.
It was too late for regrets.
Niohuru showed no respect for the Empress whatsoever, just as before. She even snorted loudly in front of Fanghua and turned her head to the other side of the carriage window.
Kangxi was like a sandwich filling between them.
Caught in a dilemma.
Fanghua opened her eyes when the imperial concubine hummed.
"Oh, does the Imperial Concubine not want to share a carriage with me? If so, the Imperial Concubine would be better off getting off sooner so that His Majesty can prepare another one for you."
Just as Kangxi was about to speak to persuade her, Fanghua glared at him directly.
"If Your Majesty feels sorry for the Imperial Concubine, then you can ride in the same carriage with her."
These words silenced Kangxi, who was about to speak.
The Imperial Concubine was also someone who wouldn't let things go once she was in the right.
"This is the Emperor's carriage. Why should I get off? Your Majesty, you are being unreasonable."
While an argument raged inside the carriage, Wei Zhong, having received instructions from his master, began to drive the carriage.
Throughout the journey, Kangxi only felt a headache from the noise.
He ran away as soon as he arrived.
That's right.
Emperor Kangxi abandoned his wife and concubine and went to find peace and quiet.
"Juxianlou, ah, the Emperor certainly has a good idea."
On the second floor of the restaurant, only Fanghua and Niohuru remained in the private room.
Having shed their pretense, the two of them calmed down.
"I heard that Prince An is in charge, but I don't know how deep the relationship is between our Emperor and him." Niohuru has her own connections, so it's perfectly normal for her to know some things outside the palace.
Not only that, but someone whose status is on par with the Empress must have considerable power behind them.
"Prince An is quite a character. I've heard he favors his concubine over his wife, but I wonder if it's true." Fanghua was also a bit gossipy.
"That's absolutely true. A legitimate son is not as good as a concubine's daughter. It's truly a royal example."
Fortunately, no one else knew about their conversation, otherwise the two of them would probably have been drowned in the spittle of their relatives.
"Are you envious?" Concubine Fanghua's face was full of pride. What could she do? No matter how high her status was, as long as she lived, they were all just concubines.
"Why don't you find out about that person's methods? Maybe you can also get the Emperor to make an exception for you," Fanghua teased.
"Come on, do you think that person can tolerate it? You, as the legal wife, will be tormented by her if you get a little bit of favor. Do you want me to live a long life?"
Perhaps because they've left the palace, they've become less restrained in their speech.
"By the way, what brings you out of the palace this time?" Fanghua didn't think that she would follow this person who knew she was leaving the palace with the Emperor without reason.
I'm afraid they have ulterior motives.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com