Chapter 70 The Empress Dowager's Troublemaking Again
When Fanghua brought Qiaoling out, she heard Niohuru flirting with Kangxi, while Tongjia looked on with shame and anger.
She looked just like a young wife who had suffered a great injustice.
She just couldn't understand it. She was still the empress, so how could she have the audacity to put herself in the position of a wife?
After watching for a while, Fanghua couldn't help but say, "We're still outside, Master, you'd better be careful." Although she was speaking to Kangxi, her eyes kept glancing at the Consort.
The Imperial Concubine naturally looked back, and when she saw the Empress's signal, she followed her gaze and smiled.
"I forgot about my cousin. And the master, he didn't even remind her."
Emperor Kangxi was somewhat embarrassed, as his cousin had witnessed him joking around with his concubine, which made him feel a little ashamed.
Furthermore, his cousin also intended to join his harem, which made him even more embarrassed and angry.
"Is the Empress finished with her work?" I could only change the subject. "If you're done, let's go."
"Yes, I'm done."
The trip to the palace was very enjoyable.
However, Niohuru ignored the advice and bought some 'things' to take to the palace.
Fanghua didn't try to persuade her any further, only telling her to be careful before leaving it to her own devices.
Before they knew it, it was Chenghu's first birthday banquet. It was the dead of winter and very cold, but because he was the eldest son, Emperor Kangxi made the banquet very lively.
This made Nara, who gave birth after the Empress, very envious.
Although she is not as favored as before, there are only so many people in the harem, so she still manages to win some favor every month.
Despite such pampering, Lady Nara dared not even dream of celebrating her eldest son's first birthday.
She would be content if the Emperor would pay more attention to her then.
Since the deaths of Consort Magia and her son, Nara has long lost her former ambition and now only wants to be invisible, so that the Empress will forget her schemes.
When Chenghu turned one year old, he really showed his talent by grabbing the seal and sword that Emperor Kangxi had given him, stealing the limelight. Fanghua didn't intend to keep her son hidden; she was happy that her son was capable.
She was surprised to have these two items, but she also felt it was the right thing to do, after all, Chenghu was her eldest son, and he shouldn't have such ambitions.
After Chenghu's first birthday celebration, the new year of the tenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign began.
It was another year for the emperor and his ministers to gather together, and Empress Fanghua, of course, could not be absent.
Her charm inspired many noble ladies in the capital to emulate her, but no matter how they tried, they could never replicate the temperament and aura of reincarnation that Fanghua had cultivated with the spiritual spring.
Even learning just a little bit will earn you higher regard.
The palace banquet was very lively. Apart from the fact that the Empress Dowager had to leave for a while due to frequent headaches over the past six months and the Empress Dowager had not returned, the entire ninth year of Kangxi's reign was quite successful.
At least Fanghua herself was fulfilled, and she didn't care about others.
After the excitement comes tranquility.
In the midst of peaceful days, Fanghua opened the general store she had prepared before the New Year. Most of the goods were Mongolian products, and the variety was extensive, with some expensive and some cheap. It was an instant hit with the people of the capital.
Even ordinary people will spend some money to experience different kinds of goods.
Changtai couldn't stay at home. Perhaps this business deal gave him a lot of confidence, because right after the New Year, he took his men and went to Mongolia again.
When Emperor Kangxi wanted to find the person, the person had already gone to Mongolia.
This left Kangxi quite helpless, but when Changtai was mentioned, the smile on his face became more genuine.
Fanghua saw all of this, but simply chose not to expose it.
No one dares to gamble on the emperor's suspicions. Keeping Changtai away from the court is not a bad thing. Changhai could pursue a career as a civil official, but it is unknown whether Kangxi would tolerate it at that time.
Changhai is still young, so it's fine if he enters the court later.
Fanghua also plans to send her uncle's younger brothers down the path of military officers.
This way, when they grow up, they can also provide assistance to Chenghu and Yinreng.
I thought the tenth year of Kangxi's reign would be a wonderful start, but unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager was the first to cause trouble.
On this day, Fanghua led the women of the harem to pay their respects, expecting to kowtow and greet them at the palace gate as before before leaving.
For some reason, the palace gates were wide open today, and Su Ma was even waiting at the gate in person.
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress and all the ladies." Upon seeing everyone arrive, Su Ma immediately stepped forward to pay her respects. "Today, the Empress Dowager is in good health and may not be able to see you all. Therefore, please come into the palace to pay your respects."
Although Fanghua was puzzled, she would not offend the Empress Dowager, so she smiled and replied, "This is a good thing. We are most pleased with the Empress Dowager's health. Let's go in and pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."
Seeing the Empress's graciousness, Su Ma's smile deepened, but even the best smile couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes.
It was said to the outside world that the Empress Dowager was in good health, but in fact, her headaches had never gotten better and had been recurring, so she had never had a good night's sleep.
Today, seeing the Empress and others was merely an attempt to use the opportunity to promote someone to the throne.
And this person was none other than the Mongolian princess raised in the palace.
With Consort Hui dead, the harem could not be without Mongolian concubines, so the Empress Dowager wanted to put forward one.
This person was Borjigit Menghe. Although she was not as closely related to Consort Hui and the Empress Dowager by blood, she was also a member of a collateral branch of the Borjigit clan.
Compared to the others, she was closer by blood.
Naturally, she is also quite old; she is twelve years old this year (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning), and after two more years of recuperation, she will be ready to retire. The Empress Dowager believes she can wait.
She had a few more children she wanted to entrust to the Empress Dowager, but unfortunately the Empress Dowager had left the palace and she couldn't make any further plans for the time being. However, she believed that the Empress Dowager would not let her down.
If we're talking about who's happiest when they go to the Cining Palace to pay their respects.
It was naturally Niohuru; she had been preparing for it, but unfortunately, she never had the chance.
Now that the opportunity has come, she can't let it slip by.
"Your Majesty is right. I haven't seen the Empress Dowager in a long time and I miss her dearly. Aunt Su, please lead the way."
Of all the women in the harem, only those two were close to the Empress Dowager. The others were either newly arrived concubines or of low status, making it difficult for them to even meet the Empress Dowager. Who would believe they had any deep feelings for her?
Sure enough, after the Empress and the Imperial Concubine spoke, no one dared to reply.
"Alright, this servant will lead the way."
The main hall of Cining Palace was very warm; entering it felt like stepping into spring, making it extremely comfortable.
The Empress took the lead in paying her respects to the Empress Dowager.
"Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
As the number of people increased, the sounds of greetings also became louder.
In the past, the Empress Dowager would have been very happy, but now, hearing these voices only made her feel dizzy.
But we have no choice but to meet.
As Fanghua stood up, she saw the Empress Dowager's furrowed brows and chuckled inwardly.
This headache isn't a disease, but it can be excruciating.
Even the best body will deteriorate if this continues for a long time. She didn't believe that this person could live to see the Kangxi Emperor for more than twenty years like in her previous life.
"Please sit down, everyone. We're all family, there's no need for so many formalities," the Empress Dowager said again after everyone had stood up.
"It has been a long time since I've seen you all, Empress. You've worked hard. There are more and more people in the harem now. I hope you will all produce more offspring for the royal family."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."
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