Chapter 179 The Crown Prince's Virtue Lies in His Ignorance
"Empress Mother, has Father's illness been cured?"
Fanghua sighed upon hearing this, "It's still early, but there are indeed signs. Your father's health has improved after receiving treatment from a celestial being."
So what if she's alright? She won't let those newborns become obstacles in her path.
"Don't worry, the Empress Dowager is keeping an eye on things in the harem, nothing will happen." Although many new concubines have entered the palace in recent years, no one has yet been born who can challenge the Empress's position.
Even if you get pregnant, you still have to be able to give birth; that depends on each family's abilities.
Without her control, those people won't behave themselves.
"It's good that the Empress Dowager knows what's going on, but I wonder if Uncle An will be alright?" Cheng Hu still remembered the Grandmaster-level bodyguard that the Empress Dowager had sent to the royal family back then.
"Empress Mother, will Uncle An be discovered?"
Since An Er joined the Royal Family, we haven't been able to contact him. It seems we should send Xiao Feng to check on him.
Fanghua shook her head, her brows furrowing. "We haven't been in touch for many years, so I can't answer that for you. I'll have Xiaofeng check on him tonight; hopefully, he's alright."
The matter of the internal energy pills was handed over to Xiao Dezi. Ever since Chengreng started studying medicine, he had taken over this matter, so she really didn't know if An Er had continued to get internal energy pills from the guards.
"Even if something happens, it won't affect us, so don't worry."
Fanghua thought her son was worried that his scheme would be exposed, which was why he asked that question.
"Yes, Xiao Feng is very capable. With her around, I have no worries about my son."
The mother and son had lunch together, and then Chenghu left the palace.
Now that the Empress Dowager's mourning period has ended, people outside the court can discuss marriage and betrothal.
Fanghua's inquiry into An Er's matter, which she had Xiaofeng investigate, yielded results: An Er was dead.
She was dealt with by the royal family's innate talent, and Fanghua didn't know why the emperor didn't punish her, but she knew that the battle between her and her son and the emperor had officially begun.
Sure enough, no sooner had the mourning period ended than Kangxi directly assigned a primary consort to his third son, Cheng Ti, than to a woman from the military.
He never mentioned Chenghu's marriage again, and even Chenghu was disliked by the emperor in every way.
This change left everyone dumbfounded, unable to fathom the emperor's thoughts.
On this day, the Emperor suddenly issued an edict to confer the title of Consort De upon Lady Wuya and grant her residence in Yonghe Palace.
The master meant for her to replace Consort De.
Shortly after the official investiture, good news came from Consort De, of the Uya clan, to Yonghe Palace.
This result was both surprising and reasonable.
With the Emperor's favor and the assistance of Consort Tong, it seems reasonable that Lady Wuya was able to surpass the older generation so quickly.
However, Fanghua was truly surprised by her pregnancy.
"If Lady Uya gives birth to a prince, Your Majesty, you will be in danger."
On this day, after paying her respects, Consort Xi did not leave immediately but stayed behind.
She hadn't done this kind of thing in a long time, so it was unexpected this time. However, everyone could understand, since everyone in the harem knew that the child that Consort Wuya was carrying would be given to Consort Tong to raise after it was born.
They found it strange that the Empress and Consort Xi weren't in a hurry.
"Danger?" Fanghua snorted. "What danger could a newborn possibly pose? Aren't there plenty of children dying young in this harem?" She didn't care about a mere toddler.
Her heir is not so easy to bully. Whether it's the Tong family or the Emperor, anyone who wants to suppress her heir is dreaming.
"That's true, but Your Majesty, you know the situation in the harem right now. The Emperor will not allow such a thing to happen." Consort Xi was truly anxious, after all, she had placed all her hopes on the Empress.
That's right, she bet on the Empress, not the Crown Prince.
"If he didn't allow it, it wouldn't have happened?" Fanghua's laughter was even more sarcastic this time. "You underestimate a mother's determination to fight for her son's share of the family business."
Even setting aside Consort Hui of the Nara clan, Consort Rong of the Magia clan would not allow Consort Tong to have her way, since her son is currently the one most favored by the Emperor.
She wouldn't let anyone steal her son's affection, not even a newborn.
If Consort Yi could conceive, why wouldn't she be jealous? Would she agree to let a palace maid who was inferior to her in every way give birth to a prince?
Hehe, this harem has quite a few treasures hidden inside.
And those concubines who entered the palace during the Three Feudatories War, they all had sons to rely on, would they agree to that?
Why did she make sure all those men gave birth to sons? Wasn't she waiting for this moment?
Chengren is not yet of age and therefore cannot enter the court. But he is too young. Aren't those people in front of her just the ones she uses to deal with the current situation?
"She, a former palace maid, has become the mistress of a palace. Do you think Consort He and Consort Shun would agree to that?"
With Consort De dead, Consort Yi, having gained favor, has taken the rank of consort. The positions of the four consorts will soon be complete, and they will miss this opportunity.
Unless the emperor disregards the rules he himself has set and forcibly elevates those people to the rank of concubine.
Otherwise, the fighting will never stop, because the balance has been broken.
"Why have they never fought or competed all these years?" Fanghua smiled, her smile carrying an emotion that even a noble concubine couldn't understand.
"That's because they're waiting, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for their day to come."
Consort Xi was not stupid. After hearing the Empress's words, she understood the Empress's thoughts and felt a sense of lingering fear.
If she hadn't decisively surrendered back then, she probably would have been schemed against by the Empress and left with nothing but bones.
"Her Majesty the Empress has such foresight; I never imagined she was already planning this so many years ago." The Imperial Concubine expressed her sincere admiration.
If it were her, she might have taken some precautions as well, but she would never have been as thorough as the Empress.
It has to be said that losing to her was not unjust.
"No, but I have thought about the current situation. Fathers are wary of their sons, and husbands are wary of their wives. After all, even commoners are wary of each other because of some interests, let alone the most noble royal family in the world."
Fanghua spoke frankly and sincerely.
The Imperial Concubine sighed, "If it were me, I would be far less farsighted than the Empress. Your Majesty, let's not marry the same person again in our next life."
Sometimes she wondered if her fate would have been different if she hadn't married the emperor, or if she hadn't married the same person as the man before her.
"Of course, I will be beautiful in my next life, and it is not my wish to be someone else's wife." If she had a choice, she would not want to be someone else's wife or mother.
And she is who she is.
"Alright, Consort De's affairs are none of your business. Spend less time worrying about it and have the imperial physicians take better care of you. If you continue to neglect your health, you'll really die young." He had hoped to change her fate, but unexpectedly, she ended up in this situation.
When she heard the Empress talk about her health, a hint of sarcasm and hatred appeared in her eyes.
"Why is God so unfair? Why hasn't the most sinful person been punished?" He harmed her so many times, harmed her child, but why doesn't he get the punishment he deserves?
And she only managed to retaliate once or twice, yet Heaven didn't even give her a chance to avenge herself and her child?
Fanghua couldn't answer this question because she always felt that God was unfair, and that someone like Kangxi, who betrayed true feelings, should have swallowed ten thousand needles.
He could be a qualified emperor, so why did he have to pave the way with women and children?
Does he deserve it?
"There will be a day when it will be returned." Fanghua murmured in the end.
However, the sound was too soft, and the imperial concubine couldn't hear it.
"Since you have your plans, then I will not disturb Your Highness's rest. I hope my health can hold out until Xizhu gives birth." She did not have high expectations for herself; she was just happy to see her grandson born.
Even if she's gone, there's still the Empress. Consort Dong is thinking about Xizhu's future. Her presence might not necessarily help Xizhu; on the contrary, it might annoy the Emperor, since she is one of the culprits who poisoned the Emperor.
The fact that the emperor refused to allow anyone to give her an antidote shows that he hated her.
"That day will come."
Fanghua patted her hand, "Go back and rest quickly. I'm keeping an eye on Consort De's matter, and I won't let you down."
Both of them understood what these words meant. The Imperial Concubine smiled and stood up, "That's right, my judgment is excellent, how could I fail?"
After the Imperial Concubine left, Chenghu and Chengren came over.
It was quite surprising that they arrived so early.
"Your son greets His Majesty the Empress Dowager. May His Majesty be blessed."
Fanghua raised her hand to let the two of them stand up. "Alright, there are no outsiders here, why be so polite? Don't you have morning classes today? Chengren, why did you come with your elder brother?"
"I'm on my day off today, and I just missed my mother, the Empress Dowager," Chengren explained playfully to his mother.
Chenghu dismissed the servants from the palace and waited until the door was closed before standing up from the wooden chair. "Empress Mother, I heard that Consort De, who left Consort Tong's palace, is pregnant. Is that true?"
It seems that Father Emperor has truly recovered.
Fanghua nodded, "It is true, but I haven't had anyone investigate whether it's true or false yet. I think it's probably true or false. After all, it's the year when Consort Tong is hoping for a child, and she certainly won't let her wish be in vain."
Uya was nothing more than a tool for Consort Tong to bear children.
Consort Tong herself was unaware that she would eventually have her eye pecked by this sparrow.
"It seems we have a younger brother again." Chenghu smiled, then walked over and sat down next to his mother. "Mother, are you sure you want to give this child to Consort Tong to raise?"
If that's the case, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to my younger brother.
Chengren naturally knew who the child would be. He thought that his father would not have any more children, and that his fourth brother from the previous life would not be born. But unexpectedly, he still couldn't escape it.
"Your Majesty, I do not wish that child to be born." For some reason, Chengren felt a strong aversion to the child and did not want him to be born from the bottom of his heart.
Fanghua understood Chengreng's thoughts, after all, she also had memories of her previous life.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty will not let them have their way." Can't the fate of the phoenix be changed?
Hmph, she really doesn't believe it.
"Chengren, don't go against your father lately. It's not good for you if you become too powerful." Fanghua felt that the emperor was holding back a lot of trouble.
Perhaps the emperor felt he had someone backing him up, and he became increasingly reckless in his actions.
She was afraid he would hurt Chengren.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I know what I'm doing," Chengren replied obediently, though he was secretly resentful.
Why can't he go against the tide? He's thirteen too. His father ascended the throne at eight, so why can't he at thirteen?
In his previous life, he had waited too long.
"You brat, shut up your little schemes. If you dare to mess around, I'll spank you until your bottom is bruised." He could tell what kind of poop his son was going to take just by looking at his own backside.
The hatred and displeasure in his eyes were almost overflowing; did he really think everyone else was blind?
In this life, she rarely allowed Chengreng and Suo'etu to get entangled. Although the court knew that Suo'etu represented the Crown Prince's lineage, he ultimately did not gain the Crown Prince's recognition or closeness. In this life, Suo'etu was far less powerful and influential than in the previous life.
"Big brother, look at the Empress Dowager." Chengren immediately complained to his older brother when he heard that the Empress Dowager was going to spank him. "I'm already thirteen years old, and the Empress Dowager is still spanking me like a little kid. It's too much."
Chenghu rolled his eyes at him. "If you dare to disobey and cause trouble, don't even mention the Empress Dowager, I'll personally take off your pants and beat you." Fighting for power relies on brains, not brute force.
He knows exactly what that brat has been up to lately. Does he really think those royal servants are just for show?
"I can only handle one person of innate talent, so don't do anything reckless."
Fearing his younger brother might not remember, Chenghu explained it even more clearly.
Chengren was speechless.
He could only obediently lower his head and say, "Little brother will remember."
After calming her two sons down, Fanghua asked them to stay at Kunning Palace and have lunch with her.
To Fanghua's surprise, the Emperor actually came.
Although the emperor would stay at her place on the first and fifteenth of the month, the two had long since ceased to consummate their marriage.
Firstly, Fanghua was unwilling, and secondly, Kangxi did not want it either.
Perhaps they were afraid that the Empress would become pregnant again, in which case the Crown Prince's support would be unmatched.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Haha, I heard you two came to the palace early this morning. Why are you hiding here with your Empress Mother and not going out? Even your Father Emperor won't come to see you."
Kangxi smiled and gestured for them to rise, then complained to his two sons, "In the end, I am not as close to you as your Empress Dowager."
Who would dare to answer that?
Fanghua quickly smiled and said, "Is Your Majesty jealous? It's a pity Your Majesty is jealous too soon. These two rascals have come to ask me for money. Since Your Majesty loves them so much, why don't you take them with you?" Fanghua quickly made up an excuse.
Chengren chimed in, "Father, please help your son! I really have no money left. Mother is too stingy and won't give me any."
Chenghu sat on the wooden chair, watching his younger brother act silly with a smile, his eyes full of doting affection.
"Father, don't listen to Chengren's nonsense. He's the one who spent money recklessly, which is why he angered Mother. Please don't give him any money."
After he finished speaking, he explained to the Emperor why Chengreng wanted money.
That reason is obviously false, but who cares now?
"You brat, why do you have to be interested in craftsmanship? You're really a disgrace to me. Recently, the Grand Tutor complained to me that you're not paying attention to your studies. It seems that this is what's distracting you."
Kangxi smiled and berated the Crown Prince as before, but a closer look would reveal that there was no sincerity in the Emperor's eyes, only perfunctory words.
"I heard you got a repeating crossbow, how's it going?"
Chengren cooperated fully, saying, "I knew I couldn't hide it from Father Emperor. I've made some progress on this matter, but it's a bit expensive. Father Emperor, you must support me. If I really develop that double crossbow, it will surely bring great victory on the battlefield."
Chengren became very excited when the topic came up, and he didn't even notice the Empress giving him a meaningful look.
Kangxi saw all of this and was very pleased with himself.
The crown prince's lack of talent is a virtue; only then can he be at ease.
"Stop shaking, stop shaking, how about I give you a thousand taels?" Seeing that the Crown Prince was genuinely pleased, Kangxi generously rewarded him with a thousand taels.
At this moment, the smile in his eyes became more genuine.
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