Seeing that Consort De was still kneeling, He Xue kindly said, "Consort De, please get up! Otherwise your knees will hurt!"
After hearing this, Emperor Kangxi said, "Consort De, please get up first!"
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!" Consort De said, but before she could get up, He Xue's words made her kneel down again.
"Consort De, you shouldn't wait here anymore. What if your uncle, the Emperor, doesn't come? Wouldn't you have waited in vain?"
"Consort De, did you wait for me here specifically?" Kangxi asked.
"No, this servant didn't!" Consort De hurriedly explained.
Kangxi instantly understood what was going on. Why did he have to meet Consort De today of all times? And why did Consort De have to go to Chengqian Palace at this particular moment?
There is only one answer to all the questions: Consort De knew that he went to Chengqian Palace today. Consort De dared to inquire about his whereabouts, and his whereabouts were even leaked.
The only person who could have leaked his whereabouts was someone close to him, which suggests that there are traitors among his entourage.
"Liang Jiugong, convey my decree: Consort De has behaved improperly before the Emperor. She shall be confined to her quarters for three months to reflect on her actions and to copy the palace rules once!" Kangxi said angrily.
"Also, investigate thoroughly to see if there are any traitors around me. If I find out, and it happens again, your position as Grand Eunuch will be over."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liang Jiugong replied. If he were to find out that someone had leaked the Emperor's whereabouts, he would skin him alive.
After saying this, Kangxi left without looking at Consort De again.
Consort De slumped to the ground and secluded herself for three months to reflect on her actions. After three months, would the Emperor still remember her?
Consort De looked at He Xue, who was laughing and joking with the Crown Prince, and her eyes were filled with unconcealed hatred. It was all He Xue's fault. If it weren't for He Xue, things would have gone according to her plan.
The Crown Prince turned around and saw Consort De looking at He Xue with resentment. If Consort De dared to harm He Xue, he would definitely not let her off. It seemed that he would have to find someone to keep an eye on Consort De.
"He Xue!" the Crown Prince said to He Xue, "Stay away from Consort De from now on! Don't provoke her. If there's anything, let your Crown Prince brother handle it, okay?"
“Okay!” He Xue replied cheerfully.
The Crown Prince led He Xue by the hand toward Chengqian Palace. He was quite familiar with the methods of the women in the palace; they were adept at scheming and intrigue. But if they set their sights on He Xue, he, the Crown Prince, wouldn't be outdone.
When He Xue and the Crown Prince arrived at Chengqian Palace, Emperor Kangxi was already sitting inside drinking tea.
To accommodate He Xue, Emperor Kangxi deliberately slowed down his pace. However, He Xue continued to play along the way, so Emperor Kangxi decided not to wait for her and went to Chengqian Palace first.
So the Crown Prince accompanied He Xue back to Chengqian Palace at a leisurely pace.
"Aunt, I'm back!" He Xue returned to Chengqian Palace and said to Consort Tongjia, then ran towards her.
As He Xue approached Consort Tongjia, she gradually switched to jogging to avoid bumping into her.
Consort Tongjia caught Hexue as she ran towards her, and carefully wiped the sweat from Hexue's forehead. "Where did you go? Why did it take you so long to come back? Look, you're all sweaty. Be careful not to catch a cold!"
"Aunt, I'll go to the Imperial Garden to pick flowers for you!"
"Oh? Is that so? How come your aunt didn't see the flowers you picked?" Consort Tongjia asked with a smile.
"I searched the entire Imperial Garden but couldn't find a single flower more beautiful than my aunt. None of those flowers were pretty enough to be worthy of her!" He Xue said seriously, tilting her head back.
"What did you eat? You have such a sweet mouth!" Consort Tongjia said with a smile.
"Auntie, what I said is true. Auntie is the most beautiful! If you don't believe me, ask Uncle Emperor. Uncle Emperor is the Son of Heaven; he wouldn't lie!"
"Is what I said right, Uncle Emperor?" He Xue asked, looking at Kangxi.
"Yes, you're right!" Kangxi looked at Consort Tongjia, "In my eyes, my cousin is the most beautiful!"
Upon hearing Kangxi's words, Consort Tongjia's cheeks quickly flushed red. She glared at Kangxi and said reproachfully, "Cousin, why are you joining in He Xue's nonsense?"
Emperor Kangxi held Consort Tongjia's hand and said affectionately, "What I say comes from the bottom of my heart!"
Consort Tongjia blushed even more. She turned her head and saw Hexue looking at her. She immediately pulled her hand away from Kangxi's hand. "Hexue, go wash up quickly. Your aunt has prepared your favorite chicken soup wontons!"
“Okay!” He Xue replied cheerfully.
The Crown Prince took He Xue's hand and led her to wash up.
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