“Cousin, the Crown Prince is a well-mannered and respectful child. He would never do such a thing!” The Imperial Noble Consort still trusted the Crown Prince. Even though she didn’t know that the person with the Crown Prince was He Xue, she believed that the Crown Prince would not do such a thing.
"I had Zhao Chang investigate what happened last night!" Kangxi said, taking a sip of tea.
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort nearly dropped her teacup. She knew Zhao Chang; Emperor Kangxi had two men by his side: Liang Jiugong, who always accompanied him, and Zhao Chang, who secretly investigated matters for Kangxi.
The Imperial Noble Consort was worried that Zhao Chang would find out that the Crown Prince had escorted He Xue back to Chengqian Palace last night.
"Cousin, did you send Ren Dong to Yuqing Palace last night?" Kangxi asked the Imperial Noble Consort.
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled and said, "Last night, I noticed that the Crown Prince didn't eat much for dinner. I thought the food might not suit his taste, so I had the kitchen prepare some more and instructed Ren Dong to send it to him!"
"My cousin is so thoughtful!" Kangxi knew that the Imperial Noble Consort genuinely cared for each of his children, truly extending her love to all her children as well.
"Cousin won't suspect it's honeysuckle, will he?" the Imperial Noble Consort teased.
"How could I suspect the people around you!" Kangxi said with a smile. "Zhao Chang found out that after Ren Dong left, the Crown Prince left Yuqing Palace alone, but returned soon after! We don't know if he saw anyone during that time!"
"I asked the Crown Prince, but he wouldn't say anything!" Kangxi said, his anger rising.
The Imperial Noble Consort was somewhat puzzled. Why did Zhao Chang only say that the Crown Prince left Yuqing Palace? Zhao Chang shouldn't be lying, so what exactly happened?
"Cousin, do you really doubt the Crown Prince?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked.
"Zhao Chang also found a palace maid who had hanged herself in an abandoned palace. The palace maid left a letter saying that she had implicated the crown prince!"
The Imperial Noble Consort felt that things were getting more and more complicated. "Cousin, could it be that someone is deliberately framing the Crown Prince?"
"I have already sent Zhao Chang to investigate!" Kangxi realized that the Crown Prince had been having some bad luck in recent years, and was always being targeted and framed.
Kangxi recalled the words of the Tibetan Living Buddha: He Xue could ward off misfortune and bring good fortune. Moreover, it seemed that the Crown Prince could get close to He Xue. It looked like he could arrange a marriage for the Crown Prince.
At the same time, Kangxi was worried that after what happened last night, Suhetai would be even less likely to let Hexue marry the Crown Prince.
"Cousin, the Crown Prince is getting on in years; it's time for him to get married!" the Imperial Noble Consort kindly reminded him.
"I know that I will bestow a marriage upon the Crown Prince during this selection of concubines!"
Cousin, what do you think of Xue?
"He Xue?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked, feigning surprise. Sure enough, her cousin wanted He Xue to marry the Crown Prince.
"Does my cousin mean for He Xue to marry the Crown Prince?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked again uncertainly.
"I have such a plan!"
“Cousin, I’m afraid He Xue is not suitable! She is too much older than the Crown Prince, and He Xue has been spoiled too much by Su Hetai. I’m afraid she will not be able to shoulder great responsibilities in the future!” The Crown Princess will be the Empress of the Qing Dynasty in the future. The Imperial Noble Consort thinks that He Xue is too naive and cannot be the Empress.
“Cousin, you don’t need to worry about that. There are plenty of people in the palace. There’s no need for He Xue to do anything. Besides, I know that He Xue may seem confused on the surface, but she’s very perceptive.”
The Imperial Noble Consort knew that Kangxi was determined to marry Hexue to the Crown Prince. "Is the Crown Prince willing? I've always seen him treat Hexue like a younger sister!"
"I'll find an opportunity to ask him. I feel that Bao Cheng's feelings for He Xue are more than just brotherly and sisterly affection!"
The Imperial Noble Consort had no idea that Kangxi had become so meticulous.
"Cousin, didn't you always laugh and say you didn't know who would become in-laws with Su Hetai? Why do you still want the Crown Prince to marry Hexue?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked, suppressing a laugh.
"Let's not talk about this anymore!" Kangxi said helplessly.
Looking at Kangxi's expression, the Imperial Noble Consort was filled with doubts. Why did it seem like her cousin had no choice but to betroth Hexue to the Crown Prince? Could there really be something wrong with the Crown Prince?
The Imperial Noble Consort felt she had to find a way to investigate this matter carefully; she couldn't let He Xue marry the Crown Prince in such a muddled way.
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