Kangxi nodded in satisfaction. It was precisely because of his quick wit and ability to get things done that he had kept him around. Otherwise, given the way he had just crashed through the door and collapsed, he would have certainly executed his entire family.
If Li Dequan knew what he was thinking, he would definitely say it was absolutely impossible!
If he had been on duty alone, that kind of accident wouldn't have happened; it was Dulan who barged him in.
Dulan is also the Imperial Noble Consort's person, and the Emperor would never want to make that living ancestor angry or sad. Even if he knew that Dulan was the culprit, he would not do anything to Dulan.
Therefore, he will definitely be fine.
"Hmm! Is there anything unusual at Qingxi Palace?"
Although he had only been in the Qianqing Palace for two days, Kangxi was still afraid that someone might take advantage of his absence to do something shady.
The guards were watching the private parts, but there was no guarantee they wouldn't run into trouble, so he instructed Li Dequan to keep an eye on that area.
"Your Majesty, there is no movement from Qingxi Palace. Please rest assured."
Li Dequan kept a close eye on him, fearing that something might go wrong and his life would be in danger.
"Have you found out who leaked the information?"
Emperor Kangxi narrowed his eyes, wondering who would dare to scheme against him and know so much about his schedule.
Fortunately, his beloved believed him, otherwise he would have been in a real predicament.
Was his method too lenient? Otherwise, why do these people still not learn to live honestly and instead rush to their deaths?
"Your Majesty, we have found out. It was Consort Zhang's personal maid who hired a eunuch who sweeps the Imperial Garden. This servant has already subdued that eunuch."
Li Dequan really didn't understand. What's wrong with the Central Government? Are they courting death?
That ancestor was both carefree and foolish; if it were someone more petty, they would have definitely made trouble for the emperor.
"By imperial decree, Consort Zhang Jia has been demoted to the rank of Lady-in-Waiting for her indiscretion before the Emperor. She is to be confined to her quarters for six months, and to copy the Palace Rules one hundred times and the Women's Admonitions one hundred times."
Kangxi thought for a moment and said, "The little eunuch shall be given thirty strokes of the cane. If he dies, he shall be thrown into a mass grave. If he lives, he shall be sent to the Cold Palace. Zhang Jia's personal maidservant has failed to serve her mistress properly. She shall be given thirty strokes of the cane!"
Li Dequan wasn't surprised at all. People gossiped behind the emperor's back about the emperor and his concubines, saying that the emperor's mercy was the reason they weren't executed along with their entire families.
"Yes! Your servant obeys!"
Li Dequan stood for a while, and after confirming that Kangxi had no other instructions, he immediately went out to carry out the task he had just been given.
Lady Zhang never expected the Emperor to concern himself with these matters. In fact, in less than half a day, she went from being a Noble Lady to a mere Consort and was even placed under house arrest.
"Eunuch Li, where is the Emperor? I need to see the Emperor!"
Zhang Jia looked at Li Dequan with disbelief in her eyes.
"Consort Zhang, you have been confined to your quarters and are not allowed to leave the palace."
We will report what you said to the Emperor. As for whether the Emperor will come to see you, that depends on his decision.
Li Dequan left as soon as he finished speaking, completely ignoring Zhang Jiashi who was crying and wailing behind him, and even looking at her with disdain.
"Master, Master, please save me, Master!"
But now Zhang Jia is in a state of fear of being demoted, and she no longer cares about the fate of a servant. Not only does she not care, she even resents her for not doing things well.
The young eunuch fared alright, being a man after all, and endured thirty strokes of the cane. However, one of his legs was crippled, and Li Dequan had instructed him to return to service in the Cold Palace within a few months.
However, Zhang Jia's substitute maid did not survive. As soon as the beating was over, she died and was thrown into a mass grave.
Consort Hui received confirmation that she had arrived at the gate of Qianqing Palace, only to see the Empress Dowager's palanquin also come to a stop, leaving her in a dilemma.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager!"
Consort Hui gripped the food box tightly in her hand and knelt on the ground.
"Yes! Get up!"
Bumbutai changed her mind and then took Consort Hui into the Qianqing Palace.
She wanted to see how that lowly woman from the Borchijin tribe would react when she saw Xuan Ye's concubines.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Consort Hui have arrived!"
Li Dequan was not present, so the young eunuch, after reporting, dared not speak loudly and stood at a distance, waiting for the imperial decree.
"Consort Hui?"
Emperor Kangxi couldn't understand why Consort Hui had come here, especially with the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, Consort Hui met the Empress Dowager at the palace gate. Consort Hui was holding a food box in her hand," the eunuch paused, then closed his eyes, "and then said."
The young eunuch misses Li Dequan terribly. If he were here, he would never have to do such a nerve-wracking thing.
"Let Consort Hui take her things back. If there's anything, talk to Li Dequan. Don't come to the court unless there's something else. Summon the Empress Dowager."
Kangxi knew perfectly well why. In the past, he might have let her in for Yinti's sake, but now he didn't want to get burned.
The little eunuch breathed a sigh of relief. The emperor wasn't angry that he talked too much. Long live the emperor!
"Yes! Your servant obeys!"
Upon exiting the imperial study, the young eunuch bowed and stood before Bumbutai: "Empress Dowager, His Majesty requests your presence."
"Yes! Consort Hui, come with me!"
The young eunuch immediately stopped her: "Empress Dowager, His Majesty has decreed that Consort Hui should take her things back and if there are any problems, she should consult Eunuch Li Dequan. She should not come to the front court unless necessary."
The young eunuch was from the Qianqing Palace. Although he wasn't as highly regarded as Li Dequan and Xiao Lizi, he was still a member of the Qianqing Palace. Apart from the Emperor, only the Imperial Noble Consort could make him serve her properly. As for others, he really wasn't afraid of them.
Consort Hui's face turned pale and then red when she heard the eunuch's words. She almost dropped the food box in her hand, but fortunately, the maid beside her caught her in time to prevent her from losing her composure.
"I understand!" Consort Hui suppressed her resentment, steadied herself, turned around, and bowed to the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, I take my leave!"
Bumbutai's expression wasn't very good either. She had already told Consort Hui to go in with her, but she didn't expect this little eunuch to be so outspoken. He deserved to die.
He gave the young eunuch a disapproving look, then nodded: "Go back!"
Stepping outside the palace, Consort Hui tossed the food box to a palace maid, her whole demeanor gloomy.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The head eunuch of Consort Hui trotted up to her side and said, "Your Majesty!" He whispered a few words in her ear and then stepped aside to stand properly.
Consort Hui staggered, then grabbed the hands of her maid and eunuch and forced herself to walk back, leaving the area of Qianqing Palace. Only then did she look at the head eunuch beside her: "Is the news true?"
The head eunuch immediately nodded: "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. The person has already been carried out and thrown into the mass grave."
Consort Hui staggered, turned around and looked in the direction of Qianqing Palace, feeling that she had truly been given a second chance at life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
