The emperor was momentarily taken aback by the nonsensical remark, casting a suspicious glance at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince cleared his throat lightly, admitting to his own confusion, and immediately cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Your Majesty, your son was mistaken." After all, if even the emperor himself needed Imperial Physician Min’s Jade Complexion Balm, what need was there for any secret preservation recipes?
It would be far more practical to ask Mother Yi.
Before taking his leave, the Crown Prince seemed to recall something. His expression turned solemn as he said, “Your Majesty, that traitor Longkodo has lost his support. His legs are no longer nimble, and without official travel permits, where could he possibly hide? Yesterday, we searched house by house without finding a single clue. I humbly request Your Majesty to dispatch troops to thoroughly investigate the Tongjia clan.” His voice gradually lowered.
In the homes of commoners and merchants, officials and constables from Shuntian Prefecture came knocking to inquire; but as for the mansions of nobles and high ministers, they dared not trespass.
The Crown Prince’s meaning was clear: extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. It was laughable that a mere rebel dared to wreak havoc so brazenly—how could the royal dignity endure? The emperor had not exterminated him outright; sparing him fifty lashes was already merciful. Who could have foreseen the current turmoil?
At the mention of Longkodo, Kangxi’s brows tightened, his gaze cold and distant, as if looking upon a corpse.
“Baocheng is right.” He sighed, his glance at the Crown Prince softening somewhat. “I have already ordered a thorough search of both the main and collateral branches of the Tongjia clan, but found no trace.” Then his tone turned cold. “I have given the Commander of the Nine Gates five days. If he fails to find the traitor by then, he can forget his post and return to his ancestral home to farm.”
The emperor’s decree—“return to the ancestral home to farm”—somehow reached the ears of the Commander of the Nine Gates. For days, he had gone out early and returned late, his hair already streaked with white from worry, yet still without results.
His focus was on the bustling streets and residential quarters; even the grass thickets on the outskirts of the capital were overturned. Yet the first day brought no news, the second day none, and by the third—
On the evening of the fourth day, the Commander removed his hat and called his wife and children to pack their belongings.
While efficiently packing, he sighed heavily. He had heard that a troupe had arrived in the capital two days prior. Among them was a leading actress, not only stunningly beautiful but also possessing a voice that could captivate anyone who heard it. His colleagues were utterly enchanted, and noble sons vied to invite her to perform in their mansions. Alas, he was not so fortunate to enjoy such a privilege.
The capital enforced a curfew, but once the wanted notice was issued, anyone with information on the traitor could report to the authorities overnight, and claim their reward. Under the moonlight, the Commander left his residence and entered the brightly lit government office, conducting his usual rounds of inquiries.
“Sir, no sign in the western suburbs.”
“Sir, no trace in the South Mountain forest.”
The Commander ground his teeth in frustration. Finally, burdened with anxiety, he lay down on his wooden bed.
His dreams were filled with Longkodo—beheading, dismemberment, a hundred and eight tortures, all executed by a torturer bearing his own face.
He couldn’t help but smile involuntarily.
His pleasant dream was short-lived, interrupted by a subordinate waking him.
The subordinate excitedly reported, “Sir, Longkodo’s wife requests an audience. She claims to know where Longkodo is hiding.”
Seeing the Governor of the Nine Gates looking somewhat stunned, his subordinate suddenly understood and hurriedly corrected himself, “It is Mrs. Hesheli, the current head matron of the Tong residence.”
The night was deep and quiet when Mrs. Hesheli arrived in a soft sedan chair. Without a hint of hesitation, she bowed respectfully to the officers filling the room and calmly stated, “The traitor is indeed hiding in the Suo residence. The one harboring him is none other than Mrs. Hesheli’s own clan leader, Suo Etu.”
Long before Noble Consort Yi boldly spoke some “private words” at Yanxi Palace, and while Concubine Hui seemed to be inspecting the storerooms, Consort Rong had already grown suspicious.
She refused to believe it was merely a simple act of venting frustration.
The more cunning a person is, the less they can afford even the slightest slip or accident. She would repeatedly review her schemes, wondering if she had overlooked any details or left behind any flaws. Even though Concubine Hui was insignificant and unlikely to stir up much trouble, Yanxi Palace had always been firmly under her control. If one were to dig deep enough, the risk of exposing her hidden agents was inevitable.
Concubine Hui’s side must be watched carefully; Noble Consort Yi’s matters would be dealt with later.
Consort Rong prided herself on her secrecy. After years of careful maneuvering, she had accumulated a formidable network of covert pieces. Yet, if she were to confront Noble Consort Yi head-on, she wouldn’t even give herself a thirty percent chance of success.
Since Mrs. Guoluoluo entered the palace, her favor had never waned. Behind the scenes, she had countless allies, not to mention the powerful family backing her.
In terms of palace influence, no one could compare to her.
As for herself, her father had been a hopeless failure until his death—a mere minor official. Climbing step by step to where she was today, she had swallowed countless hardships and shed endless tears. Her cautious nature was etched deep into her bones, a stark contrast to Mrs. Guoluoluo’s smooth sailing.
Since her first strike had failed and the Yikun Palace had sensed something was amiss, for the time being, she could only lie low and wait for another opportunity.
Patience had always been her virtue.
Just as Consort Rong’s gaze fixed on Yanxi Palace, Yunxiu had already learned about Concubine Hui’s favored family, the Chengs. Soon, following the instructions from both palaces, Tuyue and A Ling A worked in tandem and within days uncovered the identity of the person connecting Concubine Hui: a palace-appointed nanny responsible for teaching the Cheng family proper etiquette. This nanny, surprisingly, was linked to multiple palaces,
including Consort Rong’s Zhongcui Palace.
The nanny had no clear master behind her but was closely connected to the kitchens and embroidery workshops. The web of relationships was dizzyingly complex, seemingly designed to confuse.
Yet Yunxiu showed no impatience. She picked up a thin piece of paper and smiled gracefully.
Now that the harem was peaceful and orderly, fools like Consort Ping and Concubine Xi were utterly incapable of orchestrating such schemes. There were suspicions but no evidence—until the moment she heard about the Tiandihui and Longkodo, all her hopes of gathering proof vanished into thin air.
The mastermind was exposed; no punishment would ever soothe her burning hatred. The assassin had accomplices inside the palace, but their identities remained unknown.
Kangxi gently wrapped his arm around her waist and sighed, “It was my negligence.”
Leaning against his neck, Yunxiu calmed down. A wave of weariness washed over her heart. Longkodo truly embodied the saying: “Wildfire never truly dies; it only blooms again with the spring breeze.”
She no longer wished to continue the charade, the endless pretense. After the emperor left, Noble Consort Yi clutched the thin piece of paper that had arrived from outside the palace. She gently touched her slightly rounded belly and said calmly, “If it’s hidden too deep to be seen easily, and every now and then a nail is found, then we’ll just pull them out one by one.”
Let this be a good deed for the day, a blessing for Little Eleventh.
Her peach blossom eyes glimmered with a chilling light that was utterly captivating—an expression her master had not shown for a long time. Ruizhu trembled all over and whispered a low affirmation.
With Yunxiu’s orders, the long-buried informants sprang into action. Her battlefield was no longer the previous court; Longkodo, that defeated hound, was now the emperor’s concern. Her only task was to quietly await the traitor’s downfall.
The investigation had only just begun, leaving her some spare time for other matters. She had also heard whispers about the five-day ultimatum the Kangxi Emperor had issued to the Nine Gates Commander.
“Going back to the old mansion to farm?” she raised an eyebrow. “Surely the emperor was just speaking out of anger.”
Seeing some palace maids lower their heads and others hesitate, their eyes silently saying “No,” Yunxiu thought to herself that perhaps the emperor was suffering lingering effects from the “red pill.”
This absurd thought left a faint trace in her mind. Soon after, Yunxiu’s smile faded. That traitor, if he could hide, must be concealed in a place beyond reach—it wouldn’t be so easy.
But as the emperor’s deadline approached, the traitor was unexpectedly found.
“Suo Etu.”
Neither surprising nor unexpected, Yunxiu picked up a pair of scissors and with a sharp snip, the excess branches and leaves of the begonia fell to the floor at her feet.
They say life is like a play, and plays are like life. These two kept taking turns on stage—it was truly a play within a play.
Even the final curtain fell suddenly, catching everyone off guard.
“How was the traitor exposed?”
Consort Rong was full of questions, unable to make sense of it all. Hiding her astonishment, she absentmindedly twisted her Buddhist prayer beads, then finally smiled and said to her confidante, “Suo Etu must have had a rebellious streak from early on, already harboring disloyalty in his heart. Harboring a traitor is a crime equally grave. Now that he must face death, no one can save him.”
Though the Crown Prince seldom associated with him, his once-close great uncle had become an accomplice to the traitor. It was no different from cutting off one’s own arm. The Hesheli family had become a laughingstock.
Longkodo was already useless. The current situation was exactly what Consort Rong wanted to see. Yet—
She fixed her gaze on the messenger and softly asked, “Who discovered his trail?”
This matter was weighty and not something the Nine Gates Commander could decide alone. After Mrs. Hesheli finished speaking, the entire office erupted in commotion. The officials’ drowsiness vanished instantly, and they all shivered involuntarily.
Clad in armor, the Nine Gates Commander entered the palace overnight and knelt respectfully in the imperial study. He reported everything to Emperor Kangxi in detail. Afterwards, sweat poured down his face as he bowed his head, swallowing nervously.
His official position remained intact, his residence untouched, and the hastily packed luggage was no longer needed, yet he could not feel any happiness.
Suddenly struck by this thunderous news, the emperor might very well take his head in a fit of rage. There was no one to argue his case.
“Suo Etu has rebellious intentions”—these words echoed repeatedly in the Nine Gates Commander’s mind, making him increasingly uneasy.
After an indeterminate length of time, the emperor calmly declared, “Deploy troops to surround the mansion. Anyone harboring fugitives shall be punished alongside them—there will be no leniency from me.”
The Commander of the Nine Gates felt a chill rise within him. He longed to catch a glimpse of His Majesty’s face but restrained himself with great effort.
“My humble servant will obey the order.”
Elsewhere, Yunxiu had risen early. Upon hearing the report, her heart stirred. “Mrs. Hesheli.”
“Yes. She sent a notice overnight and has been waiting outside the palace since dawn, hoping for an audience with Your Highness.”
“Bring her in at once.”
No sooner had Mrs. Hesheli entered the hall than she performed a deep kowtow. Before Yunxiu could bid her to rise, she spoke softly, “Your Highness, these past days, Longkodo has troubled me so much that I can neither eat nor sleep. After much thought, I arranged for a traveling opera troupe to come to the capital—only because their leading actress bears a striking resemblance to Li Si’er, about seventy percent alike.”
“Since his heart is so deeply entangled,” Yunxiu said, “I shall grant him this one wish and honor his profound affection.”
