When Mrs. Hesheli spoke these words, her delicate face broke into a relaxed smile, though the resentment hidden in her eyes had faded considerably compared to days past.
Yunxiu was taken aback at first, then suddenly felt a wave of emotion. They say a mother’s love makes one strong—now she had truly risen to the occasion.
Longkodo had finally fallen into the hands of his lawful wife. Was this not a twist of karmic retribution?
With a bright smile, Yunxiu stepped forward personally to assist her. "No need for formalities, rise quickly."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Mrs. Hesheli replied gratefully, standing up before continuing, "I couldn’t be certain of his whereabouts, so I prepared for both possibilities. If he hid among the common folk, a single glance would leave him disoriented. And once the opera troupe gained enough fame to be invited to noble households, the Suo residence would be no exception. Who could have guessed Suo Etu truly had dealings with him? That was something even I did not foresee."
Her smile turned cold. Longkodo, now a desperate fugitive with a ruined face and a crippled leg, still clung to his obsession with Li Si'er—what a devoted yet vile creature!
To think he had even entangled himself with the Tiandihui rebels—better he were dead.
After speaking, she bowed again, a hint of unease in her voice. "This humble wife sought an audience with Your Highness today, though my methods were hardly honorable. After all, my husband bears the Tongjia name. If His Majesty inquires, I beg Your Highness to speak kindly on my behalf..."
Yunxiu gazed at her with admiration in her eyes.
A woman like her, surviving in the shadows, needed only a helping hand to be reborn anew. Now she stood here, whole and well, not tortured to death as in that dream—a sight that brought nothing but joy.
"There is nothing dishonorable about it," the Imperial Consort replied gently. "I should be thanking you. Your actions have served the realm and aided my Yinzi. His Majesty will surely reward you generously and keep your deeds discreet. Rest assured. Longkodo is Longkodo, and you are you. The Emperor is wise and just—he would never punish the victim."
After a pause, she added, "Ruizhu, fetch a few bolts of the tribute silk delivered by the Imperial Household Department the other day for Madam Hesheli."
Such warm and approachable kindness left Mrs. Hesheli breathless. After a long moment, she replied hoarsely, "Your Highness's great mercy is more than this servant could repay even in the next life. My aunt and uncle have long been bedridden... If Your Highness has any need, command me without hesitation. I would walk through fire and blades without regret."
The underlying meaning was clear to all. Yunxiu's smile grew even brighter as she chided lightly, "Why speak of fire and blades? Such ominous words! I wish you a long life and a house full of descendants."
Even after Mrs. Hesheli left the palace, Yunxiu still wore a faint smile.
One enemy had been found, but there remained another who had conspired with him. With the Emperor's orders following the assassination attempt and the assistance of the Noble Consort Wen, the inner palace would soon be thoroughly investigated. Under this pretext, she could "abuse her authority" to uproot all suspicious spies in one sweep.
Without their channels of information and covert influence, she wondered just how much chaos that person could still stir.
Left with no choice but to linger in the depths of the palace, waiting out their remaining days—that was all that remained.
At this thought, Yunxiu's smile faded slightly, her gaze turning distant.
She did not trust the Zhongcui Palace.
But now, trust was no longer hers to give.
As her thoughts returned, a servant announced the arrival of the Crown Princess, Jingchu, to pay her respects.
"Invite her in at once."
Jingchu greeted her steadily as "Aunt Yi," though the anxiety in her voice, though well-hidden, did not escape Yunxiu's notice. "What troubles you?"
"Please dismiss the attendants, Aunt Yi."
Her father, Shi Wenbing, had been promoted to Minister of Justice upon his return to the capital, making him responsible for deliberating Suo Etu's crimes. Recalling the letter her father had painstakingly smuggled into Yuqing Palace, Jingchu took a deep breath. "Longkodo has been making wild accusations, claiming the Crown Prince and Suo Etu coveted the throne, conspiring for years to raise a rebellion..."
In the imperial study, Kangxi's expression was stormy, his mood unimproved even after capturing Longkodo and imprisoning over a hundred members of the Suo household, leaving the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to deliberate Suo Etu's punishment.
The previous day, the Commander of the Nine Gates had reported back, and the Emperor had barely restrained his fury. Suo Etu had repeatedly stirred up trouble, his crimes no less severe than those of a condemned criminal—yet Kangxi had spared his life. Why?
For Yinreng's sake, and out of respect for past merits.
The Crown Prince was not close to the Hesheli clan, and though Kangxi never spoke of it, a faint smugness lingered in his heart. No one could rival his place in Baocheng's affections—was that not the fulfillment of a father's love?
But the Hesheli were still the Crown Prince's maternal family, a bond that could not be severed. When the Crown Prince ascended the throne after his passing, Kangxi had to consider this carefully. A new emperor's maternal family could not be too powerful, nor too weak—just as he had chosen the Guargiya clan for the future empress with utmost caution.
Once the court was stable and the new emperor's authority unchallenged, Baocheng could elevate the Hesheli as he pleased—so long as he maintained balance. Suo Etu would not live to see that day, in any case.
But now, letters had been uncovered—correspondence between Suo Etu and the northwestern garrison. The silver he embezzled from the Imperial Household Department had been used to bribe low-ranking officers. Though signed in his own name, the Crown Prince's influence was subtly implied.
His once-trusted minister, the Crown Prince's own kin, had sought to overthrow him?
Kangxi laughed in sheer disbelief.
Even more absurd was Longkodo's insistence that the Crown Prince harbored treasonous ambitions, claiming he and Suo Etu had plotted for years to murder their sovereign and seize the throne. "Lord Suo is not only guilty of harboring a rebel. He sought the glory of supporting a new dragon—and that dragon, ha! None other than our noble and virtuous Crown Prince!"
The provocation was blatant, and Kangxi dismissed every word of his nonsense.
The Crown Prince's last dealings with Suo Etu had been seven or eight years ago. Did he not know the purity of Baocheng's devotion?
Yet despite this, the sensitive, untouchable chord in the Emperor's heart trembled faintly.
Not for any reason—just instinct.
In his rage, the Emperor decreed an execution beyond mere death. His words ground out between clenched teeth: "Death by a thousand cuts would not suffice. Dig up the bones of that wretched concubine Li and burn them separately—scatter one in the cesspits, the other at the city gates to be trampled underfoot. Let them never find peace."
At this, Longkodo collapsed, howling in madness and despair.
The stench of urine and wailing filled the cell. That such a traitor had once been favored by him—had he been blind?
The thought made Kangxi's temples throb with pain.
After a long silence, he ordered, "Summon the Crown Prince."
He picked up his brush but could not bring himself to write. He did not know what he awaited—or what he dreaded.
Kangxi's breathing grew heavy. Only one thought remained: He had sent word of everything. Would Baocheng plead for Suo Etu? For his mother's clan?
Liang Jiugong, having conveyed the imperial edict, stood with bated breath, head bowed, eyes filled with tension and unease.
At this point, it was too late to summon the Empress Dowager or Noble Consort Yi, and he had no idea what to do. The situation was dire—if the Crown Prince made even the slightest misstep, it would incur the Emperor’s displeasure, and no amount of words could mend that.
Pleading for Suo Etu’s mercy might provoke the Emperor’s thunderous wrath. Yet, if he didn’t plead, what now seemed the right choice could fester into a thorn, deeply embedded between the most revered father and son in the imperial family.
After all, Suo Etu’s schemes were laid bare. Not pleading might paint the Prince as cold-blooded.
It was an unwarranted disaster, a dilemma with no easy way out.
The Crown Prince was only seventeen, hardly a master of strategy. Liang Jiugong’s heart sank halfway as he quickly considered the implications.
The time spent bowing in wait felt endlessly drawn out, stretching until his back was drenched in cold sweat. Swallowing hard, he finally heard the announcement from outside.
The young eunuch’s voice trembled slightly, but the distracted master and servant paid it no mind.
The Crown Prince’s apricot-yellow casual robes slowly approached, a lone splash of brightness in the stifling atmosphere.
Suddenly, Kangxi’s astonished voice echoed through the study: "Baocheng!"
Any lingering, indescribable thoughts—tiny as a grain of rice—were instantly forgotten.
Liang Jiugong couldn’t help but look up, his horsetail whisk clattering to the ground. The Crown Prince knelt straight down, his eyes red, his throat tight with barely suppressed sobs. "Your son pays respects to the Emperor."
In an instant, Liang Jiugong’s eyes brightened, his chaotic thoughts clearing abruptly.
It had been a long time since the Crown Prince had shed tears.
Then, the Prince pressed his forehead to the ground in a deep kowtow. "Imperial Father, your son has come to beg for punishment."
Lifting his tear-streaked face, he continued, "I have disappointed you. I never intended rebellion, but being used by others is still a crime. Even if you strip me of my title as Crown Prince, I accept it willingly..."
The study fell into silence.
Kangxi’s fingers trembled violently. Liang Jiugong, terrified out of his wits, dropped to his knees with a thud, shuffling forward to tug at the Prince’s sleeve. "Your Highness, you mustn’t—you mustn’t say such things!"
The Crown Prince remained stiff-backed and silent. After what felt like an eternity, Kangxi’s eyes also reddened.
"Since when have I ever thought that way?" His lips moved as he spoke, his tone exasperated. "This is nothing but slander from petty men. Can you not endure even such a minor setback?"
The Prince’s vision blurred. Hearing the scolding, he peeked up cautiously.
Kangxi’s voice turned sharp. "Hold out your hand. Liang Jiugong, fetch the ruler! Today, I will discipline you properly!"
By the time the Prince’s palm turned red as a roasted pig’s trotter, salvation finally arrived. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has been struck with a headache!"
Father and son rushed to Cining Palace in a frenzy, where they found Yunxiu supporting the Empress Dowager at the top of the steps, with Jingchu standing quietly to the left, eyes downcast.
Meeting Kangxi’s gaze, Yunxiu turned her head slightly away.
Sensing the tension, the Emperor hesitated before calling out, "Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager glared at him, her cane striking the ground with a resounding crack. "Have you lost your mind?!"
