A sharp rebuke of "How dare you defy the heavens!" left both Kangxi and the Crown Prince stunned.
Wasn’t the Grand Empress Dowager supposed to be suffering from a headache?
Despite her advanced age and being supported by Yunxiu, the Grand Empress Dowager still paused to catch her breath after her outburst. Her icy gaze swept over the emperor as she snorted coldly, then softened into concern as she turned to the Crown Prince. Her sharp eyes immediately caught the unnatural expression on her beloved great-grandson’s face.
His eyes and nose were slightly red, tear stains lingered on his cheeks, and his gaze seemed to be avoiding something.
Then, looking down, the Grand Empress Dowager noticed the swollen, reddened palms hanging limply at his sides. Her fury reignited. "How splendid! While I still draw breath, you dare treat him so harshly? What will become of Baocheng once I’m gone? My poor, suffering Baocheng!"
"..." Kangxi’s words of defense were instantly obliterated.
His face flushed and paled in turns before he managed to force out a dry response, "Imperial Grandmother, please calm yourself. How could I bear to be cruel to him? There were extenuating circumstances today—"
Yunxiu’s lips curled uncontrollably, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed laughter. Jingchu, watching anxiously beside her, felt an inexplicable surge of admiration—and a faint sympathy for the emperor.
When she turned and met the Crown Prince’s gaze, she saw his phoenix-like eyes crinkle with amusement as he silently mouthed, "Don’t worry."
Jingchu: "..."
"Extenuating circumstances? You’d sooner trust those traitors Longkodo and Suo Etu than your own son, raised under your care since childhood!" The Grand Empress Dowager’s tone shifted to one of exasperation. "The older you grow, the duller your wits become!"
"Older... duller wits?"
A direct hit to the heart!
Since when had he ever trusted traitors over the Crown Prince?
The Grand Empress Dowager, too furious to mince words, had slammed a heavy accusation upon him. Yet, out of respect for her, Kangxi could only force a smile and endure it, terrified that she might work herself into a genuine headache.
"Esteemed Ancestor, this grandson has never thought that way. Baocheng has suffered greatly, and I understand that perfectly well!" Knowing better than to argue with an elder in a rage, the emperor patiently explained himself, carefully omitting any mention of his earlier shocking proposal to depose the Crown Prince. In the end, he admitted fault, saying, "As for striking his palms... I acted rashly."
Seeing his repentant attitude, the Grand Empress Dowager relaxed slightly, her expression softening. "Good. That’s more like it."
Half her earlier fury had been feigned, and her words had been a mix of truth and probing. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot—she needed to test the emperor’s true intentions step by step. Now, it seemed the crisis had been nipped in the bud.
Baocheng’s position as Crown Prince remained secure, utterly unshaken.
Yunxiu, thoroughly satisfied after watching the spectacle, stepped forward with a bright smile to mediate. "Esteemed Ancestor, His Majesty has always been wise. You know this better than anyone—what is there left to worry about?"
Then, with a glance at He Zhuer, she murmured, "His hands are in such a state, and you haven’t even fetched medicine for your master?"
At once, the palace servants, who had been holding their breaths, sprang back into action—some brewing tea, others rushing about. The Cining Palace soon regained its usual harmonious atmosphere, as though the emperor’s humiliating scolding had never happened.
On one side, the Grand Empress Dowager fussed over the Crown Prince as if he were her most precious treasure. On the other, Kangxi accepted a cup of hot tea, his stiff expression finally easing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Yunxiu’s radiant smile. His gaze darkened as he recalled how she had avoided him upon his arrival. Arching a brow, he mentally noted this offense for later.
Nearby, Liang Jiugong’s emotions had been on a rollercoaster—first trembling at the Crown Prince’s bold words in the study, then terrified as the emperor endured the Grand Empress Dowager’s reprimand. But in the end, the Crown Prince had weathered this unjust storm—and done so brilliantly.
Stealing a glance at the gentle smile of the Crown Princess and the dazzling Noble Consort Yi, Liang Jiugong wondered which of them had sought the Grand Empress Dowager’s intervention. He sighed inwardly.
The Crown Prince was a man of thorns—not to be trifled with.
Half an hour later, in the Yuqing Palace...
Jingchu dismissed the servants and gently adjusted the Crown Prince’s collar. Softly, she said, "Let me see your hands."
The Crown Prince let out a quiet "Hmm," then grinned and tucked both hands behind his back. When her stern glare followed, his heart melted with sweetness, and he quickly reassured her, "I’m fine. I know you were worried, but fortunately, my gamble paid off."
Mumbling slightly, he added, "Imperial Father was furious, as I expected. These injuries are nothing compared to what Yintang endured recently. But my palms are unsightly now, and the medicine smells foul. Once the swelling subsides, I’ll let you inspect them properly."
Jingchu pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile, and nodded.
"As you wish, my lord." After a pause, she lowered her eyes and murmured, "This time, I acted on my own. After receiving Father’s letter, I went to Mother Yi in the Yikun Palace. I hope you won’t blame me."
"How could I blame you? You saved me from disaster." The Crown Prince tucked his "pig trotters" even further out of sight, his heart softening like warm water. He reached out with his uninjured hand to clasp hers, smiling as he asked, "Mother Yi has always been wise—she’s taught me much. What did she say to you?"
Jingchu lifted her serene eyes, momentarily lost in thought.
At that time, she had been unusually distraught, her mind consumed by a single fear: if she never saw this face again, she would never eat or sleep well for the rest of her life.
Softly, she replied, "Mother Yi told me to trust you. If you couldn’t overcome this hurdle, then you wouldn’t be yourself—perhaps an imposter in your place."
Her calm words had been an instant comfort.
The Crown Prince froze, momentarily speechless. Then Jingchu leaned closer and whispered, "After that, Mother Yi took me to the Cining Palace in her sedan chair. She said that while it was fine to trust you, it was also necessary to stir up some trouble—otherwise, letting the emperor indulge his suspicions would be too easy."
Even now, it felt surreal. "The Grand Empress Dowager actually scolded... Imperial Father like that?"
The Crown Prince coughed, suppressing a chuckle. "They’re on my side."
Meanwhile, in the Yikun Palace...
Kangxi sat in stony silence while Yunxiu, having washed her hands, leisurely nibbled on pastries, occasionally glancing at him.
Unable to resist a smirk, she wiped her fingers with a handkerchief and tentatively called, "Your Majesty?"
"Consort Yi seems to be enjoying my humiliation," Kangxi remarked with a sardonic smile.
"When have I ever enjoyed it?" Yunxiu’s eyes sparkled with sincerity as she lied through her teeth. "My heart aches for you, but I was bound by the Grand Empress Dowager’s orders. Torn between duty and affection, I couldn’t bear to meet your gaze. And this is how you repay me?"
Before Kangxi could react, she set down her half-eaten peach blossom pastry and huffed, "If Your Majesty insists on blaming me unjustly, the Little Princess might go hungry."
And Kangxi, of course, feared that threat above all.
Pregnant women are the most unreasonable creatures. Muttering inwardly about the audacity of it all, his expression finally softened a fraction, though it remained somewhat stiff. "I’d starve anyone but my Noble Consort," he said.
His face betrayed a stark contrast to his words. Liang Jiugong stifled a hiss, thinking to himself, It’s nearly late spring—why am I still feeling so agitated?
Today, the Emperor’s dignity had taken quite a blow. Recalling his complexion, as if someone had overturned a palette of rouge and powder, she knew better than to oppose him directly. Having seized the initiative, it was now time to smooth things over. Noble Consort Yi was already satisfied upon hearing his words, her smile deepening.
Softly and gently, she said, "Is Your Majesty still troubled by those two traitors? This matter concerns the Crown Prince, not state affairs. This humble consort has a thought or two to share."
With just one sentence, she redirected his attention. Kangxi glanced at her sideways, emitting a noncommittal "Hmm" from his nose, genuinely intrigued now.
The mention of the Crown Prince sent a pang of tenderness spreading through his heart. He couldn’t help but say, "If I were to deal with Suo Etu’s faction, Baocheng’s reputation—"
A faint rustling sound followed as a slightly cool hand pressed against his forehead, beginning a slow, soothing massage.
"The Hesheli clan is the Crown Prince’s maternal family, while the Tongjia clan is Your Majesty’s. The wayward disciples raised by the Tongjia clan—how is that your fault?"
As she spoke, Yunxiu shook her head lightly and continued, "The same logic applies. Your Majesty has agonized over the future, but the Hesheli clan does not deserve your expectations, and Suo Etu least of all. To drag others down against the Crown Prince’s will—since when has the world been so accommodating? One misstep, and the bond between father and son may never be the same. Merely speaking of this pains me."
Kangxi listened, nodding imperceptibly, his phoenix eyes gradually turning icy. Longkodo, Suo Etu—their treachery knows no bounds.
"But then it occurred to me—such worries are unfounded, for the Crown Prince and Your Majesty share remarkably similar circumstances."
Kangxi straightened slightly, his attention fully captured, as Yunxiu sighed. "Your Majesty has always acted with the Crown Prince’s best interests at heart—this I know. From the very beginning, it was the Tongjia clan that could not do without you, not the other way around. The Tongjia clan produced a traitor, and so did the Hesheli clan. They say the son takes after the father. Your Majesty ascended the throne in your youth, wise and formidable—how could the Crown Prince be any different? What is there to fear?"
When mentioning the traitors, Yunxiu sounded almost wistful, as if she were on the verge of calling it fate.
Her central argument was clear: just as Kangxi could rule his ministers without the Tongjia clan, so too could the Crown Prince thrive without the Hesheli clan. The future was self-evident—shouldn’t His Majesty have more faith in his son?
Kangxi: "..."
What nonsense—the Tongjia clan produced a traitor, and so did the Hesheli clan? The Emperor’s expression turned wooden. By that logic, he’d have to warn his future imperial grandsons to be wary of the Guargiya clan.
He had listened to her lengthy reasoning and found himself momentarily speechless. Yet, strangely enough, the more he heard Yunxiu’s twisted logic, the more it began to sound like truth. His gnawing anxieties were, against all odds, soothed.
That night, the Crown Prince received a secret missive.
The Emperor had dispatched agents to investigate Jingchu’s younger brother—his character, any misdeeds—even Shi Wenbing’s background had been thoroughly scrutinized. Reading it left him utterly baffled. What on earth is the Emperor up to?
