Chapter 170

Chapter 170

"Good, you feel the pain. Let it be a lesson," Kangxi said as he set aside the medicinal paste, his expression not exactly softened but no longer as intimidating as before.

This was the Emperor Father the little milk dragon knew.

Looking around, wasn't he supposed to be kneeling in punishment alongside his elder brother?

The little milk dragon scratched his head, remembering he had dozed off during the punishment.

The pungent smell of medicine still lingered.

Did Emperor Father just put medicine on him?

Earlier, during the stern lecture, the little milk dragon wasn't just being stubborn. When not obstinate, he could grasp the reasoning.

Of course, Consort Hui's setback and Consort Rong's protection had eased his grievances.

So, the little milk dragon had mostly regained his senses.

Thus, he listened and knelt obediently, reflecting.

Yet, he hadn't spoken to his brother; they knelt apart, silent and avoiding eye contact.

Waking to find Emperor Father tending to him, the little milk dragon grinned, leaning in silently, his eyes twinkling.

Normally adorable, but with his bruised, ointment-smeared face, it was less so.

His face was a mosaic of bruises and ointment.

It was quite a sight.

Consort Rong was right: protect your face in a fight, or you'll look worse.

Seeing the little milk dragon's sticky face, Kangxi quickly slapped his forehead to stop him from spreading the ointment.

"Sit properly," Kangxi said sternly, his eyes betraying a hint of disdain.

There was a sliver of paternal love, but barely.

The little milk dragon's heart broke, but he sat up straight.

Seeing no risk of ointment smears, Kangxi withdrew his hand.

"Now that you're awake, get your knees massaged before sleeping."

The little milk dragon nodded, oblivious to his father's hidden agenda.

Naive and uninjured before, he didn't know the pain of bruise massages.

He thought Emperor Father was simply caring for him.

"Visit your worried grandmother tomorrow to ease her mind."

"Okay," the little milk dragon nodded, compliant.

He listened attentively, sitting upright under Kangxi's gaze.

After a while, he softened his tone and said, "Don't act so impulsively in the future; it's easy to be manipulated, not to mention..." He paused, "it's also easy to make foolish mistakes." How could he still have the nerve to think of him as foolish in his heart?

The little milk dragon, who had previously secretly called the Emperor foolish in his heart: "..." Was the Emperor doing this on purpose?

Then he turned to find that this wasn't the worst part. When they started to massage the bruises away, the little milk dragon was in so much pain that tears welled up in his eyes. He really learned his lesson this time.

Cining Palace

Although the Grand Empress Dowager no longer had Suma Lagu to serve her, she was not lacking in attendants.

However, those who replaced Suma Lagu dared not be less attentive, but the one who best understood her wishes was no longer by her side.

Though it was uncomfortable at first, she had no choice but to adapt.

Although she no longer managed things, she couldn't be completely out of the loop.

Baocheng and Bao Qing were punished for fighting and made to kneel. Although they deserved to be punished, the Grand Empress Dowager was afraid that the Emperor might be too harsh and punish them excessively, so she sent someone to Qianqing Palace to plead for leniency.

Baocheng and Bao Qing deserved to be punished, but it was also important to be mindful of the extent. Moreover, she wanted to know how the two children were injured, as they were both her flesh and blood.

Upon hearing that Consort Hui had rushed over, the Grand Empress Dowager worried that Baocheng might be at a disadvantage.

After all, the Empress had passed away early, and without a mother to protect him, it was unclear whether Baocheng would come out unscathed.

Later, Consort Rong also rushed over, and the Grand Empress Dowager knew about it.

The final outcome was that the eldest prince's companion had provoked the discord among the princes, and after being punished with a beating, he lost his qualification as a companion.

Thus, even though Baocheng was the one who struck first, it was also due to the provocation of Bao Qing's companion. Both were to blame and should be punished equally.

Otherwise, if all the blame fell on Baocheng, he would quickly be seen as unruly and disrespectful toward his elder brother.

Baocheng was the Crown Prince; how could he bear such a reputation?

Consort Hui would certainly want to see such an outcome and would likely strive to achieve it, ensuring that the eldest prince had the upper hand. Even if he retaliated, it would be out of self-defense, a last-ditch effort.

The eldest prince's reputation would not be tarnished, and he might even gain sympathy.

This put Baocheng at a significant disadvantage.

But Consort Rong intervened in the matter, intending to protect him, and through her actions, the best possible outcome was reached.

Compared to the reactions of others in the harem upon learning of Consort Rong's actions, the Grand Empress Dowager vaguely guessed another intention of the Emperor.

The Emperor intended to have Consort Rong take care of and raise Baocheng.

The Emperor might have had this intention for a while, but he had never made it official, so Consort Rong was still not fully legitimized in this role.

Firstly, Consort Rong had no children of her own, so she would naturally be attentive in caring for Baocheng. Secondly, it was also likely for Consort Rong's sake. Even if it was only temporary, once Baocheng grew up, out of gratitude for her care, he would certainly not mistreat Consort Rong or the Niohuru family.

She still harbored dislike for Consort Rong, even though Consort Rong was indeed a suitable candidate.

The Emperor was busy with state affairs and might not always be able to attend to Baocheng. A father isn't as attentive as a mother, and oversights were bound to happen.

Moreover, Baocheng was getting older and would soon start his studies. At that time, Suo'etu would have more opportunities to interact with Baocheng.

There was no guarantee that Baocheng wouldn't be influenced by Suo'etu and become overly reliant on his maternal family.

For now, Baocheng was still young, but as he grew older and the Emperor remained in his prime, this could spell trouble.

In the imperial family, the bond between father and son has always been fragile. Without someone to mediate, it's hard to ensure that the father and son won't grow apart over time.

The Grand Empress Dowager was lost in thought when she heard, "Grandmother, Baocheng greets Grandmother."

Snapping out of her thoughts and seeing it was Baocheng, the Grand Empress Dowager's face lit up with a kind smile. She quickly reached out her hand, "Come here, Baocheng, no need for formalities. Come here and let Grandmother take a look at you."

The little milk dragon had almost howled in pain last night while his bruises were being massaged, but it was quite effective.

Now, his elder brother couldn't walk as smoothly as he could, needing the support of maids and limping along.

The little milk dragon deliberately strutted past his elder brother, called out "Big Brother," and then walked away smoothly without saying anything else, but the mockery was palpable.

He no longer looked as pitiful as he had when his bruises were being massaged.

Upon seeing this, the elder brother immediately pushed away the maids supporting him and tried to walk a few steps on his own, but he staggered so much that the maids were worried, fearing he might fall.

If he got injured again, they wouldn't be in a good position either.

"Grandmother," the little milk dragon naturally approached.

Seeing that the little milk dragon moved quite easily, the Grand Empress Dowager felt somewhat reassured, but seeing the bruises still on his face, she couldn't help but feel heartache.

"Baocheng, are you alright? Does your knee still hurt? Your father is really..." The Grand Empress Dowager said with a heartache, stroking the little milk dragon's head, "When your knee feels better, you can come visit Grandmother again."

"The medicine has already made it hurt much less, Grandmother. You don't need to worry so much about Baocheng. Father said Grandmother would be worried about Baocheng, so he told Baocheng to come see Grandmother and reassure her."

The little milk dragon shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

The Grand Empress Dowager's smile became even kinder, "Good, our Baocheng is thoughtful. Grandmother feels much more at ease seeing Baocheng doing well."

The Grand Empress Dowager held the little milk dragon and sat down without letting go, then ordered someone to bring carefully prepared snacks and fruit tea.

She watched while the little milk dragon ate, occasionally chatting with him, mostly asking about yesterday's events.

The maids had already mostly withdrawn, showing great tact.

When Consort Rong came up in conversation, the Grand Empress Dowager clearly noticed that Baocheng spoke more, his expression brimming with unconcealed joy and affection.

When she learned that Consort Hui had plotted against Baocheng in front of the emperor for the sake of the elder brother, the Grand Empress Dowager's smile faded slightly.

Though Baocheng didn't say it, the Grand Empress Dowager sensed that Baocheng was somewhat envious of the elder brother having Consort Hui to protect him.

Consort Hui did this for the elder brother, but it also revealed that she took advantage of Hesheli's early death. Even though Baocheng was the crown prince, without a mother to protect him, even if the emperor favored him, he could easily be at a disadvantage.

After all, without a mother to care for him wholeheartedly, even the emperor's love couldn't fully compensate.

But the emperor is not only Baocheng's father but also the ruler, and the ruler's heart is hard to predict.

Thus, Baocheng couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The Grand Empress Dowager listened with a gentle smile, "It seems Baocheng really likes Consort Rong, doesn't he? Is it because she treats you gently and thoughtfully?"

The little milk dragon nodded and then shook his head. The Grand Empress Dowager asked, "Why nod and then shake your head?"

"Consort Rong isn't always particularly gentle," the little milk dragon scratched his neck, seeming a bit at a loss for words, and then recounted some interactions with Consort Rong.

Although it didn't sound quite proper, it was clear from his words and expressions that he really liked Consort Rong.

"But Baocheng knows that Consort Rong likes me the most, even more than Father," the little milk dragon said with a hint of pride, his eyes shining brightly.

Don’t think he doesn’t know—the Emperor secretly envies him and deliberately increased his academic workload.

The Grand Empress Dowager understood: nodding meant Baocheng truly liked Consort Rong, while shaking her head meant Consort Rong wasn’t always gentle and caring in front of Baocheng.

Indeed, Consort Rong’s way of doing things, if she were always gentle and maternal in front of Baocheng, would seem too fake.

“Aren’t there other concubines in the harem who are more amiable than Consort Rong?”

Even though it was clear that each of those concubines had their own thoughts and plans, on the surface, they all maintained a respectable facade.

The Grand Empress Dowager believed any of them were better than Consort Rong, who lacked the gentleness, grace, virtue, and propriety expected of her.

“No,” the young prince quickly denied. “Baocheng knows they don’t truly like him.”

The emotions and smiles in their eyes made the young prince uncomfortable.

Despite his young age, he was very sensitive to these things. Whether they truly liked him or not, he could sense it keenly.

“The Emperor approaches—”

The Grand Empress Dowager was not surprised; in fact, having Baocheng arrive first was the Emperor’s intention.

Kangxi’s visit wasn’t just to offer his greetings; the Grand Empress Dowager knew this well.

To openly legitimize Consort Rong’s role in caring for the Crown Prince, her approval was indispensable.

Firstly, it would easily cause dissatisfaction from the Hesheli family, fearing that the Crown Prince, who belonged to the Hesheli family, would gain another maternal influence.

Suo’etu, that old fox, would never allow the Niohuru family to interfere and reap the benefits of the Hesheli family.

Secondly, the Nala family behind Consort Hui, for the sake of the eldest prince, wouldn’t want Baocheng to gain another ally and would certainly not just watch as Consort Rong and the Niohuru family supported Baocheng.

Now that this matter hadn’t been settled, the court officials would remain unaware.

But once it was settled, Consort Rong would inevitably be thrust into the public eye and face criticism.

Even if the Emperor claimed it was his decision to protect Consort Rong, her reputation would still be at risk of being tarnished.

The court officials would accuse Consort Rong of a grave offense.

“Usurping authority,” “breaching ancestral customs.”

With the Emperor now firmly in power, he could shield her from such accusations, but even if they couldn’t be proven, it wouldn’t stop the rumors about Consort Rong from circulating widely, tarnishing her reputation.

The more the Emperor shielded her, the more vehement the court officials’ opposition would become.

Consort Rong came from the Niohuru family, and although Hesheli died prematurely, the Crown Prince still had a legitimate maternal family.

Furthermore, the Empress’s sister, now of marriageable age, was being sent into the palace by the Hesheli family, making her the Crown Prince’s aunt and thus closer in relation.

And for Consort Rong to care for and foster the Crown Prince, how could she easily override the Crown Prince’s maternal family and Suo’etu?

Any hasty attempt to align with the Crown Prince over the Hesheli family would be viewed by the court officials as undermining the state’s stability, with malicious intent.

Enthroning her as Empress would be legitimate, but the problems faced would be more complex than now, not just from the court officials, but also from her, the Grand Empress Dowager.

Furthermore, the process of enthroning an Empress is fraught with complications, and the Emperor would not undertake it without careful consideration.

Now that the court officials are clamoring for the appointment of a new empress, with the most vocal being those from Mingzhu's faction, it is likely that the Emperor is already displeased.

Thus, if Consort Rong is to be formally acknowledged as the guardian of Baocheng, it will inevitably require the personal intervention of the Grand Empress Dowager.

Only by her addressing this matter can the court officials be silenced.

The grandmother and grandson exchanged glances, and everything was understood without words.

After Kangxi sat down and conversed with the Grand Empress Dowager for a while, the little milk dragon was dismissed by the Grand Empress Dowager under some pretext, and the maids took him away.

Now alone, the grandmother and grandson had not spent time like this in a while.

"Emperor, it must have been quite an effort for you to have Baocheng come to speak well of Consort Rong in front of me," the Grand Empress Dowager said slowly, fingering her prayer beads.

Her headache had improved, and without the affliction, careful nurturing had made her much more peaceful, not as extreme, as if reason had returned.

Now when discussing Consort Rong, her reaction was not as intense as before.

"Speaking of which, even without this matter, the Emperor would have devised other strategies, but this incident came at just the right time, likely exactly as the Emperor wished.

Even though I do not favor Consort Rong, I will agree for Baocheng's sake, and it will be settled during the grand investiture ceremony."

The Grand Empress Dowager looked at her grandson, who remained calm and composed despite her pointed remarks.

"Grandmother, Baocheng simply came today to visit you," Kangxi explained gently, but did not deny the other implications in the Grand Empress Dowager's words.

Even if Baocheng did not speak up, wouldn't the Grand Empress Dowager ask?

"You know I do not favor Consort Rong, and Hesheli's sister is soon to enter the palace. She is Baocheng's aunt, and needless to say, she would surely be attentive to Baocheng, wouldn't she be more suitable than Consort Rong, who is not closely related?" the Grand Empress Dowager brought up this point.

The Hesheli family would undoubtedly send a representative into the palace to maintain their relationship with the Crown Prince, which is also a necessary means to uphold the Hesheli family's glory.

Suo'etu has waited until now, finally having waited for Hesheli's sister to reach the age for selection, which was not easy, and it is inevitable that they would send her into the harem to pave the way.

The Emperor would not be unaware, yet he still prefers Consort Rong to care for the Crown Prince. Could it be that Consort Rong is genuinely more suitable than Baocheng's own aunt?

Or is it that Consort Rong is manipulating, and the Emperor's heart is now leaning towards Consort Rong, coupled with the fact that Consort Rong can no longer have children, it is not impossible that the Emperor wants to make arrangements for Consort Rong.

But Consort Rong's heart is far more ruthless than she had imagined, how could she be worth the Emperor making arrangements for her?

Even without doing so, given Baocheng's closeness and affection for Consort Rong, there would still be some bond, so why go to such lengths, which would also provoke the dissatisfaction of the Hesheli family.

"She is not suitable," Kangxi stated plainly.

He did not specify who, but the Grand Empress Dowager knew he was referring to Hesheli's sister as unsuitable.

The Grand Empress Dowager deliberately brought up, "Has the Emperor not considered that the Empress died young, and Baocheng has lacked a mother's care since childhood. Consort Rong just happened to fill that void when Baocheng most desired a mother's care, which is why she gained Baocheng's closeness.

I have heard that the Empress's sister resembles the Empress. Perhaps after meeting her, Baocheng might prefer his aunt who resembles his mother?"

"No," Kangxi said calmly, but the certainty in his words was unmistakable.

Seeing that the Grand Empress Dowager clearly did not agree, "Grandmother, do you truly not understand why I am so insistent?" Kangxi said calmly, turning the jade ring on his finger, "When Baocheng grows up, by then, I will still be in the prime of my life."

At this point, a gentle smile appeared on Kangxi's face, seemingly one of contentment and emotion, but his eyes became deep and dangerous.

The Grand Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly, for this was exactly what she feared. As Baocheng gradually grows up, by that time, the Emperor will still be healthy and in the prime of his life.

Seemingly just a step away from the throne, but it is also a vast chasm, where any misstep could lead to the Emperor's increasing suspicion and the struggles with other princes.

In addition to Suo'etu, now that Suo'etu and Mingzhu are vying for power, the Emperor has observed it all, and it is not without purpose, aiming for balance in the court.

But when the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince come of age and can attend court to participate in governance, it will also be the time when the contention between the Suo'etu and Mingzhu factions is most intense.

The Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince are highly likely to be drawn into the conflicts between the two factions, and at that time, it will be clear what the two factions are fighting for.

The Emperor is not yet old, but those beneath him, including his sons, have already begun to vie in secret.

The throne does not tolerate covetousness from others, not even from one's own sons.

Such an outcome will inevitably make them pawns on the Emperor's chessboard.

Ultimately, it will no longer be a struggle between brothers or court factions, but a battle and game against the Emperor.

She is old, and it is uncertain whether she will still be around by then; how could she dissuade him? The Emperor was taught by her, even surpassing his own father, and he resembles the late Emperor.

"I will not let Suo'etu become another Ao Bai; what I need is not a crown prince controlled by his maternal family," Kangxi said with a deep gaze, a crown prince controlled by his maternal family cannot become a true Emperor.

This principle, the Grand Empress Dowager naturally comprehends.

If the Crown Prince becomes too reliant on the Hesheli family, completely bound to them, and drawn into the conflicts with the Mingzhu faction.

By then, even if the Emperor had previously favored and valued the Crown Prince more than the other princes, he would be able to harden his heart and take ruthless action.

When Suo'etu becomes a discarded piece and the entire Hesheli family falls, the Crown Prince, already bound to his maternal family, will also be discarded along with them.

The most ruthless are the imperial families, where even between father and son, it is first ruler and subject, then parent and child.

The Grand Empress Dowager looked at Kangxi, who met her gaze calmly, and said, "I understand."

This indicated her agreement.

Even if she still disagreed, the Emperor's mind was made up and would not change, just as when he reduced the feudal lords; without her intervention, the Emperor only faced more difficulties.

Rather than easily promoting Consort Rong to be the Empress, it's better to agree now.

These considerations the Emperor must have anticipated, and as for how to placate the dissatisfaction of the Hesheli family, he must have already devised a plan.

Kangxi restrained his aura, his expression softened, "Then I will trouble the Grand Empress Dowager; when Baocheng finds out later, he will surely be very happy."

The Grand Empress Dowager smiled, not revealing his thoughts, allowing her to personally tell Baocheng, not only to make Baocheng happy but also to prevent her from changing her mind.

To avoid other complications.

When the Grand Empress Dowager said, "From now on, let Consort Rong take care of our Baocheng; how does Baocheng feel about that?"

The little milk dragon was momentarily stunned before he could react.

At first, Consort Rong was already protecting him, and he would occasionally visit her, but after realizing what the Grand Empress Dowager meant, he exclaimed, "Is it true?!"

He even found it hard to believe and couldn't help but look at his father, only to hear his father say, "When has your Grand Empress Dowager ever lied to you?"

The little milk dragon excitedly threw himself into the arms of the Grand Empress Dowager to act spoiled, clearly overjoyed.

Although the Grand Empress Dowager doted on him, when the little milk dragon was young, he would be held and cherished, but as he grew older, to maintain proper decorum, their meetings became more restrained.

He was gradually taking on the demeanor of a little adult.

At this moment, he was truly happy, his eyes filled with laughter, and his smile never faded.

"But we still need to wait a bit, Baocheng, don't be in a hurry to let it slip."

The Grand Empress Dowager gently patted his head with a kind expression, seeing Baocheng's uncontrollable joy, which somewhat lessened her reluctance.

The young dragon immediately covered his mouth and nodded, indicating he understood.

Gone were the grievances and discomfort from yesterday; now he was smiling broadly.

Such a pleasant atmosphere naturally led to them staying for a meal together in the Cining Palace.

After lunch, Kangxi finally departed with the young dragon.

The smile on the Grand Empress Dowager's face gradually faded as she held her prayer beads, unmoving.

She believed what the emperor said, for the emperor's concerns were not without reason, and it was normal to prepare for the worst.

But wasn't there another way besides this?

Apart from preventing Baocheng from being controlled by his maternal family in the future, there was another reason the emperor deliberately avoided.

Not denying it was, in a sense, another form of response.