Chapter 6: Demanding the Establishment of an Empress

Chapter 6: The Demand to Establish an Empress

In the eastern warming chamber of the front courtyard of Zhongcui Palace, Consort Wan sat on the heated kang, reading a letter sent from her family. After finishing it, her heart was filled with a chilling dread, and in a fit of anger, she tore the letter to shreds.

"My Lady..." Nanny Gui, standing nearby, looked at her with concern. "Has something happened?"

"Nanny, the Hesheli family is preparing to send another daughter into the palace, and the Tong family is also planning to send their daughter. So many people covet the position of Empress, eagerly pushing their daughters into the palace."

Consort Wan's eyes were sharp and determined. She would never allow the position of Empress to fall into someone else's hands. Years ago, she and Hesheli Shi entered the palace in the same year. Hesheli Shi was named Empress, while she could only be granted the title of a palace consort. Now that Hesheli Shi had finally passed away, she was determined to claim that position.

The Niuhulu Family had given so much for the Emperor. When the Emperor was young, powerful ministers like Ao Bai controlled the court. The Niuhulu Family poured all their efforts into helping the Emperor regain his power, serving him devotedly for years with unwavering loyalty. She understood that the position of Empress was never about whom the Emperor favored; it was always a contest of family influence behind the scenes. The Niuhulu Family was second to none in the capital. With Hesheli Shi gone, it was her turn.

She had to pressure her father and others to submit memorials pressuring the Emperor. She couldn’t wait for the daughters of the Hesheli and Tong families to enter the palace and be named Empress by the Emperor.

...

Fang Yu also heard that recently, many court officials were urging the Emperor to establish an Empress. They argued that an empty central palace destabilized the nation's foundation, and only by appointing an Empress early could public sentiment be settled. The rear palace could not remain without a master for long.

At the same time, she heard that new women would soon be entering the rear palace. At first, she thought it was the once-every-three-years selection, but upon asking, she learned it wasn’t. Instead, it was said that the Hesheli and Tong families were preparing to send their daughters into the palace.

These matters, entangled with the front court, had nothing to do with a minor answering attendant like her. They wouldn’t affect her. She continued living her plain and uneventful life. Her menstrual period lasted seven days, and after it ended, she sent Pan Liu to the Office of Imperial Affairs to have her green plaque reinstated.

During her period, she couldn’t eat anything cold. Finally, after it ended, she asked the imperial kitchens to prepare a bowl of cool, refreshing sweet soup to relieve the summer heat.

Xiao Shunzi quickly brought her a serving of chilled watermelon and lotus seed with silver ear soup. Although she had only had her plaque chosen twice, nowadays, as long as it wasn’t extremely rare delicacies, the kitchen staff would get it for her. In the past, she didn’t even have a piece of ice; her room was like an oven, unbearably hot. Now, she received over ten catties of ice daily. It wasn’t enough to cool down completely, but it was better than nothing. Indeed, it paid to be in favor.

If the Emperor didn’t choose her again for a long time, this kind of treatment wouldn’t last. She was well aware of that. The Fourth Imperial Prince, Yinzhen, was born in the 17th year of Kangxi’s reign, meaning she wouldn’t have her first child until four years later. In these four years, she still needed to vie for more favor.

By evening, as darkness fell and rest came with sunset, Fang Yu and Pan Liu, having finished their dinner, were preparing to tidy up the bed and sleep when a sudden knock on the door caught their attention.

Pan Liu went to open the door and was surprised to see Eunuch Fu from the Office of Imperial Affairs. "Eunuch Fu, it’s so late. Has the Emperor chosen my mistress?"

"Exactly! The Emperor suddenly chose your mistress, so I hurried over with the team. Miss Pan Liu, please inform your mistress that we are waiting at the palace gate. We ask the mistress to board the sedan chair promptly and not keep the Emperor waiting."

Fang Yu lived in a single room and had already heard Eunuch Fu’s words. After Pan Liu closed the door, she gestured for Pan Liu to quickly style her hair.

A few minutes later, Fang Yu was seated in the sedan chair from the Office of Imperial Affairs.

It had been over ten days since she was last chosen. The Emperor’s rear palace wasn’t very crowded yet, with only a little over twenty consorts and concubines combined. Perhaps that was why he remembered her.

After arriving at Qianqing Palace, bathing, and purifying herself, she was carried back to the bedchamber. The Emperor was already waiting for her—this was the first time he had waited. He signaled for all the servants to leave.

The soft glow from several gilded candelabras with coiling branches cast a gentle light in the bedchamber. For a moment, silence lingered. As Fang Yu pondered what to say, she heard the Emperor ask first if she had been applying the ointment he bestowed upon her daily.

Fang Yu glared at him, her face flushing as she denied it. "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I don’t understand. What ointment? Where did it come from? I haven’t seen anything."

Kangxi found Wuya Shi incredibly lively, her voice especially coquettish. He could clearly see she was embarrassed. He leaned close to her ear, his lips brushing against her earlobe, and suddenly gave it a gentle bite.

"Your Majesty!"

"What? You’re allowed to bite me, but I can’t bite you? That soothing ointment is the best quality and extremely effective. Applied for a day or two, it restores everything to normal, with no redness or swelling. But seeing is believing. I need to check for myself if it’s fully recovered."

Fang Yu instinctively wrapped the quilt tighter around herself, thinking the Emperor was quite unrestrained. Compared to him, she, a modern person, was much more reserved.

Kangxi tried to pull the quilt away, and the two began tugging at it. He kissed her lips, surrounding her inch by inch until she softened completely, allowing him to easily succeed.

"It seems you’ve recovered."

"Although I’ve recovered, Your Majesty still needs to be gentle. I’m afraid of pain."

"So delicate."

Kangxi watched as the woman beneath him chuckled softly, actively nestling into his embrace, her cheeks flushed like a budding flower, enticing him to pluck her. He lowered his head to kiss her, and she tilted her neck to cooperate. His breath grew scorching.

They continued until well past midnight. Fang Yu felt as though her bones were about to fall apart. Later, she didn’t even know when the Emperor called for water.

When Fang Yu woke up, it was rare to find the Emperor still lying beside her, still asleep. She glanced toward the window—dawn hadn’t broken yet. As she shifted slightly, her waist was encircled by his arm.

"Your Majesty, did I wake you?"

"Mmm."

Fang Yu didn’t feel embarrassed. She asked if he was about to get up.

Kangxi opened his eyes. Last night’s activities had been intense, and Wuya Shi’s body still bore many marks. Her skin was fair and delicate, making every bruise starkly visible.

As Fang Yu was stared at, with the two so close, her mind went blank, and she lightly pecked his thin lips.

"No more mischief. I will summon you again tonight."

That really wasn’t what she meant. Feeling slightly awkward, she buried her face in his chest.

Kangxi stroked her smooth back and whispered in her ear to remember to apply the ointment when she returned later. As soon as he finished speaking, his chest was pinched.

"Your Majesty, stop talking."

"I’m afraid you’ll be in pain. It’s probably swollen."

Kangxi found teasing Wuya Shi quite amusing and couldn’t resist doing so.

Liang Jiugong’s voice came from outside. Kangxi knew it was time to rise. Her warm, soft body was indeed tempting to indulge in. He called for the servants to enter. The palace maids filed in quietly and began attending to them.

"Stay and have breakfast with me."

Kangxi, now dressed, turned back and said.

Fang Yu nodded.