Chapter 73: Moving to Changchun Garden

Chapter 73 Moving to the Changchun Garden

When Fang Yu returned to the Jingren Palace, her outer robe was a little damp. Pan Liu, seeing she’d returned in the rain, right away had ginger soup prepared and hot water drawn.

"Your Majesty, please change into dry clothes first to avoid catching a cold. Want me to have charcoal lit? The room might be a bit chilly."

Fang Yu smiled. "It's only September, no need for charcoal yet. It’s not that cold in here. It’s fine. I’ll change and take a hot bath."

The hot water arrived first, and Fang Yu went to the bathing room to wash. By the time she finished, the ginger soup was ready. As she drank it, the Emperor showed up unexpectedly.

She stood up to greet him. The Emperor hadn’t been caught in the rain, but due to his difficulty walking, he was brought over in his chair.

"Your Majesty, it’s raining—why have you come?"

"I came because it’s raining. I know you don’t feel well whenever it rains."

Whenever it rained or she felt cold, Fang Yu’s joints would ache—likely due to rheumatism—something that won’t go away. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to it, but it really touched her that the Emperor still worried about her and came to see her despite the rain. Her eyes reddened, and she almost cried but held it in.

"Your Majesty, I’m fine. I don’t feel unwell."

"Why is your hair wet? Did you take a bath?"

Fang Yu didn’t dare admit she had been caught in the rain and only said she had taken a hot bath. She helped the Emperor sit on the heated platform and ordered a bowl of ginger soup for him as well.

"I’ve been thinking about moving to the Changchun Garden. It’s nice and quiet there."

Fang Yu was somewhat puzzled. "Your Majesty means we should live at the Changchun Garden for a few months?"

"Not just a few months."

That meant they would live there permanently. Fang Yu hesitated. She understood the Emperor’s intention—he planned for only the two of them to move to the Changchun Garden, without bringing the other ladies of the court from the harem. But she had many friends in the palace, people she could visit and chat with. Over the years, she had grown close to Ying Shan and the others.

If they moved to the Changchun Garden, she wouldn’t be able to see Ying Shan and the others whenever she wanted. Yin Ti still lived in the palace, and she had grown used to everything around the palace.

The Emperor likely felt that after decades of living in the palace, he didn’t want to live out his days there and wished to move to the Changchun Garden instead.

There were only a few years to go until the sixty-first year of Kangxi’s reign. He didn’t know how long he would live, but she did.

"Will the Imperial Noble Consort and the others be able to come see me at Changchun Garden whenever?"

"Yes."

The Emperor was so kind to her; she decided to make him happy. After all, the Changchun Garden wasn’t too far from the palace.

"Alright, let’s choose an auspicious day to move."

Outside, the rain grew heavier, pattering loudly on the eaves. Fang Yu tightly held the Emperor’s hand. Neither spoke, but the room was filled with a quiet understanding and warmth.

Kangxi looked at Lady Wuya, his eyes soft with tenderness, making his entire demeanor gentle.

By early October, they had moved to the Changchun Garden. Fang Yu took her servants along, including Pan Liu and Xiao Fangzi, leaving only two eunuchs behind to look after the Jingren Palace and handle daily cleaning.

The Changchun Garden was indeed serene.

The Emperor left most court matters to Yin Zhen to manage, giving himself a lot more free time to spend with her.

The two of them lived easy days in the Changchun Garden, like a retired couple.

Fang Yu occasionally helped look after the flowers and plants in the garden.

"Your Majesty, let me handle that. Don’t dirty your hands."

Fang Yu ignored Pan Liu’s advice and picked up a shovel to dig in the dirt, transplanting the previously planted tulips that were too bunched up to grow right.

"Pan Liu, when do you think these tulips will bloom?"

"Your Majesty, the garden servants say these tulips will bloom next year after being planted."

Fang Yu nodded and continued working, didn’t mind the dirt on her hands.

Pan Liu mentioned that the Internal Affairs Office had sent over some floral teas.

"Then make a pot later."

Fang Yu and Pan Liu spent half an hour in the garden before finishing. Her legs were nearly numb from crouching. When she returned to the Chunhui Hall, she saw Long Keduo coming out of the front hall.

"Your Majesty, may you have peace and good fortune."

"There’s no need for formalities, Lord Long Keduo."

"I have things to take care of and must take my leave."

Fang Yu nodded, signaling for Long Keduo to depart, and entered the hall to find the Emperor. The Emperor was going over reports, likely occupied with important matters.

"What’s the matter?"

The Emperor replied that the leader of the Dzungar Tribe had sent troops to attack Tibet, and Tibet had requested military support from the Qing court. He was considering suitable candidates to lead the troops.

"I must summon Yin Zhen to discuss this."

Fang Yu stayed out of politics. She nodded in response and went to wash her hands before starting to brew the floral tea. The Internal Affairs Office had sent several types—rose tea, jasmine tea, osmanthus tea, chrysanthemum tea, and others. She couldn’t decide right away, wasn’t sure which one to pick.

"Your Majesty, would you like some tea? Shall I brew some for you?"

"Sure."

Fang Yu brewed two types: one cup of rose tea and one of jasmine tea. The dried flowers opened up in the hot water. She stirred them with a spoon and tasted a sip herself. She preferred the smell of the jasmine, so she brought the cup of rose tea to the Emperor.

"What happened to your hand?" Kangxi picked up Lady Wuya’s hand for a closer look. "Why is it dirty? What have you been doing?"

"It’s fine."

Fang Yu looked at her hand—it was perfectly clean, save for some soil under her nails. Besides, she hadn’t used her fingers to stir the tea.

"Leave such tasks to the servants. There’s no need to do them yourself."

"It’s a pleasure. I do as I wish. Your Majesty, don’t try to stop me. Here, try this and tell me if it’s good."

Kangxi chuckled lightly and, under Lady Wuya’s gaze, drank the rose tea. He praised it as delicious and well-brewed.

"Of course. Just look at whose hands prepared it. Your Majesty, stop reading those reports—be careful not to strain your eyes."

Fang Yu had noticed earlier that the Emperor held the reports quite far away while reading—a clear sign of presbyopia with age. After decades of reviewing petitions, he was still at it even now. Sometimes, she couldn’t help but admire his energy.

"Alright, I won’t read anymore."

Kangxi continued sipping the floral tea, savoring its delicate flavor. He asked Lady Wuya what she had done that day. When she mentioned gardening, he couldn’t help but laugh. "If I had known you liked gardening so much, I should have arranged another garden for you to manage."

"A garden that’s too large wouldn’t do—I couldn’t handle it. Flowers aren’t easy to grow. Without careful tending, they won’t bloom. Besides, I only help a little. I dare not take credit—it’s the garden servants who usually care for those flowers."

"Then reward them. They have done their duties well. Give each of them five taels of silver."

Kangxi ordered Eunuch Huang to reward the servants who tended the garden with silver.

The servants in the Garden of Everlasting Spring (Changchun Yuan) were overjoyed to receive the reward. In the past, the masters seldom visited the Garden of Everlasting Spring, so no matter how well they maintained the garden, it was useless if the masters did not come and see their efforts. Today, the masters finally noticed their hard work, and with the silver personally rewarded by the emperor, they were even more motivated to work.

By evening, Fang Yu dined with the emperor. As she grew older, she disliked heavy or oily food and instead preferred light dishes that allowed her to taste the ingredients themselves. She ate two steamed yellow croaker in one go.

Perhaps because the emperor noticed her eating heartily, yellow croaker appeared at every meal in the following days. Only after she grew tired of it and ordered the kitchen to stop preparing yellow croaker did it disappear from the dining table.

Regarding the earlier matter of the Dzungar Tribe leader attacking Tibet, the emperor and Yinzhen had decided to let Yinti lead the troops, appointing him as the Great General Who Pacifies the West.

Though worried, Fang Yu had no choice but to agree. As a prince, one not only enjoyed the luxuries brought by the royal family but also had to bear responsibilities. However, with Yinti leaving, she wondered when she would see her son again.

Her three brothers came together to comfort her, saying Yinti would return soon. Fang Yu knew it was impossible for him to come back quickly—just traveling to such a distant place would take two to three months, and quelling the unrest would require at least half a year.

"Mother, I will return safely. Please don’t cry."

Fang Yu wiped her tears and cupped Yinti’s face with both hands. This child had given her plenty of worries since he was young—she always feared he would grow up spoiled and become a wayward prince. Yet, Yinti grew up healthy and normal, even smarter than Yinzhui.

"Alright, I’ll remember your words. You must return safely, without injuries, and write to me often."

"Yes, I understand, Mother. You must also take good care of yourself and listen to Fourth Brother and Sixth Brother."

"Don’t worry, I’ll wait for your return."

On the day Yinti set off for battle, Fang Yu and the emperor went to see him off. They stood on the city wall, watching Yinti and his retinue depart into the distance. Unable to hold back her tears, she buried her face in the emperor’s chest and wept.

After Yinti left the capital, Fang Yu lost her appetite for the first few days, eating very little. It was only with the emperor’s comfort that she gradually regained her appetite.

The Imperial Noble Consort and Yingshan came from the palace to the Garden of Everlasting Spring to visit her, saying that without her, the palace had lost much of its liveliness, and there was no one to talk to.

Fang Yu invited them to come to the Garden of Everlasting Spring every day to keep her company. The emperor still had state affairs to attend to, leaving her completely idle.

The Imperial Noble Consort and the others were also bored, so they came to see her every day. Since it wasn’t far, and they were tired of staying in the palace, it was a pleasant change.

The Garden of Everlasting Spring had a lotus pond and a lake.

The last time she and the Imperial Noble Consort were here, they had planned to go boating on the lake. However, Suo Etu had privately mobilized troops, forcing the emperor to return to the palace urgently, and they never had the chance to go boating together.

This time, they made plans to go boating again.

Although it was early November, the weather was chilly, and the lake surface was cold. Both wore many layers to keep warm, holding hand warmers in their hands.

They dared not sit outside the cabin—if they fell into the water on such a cold day, they would surely catch a chill. So, they sat inside the cabin, watching the slightly rippling lake, enjoying a different kind of tranquility.

"How long will you and the emperor stay at the Garden of Everlasting Spring?"

"I don’t know. It depends on how long the emperor wishes to stay."

Tongjia Wangshu looked at Consort De and couldn’t help saying, "The emperor only brought you to the Garden of Everlasting Spring, leaving the rest of us in the palace. How biased."

"The palace is quite nice too. The Garden of Everlasting Spring has fewer people and is much quieter."

Tongjia Wangshu sometimes truly envied Consort De. Not only had she been doted on by the emperor for decades, but her son was also about to ascend the throne. She had everything one could wish for in life. Their cousin could be quite selfish at times—it felt as though the rest of them had been confined to the cold palace for decades, and now in their old age, he had abandoned them in the palace, taking only Consort De to the Garden of Everlasting Spring to enjoy themselves, regardless of their well-being.

"You are blessed but unaware of it. If Cousin the emperor treated me half as well, I would die without regret."

"Do you think we could catch fish if we went fishing?" Fang Yu awkwardly changed the subject. For the other consorts and concubines in the imperial harem, they were indeed much more pitiable than her. Continuing the conversation would only make her seem ungrateful.

"Another day, let’s get a fishing rod and try fishing." Tongjia Wangshu also changed the subject. At their age, there was no point in discussing such matters further.

"Yes, we can sit by the lake and fish then."

The two went boating for a while before returning.

Whether it was because Fang Yu had a weak constitution or because she had been exposed to the wind on the lake the previous day, she fell ill the day after boating. She started coughing, her nose was stuffy, and she had a fever.

Kangxi couldn’t help scolding her: "Look at you. You insisted on going out in such cold weather. The lake surface was freezing, and you had to go there to catch the wind. Now you’re sick again. You really are going to be the death of me."

"Your Majesty, I’m already like this. Please don’t scold me. And you should keep your distance, lest I pass my illness to you."

Seeing Uya Shi pale and weak, leaning against the headboard, Kangxi held back what he wanted to say. When the servants brought the medicinal soup, he made sure she drank every last drop.

"The weather is cold. You are not to go out again, and you are not to follow the Imperial Noble Consort in her mischief. She is young, but you are not."

"Cousin…"

Kangxi turned around and saw his cousin. He showed no guilt for speaking behind her back and told her not to go boating again.

"Cousin, I understand. There won’t be a next time."

Kangxi stood up and left.

Fang Yu and the Imperial Noble Consort exchanged amused glances and burst into laughter.

"So this is how Cousin usually manages you. Since you’re sick, you should listen to him. Let’s not go boating again. If we do, it will have to wait until next summer. It’s also my fault. I knew you were not in good health, yet I still dragged you out boating. Now you’re sick because of me. I’m sorry."

Fang Yu smiled, "It’s not your fault. I wanted to go too. I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve been sick. I’ll recover in a few days. Don’t worry."

"Never take illness lightly. Just rest well, have the imperial physician examine you daily, and take your medicine on time."

Fang Yu felt like a child, being admonished by everyone. She found it both amusing and frustrating but obediently agreed.

During her illness, many people came to visit her—people from the imperial harem, Yinzhen, Yinzhui, her daughters-in-law, and her grandchildren.

After half a month, she had mostly recovered, though she still had a runny nose and a sore throat.

As the weather turned cold, she suddenly craved hot pot and had it prepared. The emperor ate with her, though he didn’t eat much.

After the meal, the emperor complained that they smelled like hot pot. Fang Yu had hot water prepared for a bath. After freshening up, she went up to the emperor and asked if there was any smell left.

"None. This is much better."

"Your nose is as sensitive as a dog’s."

Kangxi smiled and touched Uya Shi’s face. "You always used to complain about my smell. I’m just returning the favor."

Fang Yu snorted lightly. She had complained before because he smelled of alcohol after drinking—it wasn’t the same thing.

Kangxi’s hand wandered around her waist. In his eyes, Uya Shi hadn’t changed much over the years—still delicate, still beautiful, with time leaving few traces on her face.

"Your Majesty…"

"What are you avoiding?"

Fang Yu knew exactly what he wanted from the look in his eyes. After so many years of marriage, she understood him too well. It had been a long time since they last been intimate—after all, they were older now, and their desires were not as strong as in their youth.

"I… I’m not avoiding anything."

Emperor Kangxi held her close, guiding her straight to the bedside.

"Your Majesty, please refrain from kissing me later. I’m not fully recovered yet."

"Understood."

Afterward, Fang Yu drifted off to sleep immediately.

Kangxi gazed at her sleeping form beside him, kissed her forehead, and then soon followed her into slumber.

Life at the Changchun Garden was peaceful and comfortable. Time flew, and it was year-end again. Her daughters-in-law came to present her with lunar New Year gifts and brought her grandchildren to see her.

In return, Fang Yu presented them with gifts. Her illness had completely healed, and she joyfully played with her grandchildren for hours.

When Yin Zhen visited, Fang Yu asked about the current political situation. The Emperor had now delegated state affairs to Yin Zhen, which many interpreted as a sign that the Emperor intended for Yin Zhen to ascend the throne. However, there were undoubtedly those who were dissatisfied and were plotting in secret.

"Empress Mother, don’t worry. This son can manage."

There were still a few years to go. She hoped Yin Zhen could consolidate his power completely over the next three or four years, so that when the Emperor truly departed, even if someone tried to stir dissent, he would be able to suppress it. Only then would the Emperor’s years of laying the groundwork and fostering support for him not be in vain—it meant he had several years to prepare in advance.

"As long as you can handle it. Your Imperial Father is, after all, your father. Yin Zhen, I hope you can honor him."

She knew that in their eyes, the Emperor had reigned long. She didn’t know if Yin Zhen secretly wished for the Emperor to meet his end sooner, but she didn’t want him to have such thoughts. No matter what, the Emperor was his father. He shouldn’t wish for the Emperor’s early departure—that would be both dishonorable and disloyal.

"Empress Mother, this son has always respected Imperial Father profoundly."

"That’s good. Make time to pay your respects to your Imperial Father more often."

"This son understands."

Yin Zhen also mentioned the Imperial New Year’s Eve banquet. The banquet would still be held at the Qianqing Palace, so they had to return to the palace for it. Fang Yu nodded and said she understood.

On New Year’s Eve, after having breakfast in the morning, Fang Yu and the Emperor were carried back to the palace via palanquin.

The Imperial New Year’s Eve banquet was the Emperor’s private familial feast, with no external officials present. Fang Yu noticed that Yin Zhen was already seated in the seat of honor among the princes, preceding even the Third Prince.

Yin Ti had already arrived in Qinghai, where he was leading the campaign, so he was naturally absent.

This year’s banquet still centered around the Emperor, and Yin Zhen remained respectfully unobtrusive.

After the banquet, Fang Yu stayed at the Qianqing Palace and felt no rush to return to the Changchun Garden with the Emperor.

During the New Year period, Fang Yu remained at the Qianqing Palace. During the day, she would visit Ying Shan and the others to exchange gossip and visits.

On the sixth day of the New Year, she returned to the Jingren Palace to see Virtuous Consort and the others. As soon as she reached the backyard, she unexpectedly caught Eighth Prince berating Virtuous Consort in the room—or rather, it was more like Eighth Prince launching into a bitter tirade.

Eighth Prince said that he was of humble birth and had been bullied since childhood. While others could earn praise with just five points of effort, he had to exert twice the effort to receive recognition. In his words, he blamed Virtuous Consort for giving birth to him, causing him to be born inferior to others from the start.

"My Lady..."

Fang Yu gestured for the attendants to remain silent. She left with her attendants, not wanting to witness the argument between Eighth Prince and Virtuous Consort. In their eyes, she might be seen as a conqueror gloating over them.

Returning to the Qianqing Palace, she found the Emperor and Yin Zhen already discussing matters. Fang Yu decided to take a stroll in the imperial garden instead.

"Pan Liu, let’s pick some flowers and make a garland."

"Alright, I will fetch scissors for Your Majesty."

Nowadays, Fang Yu was granted unrestricted freedom to do as she pleased in the palace, even picking flowers from the imperial garden. When Pan Liu returned with the scissors, she cut over twenty different flower stems.

Back at the Qianqing Palace, Fang Yu worked on making the garland in her private quarters. She trimmed off all the thorns, and several of them brainstormed how to arrange the flowers.

"Your Majesty, if we don’t succeed in making the garland, we might end up ruining all the petals in the process."

Fang Yu chuckled lightly and said it was her first time trying this, so it was natural to be a bit clumsy.

"It’s fine. We can always pick more later."

She and Pan Liu laughed happily together, huddled together trying to figure out how to make a garland. They wrapped the string around again and again, finally managing to create a somewhat lopsided crown.

"This servant will place it on Your Majesty’s head to see how it looks."

Pan Liu set the garland on her head.

Fang Yu felt she might be accused of pretending to be youthful. When she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t help but laugh.

"Do I look ten years younger?"

"Your Majesty has always been young."

Fang Yu gently pinched Pan Liu’s hand. "You certainly know how to flatter me."

Just then, the Emperor happened to come in, so she turned to show him.

"Is it pretty?"

Kangxi nodded and said it was.

Fang Yu teased, "Your Majesty, you’ve become quite the charmer."

In the past, the Emperor hadn’t been so smooth with his words. Now, whenever she asked, he would always say she looked beautiful. Fang Yu took off the garland and gestured for the Emperor to come closer, then placed it on his head.

"Actually, Your Majesty suits this better."

His bald forehead needed some covering. Even after all this time in the Qing Dynasty, Fang Yu still couldn’t get used to the aesthetics of the queue hairstyle. Sometimes, short hairs would sprout on the front half of the Emperor’s forehead, which she found unattractive. However, the Emperor only shaved his head on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, not daily, so she had to adapt.

"Do you think I’m ugly?"

"Not ugly—very handsome. I’ve never seen anyone so dignified and majestic."

Kangxi tapped Wuya Shi’s forehead lightly. "It seems you are the one who knows best how to flatter."

"As long as Your Majesty is happy, I’m willing to do anything."

Kangxi chuckled softly and gently touched her ear.

"Are you blushing? Why are your ears turning red?"

Fang Yu rolled her eyes. After so many years together, she wasn’t one to blush easily. Her ears turned red precisely because he was touching them.

"Your Majesty, stop touching them. If you keep going, the skin might peel off."

Kangxi thought her ears were delightful to touch—he had always loved fondling her earlobes. He told her they would return to the Changchun Garden in a few days. He noticed that Wuya Shi was quite popular; whenever they returned to the palace, she would go off to visit the other women in the harem, leaving him alone. He didn’t particularly like that feeling.

At the Changchun Garden, it was just the two of them. Although people occasionally came to "disturb" them, most of the time, it was just the two of them spending time together. He cherished these moments with her.

"Won’t it be too soon?"

"No."

Fang Yu could only say fine, they’d go back. She had already seen the person she wanted to meet, and those who usually interacted with her would also visit her at the Changchun Garden, so returning was no issue.

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Yu and the Emperor returned to the Changchun Garden. Yin Zhen and Yin Zhu occasionally came to pay their respects to her. After the New Year celebrations, Consort Yi also visited her once. The two avoided discussing matters related to the princes and simply engaged in casual conversation, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

In the second month of the 58th year of Kang Xi's reign, the younger Wanyan Shi gave birth to a Princess. Fang Yu returned to the palace once again to visit the younger Wanyan Shi and her newborn granddaughter.

The letters from Yin Ti said everything was fine, so Fang Yu took his word for it.

When the Emperor's left foot acted up again, he was mostly bedridden, and he handed over state affairs completely to Yin Zhen to manage, with the Emperor rarely intervening.

After three months, the Emperor's foot was healed, though some aftereffects remained—he couldn’t walk as quickly or agilely as before.

Fang Yu and the Emperor stayed at the Changchun Garden, spending their leisure time strolling through the grounds, admiring the flowers, visiting the lakeside to gaze at the water, and watching the fish.

Life seemed to pass slowly, yet before they knew it, two years had passed.