Consort Yi had sent Danqing out with the idea of having her attract Kangxi’s attention, but in truth, she hadn’t held much hope.
After all, Danqing was merely a princess born to a noble lady and had never received Kangxi’s favor before. In all likelihood, she wouldn’t even be able to enter the Qianqing Palace.
So, Consort Yi only sent someone to follow from a distance, instructing them to bring Danqing back safely if things didn’t work out.
Yet, to her surprise, Danqing actually succeeded in drawing Kangxi over—and was even carried back in his arms.
“Your Majesty, your arrival is so sudden. This concubine is unprepared and has been discourteous.”
Seeing Kangxi enter the room, Consort Yi quickly rose from the couch and called for Liuyá to help her put on her shoes.
“Don’t trouble yourself. Sit properly,”
Kangxi stopped her, “Your belly is so large now; you must be careful. There’s no need for formalities.”
As he spoke, he placed the little girl in his arms onto the couch.
“I found this little one in the Imperial Garden and thought to bring her back while also checking on your well-being.”
Consort Yi smiled sweetly. Though heavily pregnant, she appeared even more voluptuous and charming.
“This concubine is well, and the child in my belly is behaving,”
Consort Yi took the initiative to pull Kangxi down to sit beside her, “Danqing is very obedient and often keeps me company. She must have been too bored today and ran out to play.”
She deliberately blinked at Kangxi: “Your Majesty, rest assured, this concubine had someone follow her from behind.”
Hearing this, Kangxi also smiled: “You’ve always been thoughtful, raising Danqing so well.”
Seeing the two about to lean into each other, Danqing quickly turned her back and reached out toward Liuyá.
Liuyá immediately stepped forward to pick Danqing up and then led the palace maids out of the room.
“Fourth Princess, you’ve accomplished a great deed today!”
Liuyá was overjoyed, “How about this servant makes you a new decorative knot to play with tonight? The kind with twin fish that you wanted before.”
Danqing nodded, then pointed toward the rear courtyard: “I want to go back.”
Liuyá, still elated, didn’t hand Danqing off to anyone else. She personally carried her to the entrance of the Rear Hall before setting her down, then crouched to instruct: “Fourth Princess, please stay with Noble Lady Guo for now. Once His Majesty leaves, this servant will come to fetch you.”
Danqing understood—this was to prevent her from suddenly running to the front and disturbing Consort Yi and Kangxi’s long-awaited reunion.
Danqing didn’t say much, simply nodding before heading inside.
Noble Lady Guo was sprawled on a reclining chair, having her senior palace maid Liuye massage her legs. Hearing Danqing enter, she didn’t open her eyes but spoke with a mocking tone: “Oh, our most capable Fourth Princess has returned? You truly are Consort Yi’s good daughter, with the skill to lure His Majesty over for her.”
Her words seemed to completely forget that it was she who had told Danqing to go find Kangxi and ask him questions.
Danqing knew that Noble Lady Guo was simply jealous and powerless, venting her frustration with a few sour remarks.
She wasn’t angry, merely saying: “Liuye, comb Mother’s hair.”
Consort Yi was naturally charming. Though seven months pregnant, she had only gained weight in her belly, not her face. With her hair slightly disheveled, she possessed an added allure that naturally pleased Kangxi.
But Noble Lady Guo was merely considered plain to begin with. After becoming pregnant, she indulged in tonics and had grown much heavier, her face swollen. If she were to appear with unkempt hair, Kangxi would likely find her unappealing.
Since other things couldn’t be changed, at the very least, she should be neatly groomed, ensuring no one could find fault.
Noble Lady Guo refused to get up: "His Majesty isn't coming to see me, so why should I do my hair? Since you've been driven out by her, go find somewhere else to play. Don't disturb me while I'm resting for the pregnancy."
If this weren't her birth mother, Danqing definitely wouldn't stay to endure this treatment.
But after all, she had taken over this girl's body—she ought to make some compensation.
"Emperor Kangxi might not necessarily come, but what if he does? Do you plan to let him see you looking like this, Mother?"
Danqing patiently persuaded, "Even if you give birth to a Prince this time, won't you still need to rely on Emperor Kangxi to raise him? Do you want him to be disliked by Emperor Kangxi because of you, like me, who can hardly even get an audience with Emperor Kangxi?"
At the mention of the little Prince in her belly, Noble Lady Guo immediately sat up and ordered Liuye to fetch a comb to do her hair.
Danqing lowered her eyes to conceal her disappointment.
This era was just like that—a "Prince" who hadn't even appeared yet was more important than a Princess who was right there in front of her.
She truly hoped Noble Lady Guo would get her wish and bear a son this time, so she would stop causing trouble later.
After waiting for over two hours, there was still no movement from the front, only seeing Liuyá ordering the palace maids to serve the meal.
Noble Lady Guo finally lost patience and reached up to pull out the hairpin from her hair, complaining: "I told you His Majesty wouldn't come, but you insisted on making me get ready. Are you deliberately tormenting me just because I scolded you a few times? Look how obedient Second Princess and Third Princess are—no Princess is like you, full of schemes, just like that one from before!"
As she spoke, she called Liuye again to take off her shoes. Just as Liuye crouched down, Danqing, who was guarding the doorway, spotted a figure in yellow robes rounding the corner from ahead and quickly spoke up to stop them: "Don't take them off! Emperor Kangxi is coming this way!"
Noble Lady Guo was startled and flustered again. She had just reinserted the hairpin she had pulled out when Kangxi arrived at the door.
"Emperor Kangxi!"
Danqing beamed and reached out toward Kangxi, who bent down and lifted his little daughter up, seating her on his arm.
Supported by Liuye, Noble Lady Guo came over and crouched to pay respects. Kangxi waited until she had finished the ritual before speaking: "Rise. You're heavy with child, be careful."
He glanced at Noble Lady Guo a few times. Although she moved with difficulty due to her swollen belly, she was still neatly and appropriately dressed, not neglecting her appearance just because she was pregnant, which gave him some satisfaction.
Since Kangxi was satisfied, he naturally felt willing to stay a bit longer. Casually, he asked about the preparations for childbirth and ordered Liang Jiugong to instruct the Imperial Household Department to make careful arrangements.
"Just now, Consort Yi mentioned wanting Guo Luoluo's aunt who married into the capital to enter the palace to accompany you during childbirth. Since you two are sisters, I thought it would be simpler to let her handle everything,"
Kangxi wasn't discussing this with Noble Lady Guo—he was merely informing her, "When the time comes, she'll stay in the western chamber, so it'll be convenient for her to move between the front and rear courtyards."
Noble Lady Guo dared not act unruly in front of Kangxi, so she naturally agreed to whatever he said.
"Alright, today I just came to see you. Since the pregnancy is stable, I am reassured,"
After speaking, Kangxi stood up, "I'm going to Cining Palace to accompany the Empress Dowager for dinner. I'll come see you again when I have time."
That's what he said, but by the time he was "free" again, it would probably be after Noble Lady Guo had given birth.
Noble Lady Guo naturally dared not stop them from leaving, meekly expressing her gratitude and having Liuye support her as she saw them to the door.
Danqing also toddled along on her short legs, pondering the effectiveness of today's staged "chance encounter" in the Imperial Garden, when suddenly her feet left the ground, startling her into a yelp.
Kangxi deliberately jostled his daughter in his arms, bursting into laughter after receiving an adorable pout and glare from the little girl: "Such a tiny thing with quite the temper, daring to glare at your emperor?"
Still laughing, he carried Danqing straight out the door, leaving only these words behind: "Noble Lady Guo, I'm borrowing Fourth Princess for now, taking her to play with Grandmother for a few days!"
Noble Lady Guo: "If the Grand Empress Dowager likes her, she may play with her as much as she pleases!"
Danqing: …
Is this really my birth mother?
Did Consort Yi actually pull off a baby-switching scheme back then?
…
Truth be told, it was rather pitiful. Having been here for several months, Danqing had not only never seen Kangxi but also hadn't laid eyes on the legendary Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
Today, however, was a stroke of luck—she was about to meet them all at once.
The Grand Empress Dowager was now seventy years old, with a plump and prosperous appearance that clearly reflected the blessings of a nation at peace and its people content.
Danqing, led by Kangxi, obediently knelt and kowtowed to the Grand Empress Dowager, who smiled and called her forward, handing her a piece of milk curd to eat.
"Fourth Princess was ill during the New Year, so we didn't get to see her. The Old Ancestor has been talking about her ever since,"
Sumalagu personally brought over steaming hot milk tea for Danqing to drink with it, "This servant sees that Fourth Princess looks exceptionally well now, so the Old Ancestor can finally rest easy."
"She's just a little rascal,"
Kangxi's tone carried a hint of affection, "Do you know where I found her today? She had run off alone to the Imperial Garden to lie on the ground and sleep. When I asked her, she even tried to pin it on me, saying she came looking for me!"
The Grand Empress Dowager chuckled: "That's just like you. When you were little, you loved hiding in the rockeries to sleep. The servants couldn't find you and would come to me in a panic. I'd tell them to search specifically in the crevices, and they'd always find you."
Sumalagu chimed in: "Indeed, I remember one time we searched until it was dark. I was so worried I started crying, and there was His Majesty, lying on top of the rockery right above my head, not making a sound, just watching me fret."
Kangxi, embarrassed by the revelation of his childhood mischief, coughed awkwardly.
"What did he say when you found him that time?"
the Grand Empress Dowager asked.
Sumalagu laughed, her face crinkling like a chrysanthemum: "His Majesty said that the late emperor had appeared to him in a dream and told him to go to the rockery to find him. It made you so angry that you chased him all around Cining Palace with a feather duster."
The Grand Empress Dowager also broke into laughter: "See? Isn't that just like him? He wouldn't own up to his own mischief and instead tried to pin it on his own father!"
Perhaps accustomed to the relaxed rapport between the Grand Empress Dowager and Kangxi, the palace maids in Cining Palace were not as reserved and joined in with soft laughter.
Kangxi couldn't help but complain: "Grandmother, I'm all grown up now. Why do you always remember those embarrassing childhood stories of mine? And you say them right in front of Danqing—where does that leave my dignity as a father?"
The Grand Empress Dowager shook her head with a smile: "No matter how old you are, in my eyes, you're still a little monkey. Isn't that right, Fourth Princess?"
Danqing, who had underestimated the potency of the milk curd and was now struggling to chew a mouthful of it: …
"This child, why so impatient? No one is going to snatch it from you,"
The Grand Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with affection as she reached out to pinch Danqing's plump little cheek. "Are you hungry? I don't know what you like to eat. Sumalagu, ask the attendants following her to order a few dishes that Fourth Princess enjoys."
Sumalagu glanced around and saw familiar faces waiting at the door, so she understood the situation. However, she did not point it out, merely saying, "It would be better for this servant to prepare them. What His Majesty enjoyed as a child is likely something Fourth Princess would also like."
The Grand Empress Dowager nodded, then turned to Kangxi. "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and now both the Imperial Noble Consort and Noble Consort are pregnant, leaving them with little energy to manage trivial matters. We must find a reliable person to take charge for now."
Kangxi had not paid much attention before, but now he remembered that Danqing indeed seemed to have no one following her. He couldn't help but frown.
In Yikun Palace, there were two consorts—one her birth mother and the other her maternal aunt. How could they fail to take proper care of a princess?
If he hadn't encountered her today, Danqing would have been lying on the cold ground of the Imperial Garden. What if she had fallen ill?
"Your words are most wise, Grandmother. This year, many high-ranking consorts in the palace are pregnant, so palace affairs have inevitably been neglected. Why not let Consort Hui take charge for now?"
Kangxi considered.
Consort Hui was the birth mother of the eldest Prince, Yinti, and the most senior consort in the palace. Kangxi trusted her.
Unexpectedly, the Grand Empress Dowager did not immediately agree. "Consort Hui is capable, but she alone might find it too taxing."
Kangxi understood. "Then let Consort Rong assist her. They have worked together for many years and have good rapport. They will surely manage well."
Only then did the Grand Empress Dowager nod, stroking Danqing's fluffy hair as she said, "I find Fourth Princess quite endearing. Let her stay with me in Cining Palace for a few days."
Danqing, who had just managed to swallow the milk curd: ?
What just happened?
She couldn't help but feel that Kangxi had used her to make some kind of deal with the Grand Empress Dowager, but the deeper meaning behind it all remained completely unclear to her.