The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 486 The Empress Dowager's Fury

The shock wasn't limited to the imperial court, nor was it confined to the entire harem. Even the Empress Dowager, who seemed aloof and isolated, residing in the Cining Palace, was alarmed.

His expression hardened, and he squinted at Su Ma La Gu, his gaze full of intimidation, clearly showing his extreme displeasure!

Su Ma La Gu lowered her head. Even when the Empress Dowager was furious, Su Ma La Gu dared not say a word. Besides, she might be partly to blame. Even if she wasn't, what could a servant say when their master was angry?

Sumalagu grew up alongside the Empress Dowager and came to the Qing Dynasty palace as part of her dowry. She knew everything about the Empress Dowager's inner turmoil.

When I first heard the news, my heart sank, and I knew something was wrong!

really.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager didn't lose her temper and suppressed her anger. "Go and invite the Emperor and the Empress!"

As the head of the six palaces, the Empress must be given face regardless of her position. Even if the matter is investigated and the Empress is implicated, it would be a loss of face for her. How can the Empress maintain her dignity?

Although the Empress Dowager was furious, she was not so angry that she lost her mind. Her grandson, whom she had raised with her own hands, was going to fall for a woman just like his father. The Empress Dowager could not calm down.

But the Empress Dowager was not so angry that she lost her mind. She tried her best to calm down her fear and anger, suppress the worry in her heart, and said calmly, "Please bring them all here."

"Yes." Su Mala Gu was somewhat worried. The Empress Dowager was used to being tough, and the Emperor, the ruler of a country, was not gentle either. If he were gentle, he could not be the emperor, let alone consolidate his power.

When these two meet and disagree, it would be strange if nothing happened.

Worried, Su Mala Gu hurried to the Qianqing Palace. Kangxi had also finished his court session and instructed Li Dequan to go to the Chengqian Palace to announce the imperial edict.

Emperor Kangxi also stayed in the Qianqing Palace, handling state affairs on one hand, and waiting in the Qianqing Palace on the other, knowing that the Empress Dowager would not pretend to be deaf and dumb.

Well, the grandfather and grandson do know each other quite well.

Su Ma La Gu arrived in a hurry, her expression revealing her feelings. The emperor asked a few casual questions, and since it was rare for the Empress Dowager to invite him, the emperor, Kangxi could not possibly refuse to give her face.

Firstly, there was the bond between grandfather and grandson; secondly, as an emperor and an empress dowager, they were role models for the world, and even out of filial piety, Kangxi could not appear unfilial.

The Qing Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety. If even the emperor could not be filial on the surface, then the so-called rule of the country with filial piety was a huge lie and a ridiculous joke.

They can argue behind closed doors, but once outside, they are all gentle and amicable, like the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Knowing that the Empress Dowager had summoned him, Kangxi didn't bother with anything else. He put down the memorial in his hand, glanced at the servants serving him, and Liang Jiugong quickly withdrew to prepare the imperial carriage for his journey to the inner palace.

Su Ma La Gu breathed a sigh of relief. To be blunt, she had watched the emperor grow up. Now that the emperor was willing to go to Cining Palace, no matter what the reason, he wouldn't be reckless or blinded by lust. He didn't seem to have lost his mind.

Sumalagu was relieved about this.

Sumalagu looked troubled, but also revealed a bit of her own thoughts: "His Majesty knows that the Empress Dowager has a long-standing grudge. When she suddenly heard about this today, she was overcome with emotion and inevitably lost her composure."

Su Ma La Gu was afraid that the grandmother and grandson would start arguing again. Both of them were strong-willed and neither was willing to back down. Before, when they were arguing about the suppression of the Three Feudatories, Su Ma La Gu couldn't persuade them to stop. The emperor was, after all, an emperor, the ruler of this country, and he was not an incompetent tyrant. In the future, he would be ruling this country for a long time.

Ultimately, the emperor prevailed, and even the Empress Dowager had to back down. Where was the situation? And who could she possibly fool?
After finally reaching a consensus, disputes are about to arise again.

Su Ma La Gu could only hint at the situation indirectly, hoping that things wouldn't escalate too much.

"I understand," Kangxi said. He was raised by the Empress Dowager, so what was wrong with her? How serious was it? Kangxi didn't say he knew exactly, but he could sense about 70-80% of it.

Su Ma La Gu breathed a sigh of relief; at least the Emperor was still someone she could communicate with. However, thinking of the Princess's temperament, this hurdle might not be so easy to overcome, and Su Ma La Gu felt a headache coming on.

"The Empress Dowager also instructed me to invite Her Majesty the Empress to come along." Seeing that the Emperor seemed to know what was going on, Su Ma La Gu added a reminder.

The Empress is the true ruler of the inner court; no matter in the palace should bypass her. Otherwise, what face will the Empress have? Even if someone is to be punished, the Emperor and Empress should be punished together.

How can you call him the emperor? His ability to accept this is undeniable; he showed no surprise whatsoever on his face. He remained calm, as if this were no big deal.

"I understand," Kangxi said. It wasn't unreasonable for the Empress Dowager to ask the Empress to go with her, as the Empress was the head of the six palaces.

The imperial procession headed towards Cining Palace in a grand procession, causing a stir among the concubines. Who among them didn't want to be promoted to the rank of imperial concubine or consort, to become a person of high status, and to rise up and become the master of their own destiny?

But when the Emperor was heading to Cining Palace, they didn't even dare to stop him, let alone linger in front of him to try and make an impression!

The Empress Dowager's prestige was so awe-inspiring that they didn't even dare to be presumptuous.

Knowing that the imperial carriage and the imperial entourage were both heading to Cining Palace, they dared not move. Anyone with eyes could see that the Empress Dowager had ordered the Emperor and Empress to go there.

At this critical juncture, if they still dare to act recklessly, then they really don't want to live.

When a palace maid came to report to the Empress in Kunning Palace, the Empress knew immediately what it was about. It wasn't her idea, nor was the title of Consort conferred by the Empress. But when the Empress Dowager was causing trouble, she never bypassed the Empress.

The Empress should thank her, at least she didn't throw her dignity as Empress to the ground and trample on it.

Therefore, upon hearing the Empress Dowager's edict, the Empress not only had to go, but also had to hurry to serve her.

Although the emperor and empress are one, the Empress Dowager and the emperor are related as grandfather and grandson. The emperor dares to argue with the Empress Dowager and can be stubborn, but the empress cannot. Being filial to her elders is also a duty she should fulfill as the mother of the nation.

Even if the Empress Dowager is angry, she, as the Empress, still has to be filial and make the Empress Dowager happy so that she doesn't get sick from anger, otherwise their reputation as Emperor and Empress will be ruined.

Fortunately, the Emperor was with her, which reassured the Empress somewhat.

The Empress had a premonition about this, and now that the Empress Dowager has ordered the servants to summon her, it's just that her premonition has come true.

The Empress's heart tightened, but she maintained a calm expression. She quickly gave a wink to the servant beside her and said to the approaching servant:

"I'll be right there!"