The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 487 Receiving Instruction?

The Emperor and Empress, in their imperial carriages, hurriedly headed towards the Cining Palace.

In the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager personally dispatched Sumalagu to urgently invite the Emperor and Empress. She neither drank tea nor ate snacks, and sat upright on the Luohan couch with a solemn expression. Everyone and everything in the Cining Palace was silent as if trembling with fear.

Even the cicadas and birds seemed to have gained sentience, not daring to utter a single sound. The absolute silence was thick with the impending storm, all of which proved that the Empress Dowager was deeply angry and displeased.

The Emperor and Empress arrived at Cining Palace in such solemnity. The Emperor and Empress were in good spirits and were able to calmly bow and greet the Grand Empress Dowager, saying, "Grandson/Granddaughter-in-law greets Grandmother, and wishes Grandmother a long and healthy life!"

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, as if nothing had happened, and as if she hadn't heard the Emperor and Empress, the most honored couple in the world, bowing and greeting each other in front of her.

Ignore it!

The room was filled with solemnity.

The lackeys dared not raise their heads, their backs bent as if they wanted to bend to the ground, so as to show that they themselves had never been transparent and had never existed.

The power struggle between the three most noble grandparents in the world, or the Empress Dowager's unilateral harassment in her anger, is none of their business.
The Empress Dowager was deliberately making things difficult for the Emperor and Empress.

Emperor Kangxi knelt for a while, showing due respect to the Empress Dowager.

While twirling the eighteen beads in his hand, the emperor secretly calculated the time. After a while, seeing that his grandmother was still not calm, he did not make things difficult for himself.

Kangxi reached out and casually helped the Empress's wrist up, and they stood up together. Kangxi had given her face, but as for expecting the Emperor to obediently listen to his instructions, the Emperor was not so compliant.

He didn't forget to lend a hand and help his principal wife, the Empress; that shows that Emperor Kangxi had a conscience.

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, a fierce glint flashing in them. Her expression wasn't exactly sharp, but everyone could see that she was angry and furious.

The Empress Dowager spoke with a sharp tone, her piercing gaze fixed on Kangxi's majestic face, and asked him, "Does the Emperor still remember what it means to be an emperor?"

Emperors are ruthless. Even if they are, their affections cannot reside in the harem. Whether it's the empress or the concubines, they are all harem members, and can only be harem members. There may be favoritism, but there will never be special favoritism.

The concubines in the imperial harem, regardless of who they are or what position they hold, each have their own place. There is no reason for them to act out of personal feelings.

Favoritism is fine, but if there is favoritism, the harem will be in turmoil! The same applies to the imperial court!

"Your grandson has never forgotten," Kangxi replied calmly and without changing his expression.

The Empress was a mere figurehead; in this situation, it wasn't time for her to intervene. What did the Grand Empress Dowager want to ask? The Empress knew perfectly well.

But the Empress knew even better that what the Empress Dowager wanted was not an answer from her, the Empress. She had come to admonish and warn her! To admonish and warn her, the mother of the nation, for failing to fulfill her duties as Empress and principal wife.

But if the Emperor is determined, how could the Empress not be determined to stop him?

Would the Empress really want another Consort Rou in the harem? Wouldn't she rather Consort Rou be a lowly and humble concubine? Wouldn't that be more beneficial for her?
"You haven't forgotten?" The Empress Dowager spoke sharply, "Emperor, tell me what you are doing?" Suddenly bestowing the title of Consort upon only one person, suddenly wanting to emulate his Khan and Khanfa? For a vixen, he even disregards the Qing Dynasty.

The Empress Dowager was already panicking!
"To confer the rank of Consort and establish her title." Kangxi was fully aware of what he was doing, considering what he should and should not consider. Kangxi could say that he had considered everything before issuing this imperial edict of conferment.

"A bunch of old foxes who won't act until they see the rabbit, have seen the profit and smelled the meat. They'll be like hyenas, fighting over the food and carving out their territory," Kangxi replied calmly.

Even if there are insufficient troops, as long as the benefits are great enough, people are willing to risk their lives to win fame, fortune, power, and high positions.

At this point, Kangxi smiled knowingly. He was happy to watch the show, to see who wouldn't fall into this blatant conspiracy, and who could remain unmoved by such incredible benefits.

Kangxi would only submit to him! Then, if this piece cannot be used by me, I either move it to a place where it won't get in the way, or kill it, because killing it will make it even less of an eyesore.

The Empress Dowager was skeptical, staring intently at the Emperor as he spoke, wishing she could dissect his heart and see through the truth and lies in every word.

"Do you know that once the imperial edict is issued, the entire court and the harem will be thrown into turmoil?" The emperor was impatient. The Empress Dowager had served three emperors and was already an elderly woman. The older an elderly woman gets, the more she seeks stability.

It had become commonplace for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to disagree, even to the point of diametrically opposed, opinions. The Empress Dowager could not help but worry, worrying about her imperial grandson and the fate of the Qing Dynasty.

The Empress Dowager never intended to destroy this emperor, never intended to destroy this grandson, and certainly never dared to imagine destroying the Qing Dynasty.

"If there is no turmoil, wouldn't all my efforts have been in vain?" Kangxi still had the leisure to laugh. Anyone looking at this emperor, this man, would not know or imagine that he had just beheaded another batch of people this morning, and the smell of blood on his body had not yet dissipated!
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes again. The Emperor's actions were too risky. In her eyes, it was no different from dancing with swords. No matter how strong, powerful, or resilient the Empress Dowager was, she was still afraid.

The emperor's actions still worried her.

"What good is a turbulent court and a turbulent harem to you, Your Majesty?" The Empress Dowager was still trying to dissuade the Emperor.

From the beginning of the year when the emperor decided to abolish the feudal lords, the Empress Dowager disagreed. It was not that the three feudal lords could not be abolished, but that it was too risky to do so at this time. The Empress Dowager was prudent and naturally believed that the emperor should be more prudent and prioritize the country and its people.

Rather than risking one's life by dancing on a knife's edge, leading the nation and its people into peril, this is not the behavior of a capable ruler. The emperor persisted, and ultimately, his wish was fulfilled!
"Only when fish see the bait will they take the bait and want to eat it." What Kangxi wanted was for those who should be moved to move, and for those who were incompetent to be eliminated. Those who could make their way on the imperial chessboard were all capable ministers and good ministers.

As for having one's own agenda, it's perfectly normal. Who can be completely selfless? As the saying goes, who is truly selfless? Even emperors have their own selfish desires: to achieve great deeds, to bestow titles and privileges upon their wives and children, and to enjoy wealth and honor. Emperor Kangxi also gave opportunities; it all depended on who was capable enough to stand out and seize the opportunities offered by the emperor.

Looking at the sharp and impetuous emperor, the Empress Dowager felt her heart could not bear it. She was worried about her radical grandson, about his radical methods, and even more worried about the Qing Dynasty.

She was afraid. She was afraid that she had chosen the wrong person, the wrong emperor, and that she would ultimately destroy the hard-won and beautiful land of the Qing Dynasty.

The Empress Dowager felt her heart pounding so hard it frightened her. She clutched her heart and looked at the Emperor: "Emperor, I raised you, nurtured you, but I never taught you to be so impetuous. I taught you composure and ruthlessness, but I never taught you to joke with the fate of the nation!"

In the heart of the Empress Dowager, the most important thing was still the country and its people.

Even the emperor may not be as important as the country and its people!

"Grandma Empress Dowager also said that I am the Emperor!" Kangxi let the Empress Dowager speak, but his expression remained unchanged as he replied.