The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

As soon as she sat down on the couch, the nanny quickly came forward and gently massaged her legs and feet.

If they don't even have this much sense, then they don't need to work in the palace; they can just go home and eat their own food.

At least it won't implicate relatives.

Especially in front of the emperor, one must perform well.

The massage techniques of these lackeys are meticulously crafted; this is the kind of work they do to serve others.

Qinrou gradually got used to it, and Kangxi took it for granted. The servants who massaged and served him were, in the end, nothing more than living, breathing tools.

I won't care too much.

"Are you tired? Why don't you rest for a while?" Kangxi said with concern.

Qinrou was favored by the emperor, and she received a lot of attention. Kangxi knew everything he needed to know.

Like Qinrou, who moves around a lot, it's good for pregnant women to move around more to make childbirth easier. But none of them have been as intense as today; she's barely rested.

Today, after leaving the Empress's palace, Kangxi listened to Li Dequan's report and kept walking around without resting much.

Once she sat down, Qinrou didn't feel anything amiss. To put it bluntly, Qinrou might be a bit spoiled, but she would never choose to be weak.

Her body was the only thing she truly possessed; being alive, why wouldn't she want to live a healthier life?

To maintain good health and have enough to eat and wear, regular exercise is essential.

Qinrou naturally cared about her health, so before getting pregnant, she wasn't very proactive and was even a bit lazy.

However, after becoming pregnant, for some reason, perhaps due to her survival instinct, she started to want to move around every day.

Upon hearing Kangxi's question, Qinrou seriously considered it for a moment. After thinking for a while, her fox-like eyes sparkled as she looked at Kangxi, her eyes shining, and she said confidently:

"I'm so happy and excited that I can't sit still. I always want to move around and find something to do."

I can't concentrate on reading; I'm too excited and just want to put the book aside. As for flower arranging, I lack rationality and end up with a mess that's both an eyesore and a disgrace to my reputation.

Moreover, to be honest, the most primal and instinctive human impulse to vent emotions lies in exercise.

Whether you're happy, resentful, or angry, running a few laps until your body is exhausted will cause all your extreme emotions to dissipate, even if your brain is still telling you to exercise.

Kangxi couldn't help but laugh. No wonder she seemed so composed.

It turns out that others just didn't notice.

"I thought you were very composed!" Kangxi teased her! Even when he was informed, it didn't cause chaos in Chengqian Palace.

Qin Rou thought for a moment, then smiled, "I consider myself a very steady person, okay!"

She won't admit it!

With her cool and aloof temperament, coupled with her tolerant nature, she may not be able to remain unfazed even when faced with overwhelming pressure, but most of the time she can sit calmly and composed!

Kangxi smiled without saying a word, but it conveyed his disapproval. She wasn't just composed; she was ruthless enough. "You treat me badly! Then I don't need to care about you!"
Her composure stems from a lack of concern for everything; over time, this has become a natural trait. You might think she's difficult to get along with, but after a brief interaction, you'll find her very approachable.

But actually, she's still difficult to get along with, but because she doesn't care about many things, she's too lazy to make things difficult for others.

In other words, it's too forceful; it may appear aloof, but it's actually quite aggressive.

No one else can match her fiery temper!

"It looks plausible, it has that kind of look." Kangxi nodded approvingly. This was a secret, and Kangxi wouldn't mention it. Mentioning it wouldn't make a difference; it would be strange if she changed anything.

Kangxi couldn't help but look up, and it was clear that he didn't quite agree!

Qinrou disagreed, but she didn't bother to investigate further—why bother? Kangxi couldn't persuade her, and since ancient times, it's normal for emperors to be resolute and unaffected by others.

Qinrou didn't think she could influence him! That was too difficult! Kangxi wasn't someone who could be easily influenced, so she chose to give up.

In the end, it's all the same result anyway. So why not just skip the process?

"It's good enough as it is," Qinrou said with satisfaction. She wasn't seventy or eighty years old and didn't need to be as steady as a rock, so she quickly shook her head.

The thought of her being seventy or eighty years old is terrifying! She's only in her teens, not even twenty! Even teleportation wouldn't be that fast, and she's still waiting to experience the next fifty or sixty years.

"I can accept getting younger; but I can't accept getting older!" Qinrou said. She easily reassured herself.

The two didn't continue the conversation on this topic. Kangxi glanced at her room and casually remarked:
"What do you need? What's missing? Instruct the Imperial Household Department to take care of it. You are the first concubine in the palace. The Imperial Household Department dares not neglect you."

Qin Rou blinked, her fox-like eyes suddenly shifting from clear to knowing. There's so much intricate knowledge and wisdom to be gained in the palace.
Emperor Kangxi implemented a major reform of the imperial harem.

With the new rules and regulations for palace etiquette established, the servants of the Imperial Household Department are probably still diligently studying how to serve their concubine mistresses.

Each rank of imperial concubine, from the lowest to the highest, had their own allowance. However, the very fact that these rules were newly established suggests that there might be some ambiguity in them.

For example, the salary is fixed, but for things like vases, screens, and ornaments, the price depends on the craftsmanship and can be varied.

The Imperial Household Department is still figuring out how to treat and serve them. Of course, when a new concubine is appointed in the future, she will naturally follow the precedent set by Qin Rou.

Of course, this also means there's a lot that can be done here. If you want good decorative items, go to the Imperial Household Department.

The servants of the Imperial Household Department are all decent people, with so many different hearts, and they may not all be serving the same master. Moreover, being perfunctory and lazy is instinctive. In the harem, in reality, anything involving people is bound to be subject to open and covert struggles.

One monk carried water to drink, two monks carried water to drink, and three monks had no water to drink.

The simplest truth.

Don't expect the Imperial Household Department to handle things perfectly for you.

They have many masters, many vested interests, and their hearts are not united. There will always be those who block their way and hinder their work.

"I can't mistreat myself." Having figured it out, Qinrou understood in an instant and replied.

When the master is weak, the servant will bully him. One cannot be too lenient in life.

Take the Eight Banners system of the Qing Dynasty as an example. The emperor was the master of the world, and all the other subjects, princes, nobles, and relatives of the imperial family were the emperor's servants.

But Dorgon served as regent before, and Oboi later challenged the emperor's power. Even now, trouble still arises from time to time in the court.

Reversing the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is the norm.

It's a very interesting thing, and it's something you can't avoid no matter what.

"Hmm." Kangxi didn't say anything more. He was also very worried and always afraid that she would suffer. The servants had their faults, and it was not that they couldn't be replaced, but that was their nature, and it would be in vain to replace them.

Too much turmoil in the palace is not a good thing. In the end, I didn't want her to be mistreated.

She asked for it herself; whether or not it was given to her, wouldn't the Imperial Household Department give a response? (End of Chapter)