Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Chenghu

Ningshou Palace

The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix chair, eyes slightly closed, resting. Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the palace, breaking the tranquil atmosphere. The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, frowning slightly. She turned to look at the person beside her and asked softly, "Su Ma, there seems to be some noise outside. What happened?"

Su Malagu bowed slightly and said respectfully to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, please be patient. I will go out and see what happened."

Su Malagu walked out of the palace quickly and saw a group of palace maids and eunuchs gathered together.

Su Malagu said sternly, "What are you all doing here? It's so disgraceful!

Only a series of neat and loud voices were heard: "Servants and others greet Aunt Suma!" Everyone knelt on the ground, their movements were quick and uniform, as if they had undergone countless trainings.

Su Malagu glanced at the crowd and said gravely, "If there's nothing to worry about, please disperse. Don't make a noise here and disturb the Empress Dowager." At this moment, a young eunuch stood up, trembling, his face filled with fear. Su Malagu stared at him with a sharp gaze, "But you are the ones who are stirring up trouble?" The young eunuch kowtowed hurriedly, "Auntie, spare us! It's not us servants who are causing trouble. It's... it's the rumor in the palace that the Empress took advantage of the Empress Dowager's mourning period to send His Majesty to Kunning Palace.

When Su Malagu heard this, her expression instantly turned extremely grim. She knew very well that if this was true, it would be an act of great disrespect, which would surely lead to impeachment by the ministers in the court and endless rumors among the people.

She turned and hurried back to the palace to report to the Empress Dowager, "Empress Dowager, there are rumors outside the palace that the Empress has asked the Emperor to come to Kunning Palace during the period of mourning for the Grand Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager's lazy expression immediately disappeared. "Su Ma, go to Kunning Palace in person and ask the Empress to come see me."

After receiving the order, Su Malagu immediately went to Kunning Palace. Soon, Qingyao followed Su Malagu to the palace where the Empress Dowager was.

After entering the palace, Qingyao bowed and paid her respects, her expression as calm as water. "Your concubine pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Does the Queen know what is happening today?"

Qingyao replied calmly, "I heard it was because the Emperor had come to Kunning Palace. However, the Empress Dowager had passed away, and His Majesty was in a bad mood, so he came to my Kunning Palace. I couldn't refuse His Majesty the entrance, so I invited him into the bedroom. He had his meal and then went to bed, and I didn't sleep with him."

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager still had doubts in her eyes. "Is that true? Rumors are spreading in the palace. As the head of the harem, you should set an example and not give them any reason to talk."

Qingyao smiled faintly, "I understand. Someone must have maliciously spread rumors in an attempt to disrupt the peace of the harem. I beg Your Majesty to investigate."

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and said slowly, "In that case, you may return. I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If there are truly those with ulterior motives, they will not be forgiven."

Qingyao nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes gleaming with gratitude. She said softly, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for trusting me."

After Qingyao left, the Empress Dowager's eyes grew cold, and she said to Su Malagu beside her: "Although the Queen is right in this matter, this rumor is strange, and there must be someone behind it. You send someone to investigate secretly, and I want to know who is stirring up trouble." Su Malagu agreed and left.

After Qingyao returned to Kunning Palace, the calmness on her face disappeared completely. She called her personal maid Chunyu and said, "What happened today must have been done by Concubine Hui. She has always coveted the position of empress, and I'm afraid she can't hold back any longer."

Chunyu said worriedly, "Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Qingyao sneered, "We should remain calm and wait for the opportunity to strike. Now that she has made her move, she will definitely make another one. We just need to protect ourselves and find something to hold her back."

Meanwhile, Concubine Hui was waiting in her palace for news of the Empress's misfortune, unaware that the Empress Dowager had already begun investigating. Just then, her trusted eunuch quietly entered and whispered something in her ear. Concubine Hui's face changed. "What's going on? I thought everything was perfect, but this old woman has even suspected me. It seems I need to make some more plans."

Concubine Hui gritted her teeth and called her trusted palace maid Cui Yu, "Go and find some people to spread the rumor that the Queen is mistreating the concubines of lower rank. This time, you must do it secretly." Cui Yu took the order and left.

Qingyao, on the other hand, was also busy. Knowing that Concubine Hui would not give up, she instructed Chunyu to arrange for several clever young palace maids to keep a close eye on Concubine Hui's movements. Within a few days, new rumors began to surface. But Qingyao was prepared. She brought evidence and requested an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Qingyao presented the evidence that Concubine Hui bribed the palace maids and eunuchs to fabricate rumors. The Empress Dowager was furious, "This Concubine Hui is so audacious." She immediately decided to punish Concubine Hui with house arrest for three months and to copy scriptures a hundred times to reflect on her mistakes.

Upon learning this, Concubine Hui collapsed to the ground, having never imagined the Empress would find evidence to retaliate so quickly. Qingyao, however, consolidated her position after this incident, and everyone in the harem learned that the Empress was a skilled and cunning figure who should not be easily provoked. For a period of time afterwards, the harem remained much calmer, and Qingyao remained firmly seated as Empress, carefully managing harem affairs.

East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace

Kangxi said: "Chenghu, from tomorrow on, all the affairs of the court will be handed over to you. I am not feeling well because of the death of your mother Wuku. I plan to go to Changchun Garden to recuperate. After the mourning period is over, you can officially ascend the throne.

Cheng Hu: "Father, I have done a good job as the Crown Prince. I still have a lot to learn."

Kangxi: "Stop talking nonsense and do whatever I tell you to do." He picked up the pen and wrote the imperial edict himself, stamped it with the jade seal and threw it to his son.

Chenghu held the imperial edict in his hands and sighed helplessly, knowing that the emperor had made up his mind. He turned and left the Qianqing Palace, thinking about how to deal with the upcoming heavy burden of government affairs.

Qingyao shouted to the palace maids including Chunyu who were standing respectfully beside her: "Chunyu, you guys hurry up! Pack up all the items in my room carefully, don't leave anything out. Then send them all to Changchun Garden! Remember, handle them with care and don't let any damage happen. Go and prepare!" After that, Qingyao waved her hand gently, signaling them to act quickly.