Chapter 347: Chapter 347
"Really, you want to go?"
In the darkness, a voice tinged with faint laughter came through.
An Ning nodded emphatically, practically carving the words "I want to go" on her face. Yet beside her, Kangxi remained silent for a long while, as if contemplating something.
The smile gradually faded from An Ning's face, and her previously cheerful expression was once again covered with frost:
"Don't tell me you're thinking of having me stay behind to handle official duties while you go out and enjoy yourself with your entourage?"
Seeming particularly astonished, she turned over and stared fixedly at him.
At this moment, An Ning practically wrote "how can someone be this shameless" all over her face.
Understanding her meaning, Kangxi's face darkened momentarily, and his tone unconsciously carried a light reprimand:
"What nonsense are you speaking? This journey to Jiangnan is for official business, concerning the state and society. How can it be viewed as ordinary amusement?"
"I'm also considering your situation. This southern trip will take at least several months, and you've only just begun handling harem affairs..."
Considering her situation? What a joke! "Your Majesty need not worry!"
Several months? That made her want to go even more. Without letting him finish, An Ning immediately interrupted:
"As long as Your Majesty doesn't object, I dare guarantee that however the harem authority is handed over, I can take it back exactly the same way!"
"Rest assured, the palace has its own regulations—they won't be able to make significant changes."
Even if they really tried, she could kick them out later.
Not giving him a chance to object, An Ning directly began discussing: "By the way, who do you think should temporarily hold the harem authority?"
"How about the Imperial Noble Consort? If not, the Noble Consort would work too..."
"You're quite confident!" Kangxi said with ambiguous meaning.
And truly able to let go so easily.
"What's the big deal!" An Ning clicked her tongue lightly, speaking carelessly:
"The very meaning of authority's existence is to make oneself comfortable. If it can't even achieve that, what's the point of having it?"
"Nonsense, naive, heaven knows where you get all these twisted theories..."
Little did she know that without authority, even one's life and property were playthings in others' palms.
Giving her a complex look, Kangxi slowly drew her closer:
"The Imperial Noble Consort should be set aside for now. Due to the princess matter, her health has been poor these days—best not to overburden her..."
"Then the Noble Consort it is..."
If she remembered correctly, it had already been several months since the little princess of Jingren Palace passed away. Shouldn't they give her something to do at this point to prevent excessive brooding?
Tsk, was it truly about avoiding overwork, or fear that the harem authority would be hard to reclaim later? After all, as the Imperial Noble Consort, managing harem affairs was her rightful duty. Stealing a glance at the person beside her:
This man really, An Ning thought, could guard against even his own cousin to this extent—seems the stimulation from last time truly left a deep impression...
As for the Noble Consort, she had always been an intelligent person, most skilled at self-preservation. She would likely hand over the harem authority voluntarily the moment An Ning returned to the palace.
What exquisitely calculated planning!
An Ning couldn't help but click her tongue mentally, though she kept it to herself. What did it have to do with her anyway? As long as she could go out, that was enough.
And Jiangnan—it had been so long since she last visited.
Noticing the irrepressible joy on her face, how she wasn't clamoring to sleep now, and how her eyes shone brighter than usual, Kangxi couldn't help but chuckle:
"Ordinarily, I've never seen you so eager to go out and about. Why are you so enthusiastic this time?" Finally, he added a warning:
"This journey is absolutely not for amusement! We must receive local officials and their families. Someone better not complain about being tired when the time comes!"
"How could it be the same? The palace is such a small place with nowhere to relax one's eyes—what's there to go out for?"
An Ning said indifferently.
The Forbidden City was indeed not small, but the layout of its internal palace paths was truly stifling. Even the Imperial Garden was just a tiny patch of land.
Who knew when the Changchun Garden would be finished.
An Ning said decisively: "Rest assured, as long as I can go out, these are all minor matters!" That's what she said.
After thinking a bit more, An Ning still turned her head and said:
"Well... you know my temperament. I might not be very good at social pleasantries. To avoid affecting your grand plans, why not bring another sister along first?"
After a moment of silence, the person beside her seemed genuinely amused:
"Then tell me, what use would I have for specifically bringing you?"
Despite such words, the Southern Tour was ultimately no small matter, and the emperor's procession was no ordinary event. With all the preparations, it was already several months later when the entourage finally set out.
Before departure, besides handing over some harem affairs, An Ning specifically had Suyun and others from the palace needlework department tailor several sets of various clothing and accessories.
Han Chinese women's attire, handsome scholar robes, wealthy young master outfits, even Taoist priest garments—in short, every variety imaginable. For this, An Ning even specially ordered several folding fans, just waiting for the opportunity to go out and have some fun.
Kangxi, who accidentally learned of this: "..."
While sternly reprimanding her for nonsense and lacking propriety, after a long silence, he ultimately added the usually steady Consort Rong to the travel roster.
Completely disregarding how speechless someone might be, An Ning adhered to the principle that as long as she slacked off sufficiently, someone would always clean up the mess, resting exceptionally easy in her conscience.
What a joke! Spending all day in the palace diligently handling harem affairs was one thing, but finally going out on a trip and expecting her to work for free without having fun?
No promotion or raise, yet expecting dedication.
In any case, accompanied by the gently flowing river water, the moment she boarded the imperial barge, while others were still busy, An Ning was already in a state of carefree leisure.
Choosing a room with an excellent view on purpose, she spent her days watching the apes' cries from both banks, the bright sun over the sea, and breathing the slightly moist air on the deck.
Anyone could tell she was in particularly good spirits these days—even her usually sharp chess style carried some casualness and unpredictability.
However, after losing three consecutive games, Kangxi, who hadn't gotten much rest along the journey, finally let his expression fall completely on the imperial barge. Only after the person left did he turn his gaze to the attendant nearby.
He didn't even have the chessboard before him cleared away:
"Liang Jiugong, tell me—have I been overworking myself lately?"
The Chief Steward Liang pretending to be dead nearby: "???"
Fortunately, Imperial Guard Nalan's arrival finally broke the somewhat stiff atmosphere. Unfortunately, after finishing his report, as another chess enthusiast, Nalan Rongruo's attention was inevitably drawn to the chess game nearby.
Yet once he looked, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Casual and random, yet producing surprising moves frequently, with reaction ability truly exceptional—Your Majesty's side indeed gathers remarkable talents!"
He wondered when such a master had appeared.
The more he looked, the more he admired. Nalan Rongruo was still considering whether he could get acquainted, but when he raised his eyes, he suddenly noticed Steward Liang's eyebrows nearly scrunched together.