Life had been really rough for Emperor Kang He lately.
He was basically being roasted alive over the fire by Anning.
He had always thought of himself as a devoted man, deeply in love with Consort Rou, truly unwilling to betray the vows he had made with her.
But he still couldn't avoid going to the other concubines.
Anning kept forcing him step by step; if he didn't go, he couldn't explain himself to the Empress Dowager, nor to the courtiers.
But if he did go, then he was letting Consort Rou down.
Besides, Emperor Kang He really didn't want to be together with those concubines.
If it were just one or two, that would still be manageable—he could find a stand‑in, just like he did with Anning, and muddle through with a substitute.
But we're talking about dozens of women—was he supposed to have the stand‑in sleep with all of them?
And if the stand‑in did sleep with those women, were they allowed to have children or not?
