Chapter 025

Chapter 025

The eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace probably didn’t expect that there would be concubines displeased to be summoned by the Emperor to accompany him for a meal.

After all, in the eyes of these servants, not just anyone could accompany the Emperor for a meal.

Su Yi, who had already started her lunch and planned to take a nap afterward, was not pleased upon receiving Kangxi’s summons and was even quite annoyed.

Can’t this man even eat a meal properly?

Su Yi put down her chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, wiped her lips, and then smiled, saying, “Alright, Eunuch, please wait a moment.”

The eunuch of the Qianqing Palace nodded understandingly; he knew that concubines needed to dress up to present themselves in their best state before the Emperor.

But in reality, Su Yi lay down in the inner room; she wanted to lie down to help with digestion.

After eating, during the peak digestion period, blood concentrates in the stomach and intestines. Moving around right after eating can hinder digestion and lead to fat buildup. Lying down right after eating is the best way to take care of oneself.

In short, she didn’t want to rush to the Qianqing Palace right after eating.

The eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, who was initially waiting calmly, later found his smile stiffening. Does it really take this long to get ready?

Then he saw Consort Rong come out.

Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace: ???

What’s the difference from before she went in?

Oh, she added a silk flower.

Su Yi touched the silk flower on her head, “Sorry to keep you waiting, it really took some time.”

Yun Hua, watching her mistress lie without changing her expression, was almost sweating.

Her mistress only remembered to put on the silk flower as she was leaving, quickly picking it up from the jewelry box.

Not only Yun Hua, but even the eunuch of the Qianqing Palace found it a bit hard to believe. At least changing clothes would have shown some effort.

He could only feign ignorance and offer a dry laugh, inviting Consort Rong to the sedan chair.

Liang Jiugong, calculating the time, wondered if it really took this long to get from Yonghe Palace to Qianqing Palace by sedan chair.

Why hasn’t Consort Rong arrived yet? He quickly sent a young eunuch to check if Consort Rong was delayed on the way.

Seeing Kangxi’s displeased expression, Liang Jiugong cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, would you like to start the meal first?”

Then he heard that Consort Rong had arrived, and he breathed a sigh of relief; this lady had finally come.

She really knows how to take her time. Ordinary concubines, upon hearing the Emperor’s summons to accompany a meal, would rush over as quickly as possible.

The little milk dragon sat quietly on the side, not making a fuss.

Actually, it was mainly because he saw that his imperial father’s face seemed a bit sour, and he didn’t dare to provoke him.

Su Yi, under the subtle and complex hidden gazes of the maids, walked gracefully, smiling, without any sense of being late.

Upon seeing Kangxi, she smoothly performed the ritual greeting, her gaze pausing on the soft and tender little prince beside him, her smile widening, “Your servant greets the Emperor, wishing the Emperor boundless happiness, and greets the Crown Prince, wishing the Crown Prince good fortune.”

With previous examples in mind, Kangxi knew that if you punished Consort Rong for her greeting, she would definitely not obediently comply and would instead pretend to faint from exhaustion.

He could only let her rise with a neutral tone. The little milk dragon gazed at Consort Rong for a moment before saying, "Consort Rong, are you well?"

"Serve the meal," Kangxi said, looking at Liang Jiugong.

Liang Jiugong quickly urged the palace maids to serve the meal.

"Consort Rong, you must have hurried here from Yonghe Palace and haven't had time to eat yet. Sit down and join me for the meal."

Kangxi slightly emphasized the word 'hurried.'

Su Yi walked over and sat on the prepared stool, with only Kangxi separating her from the little milk dragon, making her seem somewhat out of place.

When she heard Kangxi's question, she smiled candidly, "When Your Majesty summoned me, I had already eaten a bit. I was in a hurry to get ready, so Your Majesty must have waited for a while."

'Isn't eating alone better?'

'If I had come any later, I would have already finished my lunch and taken a nap.'

"It wasn't too long, only half an hour," he said insincerely.

Kangxi said it, but he added 'only half an hour,' still implying that she was late.

'So half an hour is still not enough.'

Kangxi was momentarily stunned, looking at Consort Rong's flower-like smile, feeling quite conflicted. This Consort Rong was truly bold, making the emperor wait.

The palace maids began serving the dishes one by one. Su Yi looked at the array of dishes, and her smile gradually became uncontrollable.

'Miscalculated.'

'I should have thrown up what I ate before coming here!'

Su Yi only thought about making the dog man wait for disturbing her meal, forgetting that the dog man's meals were even better than hers.

Why did she come here so full???

Su Yi tried her best to maintain her smile, but inside she was screaming in frustration.

Kangxi, who was initially displeased, wondering if he had been too lenient with Consort Rong.

But now, he was amused by her forced smile.

He even kindly urged her to eat more.

Su Yi: Thanks a lot.

The little milk dragon sat beside Kangxi. Being young, he wasn't very good at hiding his feelings. He kept glancing at Consort Rong across the table, thinking he was being subtle, but it was obvious to everyone else.

He felt that Consort Rong seemed strangely familiar, her aura, but his little brain couldn't quite figure it out yet.

He was so obvious that Su Yi couldn't pretend not to notice.

She gave him a gentle smile in return, showing friendliness, but didn't initiate a conversation.

'Ah, he's gotten even cuter.'

The little milk dragon saw Consort Rong's gentle smile and immediately blushed, feeling a bit flustered. He wanted to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help but show a silly, toothy grin.

Su Yi's smile towards the little milk dragon seemed much more genuine than the one she gave Kangxi. Her smile was like the warm spring sun, full of warmth, and for a moment, Kangxi was slightly dazed.

Consort Rong had never smiled at him this way before.

He knew Consort Rong was beautiful and had seen her smile before, but Kangxi had never been so captivated by it.

Kangxi watched their every move but kept his thoughts to himself.

Even though Su Yi had already eaten, the sight of the table full of dishes made her feel like she could dig in again.

She could have a little bit of everything.

But she didn’t let the maids serve her—she helped herself instead.

This was against protocol, but since Kangxi didn’t object, the maids who were supposed to serve her stepped aside.

Su Yi helped herself, picking whatever caught her eye, and had already taken three bites before Kangxi’s bowl even had a single piece.

"At this rate, the food would be cold before she even got a few bites in winter."

Then, right in front of Kangxi, she dug in, skipping what she didn’t like and going back for seconds of her favorites. In no time, she’d sampled half the dishes on the table.

The little milk dragon, being spoon-fed by his wet nurse, was getting antsy. He wanted to eat like that too—he wasn’t a fan of what his wet nurse was giving him.

Wait, could he just not eat it?

Kangxi raised an eyebrow and shot a look at Baocheng, and the little milk dragon, who’d been itching to try, quickly thought better of it.