Chapter 029

Chapter 029

In fact, anyone with a keen eye knew that Yipin was simply venting her frustration by taking it out on her maid. Her words were clearly directed at Liang Jiugong.

Liang Jiugong, who hadn't gone far, heard Yipin's unsubtle remark. The smile on his face faded slightly, his smile becoming strained.

"Get up and help me walk! You're making a fool of yourself here!"

Yipin scolded, then quickly took her maid's arm and walked away in haste. In her hurry, she didn't notice a stone on the ground. Her platform shoes stepped on it, causing her to lose balance and fall onto her maid.

The maid, being of small stature, couldn't support Yipin's full weight, and both of them tumbled to the ground. The lily and lotus seed soup in the food box spilled all over Yipin, leaving her in a messy and embarrassing state. The scene turned chaotic as passing maids and eunuchs rushed to help.

Originally, as a concubine, Yipin would have been accompanied by a retinue of maids and eunuchs. However, since she was visiting the Qianqing Palace, she had only brought one maid for convenience. Who would have thought things would turn into such a mess?

Now Yipin had suffered a major loss of face—not only had the Emperor refused to see her, but she had also made a spectacle of herself.

After returning, Yipin was so furious that she fell ill and sent for the royal physician. She then claimed to be unwell and refused to see anyone.

Those with quick access to information heard about Yipin's humiliation. Some reveled in her misfortune, while others were envious of Consort Rong's current favor with the Emperor. The Emperor hadn't even granted Yipin an audience, whereas Yipin had previously boasted about her favor, almost as if she could rise above the other concubines in the palace.

Now that Yipin had been brought down, it was Consort Rong, who was even more beautiful and came from a family of equal standing, who had risen. Whether this was a good or bad thing, some were delighted while others were concerned.

Yikun Palace

When the Imperial Noble Consort received the news, she simply smiled, her tone tinged with amusement. "My dear sister has only been in the palace for a few days, yet she's already become the thorn in the side of the other concubines."

The new maid by her side listened quietly without saying a word.

She was a newly promoted maid serving the Imperial Noble Consort, named Yuzhi.

Previously, Yujing, who had served the Imperial Noble Consort, was caught red-handed for stealing. Evidence was found in her room, and she should have been beaten to death.

However, the Imperial Noble Consort, out of consideration for their past relationship, only sent her to the Punishment Bureau, sparing her life.

But Yujing was bullied severely in the Punishment Bureau, and it wasn't long before she passed away. Her death caused little commotion but sent chills down people's spines.

Yujing, as the Imperial Noble Consort's chief maid, had ruined her future over a few pieces of jewelry. It was truly baffling—what a shortsighted decision.

Had she stayed by the Imperial Noble Consort's side, whether she remained in the palace or left at 25 to marry, she would have enjoyed great prestige and respect.

Although the evidence was clear, whether Yujing had actually stolen her mistress's belongings was irrelevant. What mattered was that her mistress accused her of stealing, so she was guilty.

The newly promoted Yuzhi was even more cautious and reserved, never asking inappropriate questions.

Her careful and obedient demeanor pleased the Imperial Noble Consort, who praised her. But Yuzhi didn't dare relax in the slightest.

She didn't want to end up like Yujing.

The Imperial Noble Consort noticed Yuzhi's caution but didn't think much of it. A maid's life was entirely in her hands, just like Yujing's had been.

Jingren Palace

When Consort Tongjia received the news, she felt a wave of relief. She was glad she had listened to her nanny and hadn't gone to the Qianqing Palace to see her cousin.

If her cousin had been too busy with state affairs to see her, she would have lost face in comparison to Consort Rong. The entire palace would have laughed at her, a noble consort, being overshadowed by Consort Rong.

By now, the entire palace must have heard about Yipin's disgrace at the Qianqing Palace.

"Hmph, Lady Guoluoluo has always been so concerned with her reputation. This is truly her own doing," Consort Tongjia said, unable to hide a satisfied smile.

Although she disliked the Niohuru clan, Lady Guoluoluo was just as detestable.

Previously, Yipin had claimed to be the most straightforward and unaffected among the concubines, portraying others as superficially gentle but inwardly vicious, while she alone was genuinely forthright and incapable of such duplicity.

This really disgusted Consort Tongjia.

She acted all straightforward in front of the Emperor, but behind his back, she was nothing but arrogant and domineering.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. As soon as Yipin returned, she immediately summoned the imperial physician, claiming to be ill and refusing visitors. But it was just a sprained ankle—how could she not see anyone?"

Nanny Wang's aged face creased into a smile.

Her illness was a pretense; the real reason was to avoid letting others come and laugh at her.

But while it was funny to laugh at Yipin, "Although Yipin has made a fool of herself, if she uses her illness to summon the Emperor, and the Emperor, out of concern for her condition, goes to comfort her, then this matter will be..."

Nanny Wang left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear: if the Emperor visited Yipin tonight, this incident would be over.

Consort Tongjia thought it over and decided she wasn't going to let Lady Guoluoluo get too big for her britches too fast. In the past, she had exaggerated her favor, turning three parts into seven. "Send for the imperial physician for Lady Wuyala."

She wanted to add trouble for Lady Guoluoluo.

Over at Rongpin's place, upon hearing the news, she didn't join the other concubines in laughing at Yipin.

She just said, "Yipin was quick on the draw, using the sprained ankle to play the victim and get the Emperor's sympathy, hoping he'd come see her."

Word of what happened outside the Qianqing Palace would get to the Emperor in no time, and chances were he'd go see Yipin.

Indeed, Liang Jiugong reported to the Emperor that Yipin had been emotionally agitated upon leaving, causing her to trip and sprain her ankle. After returning, she had summoned the imperial physician to treat her injury.

Kangxi coolly acknowledged the report, neither expressing an opinion nor indicating whether he would visit Yipin, simply saying, "I see."

By evening, Kangxi decided to visit Yipin's palace.

Yipin, who'd been keeping a close eye on the Emperor's every move, got word from a eunuch that he was on his way. She immediately had her maids help her to the dressing table to freshen up.

Just as the maids were about to reapply her makeup and redo her hair, Yipin looked at herself in the bronze mirror and instructed them to make her makeup lighter, her complexion paler, and to tone down her bright red lip color.

The end result was a rare, toned-down look that gave Yipin a fragile vibe she didn't usually have.

Especially the pale lips and the seemingly bloodless face softened Yipin's usual vibrant and bold appearance, adding a touch of delicacy.

Yipin was pleased with the result. This was how someone who was ill should look. She had not imitated Consort Rong's sickly demeanor, but her naturally rosy complexion and lips needed some adjustment to appear convincingly ill.

"The Emperor has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Yipin quickly had her maids help her up, limping slightly as she went to greet him in the outer chamber.

The two maids held her steadily, not daring to let go. The maid who had accompanied her to the Qianqing Palace had returned and was now being punished by kneeling.

They thought that with the Emperor's arrival, their mistress would be pleased.

When Yipin saw Kangxi, she couldn't help but smile. "Your servant greets the Emperor, wishing the Emperor good fortune—" As she bowed, she accidentally stumbled into Kangxi's arms.

Secretly pleased, knowing that her act of vulnerability had moved the Emperor to visit her, she feigned embarrassment, saying, "Your servant has been disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Kangxi, fully aware of her thoughts, felt a wave of annoyance but did not show it. He steadied Yipin and said, "Since your ankle is sprained, there's no need for formalities."

As he noticed her unusually subdued makeup, another figure flashed through his mind.

Soon, Kangxi glanced nonchalantly at the maids kneeling behind Yipin and instructed, "Why aren't you helping your lady sit down properly?"

Liang Jiugong followed closely behind Kangxi, attending to him as usual. He performed the customary bow to Yipin, then acted as if he were invisible, thinking that Yipin wouldn't pick this moment to start trouble with him.

After Yipin and Kangxi sat down, Yipin first flirtatiously complained to Kangxi about the pain from her sprained foot, hoping to evoke his sympathy.

"Your Majesty, I was feeling a bit upset earlier, but seeing you come to visit me makes me feel much better," Yipin began, her eyes subtly glancing over Liang Jiugong behind Kangxi.

Upon hearing Yipin's words, Liang Jiugong's heart skipped a beat, realizing she wouldn't miss the chance to cause him trouble. But was she really in such a hurry to find fault with him?

"Oh, why were you feeling upset?" Kangxi responded, his expression calm but with a hint of concern in his eyes, which gave Yipin great courage.

"This afternoon, when I went to visit Your Majesty, I waited outside and saw Consort Rong come out and exchange a few words. Then, shortly after, Liang Jiugong came out and said that Your Majesty did not wish to see me."

As she spoke, Yipin's eyes reddened. She was usually the type to dominate the conversation, rarely showing such vulnerability. Now, with her pale face and faintly colored lips, she looked quite fragile.

She then nestled into Kangxi's embrace, "I thought it was true and felt very wronged. Now that Your Majesty has come to see me, it shows that you still care for me."

Yipin spoke pitifully, but Liang Jiugong thought to himself that she was quite adept at this, indirectly suggesting that he might have received favors from Consort Rong to falsely claim that the Emperor did not wish to see her.

She was dragging him into trouble while also implicating Consort Rong.

Liang Jiugong quickly knelt down before Kangxi, his face filled with fear, "Your servant is terrified; I would never dare to misrepresent Your Majesty's intentions."

Yipin, nestled in Kangxi's arms, glanced with a hint of satisfaction at Liang Jiugong, who was kneeling and kowtowing on the ground, thinking to herself, 'You dog servant, you gave me quite a face this afternoon, thinking I have no temper, huh?'

"Your Majesty, I did not say that Liang Jiugong falsely conveyed your intentions, why is he kneeling now?" Yipin said hypocritically, unaware of the cooling temperature in Kangxi's eyes, which were like a frozen surface, as he remained silent. Yipin initially felt triumphant but grew uneasy as she did not hear any response from the Emperor.

At that moment, a maid from Jingren Palace urgently requested an audience outside the hall, her anxious voice calling out, seeking the Emperor's attention.

Yipin's maids tried to block her entry, but they couldn't muffle her loud calls from reaching inside.

Sure enough, shortly after, someone inside called her in to ask what the commotion was about.

Her mistress was the Noble Consort, and serving by her side naturally gave her more confidence than serving a mere consort. She immediately retorted without courtesy, "Step aside quickly; if something happens because of the delay, can you bear the responsibility?"