Chapter 034

Chapter 034

The maid sent by Yipin from outside had hoped to get the Emperor to leave, but as soon as the message was delivered, everything inside turned chaotic.

Following that, a young eunuch rushed out in a hurry, and she quickly grabbed him to ask what was happening.

The eunuch, also in a rush, blurted out, "The Emperor is feeling unwell," and hurried off to summon the imperial physician.

Upon hearing this, the maid sent by Yipin went pale, realizing that this time, the Emperor couldn't be persuaded to leave. She had to rush back to inform her mistress about the Emperor's discomfort.

Then she also ran off.

The Yonghe Palace was thrown into chaos because Kangxi suddenly vomited, and Su Yi was likely the calmest one there.

It's just vomiting, isn't it?

The scene made it look like he was about to die.

After Kangxi finished vomiting, he overheard Consort Rong's inner thoughts and got instantly angry.

What nonsense was she thinking, saying he was about to die?

The maids' thoughts and spoken words mixed together, making Kangxi's head ache.

Originally feeling a bit unwell, now his head was buzzing nonstop, and he snapped coldly, "Get away! Stop circling around me, I'm not dead yet!"

Terrified, the maids immediately scattered and knelt down together. Su Yi quietly moved aside, only to hear Kangxi say, "I didn't tell you to move, sit still there." His tone was sharp.

Feeling a bit guilty, Su Yi nodded obediently and sat still without moving.

'Damn, if I had known this man was so fragile that he could vomit from overeating, I wouldn't have stuffed him so much.'

Kangxi was rinsing his mouth; after vomiting, he felt a bit better, and his complexion looked a bit improved.

The imperial physician was already on the way.

Kangxi could picture the scene when the imperial physician arrived and found out he vomited from overeating. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Consort Rong, who was sitting quietly and seemingly docile.

Consort Rong looked innocent, smiling but saying nothing.

But Kangxi knew her inner thoughts were definitely not as calm and docile as her appearance.

Indeed!

'What's the use of looking at me? How was I to know you're so useless, a grown man with less appetite than me.'

Kangxi immediately felt his anger rising again. Consort Rong actually had the nerve to call him useless in her heart?!

"Consort Rong."

"Hmm?"

"Weren't you feeling uncomfortable and wanting to vomit just now? How come you're not vomiting anymore?"

Kangxi looked at her sharply.

Now, the one who claimed she wanted to vomit didn't, and the one who ended up vomiting was him.

Su Yi, looking fragile, took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth. The scented handkerchief gave off a pleasant fragrance, making her feel much better.

"I was also startled by His Majesty and couldn't make it in time. I've been holding back, afraid of upsetting His Majesty and making him uncomfortable."

'Isn't it just that I didn't make it in time?'

'Don't mention it, the smell is quite strong.'

Kangxi looked at Consort Rong expressionlessly, his mouth twitching, "That must have been difficult for you."

"It's nothing. His Majesty's health is what matters most. I can endure a little."

Su Yi spoke resignedly, her expression saying, 'Even if I suffer, His Majesty must not.'

Liang Jiugong, standing nearby, couldn't help but admire how well Consort Rong spoke.

Kangxi finally understood the saying that a woman's words could deceive even a ghost, referring to Consort Rong.

Yipin was anxiously waiting for her maid to return with news, especially since her sister was in labor. If His Majesty came, it would be a great honor.

While waiting outside, she kept glancing back.

The Imperial Noble Consort had already arrived to take charge, and other concubines were arriving one by one.

Consort Tongjia was conspicuously absent.

As everyone waited distractedly outside, the maid Yipin had sent to Yonghe Palace hurried back.

Seeing the maid return alone, Yipin's face fell; His Majesty hadn't come.

The maid, breathless from running, hastily curtseyed and said haltingly, "Your Highness, His Majesty... His Majesty is unwell! He can't come, huff—huff—"

This immediately caused a stir among the eavesdropping concubines.

"What?! Has the imperial physician been called?!"

"He's already been summoned; His Majesty is at Yonghe Palace," the maid said.

Yipin was furious at the mention of Yonghe Palace, "It's Consort Rong again! Why does His Majesty always have problems there?"

His Majesty rarely visits the harem and always goes straight to Yonghe Palace. Consort Rong, that sickly woman, doesn't rest even when ill.

The other concubines felt the same. They had just begun to think Consort Rong, being sickly, was no threat, but now they saw that even ill, she couldn't stop His Majesty from visiting.

Could Consort Rong have passed her illness to His Majesty?

Now, the concubines couldn't sit still, all eager to go to Yonghe Palace to see His Majesty, too anxious to wait for Lady Le's delivery.

Someone immediately suggested, "His Majesty is unwell. I am very worried about His Majesty. I think I should go to Yonghe Palace to see His Majesty to feel at ease."

The other concubines thought the same. If someone went and they didn't, and His Majesty only remembered those who visited, wouldn't they be at a disadvantage?

So since someone was going, they couldn't be left behind, and one by one they all spoke up.

Then someone suddenly realized, "Consort Tongjia hasn't arrived yet. Could she have already received the news and gone to see His Majesty?"

It was quite possible. Otherwise, Lady Le had been in labor for a while, and Consort Tongjia hadn't arrived, but the Imperial Noble Consort had come, hadn't she?

The Imperial Noble Consort looked at the noisy concubines below with some annoyance. These women chattering one after another—it was really too noisy.

"Enough," she raised her voice slightly, her tone tinged with displeasure, her expression stern as she looked at the concubines present, looking quite commanding.

Under the commanding presence of the Imperial Noble Consort, the concubines quieted down and turned their attention to her.

The Imperial Noble Consort looked around at the group, "If you are truly concerned about His Majesty, then go. There's no need to cause a commotion here."

Seeing the eagerness to leave on everyone's faces, she felt a bit of scorn. How foolish. If Kangxi were truly unwell, wouldn't such a crowd only annoy him?

Kangxi is known for his longevity; this is just a minor ailment.

Keeping her composure as the senior consort, she calmly said, "If Consort Tongjia has already rushed over, then I shall trouble her to check on His Majesty for me."

Then she turned to Yipin, who looked unsure, "Consort Le cannot be left alone here. I will stay and watch over her. Yipin, as Consort Le's elder sister, will you stay or go to see His Majesty?"

With these words, Yipin had no choice but to stay. Her sister was giving birth; while other concubines could rush to see His Majesty, she could not abandon her sister to do the same.

Otherwise, what would people think of her?

This Imperial Noble Consort is quite something!

Clenching her teeth, she said, "This concubine will also stay."

Then she watched as the group of concubines rushed off towards Yonghe Palace.

The palace, which had been crowded with people, suddenly seemed much emptier.

Yipin glanced at the composed Imperial Noble Consort, thought to herself, after all, she has become the Imperial Noble Consort. Having reached such a position, naturally, she doesn't need to be as anxious as us minor concubines.

One sister is the Imperial Noble Consort, and the other is a consort. Could it be that the harem is turning into the territory of the Niohuru clan?

And His Majesty is okay with this?

Yipin's feelings were complex. Initially completely focused on whether her sister would have a smooth delivery, she now found her attention divided.

At Yonghe Palace

The imperial physician arrived quickly, an elderly man with graying hair and a long white beard, hurrying over without stopping.

Upon seeing Kangxi seated, he felt a bit calmer, thinking the issue might not be serious.

After paying his respects and catching his breath, he began to take Kangxi's pulse and asked about the discomfort.

Learning that it was due to overeating and a temporary stomach upset causing vomiting, the physician's old face remained expressionless.

He thought to himself, His Majesty has always been health-conscious, eating only until eighty percent full, never to the point of being stuffed. Was the imperial kitchen's food that delicious?

Even the health-conscious His Majesty couldn't help but overeat?

Of course, his face remained stern and composed, "The issue is not serious. Vomiting might actually make you feel better. If you still feel uncomfortable, I can prescribe some digestive medicine to aid digestion."

Kangxi pretended not to notice the physician's silent judgment of his overeating and said to him, "Consort Rong also ate a bit too much tonight and felt uncomfortable earlier. I am a bit worried; could you check on her as well?"

Su Yi, who had been quietly standing by like a decoration, was suddenly mentioned. She looked at Kangxi, feeling she understood something.

'Is this man thinking that it's too embarrassing to call the physician just for himself because he overate, so he's dragging me along for company to feel better?'

Kangxi suppressed a smile. So Consort Rong isn't clueless. Doesn't she know why he overate tonight?

The imperial physician looked at Consort Rong with a puzzled look. Both of them overate; was the imperial kitchen's food really that good?

"Consort Rong, please extend your hand."

Su Yi had no choice but to extend her hand and place it on the small pillow for the imperial physician to take her pulse.

The imperial physician stroked his beard while thinking, judging from her pulse, Consort Rong hadn't overeaten; she was just a bit physically weak and needed good care. But outwardly, he advised, "If Your Highness feels uncomfortable, you can drink some hawthorn tea and make sure to rest more."

Su Yi nodded gently, "Alright, imperial physician." Such a perceptive imperial physician was rare.

Kangxi, watching from the side, felt a bit slighted. Why was it that when it came to him, it was digestive medicine, but for Consort Rong, just hawthorn tea?

Consort Rong had eaten more than he did.

"I truly underestimated you."

Su Yi withdrew her hand, hearing Kangxi's words, her expression turned hurt, and she spoke with a grievance, "Why is Your Majesty suddenly being so sarcastic with me? What have I done wrong?"

Inwardly, she thought,

'Who started it first, don't you have any idea?'

'Always taking it out on the weak, pitiful, and helpless me!'

Kangxi couldn't help but be amused by her response, "You think you did nothing wrong?"

"I really don't know, Your Majesty. You overate and felt uncomfortable enough to vomit. I was constantly worried, my heart was always on edge. Now that Your Majesty feels better, you start blaming me. I am truly wronged."

Then Su Yi started dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief, but the tears welled up without falling.

'Since you insist on thinking this way, then there's nothing I can do.'

'Then let's just say I was wrong, I was wrong, okay?'

She spoke with such self-righteousness.

"You!" Kangxi was left speechless by her words.

The atmosphere shifted from anger to laughter, the sudden change in mood left the maids in Yonghe Palace feeling suffocated, especially Liang Jiugong. The Emperor was so angry that he laughed—how furious must he be?

How had Consort Rong suddenly angered the Emperor so?

The imperial physician who hadn't left yet: Is this a scene I should be seeing?

At this moment, the arriving group of consorts came to their rescue.

Su Yi, still dabbing at her tears, was equally startled, looking at the beauties entering one after another, led by Consort Tongjia,

'There's actually such a good thing!'

Her expression of grievance was barely maintainable. Kangxi noticed the gleam in Consort Rong's eyes that she couldn't conceal.

She made a beeline for Kangxi. Su Yi promptly rose to make way for Consort Tongjia.

Consort Tongjia was somewhat pleased by her sensibility.

Su Yi began to call for preparations to entertain, "Yun Hua, go prepare some stools; don't let everyone remain standing—it's too tiring."

Then she had stools placed in a circle so everyone could see Kangxi in the middle, and even had snacks and tea served.

Kangxi, now surrounded: ....

The concubines didn't expect Consort Rong to be so enthusiastic and considerate, being so thoughtful in her actions.

Consort Tongjia was the first to express her concern for Kangxi, followed closely by the other concubines who didn't want to be left behind, each trying to outdo the other in speaking.

They created such a commotion that Kangxi's head was spinning.

As for Su Yi, after handing Kangxi over, she began to clutch her chest, looking weak as she leaned on Yun Hua, saying, "My body is not strong, and I'm feeling extremely fatigued now. I'll go to the side hall to rest for a while. Please look after His Majesty." After saying this, she coughed a few times and was helped away by Yun Hua.

At this moment, even Consort Tongjia thought that Consort Rong was quite tactful, far more tactful than her sister.

The concubines, who originally came just to see His Majesty and assert their presence, became quite excited. With Consort Rong feeling unwell, any one of them might have the chance to have His Majesty stay in their quarters for the night.

They hadn't seen Kangxi for a long time, and with such an opportunity, even if it meant risking upsetting Consort Tongjia, they were willing to take the chance.

They tried hard to contain their eagerness as they looked at Kangxi, but their eyes betrayed their longing, as if they were starving, and they couldn't help but start to show off.

Su Yi went to the side hall and had Yun Hua hastily make the bed so she could get through the night. She noticed that Yun Hua's lips were pursed, clearly unhappy.

She smiled and asked, "What's wrong, little Yun Hua?" leaning to the side with a fond look as she watched her make the bed.

"Your Highness, why did you give His Majesty to them? He came to see you today, and they, who usually don't visit, have swarmed in now. And you even made space for them. They must be thrilled," Yun Hua said with some resentment.

Su Yi usually treated her well, so Yun Hua didn't hold back much.

"They are indeed thrilled," Su Yi said with a smile.

But Kangxi was about to get a headache.

"Your Highness—I'm serious, don't brush it off," Yun Hua said, seeing that Consort Rong could still laugh, and couldn't help but stomp her foot in frustration.

Kangxi was indeed struggling. In the past, his cold demeanor would scare the concubines into silence, but now it seemed to have little effect.

What was even more shocking was Consort Rong—she actually ran away!

Kangxi couldn't believe it; Consort Rong had run away so quickly that he didn't even have time to pull her into the mess.