Chapter 035

Chapter 035

Kangxi clutched his forehead in pain, while Consort Tongjia and the others anxiously crowded around, eager to show their concern. Little did they know, their crowding and chatter only worsened Kangxi's headache.

"Enough! You're giving me a headache with all this noise. Everyone, return to your palaces!"

Finally, with a cold expression, he flicked his sleeve and left without a word to anyone.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi's anger grew the more he thought about it, and it took him much longer than usual to fall asleep.

When it was time to wake up in the morning, Liang Jiugong had to remind him twice before Kangxi got up. He then headed to the morning court with a dark, oppressive mood.

During the court session, almost every official who had something to report was berated by the irritable Kangxi, leaving them bewildered and disoriented after the session. They all thought the same thing: "His Majesty was in a foul mood during today's morning court."

Liang Jiugong, who bore the brunt of this, had been scolded more times in a few days than he usually was in a month. Yet, he had to continue serving in front of the emperor without being able to avoid it. It was truly miserable.

Yipin sent word that Consort Le had safely given birth to a princess.

Upon hearing this news, Kangxi's mood lightened a bit. "Instruct Yipin to look after her well."

Since Consort Le's rank was not high enough, the child would likely be raised by Yipin, so it was only right to have Yipin take care of her.

Yipin was somewhat disappointed that her sister had given birth to a princess rather than a prince.

Her disappointment peaked when she saw that it was Liang Jiugong, not His Majesty, who came from the Qianqing Palace.

Though Liang Jiugong brought gifts, it was no match for His Majesty's personal visit.

Ultimately, she couldn't help but feel resentful.

Now that His Majesty's favor was uncertain, and beauty fades before grace, she desperately needed a child to secure her position. Consort Hui had a healthy prince raised outside the palace and appeared quite content, while her sister had only borne a princess. How could she not be anxious?

At the Office of Imperial Household Affairs, Consort Rong's green plaque was once again presented.

This was because the imperial physician had examined her yesterday and declared her health improved enough to serve the emperor.

After the recent reforms, the atmosphere at the Office of Imperial Household Affairs had indeed changed. They didn't dare to cause any trouble now and were very compliant, with Eunuch Liang keeping a close watch.

After dinner, the Office of Imperial Household Affairs brought out the green plaques. Kangxi glanced over them and flipped one without hesitation.

Yonghe Palace

Su Yi sneezed, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

However, when someone from the Qianqing Palace arrived, she saw Liang Jiugong smiling like a chrysanthemum and a prepared sedan chair.

Su Yi suddenly understood. So that's why there had been no movement all day—it was waiting for her here.

Really.

"Cough..." Su Yi was about to cough a few times and say that her health didn't seem good, and that she had already asked to have her green plaque removed. How could Kangxi still flip her plaque?

But then Liang Jiugong added, "The imperial physician took your pulse and said your health has improved."

He then smiled at her.

Su Yi's half-formed cough was stuck in her throat.

She had miscalculated.

Another cough would seem too deliberate.

"His Majesty arranged a sedan chair for you to make the ride smooth. Everything is ready at Qianqing Palace."

This smooth setup was to stop Su Yi from going back to Qianqing Palace and calling a doctor to fake illness.

Su Yi smiled at Liang Jiugong, who smiled back.

This was going well.

"You guys really thought of everything," Su Yi said with a smile.

"It’s all His Majesty’s idea. You know how he is, Consort."

Liang Jiugong said this, but he felt uneasy, like something wasn’t right.

"Alright, let’s go."

Yun Hua was happy for Su Yi. With the Consort healthier and ready to serve, she felt more confident.

She helped Su Yi into the sedan chair and walked beside it.

Su Yi didn’t cause any trouble on the way, easing Liang Jiugong’s worries. His Majesty had told him to deal with any issues involving Consort Rong.

But Consort Rong seemed fine now.

He thought His Majesty was worrying too much.

Consort Rong was always friendly, smiling at everyone.

When they got to Qianqing Palace, Su Yi had to bathe before serving.

"I don’t like people watching me bathe."

As soon as she walked into the bathing area, Su Yi told the maids.

"Consort Rong, that’s against the rules."

They had to check her for any weapons.

Su Yi sat still, lazily leaning on the couch.

"Really? But I can’t help it. Being watched makes me so nervous my heart races, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I might faint before I finish."

She clutched her chest, her face pale, breathing faster.

She said she felt unwell, and she did look pale.

The maids, who were ready to be strict, now hesitated, afraid she might faint.

She looked fragile, like porcelain, after being sick.

The kinder maid tried to reason with her, appealing to her feelings.

But nothing worked; no matter what they said, Consort Rong wouldn’t agree.

Yun Hua was also feeling a bit anxious. At this point, how could the lady be stuck in this situation?

But she also knew that the lady indeed had this habit.

She didn't like having people attend to her while she bathed. Even at Yonghe Palace, the lady never allowed anyone to assist her while she bathed.

"Nanny, can't you make an exception for her? Our lady really can't handle this. Her health can't handle too much emotional stress; she easily starts coughing uncontrollably when stressed."

Su Yi listened nearby, her gaze softening as she looked at Yun Hua, leaning over to hug her gently.

"My Yun Hua knows me best. If it really doesn't follow the rules, then forget it. I don't want to trouble the two nannies; I'll just return to Yonghe Palace."

"There was still time to find someone else," Su Yi said very considerately.

The two nannies looked at each other; they had never seen someone who had come this far and was about to give up on serving the emperor over this. "Lady, tonight His Majesty has chosen your plate. If you don't serve, it will be a laughingstock if it gets out."

Which woman in the harem doesn't care about her reputation? If she doesn't serve because of this, all sorts of nasty rumors will spread.

Consort Rong couldn't afford to lose face like this.

Who knew, Consort Rong simply said, "Oh, then let it be."

She looked utterly indifferent.

The two nannies had truly never seen such a difficult concubine. No matter what they said, it didn't make a difference. Either let her do it herself, or she would go back; there were no other choices.

After talking with Consort Rong for a long time to no avail, one of the nannies had to go find Liang Jiugong to ask for advice.

Originally, this was handled by the Office of Imperial Household Affairs. If a concubine didn't cooperate, they naturally had to send her back and report the matter.

But before coming, Liang Jiugong had said that if Consort Rong had any issues, they should come to him first, and definitely not to provoke Consort Rong, as she couldn't handle the stress.

Liang Jiugong thought everything would be fine once they reached Qianqing Palace, and he felt the task wasn't that difficult, so why did he need to handle it personally?

Just as he was thinking, trouble arose.

One of the two nannies sent to serve Consort Rong came, with a bitter face, telling him about Consort Rong's lack of cooperation.

But this was the rule and procedure; they dared not omit anything, fearing that if something really happened, it would be a matter of losing their heads.

After Liang Jiugong understood what was happening, there really was a problem.

He had just thought that Consort Rong looked so delicate and had been very quiet on the way, without any issues, but now at Qianqing Palace, she was causing trouble!

He couldn't make a decision casually, "Wait a moment, let me report to His Majesty first."

After saying this, Liang Jiugong hurriedly left, flicking his whisk.

Kangxi didn't seem surprised at all, and after listening, he said, "In that case, let her do it herself."

He wanted to see what Consort Rong would do now.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go now."

Liang Jiugong felt that His Majesty treated Consort Rong a bit differently. After all, Consort Rong's situation could be considered somewhat presumptuous due to favor. Previously, His Majesty hated those who didn't follow the rules and overstepped.

But Consort Rong stepped over the line, and His Majesty didn't just coldly ignore her.

This was before serving; if she served, wouldn't His Majesty treat her even better?

Liang Jiugong's mind was in turmoil, and when informing the nanny, he reminded her to be polite to Consort Rong.

The nanny nodded in understanding and hurried back right away.

Upon returning, she exchanged a knowing glance with the other nanny, and they both silently agreed to let Consort Rong have her way, waiting outside.

Su Yi wasn't surprised at all.

Yun Hua, meanwhile, let out a sigh of relief. If the lady had been sent back over this, it wouldn't have been good. She had been worried, but it turned out to be allowed. "My lady, that's wonderful."

Su Yi looked at the smiling Yun Hua and thought, "What's so great, silly girl?"

The bathing pool here was like a small hot spring, not like the big tub in Yonghe Palace.

Su Yi reached out and took a handful of the carefully prepared flower petals nearby, examined them briefly, then sprinkled them in, but finding it too much trouble, she just dumped them all in.

After a while, she got up, dried off, and changed into light, snug clothes with a sheer outer layer, hinting at her curves.

Of course, she couldn't go out like that, so a cloak was ready for her. She threw the cloak over herself.

Su Yi didn't want to stir up trouble with the clothes she wasn't keen on wearing, so after changing, she sat down and called someone in.

No need for makeup now, just a quick comb and a smooth hairpin to tie it up.

Then she checked Consort Rong, ensuring she wasn't hiding any sharp objects, and draped the cloak over her, then led her to see the Emperor.

Yun Hua stayed put and couldn't wander around.

Su Yi remained quiet the whole way. When the two nannies dropped her off, they both breathed a sigh of relief. They'd been worried Consort Rong might make more unreasonable demands, but luckily, she arrived without a hitch.

Kangxi was already inside, waiting. When Su Yi entered quietly, he still heard her and looked over, his gaze fixed on her.

Unlike usual, this time there was a hint of aggression and heat in Kangxi's eyes.