Chapter 104

Chapter 104

"What are you laughing at?"

Kangxi suddenly spoke, startling the butterfly that had landed on Su Yi's hand, making it fly away.

"It's just... because it's beautiful," Su Yi said, retracting her hand with a faint smile.

"Just because it's beautiful?" Kangxi sat down beside her after standing behind Consort Rong for a while; her thoughts seemed to have stilled too.

"Yes," Su Yi looked at Kangxi and smiled candidly.

Why does this person always seem to appear out of nowhere lately? If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was checking up on her.

"Consort Rong, do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing for a person to know about the future?"

Kangxi reached out and held Consort Rong's hand. Her hand was soft and delicate, as if it had no bones when held in his palm. Kangxi's hand had a thin layer of calluses, while Consort Rong's palm was smooth and soft, untouched by manual labor.

"It depends," Su Yi said after a moment of thought.

Kangxi: "..." That’s as good as saying nothing.

"If the future turns out bad, then of course, we should try to change it. We can’t just stand by and watch things go downhill," Su Yi said, finally moving away from her earlier evasiveness.

Before Kangxi could feel relieved that Consort Rong was finally being serious, he heard her inner thoughts, 'If it can’t be changed, then to hell with fate! My life is in my hands, not heaven’s!'

Kangxi was silent for a moment. It was strange to see her so serious earlier.

"What you said makes sense," Kangxi said, pausing only briefly.

"Then, if the future turns out well, would you try to make it even better?" Kangxi asked again.

Once you know the future is good, would you still be satisfied?

"I’m someone who’s content with what I have, easily satisfied. If the future is good, anything more I do would just be icing on the cake. At that point, I’ll just go with the flow," Su Yi said, her tone calm and objective.

Kangxi: I get the feeling Consort Rong still has more to say.

Sure enough.

'If the outcome is already good, why bother? Just relax and enjoy it. People aren’t afraid of being foolish, but of being greedy and ruining a good thing. In that case, it’s better not to know at all!'

Kangxi’s serious mood couldn’t last. How did such a serious topic turn into idle chatter when it came to Consort Rong?

If the future is bad, it’s ‘my life is in my hands, not heaven’s.’ If it’s good, it’s ‘go with the flow’?

Su Yi waited for a while but didn’t get a response from Kangxi. "What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

What’s with him? He looks like he’s constipated.

Kangxi: ?!

He suddenly slapped Consort Rong's palm, and she quickly retracted her hand, asking, "Are you okay?"

What’s with the sudden slapping? Wondering if one hand can clap?

"I'm perfectly fine," Kangxi quickly replied.

Su Yi turned her head and secretly rolled her eyes, only to have Kangxi pinch her cheek. "Ah!" You’re insufferable!

"I’m not blind, at least turn around so I don’t have to see you." Kangxi squinted his eyes, his tone dangerous, and he pinched her cheek with no gentleness at all.

Su Yi mumbled, ‘Zhi... dao ne...!’ Let go of my face first, let’s talk properly, no need to get physical!!

After finally freeing her cheek, Su Yi covered her face, looking indignant.

Kangxi leaned in to inspect her face, just as Su Yi expected him to say, ‘Did I hurt you?’

At that moment, Kangxi added insult to injury by saying, "Consort Rong, your face is quite tough."

Su Yi suddenly put her hands down, staring at him in disbelief. How could you use that pretty mouth to say something so rude?!

Tough?!

Is this guy for real?!

Is that really how he’s describing her face?!

Why not just say she’s thick-skinned?

"When I pinched your face earlier, it felt soft, but there’s not even a red mark..."

Kangxi was cut off because Consort Rong grabbed his face with both hands and tugged, making it impossible for him to speak. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if to say, 'How dare you?!'

Su Yi smiled sweetly, her hands clamped on Kangxi's face like pliers, not letting go, and said,

"Ah, Your Majesty, your face is so smooth and tender, it feels way better than mine. I just used a little bit of strength, and your face turned red all over, such a delicate little thing!"

Kangxi tried to pry her hands off but couldn’t. Consort Rong was far more ruthless than he’d been!

He hadn’t used much strength earlier, so of course, there was no red mark on Consort Rong’s face.

Hearing her call him a delicate baby, Kangxi was so angry he wanted to shout 'How dare you!' How could a grown man be described with such a term?!

But his words came out garbled, completely lacking their original force.

Su Yi knew when to quit and didn’t continue pulling Kangxi’s face. Instead, she cupped his face with her hands, looking concerned, "Your Majesty, let me see your face. Did I use too much strength just now? It’s all red. Do you need a kiss to feel better?"

She often used this method to comfort the little milk dragon, and it always worked.

Kangxi looked at Consort Rong’s ever-changing face, only wanting to sneer. Just as his anger was about to erupt, Consort Rong immediately changed her attitude, making it impossible for him to decide whether to be angry or not!

He said irritably, "So you know you used too much strength?" She certainly didn’t seem to know her limits earlier, almost wanting to loosen the skin on his face.

The flesh on his face really hurt earlier. Those seemingly delicate hands pinched his face like pliers! He couldn’t even tear them off.

Su Yi leaned in and suddenly kissed his cheek, smiling, "Does a kiss make it better?"

She was calm, but Kangxi was momentarily stunned by the kiss. How could Consort Rong act so frivolously in broad daylight?!

"It’s just a little better." Kangxi’s expression became more serious, looking very proper.

As he spoke, he slightly turned his face towards Su Yi, hinting that the other side hadn’t been kissed yet.

Su Yi wasn’t going to indulge him.

"Oh, alright then. I’ll call Qinxin to bring a cold cloth for your face. A cold compress works better. Wait, I’ll be right back."

Su Yi said as she let go, walking away in a flash.

Kangxi watched Consort Rong's figure striding away briskly, and in just a blink of an eye, she had already covered a considerable distance. His raised hand froze mid-air, and eventually, he slapped the armrest with some frustration.

He was utterly exasperated!

Why hadn’t he noticed Consort Rong being so attentive before?!

Once Su Yi was out of Kangxi's sight, she slowed her pace. Upon seeing Qinxin, Yun Hua, and Liang Jiugong waiting, she casually remarked,

"The sun is too intense today; the Emperor seems to have suffered a heatstroke. Go get a basin of ice water to cool him down."

Qinxin: !!

Yun Hua: ?!

Liang Jiugong: What?! His Majesty has a heatstroke?!

All three displayed varying degrees of panic, with Liang Jiugong immediately preparing to summon the imperial physician.

"Stay calm, it’s just a mild case. The Emperor is fine; no need to overreact," Su Yi said calmly.

Perhaps Consort Rong's calm demeanor was too convincing, as Qinxin and Yun Hua gradually began to calm down.

Some went to fetch water, others to retrieve ice, while Liang Jiugong hurried over to check on Kangxi. Su Yi found a shaded spot to wait for Qinxin and the others before heading back together.

There was still a sense of decorum to be maintained; they would return together once Qinxin and the others arrived.

Su Yi even picked a leaf to use as a makeshift sunshade, covering her eyes. The leaf's shadow obscured most of her facial expression, making it hard for anyone at a distance to discern her current mood.

That scoundrel is quite popular in the harem; there are always people coveting his body. Su Yi couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of the information she had just received.

But next time, she couldn’t risk being so careless; she almost aroused his suspicion.

Su Yi heard the footsteps of Qinxin and the others nearing, but they were still some distance away and not yet visible.

She waited a little longer before turning to look. Qinxin and the others were about ten meters away. "Here you are, let’s go."

With a signal, she followed their steps to find Kangxi.

While Su Yi enjoyed a brief respite, Liang Jiugong was having a hard time.

He had just hurried over anxiously, asking if His Majesty wanted to call the imperial physician. Kangxi glanced at him and said irritably, "What imperial physician? I’m perfectly fine."

This oblivious servant.

Liang Jiugong observed His Majesty's face. Something seemed off; His Majesty's face did look a bit like he had a heatstroke, flushed from the heat.

Kangxi wanted to deny the heatstroke, but given his flushed face, it must have been Consort Rong's excuse. He couldn’t let Liang Jiugong know it was Consort Rong's doing.

Where would his dignity be? Tsk, let it be a heatstroke then; it does seem like one now.

Hmph, at least Consort Rong knew to find an excuse to cover her tracks. Otherwise, does she know how much of a breach of protocol her actions were?!

Liang Jiugong felt uneasy under His Majesty's stare, unsure if he had misspoken. He saw His Majesty withdraw his gaze, sitting there with his eyes closed, leaning back in silence.

Liang Jiugong wanted to propose that perhaps they should return, as staying in the sun might exacerbate the heatstroke.

But seeing His Majesty uncomfortable, he feared that speaking too much might irritate him, so he could only pray for Consort Rong to return quickly.

When he finally saw Consort Rong and Qinxin returning, Liang Jiugong's eyes lit up as if he had seen a savior. "Consort Rong, you’re finally back."

One might have thought Su Yi had gone to help Qinxin and the others with their tasks.

Su Yi nodded with a smile. She sat down gracefully, radiating a gentle and beautiful warmth like sunlight, her appearance deceptively serene. No one in the room suspected that Su Yi’s earlier claim about Kangxi’s heatstroke was a lie.

When Su Yi sat down, Kangxi opened his eyes and looked at her. Consort Rong, for her part, pretended as if nothing had happened.

Su Yi took the handkerchief that Qinxin had wrung out until it no longer dripped water, folded it gently, and placed it on the lower half of Kangxi's face, ensuring both sides were covered and could be cooled. She even carefully folded the handkerchief to leave space for his nose, so he could breathe.

Covering his mouth was fine, as long as his nostrils were left open for breathing.

She’d thought of everything, but the way she’d placed the handkerchief was downright comical.

Liang Jiugong stood awkwardly, fidgeting with his hands. Ah, shouldn’t the handkerchief for heatstroke be placed on the forehead? Why was it covering his face? He nearly burst out laughing!

Qinxin watched the Consort’s antics, taking a deep breath to stifle her laughter. Then she noticed Yun Hua beside her, who was even more extreme, digging her fingernails into her palm.

Kangxi yanked the handkerchief off his face, his eyes widening as he glared at Consort Rong. Who puts a handkerchief like that?!