Chapter 134

Chapter 134

With Nanny Fang gone, the remaining servants were all well-behaved, and no one spoke along the way, so they arrived at Cining Palace without a word.

Normally, Nanny Fang would have led them to report back upon arrival, but now that Nanny Fang was not here, the others, usually under Nanny Fang's thumb, dared not step forward.

Since Consort Rong arrived late, and with the intent to delay, it was only natural to make her wait.

Consort Rong wasn't someone Suma Lagu needed to handle personally; others were sent to deal with her.

"Consort Rong, the Grand Empress Dowager is currently napping. She waited for you for quite some time.

The Grand Empress Dowager waited until she was too tired and finally dozed off. She hasn't woken up yet, so please wait a bit." This was a subtle jab at Consort Rong's lateness.

As she spoke, she glanced around, not seeing Nanny Fang.

But with Consort Rong's arrival, it was time to make her wait, as planned.

"The Grand Empress Dowager is napping," Su Yi said gently, nodding in understanding, and considerately added, "In that case, we shouldn't disturb the Grand Empress Dowager's nap." Then she turned, ready to leave.

She had expected Consort Rong to ask how long the Grand Empress Dowager would nap, and she would reply vaguely, saying it could be soon or it might take half an hour.

The plan was to make Consort Rong wait, unsure when the Grand Empress Dowager would wake, but she certainly couldn't be disturbed.

But Consort Rong simply turned to leave, so she hurriedly called out, "Wait, Your Highness."

Su Yi slightly turned her head, "Is there anything else?" She looked even more puzzled.

"Your Highness is leaving already? The Grand Empress Dowager summoned you, and you haven't seen her yet, and you're leaving?" That doesn't make sense.

The Grand Empress Dowager didn't say to leave, and Consort Rong wants to leave after just arriving?

Su Yi was even more baffled, "Didn't you say the Grand Empress Dowager is napping? I can't have you disturb her to see me, so I can only go back first. *Cough*."

She spoke a long sentence, her face pale, and couldn't help but cough a few times, looking frail and clearly unwell.

This left her speechless for a moment, but she quickly recovered,

"The Grand Empress Dowager is a light sleeper; she might wake up soon. If she doesn't see you, it might not be good."

In any case, Consort Rong had to wait. The Grand Empress Dowager might see her at any time, but Consort Rong had to wait; she couldn't leave first.

Su Yi listened, "You have a point," she said with a hint of agreement.

Seeing Consort Rong's response, the nanny wasn't surprised and was about to bow and leave.

Then she heard a maid exclaim, "Your Highness, what's wrong?!" and saw Consort Rong swaying, almost falling if not for the maids and eunuchs steadying her.

"Your Highness, this is..." The nanny pretended not to notice Consort Rong's discomfort.

"I don't know what's wrong, today I *cough*..." Su Yi said a few words and couldn't help but cough again, "I took tonic, but instead..."

"Your Highness, perhaps we should call the royal physician," Xiao Yunzi suggested from the side.

The nanny's eyelid twitched, that wouldn't do, "Your Highness must be tired from the journey. Quickly, bring a chair for Her Highness to sit and rest."

The nanny acted as if she just noticed that Consort Rong had been standing all this time without a chair, showing concern on the surface but avoiding any mention of calling the royal physician.

She even deliberately cut off Xiao Yunzi before he could speak up again about summoning the imperial physician.

At first, she planned to make Consort Rong stand and wait, ensuring she wouldn’t get too comfortable. But now, fearing that Consort Rong might insist on calling for the imperial physician, she had no choice but to have a chair brought for her to sit down.

After all, even if she couldn’t let Consort Rong call for the imperial physician, she couldn’t make it too obvious.

Would Su Yi settle down after sitting?

Not at all.

“Cough, cough, I’m still feeling very unwell,” Su Yi touched her throat.

The maid then said, “Your Ladyship must be thirsty, and your throat is uncomfortable. Quickly, bring a cup of tea.”

She shot the others a stern look, not daring to show obvious impatience toward Consort Rong but using this as an excuse to scold the others harshly, “Why are you just standing there? Move it!”

“Your Ladyship, please wait a moment, the tea will be here soon,” the maid said insincerely, feigning a comforting tone.

After the tea was brought, Su Yi leaned weakly against the armrest and didn’t take it.

Qinxin was gently rubbing her back, while Xiao Yunzi stood silently to the side, not accepting the tea either.

He was sharp and observant. When they first arrived, it was clear that the servants had been neglectful.

Anyone serving in the Empress Dowager’s palace would surely know proper etiquette. The Grand Empress Dowager was strict, so how could they be so careless?

Yet, after Consort Rong arrived, even basic things like a chair and tea were not prepared, and they immediately mentioned that the Grand Empress Dowager was taking her afternoon nap.

It was evident that without the higher-ups’ instructions, this wouldn’t have happened.

They weren’t sure if the tea here was safe to drink. If nothing happened, it would be fine, but if something went wrong, there would be no evidence left. That’s why Xiao Yunzi didn’t accept the tea.

Didn’t they notice that the Consort didn’t even glance at it?

Qinxin knew that Consort Rong had been feeling unwell earlier and had taken some medicine to feel better. But during the journey, Consort Rong had become agitated, and now she seemed to be getting worse again. Qinxin was so anxious she could barely contain herself and said, “Perhaps we should still…”

The maid, hearing this, realized they were still considering summoning the imperial physician.

No matter what, if Consort Rong called for the imperial physician in the Empress Dowager’s palace, it would spread rumors that the Grand Empress Dowager had mistreated her. If she wanted to call for the imperial physician, she should do so back in her own palace.

The maid quickly took the teacup and brought it to Consort Rong, saying, “Your Ladyship, please have some hot tea.”

Consort Rong’s maids didn’t seem to know what they were doing, not being quick-witted at all. She even had to personally serve the tea to Consort Rong!

When she brought it over, Su Yi took it reluctantly, which made the maid’s heart twist with frustration.

Su Yi took a sip and, as if burned, her hand shook, and she threw the teacup at the maid.

It hit its mark, drenching her completely, with tea leaves sticking to her clothes here and there.

The maid, caught off guard, let out a startled cry.

The tea wasn’t actually boiling hot, but it had drenched her completely, and the teacup shattered into pieces on the ground, creating a mess.

Consort Rong had barely arrived, and she was already stirring up trouble!

This act made the maid’s face turn pale with anger, but she couldn’t lose her temper due to her position.

She could only take out her frustration on the one who had brought the tea, giving her a sharp pinch that made her gasp in pain but not dare to cry out.

"How could you handle things like this, bringing such hot tea that Your Ladyship can't even drink it!" And it spilled all over her!

Was Consort Rong doing this on purpose?

With just a flick of her hand, she spilled it all over her, not a drop landing on herself!

Su Yi covered her lips, hiding a smile, and quickly suppressed it.

Seeming to have recovered a bit, she said, "I’m just very sensitive; even slightly hot tea feels unbearable."

After speaking, she coughed intermittently, not even asking Nanny Chang if she was scalded or needed to change.

Consort Rong’s sporadic coughing only added to the irritation of the already drenched nanny, who had to suppress her anger and endure it,

"Your Ladyship, it’s not fitting for this old servant to stay here like this. I’ll go change and return."

Then she turned and hurried away.

Such a commotion couldn’t go unnoticed, and someone had been watching, reporting back what happened here immediately.

Soon after the nanny left, someone came to inform that the Grand Empress Dowager had finished her nap.

Suma Lagu, seeing Consort Rong cause trouble so soon after arriving, showed no expression but was deeply displeased. Consort Rong dared to cause such a scene even in the Cining Palace.

Even the proud and willful Consort Tongjia had to restrain herself and behave when she came to the Cining Palace.

The Grand Empress Dowager had planned to 'nap' longer, leaving Consort Rong to wait.

But Nanny Fang hadn’t returned, and it was discovered she had insulted Consort Rong under the Grand Empress Dowager’s name.

Consort Rong was so angry she ordered Nanny Fang slapped and sent to the Punishment Bureau.

This is outrageous!

Consort Rong actually had the audacity!

The maids nervously repeated Consort Rong’s words, making it even more infuriating.

If the Grand Empress Dowager held Consort Rong accountable, it would confirm her claim that Nanny Fang acted under her instruction, condoning the insult.

Going over the Grand Empress Dowager to deal with Nanny Fang?

Consort Rong said it was inappropriate to go over the Grand Empress Dowager, so she sent Nanny Fang to the Punishment Bureau.

It’s hard to complain now!

They say Nanny Fang was beaten beyond recognition.

If Consort Rong had brought the beaten Nanny Fang here, she could have been confronted.

No matter what, one shouldn’t beat a Cining Palace nanny like this, but it shows Consort Rong’s arrogance and temper, with no regard for others.

Hitting a dog without considering its owner—it’s not Nanny Fang being hit, but the Grand Empress Dowager’s face.

The incident on the way blocked the people Consort Rong sent to the Qianqing Palace for help.

With Consort Rong causing such a scene and sending Nanny Fang to the Punishment Bureau, the Emperor would quickly know she had come here.

Was it deliberate or not?

The Grand Empress Dowager wanted to see Consort Rong, so she sent word that she was awake.

When they met, the Grand Empress Dowager's face was calm, betraying no emotion, though her heart was heavy.

Consort Rong’s frail frame bore the marks of long illness—delicate, weak, and pale.

Yet she remained stunningly beautiful, truly deserving of the title "Rong." In the entire palace, no one could rival her.

Especially her strikingly beautiful eyes.

Though the Grand Empress Dowager had heard the maids’ descriptions and had seen countless beauties in her time—even being exceptionally beautiful in her youth—she felt even more relieved by her decisive action after seeing Consort Rong.

With such beauty and intelligence, who could rival her, not just now but in the long term?

If the Emperor softened and let her bear a child, her ambitions would grow, and there’s no telling what she might do.

After her actions, the Grand Empress Dowager, though she told herself she wasn’t wrong, knew it was cruel to a woman in the palace.

But now, she couldn’t help feeling relieved by her decisiveness.

"Your humble consort pays respects..." Su Yi stifled a cough, "to the Grand Empress Dowager."

Her body swayed, as if she might collapse at any moment.

"Sit," the Grand Empress Dowager said coolly.

It would be too obvious to make her wait now.

"This is your first visit to my palace since you joined the court," she said.

This was a jab at Consort Rong’s absence from morning and evening greetings, hinting that even if she were ill, she should have come at least once.

Su Yi nodded, her expression meek, pretending to miss the subtext and only taking the words at face value.

Her hands, hidden by her sleeves, moved subtly.

It was a signal.

The target was nearby, which was perfect.

"Consort Rong, why don’t you answer the Grand Empress Dowager?" Suma Lagu interjected.

"Grand Empress... cough... Dowager, you are... cough... right," Su Yi said between coughs, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

Consort Rong seemed unable to stop coughing, her frailty making Suma Lagu’s expression turn cold.

"Enough, Suma. Consort Rong is unwell. It was poor timing to summon her," the Grand Empress Dowager said calmly, fingering her prayer beads.

Just then, Su Yi coughed: "Cough, cough, cough."

The coughing seemed to echo the Grand Empress Dowager’s words—wasn’t it poor timing to summon her?

The Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze turned colder, her imposing presence overwhelming, making the servants instinctively lower their heads and stay silent.

"Since you’re unwell, rest more when you return. The Emperor worries for your health and often visits. Consider his well-being—don’t keep him too long, lest you pass your illness to him," the Grand Empress Dowager said pointedly, her tone sharp.

"You’re absolutely right," Su Yi said without any intention of refuting, her tone incredibly soft, her expression one of earnest attentiveness to the Grand Empress Dowager's words.

Su Yi: You’re absolutely right (with a smile).

As for Consort Rong's attitude and reaction, how could the Grand Empress Dowager not see that Consort Rong was just going through the motions.

A flicker of anger crossed her eyes.

"Once you enter the harem, many things cannot be done as you please. As a concubine of the harem, you should understand the principle of sharing the Emperor’s attention. Since your health is not good and you need rest, you should advise the Emperor more."

Her gaze grew sharper, her face stern.

Clearly, she was dissatisfied with Consort Rong's recent hogging of the Emperor’s time, and the other concubines in the harem had also accumulated much discontent.

"This concubine wouldn’t dare advise," Su Yi coughed, genuinely tired.

If you’re so talkative, why not say a few more sentences? Don't stop so quickly; it's tiring for her to reply with a few coughs.

"Is it that you don’t dare advise, or is there something else?" the Grand Empress Dowager asked.

What do you mean, ‘dare not’? It was clearly that Consort Rong was unwilling.

Su Yi finally spoke, "This concubine is just a lowly rank. How could I possibly advise the Emperor? The Grand Empress Dowager overestimates me."

This is your fault; you don't advise yourself, yet you expect others to actively send the Emperor away.

It’s like giving away the best piece of meat from your own bowl. Tsk.

This just won’t do.

To the Grand Empress Dowager, these words hinted at Consort Rong’s ambition to be Empress and her discontent with her current role.

Hinting that only the Empress could properly remind the Emperor of the rules and offer advice.

As a mere concubine, she couldn’t advise.

This Consort Rong, even in her discomfort, had not suffered any loss in this brief encounter, but instead had caused trouble for others.

Nanny Fang had been sent straight to the Punishment Bureau, and now she didn’t even mention it, while Consort Rong acted like nothing happened?

Not to mention manipulating Nanny Chang in the side hall and splashing tea all over herself.

Even now, in front of her, she showed no restraint!

Absolutely insolent!

The Grand Empress Dowager slammed her prayer beads on the table with a loud thud, her face darkening, "Consort Rong, don’t play dumb with me."

She knew that no concubine in the harem would willingly send the Emperor to others, but at the very least, they would pretend to comply, feigning indifference, and offer a word or two of advice.

Not like Consort Rong, who wouldn’t even pretend to agree, openly defying her authority.

This sudden change of expression was truly terrifying.

Su Yi, of course, was terrified. She trembled, startled, her already pale face turning even whiter.

"You... scared me," Su Yi said weakly, clutching her chest, looking utterly terrified.

The Grand Empress Dowager frowned deeply, watching Consort Rong’s behavior, this Consort Rong...

Being a devoted supporter of the Grand Empress Dowager, Suma Lagu was on the verge of speaking up when she heard Consort Rong's disrespectful words. She suddenly noticed Consort Rong leaning to the side and beginning to vomit.

Kangxi arrived as he entered the hall and saw Consort Rong vomiting. He hurried forward to take over from Qinxin in patting her back, "Consort Rong!"

Su Yi vomited rapidly, her forehead dotted with fine beads of sweat. She leaned weakly on Kangxi's shoulder.

Suma Lagu promptly called for someone to clean up and air out the room. Consort Rong had suddenly begun vomiting, coinciding with the Emperor's arrival!

The Grand Empress Dowager turned her head away but caught a scent of medicine. Something flashed in her mind, and she quickly glanced at the spot where Consort Rong had just vomited.

Her pupils narrowed—Consort Rong had vomited up the medicine she had taken!

Even if not all of it came up, it was nearly all of it!

Kangxi, holding her cold and damp hand, looked grave and was in no mood for anything else, "Grandmother, I will take Consort Rong back first. You should rest well."

He picked her up and carried her out, instructing someone to summon the imperial physician to Yonghe Palace immediately.

The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at the spot and the Emperor's earlier expression, her already aching head throbbing even more.

Consort Rong had vomited up all the medicine. How could it possibly take effect now?

It seemed her efforts had been for nothing.

Thinking it would be more difficult to act again, the Grand Empress Dowager's eyes darkened, and her headache worsened.

Suma Lagu noticed this and grew anxious, quickly dispatching someone to summon the imperial physician.

Kangxi, now carrying her onto the sedan chair, noticed she was too weak to speak, but her mind was restless.

'I really thank you for your terrible tonic. Whether it nourishes or not, it sure seems determined to kill me.'

Do you want this so-called blessing?

Kangxi's body tensed momentarily as he looked at Consort Rong, coughing intermittently in his arms. Their eyes met, and for once, he couldn't bring himself to hold her gaze.

Her eyes were clear, tinged with mockery, unlike the usual warmth she showed when looking at others.

"The imperial physician will be here shortly," he said, reaching out to touch her forehead, his hand seemingly inadvertently blocking her view.

"Mmm."

As he lowered his hand, Consort Rong's eyes were already closed.

All the imperial physicians were dispatched, heading separately to Yonghe Palace and Cining Palace.

This was quite a situation—both were unwell. Some speculated that Consort Rong might have passed her illness to the Grand Empress Dowager, which is why the Grand Empress Dowager felt unwell after Consort Rong left Cining Palace.

Almost as soon as Kangxi carried her back to Yonghe Palace, the imperial physician arrived and hurriedly attended to Consort Rong.

At this moment, Consort Rong was not only coughing but also occasionally bringing up blood.

The imperial physician kept a straight face while taking her pulse.

The imperial physician also rushed to Cining Palace. Suma Lagu noticed that the physician who usually diagnosed the Grand Empress Dowager was not among them, and her expression turned sour.

Most likely, he had gone to Yonghe Palace. After all, how could Consort Rong compare to the Grand Empress Dowager!

But right now, the Grand Empress Dowager isn’t feeling well. This could also mean Suma Lagu is worried and anxious about the Grand Empress Dowager, so naturally, her expression was tense.

"Please have the imperial physicians check on the Grand Empress Dowager," Suma Lagu quickly ushered the imperial physicians over.

The imperial physicians were all tense. After all, the Grand Empress Dowager is quite elderly, and they were most afraid of her falling ill, fearing the worst—they were scared too.

They saw the maids massaging the Grand Empress Dowager’s head, but her expression remained tense. Their hearts were already racing.

They composed themselves and took turns checking the Grand Empress Dowager’s pulse.

The first imperial physician to check her pulse wore a grave expression, which was odd, but he stayed silent.

The imperial physician next to him saw his expression and wondered, was the Grand Empress Dowager’s pulse that concerning?

When it was his turn, his expression also became subtle, somewhat understanding why his colleague had that look earlier.

The next one was the same.

They thought that since the Grand Empress Dowager said she was feeling unwell, the situation should be quite tricky, but the Grand Empress Dowager’s... pulse was perfectly normal!

Just like her usual healthy pulse!

Yet, the Grand Empress Dowager also complained of a severe headache, asking them to prescribe some pain-relieving decoction.

And her body felt weak all over, sore and limp, unable to exert any strength. Even the slightest movement felt like a buildup of old aches, making the Grand Empress Dowager very uncomfortable.

She wanted the imperial physicians to quickly find a way to alleviate her discomfort.

Seeing this, Suma Lagu was very nervous. When she noticed the imperial physicians looking at each other without taking action, she couldn’t help snapping.

"Gentlemen, the Grand Empress Dowager is feeling very unwell. You need to figure something out. If anything happens to her, no one will be able to handle the consequences!"

Instead of just standing around doing nothing!

The imperial physicians were also in a tough spot. Didn’t they realize that?!

After checking her pulse, they found it completely normal, just like usual. What could they possibly prescribe?!

Apart from the usual tonics for the Grand Empress Dowager, there was only the calming decoction.

Suma Lagu really proved herself as the Grand Empress Dowager’s trusted elder. She really had them scared.

The imperial physicians also spoke with great seriousness, "Yes, we’ll discuss and figure out how to adjust the prescription."

Who would’ve guessed that even the Grand Empress Dowager would fake being sick? They had seen many concubines feign illness, but the Grand Empress Dowager was the matriarch of the inner court. Why would she resort to this?

They couldn’t call her out directly.

Several imperial physicians didn’t say much else and were discussing how to prescribe the medicine, but their eye contact was intense, with no hesitation.

They came up with a prescription that seemed appropriate, which in effect was quite similar to the calming decoction.

They wanted to prescribe some tonics, but the Grand Empress Dowager's body couldn't handle random tonics. Any misstep could lead to other problems.

The imperial physicians’ discussion was quite loud, and the Grand Empress Dowager was truly uncomfortable, not feigning it.

But the imperial physicians just couldn't detect any issues from her pulse.

Over there, Consort Rong's condition had stabilized, and the imperial physician had also been on edge, already sweating profusely.

At this moment, he didn't even take a break but was examining with a handkerchief.

The imperial physician was holding Consort Rong's handkerchief, which had small bloodstains and traces of medicine from when she vomited.