Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Consort Rong quickly ran back up, skipping over again, bringing a gust of wind with her.

She had no sense of decorum whatsoever. Kangxi bit back his words and remained silent.

Then Consort Rong fell silent, suddenly still, as if she was fiddling with something. Kangxi kept his eyes shut, trying not to pay attention to her every move.

Just as he was thinking this, his forehead was touched again, this time with a cool, soothing sensation. Kangxi opened his eyes, unable to keep pretending to sleep.

He wasn’t like Consort Rong, who could fall asleep the instant she said she would.

"You..." But this time, the touch was much softer than before. The ointment was cool and soothing as she applied it.

So, she had gone to fetch the ointment.

It was rare for Consort Rong to be this considerate.

Su Yi was applying the ointment to him. Seeing him open his eyes, she smiled and asked with concern, "Where did you hit it?"

"I don’t remember," Kangxi said coldly.

As if he didn’t remember—it had just happened a moment ago. Thinking of the infuriating note, he decided not to bother elaborating.

If you ignored the fact that he was subtly gripping the bedsheet under the blanket, he really did seem cold and aloof, as if he didn’t want to engage with anyone at all.

Maybe... give Consort Rong another chance?

Hearing Kangxi say he didn’t remember, Su Yi didn’t press further. She quickly finished applying the ointment to his forehead, then bent down to close the ointment box, remaining silent the entire time.

There was no deep, meaningful eye contact during the application.

Kangxi, who was secretly waiting for Consort Rong’s reaction, remained calm on the surface but wondered if he had been too cold just now.

After closing the ointment box, Su Yi set it aside, too lazy to put it away properly. She could tidy it up tomorrow.

Once it was set aside, she turned her focus back to Kangxi.

Kangxi had closed his eyes again, pretending to be ready to sleep, as if he hadn’t just insisted on a heart-to-heart before bed.

There was no trace of the man who had been glancing at her just moments ago.

Su Yi, who had originally planned to go back to sleep, watched him for a moment, then leaned over to kiss the corner of his mouth, a quick peck. Before Kangxi could even process it, her fragrant lips were already gone.

Then she said softly, "Xuan Ye? Don’t be upset. We still have plenty of time together, no need to waste it on being at odds."

Before she could finish, she was pulled back into his arms. Su Yi smiled, like a cat who had just stolen a fish, and instinctively nuzzled against his cheek, not saying anything to ruin the moment.

Her skin was soft, her body delicate, and holding her felt like cuddling a little kitten, so endearing that it made him want to kiss her.

When she was clingy, it made his heart soften involuntarily. When she was being mischievous, it gave him a headache and left him helpless.

He thought about letting go, distancing himself so he wouldn’t be swayed by his emotions. Kangxi, who had always been in control, found that he could never truly maintain that control.

Since the other party was always so elusive, perhaps it was better to let go.

But she was cunning, knowing how to coax him with soft words.

It was like dangling a carrot in front of him—once he saw it, he would approach, thinking he might get what he wanted in the next moment.

After their tender moment, Kangxi held the deeply asleep Consort Rong, gently stroking her raven-black hair, his eyes brimming with intense possessiveness. Only then did Kangxi let his true feelings show.

In front of Consort Rong, Kangxi, as the Emperor and a man, could not allow himself to become so uncertain and emotionally swayed by a woman.

He was even more reluctant to admit that he had fallen in love first, while the other party remained unmoved and still able to handle things with ease.

Indeed, upon realizing this, he was overwhelmed with a mix of anger and defeat.

As the Emperor, he ruled the world, and except for the early years, Kangxi had not felt such a sense of defeat for a long time.

So when this feeling overwhelmed him, he considered walking away.

If he stayed away, perhaps he wouldn't feel this way in the future.

But then, he might never encounter someone so vibrant again, someone who always attracted him and made him want to hold on.

Indeed, they still had a lot of time ahead. Even if this person didn't fall in love now, what about in the future?

The person in his arms suddenly moved, seemingly uncomfortable, and turned over. Kangxi followed by wrapping his arms around her from behind, almost encircling her.

——

Suma Lagu, who had served the Grand Empress Dowager for many years, was granted retirement from the palace, having earned her rest.

This news came as a surprise to many, especially the maids who saw it in simpler terms.

In the palace, if you had the chance to leave early and live well, who’d want to stay and be a servant? Especially since Suma Lagu was an old servant of the Grand Empress Dowager. Even after leaving the palace, her treatment was not something ordinary maids could enjoy.

Suma Lagu had dedicated so many years to the palace, and it had been worth it. She commanded far more respect than the older maids in the palace.

So it was puzzling why Suma Lagu didn’t want to leave and only wished to keep serving the Grand Empress Dowager.

The concubines in the palace were also surprised but didn't quite believe the story of Suma Lagu being sent out of the palace.

Suma Lagu had been with the Grand Empress Dowager for so many years, nearly since the Grand Empress Dowager first entered the palace. She was the Grand Empress Dowager’s most devoted servant. Even if the Grand Empress Dowager were to pass, Suma Lagu’s place in the palace would remain secure.

Whether it was the Grand Empress Dowager's care for Suma Lagu before her departure or the Emperor's consideration for the Grand Empress Dowager, Suma Lagu would not be mistreated.

So why the hurry to leave the palace?

If there wasn’t some ulterior motive, they wouldn’t buy it.

Some tried to uncover the reason, but no one could figure out what had actually happened. There were only vague guesses that it might be related to the previous incident of serving during illness.

Unfortunately, the only ones who might know, Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong, were not forthcoming. Consort Hui went quickly, but her inability to hide her displeasure afterward made it clear she’d been snubbed by Consort Tongjia.

Recently, the eldest prince returned, and for a time, he was the center of attention. Consort Hui’s confidence soared, and even Consort Tongjia didn’t show respect, let alone the others.

As for Consort Rong, her frail health meant she only served for two days before feeling unwell again. Those who wanted to visit her at Yonghe Palace were afraid of catching her illness.

After the Grand Empress Dowager visited Consort Rong, she too had to rest due to illness. Consort Tongjia also suffered from heatstroke, which was just from being in contact with Consort Rong for a while. Some steered clear of Yonghe Palace to avoid getting sick, while others sent lower-ranking concubines, but Consort Rong might not even receive them.

Even though she was ill and stayed in Yonghe Palace, the Emperor did not neglect Consort Rong, so they couldn't guess what had really happened.

In the court, the long-dormant practice of foot-binding was suddenly brought up again.

Coincidentally, a family's daughter, unable to bear the pain of foot-binding, hanged herself at night. To cover up the incident, they planned to handle the aftermath quietly, but somehow the news spread, causing a huge uproar.

There were several opinions about women who couldn't bear the pain of foot-binding and chose to end their lives.

One is that there are many women in the country who have bound feet, so why can others endure it while she cannot? Her body and skin are inherited from her parents, yet she chose to hang herself, causing her parents to suffer the pain of losing a child. This is truly disrespectful to her parents.

Second, foot binding is also for the sake of the family's daughter, to ensure she can marry well in the future. She failed to grasp this well-meaning intention, choosing suicide over enduring it, disregarding the feelings of her elders.

Another view is simply not agreeing with foot binding for women, but compared to the first two, this opinion is much less common. Therefore, those who speak out against foot binding are unanimously targeted, with various ethical arguments listed to refute them. In the end, unable to withstand the opposition, fewer dare to speak out.

Originally, this matter was just a folk issue, not something that would come to the emperor's attention.

After all, even though the emperor had previously banned foot binding, with many being punished, over time it was no longer enforced, leading to a resurgence of the practice. Most families with daughters secretly bound their feet at home.

The Grand Empress Dowager strongly opposed Han women entering the palace for this very reason. If a daughter of the Eight Banners was to be selected for the palace, she could not have bound feet, or she would not pass the Grand Empress Dowager's scrutiny. If not for this, there might have been women within the Eight Banners who would have bound their feet.

This would not have come to the emperor's attention, but some ministers reported it, and the emperor's reaction was unexpected. Although the emperor had previously banned foot binding, he was still young at the time and had not shown much aversion to it.

Regarding foot binding, men generally did not see it as a big issue. Some strongly agreed with it, some disagreed, and others neither agreed nor opposed it—they simply did not consider it a significant matter.

Unexpectedly, upon learning about it, the emperor immediately expressed clear disgust, causing some ministers who kept Yangzhou "skinny horses" (concubines) or had concubines with bound feet to feel uneasy.

The emperor's aversion to foot binding was evident, but some of his subordinates still admired the small feet of women.

As they worried whether the emperor would reissue a strict ban on foot binding, they prepared to endure a period of caution, feeling dissatisfied with the colleague who brought up the issue but unable to act against him due to his status.

There were factional struggles among the ministers, and some were favored by the emperor, making them untouchable.

But unexpectedly, the emperor did not revert to the previous harsh punishments for foot binding. Instead, he adopted a new method that, while seemingly less severe, was more effective!

Now, if a woman had bound feet, her father would also face punishment. Previously, it was forty lashes and exile, which was too harsh. Now, the father would be publicly forced to undergo foot binding.

This was highly improper, even more so than the previous punishment of forty lashes and exile.

Being publicly forced to undergo foot binding like a woman was not only painful but also utterly humiliating, turning the person into a laughingstock.

The first to be made an example of was the father of the woman who couldn't bear the pain of foot binding and whose story had spread widely.

When he was publicly subjected to foot binding, it was said that his screams could be heard from miles away. The pain made him cry and his nose run uncontrollably, turning it into an extremely humiliating spectacle.

This method proved even more effective than the previous one. Families with daughters who hadn't yet started foot binding or had just begun quickly ceased the practice, fearing they might be the next to be publicly humiliated. They couldn't endure the shame.

Of course, some were doubtful, thinking it was overblown. How painful could foot binding be? Endure it, and it would be over. A real man should be able to withstand this small hardship for the sake of his daughter's future marriage prospects.

But when it was their turn to be made an example of, their screams were even louder.

They completely lost their earlier composure, some even fainting from the pain before the process was complete, turning it into an utterly humiliating experience.

After several such incidents, the practice of foot binding quickly lost its popularity.

Those who had previously insisted that women should bind their feet no longer dared to speak out. Those who had been silenced and opposed to foot binding now emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

This new method of punishment proved immediately effective, but some ministers still raised objections.

To this, Kangxi naturally did not need to personally refute these dissenting ministers. His officials did so on his behalf.

If women can endure it, how can a grown man not? Foot binding starts from childhood, meaning even children can endure it. Yet after one round, these men cannot bear it, showing how they previously thought this pain could be endured.

The remarks were laced with sarcasm, striking a nerve with those old-fashioned, feudal-minded ministers.

Whenever they tried to bring up their theories on why women should bind their feet, they were met with sharp, mocking retorts, implying that the emperor disliked this practice and questioning whether their dissatisfaction was with the ban on foot binding or with the emperor himself.

This was essentially a rogue tactic. The emperor sat above, listening, and such a large accusation of disrespect toward the emperor was thrown at them, igniting their anger.

The two sides were arguing so fiercely, their faces flushed and necks bulging. If they weren’t in the Golden Luan Hall, they might have rolled up their sleeves and come to blows.

Kangxi sat above, watching the ministers argue, but he still had no intention of changing his mind. He even added a new criterion to the performance evaluations: if there were women with bound feet in their families in the future, they would be demoted accordingly.

The ministers, still arguing, were instantly dumbfounded. Even if they had lingering objections, they didn’t dare speak up.

This was about their careers, unlike before. It wasn’t worth jeopardizing one’s career over women with bound feet. Since the Emperor despised it, there were plenty of women with natural feet, and there was no need to affect one’s career for this.

Thus, the once-persistent trend of foot binding began to fade.

Kangxi’s earlier strict bans had failed, and the practice soon rebounded and regained popularity. Now, with this new approach, the results were quicker and more effective, and it wasn’t even considered harsh. After all, compared to forty lashes and exile, which often led to death, this was far milder.

But it was also incredibly sharp.

Kangxi had to admit that Consort Rong’s idea struck right at the heart of the issue. Without understanding, let them feel the consequences themselves. Those who dismissed foot binding as trivial now faced career consequences, hitting them where it mattered most.

When the noble families and officials stopped practicing foot binding, those below naturally followed suit. As the suffering and humiliation weren’t worth it.

Of course, Kangxi was as shrewd as ever. What appeared sudden had actually been orchestrated by him from the start. The initial opposition was part of the plan, and though it was meant to be secret, it leaked out. In court, he had his allies raise the issue, and he naturally took notice. What followed was a natural sequence of events.

For the women of today, this was a good thing.

No longer shackled by the tradition of foot binding, forced to cater to men’s desires, starting in childhood, their bones deformed, they endured constant pain, all for the sake of achieving three-inch golden lotuses, hoping to secure a good marriage.

The cycle repeated, even worsening, as those below also idolized foot binding.

When Su Yi heard, she laughed for ages. It was a shame she couldn’t see men having their feet bound.

Of course, it was also the first time she praised Kangxi, her words so sweet and sincere that even Kangxi, with his iron self-control, couldn’t help but bask in her rare, heartfelt praise.

After all, it wasn’t often that Consort Rong praised anyone so earnestly.

It’s also worth noting that the Crown Prince had come of age, and Kangxi had completed the expansion of the Yuqing Palace for him. The Crown Prince was to move from the Qianqing Palace to the Yuqing Palace, rather than staying in the Princes’ Residence.

Baocheng, being the Crown Prince, naturally deserved his own palace.

The little milk dragon accepted it well; he had indeed grown up. Moreover, his younger third brother had already moved to the Princes’ Residence, so this was nothing for him.

To make up for the birthday celebration that wasn’t held due to the earthquake, this move was accompanied by a grand celebration.

For a time, the Crown Prince’s prominence was unmatched, even surpassing the Eldest Prince, who had been praised by the Emperor for his archery and equestrian skills. After all, the Emperor had specially expanded the Yuqing Palace for the Crown Prince, making it the Eastern Palace, while the Eldest Prince lived in the Princes’ Residence.

This was incomparable.

The Crown Prince was still the Crown Prince, even if the Eldest Prince was the eldest, he could not surpass the legitimate son. There was a difference between legitimate and illegitimate.

The servants spread this privately, and when it reached Consort Hui’s ears, many ornaments and porcelain in her palace were 'accidentally' broken that day.

When the Eldest Prince came to the Yanxi Palace, seeing how well he had grown but still being overshadowed by the Crown Prince, Consort Hui felt a pang of heartache and couldn’t help but speak out in front of the Eldest Prince, shedding tears.

She said, "My poor son, if only the Crown Prince hadn’t been born to Empress Hesheli, and been made Crown Prince so soon after birth.

According to the order of birth, even if the Crown Prince is the Emperor’s legitimate son, it shouldn’t be like this now, with the Eldest Prince having all the limelight taken away. Clearly, my Eldest Prince is more outstanding than the Crown Prince, but in terms of status, he can only be second to the Crown Prince!"

How could Consort Hui accept this? She secretly resented that so many princes had died young, and why Empress Hesheli didn’t take the Crown Prince with her when she passed away, leaving the Crown Prince behind.

If the Crown Prince had died in Empress Hesheli’s womb and hadn’t been born, perhaps for the sake of the Eldest Prince, to make him the legitimate eldest son...

Why would the Emperor have made the Crown Prince so early!

The more Consort Hui thought about it, the more upset she became, and the tears kept falling.

Seeing Consort Hui’s sadness, the Eldest Prince, who was already not very close to his second brother the Crown Prince, felt increasingly discontented, not just for Consort Hui, but also for himself.

They were both the Emperor’s sons. He was the Emperor’s eldest son, the big brother, yet the second brother didn’t have to bow to him, while he, the big brother, still had to bow to his younger second brother.