Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Before Su Yi left, she leaned over and hugged the little milk dragon. "Remember to apply medicine to the wound on your face, okay?" she reminded him, feeling a bit uneasy.

The little milk dragon, already reluctant about Su Yi's departure, now had a small emotional outburst. "Consort Rong! I got it," he said.

Next time the little milk dragon fights, he knows to protect his face! It's all his elder brother's fault for hitting his face.

Su Yi laughed, amused by his reaction, and let him go.

Despite his earlier outburst, the little milk dragon now obediently bid Su Yi farewell. "Consort Rong, take care on your way."

"Mm, I know."

Liang Jiugong specifically instructed his adopted son, the eunuch Wei Zhu, whom he was grooming, to accompany Consort Rong on her way back.

"You, young man, be sharp. Don't let anything go wrong on the way," Liang Jiugong whispered to Wei Zhu, who nodded solemnly, indicating he understood.

"What could go wrong in the palace? Eunuch Liang, you make it sound like I'm a hot potato," Su Yi, sitting on the shoulder sedan, turned around and said to him with a smile.

Liang Jiugong didn't expect Consort Rong to respond to him and quickly apologized with a smile, "Oh, Your Ladyship, we wouldn't dare think that. It's just that I'm afraid this young eunuch might neglect Your Ladyship, so I couldn't help but remind him to be fully alert."

Sometimes, Consort Rong really was like a hot potato; whoever crossed her would be unlucky.

Even the Emperor had to yield and indulge her.

If Consort Rong hadn't shown up today, the Crown Prince would have surely suffered.

Even if the Emperor wanted to favor the Crown Prince, it wouldn't be too obvious, but Consort Hui was no match for Consort Rong.

Even though Consort Rong was teasing, Liang Jiugong had to respond cautiously.

Wei Zhu rarely saw his master so cautious; usually, only in front of the Emperor. But he was smart, "This servant, Wei Zhu, greets Your Ladyship."

"Eunuch Liang, no need to be so cautious. I was just joking. Eunuch Wei, you look quite handsome with your red lips and white teeth, very sharp and eloquent."

Su Yi, in a good mood, complimented him. Young eunuchs could be quite handsome, with red lips and white teeth. Xiao Yunzi and Wei Zhu were of this type, truly pleasing to the eye.

The less attractive ones were truly not good-looking.

Wei Zhu, seeing Consort Rong's approachable attitude, flattered, "This servant is grateful for Your Ladyship's compliment."

Liang Jiugong suddenly remembered that his adopted eunuch son was indeed quite good-looking. He had momentarily forgotten Consort Rong's preference for good looks.

It was too late to replace him now.

Consort Rong wouldn't ask the Emperor to transfer Wei Zhu to Yonghe Palace, would she? Liang Jiugong thought uncertainly.

Otherwise, he could just imagine the Emperor's reaction.

He should have called another adopted eunuch son who wasn't so good-looking.

After Su Yi left, the atmosphere in the hall grew oppressive once more.

Kangxi sat calmly, silently toying with the jade ring on his finger, his intimidating aura making everyone feel the pressure.

At this moment, he was the only one sitting.

The little milk dragon knelt down again, knowing that his imperial father was still angry.

Just now, when Consort Rong was present, the Emperor had held back from venting his anger in front of her. Now that she had been sent away, the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, and it was clear the matter wasn’t over.

The eldest prince, pulled by Consort Hui, also knelt down, his heart was filled with unease, no longer as confident as he had initially pretended.

She now vaguely understood why Consort Rong had seemingly concernedly asked if she had injured her foot as soon as she entered.

It was likely that Consort Rong had already set a trap for her, waiting for her to admit she had a foot injury.

Then, using a little white snake from who knows where to scare her, causing her to slip up in front of the Emperor in a moment of panic!

This completely undermined all the groundwork she had laid earlier.

After stirring up trouble, Consort Rong had easily retreated, leaving her and the eldest prince in a difficult position before the Emperor, back to square one, or even in a worse position than before.

The eldest prince was no longer as defiant or unwilling to admit defeat as before. He seemed to realize his mother had played a part in this farce, and the Emperor was also deeply dissatisfied with his performance today.

When Consort Rong was present, he had dared to confront her boldly in front of the Emperor, but now he did not dare to make a sound.

After sending Consort Rong away, Liang Jiugong cautiously re-entered, walking as silently as a shadow.

"Who did you send to accompany her?" Kangxi asked.

"Your Majesty, it was my adopted son, Wei Zhu," Liang Jiugong replied nervously.

The Emperor, busy with countless affairs, probably wouldn’t remember that Wei Zhu was rather handsome, right?

"I have some impression of him. He’s clever and handsome."

Exactly the type Consort Rong would like. Liang Jiugong certainly knows how to pick people, Kangxi thought, giving Liang Jiugong a meaningful look.

Liang Jiugong was already sweating heavily, awkwardly replying, "That boy hardly deserves such praise from Your Majesty."

What he feared most had come true. The Emperor had indeed thought of this.

Fortunately, Kangxi only mentioned it briefly and did not elaborate further.

"The eldest prince's study companion, who failed in his duty to guide the prince, shall be replaced. He shall also receive twenty lashes and be sent back."

He had already been punished earlier for failing to intervene, and now an additional twenty lashes would surely be unbearable.

The eldest prince wanted to say something, but Consort Hui quickly stopped him, knowing this wasn’t the time to argue with the Emperor over a study companion.

Even though this study companion was her nephew, and she had promoted him because he was family and would look out for the eldest prince, making him the prince's study companion.

Now that the study companion was being replaced, Consort Hui grew even more worried about the new candidate.

"As for the new study companion, I have someone else in mind," Kangxi added, as if knowing what Consort Hui was thinking.

This implied that Consort Hui need not worry about the new study companion, or that the Nala family should not interfere in the selection of the eldest prince's new study companion.

He would personally choose a more suitable study companion for the eldest prince.

Consort Hui's face turned even paler. The Emperor’s words were clearly directed at her.

It was simply believed that the previous study companion had acted under her instructions, inciting the eldest prince, so the new study companion would no longer be chosen by her, the mother, to prevent another incident like today's royal brawl.

"As for the others, eliminate them all."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liang Jiugong was not the least bit surprised. Except for the study companion from the Nala family, whom the Emperor spared out of consideration for the Nala family, those reckless servants had only themselves to blame for their misfortune.

By getting involved and causing such a mess, how could they expect to survive? Even if Consort Rong had not been harsh, these people were still doomed to die.

"The eldest prince has a heavy academic schedule and should not be distracted. His daily needs are well attended to by the maids. Consort Hui, you need not worry excessively. You may return now."

Kangxi's expression was impassive. Although he appeared calm and did not question Consort Hui about her feigned foot injury or the earlier act, Liang Jiugong could tell that the more composed the Emperor appeared, the deeper his dissatisfaction.

It seemed as though the matter was being brushed aside, but Consort Hui would likely have sleepless nights for some time.

It was like a slow knife cutting flesh. The blade had not yet fallen, but Consort Hui, feeling guilty, would naturally be restless and unable to sleep soundly.

Consort Hui felt deeply uneasy upon hearing this. The Emperor was instructing her not to see the eldest prince too often in the future, either to prevent the prince from being distracted or to shield him from her influence as his mother.

"Your Majesty, this concubine was momentarily disoriented earlier. After a brief rest, I have recovered..."

Consort Hui was about to explain, but when she met Kangxi's emotionless gaze, which seemed to see through everything, she found herself unable to continue.

Having observed Consort Hui's antics for so long, Kangxi's patience had long since run out.

The eldest prince had only just returned, and already he was clashing with Baocheng, vying over everything.

It was impossible that Consort Hui and the Nala family had no hand in this.

The eldest prince might not yet understand, but Consort Hui and the Nala family had long wanted him to.

Mingzhu's people were also clamoring for the early establishment of a queen, undoubtedly hoping that if Consort Hui could become queen, the eldest prince could become the legitimate eldest son and potentially challenge the crown prince's position.

This change of study companion was also a rebuke to the Nala family.

The Nala family had been acting too presumptuously recently. Kangxi did not show it outwardly, even allowing court officials to recommend suitable candidates for the position of queen, but in reality, he wanted to see which factions were involved.

Many suggested Consort Hui, revealing their intentions.

Just as he was thinking of an excuse to reprimand Mingzhu, here was the perfect opportunity.

While punishing Baocheng and the eldest prince by making them kneel outside, Kangxi was not as angry as outsiders might imagine.

Compared to the overt conflicts, the hidden struggles beneath the surface were more troublesome.

Consort Hui's earlier performance and schemes were not entirely unexpected to Kangxi, but they did confirm some things.

Consort Hui, looking pale, was escorted away by Liang Jiugong.

After all, the Emperor and the princes still had matters to discuss, and it was not appropriate for him to stay and listen.

After seeing Consort Hui off, he still had to handle the tasks assigned by the Emperor.

Consort Hui, feeling weak, was supported by the maids as she left.

The more the Emperor showed no intention of punishing her, the more anxious Consort Hui became. She feared that the Emperor's dissatisfaction with her would extend to the Crown Prince.

This made her heart feel like it was being fried in oil.

If the Emperor had punished her with house arrest or ordered her to copy Buddhist scriptures or palace regulations, even though it would be embarrassing, at least it would give Consort Hui some peace of mind.

Now, not knowing when the axe might fall, how could Consort Hui not feel uneasy?

The events of today would surely leave the Emperor dissatisfied with her. If she acted as if nothing had happened, it might even implicate the Crown Prince.

In the Emperor's eyes, she was not only stirring up the Crown Prince's dissatisfaction with Consort Rong but also inciting discord between the Crown Prince and his brother, the Prince.

The Emperor had always favored the Crown Prince, and now, her son would inevitably suffer.

She could no longer overly involve herself in the Crown Prince's affairs; it was for his own good.

Otherwise, if the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Prince did not improve, the Emperor might blame her for leading the Crown Prince to compete with the Prince.

Consort Hui's eyes were somewhat vacant, as if she were lost in her own thoughts. Liang Jiugong escorted her to the palace gate, "Consort Hui, forgive this servant for speaking out of turn, but if you truly care for the Crown Prince, it would be best to heed His Majesty's words."

Consort Hui suddenly turned to look at Liang Jiugong, her expression far from pleasant, as this lowly servant dared to speak to her in such a manner.

But Consort Hui quickly realized that Liang Jiugong's words often reflected the Emperor's intentions.

Without the Emperor's tacit approval, how could Liang Jiugong dare to speak so?

"This consort thanks you for the reminder, Liang Jiugong," Consort Hui said with a forced smile.

"Your thanks are too much for this lowly servant, truly overwhelming. This servant has other matters to attend to and can only escort Consort Hui this far," Liang Jiugong said, bowing his head low.

Consort Hui gave Liang Jiugong a penetrating look, then took the maid's hand and turned to leave. Her grip was so tight that her long nails nearly dug into the maid's hand. The maid endured the pain but dared not make a sound or show any discomfort.

After Consort Hui left, Liang Jiugong looked up at her retreating figure. Consort Hui's visit would have been better left undone.

Unfortunately, with matters concerning the Crown Prince, how could Consort Hui sit still and wait for news without coming?

When the Crown Prince and the Prince fought, how could His Majesty rely solely on the words of those present? When punishing the two princes to kneel, His Majesty was not merely angry inside.

He immediately considered all possible reasons for the Crown Prince and the Prince's unusual behavior and quickly understood the general cause.

Consort Hui rushed over, and His Majesty, knowing full well, was in no hurry to see her. Not only did he want the Crown Prince and the Prince to kneel and reflect, but he was also waiting to see if Consort Rong would come.

After all, there were some things His Majesty could not say too clearly, but Consort Rong could.

When they reached the imperial garden, Wei Zhu, who had been quiet all along, felt it necessary to remind Consort Rong, as this was his main task in accompanying her.

"Consort Rong, we have arrived at the imperial garden. The little white snake must be eager to return to its home."

Indeed, the imperial garden likely has the little white snake's nest, so it was fitting to return it to where it came from.

In any other situation, the little white snake would not have received such treatment.

"Actually, keeping it for one night wouldn't be a big deal, would it? Releasing it the next day wouldn't be a problem either," Su Yi said, stroking the cool little white snake in her hand. The snake looked at her with its black bean-like eyes, affectionately nuzzling her hand, docile and clingy.

Wei Zhu had mostly heard about Consort Rong but rarely interacted with her. Thinking of his godfather's warnings and concerns before leaving, Wei Zhu had thought his godfather might be overly worried.

But now, hearing Consort Rong's words, he felt a bit uneasy.

He said that sending Consort Rong back wasn’t difficult at all, and any young eunuch could do it. However, to show respect for Consort Rong, the choice of person couldn’t be made casually.

"Your Ladyship, this might not be a good idea. I heard that Your Ladyship also keeps a cat, and some cats can be quite possessive. They can't stand their master's attention being divided by other pets. Moreover, this little white snake is so small, it probably wouldn’t stand a chance against the cat."

Wei Zhu was desperately trying to persuade her.

If Consort Rong really took the little white snake back, how would he explain it to his mentor? He couldn’t even handle such a small task properly.

"Guogaitou doesn’t eat snakes. His favorite is dried fish, so it shouldn’t be a problem."

(Kangxi: What did I say?)

Wei Zhu said with a bitter smile, "Your Ladyship, when pets vie for attention, things can get unpredictable.

This little white snake might have a mate waiting for it. If it doesn’t return, and Your Ladyship releases it tomorrow, it might not be able to find its mate."

It probably has a mate, right? Whether it does or not doesn’t affect his current desperate attempt to fabricate a reason.

He was on the verge of kneeling. If Consort Rong really took the little white snake back...

Seeing this, Su Yi decided not to tease him anymore and reluctantly conceded, "Alright then."

She lowered her wrist, and the little white snake, which had been coiled around her wrist, nuzzled the back of her hand before slithering down from her wrist.

It slid across the ground and soon vanished into the grass, out of sight.

Wei Zhu, seeing the little white snake disappear, finally breathed a sigh of relief. The task wasn’t a failure, and that was great.

He quickly arranged for Consort Rong to be escorted away from the imperial garden, afraid she might change her mind and want to retrieve the little white snake. That would be disastrous.

"Eunuch Wei, you’re quite articulate. I didn’t hear you speak before, and I thought you were shy. Turns out you’re quite sharp."

Wei Zhu’s relief didn’t last long. He wasn’t shy; he was just being cautious, afraid of saying too much and making Consort Rong unhappy.

Now that Consort Rong was speaking, he naturally had to respond.

He chose his words carefully, "Thank you for your praise, Your Ladyship. Just call me Wei Zhu. I don’t deserve to be called 'Eunuch Wei.'

I was afraid of bothering Your Ladyship earlier, so I didn’t dare to speak, lest I upset you."

Su Yi spoke gently, her smile warm and deceptive, "No need to be so tense. I’m very laid-back and get along well with others."

She said this without a hint of guilt or blush.

Clearly, she truly believed it.

The maids attending Consort Rong became even quieter, their breathing softer than before.

Wei Zhu had few opportunities to interact with Consort Rong, but he was good at reading people. He could tell whether a consort was being polite or genuine.

However, Consort Rong really did seem gentle and approachable. Though he didn’t dare to take it at face value, compared to earlier, the conversation had opened up.

Using the flattering words and experience he usually employed with his mentor, he managed to keep Consort Rong smiling throughout the journey, occasionally exchanging a few words.

Qinxin and Xiao Yunzi, the two personal attendants, remained quiet, giving Wei Zhu all the space to perform.

When they arrived at Yonghe Palace, Wei Zhu thought, "We arrived so quickly."

But as he left Yonghe Palace and walked back, the cool breeze seemed to clear his slightly fevered mind.

When he first set out, didn’t he plan to observe more and speak less along the way?

How did it end up with him doing all the talking the whole way?

When they arrived at Yonghe Palace, he still felt like he hadn’t said enough.

His impression of Consort Rong was still quite positive.

With any other consort, even if he had to keep the conversation going, he’d have been on edge, mentally counting the minutes.

This time, he didn’t even notice the time passing, and they’d already arrived.

He was still holding the lamp Consort Rong had the maids give him for lighting the way back. She really was quite considerate.

His godfather had warned him earlier, making him think Consort Rong would be a difficult mistress to serve, but on the contrary, she was quite easy to get along with.

Wei Zhu rushed back and reported to his godfather as soon as he arrived.

After hearing him out, Liang Jiugong noticed the boy’s cheerful demeanor and realized he had a very positive impression of Consort Rong.

He really wanted to knock some sense into the boy.

Seeing his godfather’s tight smile, Wei Zhu cautiously called out, “Godfather, what’s wrong with you?”

“You boy, everything I’ve taught you goes in one ear and out the other,” Liang Jiugong said, swatting him with his horsetail whisk.

Wei Zhu flinched, not daring to retort.

“Don’t be naive. Anyone who can hold their ground in the palace is no ordinary person.”

Those who are truly naive probably wouldn’t survive in the harem.

Besides, Consort Rong isn’t perfect—she’s not someone who’s flawless in every way.

If you listed Consort Rong’s flaws in front of His Majesty, there’d be plenty, but so what?

What’s important is that despite these flaws, His Majesty still favors Consort Rong.

No other consort in the harem has ever enjoyed such favor.

This fool still thinks Consort Rong is simple. He really needs to wake up.

After hearing this, Wei Zhu realized he wasn’t as clever as he thought.

He’d let his guard down around Consort Rong, forming a better impression of her than other consorts.

Normally, he’d have been on high alert, but this time, he’d slipped up.

What does this tell you? Consort Rong’s charm is dangerously effective.

His godfather was right—he still had a lot to learn.

He leaned in and whispered, pointing, “Still no sign of them?”

He was referring to the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince. He’d already been back and forth, but they still hadn’t emerged.

As soon as he asked, he got another swat with the whisk. “Forgot already?”

“Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Wei Zhu clutched his head and promptly apologized.

But it wasn't something he couldn't say, "I just delivered a cushion inside."

This was likely a show for others, kneeling outside, and it wasn't over yet.

But out of concern for the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince's health, cushions were sent in.

After Consort Hui returned, she discovered that the maid she had permitted to discuss her melancholy with the Eldest Prince had indeed vanished.

A new maid from the Imperial Household Department would arrive tomorrow.

Consort Hui first vented her anger, then sat quietly, summoned people to tidy up, and prepared Buddhist scriptures and writing materials.

She intended to copy the scriptures and send them to the Qianqing Palace.

She needed to demonstrate her remorse; doing something was better than nothing.

Afraid of more trouble, she didn't dare let any maids assist; Consort Hui copied everything herself.

She then declared she would close her doors to visitors for a few days to avoid inquiries, effectively reflecting on her mistakes.

Yonghe Palace

"Your Highness, when you rushed over today, the scene terrified me so much I barely dared to breathe."

She wasn't allowed inside, but she wasn't idle either.

Heaven knows, while directing people to hang and torment others, despite her calm and composed demeanor, she was quite nervous inside.

After all, this was the Qianqing Palace.

If not for Xiao Yunzi's composed demeanor, she would have panicked.

When Liang Jiugong emerged, not just the others, but she too thought, it's finally over.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it with practice." Su Yi said nonchalantly, as if it were routine.

Qinxin: Your Highness really overestimates her! Practice, indeed.

"But, Your Highness, won't the Emperor be displeased with your actions today..."

Today, Your Highness's position was shaky; after all, even with a close relationship, you're not the Crown Prince's birth mother.

The Emperor hasn't officially allowed Your Highness to raise the Crown Prince.

So Your Highness's actions might lead others to think you're presuming to be the Crown Prince's mother.

If even the Emperor thinks so, she fears he might suspect Your Highness of ulterior motives, using the Crown Prince to covet the throne.

"Probably not," Su Yi said, somewhat uncertain.

This made Qinxin even more anxious.

"See, I say probably not, and you worry more. If I said yes, you'd be even more anxious; if I said no, you probably wouldn't believe me." Su Yi shrugged.

With an expression that said she didn't know what to do with her.

"Your Highness!" Qinxin knew full well that Her Highness was teasing her again.

"Okay, don't overthink it," Su Yi said, yawning slightly.

Seeing this, Qinxin stepped forward to help her mistress lie down and adjusted the blanket. "My Lady, please rest. I will take my leave now."

Then she tiptoed out, quietly and carefully closing the door behind her.

Su Yi wasn't actually tired. Sometimes, pretending to be sleepy was just a good way to end a conversation.

Today's trip was basically her acting as the jerk's mouthpiece.

On the way, when questioned about the reason, she easily uncovered a chain of people involved.

It was as if everything had been prepared for her to take advantage of the situation, just waiting for her to step in and take action.

She doubted that the jerk didn't have a hand in this.

Although it saved her some trouble, she still felt frustrated, as if she had been made the villain and had to bear the blame.

Yet, the jerk acted as if he was going along with her, which only added to the resentment she felt.

Qianqing Palace

The eldest prince and the crown prince were still just young kids. After kneeling for a while, even though the cushions beneath them were thick, their legs still got numb.

Later, as they got tired, they ended up falling asleep while kneeling, half on the cushions and half on the floor.

The maids, who were keeping a close eye on them, quickly reported to find out what should be done.

Should they wake them up, or let them sleep like this all night? They wouldn't be able to handle it, and they might get sick.

Soon, someone came to take care of the eldest prince properly.

Since the crown prince had been staying in Qianqing Palace, he was just taken back to his previous residence.

Little milk dragon woke up again after a short while because his face felt itchy and uncomfortable.

When he opened his eyes and saw that it was his imperial father, he immediately woke up fully.

Kangxi was holding medicine to apply, clearly not very skilled at it, and not as gentle as the maids, which woke little milk dragon up.

After little milk dragon recognized who it was, he awkwardly called out, "Imperial Father," and then the bruise on his face was poked without warning by his imperial father.

"Ouch!" Why did Imperial Father poke his wound, right on his face?