Chapter 182

Chapter 182

Su Yi frowned, feeling a bit put out. "Are you really scolding me?"

"Why are you getting angry at me?" Su Yi took a deep breath.

While Kangxi was still confused from the double questioning, she continued, "I wish the Imperial Noble Consort was mine too, but she's yours now! And now you're rubbing it in my face." The madder she got, the more she ranted, even rolling up her sleeves.

"Rubbing it in?!" Kangxi was shocked. How is that rubbing it in? Wait, no...

"Yeah, you were totally showing off," Su Yi replied with conviction.

Su Yi, who understood perfectly, was also very angry!

She could handle the bragging.

But this jerk had the audacity to yell at her? He got everything, and now he's getting angry at her???

What the hell is going on!

Does this jerk think we're idiots if we don't blow up?!

The madder Su Yi got, the more intense she became, even overshadowing the originally sour Kangxi.

Things took a weird turn fast.

Kangxi went silent after hearing Su Yi.

He started to wonder if he remembered wrong. How did he end up rubbing it in?

What was he showing off?!!

Why is this brat acting so self-righteous?!

Because of Su Yi's intensity and self-righteousness, Kangxi couldn't help but recall what he had just said.

What went wrong?

"Hold on, I was just..." Kangxi reorganized his thoughts, preparing to explain.

"Just what? You’ve got everything going for you! And you’re still throwing shade at me. I haven’t even started to feel sour, and you're already souring me. Do you even hear yourself? This is ridiculous! Just leave me alone!"

The madder Su Yi got, the more she ranted, and finally, she slammed her hand down with a loud 'bang,' making the floor cave in.

At the same time, due to the sudden loud 'bang' from the sedan, it shook and came to a stop.

The servants were all clueless about what had happened, what that loud 'bang' was about.

Only Liang Jiugong and Qinxin, who were closest, heard that it seemed like an argument, and from the sound of it, it was quite serious.

Liang Jiugong and Qinxin's hearts skipped a beat from the loud 'bang.'

Immediately after, Liang Jiugong and Qinxin saw Rong Noble Consort angrily and fiercely stepping down from the sedan.

"Your Highness?" Qinxin was dumbfounded by the sudden situation. From being close, she had vaguely heard some of it. It seemed like the Emperor was the one being sour, so why was the Noble Consort the one getting angry?

They saw the Noble Consort walking very quickly, her back seemingly carrying the wind, and Qinxin gritted her teeth and hurried to follow.

The servants behind, carrying the Noble Consort's shoulder sedan, were at a loss, unsure whether to follow or not.

Are you planning to follow Rong Noble Consort and leave His Majesty behind?!

Su Yi's words stunned Kangxi so much that he didn't react immediately, and she had already left him behind.

Kangxi sat there in the sedan chair, holding the cat, momentarily stunned. If not for the sedan chair hiding his expression, no one would believe Kangxi could look so dumbfounded.

Kangxi looked at the dent beside him and then at the cat in his arms, which was too scared to move.

He kept looking back and forth, his expression utterly confused.

The scene among the onlookers was eerily quiet.

They had just seen Rong Noble Consort storming off and leaving the Emperor behind.

"Your Majesty, it seems Rong Noble Consort has truly left," Liang Jiugong whispered cautiously from the side.

"...Do you think I don't know that?!" Kangxi replied with a scowl.

Sensing that His Majesty's mood was at its worst, Liang Jiugong asked even more carefully, "Then... Your Majesty, shall we return to the Palace of Heavenly Purity?"

There was no avoiding it. Could they really just stay stuck on the road?

His Majesty had planned to go to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, but after Rong Noble Consort's angry outburst, she stormed off, leaving him behind. It seemed unlikely they could go to the Palace of Eternal Harmony now.

He couldn’t help but think treasonously—if they went to the Palace of Eternal Harmony now, His Majesty might very well be kicked out by Rong Noble Consort, who was still fuming.

It’s entirely possible.

Others might not dare, but Rong Noble Consort wouldn’t hesitate when angry.

Liang Jiugong didn’t dare ask if they should continue to the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

But he also didn’t dare ask His Majesty if they should go to another palace, because if Rong Noble Consort and His Majesty later reconciled, he’d be the one to pay the price. It was safer to return to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

"You fool, if I'm not returning to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, should I go to the Palace of Eternal Harmony instead?!" Kangxi snapped.

What would become of my dignity?!

Feeling the suppressed anger in His Majesty's voice, Liang Jiugong ducked his head, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Then he signaled to the servants to stop dawdling and quickly change course to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!

He also waved to those behind, signaling them to hurry up and follow Rong Noble Consort, instead of lingering like statues.

After walking angrily for a while, Su Yi gradually stopped, as if remembering something, and looked at her empty hands. "I think I forgot something," Su Yi said belatedly.

Looking at Qinxin, who had struggled to catch up, she was slightly out of breath. Seeing Her Ladyship’s gesture and hearing her say she seemed to have forgotten something, Qinxin also looked bewildered. It did feel like something was missing...!

"Pothead! Pothead’s still with His Majesty!"

"Pothead! Pothead’s still with that idiot!"

Su Yi and Qinxin exclaimed in unison, then both fell into silence.

On the other side, Kangxi looked down at Pothead in his arms. Pothead's cat face still looked shocked, with an expression of disbelief, as if it couldn't believe that its dear human had left it behind!

Kangxi, seeing Pothead's incredulous expression, lifted it by the armpits and brought it face to face, teasing the chubby cat, "Look, your owner has abandoned you."

It really had the same annoying vibe as teasing a child with 'Your mom doesn't want you anymore.'

Kangxi wasn't done yet and added another jab, "She just left you with me and doesn't plan to take care of you anymore."

"Meow! Meow! Meow!" Let me go! You’re lying! You stinky two-legged creature!

Guogaitou meowed fiercely, grumbling and struggling, trying to perform a carp roll with its chubby body to escape from Kangxi's grip, but it didn’t succeed.

Kangxi, completely unaware that he was bullying a small, helpless, and pitiful kitten, continued to mock, "She usually cuddles and hugs you all the time, but now she’s left you behind."

Guogaitou: Why is this two-legged creature so annoying? It’s so gross!!

"You’re so useless."

The more Kangxi spoke, the colder his expression grew, his eyes looking fierce enough to scare the little kitten.

The chubby kitten started to yowl, thrashing around wildly. Kangxi almost lost his grip, and if he had, it might have run away, making it troublesome to find later.

Kangxi could only pull the cat back into his arms, his tone sinister, with a hint of intimidation, "Why are you running? You think I’d eat you?"

It was pretty scary. Guogaitou thought this stinky two-legged creature might really eat it!

"Meow~" Guogaitou softly meowed, using a high-pitched, cutesy voice, rubbing against his clothes, trying to soften the human's heart with its cooing, which usually worked.

"You’re a male cat, cut it out." Kangxi remained unmoved, even a bit disdainful.

A male cat, meowing and even clingier than a female cat.

Guogaitou didn’t understand the words but could feel the disdain in Kangxi’s tone, and immediately became dejected.

It was hard to believe that the kitten’s usually effective cooing didn’t work on this stinky two-legged creature.

What kind of two-legged creature is this, so heartless, able to resist a cute kitten’s charm?!

Guogaitou: Does this two-legged creature have no heart?!

The cold-hearted Kangxi sat in silence, holding the dejected Guogaitou.

Until he heard Liang Jiugong say in surprise, "Miss Qinxin, why are you back?" Kangxi leaned slightly to one side, his ears perking up like Guogaitou’s, listening to the commotion outside, his expression still very cold, his eyes icy.

Then he heard Qinxin say, "Eunuch Liang, Her Majesty left in such a rush that she forgot Guogaitou, so she sent me to fetch it back."

Liang Jiugong chuckled, "Is that so?" Thinking to himself, wow, she remembered to send someone back for the cat but didn’t even check on His Majesty.

"Your Majesty, the cat..."

Then they heard Kangxi coldly reply, "No." Directly keeping the cat.

What a bossy response.

Both Liang Jiugong and Qinxin were shocked by this bossy move.

Liang Jiugong signaled Qinxin to step aside for a talk.

Qinxin, feeling stressed, followed Eunuch Liang aside.

Liang Jiugong no longer pretended, his face bitter, whispering, "Miss Qinxin, I’m really stuck here, maybe you should go back and let Her Majesty know."

He couldn’t just snatch the cat back from His Majesty.

He was really in a tough spot. His Majesty’s mood might be all over the place from now on, putting his skills as the chief eunuch to the test.

The life of a chief eunuch always becomes particularly challenging at times like these.

Qinxin replied with a wooden face, "I understand."

If she knew what to do, would she still be standing here, face to face with Liang Jiugong?

"Miss Qinxin, you must do a good job persuading the Imperial Noble Consort," Liang Jiugong repeated, not minding repeating himself, fearing that Qinxin hadn't taken it in.

Just as he finished speaking, they heard the Emperor cough, "Ahem!"

"Miss Qinxin, don’t forget, remember this!" Liang Jiugong hurried back, not forgetting to add one last word.

When Qinxin returned empty-handed, Su Yi looked at her and then behind her, "Where’s Guogaitou?"

Given Guogaitou’s size, how could it just disappear like that, hidden so well?

"Your Highness, Guogaitou... wasn’t returned," Qinxin said with difficulty.

"What? What do you mean it wasn’t returned?" Su Yi seemed incredulous, "Could they have kept it?!" Su Yi found it laughable as she spoke.

Then she saw Qinxin nod seriously, confirming, "The Emperor said no."

Su Yi's smile froze, her expression one of wanting to curse but stopping herself, finally managing to say, "Fine!"

"Your Highness, maybe you could..." Qinxin cautiously suggested.

"No!" Su Yi replied coldly, turning back.

Su Yi returned to Yonghe Palace, finished washing up, and lay half on the bed, angrily waving the maids away.

As the room quieted down, leaving her alone, her previously angry expression turned cold.

Bringing up feelings all of a sudden is really troublesome.

Su Yi couldn't help but sigh.

Although Su Yi had reacted immediately and caught Kangxi off guard, once Kangxi went back and thought about it calmly, he would probably guess that she had deliberately avoided the question and misinterpreted things.

She needed some time to think about what to do.

Qianqing Palace

After returning, Kangxi handed Guogaitou to Liang Jiugong, shook his clothes in irritation, and some cat hair fell off, with some still sticking to his clothes.

"You sure shed a lot," Kangxi pointed heavily at the innocent-looking Guogaitou, saying that just from holding it for a while, his clothes were covered in cat hair.

It sheds every day, but the fat cat never seems to go bald.

Liang Jiugong held Guogaitou, noticing that the cat was quite heavy, and had to switch hands to hold it steady.

"Your Majesty, how should we take care of this cat?" Qianqing Palace had never kept a cat before. Just now, when Miss Qinxin came to take the cat, Your Majesty didn't give it. Now, Qianqing Palace has a new feline master.

Kangxi glanced over coldly, "Have someone prepare a cat bed for it, and make sure it gets its usual meals."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Seeing the Emperor's displeasure, Liang Jiugong didn’t dare say anything more, quickly agreeing and instructing the servants to find two maids who are experienced with cats to look after Rong Noble Consort's cat.

Guogaitou, in an unfamiliar environment with a new circle of people, became quiet, apparently not adjusting well to the new environment.

The servants didn’t dare neglect the cat, especially since the Emperor and Rong Noble Consort were in a disagreement, and the Emperor had remembered to bring her cat back to Qianqing Palace to care for it.

Now they treated the cat like royalty, carefully preparing a temporary cat bed, making sure not to overlook anything.

Fearing the cat might feel uneasy, they prepared some dried fish that it usually eats to comfort it.

However, Pot Lid didn't touch the fish at all, stayed cautiously in its bed, its big eyes scanning the room.

Although it didn't let anyone pet it, at least it didn't make any cat noises or jump around, just kept a wary eye on its surroundings.

The servants temporarily assigned to take care of Pot Lid, seeing its behavior, spoke softly to calm it down. Afraid to startle the cat, they kept their voices low.

Then, seeing that Pot Lid hadn't shown any significant reaction, they breathed a sigh of relief. Before coming, they were worried that Rong Noble Consort's cat might be difficult to handle, fearing it might start jumping around, keep meowing, or scratch and bite people.

That would’ve been a hassle.

They had to be cautious while looking after it, even if they got scratched or bitten by the cat, they’d just have to chalk it up to bad luck.

Fortunately, Rong Noble Consort's cat, aside from being a little chubby, was quite easy to take care of, not too timid in the new surroundings, and not causing any trouble, truly low-maintenance.

The servants who had just concluded that the cat was low-maintenance had let their guard down too early.

They were quickly proven wrong.

Although they couldn’t help dozing off occasionally, especially at this time, they couldn’t watch the cat all night.

So after checking that the windows were closed and the door was shut, making sure the cat couldn’t escape, and adding some food for the cat to prevent it from getting anxious when hungry, they felt somewhat reassured and drifted off for a bit.

Then they were jolted awake by a fellow servant.

"The cat, the cat is gone." Hearing this, their drowsiness disappeared in an instant.

Looking, indeed, the window, which had been closed, was now slightly ajar. The palace windows, due to the popularity of glass, had all been replaced with patterned glass, and for ventilation, they were equipped with handles for easy opening.

Did the cat somehow open the window and escape?!

That’s bizarre!

How could the cat open the window by itself?!

But now that the cat was missing, they had to find it.

So the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit in the middle of the night, starting the search for the cat.

But soon they were told not to search anymore, the cat had been found.

Because...

Kangxi, who was already sleeping somewhat restlessly, felt as he was sleeping that his chest was very heavy, as if a big stone was pressing on it, making Kangxi feel somewhat suffocated as he slept.

He also seemed to hear some noise in his ears.

Then he heard Liang Jiugong's voice, Kangxi's eyes still not open, impatiently said, "Speak!"

Hearing the impatience in Kangxi's voice, Liang Jiugong braced himself and replied, "Your Majesty, Pot Lid is missing, we are searching for it now, so the commotion is a bit loud, we don't know where it has gone for the moment, do you think we should continue the search tomorrow?"

Kangxi opened his eyes, just about to ask how it could have gone missing, when he saw on his chest, a black and white furry head.

Not seeing clearly and not reacting, Kangxi directly pushed it aside with his hand, "What is this!" and sat up with a start.