Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Upon hearing this, Su Yi's expression softened. "I'm already better now, did I scare you, Baocheng?"

This little one isn't the type to obediently listen and stay away just because he's told not to.

If not allowed openly, he would sneak in anyway, and his compliance might be because he sensed something was off. Sometimes, the little one is exceptionally sharp and clever.

That's why his first reaction upon seeing her wasn't to immediately run over.

The little milk dragon nodded vigorously, with a choked "hmm," his eyes red, looking quite pitiful.

Su Yi gently stroked his back, as if he were really scared, comforting him. "Baocheng wants to be a brave and strong man, and a little man shouldn't be scared so easily."

The little milk dragon twisted his body, seemingly expressing dissatisfaction, but hugged tighter, pouting, "No!" It's just not the same.

Su Yi mimicked his tone, "Hmph, no way!"

Kids are only cute when they're young; once they grow up, they're not as easy to tease.

Hearing Honored Mother Consort still mimicking him, the little milk dragon puffed his cheeks and pouted angrily. He was genuinely upset.

Honored Mother Consort is an adult; why is she still so childish, mimicking him? Don't think he's too young to notice; Honored Mother Consort is just teasing him, hmph, but he was genuinely worried about her! He wasn't joking!

"Honored Mother Consort is annoying," he said, not serious at all.

Even though he called her annoying and looked pouty, the little milk dragon still clung to Su Yi without letting go.

Turning his head to sulk, he buried his face in her shoulder, very clingy and seemingly hard to coax, but a soft word could immediately make him happily snuggle, forgetting his anger and cheering up instantly.

But this time, Honored Mother Consort's illness really scared the little milk dragon. After calling her annoying, without waiting for her to say something comforting first, he immediately explained, "Baocheng didn't mean what he said just now, Honored Mother Consort can't take it seriously."

The little milk dragon's mood shifted quickly, and he even came over to snuggle.

Even when angry, he couldn't stay mad for long, a little milk bun with a great personality.

Of course, it depends on who it is.

The little milk dragon has been by Kangxi's side since he was young, naturally not lacking in food and clothing—only better—and no one dared to neglect him.

Although he's still young, being around Kangxi has made him as hard to please as a mini version of Kangxi.

This is something Consort Ping probably understands all too well.

Especially after hearing of Rong Noble Consort's recovery, the change in the servants' eyes made Consort Ping restless, as if her good days were ending, even though they had flattered her before, talking about equal standing or even surpassing.

Consort Ping's status among the newly entered palace ladies was the most noble; none of the others could compete with her.

Other concubines, due to their status and other concerns, didn't dare casually approach the Crown Prince.

Afraid of gossip, before they could even try to please the Crown Prince, they might be suspected of ulterior motives, and if something happened to the Crown Prince, it would be hard to clear their names.

Then, regardless of involvement, it's easy to be disliked and blamed.

Consort Ping, being the Crown Prince's aunt—his mother's family—it's understandable for her to interact with him.

The Hesheli family previously had no one in the palace, and even if they wanted to get closer to the Crown Prince, it was hard to manage; Suo'etu couldn't see the Crown Prince casually either.

Previously, there were arranged wet nurses and close-care nannies from the Hesheli family, serving by the Crown Prince's side daily, occasionally speaking well of the mother's family and keeping tabs on the Crown Prince's situation, but after the little Crown Prince had a smallpox scare, they were all replaced.

Following such an event, the people around the Crown Prince were all directly replaced. The Hesheli family found it difficult to arrange people to get close to the Crown Prince, making it difficult to stay informed about his current situation.

Especially with Rong Noble Consort on the side, plotting to win the Crown Prince's favor and having already received the approval of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor, even the usually composed old foxes were beginning to feel restless.

Now that someone of the right age has finally entered the palace, it is crucial to establish a closer relationship with the Crown Prince, to remind him that he still has his maternal family to depend on. No matter how much Rong Noble Consort may try, she remains an outsider. How could she be more trustworthy than his own family?

Consort Ping, regardless of her intentions, must serve as the bridge between the Hesheli family and the Crown Prince.

With Rong Noble Consort around, it is possible that any attempt to get closer to the Crown Prince could be obstructed, making things less straightforward.

But after all, they are more closely related to the Crown Prince by blood. By taking it slow, they will eventually be able to win the Crown Prince back from Rong Noble Consort's influence.

Not to mention, Rong Noble Consort fell ill and was too preoccupied to manage the Crown Prince's affairs, which seemed like a godsend.

If they do not seize this opportunity to get closer to the Crown Prince now, when will they?

Unlike the Hesheli family's steadfast belief that the Crown Prince's position is unassailable, Consort Ping has more considerations. Although she knows that betting on the Crown Prince might ultimately be a losing strategy, she has no choice but to place her bet now.

Even if the Crown Prince is eventually deposed, before that happens, no other prince can rival the Crown Prince in importance. If it were not for his own later mistakes, the Emperor's advanced age and fear of his sons, and the intense competition among the princes for the throne, who would have thought that the Crown Prince, who had held the position for so many years, could be deposed?

But that is still many years in the future. At present, the Crown Prince is still a child. Gaining his favor is another way to make an impression in front of the Emperor, and it's even more effective than directly seeking favor.

Isn't that what her predecessor did?

Consort Ping has her plans. She knows that the Crown Prince, having lost his mother at a young age, deeply craves maternal love.

Without the care and affection of his mother, and with his father being not just his father but also the Emperor of the nation, it's impossible for him to be like a father in an ordinary family.

This disparity will grow over time, which is why the Crown Prince later became very close to his grandfather, Suo'etu.

Her position naturally gives her an advantage. There's no reason why Rong Noble Consort, an outsider, can get close to the young Crown Prince, while she, with her more favorable position, cannot.

But it turns out she really can't.

She thought that the Crown Prince, despite his noble status, was ultimately just a young child. How difficult could he be? She had seen naughty children before, and they were truly difficult and annoying. The Crown Prince, no matter what, should be easier to handle than those naughty kids.

But in reality, Consort Ping, who initially thought that a child couldn't be that hard to please, ended up with a bruised ego.

She kept running into lukewarm rejections.

Gifts were accepted, but treated no differently from those sent by the Imperial Household Department. As for meeting him, forget about it.

Even when she tried to connect with the servants around the Crown Prince, they were not the ones who served him closely. They were more on the periphery, unable to get close to the Crown Prince, only able to observe from a distance. So, asking them didn't yield any useful information.

And those who 'accidentally' spoke too much in front of the Crown Prince were quickly dismissed.

Even when she finally managed to meet him, Consort Ping had to first perform a formal salute to the Crown Prince.

Consort Ping deliberately tried to act casual and friendly to bridge the distance, but the young, cute-looking Crown Prince simply maintained his proper demeanor, finding her lack of etiquette disrespectful and intentionally offensive.

Although he wouldn't hold it against her for a first offense, as a consort, she should know and follow the rules, and not deliberately break them.

Trying to take a casual, friendly approach simply didn't work. The young Crown Prince remained unmoved.

The way he looked at her actions was as if he were watching some lowly clown. Under such a gaze, even Consort Ping, who intended to pretend not to notice, found it hard to continue acting.

The servants around them were all watching closely. Consort Ping had to be careful with her words. The Crown Prince wasn't a naughty child. Even a mischievous child wouldn't be this difficult to handle.

The Crown Prince, in later generations, would be the model child that others envy. He is outstanding, but getting close to him is even harder than dealing with those annoying naughty kids.

With a mischievous child, as long as you can tolerate their antics and go along with them, they might give you a bit of a break. Or, if you're more ruthless, you could discipline them directly and then 'reason' with them—giving them a stick and a carrot, much like training a dog. (Note: This idiom refers to a strategy of combining punishment and reward.)

But none of this applies to the Crown Prince. Not only is he not mischievous, but even if he were, Consort Ping had no choice but to adopt the gentle approach of indulging his mischievous nature rather than using the dog-training method.

Consort Ping truly wishes the young Crown Prince were just an annoying brat.

The young Crown Prince's refusal to get close to her isn't just a tantrum; it's a highly refined aloofness that only makes it seem like she's desperately trying to get close on purpose, leaving Consort Ping repeatedly hitting soft nails, making no progress and even feeling increasingly disliked by him.

Even with no progress, the Hesheli family was very dissatisfied with Consort Ping, feeling she hadn't put in enough effort and didn't care about the family.

Not being able to bring the Crown Prince closer to the Hesheli family is one thing, but even after gaining favor in the palace, she couldn't speak a few words on behalf of the family in front of the Emperor to solve the current predicament of the Hesheli family.

Since Suo'etu's failure in the imperial court and his idle time at home, stripped of his official duties, this embarrassing situation hadn't changed even after Consort Ping entered the palace.

If it weren't for Consort Ping still enjoying the Emperor's favor, being immediately granted the title of Consort upon her entry into the palace without suppressing her rank, indicating that the Emperor had some room for reconciliation, the Hesheli family, after all, was the maternal family of the Crown Prince and still had some confidence to hold on. Otherwise, the Hesheli family would have fallen into a worse situation.

Regardless of Consort Ping's situation, the Hesheli family, still unable to escape their predicament, only felt that Consort Ping, who had already been granted the title of Consort, was doing nothing right, not willing to put in effort for the family, not only failing to speak for the family but also being so useless with the Crown Prince.

This blame left Consort Ping at a loss for words to express her bitterness.

She was granted the title of Consort upon her initial entry into the palace, and there were many in the harem who were green with envy, causing quite a bit of trouble for the newly arrived Consort Ping.

Before entering the palace, even with mental preparation that she couldn't avoid palace intrigue, thinking that with the system at her disposal, she should be able to handle it, it was all just pure theory. When it came to actual combat in the harem, she couldn't help but feel a bit flustered.

Upon entering, she realized that these harem women were not so easy to deal with.

Not only were there struggles among the harem women, but the relationships among the palace staff were also intricately complex.

There were many spies planted by others around her, causing trouble for Consort Ping unexpectedly. Even if she wanted to screen people upon arrival, it wasn't easy, and she didn't have any trusted confidants developed by herself.

There was only a nanny arranged by the Hesheli family by her side to advise and manage. Any action she took couldn't avoid the Hesheli family, with constant reminders to pay attention to her status and not to act on her whims, which, in Consort Ping's view, were just strange and meddlesome.

But Consort Ping really couldn't do without this experienced nanny, needing her to handle sudden matters and remind her of the tricks and schemes of the harem women, teaching her how to avoid them. Without that nanny, it really wouldn't work.

The personal maids were not as experienced or capable as her, and Consort Ping couldn't handle everything alone. She really couldn't do without that nanny and had to endure it for now, at least until she adapted to the palace intrigue and could stand on her own.

Those troubles seemed minor but were very vexing. If you really wanted to pursue them, there was no end, and it wasn't good to bring such matters before Kangxi too often, as even a man would grow annoyed.

When Consort Ping was initially upset, she also mentioned it. Upon entering the palace, she was granted such an honor, making her feel somewhat elated, with the aura of a heroine, feeling that she had caught Kangxi's eye, with some indulgence of affection within. When wronged, she naturally wanted to confide in Kangxi.

She wanted him to stand up for her, to show that she held a special place in his heart.

It was this elation that made Consort Ping feel, for the first time, the gap between reality and actuality.

These troublesome and vexing matters for her were just trivial matters before Kangxi, who even felt that bringing such minor disputes before him was very immature.

Consort Ping was cold-shouldered several times because of this, losing several opportunities to cultivate feelings, and the palace staff's fawning changed with the Emperor's attitude, leaving Consort Ping feeling as if she had been doused with cold water.

It truly reflects the saying that accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger, and the ruler's heart is hard to fathom.

She thought she could engage in a romantic relationship like in later generations, but it immediately poured cold water on her.

The palace intrigue started as soon as she entered the palace, and it wasn't on the same level as the palace intrigue seen in dramas before. What was shown in dramas for people to watch here was child's play; facing palace intrigue directly wasn't child's play.

The methods employed by those harem women in front of the Emperor, and those not in front of the Emperor, were endless.

Even because they didn't bring matters before the Emperor, they were more troublesome, with constant minor actions, making one feel as if they'd swallowed a fly.

Originally, coming from a later generation, Consort Ping felt her insights were superior to these backward women who only knew about the three obediences and four virtues, and she somewhat looked down on them in her heart, but that invisible sense of superiority was almost completely gone.

If it weren't for the system she possessed, she would have suffered many hidden losses in the palace.

She initially thought gaining favor in the palace would be easy. Despite her efforts to distinguish herself from the other women in the harem to catch the Emperor's attention and interest, the results were poor. She even ended up with two old-fashioned matrons teaching her the rules.

She wanted to introduce something different, but the Emperor was as rigid as a man with no sense of romance. When she tried to talk about feelings, he talked about rules.

Consort Ping refused to accept defeat. She thought that even if the initial results were poor, over time, the effects should show. After all, if she just mimicked the other women in the harem, it wouldn't stand out. Without novelty, how could she quickly leave a deep impression on the Emperor?

But the unpredictable favor taught Consort Ping a lesson, making her dare not stubbornly stick to one path.

Because Kangxi's favor was inconsistent. Every time it rose slightly, if Consort Ping did something slightly unsatisfactory—sometimes even she didn't know what she did wrong—the favor would immediately drop.

The slight increase in favor would just plummet, repeating this cycle like a cruel joke. Every time Consort Ping heard the system's alert, her heart felt like it was on a rollercoaster.

The frightening aspect was that Kangxi showed no outward signs of displeasure. If it weren't for the drop in favor, Consort Ping wouldn't have even noticed he was unhappy.

However, Consort Ping did see Kangxi more frequently than the other concubines. But Rong Noble Consort, even when ill, wouldn't remain silent.

She always sent palace attendants to invite Kangxi at the most inappropriate times, and Consort Ping's people couldn't stop them. Every time, Kangxi would be taken away.

This strategy infuriated Consort Ping. Wasn't this just a blatant ploy to steal him away?!

Initially, Consort Ping despised such tactics, thinking it was a weak excuse to use illness to take Kangxi away. It was such an obvious trick that whether it worked or not depended entirely on the man's attitude.

She acted somewhat resigned but didn't prevent Kangxi from leaving. However, Consort Ping believed that while stealing him away once or twice might be effective, doing it too often would seem too deliberate and ugly. Even a man would lose patience, let alone the Emperor.

Using such easily exposed tricks in front of him, once or twice could be seen as playful and maintaining face, but doing it too often would make it seem like they were treating him like a fool. How could the Emperor always be so tolerant? Consort Ping felt that her senior was engaging in a rather low-level game.

She almost wished to see her attempt it a few more times to test Kangxi's patience.

When the next excuse of feeling unwell was used to steal Kangxi away, Consort Ping no longer pretended to be fine. She showed her displeasure and resentment.

She wanted to take the opportunity to show that she wasn't without temper, hoping to evoke some pity from Kangxi for leaving her behind several times and to express her impatience with Rong Noble Consort's repeated antics.

Consort Ping believed Kangxi couldn't be blind to these women's tactics. Using illness as an excuse to steal him away was just a common trick in the harem, and she didn't believe Kangxi wouldn't feel some impatience.

She thought it was necessary to teach the other woman a lesson, to make her lose face just enough to rein her in. Otherwise, it would be a disservice to the experience she had gained from Kangxi's unpredictable behavior.

But at this moment, Kangxi wasn't the infuriatingly rigid man.

He genuinely seemed oblivious to the fact that the other woman was deliberately inviting him at such a "convenient" time and was about to leave to see her.

Even when he saw Consort Ping's resentment and anger, he just told her not to be temperamental, that the Noble Consort was unwell, and he would go see her and return soon.

Consort Ping: ?!

But in the end, he never came back, as if he was stuck there.

Saying he would return soon was just a hollow excuse, and Consort Ping actually held onto the hope that Kangxi would indeed return swiftly.

Deep down, she knew it was mere pretense, but she couldn't help clinging to the "what if" thought. The result, of course, was that she never saw him return.

Consort Ping was utterly exasperated. Facing this situation was like a boyfriend dealing with a manipulative woman. She could see through the other woman's tactics at a glance and felt the sting, but the man just couldn't see it and expected her to be understanding and not act out.

Rong Noble Consort used the excuse of illness to invite Kangxi, not just once or twice, but almost every time!

And yet, the usually difficult and unpredictable Kangxi fell for it every time. If Consort Ping pretended everything was fine, Kangxi would just assume she was fine and leave.

If she showed her displeasure, he would offer a few token words of comfort, saying he'd return soon, and then leave. And oddly, the favor would actually increase slightly, as if rewarding Consort Ping for her compliance.

Could Consort Ping really throw a tantrum and not let someone leave? If she did, she might just fall into the trap set by her senior.

It's said that Rong Noble Consort is ill, but Consort Ping just can't believe it. How can someone be so manipulative even when sick?

She can't see other concubines, claiming she needs peace to recover, yet she always seems to know the perfect moment to send someone to intercept the Emperor.

She can't see the concubines but can see the Emperor.

Even without any external reminders, Consort Ping wanted to confront Rong Noble Consort, her senior.

Going directly to the Qianqing Palace is still somewhat taboo for the concubines.

Those who previously insisted on visiting Rong Noble Consort were stopped by the servants; they didn't even get to sit down for a cup of tea.

There's no place to make a scene; those who caused trouble were immediately confined and are still missing, and then had to copy palace rules as punishment by the Imperial Noble Consort. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, seeing the situation, also cut their allowances, making life very difficult.

With such precedents, anyone wanting to insist on seeing someone must think twice.

Higher-ranking concubines are even more concerned about their dignity. Even if their allowances aren't cut, if they lose face with the Emperor, they won't be able to hold their heads high among the lower-ranking concubines. So, they rarely lower themselves to come over, at most instructing some minor concubines who depend on them to test the waters, especially when the servants are tight-lipped and no information is forthcoming.

But after such a typical case, no one dared to rush into such trouble anymore. With Consort Ping taking advantage of Rong Noble Consort's illness to rise, attention quickly shifted to her, making her life quite 'eventful' for a while.

Now that Rong Noble Consort has recovered, does that mean they can finally meet?

Since she's better, she can't continue to use illness as an excuse to stay in the Qianqing Palace.

When she returns to Yonghe Palace, that will be a good opportunity to visit.

Better than rushing over as soon as she hears she's better.

This recovery of Rong Noble Consort seems to signal the beginning of a direct confrontation with Consort Ping.

Previously, without meeting, they had been probing each other's situations and backgrounds, intercepting the Emperor under the guise of illness without direct confrontation, never having actually met.

But it's certain that they are from the same hometown.

Now that she's recovered, she probably can't sit still anymore.

And now, Consort Ping is not just a minor concubine to be easily manipulated; she holds the rank of Consort, one of the Four Imperial Consorts.

The Noble Consort is only slightly higher in rank and can't just punish her at will, using her status to suppress her, which is now a bit of Consort Ping's confidence.

After all, Rong Noble Consort started from the concubine rank.

Compared to her, Rong Noble Consort only had the advantage of seizing the opportunity first. Whether she can maintain her position as Noble Consort is another matter, as the situation in the palace can change at any time.

If they had started from the same point, it's uncertain who would surpass whom.

Consort Ping, sitting at the head, listened to the careful flattery and praise from the minor concubines standing below, which slightly eased her anxiety.

She was just in a bad mood and had these minor concubines accompany her, carefully choosing their words to please her, picking suitable topics to liven the atmosphere. Consort Ping only needed to nod slightly, and whether she responded or not, someone would continue the conversation, ensuring it didn't become awkward.

Watching them tiptoe around her, Consort Ping couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for them.

This is the fate of those without status, position, or favor—truly pitiful.

Fortunately, her own status is quite good; entering the palace, she stands a head above others, not needing to be as cautious and ingratiating as these minor concubines struggling to rise.

But this sympathy fades when she remembers that these seemingly pitiful women of the palace are also the ones who scheme behind the scenes. So, when flattered, Consort Ping feels justified; this is the difference between her and them, incomparable.

Just as Consort Ping was enjoying the flattery from the minor concubines, there was a sudden stir among them, their expressions changing as they quickly stepped aside and bowed towards a certain direction.