Chapter 255

Chapter 255

Kangxi found it utterly absurd—no matter how diligent one was, they still needed to take a breather.

Consort, you’ve got quite the imagination.

Even Kangxi, who disdained indulgence, found this downright absurd.

“I’ve already finished reviewing them, and I’m a bit tired now,” Kangxi said impassively.

“Ah, I see,” Su Yi replied dryly.

It was clear she was somewhat disappointed.

Kangxi finished the memorials that fast? Seriously, this diligent??

Su Yi, already unpinned, would defeat the whole point of lying down if she sat up now just because it was cramped.

You know what they say—‘in for a penny…’

She refused to move.

Meanwhile, Kangxi, hogging most of the space, didn’t stay put either. He turned onto his side, propping his head up with one hand and gazing at Su Yi.

The tight quarters made every little movement change the mood.

Su Yi stayed flat on her back, hands clasped, not budging—like she could drop off any second.

No way was she moving and risking her hard-won territory.

Su Yi: *Dream on. I’m not budging.*

*Think I’ll squirm and roll over just ’cause you’re staring?*

*Turn over, and poof—half my space is gone.*

*Hmph. Not happening.*

Kangxi: ‘…’

Kangxi looked like he wanted to say something, but after a lip twitch, he shut up.

Why?

Because if he spoke, it’d be: *Consort, what the hell is wrong with you?!*

*What’s going on in that head of yours?!*

Maybe because Kangxi’s stare was burning a hole through her—impossible to ignore—

Normally, Su Yi would’ve brushed it off. But this wasn’t some lovesick gaze—she could handle those.

This was the ‘I-want-to-throttle-you’ variety.

The murderous vibes weren’t exactly sleep-inducing.

After all, if she dozed off first while Kangxi was still awake, staring at her, only to realize she wasn’t just pretending to rest but had genuinely fallen asleep? The more he stared, the more irritated he grew, and then...

He’d end up disturbing her sleep.

Considering this possibility, Su Yi wasn’t having it.

So she opened her eyes and looked at Kangxi. After a moment, she spoke.

“Your Majesty, isn’t your arm going numb like this?”

Her tone held genuine curiosity.

This position had to be making his arm go numb.

Kangxi had been like this for a while now, and though it did look... picturesque.

A mix of nonchalance and teasing, but really, this posture must have been tingling by now.

The rest was just pure numbness.

Kangxi: !

He inhaled sharply to keep his cool. “No! It won’t!”

He firmly denied it.

But Kangxi’s stance had already lost its original purpose—it was unsustainable. If he kept it up, his focus would inevitably shift to the discomfort.

Numb yet?

Nah.

Numb yet?

No!

Kangxi was about to lower his arm and turn his back to her—out of sight, out of mind.

That brat—just looking at her could rile him up even when nothing was wrong. She had a knack for getting under his skin.

Su Yi reached out toward Kangxi, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she smiled. “Hug.”

Like a cat that’s just pestered you and then comes back to act sweet.

Kangxi let out a grunt and turned away, leaving Su Yi with his back.

Seeing this, Su Yi naturally lowered her hand and then scooted away stealthily, her movements light and with catlike stealth.

And then—bam!—right into Kangxi’s arms as he abruptly turned back around. Their eyes met, widening slightly—that moment when hearts race the fastest.

Su Yi: !!!

Kangxi: ...Hm?

Su Yi took the opportunity to loop her arms around Kangxi’s neck, nuzzling into his chest, her cheek pressed to him. In a coquettish tone, she said, “I was just thinking, if the mountain doesn’t come to Muhammad, I’ll go to the mountain. Who knew Your Majesty and I shared the same thought?”

Her voice dripped with honeyed charm.

If Kangxi bought that, he’d be an idiot.

"Come on, Noble Consort... You’re totally angling for the spot."

If he’d turned around a second later, she wouldn’t have ended up right in his arms.

Su Yi: Almost turned into a human cushion!

"Is that so?" Kangxi smiled.

His arm slid behind Su Yi’s neck, pulling her back into his embrace.

"Mm!" Su Yi nestled against Kangxi, rubbing her cheek against him. "I feel so safe in Your Majesty’s arms."

When the Noble Consort turns sweet, five or six times out of ten, it’s because she’s feeling guilty.

Sneaky little tricks getting caught red-handed—just like this, she immediately turns sweet.

Kangxi: Saw her game.

"Weren’t you tired and wanted to rest?"

He patted her back gently, almost like soothing a child.

After a while, Su Yi, now partly resting on Kangxi’s arm, murmured, "You’re such a..."

"Go to sleep."

"Alright."

—

After checking the system’s intel on Consort Yi, Consort Ping finally understood Consort Yi’s situation.

Despite holding her current position, Consort Yi had no sons to back her up, while Consort Hui (mother of the Eldest Prince) and Consort Xian (mother of the Third Prince) were ranked below her.

On the surface, things appeared harmonious, but in reality, Consort Yi was severely lacking in confidence.

In terms of seniority, both Consort Hui and Consort Xian outranked her—both were palace old-timers with sons to their names. Though all held the same consort rank, Consort Yi was placed at the head of the Four Imperial Consorts. It was easy to imagine that beneath the polite surface, Consort Hui and Consort Xian harbored resentment toward her.

The lack of open conflict was simply because tensions hadn’t yet escalated.

But Consort Yi couldn’t hold a candle to Consort Xian or Consort Hui in confidence—only Consort Ping, new to the consort rank, made for an easy target.

And though she was still beautiful, she had lost the ability to bear children.

In the rear palace, without fertility, what did she have left to fight for? What hope did she have left?

No wonder Consort Yi focused her energy on provoking and suppressing Consort Ping—because among the Four Imperial Consorts, if she couldn’t even dominate the lowest-ranked Consort Ping, Consort Yi would look even more pathetic.

After piecing it together, Consort Ping couldn’t help but laugh. The savviest move Rong Noble Consort’s so-called elder sister—the former Imperial Noble Consort turned deposed consort—ever pulled was immediately setting up a scheme against Consort Yi the moment she entered the palace. After all, Consort Yi was notoriously fertile.

Had she not acted early, Consort Yi could’ve stayed on her original path—bearing the Fifth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and perhaps even the Eleventh Prince in succession.

That deposed consort was clearly far-sighted. Too bad she got there first but still ultimately lost to Rong Noble Consort.

At this thought, Consort Ping’s expression grew solemn.

The deposed consort who fell to Rong Noble Consort was clearly also a 'kindred spirit'; otherwise, she wouldn’t have so conveniently orchestrated schemes in Consort Yi’s palace immediately upon entering the imperial court. It was because she knew Consort Yi would rise to become the emperor's favorite and bear several imperial sons.

Sons guaranteed lasting favor.

Even if Consort Yi's sons later either failed in the succession dispute or succumbed to illness before participating, her imperial favor endured for decades.

Without sons, however, she would be far more vulnerable—a consort who remained childless until old age might once bask in glory, but her later years would be bleak.

Her scheme was swift, ruthless, and precise. By the time Consort Yi realized it, the poison's effects had already accumulated over the years.

With such methods and a stronger foothold in court than Rong Noble Consort, she still lost to the latter in the end.

Yet Rong Noble Consort emerged utterly unscathed by the deposed consort. If the Imperial Noble Consort hadn’t been Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia, it might not have been Rong Noble Consort but Rong Imperial Noble Consort instead.

Such an opponent made Consort Ping find even more daunting challenges.

But this also proved that newcomers to the harem could still defeat established rivals who had seized all the advantages first.

It wasn’t an absolute impossibility.

This was a precedent, and Consort Ping considered herself a patient person. With so much time ahead, she wouldn’t stop here.

What value in a mere Consort's rank? Consorts like Consort Hui and Consort Yi had sat in their positions for decades, but that left Consort Ping unsatisfied.

Even Noble Consort was no great achievement, and Imperial Noble Consort wasn't the ultimate goal. How could any title compare to Empress Hesheli?

Wouldn’t it be even better to have another Empress Hesheli?

But before that, Consort Ping couldn’t continue 'fighting alone.'

There were many things she couldn’t do directly due to her persona. Some matters weren’t suitable for Consort Ping to handle personally, or her image might collapse in front of Kangxi.

Like the time she went to pose as the peacemaker and voice of reason, only for things to go completely against her expectations.

Seething inwardly, she still had to pretend she genuinely meant well and couldn’t show the slightest displeasure—not even daring to 'accidentally' break anything for fear of being criticized.

Otherwise, it would prove she had ulterior motives and wasn’t sincerely trying to mediate.

That she was just trying to sow discord.

And if her attempts at sowing discord failed, her behavior would only confirm it. At the time, the concubines who felt tricked by Consort Ping were eager to undermine her standing.

They were desperate to clear her path to power.

Consort Ping had to endure a lot during that period, and it was exhausting. Why were those who nursed comparable ambitions able to turn the tables and target her alone, as if they were so innocent?

She needed to find a 'helper' to pave her way.

And who could be more suitable than Consort Yi?