Chapter 310

Chapter 310

Su Yi, despite her foot pain but determined to wash her face three times before settling down to have her dislocated foot reset, forced Kangxi to wash his hands five times before allowing him near her.

Thanks to this, Su Yi even supervised Kangxi to ensure he washed his hands properly and insisted on the five-step handwashing method. Her distraction made it easy for the imperial physician to reset her foot.

Though quick, the process was tense, and the physician sighed in relief. Normally, when a consort was injured, there would always be some hesitation about whether it was minor or severe, and it was impossible to avoid pain entirely.

Kangxi played along for this very reason—if he didn’t, she’d find another way to torment him.

However, after three rounds, Kangxi wanted to call it quits.

Was she really this nitpicky about herself?

Su Yi shot back indignantly, "If I washed my face five times, would my face even survive?"

As the medicated wine was being applied, a special massage technique was needed on her ankle to enhance its efficacy. Her face flushed from pain, yet she still managed to sass him.

The hypocrisy was glaring—she was clearly in pain from the medicated wine and wanted to take it out on someone. Typical her—miserable and determined to drag everyone down. Naturally, the closest target was him, especially since he had just forcibly carried her back to prevent her from causing more trouble. Now, she was taking it out on him.

Kangxi took a deep breath. *Don’t get angry. If I lose my temper, this heartless troublemaker will be overjoyed.* For now, he wouldn’t argue with her. He grudgingly scrubbed his hands two more times, meticulously dragging out the process.

After washing five times and drying his hands, Kangxi was finally permitted to sit beside her. He grumbled, "You’re such a handful."

The medicated wine was finally applied, and the ointment was being wrapped around her foot. A few more rounds of this, and his hands would’ve rubbed raw.

The physician kept a straight face on the surface, his calm expression betraying no reaction. But inside, he was reeling from witnessing the Emperor and Consort bicker like this. Even as he withdrew, he was still dazed, never expecting the Emperor and Consort to bicker like this in private.

With the hardest part over, Kangxi finally called little milk dragon over to join them for a simple meal.

The dishes were all light and bland. If it had just been Kangxi, Su Yi would have whined for something flavorful and spicy. But with little milk dragon willingly eating the same plain convalescent meal without complaint, Su Yi, mindful of her image, couldn’t make a fuss.

*Ugh, this dignity is such a pain.*

Seeing Su Yi eat little, little milk dragon cheerfully coaxed her, allowing Kangxi to enjoy a peaceful meal for once.

Not long after the meal, a calming tonic was brought over. To prevent her foot pain from disturbing her sleep, it contained pain-relieving ingredients. After the day’s fright, she might wake up startled in the middle of the night, so drinking the tonic early would help her rest soundly.

Under the watchful gaze of two pairs of similar phoenix eyes, Su Yi had two choices: endure the nagging and drink it slowly, or down it in one go. She decisively chose the latter and gulped it down.

Finally coaxing her into drinking the tonic, Kangxi promptly sent little milk dragon away, with a clear “thanks, now scram” energy.

Little milk dragon didn’t overthink it—it was late anyway. He urged Honored Mother Consort to rest up and promised to visit her tomorrow before taking his leave.

Upon exiting, he noticed the scene outside was “interesting”—three groups of people.

The first was Consort Hui, who had earlier spoken out of turn. She knelt silently, looking exhausted, eyes red-rimmed, clearly having been there for a while. When little milk dragon passed, she merely bowed without a word, her face unreadable.

The second group consisted of Honored Mother Consort’s attendants and the Emperor’s people. Nearby, two people were trussed up like mummies, their mouths gagged so thoroughly not a sound escaped—the third group.

Little milk dragon paused slightly, his gaze flickering over them before he walked past as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Since no one had reported or stopped them from being there, it meant they had already been instructed not to disturb those inside. Not his problem.

Young Dragon, who had picked up a few traits from darker influences, normally still put on a polite front. But now, with no mood to engage in pointless arguments with Nara, who had once targeted Her Majesty the Mother Consort, he simply dropped the act.

After drinking the herbal soothing brew, Su Yi reclined against several large pillows on the soft bed, dressed in clean and comfortable sleeping robes. Her previously pinned-up hair had been let down, cascading loosely around her.

The wooden comb glided as smooth as a cat’s fur under a comb, from roots to ends, encountering almost no resistance. Su Yi narrowed her eyes, too tired to speak. She had expended much energy that day and no longer felt like stirring up trouble. Gradually, she grew drowsy and slowly drifted off to sleep.

As Su Yi closed her eyes, Kangxi’s movements with the comb grew even gentler. Sensing her breathing becoming slow and steady, he set the comb aside, leaned down, and carefully lifted her by the neck to remove the overly plush pillow beneath her. After settling her back down, he adjusted the quilt at the foot of the bed to avoid pressing against her sprained ankle.

Once finished, Kangxi remained seated by the bed for a while longer, gazing at the sleeping form whose cheeks were faintly flushed from deep slumber. He bent down to press a light kiss on her forehead before rising and leaving with quiet footsteps.

"Take good care of the Consort," Kangxi murmured in a low voice, his tone laced with warning.

The palace maids hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment. Soon, Qinxin was directing others to keep watch by the Consort’s bedside while she went to instruct the kitchen to simmer the chicken broth on low heat, ensuring it would be ready whenever the Consort awoke and wished to dine.

When Kangxi stepped outside, he saw the same three groups of people Young Dragon had encountered earlier—virtually unchanged. Even Nara remained kneeling in the same position, unmoving. Kangxi showed no surprise at the sight of Consort Hui and the two figures trussed like criminals.

Consort Hui had set aside her dignity. Despite the presence of palace servants and the prolonged silence from within, she neither made a scene nor left, kneeling quietly without a word. Yet, this was far from 'low-key.'

Having consumed no tea, her lips were slightly chapped. Moreover, with Bao Qing still absent, she had no appetite for meals. Now, after kneeling for so long, her unaccustomed-to-hardship body could hardly endure it—her legs numb and aching, yet she gritted her teeth and persisted.

Her energy was sapped, a stark contrast to her radiant demeanor that morning. The ordeal had drained her vitality, leaving her looking haggard.

When Kangxi appeared, her dull eyes instantly brightened, and she leaned forward urgently. "Your Majesty!"

Her eyes, red with unshed tears, spoke volumes. Overwhelmed, she weakly clutched a maid’s wrist to steady herself. Anyone who saw Consort Hui in this state couldn’t help but pity her, marveling that she had been driven to such humiliation just to plead for mercy.

If Consort Hui posed as the wronged party, then the aggressor must be someone else.

Kangxi knew that once today’s incident spread, the court would surely gossip.

Consort Hui’s refusal to leave was merely another form of coercion—this time aimed at the Consort. Was she dissatisfied with the Consort, or with him? Her continued scheming only deepened Kangxi’s disgust.

Consort Hui was no fool. To act so foolishly now, in Kangxi’s eyes, was deliberate defiance.

Kangxi was not known for his patience. His anger manifested in a cold smile, his presence oppressive. "What is the meaning of you kneeling here, Nara?" His displeasure was no longer concealed.

The atmosphere froze. At his words, the onlookers held their breaths, fearing the Emperor’s wrath might spill onto them.

Consort Hui’s face paled further. How dare she resent the Emperor? It was the Consort who sought to steal her Bao Qing away!

"I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty! I only wished to apologize to the Consort. Since she was unable to receive me, I… Your Majesty, with Bao Qing recovering in the Consort’s quarters, I, as his mother, merely hoped she would treat him well, seeing that I’ve admitted my faults."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, making no effort to wipe them away. Her expression was one of restrained sorrow, her words layered with implications—her apology was solely for Bao Qing’s sake, lest the Consort, bearing a grudge, treat him coldly.

Her speech was also calculated to leave an impression on the Emperor. Any slight oversight in Bao Qing’s care would be magnified, and even if the Consort tended to him impeccably, it would still be deemed insufficient.

Pushing her luck with these insinuations, Consort Hui was wholly deliberate.

Effective slander could yield results, but ineffective attempts would only earn complete dismissal.

Had she chosen flattering words, even insincerely, no trouble would have arisen. The Consort’s tolerance toward women was evident from those around her.

Kangxi’s clear, unyielding logic left Consort Hui filled with frustration!

The Emperor’s words implied she was the instigator, while the Consort bore no blame—completely siding with her.

Consort Hui’s face grew even paler. The Emperor had already marked her as the instigator, unwilling to hear her defense or acknowledge her anguish. His impatience and indifference stung her eyes. She cursed her inability to read the situation better and feared Bao Qing might suffer for it!

"The Consort may not be the most sensible, but her heart is not unkind." Kangxi, though often vexed by her antics, knew her stubborn yet fair-minded nature. Her temper flared quickly but faded just as fast. Moreover, unless provoked, she rarely sought conflict.

To put it bluntly, she couldn’t care less about you—it was all up to her mood. And if you did catch her attention, it was likely not for anything good.

If it weren’t for Consort Hui causing trouble over the Eldest Prince, feeling invincible with him around—thinking she could say anything without consequences—she wouldn’t have dared to be so insolent and aggressive toward the Noble Consort, acting so brazenly.

Yet even now, she refuses to restrain herself, still scheming to exploit the Eldest Prince to the fullest.

Her act of a mother’s "heartfelt grief" before Kangxi was utterly transparent, her performance entirely ineffective in his eyes.

Kangxi didn’t see himself as playing favorites. Unmoved by Consort Hui’s display of vulnerability, he turned sharp-tongued. "The Noble Consort might be reckless, but you, Consort Hui—after all these years in the palace—should know better. I once thought you conducted yourself with propriety, understanding boundaries and restraint. Yet today, you’ve repeatedly overstepped—a mistake beneath you."

"Consort Hui loses her title for disrespecting and offending the Noble Consort."

"During the Eldest Prince’s recovery, he shall temporarily remain under the Noble Consort’s care. Assign more palace attendants to ensure thoroughness—it’s no big deal." Of course, given the Noble Consort’s fleeting enthusiasm, this would likely still fall to him to oversee. But under Kangxi’s control, it made little difference.

One kid or two—what’s the difference?

"In the meantime, you shall copy Buddhist scriptures to calm your mind and pray for the Eldest Prince’s well-being." Keep her busy—might as well make herself useful.

This was, in effect, a form of indefinite house arrest. Without a set duration or number of copies required, it was a true test of sincerity.

But for Nala Shi, this was nothing short of a catastrophe. Her strength drained away, leaving her unsteady, barely able to remain kneeling. Stripped of her title, she would now rank below the three consorts—Consort Xian and the others—who’d never let her live it down. And Bao Qing! Her Bao Qing!

As if this weren’t enough, Kangxi then delivered what sounded like a suggestion but was, in fact, an irrevocable command: "The Noble Consort has taken her medicine and retired. I shall visit Consort Ping. Since you insist on kneeling to atone, do so there—as a demonstration of your sincerity."

If the Noble Consort wasn’t around to see it, Nala Shi’s kneeling might as well be put to use.

Consort Hui—no, now merely Consort Nala—paled further at this final blow. Meeting Kangxi’s icy gaze, she broke into a cold sweat despite the summer heat, her throat parched. "As Your Majesty commands," she whispered, not daring to say more.

Kangxi seemed to recall something. "And what of those two servants?"

The guards silenced and tied them up so fast, neither got a word out. Their swift handling suggested Kangxi’s hand in the matter. The guards had gagged them efficiently, giving no chance for any struggle or outcry.