Chapter 327

Chapter 327

Inside the bed curtains, the rising arousal seemed to saturate the air.

Su Yi's lashes trembled, her eyes brimming with emotion, hazy and unfocused as they gazed at the translucent canopy. A few strands of sweat-dampened hair clung to her lotus-like face, unable to conceal the blooming crimson. The disheeled beauty was fragile yet breathtaking.

Her lips were as red as cinnabar, glistening with moisture, soft panting escaping her parted mouth. A delicate sheen of sweat coated the tip of her nose, and her slender hands lay limp at her sides, their palms tinged pink.

Her thin robe had long since come undone, half-hanging yet failing to cover anything, the snow-white skin now marked with blooming red.

A bead of sweat rolled down the man's jawline as he buried half his face against her, his brows and eyes filled with lust, his Adam's apple bobbing repeatedly, his breath gritty and labored.

Though they hadn’t gone all the way, everything else had been thorough—and quite exhausting.

Drowsy from satisfaction, Su Yi, cleaned up and comfortably dry, soon drifted back to sleep.

Her fever gradually subsided, no longer burning like a furnace, a change Kangxi quickly noticed.

He was quite the authority on whether she was hot or not.

The imperial physicians conducted another round of pulse readings, nearly wept openly with joy—she had finally turned a corner!

Thank goodness, they could all keep living.

Though he could sense the improvement, hearing the physicians’ professional confirmation finally eased the tension in Kangxi’s expression.

Once again, he was the cool-headed Emperor Kangxi, not the powder keg ready to explode at the slightest spark.

This was the best possible outcome. The physicians, who had been worked like dogs, now seemed revitalized as if infused with immortal energy, throwing themselves into ensuring Rong Noble Consort recovered as quickly as possible so everyone could live in peace a little longer.

The palace servants, too, shed their earlier fear and gloom, now brimming with renewed energy, ready to grind on!

Even the concubines, worn out from copying scriptures until their hands near-crippled, felt genuine relief for once. Any more, and the mere mention of Buddhist texts would have made them sick. They wanted nothing to do with it.

Some who had once maintained private shrines in their quarters now considered sealing them off entirely.

Before, visiting the shrine to burn incense, seek blessings, or refine their character had been a way to project an image of piety and kindness—even as they schemed ruthlessly behind the scenes.

But now, they needed a break. If anyone brought it up in casual conversation, the topic would be met with silence.

Even without the scripture-copying, they were too drained from the ordeal to stir the pot, focusing instead on recuperating. Thus, despite the slowed return journey out of consideration for Rong Noble Consort’s health and the eldest prince’s recovery, no one dared make waves.

The Forbidden City still carried the stench of blood, a reminder of the recent turmoil.

The initial unrest in the rear palace, stirred by the unstable situation, had been stamped out and pacified by the Imperial Noble Consort, who worked tirelessly to reassure everyone. Burdened with worries, she had reported on the rear palace affairs upon the Emperor’s return before finally allowing herself to rest—only to fall ill from exhaustion.

As her blood sister, Noble Lady Qing naturally went to nurse her through illness.

After dismissing the concubines who came to visit with their various agendas, the Imperial Noble Consort’s forced smile vanished. She scolded Noble Lady Qing for doing absolutely nothing during the trip, ordering her to kneel and reflect on why she had entered the palace in the first place.

For the sake of their family, and with Uya’s downfall as a warning, the Imperial Noble Consort had tolerated her family sending Noble Lady Qing. As long as she bore a son to be raised under the Imperial Noble Consort’s care, her purpose would be fulfilled.

Yet so far, Noble Lady Qing had barely caught the Emperor’s attention beyond her initial entry into the palace—he might have even forgotten her existence.

Especially now, when Manchu banner nobility’s daughters had the best chance to rise, the vacant consort and concubine titles were highly coveted. Fortunately, the imperial consort selection had just passed, delaying the next opportunity. But once this period ended, the bondservant clans would surely regroup.

“I had hoped you’d return with good news. Instead, I can’t even rest in peace—I must plan for you again.” The Imperial Noble Consort’s weariness was laced with irritation. Too ill to maintain her usual facade of sisterly affection, she used her sickness as an excuse to vent.

Reports had reached her about the chaos at the Mulan Hunting Park. While Noble Lady Qing’s lack of initiative could be somewhat excused given the turmoil, the Imperial Noble Consort still berated her for incompetence.

Previously, the Imperial Noble Consort had been somewhat reluctant to make arrangements for her, but after such a major incident, she could no longer sit idly by.

The family had even sent word, insisting that Noble Lady Qing must take advantage of the Emperor's lowered guard to conceive a royal child as soon as possible. They even went so far as to send hard-won secret medicines obtained through great effort by the family.

A single dose would ensure a male child, though the mother would suffer some weakness from supporting the pregnancy and would need careful recuperation after birth. But for the sake of bearing a prince, it was all worth it. The medicine must be given to Noble Lady Qing—this was a rare opportunity, and missing it might mean no second chance.

The Imperial Noble Consort had been turning the matter over in her mind. Once this was done, it would likely shatter the precarious truce with Rong Noble Consort in the harem. Yet, in the end, family ambition won out. Her earlier reluctance stemmed from the Emperor’s refusal to let her raise the Fourth Prince, instead entrusting him to the Empress Dowager. When her younger half-sister was sent into the palace, she was dismissively granted the title of Noble Lady Qing and then ignored.

With all hope dashed, the Imperial Noble Consort had never truly intended to plan for Noble Lady Qing. Though she spoke of sisterly affection, in reality, she had done nothing to help, leaving Noble Lady Qing to make her own way.

But now, it was all but certain the Emperor would need a prince born of a Manchu Eight Banners noblewoman. After all, apart from the Crown Prince, all the princes were born of bondservant women. If not for Rong Noble Consort’s sudden rise, the harem might have become the playground of bondservant women!

After much deliberation—partly due to the exhaustion of managing harem affairs and partly due to this web of calculations—she took to her bed with illness. This was the family’s opportunity. As a daughter of the Tongjia clan, she had no choice but to act for the family’s sake, even if it meant betrayal.

Once the decision was made, even though her mind was set, she still couldn’t conceal her distaste at the sight of Noble Lady Qing!

Despite the harsh scolding, Noble Lady Qing accepted it obediently, showing little embarrassment. Instead, she put on a show of remorse, as if ashamed of failing to contribute to the family’s cause. She used the opening to vow she wouldn’t miss this opportunity again.

With gentle words, she personally attended to the Imperial Noble Consort, serving medicine and keeping watch by her side without relying on palace maids. This allowed her to leave smoothly before nightfall.

Only once outside did an icy glint flicker in Noble Lady Qing’s eyes. She resumed her gentle, refined demeanor—the devoted younger sister who rushed to care for her ailing elder sister without delegating tasks to others.

With the Imperial Noble Consort ill, the Emperor would surely visit. Her so-called "planning" likely hinged on this very moment, where Noble Lady Qing, having attended to her sister since her illness, would coincidentally cross paths with him—a perfectly reasonable scenario.

A faintly mocking smile tugged at Noble Lady Qing’s lips.

But even if her Imperial Noble Consort sister did scheme, she would surely ensure her own hands remained clean. Everything would appear as if Noble Lady Qing had taken advantage of her sister’s illness to serve her, then seized the chance to present herself before the Emperor and employ underhanded means to gain favor.

Even if successful, the Emperor, feeling manipulated, would likely resent her. She would gain no goodwill, only a reputation for climbing over her sister. Meanwhile, the Imperial Noble Consort would play the gracious caretaker after she took the secret medicine—guaranteed to produce a son.

Then, after the child’s birth, she would die tragically from postpartum hemorrhage, wracked with guilt toward her Imperial Noble Consort sister, leaving behind a final wish for her sister to raise the child well.

Thus, the Tongjia family would have their own prince, and the Imperial Noble Consort’s position would be unshakable. As for the rest—it didn’t matter.

Because this was the duty she, as a Tongjia daughter, must fulfill for her family.

A bitter laugh escaped her.

The family might not have intended to eliminate the mother to keep the child, believing that having another sister in the harem would provide support rather than leaving the Imperial Noble Consort to struggle alone.

But her Imperial Noble Consort sister would never tolerate another Tongjia woman in the harem. With the child’s birth mother alive, how could the child grow close to her? And how could she share the heights of power with the Imperial Noble Consort?

When her chief maid eagerly dressed her in robes perfumed with unfamiliar incense and carefully adorned her before she went to attend her Imperial Noble Consort sister, Noble Lady Qing understood.

Truly—what a devoted sister indeed.