Chapter 333

Chapter 333

This was simply the result of having too much time on their hands. Peace was fleeting—what held true today might not tomorrow. It was just that the Imperial Noble Consort was too young and hot-headed, while the seasoned schemers, after failing to suppress their opponent openly using filial piety and the Emperor’s authority the first time, would no longer reveal any trace of their intentions on the surface. Instead, they bided their time in secret, waiting for the perfect moment to strike with a single, decisive blow.

Just like in the past, when Hailanzhu and her son enjoyed overwhelming favor, while her dignified and virtuous aunt remained the secure Empress. Yet, in the end, it was Consort Zhuang who had the last laugh.

There was no Empress Dowager—only the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.

Thus, when the harem hoped for the Grand Empress Dowager to step in and suppress Rong Noble Consort’s influence, their expectations fell flat. The Grand Empress Dowager, like a kindly old grandmother, no longer involved herself in the affairs of the harem. Even when the consorts paying their respects tried to sow discord, their hints were quickly shut down.

Those who had hoped for the Grand Empress Dowager to intervene found themselves powerless. As for the Empress Dowager, she was even less involved in affairs, dedicating herself solely to caring for the Fourth Prince, with no energy to spare. Moreover, as a nominal stepmother, she carried none of the Grand Empress Dowager’s clout.

With the Grand Empress Dowager remaining aloof and showing no intention of interfering, none of the consorts dared stick their neck out first. No one wanted to be the first to act, especially since their old alliances had been gutted. Even if they wanted to do something, it was no longer as easy as before.

Moreover, it had always been difficult to infiltrate Yonghe Palace. The Emperor personally assigned people from the Qianqing Palace, and even the lowliest maids were vetted half to death. At the slightest hint of suspicion, they were immediately replaced.

Even when it came to clothing and accessories—areas where tampering was easiest—even if they managed to bypass layers of security and plant something using a scapegoat, every trinket got the third degree upon entering Yonghe Palace.

Additionally, experienced matrons well-versed in harem intrigues conducted inspections every three days, scrutinizing every furnishing and ornament for anything suspicious. Food and supplies were all sourced directly from the Emperor’s own channels.

Doctors poked at her every three days, with the Emperor reviewing the records at any time. Even the dregs of prescribed medicines were sealed and re-examined. Anyone scheming in the shadows would find it a headache to bypass these measures without being traced back to themselves.

Otherwise, Consort Hui and the others would never have simply sat back and watched Rong Noble Consort rise unchallenged. It was just that underhanded tactics not only failed but risked dragging themselves down. So, they resorted to sending minor pawns to openly provoke Rong Noble Consort, hoping she would lose her composure and make a mistake that would displease the Emperor. Yet, it had no effect—the Emperor still doted on her, wearing them down to nubs.

Now, things had taken a turn for the worse. The Imperial Noble Consort was clearly out of the running, her "illness" sudden and severe. Rong Noble Consort now stood alone at the pinnacle. In their current state, the consorts hesitated, none willing to act recklessly for fear of being made an example of.

Of course, the ministers also knew their place as subjects. They weren’t about to test whether the Emperor’s sword had an edge by seeing if their own necks were equally tough.

Not a single one stepped forward to submit a memorial accusing the Noble Consort of jealousy, claiming she had caused the Emperor to neglect the harem and sow discord among the six palaces—the old song and dance of pinning it on the women to demonstrate the interconnectedness of court and harem.

After all, one wave of executions had already occurred—a few more wouldn’t make a difference. Poking the tiger required perfect timing. Even the Tongjia family had gained no advantage—that told you all you needed to know.

At this point, focusing on the newly vacated positions in court was far more valuable than meddling in the Emperor’s harem affairs. Nosing around the harem was basically handing the Emperor a reason to suspect you—if they dared to be so bold today, wouldn’t they dare to plot against him tomorrow?

No one doubted the severity of the Emperor’s paranoia and persecution complex. Thus, it was better to focus on serious matters.

And so, this unnatural quiet dragged on.

—Kangxi’s 23rd Year

By the time they realized the Emperor was preparing for a southern tour, after endless drudgery, they finally saw daylight.

This should have been the most fiercely competitive period in Kangxi’s harem, with consorts vying for favor and striving to bear sons to secure their positions. The rivalry only stabilized after Kangxi’s 30th year, when the princes grew older, and the consorts shifted their focus from competing for favor to scheming for the throne.

Yet now, at what should have been the peak of competition, they were forced into silence. They couldn’t win even if they tried, and there was no telling when this would end. Still, the consorts refused to give up. As long as there was the slightest chance, they would cling to it.

The list of consorts accompanying the Emperor on the southern tour was something they could no longer remain passive about. If they didn’t seize this opportunity to reappear, the Emperor might forget what they even looked like—or that they existed at all.

The Imperial Noble Consort’s illness still hadn’t improved. She had been "ill" since last year, with no signs of recovery, leading even those who thought it was just a temporary punishment to start wondering.

Could it be that she was genuinely ill? It wasn’t unreasonable to think so. Jingren Palace might as well have been a tomb, even more so than the rest of the harem. Aside from Noble Lady Qing of the Tongjia clan attending to her, no one else was allowed in. The Emperor, too, seemed to have forgotten her, never visiting Jingren Palace again—not even during the New Year, when the Imperial Noble Consort remained bedridden and absent.

If they were forced into such isolation, enough to make a saint sick with rage.

With no hope of the Imperial Noble Consort intervening in the selection of the southern tour entourage, they had no choice but to turn to Rong Noble Consort. Now they came crawling to her doorstep.

At least they weren’t turned away. Yonghe Palace’s staff were all polished smiles. As for having to wait for Rong Noble Consort to receive them—a power play—none of them dared show displeasure, not even in their expressions. After all, they hadn’t visited in so long, and now they were here to ask for favors. Even if they were subjected to a deliberate slight, what could they do?

Su Yi, having finished her preparations, emerged gracefully. That face—all dewy skin and rosebud lips curled in a smile—knocked the wind out of them. Then, their guts twisted with envy. Her beauty, unchanged or perhaps even more dazzling than before, had the whole harem choking on their own jealousy.

How could her looks remain flawless after years in the palace, instead growing even more lovely and radiant? Standing in the same hall, she effortlessly outshone all the other beauties in the palace. From the moment she appeared, she became their greatest adversary.

Who could have imagined back then that she would reduce them to such a state today? And worse, she achieved it effortlessly, obtaining what they had schemed tirelessly for.

Yet, despite their complex emotions, their movements were swift as they rose to greet her in unison. Even Consort Yi, the only Consort-ranked among them, shed her usual arrogance, for in front of the Rong Noble Consort, her rank gave her no advantage.

Noble Lady Qing was absent, tending to the ailing Imperial Noble Consort and could not leave her side. Noble Lady Hui and Xian Noble Lady also did not come, claiming they needed to care for their princes. Noble Lady Hui, with the eldest prince as her anchor, had no need to compete and knew that even if she did, it might not benefit her. Xian Noble Lady, with the young third prince, dared not leave him. Their absence made the disparity even clearer, fueling their anxiety.

Le Guiren was brought along by Consort Yi. Though she had a princess and had never considered competing, she could not escape Consort Yi’s determination to fight for a spot.

Su Yi rarely saw such a full gathering—a sea of beauties, each distinct, moving in perfect harmony. It was a sight to delight even the most discerning eye. Her smile deepened, her tone gentle as she said, "You may rise."

Her gaze swept over them one by one. The next time they gathered, some would be gone.

Su Yi’s gaze was neither subtle nor concealed. Only a few dared meet her gaze directly; most kept theirs lowered. Those swept by her glance grew restless, some betraying flickers of panic, their hearts in turmoil.

Consort Yi, unsurprisingly, took the lead in breaking the ice. It was jarring to see the once blunt woman now exchanging such polished pleasantries. She did not immediately state their purpose, though the urgency simmered beneath her words. The others followed suit, filling the hall with forced cheer, as if they were merely enjoying a flower-viewing tea party.

But inevitably, someone lost patience. "Has Your Highness finalized the attendants for the imperial tour? His Majesty must not lack for service. We humbly offer to share Your Highness’s burden."

The hall fell silent. The speaker was a low-ranking daying who had entered the palace with the late Consort Ping during the same selection. Now, with Consort Ping gone and none of them yet summoned to the emperor’s bedchamber, they feared he no longer remembered them.

Their initial pride and ambition upon entering the palace had long been shattered. If they waited longer, when would their opportunity arise? Now, any chance to see the emperor was worth fighting for. And since everyone shared the same thought, someone had to speak first.

Under normal circumstances, a mere daying speaking out of turn before higher-ranked consorts would be punished for impropriety. But today, they needed such a fool to break the ice.

So the others feigned realization. "The Imperial Noble Consort is unwell, and the Noble Consort oversees the palace affairs. Surely Her Highness has made all arrangements for His Majesty’s journey. How could she overlook such a matter? There’s no need for you to remind her."

Though seemingly smoothing things over, their words were a veiled reminder to the Noble Consort not to forget this duty.

Someone, her voice thick with longing, spoke of the spring scenery in Jiangnan. "To witness it even once would make this life worthwhile."

Not once mentioning the tour, yet every word alluded to it. Soon, the conversation revolved entirely around Jiangnan’s charms, as if they had all suddenly developed a keen interest. Su Yi listened with a faint smile, her patience unwavering. She found their antics amusing.

Her demeanor mirrored Kangxi’s during court debates—allowing the ministers to argue before calling a halt when the time was right. It was the same mindset.

Though the hall buzzed with cheerful chatter, every eye in the room fixed on Su Yi.

They refused to believe the Noble Consort was giving them space to speak. Instead, they grew increasingly frustrated by her silence and ambiguity. Worse, her unwavering composure proved she felt no threat from them, treating the matter with casual ease.

The realization was anything but amusing.

"Does the Noble Consort already have candidates in mind?" Consort Yi finally laid her cards on the table. "We’ve all come today for this very matter. Settling it sooner would ease our minds and prevent unseemly competition that might strain our sisterly bonds."

Every pair of eyes fixed on her. If the Noble Consort hadn’t cornered them like this, leaving them no scraps while she dined lavishly, they wouldn’t be forced to beg!

Her alliance with Consort Ping was short-lived—the woman died soon after. But Consort Yi, unwilling to fade into obscurity, had secretly searched Consort Ping’s quarters for the remaining half of the pill.

A trusted imperial physician confirmed its efficacy, with no hidden flaws. Though assured of her health, Consort Yi still feared the half-dose might fail. She had to seize this chance while she was still well!

Sending soups and gifts had failed—she never even glimpsed the emperor. "Accidental" encounters were impossible, as many had been punished for spying on his movements. With no child of her own, she resorted to using Le Guiren’s young princess, deliberately making the child ill to summon the emperor.

He came, but only briefly, instructing the child’s care before leaving without staying—or even visiting Consort Yi’s quarters. In desperation, she repeated the scheme, ignoring Le Guiren’s pleas, leaving the windows open and the child uncovered to worsen the illness.

When the emperor returned for the ailing princess, Consort Yi dressed plainly, her face pale from sleepless nights, playing the devoted mother. With the emperor’s limited heirs, she knew he would not ignore his daughter’s plight. She was out of options.

But this time, after the Emperor arrived, he fixed Consort Yi with a heavy gaze for a long while, making her nearly falter, fearing he might have noticed something amiss. She forced calm into her voice, speaking words of concern for the princess's illness.

She had already claimed to have punished the negligent palace maids, and though Le Guiren had been attentive in her care, there were inevitably oversights. Consort Yi insisted she had also been deeply worried. Le Guiren, looking utterly exhausted, stood silently with her head bowed.

To her shock, the Emperor snapped that the negligence of the palace maids was ultimately her fault as the mistress of the palace. Since the princess was being raised under her care, her letting the princess fall ill repeatedly proved her incompetence. If the princess fell ill again, he warned, she would be stripped of her Consort rank and demoted outright, humiliating her outright.

A chill ran down Consort Yi’s spine at the Emperor’s harsh words. It was clear he suspected her of deliberately making the princess ill to vie for his favor. Though he framed it as her incompetence, the icy disdain in his eyes cut her deeply. Unable to stand, she immediately knelt, pleading through tears, desperate to dispel his suspicions.

But the Emperor was unmoved. He ordered the wet nurse and several palace maids who had been close to the princess to be executed by beating, replacing them with new ones. He then instructed Le Guiren to take meticulous care of the princess, completely ignoring Consort Yi, who remained kneeling—a clear sign of his distrust.

Le Guiren, tears streaming down her face, vowed to care for the princess diligently. Despite her efforts to hide it, a flicker of resentment toward Consort Yi escaped.

Even if she had once been aligned with Consort Yi, they were now irreparably estranged.

Before, when Consort Yi had enjoyed the Emperor’s favor, Le Guiren had been content raising her daughter. She understood Consort Yi’s plight—childless and having lost favor—and knew it was natural for her to have designs on the princess. After all, the princess was being raised under Consort Yi’s care, and though Le Guiren couldn’t see her often, she still had opportunities. Aware of her own lowly rank, she believed the princess would have a better future with Consort Yi.

But she never imagined Consort Yi would exploit the princess to regain favor, playing the devoted mother in front of the Emperor—it was a dagger to her heart!

Consort Yi suffered a crushing defeat. Though she wasn’t demoted, her pride was in shreds.

Moreover, the palace women were no fools. The moment the princess fell ill and Consort Yi summoned the Emperor, they saw through her ploy.

Since the Emperor had few children, he would naturally be concerned when one fell ill. What worked once could work again. While they scorned Consort Yi’s tactics, many secretly wished they had a child to exploit the same way. But when Consort Yi tried to use the princess’s worsening condition to summon the Emperor again, it failed.

Consort Yi had no choice but to protect her rank. Knowing the Emperor would demote her if she dared use the princess’s illness again, she dropped the act and focused on nursing the princess back to health, terrified another illness would cost her position. She kept a low profile for months, waiting for the storm to pass.

Now, leading the group to confront Rong Noble Consort, Consort Yi had no choice but to take charge—she was desperate. Seeing Rong Noble Consort’s current glory fanned the flames of her hatred. Even if Rong Noble Consort hadn’t been the one to strike her down, and even if she and the deposed consort had never been close, it galled her. All her former glory had been stolen the moment Niohuru entered the palace!

Stolen by Niohuru!

But reality no longer allowed Consort Yi to hide behind her blunt, outspoken persona when dealing with Rong Noble Consort.

As everyone stared at her, awaiting her response, Su Yi didn’t keep them in suspense. With a gentle tone, she said, “This matter is quite simple. The Emperor’s wishes are what truly matter. I’ve already sent for him, so you may speak your minds directly to him.”

The truth was, she refused to be the villain—that role belonged to Kangxi.

Her directness in summoning the Emperor left the concubines speechless.

Once they realized they would soon see the Emperor, they scrambled to fix their appearances. Some regretted not dressing more carefully, others sent maids to fetch cosmetics for touch-ups, and a few even had their makeup inspected.

Just then, the Emperor’s voice rang out, “The Noble Consort’s palace is quite lively today.”

Kangxi strode in, dressed in an ink-black robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, his handsome features softened by a smile that exuded both scholarly elegance and noble authority. The aura of power and composure cultivated through years of rule made him all the more captivating.

The beauties in the hall hurried to rise and curtsy, their soft voices overlapping in greetings. But Kangxi swiftly stepped forward, catching Rong Noble Consort before she could bow. “No need for formalities,” he said, guiding her to sit before taking his place beside her, their robes brushing. His tender attentiveness drove the other concubines green with envy—they had never seen him so doting.

Only after they were seated did Kangxi leisurely bid the others to rise.

When the master of impartiality stopped being impartial, he became the most difficult to handle.

“Why have you all gathered here today?” Kangxi’s expression cooled, his tone turning icy. His displeasure at their intrusion was evident. When Rong Noble Consort had summoned him, he had initially been delighted—until he realized it was to deal with this mess.

This little troublemaker. Kangxi gave her hand a light, admonishing squeeze. She didn’t want to be the bad guy, so she’d tossed him the problem instead.

Though annoyed that she only called for him when she needed a scapegoat, Kangxi had still rushed over, not wanting to keep her waiting.

“Since Your Majesty is preparing for the southern tour, everyone is concerned about the arrangements. They all seem so eager—I couldn’t possibly favor one over the others,” Su Yi interjected, her lovely face etched with feigned distress.

The concubines, still reeling from the Emperor’s contrasting treatment of them and Rong Noble Consort, had been struggling to respond to his displeasure at their sudden visit. But now that Rong Noble Consort had brought up the southern tour, they perked up.

"Your Majesty, my fellow consorts and I have always wished to visit the Rong Noble Consort for conversation. However, knowing her poor health, we feared disturbing her. Only when we heard she’d improved did we dare to come together today."

Consort Yi spoke with a bright smile, as if the earlier incident of using the princess to vie for favor had never occurred. She was a stunning beauty, and she seized the moment to present her most charming demeanor.

"The idea of joining the southern tour arose when we were admiring the spring scenery of Jiangnan. We never imagined the Rong Noble Consort would take it so seriously, even going so far as to invite Your Majesty here. The sisters and I are deeply moved."

Unlike their earlier veiled pressure, they now seemed to have found the right approach—forcing the Rong Noble Consort to play the gracious, virtuous role, urging her to take the initiative in arranging matters with the Emperor.

Unfortunately, Su Yi wasn’t about to act the gracious, accommodating consort.

She merely turned her gaze to Kangxi, adopting a docile look that seemed to say, "Since you're the one playing the villain, don't expect me to do it."

If others hadn’t been there, Kangxi might have pinched her cheek to teach her a lesson.

"This matter requires no further discussion. The trip’s packed with urgent business, and We have no intention of bringing many along," Kangxi declared, then swiftly assigned tasks to Consort Yi. "During the Rong Noble Consort's absence, palace affairs have already been delegated. However, the palace rules still stand. Consort Yi, you and Noble Lady Qing shall oversee this together."

With a few words, he dropped two bombshells, leaving Consort Yi and the other consorts utterly stunned.

This... this meant only the Rong Noble Consort would accompany him?!

Not only that, but even in her absence, palace affairs had been prearranged—Consort Yi, despite her rank, was not to meddle in the Rong Noble Consort's domain! Instead, she was tasked with maintaining order among the palace women, with Noble Lady Qing included only due to her connection to the Imperial Noble Consort.

Though Consort Yi had honed her composure through past setbacks, she could no longer maintain her facade. Her smile was strained—what kind of mess was this?!

The other consorts, who had hoped to secure a spot on the tour, were equally devastated. After all their plotting and ganging up on the Rong Noble Consort, they had never expected the Emperor to shatter their plans so swiftly.

With Kangxi citing the trip’s urgency and importance, they couldn’t push it without looking like they were meddling in state affairs.

But of course, the Rong Noble Consort could go!

Resentment flared among some, their displeasure and hatred directed at the Rong Noble Consort—until Kangxi immediately caught one glaring at her with venom.

"Outrageous! How dare you show disrespect to the Rong Noble Consort?!" He flung a teacup with deadly accuracy—no surprise for an archer of his skill—striking its target squarely.

Already displeased with their disturbance, Kangxi seized the chance to make an example. The beauty, hit and soaked, didn’t dare make a sound, her face deathly pale as she was dragged away for punishment without a chance to plead.

The swiftness of his reprimand left the others frozen, too scared to speak, afraid they’d be next.

Kangxi swept a cold gaze over them. "A mere beauty dares to scorn the Rong Noble Consort? It seems none of you hold her in proper reverence. For disturbing her over such trivial matters today, you will all copy the palace regulations ten times. We will inspect them thoroughly. Next time, there’ll be no mercy."

Well done—he’d fully committed to playing the bad guy.