Chapter 334

Chapter 334

—The struggles among women appeared particularly feeble in the face of the Emperor's blatant favoritism.

Before arriving, they had planned to use sheer numbers, flattery, and manipulation to pressure the other party into acting virtuous of their own accord.

Yet, Rong Noble Consort, who initially seemed gentle and accommodating, had the Emperor summoned. Before their schemes could even unfold, they hit a wall in his presence—their way barred as if he couldn’t be bothered to watch their tactics.

Irritated by their interference, he simply dismissed them without a second glance. Those who lingered behind, turning their heads as they rounded the corner, could still see the Emperor softening his expression, pulling the Noble Consort close as he spoke to her in hushed tones. The slight gap that had once existed between them vanished, replaced by an intimacy the Emperor rarely granted to others.

Kangxi held her close, nuzzling her like a clingy dog, breathing heavily against the delicate fragrance lingering on her skin. Su Yi, however, grew irritated by his scratchy stubble and pushed his face away, redirecting it to the fur collar of her robe—softer and more comfortable against her skin.

One might reasonably suspect he had grown the beard just to prick her with it.

"My apologies," Kangxi murmured by her ear. "Noble Consort's skin is delicate—did I hurt you?" His hands, resting on her slender waist, kneaded gently, the words carrying a loaded tone. The same man who had been scolded for his overzealousness the night before now hurried over, not risking another night exiled from her chambers.

As for the stubble, he had initially grown it to appear more dignified. But the moment the Noble Consort’s disdainful glance struck him, his stubbornness flared—he resolved to keep it for a few more days before shaving, if only to tease her. If he didn’t provoke her occasionally, he’d feel unbearably restless.

Yet, the Noble Consort remained somewhat distant toward him, her demeanor even cooler than with others. Why couldn’t her eyes focus only on him? Buried in the crook of her neck, the Emperor’s gaze darkened. "Noble Consort looks especially radiant today. This Emperor is fond of it."

His lips brushed against her delicate cheek, drawing a contented sigh from him. Her beauty overwhelmed him, and his repressed desires surged stronger, threatening to break free.

Later, Kangxi was shooed away by the furious Noble Consort, sent back to the Qianqing Palace to continue reviewing memorials. The smugness on his face betrayed his good mood.

Su Yi, using spiritual energy to soothe her sore body, shed her earlier annoyance, replaced by a flicker of frustration—as if facing an unsolvable dilemma she couldn’t yet escape.

She was truly at a loss. How had things escalated to this point while she was merely acting?

Fake emotions were easier to handle.

—The harem’s drama had been thunderous, but in the end, the fallout was minimal, unable to stir any real waves.

When the Grand Empress Dowager learned of it, she chuckled like a benevolent elder, declaring that at her age, she could no longer meddle in such affairs and had no desire to become a nuisance. The younger generation could decide for themselves.

She appeared open-minded and carefree, spending her days doting on her grandchildren with the Empress Dowager, entirely ignoring concubines begging for her intervention. She remained a mere figurehead in the harem.

This left the veteran concubines fuming. In the past, any woman who had briefly caught the Emperor’s favor—before they could grow arrogant—had inevitably been "advised" by the Grand Empress Dowager, whether subtly or overtly. But now, faced with Rong Noble Consort, where was that meddling now? Why wasn’t it deployed?

So she had only disciplined them, but when confronted with Rong Noble Consort—this unyielding obstacle—she abandoned all talk of impartiality and transformed into a hands-off elder?!

No matter how furious they were, they couldn’t openly defy the Grand Empress Dowager. Their hearts were marinated in misery, then deep-fried in rage—over and over. How long would this torment last? If things continued like this, as their youth faded, what hope would they have left? Would they only watch as new faces vied for favor?

Beneath the harem’s seemingly placid surface, schemes simmered.

Some refused to yield. Some would never relent. If they couldn’t defeat their rival, the only remaining solution was to remove her permanently. They had been forced into this—without drastic measures, their futures stretched ahead, bleak and hopeless. They could only blame her for standing in all their paths.

When their goal aligned, an unspoken alliance tightened.

Yinreng had to remain in the capital. Whether it was due to the impending separation or not, he had been visiting the Jingren Palace much more frequently these days.

Already displaying the grace and nobility of a refined scholar, he embodied the image of the Crown Prince at his finest—intelligent, diligent, excelling in both civil and martial arts, surpassing all other princes. The court ministers had once praised him as the perfect heir.

Yet before Su Yi, he still retained traces of childishness. Occasionally, after being barred from seeing her, he would sulk like a wronged puppy upon their reunion. Pleading with the Emperor proved futile—instead, he received stern paternal discipline. Who could endure that?

This time, perhaps because their separation would be more significant—previously, though apart, they had still been within the same region, but now it was a true journey—he visited even more often. His studies surged in efficiency, forcing the already fiercely competitive princes to push themselves even harder.

The Eldest Prince had cracked under the pressure multiple times, yet he stubbornly matched the pace, swearing he wouldn’t lose.

Seeing Eldest Brother and Second Brother, the Crown Prince, both competing fiercely, how could Third Prince not follow suit? Otherwise, he'd seem lazy, and when the Emperor spot-checked, he’d be in trouble.

Originally, he had thought that in this reincarnation, he could live a less competitive life—after all, compared to being an emperor who had to stretch himself thin just to manage everything, childhood was supposed to be relaxing.

But now, he had already missed the births of several younger brothers, and there were still no signs of them. As the youngest of the four, with the three older brothers suddenly pushing themselves, he had no choice but to join the race.

With three out of four already grinding, if he didn’t keep up, he’d stick out like a sore thumb in front of the Emperor. Even if things were different from his past life, the Emperor might still play favorites, but some things about him hadn’t changed.

And the one who started this competition and earned the resentment of both Eldest Brother and the younger brothers—the Crown Prince.

Little Milk Dragon: *Sigh*, I just wanted to finish my studies early so I could go snuggle.

When Little Milk Dragon and Guogaitou came back from their rambunctious play, the string around his neck had loosened a bit. "This string looks old—shouldn’t you get a new one?" Su Yi feigned disappointment.

The little Crown Prince put down the cat and adjusted the small pendant, tucking it back into his clothes. "It’s still fine, no need to replace it." He was stubborn about keeping it—this string held special meaning for him, like a protective charm, and he never went anywhere without it.

"Oh, I was going to weave you a new one. Well, never mind—"

"I want it! Baocheng wants it!" The little Crown Prince burst out in a rush, even slipping into his childish voice in his eagerness. He scrambled closer to Su Yi, holding it out with hopeful, sparkling eyes—his poise vanished in an instant.

Though her tone sounded regretful, her amused expression gave away that she was teasing him. "I’ll give it to you in a couple of days." Not wanting to push it too far, Su Yi ruffled his hair before taking the pendant and setting it aside.

When the thrilled little Crown Prince left, he was practically bouncing. Though he tried to keep a straight face, his light steps gave away his excitement.

If not for fear of the Emperor’s temper, he would’ve rushed to share his happiness with him.

Even when he ran into Eldest Brother, the little Crown Prince’s good mood remained unshaken. In fact, he even smiled more at him than usual.

Eldest Brother got chills—what was he plotting with that grin?!

Third Prince took the chance to bond with his Second Brother while he was in high spirits, while Fourth Prince, who had initially been shocked that the Emperor allowed the Crown Prince and Rong Noble Consort to be so close, now realized that even his own situation—being raised by the Empress Dowager instead of Imperial Noble Consort—was different from his past life.

Su Yi didn’t just weave a plain string. She had fun picking out gemstones, unique beads, and even extra charms to decorate it, turning the new string into a flashy accessory rather than a simple tie.

Of course, she also prepared a plain one for practicality—the flashy one wasn’t suitable for everyday wear. It was just something she made on a whim after finishing the main string.

But Su Yi hadn’t taken the pendant from the little Crown Prince just to replace the string.

Holding the small pendant, she pressed it to her forehead, where a silvery flame-shaped mark appeared. Closing her eyes, she activated the tiny magic circle embedded in it, establishing a connection. Silver light flowed between them, as if transmitting something.

Two days later, Su Yi handed the pendant back to the overjoyed little Crown Prince, whose eyes sparkled even brighter, his grin stretching ear to ear.

He carefully admired the new decorations, running his fingers over each gemstone and bead. Even the extra plain string was treated like a treasure, tucked away like a squirrel hoarding nuts.

Not even Guogaitou running circles around him could ruin his mood—he even played along, chasing the cat around like an excited puppy, much to the feline’s annoyance.

But before leaving, whether it was because he wouldn’t see Su Yi for a while or simply because he was too happy, the little Crown Prince lingered, whining for a hug.

When he was younger, he had been just as clingy, but as he grew, he became more conscious of his image, striving to appear mature and dignified. Now, he was actively asking for affection.

Su Yi leaned down and hugged him, patting his back twice. Her voice was warm with amusement. "You’re being so good—I’ll really miss Baocheng."

The moment he was embraced, the little one buried his face in her shoulder, his eyes slightly reddening before he quickly suppressed it. He nuzzled against her like an affectionate, sulky puppy, his voice muffled and a little nasal. "Baocheng will always be this good."