Chapter 335

Chapter 335

Kangxi knew she had made something for Baocheng again. When he came over, his tone was sour, dropping petty, passive-aggressive remarks—almost outright saying he wanted one too. Su Yi couldn’t pretend not to understand.

She couldn’t just brush it off either. That jerk would occasionally throw out some sarcastic comments, making Su Yi cringe. Anyone in her shoes would feel the same. Little Baocheng endured several days of his father’s “affection,” keeping the gift tightly hidden, afraid Kangxi would think he was showing off.

After all, he genuinely feared Kangxi might pull some petty stunt to take it away. Having endured days of such “affection,” Baocheng had firsthand experience—and he wasn’t joking.

Just to get some peace, Su Yi retaliated by making an obnoxiously ornate jade pendant for Kangxi. Its value completely upstaged the Nine-Dragon jade pendant, making the latter look like a mere accessory—and the plainest one at that.

Kangxi’s usual style was somewhat discernible—he’d never worn such gaudy trinkets at his waist. Though Su Yi was mischievous, she had an eye for aesthetics. Those who loved opulence would adore it.

But Kangxi wasn’t yet the eccentric old man of his later years. At this point, he preferred simplicity over extravagance. So, suddenly wearing such a flashy piece—even switching his usual attire to black with only subtle embroidery to tone it down—was unimaginable otherwise.

In the 23rd year of Kangxi’s reign, the Three Feudatories had been pacified, Taiwan reclaimed, and the empire unified. The empire enjoyed stability, and inspections of riverworks began.

On the 24th of September, Kangxi issued an imperial edict announcing his southern tour to the realm.

On the 28th, he departed the capital, traveling south along the Grand Canal until Suzhou before turning back.

During stops, the Grand Canal Governor, River Governor, and local officials came to report on affairs and discuss the inspection route and itinerary.

Su Yi, as part of the entourage, was genuinely there to sightsee. Kangxi was swamped, only appearing at night—sometimes only if Su Yi stayed up late. Otherwise, she’d wake to find just the impression of where he’d slept beside her.

They rarely even shared meals. Kangxi ate hastily and irregularly, giving Liang Jiugong such stress that he was going gray from stress.

Liang Jiugong could only turn to Su Yi for help in getting Kangxi to eat properly. Given that Kangxi had brought her along, Su Yi pitied how overworked he was and diligently sent him food, even scheduling mealtimes.

Kangxi felt that since the southern tour began, the Imperial Consort had grown gentler and more patient. Only when he asked with mock concern “Are you well?” and received her familiar sarcastic warning did he feel reassured.

Su Yi was dumbfounded. Did he really have to enjoy that kind of treatment?

Meanwhile, finally free from the confines of the Forbidden City, Su Yi was in high spirits. Though she could seclude herself in a cave for decades, choosing not to leave was different from being restricted.

Having her awareness confined to one area was like being trapped in one level of a video game, unable to explore beyond grayed-out regions. Now, with freedom restored, the difference was immediate—like returning to her comfort zone.

Hmph, so she really had been suppressed before!

The imperial barge crossed the Yangtze at Yizheng and Zhenjiang before sailing south, passing Danyang and Changzhou without stopping until reaching Suzhou. After two days ashore, they set sail north again.

They only paused at Danyang before switching to land travel via Jurong to Jiangning Prefecture.

The back-and-forth, the relentless pace, the constant switching between boat and land—Su Yi was exhausted. Yet Kangxi remained energetic, handling everything with undiminished energy.

In Jiangning, he even took time to visit the Weaving Bureau and dispatched ministers to pay respects at the memorial of Cao Xi—father of Cao Yin, Kangxi’s former imperial guard and study companion. Cao Yin’s mother, Sun Shi, had been Kangxi’s wet nurse.

Cao Xi had passed away this year while serving as Jiangning Weaving Commissioner. Cao Yin was then dispatched by Kangxi to assist in Jiangning, later becoming Kangxi’s source of funds and information in the south—a clear sign of the emperor’s special favor toward his talented companion.

When disembarking, Su Yi glanced at Cao Yin—well-favored, but of no interest to her—and quickly looked away.

Though Cao Yin and his retinue refrained from openly staring at the sole imperial consort accompanying the emperor—one so deeply favored—they still stealthily studied her. Despite their expectations, her radiant beauty like spring dawn left them stunned.

They’d heard of the Imperial Consort’s legendary beauty, but rumors often exaggerated. Besides, they had high hopes for the carefully selected beauties—women of stunning looks and grace who could captivate even in the crowd of beauties, perhaps even surpassing the Imperial Consort.

Cao Yin hadn’t initially planned this, but his grandmother and wife were insistent. After seeing the procured beauty, even he—happily married—was momentarily entranced and agreed.

With his father gone, over time and distance, they needed an advocate at court to speak for them.

The Weaving Bureau, River Bureau, and other offices were capitalized consistently throughout the text.

Upon arriving in Jiangning, Kangxi still couldn’t find any leisure. Though Su Yi’s residence was lavishly decorated and meticulously arranged, it was situated at some distance from where Kangxi stayed.

Although Kangxi had been sharing quarters with Su Yi throughout the journey, it was proper protocol to arrange separate lodgings for the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort. Not doing so would seem like a breach of etiquette and a slight to Her Ladyship.

The elderly Lady Sun, along with Li Shi, the wife of Cao Yin, came to pay their respects after the initial reception. Su Yi followed the formalities and received them, intending to dismiss them shortly.

However, she found Lady Sun rather intriguing. Though she appeared deferential as she and her daughter-in-law Li Shi performed their bows, her trembling and deliberately slow movements seemed to be waiting for Su Yi to politely excuse her from the formalities. This instantly amused Su Yi.

She just watched, making no move to help. Though Lady Sun maintained her composure, inside, she was seething. Earlier, during the imperial reception, the Emperor, seeing her advanced age, had cut her bow short and kindly waived the formality, treating her with warmth and respect.

Lady Sun, though outwardly unruffled, was inwardly pleased and proud—after all, she had been the Emperor's wet nurse in his childhood. Yet now, Rong Noble Consort showed her no such courtesy. Still, given the Consort's status, Lady Sun couldn’t afford to skip the formalities without fault.

Su Yi was the kind of person who, if you disliked her but couldn’t do anything about it, would find your predicament amusing.

Thus, instead of dismissing them, she deliberately made them stand and converse without offering seats. Li Shi, standing behind Lady Sun, was a striking beauty—gentle and dignified in appearance—but Su Yi disliked the way she had subtly scrutinized her earlier.

Lady Sun, too, reminded Su Yi of the Grand Empress Dowager’s once stubborn (though deceptively sweet) old crone act. Hmm, how had she dealt with her back then?

Su Yi lounged lazily, feigning indifference. She didn’t offer seats or send them away, forcing them to initiate conversation while she responded with minimal engagement. When Lady Sun and Li Shi, exhausted from carrying the conversation, tried to prompt her to speak, awkward pauses followed—until Su Yi deftly murdered the conversation every time.

Spiteful and wicked.

But then again, who asked them to expect Su Yi to help Lady Sun up in the first place?

Lady Sun, old and shrewd, masked her thoughts behind a composed facade. Li Shi, however, being younger, struggled to mask her displeasure. Her marriage to Cao Yin had been harmonious, with her mother-in-law treating her well and rarely imposing strict formalities. Life had been comfortable—until now. Standing for so long was torture, especially for her elderly mother-in-law. Such deliberate snubbing by the Consort was maddening.

It wasn’t just kneeling that could break someone—standing for hours worked just as well. Lady Sun and Li Shi, accustomed to comfort, found this ordeal unbearable. Usually, they were the ones dishing out punishments.

Yet, even Lady Sun—who had grown somewhat presumptuous due to Kangxi’s favor—knew better than to openly defy a high-ranking consort beloved by the Emperor. They had no choice but to endure, though it only strengthened their resolve: the Emperor needed someone in his inner circle to speak for the Cao family.

Only after an hour, when Lady Sun looked ready to collapse from exhaustion, did Su Yi finally dismiss them.

Of course, after two hours of observation, she’d had her fill.

Lady Sun had briefly considered fainting on the spot—then it would be Rong Noble Consort’s problem to deal with. But the moment the thought crossed her mind, Su Yi’s smirk and sharp gaze seemed to see right through her, as if daring her to try. If she did faint, the Consort might retaliate unpredictably.

It’d only piss her off. Even if the Emperor were momentarily displeased with the Consort’s actions, it wouldn’t shake her position. Instead, it would earn Lady Sun the Consort’s lasting enmity—rendering any future attempts to place a beauty in the palace futile. With these considerations, Lady Sun swallowed her pride and endured.

Su Yi, noticing Lady Sun’s abandoned plan, looked almost disappointed. She’d already planned to call the imperial doctor.

And Rong Noble Consort’s "summon the physician" service was anything but benevolent—just ask the Eldest Prince—he’d learned the hard way.

Summoning the doctor was just to have someone tally your suffering. As long as one wasn’t dead, she considered it fine—no harm done! Just ask the Grand Empress Dowager and the Eldest Prince—they’d survived it.

The doctor kept you alive—but mercy wasn’t part of the deal.

Lady Sun and Li Shi now understood just how difficult Rong Noble Consort was to deal with. Even after tormenting them, she sweetly inquired if they were feeling unwell, advising them to take care of their health—as if she hadn’t just made them suffer.

Her shameless remarks almost made Lady Sun and Li Shi snap. She was covering her tracks—if they got sick later, it’d be blamed on their ‘poor health.’

By the time they left, Lady Sun was genuinely trembling—no longer the feigned frailty she had used earlier to elicit sympathy.

Li Shi, equally miserable, helped her mother-in-law back to their quarters, barely containing her resentment. She brought up their earlier plans again, and Lady Sun, now resolved, asked if everything was prepared. Li Shi suppressed her satisfaction—her husband had reservations, but with Lady Sun’s approval, his objections would fade. She confirmed everything was ready.

This candidate had been carefully selected by the Li family after much effort—a cousin of theirs, Wang Shi, whose delicate beauty could stir tenderness even in a woman’s heart, let alone a man’s. A beauty like her, with Li family connections, didn’t come along often. If Wang Shi entered the Emperor’s harem, she would be an invaluable asset to both the Cao and Li families.

With recent upheavals in the capital and the Emperor’s southern tour, this was the perfect opportunity.

And after today’s humiliation at Rong Noble Consort’s hands, Lady Sun and Li Shi were more determined than ever to present their candidate. Once the deed was done, even if the Consort raged, she would have no choice but to swallow her fury.