Chapter 24: Requesting Ice from the Imperial Household Department

Chapter 24: Requesting Ice from the Imperial Household Department

After Kangxi looked her over carefully from head to toe, he couldn’t help but frown, already imagining how uncomfortable she must have been when the skin rash was severe a few days ago. He only touched her face and asked, “What exactly did the imperial physician say? Why did the skin rash suddenly appear? Repeat the physician’s words to me, word for word.”

Fang Yu felt somewhat embarrassed after being scrutinized so carefully, especially under the emperor’s intense gaze. She pulled a thin quilt over herself slightly before replying, “Your Majesty, Consort Duan is right. The weather has been too hot, and I’m not used to such heat. I’ve been sweating a lot day and night. The imperial physician said my skin was irritated and allergic from being constantly steeped in sweat, which caused the skin rash.”

Kangxi understood—it was still because Wuya Shi was too delicate. Every July and August, Beijing’s weather was always this hot. Many people in the palace endured the heat just fine, but she couldn’t. She was delicate, and her skin was thin and sensitive. Fortunately, she was a lady of rank now; if she were still a palace maid, she would have suffered even more.

He helplessly tapped her lightly on the forehead with his finger. “You, you’re just too delicate.”

Fang Yu pouted resentfully, thinking to herself that he was the emperor, surrounded by several large ice basins every day, so he never had to endure the heat. How could he understand what it was like for them, who only received a small amount of ice each day, feeling as if they were trapped in a hot stove? The well-fed could never understand the hunger of the starving.

“Where’s the ointment? Let me apply it for you.”

Fang Yu shook her head and refused, “Your Majesty, I don’t want you to apply it for me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I feel like you’ll devour me.”

Kangxi was amused by Wuya Shi’s words. She had been so bold earlier, undressing herself without a second thought, yet now she was worried he would devour her. If it were someone else with a skin rash on their face and body, he might indeed be put off. But this was the young Wuya Shi, and he only felt pity for her. The ice in her room was indeed scarce, and he too was starting to feel the stifling heat. Seeing her tightly clutching the thin quilt, he leaned down to kiss her, then whispered softly in her ear.

“My Noble Lady De is very perceptive, seeing right through me that I want to devour you. Who told you to tempt me like this?”

“I clearly didn’t do anything.”

Doing nothing was the most maddening of all. Kangxi sat on the edge of the bed, pulled her into his arms, and continued kissing her, drinking deeply from her lips and tongue. He tugged away the thin quilt between them, caressing her soft and slender body as light moans escaped her lips.

After the passionate kiss ended, she was breathing heavily, her face even redder, and a fine layer of sweat had formed on her neck. Afraid that if they continued fooling around like this, he would truly lose control and devour her, he finally let her go.

“When you’re better, I will devour you, but not today. I have to go now.”

Fang Yu nestled in the emperor’s arms, saying she was reluctant to see him leave.

Kangxi was left restless and unsatisfied by this delicate creature. In her current state, he couldn’t possibly devour her. Moreover, staying too long in her room during the day would surely cause speculation in the rear palace. He pinched her cheek and said, “You, still saying you didn’t tempt me? I really have to go now. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

“Is Your Majesty telling the truth?”

Kangxi nodded.

“What time will Your Majesty come?”

“The same as today, after noon.”

After leaving Yonghe Palace, Kangxi immediately ordered Liang Jiugong to go to the Imperial Household Department and have them send ice to Wuya Shi, ensuring she would no longer suffer from the heat.

Liang Jiugong knew full well that the emperor was concerned about Noble Lady De. Noble Lady De was currently favored, so the servants in the Imperial Household Department wouldn’t dare shortchange her allotted ice. However, given the hot weather, the allotted ice was certainly insufficient. He promptly agreed and headed straight to the Imperial Household Department. The emperor had only said to ensure Noble Lady De didn’t suffer from the heat, but how much ice to send was something he had to figure out on his own.

Not long after the emperor left, servants from the Imperial Household Department delivered two large ice basins to her. Fang Yu thought to herself that indeed, only the emperor could make things happen. With this ice, the room became much cooler.

“Pan Liu, come here. I have something to tell you.”

Fang Yu whispered a few instructions into Pan Liu’s ear, and Pan Liu nodded, saying she understood.

Early the next morning, servants from the Imperial Household Department came again to deliver ice. This time, the ice blocks were large and heavy, and Xiao Fangzi had to lend a hand to move them inside.

The servants from the Imperial Household Department said they would deliver ice three times daily from then on—morning, noon, and evening.

Fang Yu instructed Xiao Fangzi to reward each of them with two taels of silver.

With all this ice, Fang Yu’s room was pleasantly cool, and she felt much more comfortable. The skin rash on her body had subsided a bit more.

Kangxi kept his promise and returned to Yonghe Palace after noon. However, unlike the previous day, he did not alert everyone in Yonghe Palace. He stopped the servants from announcing his arrival and quickly made his way to her room.

Fang Yu smiled and bowed to the emperor.

Kangxi glanced around the room and, seeing several large ice basins, finally relaxed his furrowed brow. Her room was small and without a *kang*, so he sat directly on the bed.

“Your Majesty, have you had lunch yet? This is iced silver ear and snow pear soup from the kitchen. Would you like a bowl?”

Kangxi had already eaten, but he still accepted the bowl of silver ear and snow pear soup from Wuya Shi. He drank half of it before setting it down.

Fang Yu directly finished the remaining half.

Kangxi’s eyes darkened as he stared at Wuya Shi.

Fang Yu was puzzled. “Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that? Could… could I not finish it?”

“Are you feeling better today? Has the skin rash subsided?”

Fang Yu handed the bowl to Pan Liu, signaling for everyone to leave. She walked over and half-sat on the emperor’s lap, pouting softly as she said, “Your Majesty, it’s much cooler here now. I know it was you who ordered the Imperial Household Department to send me ice. You treat me so well. I will attend to you devotedly in this life and the next.”

Kangxi chuckled lightly. Wuya Shi was hardly the type to serve others. She was so delicate—he wondered how her family had raised her. With her warm, fragrant, and soft body in his arms, he couldn’t help but kiss her cheek.

Fang Yu turned her head, wrapped one arm around the emperor’s neck, and pressed her fragrant lips to his.

Their kiss grew deeper and more intense until they were interrupted by Pan Liu’s voice, announcing that Answering Attendant Nala had come to visit her.

Fang Yu pulled away from the emperor, wiped her moist red lips, and looked up at him. “Your Majesty, Answering Attendant Nala is here to see me. She used to visit me every day. In the palace, she is my closest friend. She didn’t know you were here this time. Should I have the servants send her away?”

“See her if you wish.”

Fang Yu seemed somewhat shy, smoothing out her wrinkled dress as she cooed, “Your Majesty, how can we see anyone like this? If others saw us, wouldn’t they misunderstand what we were doing inside? Let’s not make a sound. Eunuch Liang and the others should send her away.”

Sure enough, the noise outside soon faded.

Kangxi thought Wuya Shi was being silly. This was like proclaiming one’s innocence too loudly—if she was afraid of being misunderstood, she should have let the person in. But since the person had already left, he didn’t say anything more and continued kissing her. Since they were already misunderstood, they might as well let the misunderstanding continue.