When Yunxiu spoke these words, though "softly," she made no effort to hide them from others.
Not only did Ruizhu and Liang Jiugong, who were attending nearby, hear her, but the Crown Prince and Yinqi also caught the words with their sharp ears. The Fifth Prince, still naive and innocent, didn’t grasp the meaning behind his mother’s words. The Crown Prince, however, was moved by Mother Yi’s deep affection for the Emperor and saw nothing wrong with threatening an official’s wife—he simply thought it was a brilliant idea.
The Cao and Li families had grown too ambitious.
Instead of sending beauties to the Emperor, why not gift them to Cao Yin as concubines? With an imperial decree in place, would they dare defy it?
Truly, Mother Yi had a clever solution.
The young Crown Prince nodded solemnly, while the Old Madam swayed on her feet, her vision darkening. Lady Li, on the other hand, felt as though the sky had collapsed.
The beauties her elder brother had sought would now become her husband’s concubines, calling her "elder sister"?
Noble Consort Yi knew everything.
The fingers pinching her chin were warm, but to Lady Li’s trembling heart, they felt like the flickering tongue of a snake—cold, piercing, and bone-chilling.
Noble Consort Yi smiled down at her as if looking at something filthy, her gaze domineering and disdainful, utterly unafraid of the Emperor’s presence. Her inquiry was more like a command, leaving no room for defiance.
"No—"
Lady Li knelt on the ground, her entire body shaking, tears streaming even harder. "Your Highness, this humble wife… this humble wife…"
Where was the dignified, composed aura of the mistress of the household now?
She couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.
The Old Madam’s heart sank further, her face burning with humiliation. She wished she could vanish on the spot and return to her own quarters. But there was no medicine for regret, and she couldn’t abandon her daughter-in-law.
The beauties meant for the Emperor becoming Yong’s concubines? Unthinkable! Their striking looks would not only disrupt the household but also turn the Cao family into the laughingstock of the entire Jiangnan region.
The Old Madam regretted it all—deeply.
Since ancient times, many had sent beauties to their superiors, but none had ended up like this.
With the empress’s seat vacant, Noble Consort Yi had the authority to receive noblewomen, but interfering in household affairs was going too far.
Even if she had to risk her life, she would beg the Emperor for mercy and ask Noble Consort Yi to retract her decree.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, that wretched girl caused all this trouble—it was this old servant’s momentary folly! Scold or punish me as you will, but please, Your Highness, show mercy and spare this foolish woman, Lady Li." The Old Madam kowtowed repeatedly, addressing herself as "this old servant," her pleading eyes fixed on the Emperor in the corner. She looked years older, her eyes reddened. "For the sake of their marital harmony…"
Yunxiu slowly released her grip, and Lady Li, unable to hold on any longer, collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale.
What, did they think her words held no weight? Still hoping for the Emperor’s intervention?
Gently stroking her abdomen, Yunxiu cast a smiling glance at Kangxi before turning back with a mocking tone.
"Marital harmony—how touching. You wish for your own happiness, yet you nearly destroyed mine. Do you truly believe you can escape unscathed after nearly harming me? Such a pretty dream."
Her expression darkened as she declared with finality, "Lady Wang will become Cao Yin’s concubine. There is no alternative."
People often said women shouldn’t make life harder for one another. Had the Cao women not opposed her, she would never have targeted them. But first, the Old Madam had relied on her status as a wet nurse to act high and mighty, and now Lady Li had schemed to present beauties—did they think her reputation for arrogance was just for show?
That said, the Emperor had never intended to take Lady Wang into the palace.
After such a colossal misunderstanding and her earlier coldness toward him, she ought to "make amends"—or at least, show some goodwill.
First pinned by the Old Madam’s desperate gaze, then glanced at by Noble Consort Yi, Kangxi, who had been standing silently in the corner, finally stepped forward after a long pause.
He said coolly, "Let it be as Noble Consort Yi says."
Truth be told, he was redirecting his anger. The incense-laden bedding had been arranged by Lady Li’s people. Even if it was unintentional, it had nearly caused irreparable consequences.
Had anything happened to Xiuxiu or the child…
At his words, the Old Madam jerked her head up, her face as pale as Lady Li’s, who had slumped to the ground. "Your Majesty—!"
Yong was His Majesty’s trusted confidant!
"Lady Wang’s intentions are vile, and she has displeased Noble Consort Yi. But since you plead for her, this servant will spare her life. Whether Cao Yin takes her as a concubine or divorces his wife, he will know what to choose." The Emperor, still mindful of the Cao family’s loyalty, paused before delivering the final verdict. "Let her be a lowly concubine."
For a family like the Caos, even concubines had hierarchies. Below noble concubines were common ones, and the lowest were the lowly concubines—barely more than playthings, their contracts subject to trade.
Despite her fox-like beauty, Lady Wang was the daughter of a county magistrate, raised as an official’s daughter with a clean background. To be reduced to such a status… Countless troubles awaited. The Old Madam clutched her own hand, dazed, wishing she could faint on the spot.
The Crown Prince listened thoughtfully. His father had still shown leniency toward the Cao family.
"A lowly concubine she may be, but she must not be bought or sold. Guard Cao must treat her properly." Yunxiu took over, her smile widening as she glanced at Lady Li. Slowly, she added, "As the mistress, you must be magnanimous. Less of your underhanded tactics—do you understand?"
After a long silence, Lady Li bit her lip and kowtowed, her eyes red, her voice broken. "Y-yes. This humble wife obeys Noble Consort Yi’s instruction."
Seeing that Yunxiu had finished, Kangxi sensed her impatience. He had no interest in dealing with women’s affairs either, so he signaled to Liang Jiugong with a glance and waved for the Old Madam and Lady Li to leave.
Liang Jiugong understood—His Majesty wanted him to reprimand Minister Cao and Guard Cao.
That wretched girl also needed to be released, nursed back to health, and sent to the Old Madam’s side.
The Chief Steward led them out, and the room instantly felt more spacious. Noticing that the Crown Prince and Yinqi were still standing there, Kangxi looked at them once, then again after a moment.
The Crown Prince was studying Yunxiu’s abdomen with fascination, rooted to the spot. Yinqi scratched his head, feeling a chill down his neck, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to leave.
Mother was carrying his little sibling—he wasn’t going anywhere.
His precious sons had instantly become nuisances. Kangxi’s fingers itched as he snapped, "Did you forget how to read the room? Can’t you see your father and Mother Yi have matters to discuss?"
"Ah—!" The Crown Prince blinked, then hurriedly forced a smile. "Mother Yi, please rest well. Father, this son takes his leave."
Dragging Yinqi along, he muttered as they walked, "So that’s what it was. I thought Father’s eye was twitching."
The Crown Prince moved slowly, his expression solemn, sighing inwardly. He felt a little wronged—the ancestors had said Mother Yi was supposed to care for him too.
When would His Majesty’s clinginess ever change?
Just as they rounded the screen, Kangxi’s voice drifted from behind, so tender it could drip honey. "Xiuxiu, this time it was my fault. Is your head still dizzy? Does your stomach hurt?"
Admitting fault without question was a principle the Emperor had recently embraced.
Xiuxiu cared so deeply for him that upon seeing that presumptuous wretch Lady Wang, she must have been utterly heartbroken and overwhelmed with rage—so much so that she fainted from distress.
At this thought, Kangxi felt a pang of guilt. This was Liang Jiugong’s oversight—and his own as well.
His gaze turned icy. The Western Garden was not a place the Cao family could meddle with, and Li Xu also needed a stern warning.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he leaned down and kissed Yunxiu’s forehead. "The imperial physicians are here, so you must not leave. Stay by my side day and night from now on—rest assured," he said.
As for what followed, the Crown Prince heard none of it.
Yinqi tugged at his hand, his eyes darting about before he suddenly asked, "Second Elder Brother, is your head still spinning? Does your stomach hurt?"
"..." The Crown Prince’s expression shifted. He opened his mouth as if to speak but then clamped it shut, his handsome face twisting slightly.
Finally, he snapped, "Stop parroting words, or the Emperor will have your head."
"Oh." Yinqi shrank back and immediately fell silent.
Lady Wang had not been sent to serve the Emperor but had instead become Cao Yin’s concubine—a thunderbolt from the blue for both the Cao and Li families.
Upon returning to her chambers, Lady Li collapsed in a faint, sending her maids into a panic. They pinched her philtrum for a long while before she finally stirred. When she awoke, she clung to her son Yong, weeping uncontrollably as if unable to bear the shock.
In the main hall, the Old Madam muttered, "A miscalculation," and would have fainted herself had she not been leaning on her cane.
Cao Xi, the Superintendent of the Jiangnan Textile Manufacture, was nearing sixty and had fallen gravely ill the previous year, leaving his health much weakened. With Kangxi’s southern tour underway, he had hoped to pass his responsibilities to his eldest son, Cao Yin, so that the young man could take over his duties, safeguard the Emperor’s interests in the south, and remain close to his wife and child.
As for himself, he could then retire in peace—perhaps travel with his wife in their later years. What could be more delightful?
But before he could broach the subject with the Emperor, this disaster struck.
His wife had been foolish, and his daughter-in-law even more so. Sending a beauty had been his tacit approval, but who could have imagined it would be done this way?
Lady Wang had appeared at the worst possible moment—right before Noble Consort Yi’s eyes, provoking her to the point of fainting.
One might call her jealous, but this was beyond mere jealousy. The Noble Consort was with child, her emotions already heightened, though no one had known. Had anything gone wrong, the entire household would have paid with their lives.
Upon hearing the Emperor’s decree and enduring Liang Jiugong’s sharp reprimand, Cao Xi nearly choked on his breath. "Where is Yin’er?"
"The Eldest Master has gone to beg for mercy, pleading with His Majesty to revoke the order."
Anxious, Cao Xi removed his official hat, resolved to join his son in seeking forgiveness. With a heavy sigh, he staggered out the door—only to collide with Cao Yin, who returned shortly after, disheveled and exhausted.
"I knelt in the corridor, but the Emperor ordered me to rise. When I refused, he had my colleagues drag me away and asked whether I intended to defy his decree—to either divorce my wife or take the concubine." Cao Yin wiped his face, his eyes bloodshot and weary, before letting out a bitter laugh. "Father, what choice do I have?"
For Yong’s sake, what else could he do?
The matter of presenting a beauty had been concealed from him—not only by Li Xu but by everyone in the household.
And then there was his dear wife.
Cao Xi halted mid-step, suddenly feeling the world spin around him.
How had it come to this? How?
Staggering, he muttered, "This is all your mother and your wife’s doing—"
"My lord! My lord! Someone—fetch the physician!"
Western Garden.
Once Kangxi had finally left, the Crown Prince slipped away from Yinqi and doubled back, recounting the ensuing events to Yunxiu as if they were some amusing tale.
Noble Consort Yi frowned slightly and asked, "Did I set a trend? Why is everyone fainting one after another?"
"I don’t know," the Crown Prince coughed, rubbing his nose before grinning. "Cao Xi is a senior minister—the Emperor had no choice but to go check on him. He ordered me to keep Mother Yi company for dinner."
Unaware of any mischief, Yunxiu happily called for the kitchen to add more dishes, including the Crown Prince’s favorites—braised pork and eight-treasure duck. The spread was lavish, enough to make one’s mouth water.
The Crown Prince eagerly picked up his chopsticks, but before he could take a single bite, the Emperor appeared with a dark expression. "Yinqi sent someone to complain that his Second Elder Brother had vanished. I turned the textile office upside down searching for you—only to find you here!"
