The Pangs of Longing
Liang Jiugong’s ears, which had been subtly perked up, immediately drooped as he struggled to suppress a laugh, his plump cheeks trembling slightly. It was rare to see His Majesty at a loss.
Kangxi fell silent for a moment, staring at Grand Imperial Physician Chen’s graying beard and hair. The man was already in his seventies—though still hale and hearty, some deafness was to be expected. Over the years, whether it was minor ailments or more serious illnesses, the old physician had always been indispensable. Even the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace relied on his care.
Having reassured himself, Kangxi spoke calmly, "Did you hear what We just said clearly?"
A cold wind blew past, sending a chill through the surroundings. Grand Imperial Physician Chen shuddered and immediately wanted to slap himself.
This is bad.
His reflexes had just landed him in trouble.
Though usually nimble on his feet, his legs now trembled as he knelt unsteadily. "Your Majesty, this old servant’s hearing is not what it used to be. I beg for Your Majesty’s mercy—"
A torrent of pleas spilled from his lips until Kangxi, his head aching from the barrage, raised a hand to cut him off. "Rise and speak."
That meant he wasn’t being punished.
Grand Imperial Physician Chen exhaled silently in relief, wiping away a mental sweat before standing up and focusing intently as the Emperor described Noble Consort Yi’s unusual condition. After listening, Kangxi asked worriedly, "Could the Noble Consort be suffering from melancholy, leading to excessive eating?"
He had just reviewed the Imperial Hospital’s records—her last health examination showed no abnormalities. Depression and overeating didn’t make sense.
Grand Imperial Physician Chen maintained a respectful expression, though inwardly puzzled. Years ago, it had been lovesickness; now it was melancholy. Why was the Emperor so convinced Noble Consort Yi’s ailment was psychological?
Before he could dwell on it, Liang Jiugong chimed in, "To inform the Grand Physician, the Noble Consort’s routine health check five days ago was canceled because Her Ladyship woke up late."
Grand Imperial Physician Chen nodded slowly, pondering before his eyes suddenly brightened. If it wasn’t a psychological issue, then perhaps…
Suppressing his rising excitement, he replied evenly, "To confirm, this old servant must visit Yikun Palace for an examination."
The moment the words left his mouth, his expression faltered slightly.
He remembered the southern tour in the twenty-third year of Kangxi’s reign. Upon returning, the accompanying imperial physician had been the envy of his peers. Everyone said he had been the first to diagnose Noble Consort Yi’s pregnancy—a stroke of luck that earned him rewards from both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
But the man had alternated between laughter and gloom, behaving oddly. After some probing, Grand Imperial Physician Chen learned the truth: the Emperor had insisted on attributing Noble Consort Yi’s condition to "rage-induced illness," despite her pregnancy. The poor physician, torn between duty and fear, had endured eight months of daily interrogations—Was the Noble Consort’s smile forced today? Did her pulse show any abnormalities after being apart from Us for half a day?
"I’d rather not have received those rewards," the man had muttered in a daze.
Grand Imperial Physician Chen had left with a heavy heart, patting his colleague’s shoulder in sympathy.
Now, was it his turn?
---
Yikun Palace, Main Hall.
Concubine Jing took her leave, dragging Yierha—who was engrossed in embroidery—along with her. Before departing, she glanced once more at the empty porcelain plates, wondering how to tactfully suggest a medical examination.
If she bluntly told her elder sister she was eating too much, she might as well be asking for a slap. Concubine Jing discreetly studied Yunxiu’s face—Hmm, no sign of weight gain…
Unaware, Yunxiu smiled warmly as she saw them off. Once they were gone, she frowned slightly at the empty plates. "Ruizhu, why are the portions shrinking?"
Ruizhu thought flatly, Your Ladyship, the plates have grown larger—haven’t you noticed?
Before she could reply, an announcement came from outside: "His Majesty approaches!"
Kangxi strode in, followed by Grand Imperial Physician Chen, who carried his medical box with brisk steps.
"Your Majesty." Yunxiu curtsied, masking her surprise with a bright smile. "It’s still early—what brings You here?"
The sight of her radiant beauty softened Kangxi’s expression, easing his worries.
He spoke gently, "Overeating may cause indigestion. We couldn’t rest easy, so We summoned the Grand Physician to examine you."
The Emperor’s uncharacteristic tenderness made Grand Imperial Physician Chen’s white beard twitch, his steady steps nearly faltering.
An old man shouldn’t have to witness this.
Trembling, he said carefully, "If Her Ladyship would extend her wrist…"
At the Emperor’s words, Yunxiu fell silent. She glanced again at the row of empty plates and finally realized something was amiss.
I’ve been eating a lot lately…
Strangely, she felt no fullness at all.
As Grand Imperial Physician Chen pressed his fingers to her pulse through a silk cloth, Kangxi watched intently, his mind racing. Have I wronged her recently?
He had turned a blind eye when she punished Longkodo’s concubine—reportedly to the delight of the other consorts. And that ambitious maid in the tea room had been demoted before she could even approach him. Unless… had Yunxiu grown jealous over a single reprimand?
But melancholy should reduce appetite, not increase it.
Meanwhile, Grand Imperial Physician Chen, oblivious to the Emperor’s turmoil, switched to a different pulse-taking technique. Suddenly, his aged senses sharpened like a young man’s, and he detected the faint but unmistakable sign—
A slippery pulse.
After triple-checking, he forgot all about his predecessor’s woes and exclaimed joyfully, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Ladyship!"
Without waiting for questions, he announced, "The pregnancy is about a month and a half along. The increased appetite is harmless—this old servant will monitor it. The little prince or princess is being considerate, sparing Her Ladyship from morning sickness."
Kangxi froze. Yunxiu froze.
The palace servants erupted into cheers, kowtowing repeatedly. Liang Jiugong stifled a delighted aiyo, exchanging gleeful glances with Nanny Dong and Ruizhu.
The Emperor had long neglected the concubines’ summons, visiting other palaces only as a formality. After Noble Consort Yi gave birth to the Eleventh Prince, years had passed without another royal birth. But with three princes already, her fertility—or lack thereof—was hardly an issue. Compared to his father, Kangxi’s lineage was thriving, so even the gossips dared not whisper too loudly.
The Emperor had once summoned the imperial physician to inquire discreetly, to which the physician replied that all things depended on fate. Since Noble Consort Yi was in good health, His Majesty need not worry. The Emperor thought it over and agreed—after so many years, perhaps it was time to let go.
When the Grand Empress Dowager asked a few probing questions, the Emperor skillfully deflected them before bringing the Eleventh Prince into her arms. As the youngest son, the Eleventh Prince was the apple of the Grand Empress Dowager’s eye, and thus the topic was swiftly diverted—she even seemed reluctant to entertain the idea of another little prince stealing his spotlight.
Liang Jiugong had once entertained the treasonous thought that the Emperor himself might be apprehensive. What if this child turned out to be another troublemaker like the Ninth Prince? The palace would surely descend into chaos.
That said, after years without news of pregnancy, Noble Consort Yi’s sudden condition was cause for celebration, regardless of whether the child would be a little hellion or not. The Emperor would be overjoyed.
And indeed, the Chief Steward’s prediction came true. When the unexpected joyous news arrived, Kangxi took a moment to process it before exclaiming "Excellent!" three times in succession—though this time, he managed to maintain his composure and refrained from collapsing onto the floor in shock.
Back when Yunxiu was pregnant with the Eleventh Prince, Kangxi had summoned the accompanying imperial physician for a lengthy interrogation. Between his busy schedule, he had pored over medical texts, convinced he had mastered the subject. Now, with this new pregnancy, he eagerly put his knowledge to use.
"I vaguely recall that during pregnancy, one must avoid cold, spicy, and overly rich foods," he began with authority, adopting a scholarly tone. "But what about pastries? Should they be restricted?"
Grand Imperial Physician Chen was stunned.
The fact that the Emperor hadn’t immediately demanded, "Has the Noble Consort’s pulse shown any irregularities in the half-day since I last saw her?" was already a relief. Regaining his composure, the physician responded professionally, humoring the Emperor’s questions while subtly flattering him—praising his wisdom, vast knowledge, and deep affection for the Noble Consort, all without repeating himself.
Meanwhile, Yunxiu, no longer dazed, listened quietly before letting out a soft laugh. Lowering her peach-blossom eyes, she concealed the complexity in her gaze and gently touched her still-flat abdomen.
After giving birth to the Eleventh Prince, she had assumed there would be no more children. Yet here was an unexpected blessing. She had once believed that as long as her three children thrived—especially if Yinzi survived past infancy—and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she could mend the regrets of her dreams. She had meticulously planned for this, though despite the Emperor’s genuine affection, she could never fully let her guard down.
She couldn’t deny it—she was still afraid. Deep down, she feared that her current glory was nothing but a fleeting illusion, a bubble that would burst at the slightest touch. Seizing the opportunity of the Crown Prince’s marriage, she had rushed to bring down Suo Etu and cripple the Tong family’s second branch, ensuring they could never rise again.
In her past life, Tong Guowei had supported the Eighth Prince, while Longkodo had stood firmly behind the Fourth Prince. Even if they fell out of favor, who was to say they wouldn’t regain influence and sow doubt in the Emperor’s mind about the Crown Prince?
Beyond that, she had used the Eldest Princess Consort’s difficult childbirth as a warning to quell the Eldest Prince’s ambitions. No matter how unwilling Mingzhu or Concubine Hui might be, their efforts would be in vain.
Truthfully, these schemes carried great risk.
If the Emperor’s trust and favor were lost, and suspicion took root, it wouldn’t be hard for him to uncover traces of her machinations. But she had no choice—time was running out. Come autumn, the Emperor would lead a military campaign, leaving the Crown Prince to oversee the court. That was when the rift between father and son would begin.
In her dreams, Tong Guogang had died by Suo Etu’s schemes, sending Tong Guowei into mourning. Coinciding with the Emperor falling ill with malaria during the campaign, Mingzhu—then retired—had fanned the flames, pushing Suo Etu toward rebellion. When the Emperor recovered, the Crown Prince, following Suo Etu’s advice, had rushed to greet his father with a cheerful expression, starkly contrasting with the Third Prince Yin Zhi’s grief. The result had been a harsh reprimand.
Time waited for no one. She couldn’t afford to delay.
But now, the life growing within her whispered that she need not cling to the nightmares of the past.
This was a new beginning.
She had tried to alter fate, unaware that fate had already shifted. The future was no longer bound by her dreams—what she had seen as divine guidance had also become her cage.
As Grand Imperial Physician Chen’s voice droned on, interwoven with Kangxi’s responses like a duet, Yunxiu suddenly snapped back to reality. Closing her eyes briefly, she smiled wryly. Why was she in such a hurry?
Everything could unfold in its own time. If she couldn’t trust the Emperor, why not trust the cunning Yinreng, or her reborn Ninth and Tenth Princes?
She had urged Yintang to let go of the past, yet she was the one still trapped in it.
Her eyes reddened as her smile softened. This child would be younger than the Eldest Prince’s Second Princess.
Then, her expression shifted, and she shot Kangxi a glare.
She had dreamed of him as an old man, and the memory still rankled. The flush at the corners of her eyes deepened—though of course, the Emperor had no idea why.
Grand Imperial Physician Chen continued his lengthy discourse, but Kangxi, finally emerging from his joy, coughed lightly and glanced at Yunxiu, his face radiant.
He had a thousand sweet nothings ready to pour out to his beloved Noble Consort.
But when he saw her reddened eyes—appearing almost angry—his heart lurched. Cutting off the physician mid-sentence, he took Yunxiu’s hand and murmured soothing words, his expression quickly shifting to concern.
Lowering his voice, he demanded of the physician, "Is this tears of joy or distress? What do you see? I’ve done nothing to wrong her recently."
Grand Imperial Physician Chen: "..."
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, every wrinkle on his face spoke of the hardships of providing for his family. Before he could muster a response, Noble Consort Yi snorted, yanked her hand free, and snapped, "Shameless old man."
It was as if the heavens had opened up in a blizzard—in June.
The Emperor’s budding smile froze, then vanished without a trace.
