The Emperor arrived, and it seemed he had firmly convinced himself that the luggage prepared by Noble Consort Yi was meant for him.
This was something none of the palace maids in Yikun Palace had anticipated.
Ruizhu froze, exchanging a bewildered glance with Nanny Dong for a moment before abruptly lowering her head, her heart pounding like a drum.
Such a colossal misunderstanding—
Oh no! Nearby lay a set of golden armor, tailored precisely to Young Master Fulu’s measurements.
If the Emperor took a sudden whim to try it on, he would immediately notice the discrepancy. What were they to do?
Having served by Yunxiu’s side for years, Ruizhu knew the Emperor’s temperament well—boundless indulgence toward her mistress, yet equally demanding of her devotion in return.
As the ruler of the realm, what the Emperor believed was right could not be contradicted by anyone.
How could she dare, at this critical moment, to explain: Your Majesty, Her Ladyship didn’t prepare these for you—they were meant for Young Master Fulu!
That would be akin to courting death.
Ruizhu’s throat felt dry. She stole a glance at Yunxiu, only to see her mistress swiftly masking her surprise, her expression perfectly composed, betraying no trace of tension.
Upon closer inspection, her smile was flawless, though tinged with a hint of reluctant distress.
This scene felt oddly familiar—had she witnessed it before? During the Emperor’s birthday celebration, perhaps?
Yunxiu herself was speechless, a vague sense of déjà vu creeping over her before she could dwell on it.
Her gaze fell upon the fully packed rosewood chests, and waves of heartache washed over her.
Food and daily necessities were no issue—they could always be replenished. But the secret remedies painstakingly crafted by Mrs. Guoluoluo were irreplaceable. Those medicinal salves were worth a fortune.
She had brought out her most treasured reserves, willingly given to Fulu—only for them to now fall into the Emperor’s hands instead.
Who wouldn’t be aggrieved?
Spotting the golden armor out of the corner of her eye, Yunxiu suppressed her anguish. While Kangxi remained immersed in delight, she blushed faintly and spoke softly, "With Your Majesty leading the campaign, how could this consort not worry? After much deliberation, I could only prepare these supplies as a humble gesture. I pray Your Majesty treasures your health and returns victorious soon."
Then, with a reluctant flutter of her lashes, she added, "Should Your Majesty find the time, do not forget to send word—even just to assure me of your safety..."
The Emperor couldn’t quite describe the emotions stirring in his chest—a tickling like a feather’s brush, a sweetness cloying as syrup, yet also a sharp pang like a needle’s prick.
They said a beauty’s embrace could be a hero’s undoing. At this rate, he might truly find it impossible to leave the palace.
Kangxi exhaled deeply, pulling Yunxiu firmly into his arms, his right hand cradling her belly protectively. In a hushed murmur, he replied, "I promise. Don’t tempt me further."
Pressed against his shoulder, Yunxiu smiled silently, though her voice remained light. "Your Majesty must not forget."
As the Emperor and Noble Consort Yi lost themselves in tender affection, Yikun Palace fell so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Peihuan, a senior maid who had never witnessed such a scene, slowly closed her gaping mouth, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
Exchanging a glance with Ruizhu, who gave a subtle nod, Peihuan cautiously stepped forward to retrieve the armor.
Just then, Liang Jiugong sighed inwardly, rubbing his cheek before turning a vacant stare toward Peihuan. She recoiled in fright, hastily withdrawing her hand as cold sweat trickled down her spine.
Yunxiu seemed to recall something. Gently disentangling herself from Kangxi, she pointed suddenly and laughed. "How forgetful of me! I nearly overlooked—that armor was a gift from the Crown Prince to Fulu, meant to inspire his bravery in battle. But with this pregnancy fogging my memory, I only remembered today. Would Your Majesty deliver it on my behalf? The boy would be overjoyed."
Before Kangxi could respond, she rose on her toes to straighten his collar, adding cheerfully, "The battlefield is merciless. Should Fulu suffer so much as a scratch, do grant him the salves I prepared—after all, he’s a child we’ve watched grow. Your Majesty must look after him."
Her emphasis on "salves" did not go unnoticed.
Ruizhu and Nanny Dong perked their ears, finally exhaling in relief—
The situation had been salvaged.
Yunxiu’s natural concern for Fulu’s welfare left Kangxi without a shred of suspicion.
Surrounded by her fragrance, he adored this unapologetic demeanor of hers—though others might call it sheer audacity borne of favor.
"When have I ever refused to care for him?" Kangxi clasped her hand again, eyes crinkling. "Rest easy, Xiuxiu."
With this reassurance, Yunxiu’s heart settled somewhat.
Yet now it was the Emperor’s turn to fret.
He sighed softly, issuing a stream of instructions. "While I’m away, Little Lizi will attend to your needs. Request anything from the Imperial Household Department, and discipline anyone who displeases you. As for those two troublemakers, the Ninth and Tenth Princes, I’ve tasked the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince to keep them in line. All else remains unchanged."
"Keep away from anything cold. Grand Imperial Physician Chen will be on standby." His gaze softened. "The campaign won’t drag into winter—I must return for our little princess’s birth."
Yunxiu’s lashes fluttered, her peach-blossom eyes clouded with complexity, when Kangxi paused and added in a lowered voice, "I’ll expect letters from Noble Consort Yi—at least one every ten days. Send them through the Crown Prince, and they’ll reach me swiftly."
The flicker of emotion in Yunxiu vanished instantly.
One letter every ten days?!
Your Majesty might not strain your eyes reading them, but my hand will ache from writing!
Besides, with the war’s urgency, he might return soon enough—why bother with letters when they’d reunite shortly?
"Your Majesty," she protested immediately, "this consort—"
Kangxi narrowed his eyes, his expression brooking no argument. Yunxiu swallowed her words and conceded, "As Your Majesty commands."
Satisfied, Kangxi kissed her forehead. "I depart tomorrow. The study awaits me now, but I’ll return tonight." Raising his voice, he called, "Liang Jiugong!"
The eunuch hurried forth, beaming as he directed servants to carry away the rosewood chests and the magnificent golden armor. "Careful now! A single scratch, and you’ll answer for it!"
Yunxiu watched helplessly as her treasures crossed the threshold, another surge of heartache leaving her breathless.
I regret this.
"Ruizhu," she said after a long pause, "having lost priceless medicines, must His Majesty torment me further?"
The thought of hiring a ghostwriter flashed through her mind—but she waved it away wearily. "Never mind. I’ll manage."
Among the princes, none rejoiced more at the Emperor’s departure than the Ninth and Tenth Princes, Yintang and Yin'e.
Yintang calculated—the campaign would last at least two to three months. And no one understood better than he how tenacious Galdan, the Dzungar leader, could be.
A true warlord, Galdan had slipped away once before under a feigned truce, only to resurge years later, draining the court’s resources in a prolonged campaign—one of the few regrets in the old man’s reign.
Ninth Prince Yintang hesitated for a long time, then whispered with Tenth Prince Yin'e. After their studies today, the two finally decided to visit the courtyard of the Eldest Prince together.
The Eldest Princess Consort was directing the servants to pack their belongings, issuing one orderly instruction after another, her tone so pleasant it soothed the ears. The Eldest Prince seemed to only know how to agree, nodding eagerly at everything his consort said while smiling obsequiously and massaging her shoulders.
When the maids led them inside, this was the scene Yintang witnessed.
Ninth Prince could hardly bear to look, but for the sake of their grand plan, he endured.
He then called out properly, "Eldest Brother."
Tenth Prince followed just as obediently, "Eldest Brother."
Yinti felt his hair stand on end at the address. He rubbed his nose and cautiously asked, "Ninth Brother, has this elder brother offended you recently? Fourth Brother’s progress in horseback archery is entirely my doing—you can’t deny that."
Yintang was almost questioning reality—this man seemed like a completely different person from the Prince Zhi of his past life, who had once rivaled the Second Elder Brother for power.
He also felt a little awkward, especially since the Eldest Princess Consort was right there watching.
He forced a dry laugh. "Eldest Brother misunderstands. I don’t deny it. But this time, I came to offer you sincere advice."
With that, he shot a glance at Yin'e. After a moment of preparation, Yin'e suddenly declared loudly, "Eldest Brother, you mustn’t be reckless for glory and bring shame to our Aisin-Gioro family, making us a laughingstock!"
That was the "advice."
The Eldest Prince’s face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Yintang kept his gaze fixed straight ahead and added, "Eldest Brother must keep a close eye on Uncle Prince Yu and stick to him like a shadow, lest his indecisiveness drag down the entire army."
Tenth Prince blurted out in surprise, "Ninth Brother, one is reckless for glory, the other is indecisive—wouldn’t they perfectly balance each other out?"
The next moment, they were chased out by the furious Eldest Prince.
From inside, they could hear the Eldest Princess Consort’s earnest persuasion: "Ninth Brother and Tenth Brother were just a bit blunt. Their words may sound rough, but the reasoning isn’t wrong. Why chase them out, my lord?"
A critical hit.
The Eldest Prince was so angry he nearly exploded, but he dared not vent his temper on his consort. With a strained smile, he said, "It’s getting late. It wouldn’t do for them to linger and miss tomorrow’s farewell, would it?"
The Eldest Princess Consort scoffed. "So many excuses. Did you even listen to Tenth Brother’s words? 'Do not be reckless for glory!'"
"Yes, yes, yes—do not be reckless for glory. My dear, I’ve memorized it, firmly and forever. I wouldn’t dare forget."
On his way back to his courtyard, Yintang spotted Zhang Youde, one of Yunxiu’s attendants, and froze in surprise.
"Did Mother have urgent orders?" he asked, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Noble Consort Yi said she has a matter troubling her, and only Ninth Prince can resolve it," Zhang Youde replied with a beaming smile. "So, this servant came straight to you."
"A matter troubling her?" Yintang immediately perked up. "Go on."
Zhang Youde glanced at the prince’s slender arms and legs, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately relayed his mistress’s instructions in full: "Letter writing."
