Yunxiu stared at the neatly stacked pile of Buddhist scriptures placed on the tray, her eyes widening slightly as she fell silent for a long moment, her brow twitching uncontrollably.
She had initially thought the Emperor’s sudden visit to Yikun Palace was a whim, but it turned out to be premeditated.
Was he here to reprimand her for the meager gift she had presented?
Ignoring the slight discomfort in her heart, Yunxiu found the situation utterly bizarre.
The Emperor possessed the entire world—what could he possibly lack?
How could he possibly nitpick over such a trivial birthday gift!
Moreover, the heartless words from her dream—"If Consort Yi proves arrogant and disrespectful, do not hesitate to disregard my favor"—still echoed in her ears. Did he truly expect her to throw herself into the flames of rivalry again, only to meet the same tragic fate?
Fine. So much for his so-called wisdom and might—it was all just my delusion.
Yunxiu’s expression darkened as she smiled coldly. "Does Your Majesty find this concubine’s birthday gift too shabby?"
At this moment, she no longer feared his imperial authority.
Disrespectful? So be it. At worst, she would fall out of favor. She had her children, her family. Like Consort Hui, she could spend her days playing cards and doting on her sons—wouldn’t that be a fulfilling life?
Kangxi could no longer maintain his stoic expression. Seeing Yunxiu on the verge of anger, he actually looked… a little aggrieved.
I haven’t even scolded her yet, and she’s already glaring at me. How audacious!
"Look at this," he huffed, lifting his robe as he sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Who else in the entire harem would present Buddhist scriptures for the imperial birthday? Only you." He snorted. "You’re spoiled rotten, yet you still dare to sulk at me."
Yunxiu froze for a long moment, wondering if she had misread him. That wounded look—what was that about?
His words sank in, and she fell silent. The Emperor… is acting very strangely.
It unsettled her. She averted her gaze from his burning stare, no longer daring to keep her expression stern.
After gathering her thoughts, Yunxiu refused to let the matter of the gift slide. She pursed her lips and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty’s accusations wound this concubine deeply. Not only did I personally transcribe those scriptures, but I also infused them with the finest sandalwood incense to soothe the mind. How could you dismiss them so carelessly?"
She cast him a mournful glance. "Every stroke was poured from my heart. If Your Majesty fails to appreciate it, so be it. But to compare it to the gifts of other consorts—yes, the scriptures may be humble, unworthy of Imperial Noble Consort’s priceless paintings or Concubine Hesheli’s exquisite embroidered screen…"
Wenyuan and Ruizhu, standing with their sleeves tucked and heads bowed, twitched at the corners of their eyes. Oh, my lady… every stroke was actually copied by us maids!
Liang Jiugong, listening nearby, was utterly dumbfounded. As he pondered her words, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt—even as a eunuch, he was moved by her argument.
Kangxi nearly fell for her reasoning before catching himself, torn between amusement and exasperation.
Listen to this nonsense!
Sharp-tongued and relentless—she never yielded an inch.
When Yunxiu brought up the Imperial Noble Consort and Concubine Hesheli, Kangxi’s scalp prickled. Knowing he couldn’t win this debate, he quickly cut her off, coaxing, "It was my oversight. The scriptures are no lesser than their gifts!"
And just like that, his original intent to reprimand her was forgotten.
Turning to his chief eunuch, Kangxi ordered, "Liang Jiugong, place these scriptures in the most prominent spot in my study later…"
Liang Jiugong’s lips twitched. His Majesty’s dignity has shattered to pieces before Consort Yi.
Suppressing his inner turmoil, he bowed respectfully. "This servant obeys."
Yunxiu gazed at Kangxi in astonishment, as if discovering something entirely new. A moment later, she burst into laughter and leaned against his shoulder. "Your Majesty is truly wise."
Her words were sincere—but the real meaning behind them was clear:
The Emperor has truly lost his mind.
Kangxi’s face stiffened, a mix of embarrassment and anger flashing across his features. But the moment he met Yunxiu’s smiling, peach-blossom eyes, his irritation melted away.
Yunxiu found his expression rather endearing. The Emperor in my dreams would never look like this.
Her thoughts raced. Closing her eyes, she realized for the first time with absolute clarity: Reality can be changed.
Right now, the Emperor’s attitude toward her had shifted—so intimately that it startled her.
Perhaps the tragic fate she had foreseen would never come to pass…
Her heart bubbled like boiling water, scalding with an indescribable thrill. But soon, her gaze sharpened as she forced herself to calm down.
While changing her fate was exhilarating, she was no longer the Guo Luoluo Yunxiu of the past—infatuated with the Emperor, overjoyed by a single sweet word.
An emperor’s favor was fleeting, the most unreliable thing in the world. Who could remain in his graces forever?
When she grew old and lost her beauty, there might still be some affection between them. But by then, he would be taking fresh young consorts to the summer retreats, occasionally tossing her a basket of food or fabrics—and she would have to grovel in gratitude.
Yunxiu sneered. Who would want such a life?
In the future, between the Fifth Prince, Ninth Prince, Little Eleventh, and Yierha, four children would be more than enough to keep her busy. She had no time for the Emperor’s games—maintaining the status quo and speaking her mind would suffice.
After all, she was pregnant and couldn’t serve him anyway. If he enjoyed visiting Yikun Palace, wasn’t that to her advantage?
Chengqian Palace was shrouded in gloom, the air thick with the bitter scent of medicine. The moment Tong Guowei’s Wife stepped inside, she was horrified.
The Imperial Noble Consort lay on the bed, her face sallow, eyes closed, breathing faint. Only her swollen belly protruded unnaturally beneath the brocade quilt.
Nanny Zhen guided Tong’s Wife to the bedside and whispered, "Your Highness, your mother is here to see you!"
The Imperial Noble Consort slowly opened her eyes, turning her head slightly in confusion. "Mother…"
Tong’s Wife had no idea her daughter had deteriorated to this state.
Shock, fury, and heartbreak overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her daughter’s hand. "Ru Ying, Mother is here! Mother is here!"
Then she whirled on Nanny Zhen, demanding sharply, "What happened? How did Her Highness become like this?! Where are the servants of Chengqian Palace?!"
Before Nanny Zhen could answer, the Imperial Noble Consort shook her head weakly.
Seeing her mother, her eyes reddened as she struggled to sit up against the pillows. "Mother, don’t blame them. I ordered the doors and windows shut… I didn’t want anyone near me…"
Tong’s Wife gasped. "You fool!"
Nanny Zhen wept. "Madam, you must understand—ever since His Majesty issued that edict, Her Highness has been listless, unable to keep anything down. And then…"
She broke down, sobbing. "When Imperial Physician Chen came to examine her, he said… he said the little prince in her womb was weak, possibly born with frailty…"
Born frail—meaning he would struggle to survive.
Tong’s Wife felt the world spin around her. "How could this be?"
"Imperial Physician Chen is exclusively responsible for diagnosing the pulse of the Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty. His words cannot be wrong." When Tong Guowei's Wife entered, a faint light flickered in the Imperial Noble Consort's eyes as she spoke calmly, "Imperial Physician Liu also said that consuming potent medicine excessively will eventually harm the body."
"Then why do you insist on taking such dangerous drugs?!" Tong Guowei's Wife trembled as she pointed at the Imperial Noble Consort, adding, "You’re being foolish..."
The Imperial Noble Consort could no longer hold back—tears streamed down her face. "Mother! I have no choice! From the very beginning, this pregnancy has been difficult. But what else can I do? Even if it ruins my health, I must give birth to him!"
Imperial Physician Liu had confidently declared she was carrying a son, and the Imperial Noble Consort had rejoiced for days, resting peacefully while nurturing endless hopes for the future.
She wanted to deliver a healthy prince, to ascend gloriously to the position of Empress—she had schemed for so long, only to miscalculate.
The dangerous drugs were supposed to harm her body, so how could they affect the child?
The fetus was weak, inherently deficient, and highly prone to early death...
After Imperial Physician Chen left, the Imperial Noble Consort was plunged into despair, feeling life itself was no longer worth living. The Emperor had reprimanded her so harshly, Yinzhen had been placed under the Grand Empress Dowager’s care, and the entire court and harem knew of her disgrace, waiting to mock her.
If the little prince were to die young, what would it matter even if she had defeated Consort De, Consort Yi, and the Noble Consort?
Without the merit of bearing a son, becoming Empress would be nearly impossible.
Besides, her cousin had grown to despise her—he would never name her Empress!
All these words poured out of her in a torrent of weeping to Tong Guowei's Wife, as if she were expelling every ounce of grief, resentment, and panic from her heart.
Tong Guowei's Wife wept silently before suddenly slapping her hard across the face.
Nanny Zhen shuddered and dropped to her knees. The Imperial Noble Consort clutched her stinging cheek, murmuring in shock, "Mother?"
"A daughter of the Tong family does not live so pitifully!" Tong Guowei's Wife wiped her eyes, her willow-thin brows furrowing as she scolded sharply, "If your father knew, even the family discipline would be too light a punishment!"
Without waiting for a reply, she sneered, "The Imperial Noble Consort, the highest-ranking woman in the harem, cowers in her chambers wallowing in self-pity. What are you afraid of? What are you panicking about? If you lose this child, you can bear another! Have you forgotten—you are still the Emperor’s own cousin!"
"His own cousin?" The Imperial Noble Consort laughed bitterly, as if struck in her most vulnerable spot. "His Majesty no longer cares for such kinship! He detests me!"
Tong Guowei's Wife closed her eyes, raising her hand again, but under the Imperial Noble Consort’s mocking gaze, she finally lowered it.
"Ru Ying, you claim the Emperor detests you." She pointed toward Qianqing Palace and said coldly, "You brought this upon yourself with your own foolishness, yet you blame others? Disappointment, yes—but hatred? Far from it. If he truly despised you, why would he invite your father to dine? Why would he grant me the favor of entering the palace to see you?"
"Father… dined with him?" the Imperial Noble Consort repeated dazedly.
Tong Guowei's Wife sighed, her expression shifting from sorrow to resolve as she revealed the true purpose of her visit. "Your father asked me to tell you—stand firm, reflect deeply, and stop squabbling with the likes of Consort De. If you wish to be Empress, you must act like one!"
Then, she gently touched her daughter’s gaunt face, her voice softening with pity. "Even if the little prince is frail… it doesn’t matter. Once you secure the title of Empress, every child will call you 'Imperial Mother.' There will be other sons."
The Imperial Noble Consort jerked her head up, her eyes blazing with sudden intensity. "Become Empress?"
"Your father submitted a memorial urging His Majesty to appoint an Empress." Tong Guowei's Wife smiled faintly. "It was not rejected..."
The Imperial Noble Consort was utterly stunned.
In that instant, it was as if she had glimpsed light in the depths of despair, as if a drowning woman had seized a lifeline. Trembling violently, she clenched the medicine-scented brocade quilt in her fists.
