These words struck like thunder in the night, landing heavily upon the emperor’s heart!
The halls of Yikun Palace fell abruptly silent.
The palace servants dropped to their knees in unison, trembling as they pressed themselves against the floor. Nanny Dong’s face paled, sweat pouring down like rain, while Liang Jiugong swayed unsteadily, wishing he were blind and deaf—or better yet, that he had never heard Consort Yi’s words at all.
Jealous, venomous, narrow-minded… Oh, my dear mistress, how could such self-deprecating words escape your lips?
‘Unworthy of Your Majesty’s favor’—and even mentioning Consort De! This was practically a dismissal, an act of great disrespect!
This was disastrous. Absolutely disastrous.
How would His Majesty react to such heartbreak and fury?
Liang Jiugong’s fears were justified.
Kangxi stood frozen for a long moment, his smile fading slowly as his expression darkened inch by inch.
Holding the dazed little Yintang in his arms, he paced in circles, muttering “Good, good, good” three times under his breath.
Then, abruptly, he strode around the screen, ignoring the startled gasps of the servants, and fixed his furious gaze on Yunxiu, who lay on the bed. “Consort Yi, are these truly your thoughts?”
The emperor had disregarded the taboo of entering a birthing chamber—a place considered unclean—and barged in without hesitation…
Yunxiu’s heart skipped a beat before a wave of bewilderment washed over her.
He had rarely shown anger in front of her, always smiling instead. Now, stripped of that warmth, his imperial majesty radiated like a storm, making it feel as though an era had passed.
A pang of melancholy struck her, but she felt no fear—nor any regret.
Ever since that dream, she had awakened to the truth, seeing the emperor’s favor for what it was: fleeting, insubstantial, devoid of true devotion. Hadn’t she spent a lifetime yearning for it in vain?
Now, having given birth to Yintang, she was simply exhausted. She no longer wished to deceive the emperor.
Honesty would be better for them both.
Yunxiu lowered her eyes and whispered, “Yes, these are my true thoughts. I am tired. I no longer wish to fight other women for a man’s affection. The birthing chamber is unclean—please leave, Your Majesty.”
Clad in plain white undergarments, her lips pale and brows slightly furrowed, she bore the lingering pain of childbirth. The radiant beauty she once possessed had dimmed, leaving only a fragile shadow of her former self. Her voice was weak, each word laced with exhaustion, punctuated by faint breaths through her nose.
Seeing her like this, Kangxi’s anger dissipated almost instantly. By the time she finished speaking, his fury had vanished entirely.
He stared at her. She stared at the embroidered quilt. The room was utterly silent.
“I told you I would give you an answer,” Kangxi finally said after a long pause, his voice stiff as he turned away. “There’s no need for such bitter words. Focus on recovering your strength. Since this is your wish, I shall no longer visit Yikun Palace… nor shall I indulge you further.”
Yet despite his words, he refused to let go of the swaddled infant in his arms, his feet rooted to the spot as if unwilling to move.
Yunxiu: “…”
Her face darkened with disbelief. Had she not spoken plainly enough? Had she not insulted him to his face? And yet, in his eyes, her words were nothing more than a tantrum?!
She let out a cold, humorless laugh and said with forced politeness, “Your Majesty’s word is law. I trust you will honor your promise…”
Before she could finish, Kangxi carefully set the swaddle down, cutting her off with an icy tone. “I do not break my word.”
Then, leaning down, he tucked the quilt around her before turning sharply and striding out, his sleeves flaring behind him.
Yintang was utterly stunned.
He felt as though he were floating in a dream, unable to process what had just happened.
His mother had called herself jealous and venomous, urged the emperor to favor others, and spoken with biting sarcasm—each word a dagger to the heart.
And yet, despite all that, the emperor had seemed reluctant to leave, holding Yintang with an almost desperate grip before finally setting him down with visible hesitation.
Yintang was dumbfounded.
Then, as the gnawing hunger from the depths of his newborn soul overwhelmed him, he burst into loud, uncontrollable wails.
Between sobs, his mind raced. Had this happened in his past life?
Had his mother always been this fearless—openly scorning the emperor, openly dismissing him? And even more shocking, the emperor had restrained his anger!
If the Crown Prince had dared say such things in their past life, Yintang was certain the emperor would have punished him severely, no matter how dearly he was loved.
So why?
Could it be… that the emperor was truly bewitched by his mother’s beauty?
In this life, the dynamics between the emperor and his mother seemed completely reversed. The absurdity of it all left Yintang stunned—but then, a flicker of delight sparked within him.
This was good. No, this was perfect. His mother had finally opened her eyes and refused to waste her love on a hopeless cause.
Yintang’s heart swelled with quiet joy. Even the approach of his wet nurse didn’t bother him as much as before.
The little prince shut his bright black eyes and smacked his lips. Surely, his rebirth had caused this change. His mother was brilliant!
By the time the imperial procession returned to Qianqing Palace, it was already time to retire for the night.
The entire journey, Kangxi had kept his eyes closed, his expression stormy. Liang Jiugong didn’t dare so much as breathe too loudly, shrinking into himself, inwardly groaning in dread.
Once they reached the palace, he braced himself for the emperor’s inevitable outburst.
In the past, Consort Yi would have been there to soothe His Majesty’s temper—but now? That was no longer an option.
With the two at odds, who else would suffer but a lowly servant like him?
Kangxi slowly opened his eyes, rubbing the jade ring on his thumb. “Tell me,” he said suddenly, “where have I failed her?” That she would exhaust herself just to speak such cruel words.
Normally, Liang Jiugong might have dared a lighthearted remark to ease the tension. But tonight? Not a chance.
He bowed deeply, lips sealed, playing the mute—though his mind screamed, How should I know? How could I possibly know?
Kangxi didn’t expect an answer anyway. With a dark chuckle, he stepped down from the palanquin, his jaw clenched tight.
He had spoiled her too much.
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed less like arrogance and more like outright rebellion!
Moments later, a furious roar erupted from the emperor’s private chambers:
“‘My word is law’—as if I would ever go back on it?! Fine, she shall have her wish! Draft an edict: Consort Yi, for her disrespect toward the throne, is hereby confined—”
Realizing what was coming, Liang Jiugong nearly fainted from terror. He threw himself at Kangxi’s feet, clutching his legs desperately. “Your Majesty, no! You mustn’t, you mustn’t!”
Once an imperial decree was issued, there would be no taking it back—no room for regret!
For the first time in his life, the chief eunuch dared to interrupt the emperor, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. But at this moment, he could think of nothing else.
Swallowing hard, he mustered every ounce of courage he possessed and blurted out, “Your Majesty! They say childbirth is like stepping through the gates of the underworld! Consort Yi suffered such a fright during labor—she truly walked the line between life and death! With the Fifth Prince nearly drowning just as the Ninth Prince was born, who knows what terror and despair filled her heart? That’s why she spoke so recklessly!”
“How dare you—” Kangxi raised his foot to kick him, but slowly, his anger subsided into silence.
Liang Jiugong’s heart leaped. Good. He had gotten through.
He racked his brains for a moment, then suddenly brightened and continued, "Her Ladyship is frail after childbirth and should be relying on Your Majesty’s support, yet her attitude is so unusual… There must be some vile tongues whispering in her ear. Think back—has there been any sign of this before? This humble servant believes that Consort Yi, as a mother, must have her own unavoidable hardships!"
These words of persuasion struck a chord in Kangxi’s heart.
At the mention of "a mother," Kangxi’s breath hitched. His phoenix eyes darkened, and his demeanor softened slightly.
He gave a faint hum, as if he had found a way to save face.
Liang Jiugong had handed him an excuse, and the emperor seized it immediately. The tension at the corners of Kangxi’s lips eased as he glanced down at him. "Rise."
His voice still carried anger, but it was far milder than before.
Liang Jiugong wiped his forehead as if he had narrowly escaped death, exhaling shakily before collapsing to the ground, half-laughing, half-crying. He managed to choke out, "Your Majesty, this servant… this servant can’t get up."
Kangxi shot him a sidelong glance, twisting the jade ring on his finger, but did not reprimand him. After a long pause, he said coolly, "What hardships does Consort Yi have?"
Liang Jiugong: "…"
The chief eunuch suddenly felt a pang of exasperation.
Setting aside his fear for a moment, he thought bitterly, You ask me, but who am I supposed to ask?
With a dry chuckle, Liang Jiugong cautiously replied, "Her Ladyship said… she asked Your Majesty to seek another’s company. Ah, this servant is too dull-witted to guess her meaning."
Kangxi narrowed his eyes slowly, his fingers pausing mid-motion.
Ah. Consort De.
Though Xiuxiu had spoken in anger, she wouldn’t have mentioned another without reason.
What had Mrs. Wuya done?
Kangxi pressed his fingers to his temples and said in a low voice, "Investigate the matter concerning the Fifth Prince thoroughly. Spare no one, even if it means punishing the innocent. I have said before—I will give Consort Yi… Consort Yi an answer."
Then he paused and added, "Keep an eye on Yonghe Palace. If you fail to uncover anything, your head will be forfeit."
With his life threatened by his master, Liang Jiugong trembled as he hastily assented, feeling as though his lifespan had just shortened by several years.
Being a servant is hard. Being the emperor’s personal servant is even harder!
After attending to His Majesty’s bedtime preparations, he was about to make a swift exit when Kangxi suddenly ordered, "Go. Bring me the Buddhist scriptures hanging in the study."
"Your Majesty," Liang Jiugong held his breath, his voice strained, "What… what do you need the scriptures for?"
Heavens above!
Those were the Buddhist scriptures personally copied and presented by Consort Yi. What if His Majesty saw them and was overcome with longing—no, what if he used them as an excuse to vent his anger?
"What for?" Kangxi scoffed. "To calm the mind and soothe the spirit. They serve a great purpose."
Liang Jiugong: "…"
"Yes, yes." His lips twitched as he scurried out in a panic, as if fleeing from a ghost.
"If Consort Yi proves arrogant and disrespectful, do not hesitate on my account…"
The golden bed curtains, a withered hand, and labored, wheezing breaths formed a scene of profound gloom.
What met his gaze was a pair of despairing peach-blossom eyes, no longer as lively as in youth, dulled with age and etched with deep wrinkles.
Staring into those eyes, his breath faltered inexplicably, and his heart clenched with sudden, piercing pain.
…
The next morning.
Dawn had barely broken, the sky tinged with a faint glow as the morning light lurked behind the lingering darkness, waiting to burst forth in its first radiant blaze.
Recalling the dream from the night before, Kangxi sat up in bed, lost in thought.
Apart from the words "arrogant and disrespectful," he could remember nothing else.
Suppressing the storm in his heart and the growing sense of guilt, he cleared his throat when Liang Jiugong tiptoed in and announced, "After the morning court, prepare my carriage for Yikun Palace."
The chief eunuch froze. You what?
The emperor stiffly explained, "I promised Consort Yi. I will not go back on my word! I am going to see Little Ninth."
Liang Jiugong: "…"
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Chief Eunuch Liang sighed wearily: As long as it pleases Your Majesty.
