Concubine Xi trembled, her lips quivering as her face flushed red, then turned pale, then purple with disbelief. Her long nails dug sharply into her palms, sending waves of piercing pain through her hands.
She couldn’t believe Consort Yi would dare to be so domineering!
Concubine Xi was a senior figure in the palace. A distant branch of the Hesheli clan, she had entered the palace earlier than Yunxiu, initially granted the rank of Noble Lady. Though her family was not prominent, her striking looks had won her favor for a long time.
Her parents had indulged her every whim since childhood, nurturing both her pride and her blunt, outspoken nature.
Unlike Yunxiu, Concubine Xi had truly "relied on favor to act arrogantly." Her unrestrained boldness and careless words had offended many consorts, including the late Empress Xiaozhao.
When the charge of disrespecting the Empress was levied against her, coupled with Noble Consort Tong and others adding fuel to the fire, Kangxi’s favor toward her faded.
Confined to her quarters, forced to copy palace regulations… After her punishment, Concubine Xi seemed to awaken, restraining her misplaced arrogance and throwing herself into efforts to regain favor—but to little avail.
Sending soups? Rejected by Qianqing Palace. "Accidentally" running into the Emperor? Met with a scolding that left her flushed with shame, slinking away in humiliation.
Everyone knew Concubine Xi lacked wits; she had practically become a laughingstock in the palace, and even Yunxiu had heard the rumors.
One might have thought such disgrace would make her behave, yet here she was, still making trouble—and now right in front of Yunxiu!
Among those spreading rumors about monopolizing favor, Concubine Xi and Consort Ping were the most active. Consort Ping fanned the flames in secret, while Concubine Xi charged ahead openly. As for Concubine An and Concubine Jing, they merely stirred the pot, following behind to pick up the scraps.
There would be time to deal with Concubine An and Concubine Jing later. Consort Ping’s smugness wouldn’t last either. Backed by the Hesheli clan, Suo Etu, and the Crown Prince’s reputation… all of that could be settled in due time.
But Concubine Xi? The soft persimmon was the easiest to pinch. Her family was weak, she had no favor, no sons—what could she do even if she was slapped?
Yunxiu wanted the entire harem to know the consequences of crossing her.
She had been too lenient for too long, and now they thought her easy to bully? Were they dreaming up delusions?
...
With the Empress’s seat vacant, the Imperial Noble Consort powerless to intervene, and Noble Consort Tong nearing childbirth, Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Yunxiu jointly managed palace affairs. Concubine Xi had nowhere to turn to complain—except to the Emperor himself.
Yunxiu had calculated every angle. The thought made her smile grow even sweeter.
"Tell me," she murmured, pinching Concubine Xi’s chin before releasing it with a flick of her brow, "given Fifth Prince and Ninth Prince, would His Majesty punish me? And your father, Lai Shan—how could he compare to mine? Nanny Dong, five slaps. Proceed."
Five slaps were hardly a severe punishment, but for Concubine Xi, it was tantamount to stripping her dignity and trampling it underfoot.
Humiliated beyond repair—how could she ever hold her head up again?!
Nanny Dong responded solemnly, waving a hand. Immediately, Concubine Xi was restrained.
Her attendants were likewise held back. No matter how desperately she struggled, it was futile. Under the stunned, fearful gazes of the other three consorts, Nanny Dong rolled up her sleeves and raised her hand—
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Five crisp strikes rang out, no more, no less.
As Concubine Xi endured the punishment, Yunxiu tilted her head slightly, her icy gaze sweeping over Concubine An, Concubine Jing, and Consort Ping—whose chest heaved with barely suppressed fury—before turning away indifferently, a faint smile on her lips.
That single glance sent chills through the three consorts, as if they had been plunged into an icy abyss.
Consort Yi was making an example of them, a warning…
When Nanny Dong finished, she signaled for Concubine Xi to be released and stepped aside.
Dazed, Concubine Xi clutched her face, speechless. Bloodshot eyes welled with tears, her nose stinging with the threat of sobs.
"Oh, what a pitiful sight," Yunxiu said sweetly, her eyes curved in amusement. "Learn from this lesson—next time, bring your wits when you leave your palace. Go tend to that face; it wouldn’t do to delay." With that, she took her maid’s arm and glided away, leaving the stunned crowd behind.
News of Concubine Xi’s punishment spread like wildfire, shaking the entire harem.
Upon hearing of it, Consort Hui set down her teacup, her expression darkening. "Concubine Xi and the others brought this upon themselves. How could they casually accuse someone of monopolizing favor? They played with fire and got burned. Now, no one can restrain Consort Yi."
Ying'er, massaging her back, whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Yi is too overbearing! Concubine Xi isn’t some lowly Noble Lady or Attendant…"
Indeed—too overbearing. The thought unsettled Consort Hui as well.
Though she had hoped to win over the Guoluoluo clan to pave the way for Yinti, if Consort Yi’s arrogance wasn’t checked, who could say who would emerge as the foremost among the three consorts in the future?
"She pulled this right after leaving Cining Palace. What did the Grand Empress Dowager say? What did the Empress Dowager say?" Since neither had reprimanded her, their silence was tacit approval.
Consort Hui’s frown deepened. "With the Imperial Noble Consort and Noble Consort Tong unable to intervene, and me sharing the same rank as her, I can’t interfere. At this point, we can only hope the Emperor punishes her!"
"Make arrangements," she said coolly, though she held little hope. "Ensure His Majesty hears of this—that while Concubine Xi erred, slapping her was excessive. She’s been weeping since returning, refusing meals…"
As Ying'er acknowledged the order, Consort Hui sighed softly, her lips thinning. "Consort Yi is shrewd. Ruthlessly so."
Seizing the power vacuum, she had crushed the weakest among the four, venting her anger while establishing her authority—unlike Concubine Xi’s senseless arrogance.
Consort Hui had a sinking feeling the Emperor wouldn’t punish her. Ying'er’s efforts would likely be in vain.
If such a woman became an enemy…
Her face darkened. "Send word to Mingzhu. The plan to win over the Guoluoluo clan cannot wait any longer."
...
In contrast to Consort Hui, Consort Rong of Zhongcui Palace remained silent, offering no opinion.
Consort Cheng, however, was secretly pleased, her loyalty to Yunxiu growing more sincere. Concubine Duan, who had been observing, exhaled in relief—thankful she hadn’t been swayed by Concubine Xi’s instigation, or she might have suffered the same fate.
The lower-ranking ladies trembled in fear, their gazes toward Yikun Palace now tinged with awe. Those with guilty consciences panicked, terrified Consort Yi might uncover their secrets.
But there was no escaping fate. At noon, Nanny Dong arrived at Changchun Palace bearing a tray.
Changchun Palace housed both Concubine An and Concubine Jing as its primary occupants. At the servant’s announcement, their faces paled. What was Consort Yi planning now?
After savoring their ashen expressions, Nanny Dong smiled. "Her Highness has sent gifts for Noble Lady Bu."
With that, she lifted the red cloth covering the tray, revealing several thick volumes of Buddhist scriptures. "Her Highness says that Noble Lady Bu has been idle in the palace for too long. Copying ten volumes of scriptures will help pass the time—not only to calm the mind but also to accumulate blessings for the Third Princess, wouldn’t you agree?"
Noble Lady Bu was the birth mother of the Third Princess, while Consort Yi was the adoptive mother of the Fourth Princess. Thanks to Yunxiu, Yierha often had the chance to see the Emperor, making her the most favored among all the princesses in Kangxi’s eyes.
The Emperor’s favor was finite—what was given to one meant less for another. Noble Lady Bu’s reasoning was simple: if she could suppress Consort Yi, her own Third Princess would gain more of the Emperor’s attention. Thus, she had played a part in lodging the complaint.
The expressions of Concubine An and Concubine Jing darkened, though they couldn’t help but feel a sliver of relief.
Then it occurred to them—Noble Lady Bu resided in the side hall of Changchun Palace. For Consort Yi to directly intervene and punish her was nothing short of a slap in the face to Changchun Palace.
But there was nothing they could do. Consort Yi held an edict from the Empress Dowager, authorizing her to oversee the inner palace. Disciplining Noble Lady Bu was, by all means, justified…
They could only watch helplessly as Noble Lady Bu, trembling, accepted the tray, her lips quivering and her face deathly pale as she forced out words of gratitude.
...
Consort Hui’s guess was correct—the Emperor had no intention of punishing Consort Yi.
In Qianqing Palace, Kangxi had convened his ministers for discussions after court and even took his midday meal in the study. Once the officials dispersed, he rubbed his temples and picked up a memorial, lowering his head to review it.
After a while, the Emperor felt thirsty and instinctively reached for the teacup usually placed to his right—only to find it missing.
That servant Liang Jiugong had gone to the tea room to brew a fresh pot but had yet to return. Frowning, Kangxi summoned Liu Qin, the deputy chief eunuch standing further away. "Where is Liang Jiugong?"
"Your Majesty, Chief Eunuch Liang must have been delayed by urgent matters," Liu Qin replied cautiously. Noticing Kangxi’s displeasure, he hesitated before adding, "He should return shortly. Just now, this servant heard something important..."
Kangxi glanced at him before lowering his gaze again and waving a hand. "Speak."
"Concubine Xi has been—"
Before Liu Qin could finish, Liang Jiugong hurried into the hall with a teacup, cutting him off. "Your Majesty, early this morning, Concubine An, Concubine Jing, Concubine Xi, and Consort Ping went to Cining Palace to seek an audience with the Empress Dowager. They claimed—"
Liu Qin’s lips pressed into a thin line as he bowed and retreated.
Kangxi’s gaze sharpened. "Claimed what?"
"They said Consort Yi has monopolized Your Majesty’s favor and begged the Empress Dowager to intervene on their behalf," Liang Jiugong said, shooting Liu Qin a cold look before cautiously observing Kangxi’s expression. "Consort Yi confronted them on the spot, and the rumors collapsed. Afterward, Her Highness was so furious that she ordered Concubine Xi to be slapped."
Kangxi’s grip on the memorial tightened, his expression turning icy. But by the end, he seemed almost stunned.
Suddenly, he asked, "How many slaps?"
Liang Jiugong held up five fingers. "Five."
The Emperor fell silent for a long moment before letting out a soft laugh and shaking his head. "Too few. Not like her usual style."
Liang Jiugong: "..."
His lips twitched.
Kangxi then turned to Liu Qin and asked coolly, "You were saying—what happened to Concubine Xi?"
Liu Qin’s eyes widened. Bowing his head to suppress his shock, he quickly stepped forward with an ingratiating smile. "This servant was just about to report that. I heard Concubine Xi returned to her palace in tears, vomiting her meal. Not long after, Consort Yi sent Noble Lady Bu several volumes of Buddhist scriptures, saying it would help her calm her mind..."
Noticing the Emperor’s scrutinizing gaze, Liu Qin’s heart lurched, and he hastily added, "Consort Yi suffered great injustice, hence her actions."
Kangxi withdrew his gaze, his face impassive. "In tears, vomiting her meal... You’re right. Consort Yi is the one who deserves sympathy. What grievance does Concubine Xi have? This punishment is exactly what she earned."
His phoenix eyes glinted coldly. "Spreading rumors about favoritism—it seems they have too much idle time. Issue an order: Concubine An and the others shall join Noble Lady Bu in copying scriptures. Twenty volumes each. They are not to leave until it’s done."
Liang Jiugong nearly gasped.
Consort Yi had only demanded ten copies, yet the Emperor doubled it... What were those four concubines thinking?
He smirked at the dumbfounded Liu Qin, straightening his back with satisfaction. If you want to replace me, try again in a few decades.
Couldn’t even see who the Emperor favored and still dared to smear Consort Yi? Dream on!
Despite her mental preparation, Consort Hui was infuriated by Liu Qin’s report.
"Consort Yi suffered injustice?" she repeated in disbelief, pacing her chamber in rage, barely holding back words of disrespect.
Was the Emperor blind?!
Such blatant favoritism sent a chill down Consort Hui’s spine.
Just then, Ying’er hurried in, whispering, "Your Highness, Noble Consort Tong has gone into labor at Yongshou Palace!"
