Chapter 18 – Summoned to Attend Again

Yuying talked until her mouth was dry, but when she saw everyone listening with such interest, she couldn’t bear to dampen their mood.

Even Qingtiao, who had been there that day, looked just as intrigued.

And as for Yuying—of course she couldn’t spoil the fun!

She racked her brain to recall every little detail, until she suddenly felt a chill rising up her back.

Why does it feel like there’s something cold behind me?

When he heard this, Kangxi only thought Yuying was like a little cat—naturally alert like a small animal.

“Ahem—”

In the end, he couldn’t help but make a noise. He had finally understood: out of the four people here, not a single one was observant. If he didn’t say something, who knew how long it would take them to notice him.

He was the Emperor, after all—how could he be ignored like this?

The moment they heard the sound, all four of them turned around. When they saw Kangxi standing there—without knowing when he had arrived—they were startled out of their wits.

The next second, they scrambled to kneel in a panic.

“This concubine (this maid) greets Your Majesty!”

Looking at them kneeling there, Kangxi didn’t speak right away. Instead, he turned and sat on a nearby soft couch.

Only then did he motion for them to rise.

For a moment, no one said a word.

What was this? Before he came in, they couldn’t stop talking. Now that he was here, they were all mute?

Kangxi gave Yuying an annoyed glare.

“I came today to see Lady Zhangjia,” he said first, making it clear he hadn’t been eavesdropping on purpose—it was just a coincidence!

When Lady Zhangjia heard this, she immediately tried to kneel again to thank him.

Kangxi waved his hand. “There’s no need to kneel. You only gave birth a few days ago—go back to bed and lie down.”

“This concubine thanks Your Majesty.”

Yuying stood quietly to the side, pretending to be a piece of wood, until Kangxi’s gaze shifted to her.

He stared at her, saying nothing.

Yuying thought hard, then suddenly seemed to understand. She spoke with a look of sudden realization:

“I imagine Your Majesty and Sister Zhangjia must have more to discuss. There are still things I need to attend to in my west side hall, so I will take my leave.”

Give myself a pat on the back for being so tactful.

Kangxi watched her expression change again and again, and was momentarily speechless.

He couldn’t very well contradict himself by saying he’d actually come to see her.

Never mind—there was plenty of time ahead. No need to rush.

After Yuying returned to her own quarters, she finally had a chance to drink some tea.

That was close—almost died of thirst.

Once she’d had her tea, she noticed Qingtiao standing nearby with a conflicted look.

“What’s the matter, Qingtiao?” Yuying asked curiously.

“My lady, why didn’t you stay a bit longer just now? We hardly ever get to see His Majesty!” Qingtiao scolded her resentfully.

But Yuying looked completely unconcerned.

“Relax, relax. Didn’t you see it? His Majesty’s eyes practically had the words ‘You, leave’ written in them! Besides, he came to see Lady Zhangjia. What would it look like if I forced myself to stay? By offering to excuse myself, maybe His Majesty will think I’m sensible!”

As it turned out, Kangxi didn’t stay behind to talk to Lady Zhangjia as Yuying imagined.

Almost the moment Yuying left, he too returned to the Qianqing Palace.

After all, even coming by in person was already a tremendous honor.

Word quickly spread through the harem that His Majesty had bestowed a new set of hair ornaments on Consort De.

Even Yuying—who usually knew nothing of what was going on in Changchun Palace—heard about it.

And suddenly, she understood.

I knew it! Why would he suddenly decide to come see Lady Zhangjia? He didn’t even go in to look at her on the day she gave birth. What’s he doing here now? Has the sun risen in the west?

Of course—it’s you, Master of Balancing Affections.

But Yuying only dared to mutter this to herself.

That evening, when the sun had set, the Office of Ceremonial Affairs arrived.

They announced that tonight, Consort Wei of Changchun Palace was summoned to attend the Emperor.

Yuying thought, Could this be a reward for me being so tactful?

Qingtiao, on the other hand, was beaming from ear to ear.

Not long ago, she had been trying to persuade her mistress to compete more for favor.

And now, His Majesty had personally summoned her to his bedchamber.

Clearly, His Majesty still thought well of her lady.

The west side hall of the rear courtyard was soon bustling with preparations.

Because she had been summoned, Yuying was ushered to bathe and change clothes, then have her hair styled.

Since there had been a first time, this second time didn’t fill Yuying with such dread.

She just felt that being cleaned and dressed up to be presented like this made her feel like a pig ready for slaughter on New Year’s Day.

Before long, the eunuchs came to escort her.

And so Yuying, the “pig to be slaughtered,” was sent to the Emperor’s table to be “eaten.”

When Yuying arrived at Qianqing Palace, everything was familiar.

She stepped inside alone.

The hall was so quiet—not a single eunuch or maid waited in attendance as usual.

Yuying looked back.

The moment she’d set foot in the hall, the doors had been shut behind her.

She continued walking inward.

Ahead, she saw a figure in bright yellow standing not far away, his back turned, seemingly unaware she had entered.

Yuying quickly lowered her head and knelt to pay her respects.

After she was helped to her feet, she was led to sit on a soft couch to the side.

Seeing that Kangxi clearly wanted to speak, Yuying felt a flicker of unease.

What is this? Are we about to have a heart-to-heart?

No, no—I don’t want to have a heart-to-heart! Wouldn’t it be better to just get it over with so I can go back to sleep?

Hearing this voice in his mind, Kangxi wished he could block her thoughts.

Everyone else longed to spend more time with him—only she was so desperate to escape.

Well, I refuse to let you have your way!

“Wei Shi, have you felt neglected these past days, since I haven’t called for you?”

Steadying his mood, Kangxi finally spoke.

Huh?

Yuying’s confusion only grew, but outwardly she spoke dutifully.

“Your Majesty governs all under heaven—this concubine would never dare to blame you.”

With acting skills like mine, I could succeed at anything.

Listening to her thoughts contradict her words, Kangxi felt a vein throbbing in his forehead.

“I promised to visit you before, but I didn’t keep my word. If there is anything you wish for, tell me—I will grant it.”

The sudden windfall was so unexpected, Yuying’s eyes lit up several times in a row.

But she still forced herself to look shy and demure.

“Everything is as Your Majesty decides.”

If I can really ask for anything, of course I’d want promotions and wealth!

“Then how would you feel if I raised your rank?” Kangxi asked, watching her reaction.

Yuying looked up in surprise and hurried to kneel in thanks.

“This concubine thanks Your Majesty—may Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”

Now you’ve said it out loud, no taking it back.

Seeing this, Kangxi smiled.

“I haven’t even said what rank I intend to give you—yet you’re so quick to thank me?”

Since she had gained this advantage, Yuying knew she should play along sweetly.

She tentatively reached out to hold Kangxi’s hand.

When he didn’t stop her, she grew bolder and leaned against his chest, idly toying with his fingers.

“Being granted any promotion at all is already the greatest fortune of my life. I wouldn’t dare to hope for more.”

Everyone knows you’re stingy, Your Majesty. You’ll probably just make me a “Chang Zai.” What else is there to guess?

Hearing her call him stingy in her thoughts, Kangxi’s face darkened.

Because she had guessed exactly right.

Indeed, he had planned to make her a “Chang Zai.”

But now, as if determined to prove he wasn’t stingy, he declared:

“I intend to raise you to ‘Noble Lady.’”

This time, it was Yuying’s turn to be shocked.

Wow, what’s with you? You’re acting so strangely—you don’t seem like the Kangxi I know. Did you transmigrate too?

Otherwise, how could she explain being promoted two ranks in one go?

Kangxi listened to her inner voice.

Given her soul from another world, it wasn’t hard for him to guess what she meant by “transmigrated.”

Precisely because he understood, he was displeased.

Am I usually so miserly?

Just because I promote you, you suspect I’m not really myself?

If Yuying could hear his thoughts, she would have told him:

Yes! After all, even the woman who bore you a child only ever became a lesser consort. What have I done to deserve suddenly becoming a Noble Lady?

Not wanting to hear any more of her unflattering thoughts, Kangxi picked her up and carried her toward the bed.

“It’s late. Let’s settle in.”