Chapter 23 – Aftermath of the Incident

Seeing that the argument was on the verge of escalating further, the Imperial Noble Consort Tong Jia, who sat at the head, finally set down her teacup, as though she had only just noticed the sharp exchange.

“All right, what are you quarrelling about so early in the morning? Making a spectacle of yourselves for no reason!”

“If you want to argue, do it back in your own palaces!”

“I am tired. All of you should leave for today.”

Having spoken, she turned and walked into the inner chamber first.

“Your concubine humbly bids farewell to the Imperial Noble Consort.”

Whether willingly or not, everyone still had to bow as she withdrew.

Yu Ying had only just knelt when she saw Consort Yi storming off in a fury, and the Guoluo Noble Lady hurried after her.

“Sister—sister, wait for me…”

As the sound of the Guoluo Noble Lady’s calling faded into the distance, the others, seeing that the excitement was over, began dispersing in twos and threes.

As always, Yu Ying walked beside Consort An’s sedan chair on the way back.

During the return journey:

“Don’t be put off by Consort Yi’s difficult manner. That’s just how she is. She only becomes a little more compliant in front of His Majesty, but she isn’t malicious. If you have the chance, it won’t hurt to cultivate a good relationship with her,” Consort An suddenly spoke.

Yu Ying nodded, then remembered Consort An might not see her gesture, and quickly added, “Your concubine understands.”

Yu Ying actually agreed with Consort An’s words. She had encountered people like that before—sharp-tongued, offending many without realizing it—but she knew that such people were the easiest to get along with. They spoke their minds and didn’t scheme behind your back.

“But as for Consort Hui,” Consort An continued, “the fact that she brought all that up today was certainly no accident. How is your relationship with that cousin of yours? If you stumble over this, I may not be able to protect you.”

“Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.”

“Now that you’ve been made a Noble Lady, you must understand you can never again live as you once did. Although the harem has seemed peaceful on the surface these past years, there is no shortage of hidden schemes. I cannot protect you all the time. And now that you’ve gained His Majesty’s favor, you have already drawn envy upon yourself—let alone that you do everything so openly.”

Yu Ying frowned. If she had known it would be like this, she would never have agreed to become a Noble Lady.

Seeing she was listening intently, Consort An continued:

“In this palace, the only women who are never envied are those who accomplish nothing. You have caught His Majesty’s eye. What matters most now is finding a way to keep it on you for the long term.”

“Look at Consort Yi—because of His Majesty’s favor, she can come and go from the Imperial Noble Consort’s palace however she pleases.”

“Sometimes, favor is not something you can choose whether or not to pursue. It’s something you must compete for. Noble Lady Wei—do you understand?”

Yu Ying turned her head in astonishment to look at Consort An, seated in her sedan chair.

Sensing her gaze, Consort An met her eyes. “What? Are you surprised? You don’t understand why I am telling you this?”

Yu Ying nodded honestly.

No matter who had said these words to her, they could never have shocked her as much as hearing them from Consort An.

After all, it had been three years, and Yu Ying had never once seen Consort An vie for favor. Of all the women in the harem, only she didn’t care that Changchun Palace had become, in truth, a cold palace.

That someone like her would encourage Yu Ying to compete for favor—

When they returned to Changchun Palace, Yu Ying, with her mind weighed down by everything, immediately sent everyone away as soon as she entered, wanting to be alone.

Just before Qing Tao left, she hesitated as though she wanted to say something. She felt that Consort An had spoken rightly—their mistress should have sought favor long ago, rather than wasting three years in obscurity.

But in the end, she said nothing, quietly closing the door and leaving the space to Yu Ying.

She believed her mistress would figure it out in her own time.

Once everyone had gone, Yu Ying sat and frowned in deep thought.

As a modern woman, the idea of fighting over a man with a group of other women was something she could never accept.

She might be forced to submit to circumstances, but to proactively curry favor with Kangxi—she simply couldn’t do it. Call her pretentious if you liked—she just couldn’t.

Besides, she still hadn’t made sense of Kangxi’s behavior between the two times she had shared his bed. The first time had seemed perfectly normal—so why had the second…?

Before she could figure it out, that very night, Kangxi summoned her to attend him again.

Since he had sorted out his thoughts the night before, calling for Yu Ying now felt perfectly natural.

When she arrived looking so dejected, he asked at once:

“What is this? You’re so unhappy to see me?”

Yu Ying looked at him, then thought:

You’re not gold or silver—why should seeing you make me happy?

You want to know what’s wrong? It’s because of you.

She rebuked him inwardly in a tone neither too strong nor too light.

Kangxi was baffled. He walked over, took her hand, and drew her to sit beside him.

“Is something troubling you? Tell me—I’ll help you find a way.”

Yu Ying raised her head, uncertain whether to ask.

Sensing her confusion, Kangxi gave her a reassuring look, as if to say, No matter what it is, I’ll handle it for you.

Her heart eased a little, and after some hesitation, she spoke:

“Your Majesty…do all the women in the harem have to compete for favor?”

As soon as the words were out, she braced herself for his anger, ready to drop to her knees and beg forgiveness.

But to her surprise, Kangxi did not grow angry. He simply froze, as though he had never imagined she would ask such a question.

He gently patted the hand he held, soothing her.

“All the consorts in this harem seek favor for a reason—some for the sake of children, some for their families, and some for their own ambition to climb higher. The things they desire are no more than these three. So—do you wish to compete as well? And if so, what is it you seek?”

Yu Ying instinctively shook her head.

I just want to go home.

Hearing this hidden thought, Kangxi unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.

“Don’t be afraid—you are not like the others. You don’t need to fight for favor. All that they hope for—I will give to you myself. All you have to do is stay by my side.”

“Why are you thinking of this tonight? Did someone mention something to you when you went to pay respects?” he asked suddenly.

Yu Ying reflexively didn’t want to mention Consort An. “No, I…” Perhaps because Kangxi was so gentle tonight, she forgot herself for a moment and almost said I, quickly correcting herself: “Your concubine was only curious.”

Seeing she didn’t wish to say more, Kangxi didn’t press her. He would investigate on his own.

Hearing her slip and say I, and recalling her unguarded thoughts—you this, my that—he realized she was unaccustomed to all these formalities.

He said softly, “From now on, when you’re with me, you needn’t use all those honorifics.”

Yu Ying looked up in shock—this was the best thing she had heard all night, far more pleasing than any talk of high status or children.

She immediately tried to stand to thank him, but Kangxi caught her and gently held her in place.

“In the future, you don’t need to kneel, either.”

In an instant, all her former gloom vanished. She threw her arms around Kangxi’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek with an audible smack.

“Thank you!”

The moment she realized what she had done, she froze, her body stiff with embarrassment, and frantically tried to withdraw. “Your…Your Majesty, please forgive my offense.”

But Kangxi stopped her, wrapping his arms around her.

“It’s nothing. I forgive you.”

For a moment, everything between them was perfectly serene.

Well, say what you will, but this Kangxi really does know how to handle women—no wonder history remembers him as such a notorious philanderer, she thought privately.

Kangxi had been feeling pleasantly stirred—only to hear that remark in her mind, and all his romantic thoughts instantly evaporated.

He pushed her lightly away and gave her a reproachful stare.

Yu Ying thought yet again that emperors truly were mercurial—impossible to predict.

That night, she stayed once more in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, but the two of them did nothing beyond sharing a bed.

And for half a month after that, she was summoned night after night.

What finally ended her run of exclusive favor—was the Crown Prince’s return to the palace.