Chapter 20 – Promotion

The next day, Kangxi only woke up when he heard Liang Jiugong’s cautious voice calling from outside the curtains.

Feeling the weight pressing down on him, Kangxi looked down and saw that the little creature who’d been so docile before bed was now sprawled out over him in all directions, fast asleep.

Liang Jiugong’s voice didn’t stop, as if he intended to keep calling endlessly. Kangxi was debating whether to wake her or let her keep sleeping. Before he could make up his mind, he noticed signs she might be waking, and he frowned. In the end, he gave in to his softer instincts and quickly told Liang Jiugong to be quiet.

At once, silence descended.

With no further disturbance, the person on top of him soon slipped back into deep sleep.

At this moment, Kangxi still didn’t realize how extraordinarily tolerant he was toward Yuying. If it were any ordinary concubine—well, in fact there were no ordinary concubines; no one was ever permitted to stay overnight in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Carefully, he shifted her off of him, then quietly climbed out of bed. He immediately ran into Liang Jiugong, who had been waiting outside.

Sensing Liang Jiugong’s surprised look, Kangxi cleared his throat lightly.

“Noble Lady Wei is still sleeping. Tell anyone who comes in to serve her to move softly.”

Liang Jiugong hurriedly agreed, lowering his head to hide the glint in his eyes.

Last night, when the promotion was mentioned, only the emperor and the concubine had been present. Liang Jiugong hadn’t known. To suddenly learn that Wei Daying had gone overnight from an Attendant to a Noble Lady, he couldn’t help being astonished.

Since when did His Majesty become so generous?

Though the Noble Lady rank wasn’t especially high, never before had any concubine been promoted two ranks at once.

Whatever the reason, there was no point trying to guess the emperor’s thoughts. From now on, they simply had to serve this Noble Lady carefully.

Liang Jiugong shook off his wandering thoughts.

By the time Kangxi finished washing up, dressed in his court robes, and left for morning court, Yuying was still sound asleep.

Before he left, Kangxi didn’t forget to instruct, “Let Noble Lady Wei keep sleeping. When she wakes, tell her to wait for me to return so we can eat together.”

Kangxi had barely set foot outside before news spread through the entire Palace of Heavenly Purity: there was still a Noble Lady lying on the dragon bed, very much favored by the emperor.

It was a rare, restful sleep. When Yuying finally woke up, she was still savoring it.

“Noble Lady, are you awake?”

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Yuying was startled and immediately sensed something was off. She looked around and saw that all around her was a sea of bright yellow. Her memories slowly returned—she was still in the Palace of Heavenly Purity!

Thinking of this, she quickly sat up and answered, “I’m awake, awake!”

Then, flustered, she climbed off the bed and lifted the curtain.

Two unfamiliar palace maids stood there.

Sensing the confusion in Yuying’s eyes, they were the first to speak:

“We are palace maids of the Palace of Heavenly Purity—Lüchen and Qingdai—here to assist Noble Lady with your washing and dressing.”

Yuying was still dazed. “Where is His Majesty?”

“Replying to Noble Lady: His Majesty has gone to court. There’s no need to worry—He estimated he’d be back in about half an hour. We will first help you get ready. When His Majesty returns, you are to dine with him.” The maid who called herself Qingdai explained.

Yuying nodded and then, like a puppet, let the two of them attend to her.

By the time she was fully dressed and Lüchen had finished her makeup, Kangxi was already coming back from court, making his way to the bedchamber.

The palace maids here really are different. Their skills with cosmetics are miles ahead of Qingtáo’s.

Yuying was completely absorbed in admiring her own beauty, turning this way and that before the mirror. Anyone who looked could see how satisfied she was with her own face.

As Kangxi walked in, amidst everyone’s greetings, he heard this very thought.

When Yuying heard the calls of greeting, she quickly turned around, stood up from the embroidered stool, and curtsied.

Perhaps it was because of the promise of promotion last night—or because she was pleased with her makeup—her mood today was exceptionally bright. Even her voice when she offered her greeting was sweeter than usual.

Kangxi raised his hand slightly, motioning for her to rise.

He looked at her face in particular. No wonder she was so self-satisfied—it really did look lovely, delicate as a blossom.

“Waited long?” he asked. “I’ll change clothes first. You look over the menu and see what you’d like to eat.”

“Bring the menu!”

The first sentence was to Yuying, the second to Liang Jiugong.

Yuying didn’t stand on ceremony. Beaming, she took the menu and began picking dishes.

The meals served in the Palace of Heavenly Purity were separate from the Imperial Kitchens—prepared solely for the emperor, with fires burning around the clock so he could summon food at any hour.

Before long, eunuchs from the kitchens were carrying in dish after dish of freshly made delicacies.

This speed of service would have put most modern restaurants to shame.

Yuying, feeling the emptiness in her stomach, no longer cared in the least about her beautiful makeup. Looking at all that food and not being able to eat yet was sheer torment.

When she saw Kangxi finally emerge from the inner chamber, it felt as if dawn had broken.

Finally!

Anyone who could hear her thoughts would know just how impatient she was.

Kangxi didn’t make a fuss. He took the main seat and gestured for Yuying to sit as well.

Yuying stared longingly at the spread of dishes.

But she dared not move her chopsticks before he did.

Thankfully, Kangxi didn’t make her wait long. The moment he picked up his chopsticks, she eagerly snatched up the piece she had been eyeing and stuffed it into her mouth.

Delicious!

Her eyes lit up at once. Before she’d even swallowed, she was already reaching for another bite.

The palace maids and eunuchs standing by to serve were dumbfounded. In the palace, whichever concubine dined with the emperor was always careful and demure, tending to him first. But this Noble Lady Wei—she truly seemed to have come just to eat. Her carefree attitude was astonishing.

Though she was now in the Qing dynasty, she had still spent over twenty years living in the modern world. She was too happy eating to think of decorum.

Kangxi had always observed the etiquette of eating without speaking. But now, hearing Noble Lady Wei’s inner voice repeating so tasty and so fragrant, he actually found it amusing and ended up eating more himself.

Though they didn’t exchange any words, the atmosphere was oddly harmonious.

I’m so full…but I still want to eat. What should I do?

Maybe I’ll squeeze in a little more. Who knows if I’ll get another meal like this?

Kangxi’s expression grew strange.

Even his twelve-year-old heir knew you couldn’t gorge yourself to excess.

Yet here she was, determined to keep stuffing herself no matter what.

He sighed inwardly and was the first to set down his chopsticks.

By rights, when the emperor stopped eating, everyone else should also stop.

But Yuying clearly hadn’t realized.

She was still happily chewing away.

Like a small animal sensing danger, she belatedly looked up and found Kangxi watching her, chopsticks already laid aside.

She smiled at him—just for this meal, she’d happily smile ten or eight times.

Kangxi didn’t speak, simply stared pointedly at her chopsticks.

Only then did she seem to understand, and tentatively set her chopsticks down too.

Everyone in the hall finally let out a quiet breath of relief.

This Noble Lady Wei was truly oblivious. They couldn’t understand how she had won the emperor’s favor—watching this scene, they had all been terrified he would grow angry.

But nothing happened.

Everyone silently adjusted their opinion of Noble Lady Wei’s standing, raising her a notch higher in their minds.

After the meal, Yuying finally prepared to take her leave.

Before she left, Kangxi instructed Liang Jiugong to arrange someone to escort her back and to bring along the rewards he had prepared for her.

Liang Jiugong, sensing the emperor’s extraordinary attitude toward her, handed the duty to his young apprentice Wei Zhu. He repeatedly reminded the boy to be courteous—this Noble Lady, he suspected, was destined for great fortune. It couldn’t hurt to do her a favor in advance.

And if not, no harm done. She was still a master of the palace—there was never a downside to showing more respect.

Yuying hadn’t expected to receive not only a promotion but also a reward. Overjoyed, she returned to the Palace of Eternal Spring with her entourage, beaming all the way.