Chapter 25 – Attending His Majesty

The next day, Yu Ying woke up naturally for once, rare as it was to actually wake in her own quarters. She lazily got up, then deftly sent away Concubine Yin and Attendant Miao, who had come yet again to cozy up to her. She was just planning to pay a visit to Concubine Zhangjia, who was still in confinement after giving birth.

Too much had happened in this half month. Ever since she’d been elevated to Noble Lady, Concubine Yin and Attendant Miao—who used to look at her like she was an eyesore—had begun treating her wing of the palace like some side quest, coming by every few days hoping she, the “little boss,” might drop some loot.

The first time the two of them came knocking had been the morning after she’d spent her second consecutive night in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Yu Ying remembered it vividly: she’d just come back and there they were, standing outside her hall like two door gods, faces lighting up as though they’d seen gold.

“This servant greets Noble Lady Wei!”

Before she could react, each of them had stepped forward, one taking an arm, the other turning to scold her maids Pei’er and Wan’er:

“What are you standing around for? Lead the way and help your lady back to rest!”

“This sister must be exhausted—”

“We didn’t have a chance to come congratulate you on your promotion yesterday, so today we’ve come to make amends.”

“You’re so magnanimous, surely you won’t hold it against us.”

One spoke, then the other. Between them, they’d said everything.

Yu Ying didn’t even have a chance to get a word in edgewise.

And when she heard them say they’d come to congratulate her, her expression had turned subtly odd. If she hadn’t already heard that the day before they’d smashed a batch of teaware in their own rooms out of anger, maybe this belated congratulations would have seemed a little more believable.

Watching them act as though nothing had ever happened, Yu Ying’s secondhand embarrassment flared up again.

Seeing her ambiguous expression, the two women exchanged a look and chimed together:

“We won’t disturb Sister’s rest any further. Later, once you’ve refreshed yourself, we’ll come keep you company.”

Then, without waiting for her reply, they floated away, leaving Yu Ying standing there with a head full of black lines.

She hated people who carried on one-sided conversations!

Sure enough, by the afternoon, the two were back again.

Yu Ying casually found an excuse and had Qing Tao send them away.

But the next day, one came bearing a fine bangle, the other a fancy inkstone, and together they called again.

Their words between the lines were all about how “the sisters of Changchun Palace are one family,” and rather than letting His Majesty be pushed into some other woman’s arms, wouldn’t it be better if Yu Ying took the initiative to recommend them? Once they were favored, they could help her in return.

Yu Ying could only listen with exasperation. Now she knew their real purpose, she dreaded seeing them.

She’d only been favored a handful of days, and already they wanted her to share the Emperor? Were they stupid, or did they think she was?

She was already annoyed enough, being forced to share a man with so many others. She’d resigned herself to the idea she was just getting a free ride from the imperial duck, but that didn’t mean she wanted to advertise his services to others!

Maybe the two of them realized she wasn’t going to agree right away. After being sent away, they didn’t pester her further and left briskly.

Only to turn up the next day as if nothing had happened—again—until Yu Ying was driven half mad with irritation, her resentment toward Kangxi growing daily.

Sure enough, she hadn’t even stepped into Concubine Zhangjia’s courtyard when a eunuch came hurrying over from the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

And not just any eunuch—it was Wei Zhu, apprentice to Liang Jiugong, the Chief Steward of the Palace.

“Greetings to Noble Lady Wei. What good timing—His Majesty is asking for you. May I escort you to the Palace of Heavenly Purity?” Wei Zhu bowed respectfully, bending low.

Of course, now that His Majesty was showing such favor to Noble Lady Wei, all of them had to be especially mindful. If the Emperor treated her differently, then naturally, so must they.

Yu Ying had no choice but to turn around.

They set off together toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

When the news spread, it wasn’t long before another batch of teacups and vases was smashed in various harem quarters.

After all, it had finally looked like His Majesty wasn’t going to summon Lady Wei for a night. Yet it turned out that barely a single day had passed before the Emperor was once again eager to have her by his side—even before evening had fallen.

What virtue or ability did she, Wei Shi, possess?

Yu Ying didn’t know what others thought.

By now, she was arriving at the threshold of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

From afar, Liang Jiugong spotted their party approaching and quickly stepped forward.

“This servant greets Noble Lady Wei. His Majesty was just asking after you—please, come in at once.”

Yu Ying glanced at the closed doors of the study. Seeing Liang Jiugong waiting outside, she asked curiously, “Chief Steward Liang, why aren’t you inside attending His Majesty today?”

Usually, Liang Jiugong would be right at Kangxi’s side. Only when she was present—because Kangxi disliked an audience to their private time—would he dismiss Liang Jiugong.

So what was this today? Had His Majesty woken up in a bad mood?

If so, she really didn’t want to walk in and take the brunt of it. Maybe she should think of an excuse to slip away.

Liang Jiugong, unaware of her brazen thoughts, didn’t hide the truth when she asked. “Noble Lady doesn’t know—His Highness the Crown Prince is inside with His Majesty.”

Who??

Yu Ying’s face froze in shock. Everyone in the palace knew Kangxi was most wary of any connection between the harem and the Crown Prince. Even Consort Xi, the Crown Prince’s own maternal aunt, rarely got to see him. What right did she have to appear before the Crown Prince?

She really ought to find an excuse and retreat before she could be accused of deliberately showing up while the Crown Prince was there. Yu Ying was under no illusion she ranked higher in Kangxi’s heart than the Crown Prince. In Kangxi’s mind at this moment, he probably valued even himself less than the Crown Prince. If she happened to cross paths with him, even if the news never spread, it would still look like she had ulterior motives.

Best not to provoke this sensitive man.

Her retreat was already in full swing. “Since His Highness is here, I’d best return to Changchun Palace. I can come back later.”

She didn’t wait for Liang Jiugong to respond, just turned and walked away—faster and faster, as if someone might chase after her.

And in fact, someone did.

“Noble Lady—Noble Lady, please wait! Don’t be in such a hurry! His Majesty specifically told me that if you came, you were to go straight in. That’s why I was waiting for you outside.”

Yu Ying paused mid-stride.

She was nearly out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity when Liang Jiugong finally caught up. Even though it was still winter and snow hadn’t yet fallen, sweat beaded on Liang Jiugong’s forehead.

This Noble Lady—she sure walked fast.

He stepped forward hastily. “Noble Lady, please come back with me. His Majesty will be expecting you.”

Yu Ying had no choice but to return.

As Liang Jiugong pushed open the door, Yu Ying felt like she was stepping into Pandora’s box. She took a deep breath and walked in.

Whatever Kangxi meant by deliberately arranging for her to encounter the Crown Prince, she was sure of one thing:

If she still didn’t realize he’d done it on purpose, she’d have learned nothing from all their time together.

Hearing footsteps, Kangxi looked up and saw her.

“You’re here? Come over to me,” he said.