Chapter 4 – First Meeting

After waiting for a long time without hearing Yu Ying chirping away as usual, Zhangjia Shi worriedly stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Yu Ying’s eyes.
“Sister… Sister… what’s wrong?”

Only then did Yu Ying return to her senses. She smiled at the person in front of her.
“It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit out of sorts.”

“Ah, then why don’t you go back and rest a while? Come to keep me company when you’re feeling better.”

“It’s fine. I promised I’d help you with the knotted cords today.”

“Really! Then Sister, you mustn’t force yourself. You can rest here in my hall too if you need. Qiufeng, quickly bring out the knotted cord we didn’t finish the day before yesterday!”

“Sister, you’re not allowed to leave early today. You have to stay with me the whole day!”

“It’s just as well—yesterday the Lady Concubine An rewarded me with a recipe, saying it was good for the body. I already had Qiuhua go to the Imperial Kitchen to watch over it. When it’s ready, you must eat at least two bowls.”

When Yu Ying heard this, she almost blacked out. Come to think of it, ever since Zhangjia Shufei became pregnant, she had no idea how many meals meant for pregnant women she’d mooched here.

After eating all these soups and tonics, Yu Ying felt that certain parts of her body were on the verge of developing again.

“I…” Before she could refuse, she heard Zhangjia Shi say again,
“Sister, you’re still too thin. You should really nourish yourself more.”

Yu Ying nodded with a pained expression.

Zhangjia Shufei was finally satisfied.

The two of them sat there working on the knotted cords, occasionally chatting idly. Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was midday.

Qiuhua, who had gone to the Imperial Kitchen, returned carrying the freshly prepared hot soup. Qingtiao and Qiufeng set the food out. After the two of them sat down, they began slowly savoring the nourishing soup together.

None of them knew that at this very moment, outside Changchun Palace, the sound of whips cracking announced that the Emperor himself was nearby.

“Liang Jiugong, is this the boundary of Changchun Palace up ahead?”

At that moment, Kangxi had just left Consort Yi’s quarters in Yikun Palace. He was sitting on the dragon palanquin, idly toying with a tourmaline in his hand as he spoke.

“Replying to Your Majesty, this is indeed Changchun Palace,” Liang Jiugong, the head eunuch at the Emperor’s side, answered. He had sharp enough eyes to see the situation. “It seems Your Majesty hasn’t visited Lady Concubine An for a long time. Would you like to stop by and have a look?”

Liang Jiugong thought he had guessed the Emperor’s mind, but he didn’t notice Kangxi frown slightly when he heard the words “Lady Concubine An.”

“I remember… isn’t Zhangjia Shi of Changchun Palace about to give birth?”

“Your Majesty has a good memory. Counting the days, it really is soon. Would Your Majesty like to see her?” Liang Jiugong cautiously asked again.

“Then let’s have a look.”

These days, there were more and more children in the palace, and many were established in position. A concubine who was merely pregnant and hadn’t yet given birth wasn’t much of a concern to Kangxi. It was simply that as he passed by Changchun Palace today, a thought inexplicably rose in his mind, making him want to go inside and see.

Aisin Gioro Xuanye had ascended the throne at the age of eight, and over twenty years had passed since then. Since taking power at fourteen, he had outwitted Oboi, then pacified the Three Feudatories. The hardships involved were not something outsiders could understand. During all of this, his extraordinary intuition had helped him countless times.

“Set the carriage at Changchun Palace—” came the eunuch’s uniquely sharp voice.

The imperial palanquin continued forward, and in moments, it arrived at the gates of Changchun Palace.

Kangxi stepped down briskly and strode inside.

I must see for myself what is so unusual about this Changchun Palace.

At that moment, at the entrance of the main hall, Lady Concubine An, Lady-in-Waiting Yin, and Lady-in-Waiting Miao were already waiting, having received word that His Majesty was approaching.

Standing to the side, Lady Concubine An took in the eager, bashful expressions of the two younger concubines beside her, and quietly pondered what the Emperor’s purpose might be in coming here.

But after thinking for a long time to no avail, she could only stand there with a submissive expression.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, she turned and asked the others:
“Where is Attendant Wei?”

“Replying to My Lady, she seems to have gone to visit Zhangjia Shufei,” Nianxue quickly answered.

“And no one has called her to come receive His Majesty? Nianxue, hurry!”
This fool—don’t think I don’t know she’s over there freeloading again.

Nianxue hurried toward the back hall.

But by then, Kangxi had already reached the doors of the main hall.

“Your concubines (or humble servants) pay respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise. I was passing by and came to see Zhangjia Shi. Lady Concubine An, you lead the way. The others are dismissed.”

Kangxi didn’t even glance at the rest of them. He briskly led Lady Concubine An away, leaving the two young concubines heartbroken on the spot.

Meanwhile, Yu Ying was still happily sipping her soup in the back hall, oblivious to the shock that was about to befall her.

Nianxue, who had set out ahead of the Emperor, had already reached Zhangjia Shufei’s east side hall.

Qiufeng, who was keeping watch at the door, quickly stepped forward when she saw her arrive.
“Sister Nianxue, why have you come? Does Lady Concubine An have instructions?”

“Is Attendant Wei here?”

“She’s here, she’s here—she’s drinking soup.”

Nianxue didn’t say another word. She turned and went straight inside.

“This servant greets both mistresses,” she said first, bowing to Yu Ying and Zhangjia Shi.

“Quick, get up! Nianxue, what brings you here? Does Lady Concubine An want some soup too? Quickly, quickly, go ladle a bowl for her. It won’t taste as good once it cools!”

Before Nianxue could speak, Yu Ying was already bustling around with the ladle.

Hearing this, Nianxue’s face darkened.
Does she really think everyone is like her, with nothing in their head but eating? Lady Concubine An was right—she really is a fool.

Though she thought this, Nianxue didn’t dare say it out loud. After all, no matter how low their rank, a mistress was still a mistress.

“Oh, my lady, please stop worrying about this. Lady Concubine An is waiting for you in the main hall. His Majesty is about to arrive— you must go out to receive him.”

Clang—

The soup bowl slipped from Yu Ying’s hand and shattered on the floor.

Yu Ying froze.

At that very moment, Kangxi and Lady Concubine An had reached the east side hall doorway. Liang Jiugong was about to step forward to call the occupants to come out and greet His Majesty when suddenly they all heard the crash.

A second later, a flustered female voice came from inside:
“Nian… Nianxue, I… I suddenly feel a chill coming on. I’m afraid I’ll disturb His Majesty. Could you… could you help me tell My Lady I’m taking leave?”

“Qingtiao, Qingtiao, quickly help me back to the west side hall! My head is spinning—I’m about to faint. Sister Zhangjia, don’t see me out—I can go by myself.”

At the doorway, Kangxi paused, lost in thought. In that instant, none of them knew whether to go in or retreat.

Lady Concubine An peeked at Kangxi’s face. Thank goodness—no visible anger yet. She silently cursed that fool again in her heart.

Afraid more astonishing nonsense might come out, Liang Jiugong quickly raised his voice:
“His Majesty has arrived—!”

Kangxi shot Liang Jiugong a glare, then without another pause, strode into the hall.

At the same time, the room descended into chaos.

“My lady—!” called Qingtiao, Nianxue, and the others.

“Sister—!” cried Zhangjia Shufei.

Kangxi quickened his steps and turned into the inner room. Zhangjia Shufei, seeing him arrive, hurriedly led everyone to kneel.

“Your concubine (or humble servant) pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”

Kangxi and Lady Concubine An stood at the doorway of the inner chamber, looking at the scene inside.

Broken pieces were scattered all over the floor, the vase by the window had fallen onto the couch, and for a moment there was nowhere safe to step.

Lady Concubine An and the others were walking behind and were blocked by Kangxi’s tall figure, so they couldn’t see clearly.

But Kangxi, standing in front, did not miss the sight of that figure climbing out of the window.

Very well. Very good indeed. Am I some kind of flood or beast of prey, that I frighten a little concubine so much she’d rather jump out a window than look at me?

Thinking this, Kangxi flicked his sleeve and turned to leave at once.

“Liang Jiugong, back to Qianqing Palace.”

“Oh, Your Majesty—please slow down—”

Meanwhile, far beyond the sky:

“Beep… Detecting anomalous energy fluctuation. Locking onto energy source—”

“Lock successful.”