Chapter 11

Wen Zhixu came to the side hall wearing a cloak. Qingzhu Tower was already simple, and the side hall was even more desolate.

Shi Da Ying was a small figure, curled up on the bed under a quilt, with only his face showing. His face was so thin that it was only the size of a palm, and his face was pale and bloodless.

Wen Zhixu led the group inside. The already small room was so small that it was impossible to turn around. There was a girl of the same age beside the bed. She didn't dare to speak when she saw people coming. She just kept crying.

"Okay, stop crying for now," Wen Zhixu asked Mianwu to help the maid up, then turned to Xiao Yuanzi and said, "Xiao Yuanzi, go get the imperial physician."

Xiao Yuanzi sighed, turned around and prepared to leave.

The maid Shi agreed to the request, but she wiped her tears and choked up, "It's useless. The imperial physician won't come."

Wen Zhixu touched Shi Da Ying's forehead and saw that it was hot and sweaty. He knew that she had caught a cold. The cold in ancient times was not as serious as it is today, and it could be fatal.

"Why don't you come? Isn't the imperial physician supposed to treat people?" Siyun couldn't stand it anymore and glared at him in anger.

"It's probably because Shi Da Ying is not favored, so she was moved here today." Wen Zhixu wiped Shi Da Ying's forehead with a handkerchief. His neck seemed like it could be strangled with one hand, it was too weak.

"Then what should we do, master?" Siyun looked at the poor master and servant and was at a loss for a moment.

Wen Zhixu narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling very strange. It seemed like someone did it on purpose even though Shi Da Ying was so sick.

He thought to himself, "Xiao Yuanzi, take my card to the Imperial Hospital and make sure to invite the imperial physician."

After a pause, he said, "Go get another purse and take advantage of the crowd.

Without noticing, she quietly slipped it to the imperial physician. " Her position was that of a concubine, but it was only slightly better than Shi's.

She has been in the palace for more than half a month and still hasn't seen the emperor. There is nothing she can do if the imperial physician refuses to buy noodles.

In this harem, everyone acts according to the emperor's favor.

If she didn't have money, the daily meals would probably get worse and worse.

Xiao Yuanzi knelt down and bowed, then turned around and ran towards the Imperial Hospital.

"Siyun, go get some hot water." Shi, who was on the bed, agreed, closed her eyes and frowned. It was clear without her saying anything that she was feeling very uncomfortable: "Bring your master's clothes and change them for her."

Several people were busy for a long time before they finally changed Shi Da Ying's clothes and bed.

Afterwards, Xiao Yuanzi also invited the imperial physician to come. The imperial physician looked young. After entering the room, he began to greet: "Your servant Li Yihai greets the young lady."

As he spoke, he raised his head and looked straight in the direction of Wen Zhixu.

Mian Wu frowned and quietly took two steps forward to block the sight of Doctor Li. "This is Concubine Wen. The one on the bed is Shi Yingda. Doctor Li, you should go over and take a look at Shi Yingda's condition."

The doctor's face was filled with surprise. He paused for a moment and then nodded blankly, "Okay...Okay, I'll go check on Shi Da Ying right away."

He took out the medicine box he brought with him, and then felt the patient's pulse, which was quite reliable: "I promise you, this is a cold, it's coming on strong, you need to take good care of yourself."

He wrote out a pharmacy and handed it to Xiao Yuanzi beside him: "Go to the Imperial Hospital to get the medicine according to the pharmacy on this page. Boil three bowls of water into one bowl of water." Xiao Yuanzi nodded and took the pharmacy. The room was quiet.

Only Shi on the bed agreed, and from time to time, uneasy murmurs could be heard.

Doctor Li stretched out his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, but his eyes looked in the direction of Wen Zhixu.

Mian Wu was really annoyed now, and said expressionlessly: "Doctor Li, since there is nothing else, please go back."

Doctor Li lowered his head, paused, and then picked up the medicine box and left.

"Xiao Yuanzi," Wen Zhixu called Xiao Yuanzi after the imperial physician left Qingzhu Tower, "Go ask about this imperial physician Li tomorrow."

"I'm watching over him and seeing which palace invites him tomorrow."

Xiao Yuanzi didn't know what his master was going to do, but he was born obedient, so he nodded and went out.

Mian Wu guessed something and asked, "Master, do you think this is strange?"

As Wen Zhixu spoke, he looked at Shi Yingying on the bed, hugged his cloak tightly and snorted, "Maybe, maybe I'm overthinking it."

"But the look in the doctor's eyes..." Siyun grumbled, still a little unhappy: "I saw it for real. When Doctor Li came in, he looked at the master's face. He didn't seem to be here to save the master, but to see what the master looked like."

When Wen Zhixu heard this, he looked at the bed again and his eyes flashed.

After thinking about it carefully for a while, I roughly understood it.

***

The next morning, Xiao Yuanzi sneaked to the gate of the Imperial Medical Bureau and waited anxiously for two hours. Just when he thought he would not see him again, the imperial physician Li Yihai came out.

He carried the medicine box on his back and, with a medicine boy following him, he walked straight towards the East Six Palaces.

Xiao Yuanzi followed him carefully, and only when he saw him enter the gate of Chuxiu Palace did he hurried back to report.

The head of the first palace of Chuxiu Palace was Hesheli, also known as Concubine He.

Hebin had a prominent family background. She was the granddaughter of the trusted minister Sony, and her elder sister was Empress Xiaochengren, so she was very favored.

Originally, the emperor had only one concubine, Hepin, in Chuxiu Palace to show his favor. After the two newly selected ladies moved in, Chuxiu Palace became lively again.

Li Yihai stood at the gate of Chuxiu Palace, and Hepin's personal maid Feicui personally led him in.

The Chuxiu Palace was magnificent and filled with rare treasures. Concubine He sat in the main seat, with two unfamiliar ladies sitting beside her.

The one on the left wearing red clothes and looking pretty is Chang Chang, and the one on the right wearing plain clothes and looking petite and weak is Su Chang Zai.

The three of them were looking straight at him. Li Yihai's forehead jumped and his eyes looked straight down, not daring to look around.

He knelt down immediately, looked at the ground and said, "Your servant Li Yihai, kowtows to Concubine He, kowtows to Concubine Chang Chang and Concubine Su."

Hepin was gorgeous. She picked up the teacup and lowered her eyes. She asked, "How is it? Did you see the person?"

"I saw... I saw him." Li Yihai said tremblingly, "Yesterday, Shi Da Ying fell ill again. It was the eunuch of Wen Changzai who went to the Imperial Hospital to invite someone. Shi Da Ying's illness kept coming back and he had been treated for half a month but it didn't get better. No one was willing to go. When I said I would go and take a look, no one doubted it."

Li Yihai's qualifications were low, so people didn't think it was strange that he went to places in the Imperial Hospital that others were unwilling to go to.

"How is that person?" He Bin nodded with satisfaction. While asking casually, she glanced at Su Qingqiu on the right.

Thinking of what this person said, "she is so charming and beautiful, and she is so beautiful as to have a natural beauty," I snorted in disdain.

She was proud of her beauty and was very favored. In the entire harem, apart from the Empress Yi who was favored all the year round and the Concubine Liang who never left the palace, no one dared to say the four words "beauty of the country and heaven" in front of her.

"Good... good looking." Li Yihai's forehead began to sweat. He raised his head quietly with a bitter expression: "It is... It is indeed as Miss Su described."

"Nonsense," He Bin threw the cup in her hand to the ground with a bang, and said with a distorted face, "Say it again."

Li Yihai was so frightened that his face turned pale and he trembled: "My queen."

The sound of the cup breaking startled the palace maid, and Concubine He narrowed her eyes and looked at Su Qingqiu on the side.

The latter drank the tea in his hand leisurely, as if he was not surprised at all.

Hepin bit her back teeth in hatred and said, "How does it compare to Concubine Yi?"

Li Yihai understood what she meant by asking this question, and knelt on the ground with his head lowered: "No... on par."

Only then did Hepin breathe a sigh of relief.

Su Qingqiu behind him said calmly: "Doctor Li, tell the truth."

Hebin's eyes suddenly opened wide, as if in disbelief.

Li Yihai's lips were trembling at this moment. He looked at He Bin who had her eyes wide open, then fell to the ground and kowtowed hard.

"My lady, I really don't dare to say it."

"Tell the truth." Hepin gritted her teeth.

"That Concubine Wen was wearing a cloak and had no makeup on, but her face was even more stunning than Concubine Yi's at a glance."

"The Concubine Yi has a stunningly beautiful face. She is capricious in her words and deeds, and the emperor is happy to pamper her. Even at this age, she still holds the emperor tightly." When Hepin said this, she felt sour in her mouth.

"But my cousin Wen Changzai is more likable than Concubine Yi."

Su Qingqiu stood up and patted the creases on the hem of her skirt. "Her face looks like it was carefully carved. Her skin is as smooth as jade and so delicate that it can be broken by a touch."

"Her eyebrows and eyes are naturally gorgeous, but her eyes seem to be so charming with hooks."

With every word Su Qingqiu spoke, Hebin clenched her teeth a little more.

"That's all," she sighed, "but she looks a bit like Master Wen San, charming but also with a fairy-like air of being ignorant of worldly affairs."

"It's as if the gold and silver of this world have defiled her."

Su Qingqiu turned her head and said, "Your Majesty, can you let such a person meet the emperor?"

"Then what do you say we should do?" He Bin didn't see the person, but she heard a lot of her words. In addition, Li Yi Hai who was sent over also gave the same answer. The three-tenths of belief in her heart has now become seven-tenths.

"Sister Su, are there really such beautiful people in this world?" Usually, they are straightforward and not bad people.

But entering the palace cannot help but wanting to gain favor. If there really is such a seductive person who seduces the emperor, what will be their future?

She began to feel somewhat displeased with Wen Chang, whom she had never met.

"My lady, hasn't Mrs. Shi already gone to Qingzhu Tower?" Su Qingqiu's voice was naturally tender. "Besides, Mrs. Shi was ill, and it's not impossible that Concubine Wen lived with her and got sick from her."

"Last night, Concubine Wen called the imperial physician again. Since she is ill, she cannot sleep with the emperor. First, let the imperial servants remove Concubine Wen's green card and prevent her from seeing the emperor."

"We'll discuss the rest later."

Hepin nodded and wanted to order someone to do it immediately, but she said strangely: "Sister Su, you said that Wen Changzai is your cousin. You have won the emperor's favor before you even entered the palace, and your cousin is so attractive."

"If you two sisters join forces, I guess we won't have much of a chance."

Hepin frowned and was also deeply suspicious: "I am also wondering why you surrendered to me as soon as you came to Chuxiu Palace and asked me to find a way to arrange Wen Changzai to that remote place."

Su Qingqiu smiled calmly, her face looked innocent and her posture was charming: "You can't have your cake and eat it too. It's because we are sisters that we have to fight for it."

She looked at Hepin and said thoughtfully: "After all, no one wants to live under an excellent sister and become the shadow of another person."

Chapter 12

Xiao Yuanzi watched Doctor Li enter Chuxiu Palace, and when no one was paying attention he quietly slipped back to Qingzhu Tower.

"master......"

As soon as I entered the room, I saw Wen Zhixu sitting lazily on a chair, one hand resting on the table with his index finger raised and tapping lightly on the table, while in the other hand he was holding a delicate ball and playing with it casually.

The exquisite ball is only half the size of a palm, and can be grasped with the palm of your hand. The whole ball is golden, with a hollowed-out center to outline an exquisite pattern.

The surface of the ball is inlaid with rubies and a small bell is placed inside. When the ball is moved slightly, it begins to emit clear and pleasant sounds.

Wen Zhixu tilted her head, a gilded and kingfisher-inlaid hairpin was inserted diagonally in her hair, the pearls on the hairpin hung down and hit her face, completely dimming its luster. She sat by the window with her back to the light, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque and her charm was compelling.

Xiao Yuanzi took a quick glance and didn't dare to look any more. He lowered his head quickly and said, "Master, I followed Doctor Li and saw him enter Chuxiu Palace with my own eyes."

"Chuxiu Palace?" Wen Zhixu raised his eyebrows slightly, but he was not surprised at all.

She had just arrived and hadn't offended anyone, and Su Qingqiu happened to live in Chuxiu Palace. It was obvious that this inexplicable doctor Li was the one who caused the trouble.

"Okay, I understand." She nodded slightly and let Xiao Yuanzi go down.

As soon as Xiao Yuanzi Gui'an left, Siyun came in with medicine.

Wen Zhixu smelled the medicine bag and shrank back uncomfortably.

"Why are the people from the Imperial Hospital so powerful? Their attitudes changed when they heard we were from Qingzhu Tower."

Siyun started yelling as soon as she entered the room. She had followed Wen Zhixu since she was a child. When they were in Suzhou, Wen Zhixu was the old lady's darling, and she was treated like a half-lady.

Although the palace is extremely wealthy, the people in the palace are too snobbish in their treatment of others. This is the first time Siyun has encountered such treatment, and she can't help but feel indignant.

"Okay, just take the medicine back and don't say anything else." Wen Zhixu warned Siyun.

Looking at the medicine bag in her hand, his eyes still looked a little uncomfortable.

"Master," Siyun curled her lips, but still nodded obediently: "Then I'll fry it and send it to Shi Da Ying."

"Wait." Mian Wu, who was standing next to Wen Zhixu, stopped her and said, "Let me see."

Cotton Wu was found by Wen Yunshu specifically for Wen Zhixu. Although he doesn't look good, he is very skilled and well-versed in pharmacology.

There are too many secret and dirty things in the harem, and it would be much better with someone like Mian Wu who understands pharmacology.

Siyun knew Mianwu's ability. Although she said, "No way, Shi Da Ying has already done this, and there is still someone who won't let her go?", she still walked over and handed the medicine in her hand to Mianwu.

Mian Wu opened the medicine bag, looked at it and smelled it, and his originally pale eyebrows wrinkled together: "Master, this medicine is not right."

Wen Zhixu blinked and looked at Mian Wu seriously for the first time: "You are cautious."

Everything entering the palace must be handled with caution. She didn't say it proactively because she wanted to see how Cotton Mist would handle it.

Whether she was suspicious because of being overly suspicious or because of the slight smell of medicine brought by Siyun, Mianwu's reaction satisfied her.

"What's different about this medicine?"

Mian Wu grabbed a handful, put it to the tip of his nose and sniffed it again: "This medicine is indeed prepared according to the prescription written by Doctor Li that day, but the dosage is doubled."

"The cold is coming on fiercely. Shi Da Ying is young and already seriously ill, and his body is weak. If he drinks this medicine with double the potency, I'm afraid it won't cure his illness, but will make him suffer even more."

"This kind of powerful medicine is meant to take Shi Da Ying's life." Siyun stepped forward and knocked the medicine in Mian Wu's hand to the ground with a snap.

"Master, the people in this palace are really cruel. They want to kill a person without any grudge."

"So, do more and talk less in this palace." Wen Zhixu glanced at the medicine on the ground, and then asked Mian Wu: "Since this medicine has problems, what about Shi Yingda's illness?"

Mian Wu squatted down and picked up the medicine bag on the ground: "Master, don't alert the enemy. Let Siyun go to the Imperial Hospital to get the medicine."

"Before decocting the medicine, I can pick out the extra portion and it won't be a problem."

"That's fine." If Shi Ying was still a child in modern times, Wen Zhixu would naturally not watch her die: "Mian Wu, do you have a way to make someone pretend to be sick so that it can't be seen from the pulse?"

Mian Wu lowered her narrow eyes, thought for a moment and said, "If we use silver needles to insert into the acupuncture points, we can give it a try. Judging from the pulse, it looks like she is sick. We can hide it for a while, but it won't be able to hide it for a long time."

Wen Zhixu raised his hand, supported his chin with a fake gesture, and narrowed his eyebrows to make them bright and gorgeous: "It's enough time to take the pulse and hide it from Doctor Li's eyes."

Therefore, Shi promised to start decocting the next medicine after picking it with cotton mist. Li Yihai came twice afterwards and was relieved to see that Shi still had a pale face and was breathing with difficulty.

The new concubines in the harem began to serve the emperor in bed gradually. The most favored one among them was Dai Jia, who had a good family background and was from the Bordered Yellow Banner.

"She has only been in the palace for a month, and she has been sleeping with him for half a month." Xiao Yuanzi reported the news to her master: "She was just promoted by His Majesty today, and now she is Lady Ning."

She was promoted from a maid to a noble lady in just one month, which shows that she is truly favored.

"Master, you have to think of a solution," Xiao Yuanzi took two steps forward, "Our place is already remote, and we can't see His Majesty. If we continue like this, the servants in the courtyard will have second thoughts."

"What's going on?" Wen Zhixu was happy, "Is there anyone in the yard who wants to leave?"

Xiao Yuanzi shook his head: "Master, rest assured, I'm watching closely and no one dares to leave for the time being." He looked at his master expectantly: "But people go to higher places and water flows to lower places. If they see that they can't get good things by following the master, I'm afraid they will change their minds sooner or later."

Wen Zhixu glanced down, his eyeballs began to roll around: "Well, Xiao Yuanzi, go over and ask if anyone has found a way to contact the people in the Jingshifang. If anyone can, I will reward them handsomely."

"Oh." Xiao Yuanzi thought that his master finally knew how to compete for favor, and his eyes lit up.

He knelt down and bowed: "I will go now. Master, please rest assured that I will do everything for you."

Sure enough, within a few hours, Xiao Yuanzi came in with his men.

At that time, there were cakes and pastries on the table that had just been ordered from the imperial kitchen, including golden cake rolls, red bean cakes, Aiwowowo, and peanut cakes.

Xiao Yuanzi brought in a young eunuch with an unfamiliar face. The man had a fair face and fine facial features. He looked to be in his teens, but his behavior was cautious and respectful.

He first looked at the cakes on the table for a few seconds, then lowered his head inconspicuously: "I am Xiao Luzi, a slave, and I pay my respects to my master."

Wen Zhixu put down his chopsticks and turned his head to look at the ground. Xiao Yuanzi deliberately came forward to introduce: "Master, I found the person you wanted."

"Oh?" Wen Zhixu took the handkerchief and wiped his mouth: "Get up first, stand up and talk."

Xiao Luzi raised his head and met Wen Zhixu's gaze in panic. His fair face turned red, and even his ears were red: "Master, there is a little Taijia in the Jingshifang who is my fellow villager. If there is anything, I can say a word or two."

He stuttered, and Xiao Yuanzi looked anxious, so he quietly pulled him aside and explained, "Master, Xiao Luzi's fellow villager is very popular with the head of the emergency room, and he can get along well with them when talking."

"Then, what if I ask him to do something for me?" Wen Zhixu looked straight into Xiao Luzi's eyes with a righteous and serious look. He spoke only after seeing that his eyes were clear and without a trace of panic.

"Master... Master." Xiao Luzi glanced at Xiao Yuanzi for help. He probably thought that he was just asking for a green card or a nice word, but he didn't expect that there was something to be done.

Seeing his helplessness, Wen Zhixu took a sip of the tea beside him, and said calmly: "Although it is not a big deal, if it really happens, I am afraid there will be risks."

"Think about it before you answer. I won't force you."

There are endless ways to compete for favor in the harem, and the servants all know a little bit about it tacitly.

Xiao Luzi naturally knew what Concubine Wen meant by this sentence.

He looked nervously at Wen Zhixu who was sitting in front of him. She was wearing a plain Qifu dress, the color of which was almost invisible. He could only vaguely see the light blue color of lake water. From the oblique buttons to the hem of her skirt, water-red peach blossoms were embroidered, and the flowers were blooming luxuriantly between each flower.

Wen Changzai has bright eyes and eyebrows, and is delicate and charming.

That face was even more gorgeous than peach blossoms, as beautiful as jade, and captivating.

Xiao Luzi was torn between his conscience and his desires, and struggled for a long time. Then he knelt on the ground and said, "I am Xiao Luzi, your servant, and I will do whatever you ask of me. I am willing to die for you."

***

Thanks to the favor of His Majesty, Concubine Ning became the center of attention after entering the palace.

The Emperor has summoned her to sleep with him for most of the past month. The people in the Jingshifang would read her cues and place the green card in a prominent position.

Today it was time to turn over the cards again. Kangxi turned his hand over the green cards on a plate and asked, "Where is Concubine Ning?"

Wang Zhong, the supervisor of the Jingshifang, said, "Your Majesty, today the aunt of Lady Ning came to report that Lady Ning has been feeling unwell these past few days and has hung up her name card."

Kangxi knew that women have their menstrual periods every month.

Hearing this, he looked at the tray again.

When he saw a girl he liked, his slender fingers paused on her: "Su Changzai?" There were quite a few beauties selected this time. There was no queen in the palace, and the list of beauties was prepared by the imperial concubine and sent to him. Kangxi only took a glance at it, and some of them had been forgotten long ago.

Li Dequan beside him stepped forward and reminded him: "Your Majesty, you saw this Su Changzai on the day of the selection. She was wearing a red dress and looked delicate. You also praised her for her elegant temperament and gave her a sachet on the spot."

After hearing what Li Dequan said, Kangxi finally remembered a little and smiled: "It turned out to be her."

The dangling fingers casually said: "Then let's go with her tonight."

Wang Zhong was delighted to see that Su Changzai's sign had been turned over. He raised the sign in his hand high above his head and retreated the same way he had come.

Chapter 13

Chuxiu Palace

The sound of the Fengluan Chun'en chariot could be heard from outside. The sound was clear and pleasant. In front of the chariot hung two strings of nine-curve linked pendants. The jade was engraved with fine lines and was hollowed out in the middle.

When the wind blew, it poured into the hollow jade pendant, as if it was the chirping of hundreds of birds, pleasant and unique.

Hepin was used to the sound of the carriage. After hearing this, she put the cakes in her hand on the table, her eyes lit up, and she walked down to ask, "Did the emperor turn over my name card?"

As soon as the words fell, the room fell silent.

Her personal maid Feicui was embarrassed for a moment, and she came to Hepin and whispered: "Madam, have you forgotten that we bribed Wang Zhong from the Jingshifang to put Su Changzai's name card in the front?"

"The people from the Jingshifang haven't arrived yet, so maybe the matter is settled."

"It's... it's done?" Hepin looked outside eagerly. After hearing the eunuchs from the Jingshifang turn the corner and walk to Lijingxuan, she retracted her gaze and smashed the vase next to her to the ground with a bang: "How come it's done in one go?"

Feicui was afraid that people outside would hear the noise, and was also afraid that her master would be angry and hurt herself, so she kept comforting her: "Master, please relax."

"You are the head of a palace, and Su Changzai is favored, which is better than others." Feicui stepped forward and gently pinched Hepin's shoulder: "Besides, the emperor pities you, and there has never been anyone else in Chuxiu Palace. This time, Su Changzai was usually selected by you personally."

"She has a poor family background but good looks. If we can control her and secure her favor, the Emperor will come to our Chuxiu Palace more often in the future."

Although Concubine He was favored, she was still no match for Concubine Yi. She was still restless even when she was old, and she had two princes.

She wanted to improve her position, but it was difficult. So she thought of a way to learn from other palace mistresses and find some people with poor family background to consolidate the emperor's favor. Su Chang had won the emperor's favor on the day of the selection, so she asked for it.

"Never mind, I understand the reason." Hepin brushed away Feicui's hand that was pinching her shoulder: "It's just that I couldn't get used to it for the moment."

She lifted her eyelids slightly and looked in the direction of Lijingxuan: "I hope that Su Changzai is obedient." Her armored fingers pinched gently, and her tone was cold: "Otherwise, I don't mind dirtying my hands."

Su Qingqiu had already heard the sound in Lijingxuan. It was not the first time she had heard the sound of the Fengluan Chun'en carriage since she entered the palace. But each time it was going to pick up Concubine He, and it had never stopped at Lijingxuan like it did today. It was the first time she heard the sound so clearly, as if hundreds of birds were singing together.

Wang Zhong personally led his men in, knelt down and congratulated him, "Chang Su is very happy. The emperor has turned over your name card today."

"The Phoenix Spring Grace carriage is already waiting outside. Please follow me, Su Changzai."

"Okay." Su Qingqiu tried to hide her excitement and signaled to the maid Xiulan behind her. The latter took out a purse from her sleeve and quietly put it into Wang Zhong's palm: "I will have to trouble you to give me some advice in the future."

Wang Zhong quietly shook the weight of his purse, and the smile on his face became more sincere: "Su Changzai, please follow me quickly."

Su Qingqiu rode the Fengluan Chunen carriage all the way to the Yangxin Palace. The young eunuch took her into the side hall. There was a maid in the room waiting on her: "Hello, Su Changzai. I am here to serve you, Your Excellency."

There was a large bathtub behind the screen. The eunuchs who came and went were carrying buckets and pouring hot water into the bathtub. Flower petals and soap were placed on the table next to it.

The nanny didn't explain clearly, but Su Qingqiu knew what this meant, so she lowered her head shyly and said, "Thank you, nanny."

The nanny helped Su Qingqiu take off her clothes. Seeing that her fur was as white as snow, she exclaimed: "I have served so many young ladies, but this one has the whitest fur."

If the women in the harem want to gain the Emperor's constant favor, besides a good face, a good figure is also the most important.

Su Qingqiu naturally understood these principles. Although what the nanny said was nice, her mind always thought of Wen Zhixu's figure in white that was more delicate than pearls.

Thinking of this, she sighed unwillingly, closed her eyes and slid into the water, her whole body covered under the petals.

After being cleaned, Su Qinghuan was carried into Kangxi's bedroom. She was wrapped in a quilt that covered her from feet to neck, leaving only her face exposed.

Maybe I was still afraid, I always felt a little hot and a little itchy.

But Su Qingqiu didn't care about that. He thought about what happened next, and the person he had only met once on the day of the audition. He was tall and handsome, and there was a hint of smile in his eyes when he looked at her.

This is the real number one person in the world, the supreme emperor, who is able to look down on the world.

As if sensing what she was thinking, footsteps began to be heard, firm and powerful, as if stepping on her heart. Su Qingqiu clenched her hands quietly under the quilt.

The man's heavy footsteps were getting closer and closer, and before she could react, the bright yellow curtain in front of her was swung open by someone from the outside.

She was startled, and her palm-sized face looked even more pitiful.

"Did you get scared?" Kangxi was tall, lifting the bed curtain with one hand, leaning down slightly as if to hold her in his arms. Looking at the new Su Changzai, her little face was indeed pretty.

"Your Majesty." Su Qingqiu's little face flushed red with shame. She struggled to kneel on the bed wrapped in a quilt. Her hair scattered on her shoulders fell behind her head, making her little face look delicate and shy.

"Your servant Su Qingqiu pays homage to His Majesty." She knelt with her hands folded in her arms and kowtowed, then raised her head to reveal a pair of misty eyes, shy and gentle.

***

The Emperor flipped over Concubine Su's nameplate, and the entire harem knew about it.

But the next morning, the news spread throughout the palace.

Su Changzai was carried to the dragon couch in the Fengluan Chun'en carriage, but not long after, she was sent back intact.

This was the first time that the concubines who served the Emperor in bed were sent back. Later, it was reported that Li Jingxuan called the imperial physician again after Su Changzai was sent back.

The concubines were all discussing whether Su Changzai had some kind of illness. It could be said that everyone in the palace was making fun of her.

Naturally, this rumor also spread to Qingzhu Tower.

Siyun knew that this was her master's doing, so she begged Wen Zhixu, "Master, what method did you use?"

Wen Zhixu was playing with a little fox in her hand. She had a set of such little foxes, twelve in total, each of which was only the size of half a finger.

This is what Wen Zhixu used to say when she was still in Suzhou, to kill time when she was bored at home.

When my grandmother saw this, she found it very interesting, so she asked people to use gold to make all of these. Some were crying, some were laughing, some were cunning, and some were cute. Each one had a different expression, but they were all adorable.

What she held in her hand was a fox with its ears spread out, its large narrow eyes half-closed, its chin supported by its tiny paws, its expression intelligent and cunning, looking funny yet adorable.

"Su Qingqiu found a way to get me to such a quiet place, so I naturally have to thank her and give her a big gift in return."

Wen Zhixu smiled and stretched out his finger to gently touch the fox's nose: "I just asked Xiao Luzi's brother in the Jingshifang to put something in the water for her bath."

Siyun thought about what happened today, and how it was all caused by that heartless cousin. She was so angry that her liver hurt and she couldn't wait to ask, "What did you put in it?"

"Nothing." Wen Zhixu shook his head and smiled. His delicate eyebrows and eyes were like delicate flowers that were carefully cared for every day. His smile was so charming and seductive.

"They are just some jasmine petals." Wen Zhixu picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip: "The scent of jasmine is subtle and elegant. Putting it in water for bathing can make the skin delicate and have a subtle fragrance."

"But no one knows that our cousin is allergic to jasmine. She would have had rashes all over her body if she took a bath with it. She would naturally be sent back intact after getting on the emperor's throne."

If it weren't for the description in the book, Wen Zhixu wouldn't have known, but since Su Qingqiu took action first, some things were started by her, so she couldn't blame herself for what would happen next.

"It seems like a cloud." Wen Zhixu turned his head and said, "Go and ask Dr. Li to come and tell him that I was infected by Shi Ying and I also caught a cold."

Siyun let out a sigh and ran to the Imperial Hospital.

Not long after, Li Yihai followed Siyun over and saw that Wen Changzai, who was fine two days ago, had a pale face and no blood in his body.

She pretended to shudder: "Changzai Wen, what's wrong with you?"

Wen Zhixu coughed into his handkerchief, his lips white as snow: "Shi Da Ying's illness doesn't seem to be getting better. I went to see him twice and I started to feel uncomfortable."

Li Yihai stretched out his hand to feel her pulse and was shocked: "If you are sick all the time, I am afraid you need to rest." The task that Concubine He had ordered was about to be completed, and Li Yihai suppressed his joy.

But she still had a trace of humanity. She lowered her eyes guiltily and looked at Wen Changzai in front of her, with a bit of sympathy in her eyes.

The survival of women in the harem is really difficult. They have to suffer such calculations just because they have a pretty face.

Seeing her raise her hand, and then slowly lower it, there seemed to be a trace of unwillingness in her eyes, but in the end she still didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Doctor Li." Li Yihai looked at her clear eyes, lowered his head awkwardly, and avoided her gaze.

***

When Su Qingqiu was sent back, he was still confused.

Her whole body was itchy but she had no time to scratch. Everything that happened today flashed through her mind like a passing revelation. No one had done anything to harm her, but everyone seemed suspicious.

It was obvious that every move she made was carefully planned. She thought that she could use this body to gradually win the emperor's heart. But in the end, when the emperor lifted her quilt, he saw red rashes all over her body.

No matter how well he concealed it, she still saw the flash of disgust in the Emperor's eyes. Even though she knew that the emperor's heart was fickle, Su Qingqiu's eyes still turned red with excitement.

The imperial physician who was sent to treat her said, "My lady, you have touched something unclean, which caused your skin to be sensitive and develop a rash."

She asked hurriedly: "Will it leave a scar?"

Concubines with scars cannot serve in the emperor's bedchamber. The imperial physician naturally knew this: "As long as the young lady resists scratching, it may be fine."

After sending the imperial physician away, Su Qingqiu was still uneasy. Not to mention the favor of His Majesty, as long as she took good care of her body, she would naturally find a way to gain His Majesty's pity in the future.

But what she was afraid of was Concubine He, the head of Chuxiu Palace. She had finally gained Concubine He's trust, and once this incident happened, she was afraid that she would be in trouble.

As expected, without a queen in the palace, the concubines liked to visit the imperial concubine every day to show their affection.

Hepin already knew about what happened last night, but after a night, everyone else was still fresh in their minds and when they saw her, they all laughed at her in various ways.

Concubine Yi was the one who had the most conflicts with her. When she saw her coming, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes. Her armor inlaid with rubies was raised, and her posture was seductive but her words were harsh: "Sister Hepin is too impatient. Even if she wants her subordinates to be favored, she has to choose the best ones."

"This is the first time that we sisters have heard of a concubine who was sent to the dragon bed and then sent back. If there is a chance in the future, sister Hepin must let us see her one day."

Once Concubine Yi took the lead, those who had long been dissatisfied with Concubine He or deliberately wanted to please Concubine Yi nodded in agreement.

Concubine He was favored in the past and had a prominent family background, so she was a little arrogant when looking at others. Now that someone in her palace had made such a big fool of himself, the concubines were waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

"That's right. I heard that it was because I was ill yesterday that Su Changzai took advantage of the situation. I didn't expect her to be so useless." Concubine Ning is the emperor's new favorite. She dares to say what others dare not say.

"Since Concubine He has a way to deal with Wang Zhong, why not make some plans for yourself? This time, all your efforts have become a joke."

Concubine He, who had been plotting for the whole morning, had already changed her expression. After hearing what Concubine Ning said, her face was distorted with anger.

"How dare you." He pointed his slender finger at Lady Ning and said, "Who are you to dare to speak to me like that?"

Favor reigns supreme in the harem. Over the past two months, Concubine Ning has felt that she is the most powerful person in the harem. In addition, she has a good family background and someone to back her up. Upon hearing this, she stood up without changing her expression and said, "Madam Hepin, I am young and don't know how to take things lightly. Please forgive me for my magnanimity."

"You..." The indifferent tone made Hepin's teeth ache. She slammed her hands on the table and was about to stand up.

There was a hint of interest in Concubine Yi's eyes, but the Imperial Concubine, who had been sitting and watching the show, said, "Okay, everyone, be quiet."

The Imperial Concubine was not very pretty, her face was only delicate, but she had a decent temperament and was the most powerful among the concubines. She was wearing a dark purple Manchu dress embroidered with large peony flowers, which was elegant and luxurious.

She blinked lightly and turned to look at Hepin: "Noble Lady Ning is young, Sister Hepin, please be tolerant."

He then said to Lady Ning, "You are the one who serves His Majesty. You must be careful in what you say and do in the future."

Although Concubine He was unwilling, she had to give up. She shook her sleeves angrily and secretly hated Concubine Ning.

******

She had a stern face when she went back. Originally, she was happy that Su Changzai was sent back, happy that the Emperor did not favor this slut.

Now, not only did all her hard work go to waste, but she also became a laughing stock in the entire palace and was framed.

The palace maid came forward to serve tea, but she opened the cup and the scalding tea splashed on the maid. She didn't even dare to scream and just knelt on the ground trembling.

"Useless thing, get out of here." He Bin sneered and looked at Su Qingqiu's face with vicious eyes.

Su Qingqiu paused holding the teacup, knowing that Hepin was making indirect accusations, but now she didn't have the confidence to refute.

"My lady, this must have been planned by someone."

Su Qingqiu thought about it all night and realized that there might be something wrong with the water in the bath tub, but the people serving at the time were all from the Jingshifang, and she was afraid at the time so she didn't notice anything unusual.

If I were to investigate now, I might be able to find some clues and follow the clues to find the person who did it.

Su Qingqiu bit the back of his teeth, feeling unwilling as he thought about what happened yesterday.

"How confident do you think you are? Everyone in the entire palace wants to harm you." Hepin was too lazy to listen to her and her eyes were full of disdain.

"Your Highness." Su Qingqiu wanted to argue: "This matter must be investigated. Since they have even reached the Jingshifang, it must not be simple."

"And, I guess that person might be Wen Zhixu." Somehow, she had no witnesses or evidence, but she always felt that she did everything.

"Pa..." He Bin couldn't stand it anymore, she stood up and slapped Su Qingqiu in the face: "I believed your lies, so I listened to your nonsense."

"Mrs. Wen in Qingzhu Tower is already very ill. I'm afraid she can't even stand up."

"You have the ability to talk nonsense, so you should think about how to stop the rumors in the palace."

Chapter 14

Qingzhu Tower, West Palace

Shi Da Ying, who had been sick and comatose since the day he was moved here, finally opened his eyes today.

She was young and still sick, so she had to drink bowls of medicine every day. Mian Wu took care of her carefully without taking off his clothes. It took nearly half a month to bring her back from the brink of death.

When Wen Zhixu came in, her eyes were red, and her hands on the quilt were tightly grasped: "Sister Wen."

The person sitting on the bed had a small face barely the size of a palm. Having been sick for so long, his face was pale as hell. His white teeth were biting his lower lip, and his pair of round eyes were as red as a rabbit.

She saw Wen Zhixu coming in. She struggled to get off the bed, but Siyun on the side quickly stopped her: "Shi Da Ying, you are not well yet, so don't get up."

"I just want to thank Sister Wen." Shi Ying said that although he was young, his values ​​were very positive: "I have been ill for so long, and the people in the Imperial Hospital are not willing to be infected with me."

"Empress He was even more disgusted. She was afraid that I would die in Chuxiu Palace, so she moved me out early." She coughed into her handkerchief, and tears began to fall: "If it weren't for my sister... If it weren't for my sister saving my life, my body would have been cold by now."

Wen Zhixu saved her at the beginning only for the sake of a life. Now that Shi Da Ying has woken up, he feels somewhat relieved.

"You're not fully recovered yet, so you still need to take good care of yourself." Shi Da Ying. There was a bitter smell of medicine in the room, so Wen Zhixu didn't go in.

"After a serious illness, I'm afraid that my vitality has been damaged. Take medicine and nourish your body well first, and take care of your body first."

Shi Da Ying was still ill, so she naturally agreed to everything. Wen Zhixu asked her to take good care of herself, so she closed the door and concentrated on taking care of herself.

Three months after entering the palace, Concubine Wen and Lady Shi, who had been recuperating in the Qingzhu Tower, seemed to be gradually forgotten.

Xiao Yuanzi was not discouraged and secretly went to Jingshifang to ask his brother for help. Only then did he find out that the people in Jingshifang had been bribed by Hepin and had removed Wen Changzai's green card early on.

"Master..." Before Xiao Yuanzi could finish his words, Siyun rushed in like a □□.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs is really going too far." As soon as she entered the room, Siyun was like a lit firecracker, spouting out word for word what had just happened.

At the beginning of September, the Ministry of Internal Affairs began to withhold the allowance of Qingzhu Tower.

Siyun went there twice, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs kept postponing the payment. No matter how much nonsense he said, he still refused to give it to her.

The allowance that was supposed to be distributed at the beginning of the month was not allocated until the end of the month after I scraped together the money. Although the money was not very good, at least it was allocated to me.

What made Siyun angry this time was that the Ministry of Internal Affairs distributed autumn clothes to all palaces, and no one knew whether it was intentional or not, but the Qingzhu Tower was the only one that was missed.

All the palace maids changed into new clothes, and the maids in Qingzhu Tower had been waiting eagerly.

Siyun went there three times, but was sent away by the Internal Affairs Department each time. Siyun was so angry that she went to make a scene, but the manager of the Internal Affairs Department said sarcastically, "Even if your master comes today, you won't be able to give out the autumn clothes."

"Master, listen to this, the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs look down on us like this." Siyun looked at her master eagerly, hoping that Wen Zhixu could give her an explanation.

"A concubine like me who has fallen out of favor and fallen ill since entering the palace, really can't do anything about a steward in the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Wen Zhixu answered Si Yun's question calmly without a trace of emotion.

"Forget it, it's just an autumn outfit. We brought a lot of silver with us. You can take some silver to the Xiufang and ask them to follow the example of the palace to make two sets for each of the palace maids in Qingzhu Tower."

It seemed that his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, but Wen Zhixu solved the problem with just a few words.

Although Qiu Yi had it, she was still a little unwilling and muttered, "Master, do we have to stay in Qingzhu Tower for the rest of our lives?"

"What? You dislike this place?" Wen Zhixu stood up, walked to the desk, took out a pen, and practiced calligraphy in his spare time.

"Not really, this place is also nice, but my master, we can't stay here forever." Siyun has been in the palace for a long time, and she knows without anyone telling her the importance of having the favor of the Emperor to survive in the palace.

What's more, there is a cousin who is eyeing the master covetously. She has just entered the palace and is able to find ways to create trouble for the master.

He even wanted to trap his master in Qingzhu Tower for the rest of his life.

If she really became favored in the future, Siyun felt that she could take her master's life.

"Miss." She approached Wen Zhixu hesitantly: "No matter what, I will follow you."

Wen Zhixu turned her head slightly, and the sunlight from the window hit her face. Half of her profile was stunning enough. She blinked slightly, and the corners of her narrow eyes slightly curled up, with a hint of red at the end of her eyes. She was lonely and charming, and her eyes were enough to captivate people.

There was a look of understanding in Wen Zhixu's eyes that Si Yun couldn't understand. She smiled, didn't explain, and just raised her hand to write a word on the paper.

wait.

***

After taking medicine for a few days, Su Qingqiu's rash gradually got better.

Her body no longer felt itchy, but her heart began to itch like a cat scratching. Although the Emperor did not blame her for what happened that night, he never turned over her card again after that.

She still felt a little bit afraid, wondering if she had scared the Emperor with the red rash that day.

When she thought of the consequence, no matter how clever her plan was, she couldn't help but start to have wild thoughts.

"Master, you can't go on like this." Xiulan saw that her master had been in a bad mood for the past two days, so she hurried forward to persuade him: "Ning Guiren has been serving you in the bed these days, and even Changchangzai in the back of our house has served you once."

"Today, His Majesty has turned over the name card of Concubine He. Why don't you go and guard it? Even if you can't lure His Majesty to come here, it would be good to see him once. At least don't let His Majesty forget you."

Su Qingqiu's heart began to waver after hearing what Xiulan said.

She knew clearly that if she really did what Xiulan said, the first person to be angered would be Concubine He, and the mistress of Chuxiu Palace would definitely be the first one to not forgive her.

But my heart was still quietly shaken. The tenderness in His Majesty's eyes that night was still before my eyes.

The man's natural arrogance and his hot breath next to her ear made her fall into it, unable to extricate herself.

I can't help but wonder, what if it really works? Lady Ning is not much better looking than me, but once she is favored, countless people will fawn on her.

Moreover, she dared to confront Hepin openly. What could Hepin dare to say? She just kept silent with her tail between her legs.

Seeing her master's intention, Xiulan stepped forward to persuade him: "Master, you will climb up one day, so why bother too much about this Chuxiu Palace."

Xiulan's words seemed to open up Su Qingqiu's Ren and Du meridians.

The thread in her mind snapped, "You're right." She turned around and patted Xiulan's hand, "Hepin is really nothing."

"It's just a concubine without children. Her favor is not as high as that of the newly promoted Noble Lady Ning." His Majesty comes to the harem quite often. There are always four or five days in every month when Concubine Yi is here, and the rest of the time he goes to Concubine De's place the most.

The remaining noble lady Ning would take six or seven days alone, and the remaining one or two days this month would be given to the concubines who usually stay in the palace and the concubine Liang who rarely leaves the palace.

Hepin was also favored before, but she was beautiful and her personality was very similar to Concubine Yi. Concubine Yi's favor was long-lasting, but since Noble Lady Ning became favored, the Emperor began to gradually lose interest in her.

Even so, in the end, the emperor had always held her in his heart.

As soon as Hepin acted coquettishly, His Majesty agreed to come for dinner. Su Qingqiu gradually became unable to hold back. She was the only one in the entire Chuxiu Palace who had not yet had sex with him. Instead, she was sent back as she was.

The noble lady Tong, who had been respectful and polite to her before, could not help but show off when she saw her. She touched the pair of exquisite white jade hairpins on her head and said, "This is a reward from the Emperor."

From then on, Su Qingqiu started to have toothache whenever he saw her.

"Xiu Lan, bring me my plain white cheongsam embroidered with orchids," Su Qingqiu stood up quickly, "and then help me put on my makeup."

Xiulan knew that her master had finally figured it out, so she happily walked over and said, "Hey, master, you finally figured it out. I'll come over and help you put on your makeup."

So, Su Qingqiu dressed up from head to toe and went to Chuxiu Palace.

When He Bin saw her come in, her whole face turned black, and her emotionless tone was like a piece of ice, and she said word by word: "What are you doing here?"

"I was wrong in the end, but the queen is kind and didn't blame me." Su Qingqiu said what she had thought of in advance: "But the queen is kind after all, and Qingqiu carelessly ruined the queen's kindness and I always feel bad."

She lowered her eyes and humbled her posture as if she had forgotten the slap that Hebin had given her that day.

"I have come here specially to apologize to Your Majesty today. Please forgive me for being tongue-tied." But no matter how much she said, Hepin remained silent.

He put the cup in his hand down on the table fiercely, pointed at her clothes and said coldly, "You are dressed up carefully from head to toe today. I'm afraid you are not here to see me but to seduce the emperor with me."

There is no stupid woman who can survive in the harem. They just don't say it out loud to save each other's face.

There are only a few people like Hepin who don't give any face at all.

And someone like Su Qingqiu, who pretended not to hear what he heard and continued to do what he was supposed to do, was also the first one.

Seeing that she pretended not to hear, Hepin's patience was not as high as hers. She grabbed the cup beside her and smashed it at Su Qingqiu: "Fox. Seductress, you can't live without a man, right? You have to come and intercept my Hu at this time."

Hepin stood up angrily, walked to Su Qingqiu's side in two or three steps, pinched her chin with her armored fingers, and said to Su Qingqiu's pitiful face: "Put away your little tricks, and you still want to show off in front of me."

He Bin pushed Su Qingqiu to the ground with a bang.

As luck would have it, the door curtain was lifted up from the outside at this moment. As Kangxi and Li Dequan walked in, they saw Concubine He with a distorted face pushing Su Qingqiu to the ground.

The steps forward stopped where they were. Kangxi looked at Su Qingqiu at his feet, then raised his head and glanced at Concubine Hao calmly: "You are really lively here, it seems that I came at the wrong time."

There was no warmth in his tone, and Hebin's expression was also indifferent, but Hebin seemed to be controlled by the throat. Her originally distorted face became panicked and she knelt down quickly.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

She had dressed up specially today. Her red cheongsam was embroidered with large peony flowers, which made her look bright and beautiful, with charming eyes and eyebrows.

When she looked at people, the slightest movement of her eyes would bring a burst of light. She was naturally charming in appearance, and her behavior was somewhat like that of Concubine Yi, whom Kangxi had indeed doted on for a period of time.

But as time went by, it became just like that, and encountering something new later on was no longer as rare as before.

What's more, I saw a side of her that I had never seen before.

Kangxi glanced down and said indifferently, "Everyone, get up and tell me what made you so angry."

He sat down in the main seat. The palace maid who served tea noticed that the atmosphere was not right, and her hands were shaking as she held the black gold and red lacquer tray: "Your Highness, please have some tea." The palace maid's voice was very low, and if you listened carefully you could still hear the trembling at the end.

Kangxi took it and opened it to have a look. It was the Taiping Houkui tea that he usually drank.

The lid was put down again and he looked at Concubine He: "What's wrong? Are you mute?" The emperor's eyes showed no other emotions, but they were enough to make people feel the coldness in them.

After all, Hepin had served Kangxi for several years, so she reacted after a while, smiled with her beautiful face, and came to Kangxi and patted his legs attentively: "Your Highness, it's all my fault. I have a bad temper and I couldn't help but get angry."

Her facial features were bright and beautiful, and her humble admission of fault at this moment could indeed arouse some sympathy from others: "Come here, why don't you take that person away?"

The maids hesitated to step forward, but Kangxi stepped forward to stop them, and uttered a soft sound in his throat: "Oh?"

His eyes turned to the woman in plain Manchu clothing in the distance: "Is she also from your palace? I don't think I've seen her before." He smiled and spoke in a much gentler tone: "What's her name? Get up and answer."

Su Qingqiu, who had been hiding in the back, finally heard that Kangxi had noticed her. A hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but when she stood up, she deliberately twisted her body and almost fell.

Li Dequan was quick to act and quickly ordered the maid to hold her up. He said with a smile, "Your Majesty, this young lady is too weak."

"Forget it, sit down and answer."

The palace maid placed an embroidered cushion behind her. Su Qingqiu blushed and took two steps forward coquettishly: "Thank you, Your Majesty." Her voice was deliberately softened with a hint of coquettishness.

Then Su Qingqiu raised her face. She originally had a delicate face, and now she was wearing a plain Manchu dress. Coupled with her frail body, she looked so pitiful that I felt even more sorry for her.

"You are..." Kangxi felt that the face in front of him was somewhat familiar.

Su Qingqiu lowered her head delicately, her snow-white and slender neck thin and white, and said in a shy voice: "Your servant Su Changzai, I got a rash on my body when I was serving him in the bed a few days ago, and it was His Majesty who sent the imperial physician to come and treat me."

As soon as she said that, Kangxi immediately remembered it. He didn't see her clearly that night, but when he saw her now, he found that this Concubine Su was indeed both good-looking and had a good temperament.

My interest calmed down a bit, and I asked, as if to indicate something: "Are you feeling better now?"

Su Qingqiu blushed, timidly raised her misty eyes, and said softly, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I am all right now."

Now that everything is fine, you can sleep with me.

Kangxi suddenly covered his mouth and coughed. He remembered that he was in Hepin's palace, so he raised his hand and said, "That's good. You can go down first."

Su Qingqiu said shyly in a delicate voice, "Yes," and raised her eyes to look at His Majesty reluctantly before she moved and walked out.

The petite and weak girl in Kangxi's eyes made Hepin so angry that she almost vomited blood. She bit her back teeth hard to control herself from slapping that slut to death in the face.

She actually dared to seduce the Emperor in front of her.

Hepin was so angry that she wanted to go forward and lift her up, but Feicui, who was standing behind her, quietly reached out and pulled out her clothes, and shook her head slightly at her: "Your Majesty, please don't be impulsive. It's obvious that the emperor is interested in Su Changzai."

Sure enough, the Emperor was absent-minded during the dinner.

After using it, he didn't even have time to drink the digestive tea and rushed out the door in a hurry.

Hepin looked at his back, her mouth full of bitterness, and she couldn't eat the sweet cake in her hand. She turned her head and asked, "Fei Cui, where did the emperor go?"

"Could it be that something happened in the previous dynasty?"

Feicui looked at her master's distraught appearance and felt sorry for her: "Master, the emperor went out and turned a corner to Lijingxuan."

Hepin smashed the celadon and gold-painted red plum lamp on the ground with a bang: "Bitch."

Lijingxuan called for water three times that night, and the concubines in the palace gritted their teeth.

The next day, there were another batch of rewards. In the evening, the Emperor turned over Su Changzai's green card again.

***

"It's been two months. Su Changzai will definitely be favored. I have known this for a long time." Wen Zhixu's subordinate was holding a paintbrush and painting plum blossoms.

The flowers bloom in the frost, each one is sharp and gorgeous.

"Then... Master, you are not anxious?" Siyun was not around, and Mianwu began to worry about this for the first time: "If Su Changzai is so favored every day, one day she will win the emperor's heart."

"Win the heart of the emperor?" Wen Zhixu seemed to have heard something funny. He couldn't even hold the paintbrush in his hand and just laughed to himself.

Her eyes were bright to begin with, and when she smiled they were like the stars in the sky, dazzling and brilliant.

Wen Zhixu stopped laughing until he was about to cry. He used his fingers to scrape Mian Wu's nose and said affectionately, "Silly boy, it's not so easy to get the heart of an emperor."

"Then..." Mian Wu didn't understand: "Chang Su is so favored here."

Wen Zhixu lowered his eyebrows, shook his head and snorted: "If His Majesty really liked her, he wouldn't have exchanged glances with her in Hepin's palace."

"Princess He is the head of the Chuxiu Palace. It would be a disaster for Su Chang if he angered her."

"She is in favor now, and Hepin won't do anything to her, but if she falls out of favor, Hepin will not let her live a good life."

Wen Zhixu drew the last proud bones of the plum blossom branches with just a few strokes, threw the pen in his hand on the table and said: "So, when looking at things, don't easily believe its surface."

Chapter 15

As soon as Wen Zhixu finished speaking, he was slapped in the face.

In this harem, some things still have to be judged on the surface. For example, the emperor's favor, whether intentional or unintentional, will at least make your treatment much better.

According to the rules, Wen Zhixu could get five catties of pork every day, fifteen plates of mutton every month, five chickens and ducks, one liter and two he of old stalk rice, two catties of white flour, two ounces of white sugar, three ounces and five cents of sesame oil, one catty and eight ounces of tofu, eight ounces of rice flour residue, and eight ounces of sweet sauce...

But what was placed in front of her was a plate of yellowed green vegetables, a plate of meat that smelled strange but was hard to tell what it was, and a plate of lukewarm soup. Wen Zhixu scooped it up with a spoon and saw a few drops of oil floating on top.

"Master... Master." Xiao Yuanzi looked at Wen Zhixu, not daring to raise his head.

"The people in the imperial kitchen are getting more and more daring. Who can eat such dishes?" Siyun looked at the dishes on the table and her eyes popped out with anger.

Wen Zhixu, who had just been planning and strategizing, had to bow his head, sighed, and said helplessly: "What's going on? Didn't you pay the imperial kitchen?"

As soon as she entered Qingzhu Tower, she knew that her future treatment would become worse and worse, so she sent Xiao Yuanzi to the imperial kitchen to take care of things early on.

Money makes the world go round. Wen Zhixu spent the money and ordered whatever food he wanted. After closing the door of Qingzhu Tower, he lived a comfortable life.

Right now the Ministry of Internal Affairs doesn't even deliver the monthly allowance on time, and the appetite of the imperial kitchen has been growing bigger and bigger.

The most important thing is that Su Changzai is in the prime of her life, and these things are probably special care for her.

As expected, Xiao Yuanzi looked embarrassed, raised his eyes and stammered: "The imperial kitchen said... someone from above ordered them not to dare, not to take any more money from me."

"Do you know who it is?" Siyun glared over.

"Say...say it was Su Changzai." Xiao Yuanzi spoke with difficulty under tremendous pressure.

When Mian Wu heard this, she immediately took off the silver hairpin on her head and was about to try it in the dish. Wen Zhixu was happy, and just as she was about to say that she didn't dare, a cough was heard at the door.

Turning around, I saw Shi Da Ying walking in with a pale face, holding the hand of a palace maid.

Her body was extremely thin as she had not yet fully recovered. She was wearing a half-worn Manchu dress that hung loosely on her body and made it look a lot bigger around her waist.

"Sister, you can't eat these. They can't bear to see other people having a good life. It's not enough that they have harmed me, now they want to harm you." Shi Da Ying rushed in and overturned the food on the table.

"Shi agreed..." Wen Zhixu wanted to tell her that the food was not poisonous.

But Shi Da Ying looked a little crazy. He took two steps forward and held her hand tightly: "Sister, you really can't eat these." She had a small face with only a little flesh, which made her eyes look particularly big.

"Those people don't take human life seriously at all." Shi Da Ying's unusually large eyes were filled with hatred: "I know my own body. Although I am a little weak, I will not get sick for no reason like this."

"When I first entered the palace, I didn't even dare to leave the door. After eating the food that was laced with medicine, I fell ill and never recovered."

"The imperial physician surnamed Li came several times and treated her intermittently for a long time but she didn't get better." Shi Da Ying couldn't stand up and put his hands on the table: "Later, when I was sick, I heard someone mumbling and saying that she should be moved to Qingzhu Tower and left to die on her own."

She shuddered as she said this, and hatred rose between her eyes: "Sister, if it weren't for you, I would have died without knowing why."

"In the eyes of these people, a life is probably as worthless as a livestock."

Shi Da Ying's hands, which were supporting the table, were trembling slightly, and it was obvious that these few words had exhausted all her courage.

Wen Zhixu paused and realized that she was scared to death but still said these words, which showed her hatred towards the people in Chuxiu Palace.

She didn't want Shi to live with hatred at such a young age, but seeing her gritting her teeth, she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. There was no room for kind-hearted people in the harem, and having some means was at least better than being killed ignorantly.

After a few subtle words of comfort, Shi agreed to go back.

She was young, her body had not grown up yet, and she was half a head shorter than Wen Zhixu. Before she left, she asked hesitantly, "Sister, they tried to lock you up here right from the start. You can't see the emperor, and you can't get his favor."

"Don't you hate it?"

Wen Zhixu shook his head: "She was able to rise to the top because of her own means, and the emperor's favor is not for one person."

Shi Da Ying opened her big eyes and looked at Wen Zhixu's beautiful face with a complicated look.

The way he looked at her was like looking at a white lotus of the Virgin Mary.

Wen Zhixu didn't explain and watched her leave with a smile.

After watching her back disappear, he quietly told Siyun: "Stay away from Li Shi in the future."

Siyun didn't understand and asked, "Master, what happened to Shi Da Ying?"

"Nothing." Wen Zhixu shook his head. Shi Da Ying was young and acted too extreme. He did not hide his desire for revenge against Hepin and others in front of the servants.

Siyun can't see it, but she can, so naturally others can see it too.

Wen Zhixu was afraid that she would get into trouble and implicate himself.

He saved her because he couldn't bear to see a life die in front of him, but after he rescued her, whatever she did or what consequences she encountered were none of her business.

She placed her hands on the clean tabletop and tapped the tabletop with her right index finger.

He glanced up and down the Qingzhu Tower and sighed, "It won't be long." Soon, he would have to leave this place and leave this peaceful life.

Qingzhu Tower was the favorite place of the late emperor, and it was also mentioned in the book "Favored Concubine".

No one knows that every year when the first plum blossom blooms, the Emperor will always come to the bamboo forest alone to take a look.

She looked at the wind blowing outside and closed her eyes. The shadow of her eyelashes fell on her white jade face: "After waiting for so long, the plum blossoms are finally about to bloom."

***

Since the last time she served him in bed, Su Qingqiu has caught the Emperor's eye.

The Fengluan Chun'en carriage would go to Chuxiu Palace to pick up Su Changzai every now and then. She was becoming more and more favored and had her own ways. Although the Emperor gradually favored other concubines later, he never neglected her.

Her glory is somewhat comparable to that of Concubine Ning, but the difference is that Concubine Ning is very high-profile and her eyes are almost on the top of her head.

Su Changzai, however, was low-key and well-behaved, and others could not find any fault with her if they wanted to.

Naturally, Concubine Ning was the first one to be jealous of her because she suddenly split up her favor. Seeing her like this, she thought she was easy to bully.

Right now everyone is staying in Kunning Palace where the Imperial Concubine lives. Apart from Changchun Palace, this is the most luxurious and wealthy place in the entire imperial palace. The entire hall is brightly lit with gold and jade. In the center stands an agate lion-button and animal-ear movable ring furnace. On both sides are newly tributed blue and white eight-treasure flat bottles, which contain peonies picked by palace maids early in the morning, with fresh dew still visible on the stamens.

Although Su Changzai was of a low rank, she was favored. She sat on the lowest embroidered cushion, but she did not dare to sit firmly on it and could only touch it a little.

Concubine Ning glanced at the mahogany and jade-inlaid screen behind her and said a few flattering words to it, which made everyone laugh. Then she turned the topic to Su Qingqiu: "I heard that the commotion last night lasted until the early morning. Concubine Su had to take care of the emperor regardless of her own health."

"Although Concubine Su's family is poor, she still has to have some upbringing. It's too ugly for her to pester His Majesty like this." As soon as she said this, everyone could hear the jealousy in her words.

Concubine Yi, who originally thought there was going to be a good show, pouted her lips in boredom. She turned around to get the teacup, but saw that Concubine Uya's face opposite her was blushing.

"You are already over 30 and still behave like this. Who are you pretending for?" Concubine Yi rolled her eyes and couldn't even drink the tea she had received.

She was sitting close to the Imperial Concubine and could hear half of the whisper, so she followed Concubine Yi's gaze and looked in that direction.

She is already in her thirties, but she still looks young. She is not as beautiful as a young girl in her twenties, but she has a unique charm. Uya was just a palace maid in the past, and her family was full of bondservants.

Such a person gave birth to three princes in succession. Even if the sons were not loved by the emperor when they were young, they could still make the emperor think about them often.

Thinking of this, she quietly reached out and touched her belly, with a sad expression. She wanted a child more than anyone else, but she also knew that the emperor would not allow her to give birth to a child with Tong Jia's bloodline.

When he looked up at the young and beautiful women below, who were as beautiful as flowers, his eyes were filled with sadness.

Seeing that Su Changzai ignored her, Ning Guiren was not anxious. She drank a cup of tea slowly and said with a smile: "Besides, how can Su Changzai not share a share of the favor with you sisters?"

"If the Wen family hadn't taken you in back then, you wouldn't be where you are today. How come you've forgotten about me now that you're in such good favor?"

She was good-looking, and when she smiled, her aggressiveness was much less: "Why let my sisters stay in a remote place like Qingzhu Tower?"

After she finished speaking, she still kept that smile on her face and looked carefully at Su Qingqiu's face, not wanting to miss any expression on her face.

Sure enough, when Su Qingqiu, who had been calm just now, heard the word Qingzhu Tower, his expression immediately changed.

What Concubine Ning hated most was that no matter what she said, she always had the same expression, half biting her lip and looking pitiful, as if everyone was bullying her.

Ning Guiren was very satisfied that she had no time to hide her panicked face.

She wanted to continue to scold her, but the Imperial Concubine spoke up and asked, "The Green Bamboo Tower is cool in the summer but can freeze people to death in the winter. Now that autumn has arrived, life must be difficult. Why are there still concubines living there?"

As the imperial concubine spoke, she looked at Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui. At that time, she had a headache when the selection was only halfway through, so many things were left to Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui.

The harem is full, and this year's election is largely to select a concubine for the crown prince. Except for a few very important people who have passed the emperor's eyes, the rest of the people who entered the harem were selected by these two.

Concubine Yi lazily lifted her eyelids. She handed over such a thankless task to Concubine Hui: "Then you have to ask Sister Huifei."

Empress Hui, who had been sitting there silently without saying a word, silently scolded Concubine Ning for being an idiot. Then she raised her head and said, "It seems that there was such a maid, and she was from Wen Yunshu, the Junior Secretary of the Guanglu Temple. At first, that maid was assigned to my palace, but before she arrived, she was taken away by Concubine He."

It was no secret in the harem that Hepin wanted to use Xiunu to consolidate her favor. The imperial concubine raised her chin and asked Hesheli: "What's going on?"

Hepin had climbed to her current position and had seen many ups and downs. She had already thought of how to respond when Concubine Ning spoke: "My Lady, I did move the maid from Qingzhu Tower because she was in poor health and could not serve the emperor."

"A woman with a child cannot serve His Majesty, so I thought about it again and again before moving her to Qingzhu Tower to recuperate." What Hepin said was reasonable and well-founded, and she was able to get around it.

"After all, she is the daughter of the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple. She should be moved out as soon as possible. Otherwise, knowing that their daughter suffers in the harem will hurt the ministers' hearts." The imperial concubine persuaded, "It is better to move the concubine out of Qingzhu Tower."

However, Concubine He refused and sat down slowly holding the hand of the palace maid: "What minister? He's just a third-rank official. There are many third-rank officials in the capital." There are indeed many ministers of the third rank in the capital, but in the past few years, Wen Yunshu has gradually caught the emperor's attention.

Wen Jia was just a peasant before. When the famous Guaerjia family in the capital married him, he was just a poor scholar. It took him more than ten years to climb to his current third-rank position.

No one else dared to say this, except Concubine He, who relied on the fact that she was the daughter of Duke Cheng'en Gabula, not to mention that she had an elder sister, Empress Xiaochengren.

Even if you ignore all these, just look at the fact that the current Crown Prince calls her aunt, the future Emperor.

No matter how willful Concubine He was, she would always be given some face, not to mention that she was just a concubine who had not yet been favored.

***

Why did they endure it even though they hated her? Concubine He understood that although her family background was good, how many women in the harem had a bad family background?

She had no children, and her only child died when he was only three months old.

Now the only one she can rely on is the prince. She is the prince's blood aunt. Based on this relationship, those women will not do anything to him.

"Jade, go to the small kitchen and make some soup yourself overnight and bring it to the Eastern Palace to show your concern as your aunt." The relationship between the prince and her is lukewarm, but as long as the things are delivered, it will be enough for the people outside to see it and the prince will know about it.

Feicui went away immediately. She often did such things and was not unfamiliar with them.

Hepin thought about it and asked someone to invite Su Qingqiu over.

As soon as she saw Su Qingqiu's frail appearance, she became angry: "Look at you now. After all, you are His Majesty's woman. Why did you panic just because Concubine Ning said a few words?"

"I didn't expect Lady Ning to expose this matter. It was only when she was not careful that she revealed her flaws."

Su Qingqiu knew that ever since she became favored, Concubine He had started to be unhappy with her, but now she had to endure it because she had to serve her often.

If you want to be respected by others, you still have to work hard to climb up. Thinking of this, she quietly pinched her sleeves. The expression on her face became even weaker, and tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

"Go back quickly. I feel upset when I see you." Hepin couldn't stand her seductive look, so she waved her hand with an unhappy look on her face.

Su Qingqiu returned to Jingxuan. Before she could get angry, Xiulan started to complain: "Master, this Hepin is really too stingy. You have just been favored, but she wants to show you a stern face every day."

Su Qingqiu sat there, looking at her face in the mirror, and said calmly, "She is a concubine in the palace, and I am just a maid. I can only accept what the mistress has to say."

"Now you are more favored than her. The Emperor sends rewards to our Lijingxuan every day. Who wouldn't be jealous? Why should we endure her anger every day?" Xiulan pointed to the five rosewood painted glass screens, the pink enamel treasure-shaped vase, and the dazzling ivory dressing table with emerald square flat bracelets, jasper seven-treasure exquisite hairpins, and the most valuable thing, a box of black pearls, which had just been sent by the Emperor.

"These are all good things. Your Majesty gave them to the master, which shows that he cares about the master."

Sure enough, when Su Qingqiu heard the name Your Majesty, her pretty face blushed shyly, and she whispered softly: "Your Majesty, you really do love me."

"Xiu Lan, come with me." Thinking of His Majesty, the unpleasantness just now was long forgotten: "I will go to the small kitchen and make two small snacks for His Majesty to taste."

***

"Empress——" Concubine Yi's palace was as exquisite and luxurious as she was.

She propped up her head and half-reclined on the beauty couch, with a maid behind her massaging her shoulders, and a maid kneeling below her massaging her legs. Concubine Yi half-closed her eyes, her profile was extremely well-maintained, and her eyebrows and eyes were delicate.

Her figure after giving birth is even more attractive. Her waist is very thin under the Manchu dress, and her upper body is very well-shaped. Her every move is full of mature charm.

"Whose card did the emperor pick today?" She slowly raised her eyelids, took a milk-hoof grape that was offered as a sacrifice and put it into Hongyan's mouth.

"It's Concubine Su." Concubine Yi's personal maid Biyu stepped forward and said.

"It's that little bitch again." Concubine Yi was outspoken and hated those who pretended to be nice. First, there was Uya who almost fell on her head.

The current Concubine Su is just like this. When Concubine Yi looks at her, it's like she's looking at Concubine De when she was young. It's disgusting.

"What's the situation with the maid who was sent to Qingzhu Tower?" She sent someone to investigate on the way, and she thought they already had a clue.

"It is just as Noble Lady Ning said. It belongs to Lord Wen. It was the master who gave it the sachet that day." It had been so long since the selection of concubines, and Concubine Yi had completely forgotten about it.

Hearing this, she lowered her head and pondered for a few minutes, "I just can't stand Concubine Hui's stupid look. She can't utter a word for a long time. I didn't expect that she would have Concubine Ning by her side now." Concubine Yi turned her face away with a look of disgust.

"Come to think of it, although Concubine Hui herself is not favored, she is good at judging people. This noble lady Ning really catches the eye of His Majesty." When Bilan said this, Concubine Yi rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean by catching His Majesty's eye? How can you surpass me?"

Concubine Yi changed her hand to support her head and snorted through her nose.

Bilan was not afraid, and smiled and said, "That's right, everyone knows that you are the number one in the harem, and your favor has lasted for so many years."

Concubine Yi was finally satisfied with the coaxing. She turned her eyes and thought of something else: "This is also strange. Concubine Hui has a noble lady Ning by her side, and Concubine He also has a concubine Su."

Moreover, these two are the most favored in the harem.

"Ning Guiren's family background and wealth can't move her, so let her be proud for a few days." Concubine Yi calmed down and thought carefully: "And that Su Changzai, like Concubine De, makes me hate her."

"The Wen family took her in, but she managed to get her to the remote place called Qingzhu Tower in the blink of an eye."

"She's just like Uya, an ungrateful bastard who can never be tamed." No one knew what Concubine Yi was thinking of, and there was disgust in her eyes.

"The nameplate that was turned over today is Su Changzai's, right?" Concubine Yi raised her delicate jade hand and placed it on Bilan's hand: "Then I will go over and take a look to see how Su Changzai, who is favored by the emperor, got favored."

"My queen," Bilan didn't know why her master came over at this time, and she was afraid that she would be so rash and end up making things worse.

"I just can't bear to see those who pretend to be good have an easy life, so I'd like to take this opportunity to remind the emperor that there is still a poor concubine in Qingzhu Tower." She lifted her foot to reveal a pair of red Su-faced flower-pot soles inlaid with pearls, which looked noble and luxurious.

"Master, do you intend to give a warning to that Concubine Wen?"

"I am still favored and beautiful, why do I need to be like them and ask others to maintain my favor?" Concubine Yi lifted up her gold and jeweled armor, adjusted the golden hairpin with flowers on her head, and narrowed her narrow eyes.

"Besides, I am not Consort Hui, who looks stupid. My own favor should be in my own hands. What's the point of relying on others?"

"Then the master still wants the maid to come out?" Bilan was confused.

Concubine Yi snorted: "You idiot, I have seen all the concubines one by one, and I have no impression of that Concubine Wen at all, which shows that she is mediocre."

"I let her out. If she has some ability, she will naturally avenge herself, so that I won't have to take action."

"If she is just as stupid, at least she can stop Su Changzai. I am too lazy to look at Su Changzai's face that looks so much like Wu Yashi."

When Bilan heard this, she praised, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Hmm." Concubine Yi smiled complacently: "Come on, let's go to the Yangxin Palace to see the emperor."

Chapter 16

Empress Yifei was in a graceful manner as she rode in a sedan chair to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

The distance from the Yiku Palace to the Hall of Mental Cultivation is not far. After passing through the Chaoshou Corridor and passing Chongxi Gate, Zhisi Gate, and Chunyou Gate, you will reach the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When Concubine Yi's sedan chair passed by the Locust Gate, it happened to meet Su Qingqiu who was walking towards the Palace of Tranquil Longevity with her palace maids. Concubine Yi, who was sitting high on the sedan chair, slightly opened the corners of her half-closed eyes and waved her armored hand to signal the sedan chair to stop.

He supported the handrail of the sedan with one hand, leaned forward slightly and looked down at the person kneeling on the ground: "Get up."

Concubine Yi has three princes and has always been favored by the emperor. When she lowers her eyes to look at people, she always has an innate domineering air: "Chang Su is here, so you are also heading in the direction of the Yangxin Palace?"

"Reporting to Concubine Yi, the Emperor has called my name today." Su Qingqiu lowered his head, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

When Concubine Yi heard this, she narrowed her eyes, snorted softly, and then her hand fell coldly on the hand of Xiulan, the palace maid behind Su Qingqiu.

The latter felt Concubine Yi's gaze and shrank back uncomfortably with his hand holding the food box.

"Let's go." Concubine Yi sneered at the situation, and said in a rather intriguing way, "You are really petty."

"This Concubine Yi is even more overbearing than Concubine He." After Concubine Yi's sedan chair disappeared from view, Xiulan murmured quietly, "You said that the emperor turned over your name card today, but she still went to the Yangxin Palace eagerly."

"Stop talking nonsense," Su Qingqiu turned around and scolded her, gave her a cold look, and exhaled the foul air from her chest: "You also know that she is a concubine, and I am just a concubine."

In an instant, he landed on the food box in Xiulan's hand: "Let's go."

When she walked to the Yangxin Palace, she heard laughter coming from inside when she was about to reach the door. The eunuch guarding the door saw her and hurried down in three or two steps: "Your servant kowtows to Su Changzai, why did you come here by yourself at this time?"

"Today, His Majesty turned over my brand. I just made some cakes myself to offer to His Majesty."

The young eunuch pointed inside the door and said with embarrassment: "Madam Concubine Yi, please come over here. The person has already gone in."

Su Qingqiu heard the occasional noises coming from inside, but she pinched her palms and said to the eunuch guarding the door, "Please go in and tell them."

The young eunuch had no choice but to nod and push the door open. He walked in quietly, approached his master Li Dequan, and reported in a low voice.

Li Dequan was the eunuch who served His Majesty. He was not very old, had a fair complexion and no beard, and looked decent. He was not noticeable at first glance, but his eyes were full of brilliance. He waved his hand and said calmly, "Okay, you can go down."

"The fifth and ninth children have grown up and become sensible. They are reluctant to tell me what's on their mind." Concubine Yi sat beside Kangxi and said coquettishly with a smile, "But the eleventh child, he is already ten years old and still cries to see the emperor every day."

No matter how charming Concubine Yi was, she was always filled with joy when talking about her children.

Kangxi noticed what was happening over there, and patted Concubine Yi's hand to comfort her, but asked, "What's going on?"

Li Dequan quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Su Changzai is waiting at the door."

"Why is she here?" Kangxi frowned, having long forgotten that he had turned over Su Changzai's name card. Li Dequan came forward in time and reminded him softly. Kangxi then said, "Then let her in."

After mentioning the Eleventh Prince a few times, Concubine Yi stopped talking about it so as not to upset His Majesty. She picked up an orange from her hand, peeled it open, and waited for His Majesty to finish speaking before moving forward with a smile on her face.

The orange was brought to Kangxi's mouth, but he didn't open his mouth and just stretched out his hand to take it. Concubine Yi saw it but was not annoyed. She still smiled and said, "Since the emperor turned over the card of sister Su today, I will go back."

She put the remaining peel in her hand into the palm of the maid beside her, took two steps and turned back, her lips curled: "Your Majesty, please don't forget what I just said."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi pinched the orange slice in his hand, turned it between his thumb, and laughed.

***

The autumn wind is cool, and the afterglow of the afternoon sun shines through the big tree outside the window, and the mottled shadows are blown up by the wind.

"The plum blossoms bloomed earlier this year than in previous years." Qingzhu Tower is remote. Walking back, you will reach the corner gate at the corner of the palace wall. There is an abandoned garden in front.

The flowers inside are no worse than those in other places, but they are far away, so naturally no one comes here.

Looking in the direction of Wen Zhixu, Siyun smiled and said, "Master, what kind of plum blossom is this? It's only November and it's starting to bud. In the past, plum blossoms would not bloom until March."

"It's not uncommon for green-calyx plum trees to bloom in early spring or autumn." Wen Zhixu landed on the plum tree in front of him. Pink and white flower buds began to emerge on the vigorous branches.

If it continues to grow like this, the plum blossoms will probably bloom in a few days.

There is a bamboo forest behind the courtyard of Qingzhu Building, with a large area of ​​lush and green bamboos. In front of the building are several plum trees. When it snows, the red flowers on the trees bloom quietly like fireworks, emitting a light and elegant fragrance.

"Probably two or three days." Wen Zhixu thought of the book "Favored Concubine". After Emperor Shunzhi died with his beloved concubine, Kangxi's biological mother also died when he was ten years old.

It is difficult for others to understand the sadness of losing two loved ones in succession.

Qingzhu Tower was originally a place where Emperor Shunzhi enjoyed the cool air. After his death, it gradually became deserted. Kangxi could be said to have a love-hate relationship with Shunzhi and would only come to see it alone every year when the plum blossoms bloomed.

Because it was done in secret, no one knew about this incident even after so many years.

"What do you mean two or three days?" Siyun was curious when she heard it. She leaned in among the plum blossoms, and when she turned around, her clothes touched the branches of the plum blossoms. Wen Zhixu took two steps forward and gently took the branch away from her.

"Nothing." She looked at the flower buds that were about to emerge on the branches, a smile flashed across her half-closed eyes, but her tone was as matter-of-fact as she said, "Of course it's because the plum blossoms will bloom in two or three days."

"We'll wait here every day, and when the flowers bloom we'll pick them and make plum cakes to eat." A pair of smooth, jade-like fingers reached forward, lightly touched the tiny flower bud, and immediately let go.

"Okay, okay, master." Siyun was stunned. Looking at the plum blossoms on the tree, he already thought of the pastries.

The next morning, without waiting for Wen Zhixu's instructions, Siyun went to see the plum blossoms eagerly.

When he came back, his eyes sparkled and he said excitedly, "Master, the plum blossom buds have already emerged overnight. They will probably bloom tomorrow."

"When it opens, I'll give it to the imperial kitchen to make pastries."

She chattered closer to Wen Zhixu, looking excited when talking about pastries. Wen Zhixu gave her the plate of red bean paste cake that had just been delivered from the imperial kitchen and she hadn't had time to touch it yet.

"If you are so greedy, take it and eat it."

Siyun took it with a smile on her face and turned to look for Mianwu.

"Your servant Xiao Yuanzi greets the master." In autumn, the wind is strong in Qingzhu Tower. When the curtains are lifted, a gust of wind will follow. Xiao Yuanzi is young, so the eunuch's clothes are too long for him.

"Get up, this dress doesn't fit you. Take it to Siyun some other day and ask her to alter it for you."

Seeing his master's eyes fall on his clothes, Xiao Yuanzi felt warm in his heart and agreed repeatedly: "Thank you, master, and thank you, Sister Siyun." After that, he looked up and glanced gratefully at Siyun, who had her mouth full of pastries.

"Who told you to look at me like that?" Siyun's mouth was full and he turned around quickly: "Why don't you tell the master what you are here for?"

"Master, Concubine Su is here." Being interrupted, Xiao Yuanzi quickly suppressed the smile on his face and answered.

"That bad woman, she dares to come." Before Wen Zhixu could say anything, Siyun exploded first. She stuffed the plate in her hand into the hands of Mianwu beside her, and then she was about to go out to argue with her.

"Come back." Mian Wu glanced at Wen Zhixu, reached out and grabbed the corner of her clothes as she ran forward.

"Master." Siyun couldn't break free, so she turned around and asked Wen Zhixu.

Wen Zhixu didn't look at her, but only looked at Xiao Yuanzi in front of him: "Where is the person?"

"We are almost at the garden in front. I just passed by the imperial kitchen and saw Su Changzai leading people this way, so I hurried over to report to the master."

"Almost at the garden?" Wen Zhixu blinked, thought for a while and said, "Come on, Siyun, come with me to meet this cousin."

Siyun's face immediately turned from gloomy to bright. She turned sideways to glance at Mianwu, and signaled with her eyes: The master has said so, why don't you let me go.

While answering crisply: "Hey."

***

Before I even reached the Qingzhu Tower, the ground was covered with bamboo leaves. The autumn wind blew the ground all over, making it feel a bit desolate.

As soon as she entered the palace, she bribed the old maid in the palace and found out that this was the most remote place in the entire palace. Although she managed to let Wen Zhixu in, this was her first time here.

"Master, the eldest lady has never liked us since she was in the mansion. Now that she has entered the palace, she is inferior to you in every way. Why bother to come and help her when you are in great favor?" Xiulan followed Su Qingqiu from the declining Su family and was only loyal to her master.

"I know that too." Su Qingqiu pinched her hands in her sleeves. Thinking of the emperor's sudden words after Concubine Yi left that day, she panicked.

After all, Wen Zhixu is still the legitimate daughter of the Wen family. She can suppress her for a while, but not for a lifetime.

Moreover, Su Qingqiu also knew that although she was favored now, her family background was there after all, and it would be more difficult for her to improve her status than ordinary people.

Just look at the good master and you will know that no matter how beautiful a person from Xinzheku is or how much he is favored by the Emperor, given her family background, even if she gives birth to a prince, she is just a noble.

What's more, Concubine Yi no longer likes her, and she has offended Concubine He because of her competition for favor. She is just waiting for these people to crush her to death with just one finger after she falls out of favor.

"Let's go, don't say anything else." Su Qingqiu sighed and turned to look at the plum blossoms that were about to bloom in the yard.

After walking a few steps, Xiulan stopped and pointed in front of her and said, "Master, look." In fact, Su Qingqiu had already seen it without her pointing.

In the place where the plum blossoms were in full bloom, Wen Zhixu was walking slowly towards her with Siyun.

If I didn't understand the four words "lotus blossoms step by step" before, I know it now. Wen Zhixu was wearing a plain Manchu dress, with a faint emerald green color, like the clear lake water or the tender leaves stained with dew.

So clear, so fresh.

The outside of the dress was covered with a layer of gauze, and large lotus leaves were embroidered from the hem of the skirt. The large emerald green leaves had branches that rose straight up, and a half-opened pink lotus flower emerged, and there was another flower that had its head slightly peeking out, about to bloom.

The owner of the clothes had light makeup on her face, and her facial features were delicate and beautiful in every way.

Below the long and thin eyebrows are a pair of eyes with upturned ends, with a faint pink tint between the narrow and long eyes, like the shimmering light of a half-drunk person, with a charming hook that can capture people's hearts at first sight.

Her figure was also very good, with the bulge on her upper body high and a thin waist. Even though her Manchu dress was not slim-fitting, her movements were large when she walked, so you could vaguely see it.

It fits in one hand, with smooth and curved lines.

Wen Zhixu looked at her with indifferent eyes.

Su Qingqiu's eyes also fell on her face. She felt that after a few months, this man was still the same as before. One glance could make a woman feel a sense of crisis. She shook her lower lip and called softly, "Sister."

"My cousin is in favor now, and our lady cannot bear this title."

"Besides, I haven't seen my cousin for a few months, but I know where the Qingzhu Tower is." Siyun is a person who says whatever she wants. She is always offensive as soon as she opens her mouth, and there is no kindness in her words.

Su Qingqiu didn't respond to her words. She just looked at Wen Zhixu with a pair of eyes half filled with tears: "Sister, do you think the same thing in your heart? You misunderstood me like this."

She looked so pitiful that Wen Zhixu's eyes, which were originally looking at the flowers, were drawn to her face.

He didn't say anything, but his eyes were full of interest.

"Sister...you really didn't misunderstand." Su Qingqiu couldn't bear being stared at naked like this. She wanted to turn around and leave but she didn't have the courage.

When she thought of Concubine Yi's quick-witted nature, she was really afraid that she would get Wen Zhixu out. Concubine He was now displeased with her, and if one day she was the one who found a way to keep Wen Zhixu here, it was not difficult for her to imagine what would happen.

"Su Changzai is now deeply loved by the emperor, so I really don't deserve to be called your sister." Wen Zhixu came from a Jiangnan water town like Suzhou, and she spoke in a soft Wu dialect with a sticky taste.

Such a sarcastic remark was spoken in a gentle and soft voice, and others would never be able to learn it.

"I have always been thinking about the relationship between my sister and me in the mansion. Knowing that my sister was arranged here, I always wanted to ask the imperial concubine to move my sister out."

"When the time comes, my sister will live with me in Lijingxuan, and I can talk to her about my innermost feelings when I miss home. But the head of the first palace I am in now is a domineering one, and I am really afraid of it." Su Qingqiu said, shrinking his body backwards.

"But I still think about my sister all the time in my heart." She was small in stature and had a pretty and delicate appearance, so this action made it seem as if Wen Zhixu was bullying her.

Kangxi came at this time. He came from the corner wall, wearing ordinary clothes and only brought Li Dequan with him. There was a pavilion between the corner wall and the small garden, and opposite it were clusters of plum blossoms.

As long as people don't speak near the pavilion, no one will notice them for a while.

He was standing by the pavilion, and could see clearly the movements of the two women opposite him. Wen Zhixu leaned sideways, revealing half of her face. Although Kangxi had been looking at women since he was a child, at this time he was at a distance and there were many plum blossoms blocking his view.

I can't tell from his appearance, but judging from his mentality, his speech and behavior are good.

"Your Majesty, it's Concubine Su." Li Dequan lowered his head slightly and replied sideways: "The other one looks like a young lady, but she looks unfamiliar."

"If you ask me," Kangxi knew that the women in the palace did some shady things in secret to win favor.

The folding fan in his hand knocked on her head: "Keep your voice down."

Kangxi thought of Concubine Yi, and came to tell him that day that a young lady had been arranged to stay in Qingzhu Tower this year. Later, he heard from Li Dequan that the plum blossoms had bloomed early this year, and buds had already appeared.

He was worried about it, so he brought Li Dequan over.

I didn't alarm anyone along the way, but I saw this scene as soon as I arrived.

The plum blossoms beside the pavilion moved very slightly. Wen Zhixu glanced at them, took a few steps back and turned his back to the pavilion, revealing Su Qingqiu's entire body.

"I was assigned to this Qingzhu Tower as soon as I entered the palace. Half a year has passed, and this is the first time my sister has come here."

Wen Zhixu half lowered his head and looked into her eyes.

"Are you blaming me, sister?" Su Qingqiu cried, "I came here to find a way to take you out, so please don't blame me."

"This Qingzhu Tower is quite nice to live in," Wen Zhixu said, not buying it, and pointed out something: "Except that the people in the imperial kitchen didn't know who told them to stop charging, everything else is pretty good."

Su Qingqiu's originally crying expression froze, and her eyes widened and looked unnatural when she heard about the imperial kitchen.

He laughed dryly twice and said hesitantly, "Sister is so beautiful, it is only a matter of time before she can receive the favor of His Majesty. Why should she continue to stay here and suffer?"

Su Qingqiu was already timid when she heard the imperial kitchen. Wen Zhixu took a few steps forward and leaned close to her ear. His voice was as low as a spring and firm: "I don't care whether you are favored or not, but the people in the Imperial Kitchen took down my green card. I don't know if you know about this."

When Su Qingqiu heard this, he suddenly looked up.

Seeing Wen Zhixu's calm but knowing expression, her crystal clear eyes completely exposed her astonishment and fear, as well as the pitiful look that was not well disguised but had no time to clean up.

"You knew it was me from the beginning." Su Qingqiu asked.

Wen Zhixu's expression was as if he was looking at a clown. What Su Qingqiu feared most was that others looked down on her. The person opposite her knew everything, so what she had just done might be just an act in her eyes.

As expected, Wen Zhixu looked at her coldly and shook his head: "I don't know what you are talking about, but I feel that this place doesn't look like a garden, but more like a theater."

Su Qingqiu's eyes narrowed when he heard this.

When he spoke again, he was no longer polite, and his expression was no longer weak and vulnerable: "Since you know, why are you still dealing with me like this?"

"What evil intentions did you have to make me look so ugly?"

"Yes," Wen Zhixu spoke in a normal tone to ensure that the people at the pavilion could hear him. "But I am curious. You have been comparing yourself to me in every way since we were in the mansion. Now that you have entered the palace, you are trying to keep me away from you. Why is that?"

"Why?" Su Qingqiu smiled miserably and fell back.

"You just arrived, and everyone has to give way to you in everything. I have served the old lady wholeheartedly for two years, but it is not as important as a word from you, a granddaughter I have never met. Why do you think I am so important?"

"Is it because of these? You have been trying to get me to this remote Qingzhu Tower since you entered the palace?" Wen Zhixu frowned. He had always felt that Su Qingqiu was stingy, but he didn't know he was so petty.

She continued with the formula: "What good will this do you?"

"Of course it's because you're an eyesore and blocking my way." Since the relationship was exposed, Su Qingqiu no longer concealed it and sneered, "Not only that, I also want you to be unable to leave for the rest of your life, and it would be best if you die of old age in the palace."

Su Qingqiu was filled with anger. After he finished speaking, he turned around and left, as if he didn't want to stay any longer.

Wen Zhixu never turned around. He just stood there quietly, watching the figure in front of him disappear, then turned sideways and walked towards the bamboo forest.

Kangxi came out of the pavilion only after no one was in the garden. He had listened to the conversation between the two just now, and now he was standing where Wen Zhixu had just stood, with the tip of his nose filled with the clear and elegant scent of plum blossoms.

"Your Highness." Li Dequan pointed at the handkerchief hanging on the plum tree. Kangxi stepped forward and took it down. A unique fragrance immediately came from the handkerchief. There was only a small lotus embroidered on the white satin.

"This handkerchief is so simple and elegant, I wonder which lady it belongs to." Li Dequan saw Kangxi's eyes looking straight at the handkerchief, and he also knew a little bit of the emperor's thoughts: "From what I saw just now, he seems to be a person with a good temper and a good character."

Kangxi smiled, took the whole handkerchief into his palm, raised his foot and walked forward, saying: "Your behavior is neither humble nor arrogant, which is indeed a good one."

Thinking of Su Changzai, who was completely different from when she was with him, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Where are you going, Your Majesty? Why don't you wait for your servant?" Li Dequan smiled and pretended to be stunned before quickly following.

"I will return the handkerchief to its owner." Kangxi was tall and walked quickly. He left Li Dequan behind after just two steps.

Look at the direction, it is clearly heading towards Qingzhu Tower.

Chapter 17 The Emperor's Woman

Kangxi took this road to Qingzhu Tower every year.

He had witnessed how this place went from prosperity to desolation and decay over the years. The Qingzhu Tower gradually became the most remote place in the entire palace, and there was not even a servant walking in the middle of the road.

Bamboo leaves can be seen everywhere, piled up to one finger high. When you walk on them, you can immediately hear a rustling sound.

Kangxi stopped only when he reached the door.

The small building in front of me is no longer what I remembered. The originally abandoned place has been carefully cleaned. Although it is still filled with a sense of depression, the clean yard, the polished lotus pot at the door, and the plum tree in bloom leaning against the door frame.

Everything has changed.

It's the same as before, but also different than before.

He stood at the door and didn't go in, just looked inside, his eyes slightly gloomy and a hint of obscurity flashed between his eyes.

Li Dequan stood behind him and felt the weirdness coming from the quiet atmosphere.

The emperor's thoughts were hard to guess, so even if he was a close friend, he could only speak cautiously: "Your Majesty, this young lady inside looks really good."

No one understands His Majesty's feelings about this place better than Li Dequan.

Hearing this, Kangxi finally put away the complicated expression on his face, and nodded in a hoarse voice with a hint of obscurity: "Of course it's a good one."

This was the second time Kangxi had praised someone this time, and what was rare was that he was praising the same person.

After he said that, he walked inside, and Li Dequan, who was following behind him, hurriedly followed.

Halfway through the journey, he raised his head again and looked into the yard, thinking to himself that the young lady who had not yet appeared inside was a blessed person. With this friendship, as long as he did not commit suicide, good days were still ahead.

The innate dignity of an emperor cannot be easily concealed even if he wears ordinary clothes.

As soon as the two men walked in, the servants in the yard knelt on the ground. The servants all disliked such a remote place where it was difficult to make a name for themselves, and no one had ever thought that the emperor would come one day.

Kangxi entered the main hall and sat on the armchair that Wen Zhixu often sat on. The paint on both corners of the small low cabinet next to him had peeled off. The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not even bother to replace it, and just sent it to him without even repairing it.

After all, she was his woman. Although Kangxi had long forgotten that he had such a beautiful girl, he could not bear to see the people in the Imperial Household Department being so perfunctory.

A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and when he raised his hand, he saw the thumb-sized fox on the small cabinet.

Smart eyes, delicate and cute.

He picked it up and took a look. Although this little thing was small and delicate, its features were really exquisite.

It is only the size of half a finger, but the eyebrows and eyes are portrayed vividly and delicately.

Through the fox, I seemed to see such a charming woman, and thought of the figure that flashed by in the small garden and was blocked by the plum blossoms.

He stroked the little fox's eyebrows up and down with his thumb, then turned his head to look at the servant on the ground: "Where is your master? Ask her to come see me."

The one kneeling on the ground in the front was Xiao Yuanzi. His hands and feet were shaking with excitement since the Emperor came in.

He has a pleasing appearance and is also smart. He was the first one to recognize the emperor even though others did not. This was all thanks to the fact that he had seen the emperor from afar when he was sweeping the imperial garden before.

I didn't expect that even though I was assigned to a place like Qingzhu Tower with no future, that one day the Emperor would come to me on his own.

"Reply...Reply to His Majesty, our master...our master has gone to the small garden." He was so excited that his voice was shaking. He was afraid that His Majesty would despise him, so he knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously.

Li Dequan was afraid that his appearance, which had never been seen before, would offend His Majesty, so he quickly walked over, put his hand around his neck, lifted him up, and said a few words: "His Majesty is here in person, go and find your master."

Xiao Yuanzi secretly prayed in his heart that his ancestors could bless him. A look of ecstasy appeared on his face and he kowtowed heavily, then quickly went out to find his master.

The servants were kneeling in the room, trembling at their master. Kangxi felt a little annoyed and quickly waved his hand to let them leave.

After the room was empty, he looked around the room. The whole room was neatly and elegantly decorated. In front of the room stood a pair of enamel Tai Ping elephant table lamps, a rosewood five-character screen with dragons and phoenixes, and a pair of gold ingot-shaped happiness lamps on the table.

On the desk were a few books, a pair of copper paperweights, a rosewood stand, and a green jade pen holder with a few brushes in it.

None of them are good things, but the layout is also elegant.

Kangxi walked over, picked up the book that was upside down on the table and took a look. After a few glances, he realized that it was a play excerpt. Just as he was about to put it back as it was, he heard footsteps at the door.

I saw a woman in plain Manchu dress walking in slowly, holding the hand of a maid.

The petite girl looked particularly delicate. The Manchu dress she wore made her waist more than half a palm too big. Her face was delicate, but Kangxi had so many concubines in his harem, and there were many beautiful women. She was pretty, but she didn't really amaze him.

Moreover, Kangxi frowned and looked her up and down. Her behavior was not generous and decent, but rather timid.

It was different from what he had expected, and Kangxi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"Your concubine, Mrs. Shi, pays homage to His Majesty." Although Mrs. Shi was young, she was in good health after a serious illness. She walked like a willow in the wind. She needed someone to support her after taking a few steps. She was so frail that she looked like she could faint at any time.

"Get up." Kangxi waved his hand. The person in front of him was indeed different from what he had imagined. "Will you agree to Shi?"

Shi Da Ying half lowered his head, not daring to look at the emperor in front of him, and responded softly.

Although she had agreed to the appointment with His Majesty early on, it was her first time meeting the Emperor. She was so shy that she didn't dare to look him in the eye.

"Have you been living here since early morning?"

"Your Majesty, yes." He lowered his head and chest, and his voice became much softer.

Kangxi had no idea how many times he had seen Vino's personality before, but he felt unconsciously that he was probably overthinking it. He had only heard a few words from the pavilion and thought he was a rare and clear-minded person.

The interest in his eyes was also reduced a lot, and he asked: "Get up and answer the question, where did you go just now?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty just went to the small garden at the back." Wen Zhixu told her after she recovered from her illness. She had been lying in bed for more than a month due to a serious illness, and her body was not fully developed yet, so she should go out for a walk when she had time.

It only takes a cup of tea to get to the small garden from here. She didn't go in. It was enough to walk back and forth twice a day.

Today, as soon as I came back from the small garden, I heard the servants say that the His Majesty had arrived. Although I found it unbelievable, the servants did not dare to talk nonsense. They tentatively came in to take a look. Although the man was in casual clothes, his imperial dignity was hard to ignore. Even the slightest blink of his eyes could make people's heart beat faster.

Shi Da Ying did not enter the small garden, and had no idea what had happened. She thought that the Emperor came here on a whim, or else she was lucky, as she had been bullied and almost lost her life since she entered the palace, and now God was finally on her side this time.

Shi Da Ying tried hard to suppress his joy, but he was too timid to look up, and the original interest in Kangxi's eyes gradually faded away.

Kangxi looked at the people below, stood up and said in a deep voice: "I see that you are not in good health, and Qingzhu Tower is too remote and not suitable for recuperation. You should move to the East Six Palaces."

Li Dequan stepped forward and said, "I will give the order myself."

Upon hearing that he could leave here and move to the East Six Palaces, Shi Da Ying felt happy in his heart. Although he was still afraid, he was still curious and tentatively raised his head to look at the man in front of him.

When her eyes met his, her pale face immediately turned red.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." There was love in her eyes, and shyness in her every move.

"You should take good care of yourself. I will come to see you when you are well again." Kangxi subconsciously said a few words to comfort him, then walked out with Li Dequan.

Shi Da Ying stayed where he was, staring blankly at the figure in front of him.

After His Majesty left, the maid beside her excitedly grabbed Shi's hand and said, "My Lord, the Emperor is really here, he is really here, and he said he wants to move you out of this place."

"Your hard times are finally over."

Shi Da Ying was not as excited as her. He lowered his head with a blushing face. All he could think about was how the Emperor had just looked at him with a smile on his face.

She raised her hand and touched her face quietly, and began to worry about her makeup today and whether the clothes she wore were too plain.

***

When Kangxi left Qingzhu Tower, the expression on his face was no longer as happy as when he came. The handkerchief was still in his arms. Just now, Shi Da Ying had been keeping his head down, and he saw that he was bored, so he did not take it out.

Just one look at her made me feel so shy. If I took out a handkerchief myself, wouldn't my whole body turn red?

Thinking of this, he shook his head: "Seeing is believing."

Li Dequan had followed Kangxi for so many years that he could still guess a little bit of His Majesty's thoughts. Upon hearing this, he dared not say a word and just followed him.

After walking through the corridor and passing the corner wall, there was a narrow circular archway two steps ahead. Just as Kangxi stepped in, someone came out from inside the door. The two of them went in and out at the same time and bumped into each other with a bang.

"Like a cloud—"

"Bold—"

The voices of Wen Zhixu and Li Dequan sounded at the same time. Kangxi first glanced at the palace maid who bumped into his chest. He saw that she was covering her nose with her mouth half open, with a dazed expression on her face, obviously she had not yet come to her senses.

Then he turned his head and looked at the other place where the voice came from.

The person was wearing a light green dress, which revealed a bit of agility in her beauty. The lotus flowers embroidered on the hem of her skirt were delicate. The person put her hands in front of her body, and when the wind blew, her clothes fluttered, graceful and light.

Looking up, there is a delicate and beautiful face. The small face is the size of a palm, the facial features are as soft as jade, the skin is clear and white, and the pair of sparkling eyes are clean and clear.

There is charm in her eyes without her realizing it, and the upturned corners of her eyes are slightly charming, but also have a bit of innocence that shows she is ignorant of the world.

He tilted his head slightly when looking at himself, his eyes showing curiosity, but also fear and vigilance.

Perhaps her eyes were too revealing, she frowned slightly and turned her body to the side unnaturally to avoid his gaze.

Only the pair of ears, as white as jade, were gradually turning pink.

"How dare you! Don't look at our young master." Siyun covered his nose which was hit. Facing two strangers, he was naturally afraid as he didn't know their identities.

He quickly ran to Wen Zhixu and blocked Kangxi's gaze.

"You are the bold one, do you know..." Upon hearing this, Li Dequan hurried forward and scolded him, but Kangxi stretched out his hand in time to stop him from saying anything.

"Cough..." He covered his lips, coughed, and said uncomfortably: "I, I didn't mean to offend you, may I ask which young lady I offended?"

"Our master is the emperor's Concubine Wen, you...you should leave immediately." The Qingzhu Tower is too far away from the harem. Normally, no one comes here. Siyun has never seen the emperor before.

Kangxi had deliberately changed into casual clothes today. When he spoke, Siyun thought that perhaps some gentleman or prince had gone to the wrong place.

"Wen Changzai?" Kangxi muttered to himself, and then thought of the person he had just caught a glimpse of. He felt that he looked somewhat familiar, but he could not remember who she was.

When he wanted to look up again, he was blocked by the palace maid.

"Concubine Wen, is Wen Yunshu from Lord Wen's family?" Kangxi thought about the ministers around him with the surname Wen. It seemed that someone had said that Wen Yunshu's daughter had also reached the age for selection.

But, the one who was sent here, is it the legitimate daughter first or the illegitimate daughter who came later?

Thinking of this, Kangxi's eyes, which had been gentle just now, turned cold. He signaled to Li Dequan beside him, who hurriedly stepped forward and whispered in his ear: "It's the one born by Mrs. Guaerjia, who just came back from Suzhou less than half a year ago."

After hearing this, Kangxi's eyes finally calmed down again.

I looked again at the place that was blocked by the clouds. I couldn't see the figure but I could still see the light green hem of the skirt.

A touch of light green blew over with the wind, like a cat's paw scratching his heart again and again. It didn't hurt, but it felt itchy.

"This is the important area of ​​the harem, you'd better leave quickly." Wen Zhixu spoke while hiding behind Siyun. The voice of a woman from the water town was particularly soft. Perhaps she knew her voice was too soft, so she deliberately made it a little harder.

Kangxi did not answer him, but only asked: "Does Changzai live in Qingzhu Tower?"

"What's wrong with our young lady living in Qingzhu Tower?" Siyun was so anxious that she seemed to be about to jump up and down when she didn't see the two strange men leaving. Women in the harem are not allowed to see outsiders. If they were seen by others, she didn't know how to explain it.

"Siyun, stop talking nonsense." Wen Zhixu scolded in a low voice, but there was no strong sense of blame in her tone. Her maid was not afraid when she heard it, obviously because her master treated her very well.

"You live in the Green Bamboo House. I guess you seem to have lost your way. Just walk a few steps forward, out of the bamboo forest, and then turn right and you will be out."

After a while, Wen Zhixu spontaneously walked out from behind Siyun, lowering his head so that only half of his face could be seen, and his clothes fluttered in the breeze: "After you go out, find a young eunuch to ask for directions. This is for the harem to avoid getting lost in the future."

"I still have to go back, please do as you please, sir."

Having said that, he walked forward with the palace maid.

Kangxi didn't say anything, just kept looking at her with a smile in his eyes. He happened to be blocking the door, and if the master and servant wanted to pass through, he had to make way.

"grown ups--"

A clear voice like glass was heard, and the delicate scent of plum blossoms wafted through my nose.

Kangxi thought of the fact that Wen Changzai had just been bullied in the garden, and then looked at the person bowing his head in front of him, and couldn't help but have a bad idea: "If I don't let her go, then what?"

"The world is going downhill, so please don't be so arrogant, sir."

When Kangxi lowered his head, he could see Wen Zhixu's two jade-like hands tightly intertwined together, with their fingers interlocked, obviously very nervous.

Just when he was about to soften his heart and wanted to step aside, Wen Zhixu spoke.

A pair of eyes did not dare to look at him, but looked into the distance through the round door, and said firmly but with a trembling ending: "Even if the master does not want to let us go, we have to let us go."

Although it was obviously scared, it still resisted, like a premature kitten that showed its claws at people and looked ferocious.

"Oh?" Kangxi's eyes were full of smiles, and he lowered his head slightly: "Why is that?"

"Because I am the emperor's woman."

Chapter 18 The Emperor Summons

Yanxi Palace

Not long after that day, someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came and respectfully and efficiently moved Wen Zhixu and Shi Changzai into the Yanx Palace.

Because the Yanx Palace was located in a remote area, no one had lived there before. Now Wen Zhixu and Shi Ying had moved in. Now there were only two of them in the entire palace, so it was a great advantage that they had the leisure and quietness to enjoy it.

Perhaps someone had instructed her to do so, as the entire Yanx Palace had been redecorated before she came. This time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was doing the job, and the good things that could be seen everywhere were not arranged luxuriously, but rather had a sense of warmth and elegance.

Wen Zhixu was originally a concubine and could not live in the main seat of the palace, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly moved her things to the main hall: "The Yanxi Palace has not been lived in for many years, and many places need to be repaired."

"It took us over a month of hard work and night work to get it like this. If you are satisfied with the place, we won't feel tired."

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs bowed his head and pointed upwards: "As for you living in the main seat, it is an order from above, and we servants are just following orders."

Like clouds and cotton mist, nothing is understood, only Wen Zhixu knows.

The concubine moved into the main palace. The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not dare to make decisions on its own regarding such a big matter. Naturally, it was the Emperor who had specifically ordered it. Since he had made such a request, Wen Zhixu would naturally not delay it.

Moreover, she had already prepared herself mentally, knowing that this time she would be moved to the palace first and then would serve in the emperor's bedchamber.

"Master, we have finally made it. Although the Yanx Palace is a little far away, we may be moved to a better place in the future if the emperor approves." Little Yuanzi was fiddling with the charcoal fire on the ground. The red charcoal was specially sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the two braziers made the room warm.

Ever since he moved to the palace, he has always had a smile on his face.

Although the master has not officially slept with him yet, the servants who have lived in the palace for a long time are smart enough to smell some clues. These days, even when they go to the imperial kitchen to pick up food, they can't help but try to curry favor with him.

From little Yuanzi, to Eunuch Yuan, there are even some sweet-mouthed people who directly call him Brother Yuan.

"It's pretty good here." Wen Zhixu shook his head when he heard that.

"Master, what's so good about this place? It's so far away from the Palace of Tranquil Longevity." Siyun didn't know that the man that day was the Emperor. Although she was curious about why the master was suddenly moved to another palace, she thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so she gave up thinking about it.

But she had also gone out to inquire these few days, and she knew a little about where the emperor's concubines lived. Although the Yanx Palace was much better than the Qingzhu Tower, it was really too far away from the emperor's Qianqing Palace and Yangxin Palace.

"It's quiet here with fewer people, I quite like it." Wen Zhixu was lying down and watching a play, with the freshest pomelo sent by the Imperial Household Department at hand. Perhaps the Imperial Household Department had heard something about it, and was trying hard to curry his favor.

Wen Zhixu looked at Xiao Yuanzi and Siyun beside him, turned a page of the play in his hand, and asked Mianwu, who had been silent behind him, "What do you think?"

"I think it's good too." Mian Wu picked up the white jade plate on the side and took the seeds from Wen Zhixu's mouth.

Siyun asked, "Why?"

"It's indeed far from the Yangxin Palace, but..." Mian Wu laughed, "But it's close to the Imperial Study. The Emperor spends most of his time in the Imperial Study. So why should the Master worry about being far from the Emperor if he lives in the Yanxi Palace?"

Wen Zhixu lazily flipped through the book in his hand, and smiled when he heard it: "Don't judge things by appearances, you all need to learn from Mian Wu."

Just as Siyun and Xiao Yuanzi responded, footsteps were heard at the door.

Shi Da Ying came over at some point. After hearing the news, she walked in holding the hand of a palace maid and said, "Sister is really amazing." She stood at the door, and the palace maids lifted the curtain to let in a gust of wind.

Although Shi Da Ying's winter coat was thick, his curves were revealed when the wind blew, and he really didn't have much flesh on his body.

"Sister Shi is here, come in quickly." Wen Zhixu put down the book in his hand as soon as he saw her, stretched out his hand and waved at her.

Siyun quickly brought a rusty stool and placed it next to the brazier. She lived in a side hall close to the brazier, and she was wearing a cloak so it was not too cold when she walked all the way.

Shi agreed to take the hot water bottle that Wen Zhixu handed to her, and while warming her hands, she looked at Wen Zhixu who was sitting in front of her.

She was wearing simple winter clothes, and perhaps because she was afraid of the cold, she huddled up on the rosewood carved armchair. She was wearing an exquisite and elegant plain Manchu dress with soft white fox fur on the collar.

Probably because she had just come in and brought in a gust of wind, Wen Zhixu curled up in her collar, with only half of her charming face exposed. The skin on her face was even more crystal clear and delicate than the fur on her collar. Her delicate little face was huddled in the white fur, revealing a pair of bright eyes.

The furnishings in the house are all good, including a large rosewood screen in front and a pair of sweet white porcelain placed casually in the corner.

They are all daughters born into large families, so naturally they know these good things.

Although she was envious, she was not jealous: "Sister, this decoration is really beautiful." There were only two of them in the Yanxi Palace, and her position was not as high as Wen Zhixu's. Of course, the main seat was rotated to Wen Zhixu, so she really couldn't be jealous.

Just thinking of the gentle and kind Emperor that day, Shi Da Ying's heart began to ripple again.

She thought that Sister Wen had saved her life, but she had helped Sister Wen leave Qingzhu Tower. If they wanted to survive in the harem in the future, they would need to support each other.

As soon as she arrived at the door, she heard Wen Zhixu instructing the servants. Only then did she realize that the Yanxi Palace was so close to the Emperor.

Thinking that he probably did that for her sake, Shi Da Ying's face began to blush with embarrassment.

She couldn't hear what Wen Zhixu said to her.

***

There are no secrets in the harem, and what the Emperor does will soon be known to everyone.

What's more, the emperor personally ordered the renovation of the Yanx Palace and moved the two beauties from the Qingzhu Tower there, which was such a big thing.

"My lord, you only mentioned it to the emperor, but I didn't expect that the emperor really listened to it and took your words to heart." Bilan, the personal maid of Concubine Yi, stood behind her and gently rubbed her shoulders.

"I don't know what the characters of those two beauties are like. They have been moved there for a few days but the emperor hasn't summoned them to have sex with him."

Concubine Yi has been with the Emperor for so many years, so naturally she is not afraid of just two concubines.

Hearing this, he didn't even raise his eyelids: "Every three years, a new batch of beauties will appear in the harem. The emperor can only enjoy some freshness for a while at most."

After the novelty wore off, they no longer paid attention to it, and in the end, it was still the old people like them who accompanied them.

"That's right. In the past few years, the emperor has only had his eyes on a concubine, a noble lady." Noble Lady Liang's status was so low that even if she gave birth to the eighth prince, she was still just a noble lady.

Concubine Mi is young and favored but not arrogant. She just gave birth to the fifteenth prince the year before last and is now pregnant again. She stays in the palace all day and never comes out. Concubine Yi thinks she is well-behaved and has never been troubled by her.

"So what if she gave birth to a child? Nowadays, every concubine has been with the emperor for more than ten years."

Even if you want to climb to the position of a concubine, it depends on whether you have the ability.

"Even if the two people in Yanxi Palace are favored, they can't cause any big waves. It's the people in Chuxiu Palace that make me disgusted."

"That bitch Hepin is against me, and at the same time she's trying to seduce the emperor by imitating me."

"And the one in Lijingxuan looks exactly like that bitch of Wuya when she was young. Her expression and appearance are exactly the same." Concubine Yi twisted the handkerchief in her hand fiercely, "One day, I will get rid of those two annoying people."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Eleventh Prince's wet nurse came over. The Eleventh Prince was only ten years old this year and was at the age of being naughty.

Although Concubine Yi gave birth to the Fifth and Ninth Princes first, she doted on the youngest, the Eleventh Prince. Upon hearing this, she quickly asked, "Why are you here? What happened to the Eleventh Prince?"

The Eleventh Prince is young, and a half-grown child is at the age of being naughty. His biological mother is Concubine Yi, and he has two older brothers. He is also favored by the Emperor, so he is really lawless in this imperial palace.

The eunuchs and maids were unable to persuade him, but the wet nurse who had been with him since childhood was able to say a few words.

Therefore, when Concubine Yi saw the Eleventh Prince's wet nurse coming, she felt that the Eleventh Prince was in trouble.

The wet nurse had been with the Eleventh Prince for a long time, so she naturally knew that the Empress was thinking in the wrong direction. Upon hearing this, she quickly knelt down and said, "The Eleventh Prince did not cause any trouble. It was this servant who failed to keep an eye on him for a moment, and the eunuch who accompanied him actually let him eat a few more chestnut cakes in order to please him."

"Eleventh Prince was a bit greedy, he ate little for lunch, and he also ate a lot of wind when he went to the study early in the morning."

The wet nurse looked at Concubine Feng Yi nervously and said with difficulty: "The eleventh prince has a stomachache now, and I have called the imperial physician."

"I know I am guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty." The wet nurse knelt down tremblingly as she spoke.

When Concubine Yi heard this, her face changed drastically: "Drag that little eunuch out and give him fifty lashes of the cane." Concubine Yi's eyes were filled with anger because he had harmed her child.

The wet nurse opened her mouth to plead for the young eunuch. The young eunuch was new and the same age as the Eleventh Prince. If he was beaten with fifty lashes of the cane, wouldn't that be the end of his life?

But thinking that he was still kneeling here and Concubine Yi had not yet made any severe punishment on him, he did not dare to meddle in other people's affairs.

Concubine Yi looked at the kneeling nurse with complicated eyes, but she didn't punish her in the end: "I will deduct three months' salary from you. Get up first."

She was naturally angry about the wet nurse's negligence, but she still thought about the fact that she was the daughter of the Eleventh Prince. Besides, no one knew her own son better than her. She was fine in other aspects, except that he was a little greedy.

"Bilan went to the Yangxin Palace to invite His Majesty to come. Come with me to take a look."

Concubine Yi was anxious, and went outside after she finished speaking. It was so windy outside that she almost forgot to put on her cloak.

Bilan ran all the way to the Yangxin Palace. The eunuch guarding the gate recognized her as the senior palace maid serving Concubine Yi. He did not dare to fool her and hurried in to invite Li Dequan out.

Bilan was arrogant in front of others, but when she saw Li Dequan, she quickly bowed and said, "Eunuch Li, the eleventh prince has a stomachache and is calling for the imperial physician."

"Our queen is worried, so she asked this servant to come and ask His Majesty to go and take a look."

The eleventh prince was deeply loved by the emperor, and Li Dequan did not dare to delay and nodded and hurried in to report. In the hall, Kangxi was reading a memorial, and when he saw him come in, he put it down and stretched out his hand to pinch the corner of his eye: "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, the maidservant beside Concubine Yi just reported that the Eleventh Prince has a stomachache and the imperial physician has been called." Li Dequan bent over and looked in the direction of Your Majesty.

Kangxi put down his hand, frowned and stood up: "Stomachache?" It was cold and windy in winter, and the Eleventh Prince was just a half-grown child.

Kangxi stood up and threw the memorial on the table: "You servants are useless."

At his words, all the servants in the palace knelt down with a snap. Kangxi got off the throne and walked out. Li Dequan hurriedly followed him and advised: "Your Highness, don't worry. The imperial physician has already gone. I don't think it's a big deal."

Kangxi walked forward on his own, and soon told Li Dequan beside him: "Tell Concubine He that I will not be coming over tonight."

***

Ever since His Majesty brought the two beauties from Qingzhu Tower to the Yanx Palace more than a month ago, Concubine He felt that His Majesty was deliberately distancing himself from her.

In the past, no matter how serious a crime I had committed, the Emperor would not stay away from me for more than a month for the sake of the Crown Prince's face. At the very least, he would come to Chuxiu Palace to sit down.

She sent people to invite the Emperor four or five times, but each time the Emperor was busy. Even Zai Si realized that the Emperor was deliberately not coming. She thought about what she had done recently and connected it to moving the two beauties out of Qingzhu Tower.

Hepin knew that this was probably because the Emperor had discovered what she had done.

Not only did she blame the nosy Concubine Yi, but she also wondered how she could have been discovered if she hadn't gone to the Emperor and told him nonsense.

"She has been at odds with me since she entered the palace, and she always wants to interfere in everything." Concubine Yi has been favoring me for many years. If it weren't for her powerful mother's family, she would have been ruined by her sooner or later.

"My lady, don't be anxious. Hasn't the Emperor already promised to have dinner with you tonight?" Her personal maid Feicui was afraid that she would get sick from being angry, so she stepped forward to persuade her.

When Hepin thought that the Emperor would come tonight, her expression looked a little better.

As she was speaking, a servant came in and reported, "Madam, the eunuch from the Qianqing Palace is here."

He Bin smiled and said, "Hurry up and ask someone to come in."

As soon as the young eunuch of the Qianqing Palace entered, he bowed quickly: "Your servant greets the Concubine He, and may the Concubine be blessed with good health."

"The eleventh prince had an upset stomach, and His Majesty was worried so he went to check on him. He told me to tell the queen that he would not come to dine with you tonight."

After the young eunuch finished speaking, the room immediately became quiet.

He Binren's face was in pain. The eunuch who had just endured left the room and closed the door, she immediately threw a blue and white porcelain vase on the ground: "Bitch."

"It must be intentional. She just can't stand seeing me doing well."

***

The next day, Wen Zhixu also found out that the Emperor went to see the Eleventh Prince last night and embarrassed Concubine He.

When Xiao Yuanzi came in to report, Shi Da Ying was there too. Hearing what he heard, he said coldly, "It's your own fault."

She was sitting next to Wen Zhixu and embroidering a purse. The yellow satin was embroidered with dragon and cloud patterns. Even without her telling me, I knew who she was embroidering it for.

"I didn't expect that you are so young but your embroidery skills are so outstanding." Wen Zhixu waved his hand to let Xiao Yuanzi go out, put down the book in his hand and turned his head to look at her.

So, Shi Da Ying, who had a gloomy face just now, immediately came back to his senses, looked down at his hands, and his face turned red with shame.

Wen Zhixu was about to say a few more words when the servants came in to report that the eunuchs from the Qianqing Palace had arrived.

When Wen Zhixu heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he subconsciously looked at Shi Da Ying, only to see that her little hands were nervously pulling her purse. She lowered her head so that she couldn't see her expression clearly, but her ears were red.

The person who came was Li Dequan's apprentice Xiao Fuzi. He bowed as soon as he came in and didn't dare to look around. He just lowered his head and said, "I'm here to see Wen Changzai and Shi Yingying. I'm here to pay my respects to the two young ladies."

Before Wen Zhixu could speak, Shi Da Ying couldn't help but asked softly, "But what does His Majesty want me to say?" Although his voice was small and thin, his eyes were filled with anticipation as he turned his head.

Xiao Fuzi smiled at Shi Da Ying, but said to Wen Zhixu who was sitting in the main seat: "Master Wen, the emperor asked you to go to the Yangxin Palace to accompany the emperor for dinner."

Chapter 19: First Bedtime

Wen Zhixu didn't take a closer look at how Shi agreed to go out.

But the expression on his face would not look good anyway. Xiao Fuzi was still waiting there. Wen Zhixu pinched himself and managed a shy smile without letting any leak out.

"Thank you, eunuch. Please wait here for a moment while I go change my clothes."

After she finished speaking, she gestured to Mianwu behind her, who took out a large purse from his sleeve and stuffed it into Xiao Fuzi's palm.

Wen Zhixu took Siyun to the inner hall. Mianwu looked nervous. Although they were going to have a meal, it was the master's first time to meet the Emperor.

The two men served her and changed her clothes from head to toe. Siyun took a bright-colored cheongsam. The orange-red material was bright and dazzling, and it was embroidered with cassia flowers with silver thread. It was delicate and beautiful.

The collar and cuffs were rolled with fine fox fur. Wen Zhixu was suited to such an exquisite and bold color. When the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent it to her, she tried it on and it looked great.

"Master, are you wearing this?" Siyun held up the dress and asked tentatively, "Master, you have a beautiful face, and this bright color looks great on you."

Unexpectedly, Wen Zhixu shook his head: "It's too eye-catching."

He frowned and thought for a while before saying, "Bring out the light green one with lotus embroidery that the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent me that day. I'll wear that one."

"Master, that dress is too plain."

Siyun was not satisfied and wanted to persuade him, but she saw that Wen Zhixu had closed his eyes.

Knowing that there was no point in persuading her master, Siyun could only take the dress obediently. The light green dress was as plain and elegant as summer, so it was not suitable for her to wear heavy makeup.

So, Mianwu only hooked her eyebrows and put a thin layer of pearl powder on her face.

"The master's skin is delicate and beautiful. Although her makeup and dress are simple, it just makes her look elegant." Mian Wu said as she picked out a green lotus and white jade hairpin from the jewelry box and inserted it diagonally into Wen Zhixu's head.

After she finished dressing up, Siyun took a careful look and couldn't find any faults.

It is indeed as Mianwu said, the master's eyes and eyebrows are too charming, so she usually chooses plain clothes to wear, so as to suppress the flamboyant color in her bones.

But the more plain the outfit is, the more eye-catching it becomes.

She was wearing more and more plain clothes, and the charm on her face was temporarily suppressed, but the natural charm in her bones could not be suppressed at all, and there was a hint of unconscious tenderness between her eyebrows.

She is extremely charming, but tries her best to hide it, but the attempt to cover it up only makes it more obvious. Her vague appearance is enough to make any man lose his focus.

It was windy outside, so Cotton Wu put a cloak on her before she left. It was also made of plain white satin with a circle of fox fur at the collar.

A large hat was placed on his head behind the cloak, leaving only half of his chin exposed.

"Your Majesty loves you so much that he has specially ordered me to call for a sedan chair. You just need to watch your step and get on the sedan chair."

Xiao Fuzi guessed that someone had taken care of him, and he was very attentive along the way.

Wen Zhixu didn't feel cold even when he was sitting in the sedan chair. Listening to the whistling wind outside, he soon arrived at the Yangxin Palace. At the majestic and solemn entrance of the palace, the most eye-catching thing was the imperial guards standing on both sides in yellow jackets, with cold and emotionless faces and plaques that were icy but imposing.

All of this belongs to the man in the palace, the true supreme emperor.

After getting off the sedan chair, Xiao Fuzi pushed the door and led her into the side hall. Wen Zhixu kept her head half lowered the whole time. The room was quiet and no one spoke.

Xiao Fuzi didn't follow, and there was not even a palace maid inside.

There were several charcoal basins lit in the warm room, and a wave of warmth surged as soon as you entered. The large gilded nine-dragon incense burner in the middle was emitting curling green smoke. Wen Zhixu looked a little embarrassed when he first came in, and he looked behind him, and the curtains at the innermost part seemed to move.

Wen Zhixu pretended not to see it and stood there awkwardly for a while, then carefully moved to the side of the brazier, stretched out the little hand from inside the cloak, and slowly and tentatively placed it on the brazier.

She turned her back to the screen, pretending to be warming herself by the fire while paying attention to what was happening in the room.

There was a faint sound of breathing coming from behind the curtains. Wen Zhixu listened carefully for a while and made sure that he was not mistaken.

Who else could be there at this time except His Majesty?

Wen Zhixu naturally pretended not to see it. After warming his hands, he stood up straight. He stood there, not daring to move, but just looked around with his bright eyes.

This was the scene that Kangxi saw through the gauze curtains with a smile on his face.

He covered his mouth and coughed deliberately. As soon as the slightest sound was made, the man whose eyes were originally wandering around immediately stood up straight, and immediately clenched his outstretched hands together, lowered his head and dared not look around, pretending to be well-behaved.

He thought it was funny and walked past with a deliberately stern face.

As the footsteps got closer, Wen Zhixu saw the yellow satin boots embroidered with dragon patterns stop in front of her. Her slender body immediately knelt down: "I am the Concubine Wen, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Her voice was as tender as that day, but with a bit of trembling and nervousness.

"Raise your head." The emperor's majestic voice sounded above his head.

Wen Zhixu, who was kneeling on the ground, raised his head. As he moved, the hat on his head fell back, suddenly revealing Wen Zhixu's delicate and charming face.

Kangxi stared at that face for a long time, then looked at Wen Zhixu's drooping eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Raise your eyes and look at me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Zhixu's eyelids blinked slightly, and her eyelashes fluttered up and down like butterfly wings, and then slowly and carefully moved up little by little.

At the end, she suddenly met Kangxi's gaze.

The two men's eyes collided suddenly, and Kangxi's eyes were serious but there was a slight smile.

His eyes were full of aggression, and he could clearly see the expectation, hesitation, fear, shyness, and finally the deep shock in Wen Zhixu's eyes.

Wen Zhixu looked away first, lowered his head, and said in a charming and soft voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Kangxi found it funny. He bent down slightly, took her hand and helped Wen Zhixu up. With a smile in his eyes, he said, "Tell me, what crime have you committed?"

Wen Zhixu's face turned pale at first, but the tips of his ears were slightly pink. Hearing this, he stammered, "That day, I didn't know it was the emperor."

Kangxi placed her small hand in his palm, and felt it was boneless and her fingers were slender. Her skin was so white and tender that it seemed like it would leave a mark if touched, and it was so small in his palm.

He saw ripples in his heart, and used his palm to hold Wen Zhixu's hand tightly, saying: "Since you don't know, then you are not guilty."

As he spoke, he led the man into the house and laughed softly, "Besides, your last sentence was not wrong."

What was Wen Zhixu's last sentence that day?

She said: "I am the emperor's woman."

Thinking of this, Wen Zhixu stopped, her ears flushed with shame, and she bravely pulled her hand out of Kangxi's hand.

Kangxi was stunned at first, then he realized that she was having a bad temper.

He felt a little funny and a little curious in his heart. It was the first time that someone acted like this to him. Concubine Yi had done that to him when she was young, but after she had children, she was not as sentimental as she was when she was young.

"What's wrong?" He now has a very good impression of Wen Zhixu and is happy to pamper her.

I lowered my head and looked into her eyes, but I saw that her eyelids were drooping, and I didn't know what she was thinking. She was still wearing a cloak, and the room was warm from the charcoal pot, so it wasn't cold at all.

Kangxi reached into her collar, found the knotted rope, and gently pulled it.

Wen Zhixu's slender figure was revealed under the plain white cloak. Her light green clothes were embroidered with delicate lotus flowers. The size of the clothes seemed to be a little small and they were a bit tight on her, making her look bulging.

The waist is so thin that it seems like it can be pinched with one hand.

When Kangxi saw Wen Zhixu dressed like this, his eyes immediately filled with smiles, and his coaxing voice added a bit of softness: "Why are you dressed so similarly to the day when I first met you?"

That day, Wen Zhixu was also wearing clothes embroidered with lotus flowers, and today she was wearing a similar style, just as simple and elegant.

The petite person who had been keeping her head down raised her eyes and glared at him after hearing this. Her face was red with shame, and she denied it, "I don't know. The Ministry of Internal Affairs sent it."

When he lied, his hands were nervously folded together.

Kangxi thought of something and suddenly felt refreshed. He laughed and quickly reached out his hand to take Wen Zhixu's hand: "Come on, have dinner with me."

His Majesty's dinner had already been prepared. He only needed to nod and the eunuchs would bring the food up one after another.

His Majesty's dinner was extremely sumptuous. Just the dishes placed in front of Wen Zhixu included: divine duck, carp in the arms, jade belt shrimps, minced pork with preserved vegetables, steamed duck with rice flour, fish-flavored eggplant cakes, and lychee meat.

Looking towards the middle, there are Jinling meatballs, white sauce round vegetables, prawns, boiled water chestnut soup, and mushroom boxes.

Although His Majesty invited her to dine with him, he had Li Dequan serving him, so he had no use for her.

Kangxi was probably in a very good mood. He pointed to the opposite side and asked her to sit down and eat with him. At that time, Li Dequan was serving food to the Emperor. Hearing this, he looked up at her in surprise.

Seeing the interest in Kangxi's eyes, Wen Zhixu naturally knew what would happen that night.

In order to prevent any accidents from happening, they only picked out vegetarian food. The chefs serving the emperor were naturally the best and could make a simple vegetarian dish taste good.

After the meal, the two drank some digestive tea together.

After a while, Li Dequan stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to keep Miss Wen here and settle her down?" Upon hearing this, Kangxi turned his head and glanced in the direction of Wen Zhixu.

I saw the hand holding the teacup tightened, and the face that had just relaxed turned red again. The little hands were tightly entangled together, and the pair of watery eyes looked at me expectantly and tentatively.

With her back to the dim light of the candle, she looks so gentle, beautiful and elegant.

"Stay and settle down." He placed the cup in his hand on the table with a slight sound.

Wen Zhixu also raised her confused face and looked in his direction. Kangxi couldn't help but came forward and scratched her nose, which was clearer and more delicate than jade, and said softly, "Don't be afraid."

"I'll come to see you later." After saying that, he went to wash up.

After a while, another palace maid took Wen Zhixu to the side room in the inner hall.

The maid who served her looked at Wen Zhixu's skin under her clothes and praised her: "The young lady's skin is really the best I have ever seen."

"It's even more tender than tofu." The nanny was not exaggerating. Wen Zhixu's skin was naturally better than others.

Later, I soaked my skin twice using Aunt Du's recipe, and it became much more delicate and white.

"I have served so many young ladies in this harem. The skin of Su Changzai was first-rate. I was surprised at that time. Now that I have met the young lady, I know that there are always people better than you."

The nanny couldn't hide her surprise and kept praising.

Later, seeing that Wen Zhixu was just smiling and not saying anything, he gradually spoke less.

After washing, the nanny helped her put on her sleeping bellyband while explaining to her in a low voice what was about to happen, how to serve her, and what postures to use.

Having said that, he took advantage of the early hours to give her a copy of "Fire Avoidance Map". Wen Zhixu had also seen the film in modern times, and later became the prince's concubine, and had done a lot of such things.

But this was the first time in her life as a virgin, so she pretended to be shy, turned over, and then lowered her head as she was sent to the dragon bed.

Kangxi had already packed up and changed into a bright yellow pajamas. He rested one hand on his right knee and held a book in the other hand. Although his eyes were on the book, he did not turn a page for a long time.

Hearing the noise, he raised his head and looked at her.

Wen Zhixu was wearing a bright red bellyband and gauze pants. The bright red color made her snow-white body look whiter than tofu. She wore a thin gauze over the bellyband, and her skin was faintly visible, which was very attractive.

That gorgeous and charming face drooped shyly, and the tips of her ears were a soft pink.

Kangxi suddenly felt his throat tighten. He put down the book and reached out to Wen Zhixu: "Come here."

"Come to me." Kangxi's calm voice had a little unknown hoarseness.

There was no one else in the room except the two of them. Kangxi stretched out his hand through the bright yellow curtain, but there was no movement from the man for a long time.

Just when his patience was about to run out, Wen Zhixu nervously grabbed the gauze on his body, then carefully raised his hand. The small white hand stretched forward tentatively, and his fingertips touched his palm.

After a while, he firmly and carefully placed his hand into the palm in front of him.

As soon as the broad palm touched the soft little hand, it held it tightly.

Kangxi then pulled her in front of him. The action was too sudden, and Wen Zhixu let out a loud cry, and then she threw herself into that broad chest, and the sound of her heartbeat came into her ears.

Kangxi only felt the elegant fragrance of lotus at the tip of his nose. The woman in his arms was as soft as jade, and her touch was completely delicate.

"Are you scared?" Hearing the loud voice of surprise, he hugged the person in his arms, and the person in his arms shrank back with a little discomfort.

Just like a frightened kitten, she acted coquettishly.

Kangxi's whole body softened for no reason. He gently carried her to the bed, touched her head soothingly, and spoke to her in a gentle voice, trying to ease her tension.

Sure enough, after a while the person in my arms was not so nervous anymore.

She could answer some of the questions he asked.

When talking about happy things, a pair of narrow and beautiful eyes are sparkling with smiles, and the eyeballs are as bright as the stars in the sky.

After seeing her like this, Kangxi began to test her.

His breath sprayed on her eyebrows, behind her ears, and between her neck, causing waves of tremors wherever it touched.

"Your Majesty." Concubine Wen was trembling slightly, and her voice was pitifully small.

Kangxi laughed in a low voice and looked at her with bright eyes.

Concubine Wen half-closed her eyes, her hair was already messy, and sweat was dripping from her forehead, staining her dark hair: "Your Highness..."

"I'm here." He replied to her and reached out to touch her hair lovingly.

Wen Zhixu closed his eyes tightly, and a delicate gasp came from his throat. Her hands were tightly wrapped around his neck, as delicate as a flower drifting in the wind.

The charm is so charming that it touches the heart.

······

After the lovemaking, Kangxi looked at the people around him.

Seeing Wen Zhixu closing her eyes beside him, Kangxi was stunned and wanted to tease her.

The person who was humming softly stopped, her eyes were pink at the ends and tears welled up between them. She glanced at him shyly, pretending not to hear and remained silent.

Kangxi then played tricks on her and tortured her as much as he could, teasing her into saying shy and embarrassing things that she would never dare to think of in normal times.

Wen Zhixu could bear it at first, but Kangxi deliberately made things difficult for her and forced her to speak out.

In the end, she couldn't stand his tricks and spoke hesitantly.

***

Kangxi was in great spirits and the noise continued until the hour of Chou.

When he woke up the next morning, he felt refreshed and comfortable. A voice calling him to get up was faintly heard outside. Kangxi looked at the person sleeping soundly in his arms, and got up carefully but still woke him up.

Wen Zhixu closed his eyes and hummed for a while, then hugged the quilt and rolled back inside. When he saw that he got up, he showed no intention of helping.

His Majesty had no self-control and did it three times in a row that night. If it wasn't the first time he saw me, he would probably have made a fuss.

Now that His Majesty has gotten up, she is too lazy to go up and serve him even if she wakes up. The palace maids and eunuchs are in charge of everything, so it is not her turn to drag herself to show her presence.

Kangxi saw her eyelashes fluttering and knew she was awake, but he did not blame her. He just pinched her nose and said, "The position of a maid is really unfair to you. From now on, you will be promoted to a noble lady."

After Kangxi finished speaking, he waited to see Wen Zhixu's surprise, then he felt relaxed all over and went to court with a smile on his face.

After he left, Wen Zhixu didn't stay long.

If what happened last night were to get out, I don't know how many people would be upset.

Wen Zhixu was afraid that others would accuse her of seducing the emperor, so she persuaded the emperor to stop. Now that the emperor had gone to court, she naturally would not continue to attract hatred here.

Facing the morning mist, she couldn't help dozing off while sitting in the sedan chair. The Yangxin Palace was quite far from the Yanxi Palace, and Wen Zhixu almost fell asleep in the sedan chair. When they arrived at the Yanxi Palace, the eunuch guarding the gate heard the noise and quickly got up to open the palace gate.

Siyun Mianwu was not asleep either. When she heard the voice, she hurried over to her. Wen Zhixu held Siyun's hand and walked out of the sedan chair. The servants in the yard immediately knelt on the ground and said, "The servants congratulate the master. Congratulations on being promoted to a noble lady."

Wen Zhixu sighed that things in the harem were going on so quickly, while looking at Mian Wu behind him. Mian Wu also smiled and explained softly: "The master hasn't come back yet, but the emperor's decree has arrived."

"Master has been promoted to a noble overnight. We, the servants, are truly happy for you." Siyun's eyes were sparkling and very likable.

There was a festive atmosphere here as if it was New Year's Day, but the side hall of the Yanxi Palace was unusually quiet.

Shi Da Ying has been sitting on the couch since Wen Zhixu left the Yanx Palace. She didn't say a word all night, let alone sleep, and has not eaten or drunk anything until now.

Her maid Dongxue sighed, replaced the cold tea with another cup, and walked forward to hand it to Shi Da Ying's hand: "Master, everyone over there is back, just drink some water and take a nap."

"Go away--" His throat was particularly hoarse because he hadn't taken in any water all night, and Shi Da Ying's black and white eyes rolled around.

"Master, why are you doing this?" Dongxue's tone was somewhat helpless as she lowered her head to look at the small piece of yellow exposed on the palm of her master's hand.

The master had been embroidering this purse for nearly half a month, and it was almost finished. She was looking forward to presenting it to the Emperor in person, but she didn't expect that the Emperor would summon Concubine Wen to sleep with him first.

"Outside, why are you so happy?" Shi agreed to live in a side hall, and the couch she sat on faced the main entrance of the Yanxi Palace. She had been looking forward to Wen Zhixu coming back early after serving dinner since yesterday.

But by the time they waited it was already dark, the lights were turned off, the palace gates were closed, but Wen Zhixu still hadn't returned.

So she sat there all night, until the Emperor got up to attend court. Then the man came back in a sedan chair, full of honors.

The palace maids and servants who served Concubine Wen in the main hall were as happy as if it were New Year's Day, but their laughter was also like slapping her in the face. Shi Da Ying could only pinch the sachet in her hand continuously to force herself not to let her wild thoughts run wild.

The master finally asked, and besides, there was no way to hide such a thing: "Just this morning, the Emperor sent an imperial decree to promote Concubine Wen's position." Dongxue's tone was difficult when she said these words.

She knew that her master was upset, but she really didn't dare to hide it.

"The one above Chang Zai, that means he is the noble man?" Shi Da Ying opened his pair of eyes with clear black and white, his eyes were full of disbelief.

Before Dongxue could respond, she smiled with a forced smile, sadness in her eyes, and said blankly, "It's only one night."

She was promoted in just one night, which shows how much the Emperor loves her.

Yes, with Concubine Wen's looks and figure, there is no one else like her in the entire harem. It is only a matter of time before she is favored and promoted.

Unlike myself, I have nothing except a little love from His Majesty.

She only had a little bit of love, gentle eyes, and a few caring words from the Emperor in her memory. Even this little bit of tenderness was what she kept deep in her heart and thought about countless times every day.

And what about Wen Zhixu? Her face alone can make His Majesty love her so much, and he will definitely dote on her even more in the future.

But why did she want to snatch mine?

Chapter 20

Wen was promoted to noble lady overnight. Who in the harem didn't know about it?

But she had lived in Qingzhu Tower from the beginning, and had not come out after moving to Yanxi Palace. No one knew what her figure, appearance, or personal character were like.

But she was able to get the Emperor to promote her in just one night. Everyone in the harem was curious about what means she had used to win the Emperor's heart.

But there was no queen in the palace, the master of the six palaces was not there, and the imperial concubine had a rare good temper. She had no children and was only given the empty title of imperial concubine, so she turned a blind eye to most things.

I am only afraid that one day I will offend the emperor and he will not even give me the dignity I deserve as a concubine.

"I guess we won't see each other today. What's the point of us sisters being jealous?" The harem was boring and had nothing to do, so they could only get together and chat: "After all, we are still not as good as those young girls."

Rong Fei smiled and joked that she had followed the Emperor early, but now that she was older she was not as favored as she was when she was young, so she spent all day tending flowers and plants in her own palace and seldom went out.

She had also heard today that the Emperor had a new favorite maid, who was promoted to a noble lady the next day, so she came to take a look out of curiosity.

But the people from the Yanx Palace have already come to pass on the message that Concubine Wen is not feeling well and will not come to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine today.

Rong Fei arrived early, and since she couldn't see anyone, she started joking with Gui Fei.

Just as he finished saying this, Concubine Yi came in from the door holding the hand of a palace maid.

Upon hearing Rong Fei's words, Yi Fei stood still. She reached out to adjust the newly-delivered gilded peony hairpin from the Ministry of Internal Affairs behind her head, and glanced at Rong Fei with her charming eyes: "Sister, what you said is not right. You are old and not favored, but your sister is still the same as before."

When Concubine Rong saw Concubine Yi's appearance, she was stunned at first.

Even though he knew Concubine Yi's temperament, he couldn't help but get a little angry when he heard this. She was indeed the oldest among the concubines, but when she was young, her appearance was also first-class and she was even favored at that time.

But after all, she has followed the Emperor since she was young, and her appearance and skin are indeed not as good as those of young girls.

But after all, her natural beauty was still there, and she was still a beauty even when she was old. Kangxi was a man who cherished the old times, and although he no longer spent the night with her, he would visit her in the palace from time to time.

"I know my sister is favored, so please sit down quickly." Rong Fei was too lazy to get angry with someone with Yi Fei's temper, so she gave in.

Concubine Yi was satisfied and walked straight to the opposite side of Concubine Rong. She turned around and glanced at Concubine He below her. Her eyes first fell on the golden hairpin on her head, and then moved to her clothes.

This time she didn't sit down, but turned around and walked to Hepin, saying coldly: "Who told you to dress like this?"

Hepin was holding a cup of tea in her hand. She didn't put it down when she saw Yifei coming. She took a sip slowly before putting down the cup and said, "I don't know what Yifei is talking about."

Concubine Yi suddenly became angry and pointed her armored finger directly at Concubine He's nose.

"It's not enough for you to imitate me on a daily basis, now even your clothes and hairstyle are exactly the same as mine, right?" Concubine Yi's eyes were cold. She loved peony flowers the most, and everyone in the palace knew it.

The hairpin on her head was a new gold hairpin sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The style of the hairpin was very novel and exquisite. It happened to be a peony pattern, so she wore it today.

The clothes she was wearing were also red and embroidered with peony patterns. She had a beautiful face and looked gorgeous in the clothes.

But today, what Concubine He wore was almost the same as hers. It was as if she had deliberately changed her clothes to look like her.

Especially the hairpin on her head, it is exactly the same as hers.

"I really don't understand what Concubine Yi said." Concubine He was not afraid of her. She let her stand in front of her, sitting firmly on the chair: "Besides, I was here first today. Sister, you can't take advantage of your position as a concubine to bully others."

"No matter how poor I am, I still have people at home who can't bear to see me being bullied like this." Hepin smiled but her eyes were not smiling. Her light-hearted words were simply relying on the prince's power to blatantly anger her.

"Okay..." Concubine Yi's outstretched hand was shaking.

"Good...good...good, Hesheli, you are really great." Concubine Yi's eyes turned red with anger. She raised her hand and pulled off the golden hairpin on her head, then threw it to the ground and broke it into two pieces.

***

Concubine Yi had a tantrum in the Imperial Concubine's palace, and when she returned to the Yikun Palace, she began to deal with the servants around her.

Hepin was deliberately trying to make her angry today. She knew why even without him saying it. It was because the Emperor had promised to have dinner with her last time, but turned around and disappointed her because the Eleventh Prince was unwell.

"Check." Concubine Yi sat on the low couch and kept slapping the mahogany tabletop under her hands.

"This Yikun Palace actually has that bastard's spy, who caused me to make such a fool of myself today." Concubine Yi was proud of her beauty, so she was so angry when she encountered such a thing that she almost vomited blood.

Her personal maid standing beside her saw that her eyes were red with anger and did not dare to persuade her.

There were many strong maids in the Yikun Palace. They gathered the palace maids and eunuchs together one after another. It didn't take long to find out who entered the inner hall and who went to the Chuxiu Palace.

Hepin's spy was a third-class maid in Yikun Palace, who usually cleaned the inner hall. She was not very impressive in height or appearance, and Yifei did not recognize her as someone from her own palace.

The palace maid was pinched by two maids, each holding one of her arms, and was carried directly in front of Concubine Yi.

After seeing Concubine Yi, she exposed herself before she could say anything. Tears welled up in her eyes and her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably: "Concubine Yi, I know I was wrong. I beg you to spare my life."

Her eyes were filled with fear, and she knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "My Majesty, please spare my life. Please spare my life."

But Concubine Yi was not such an easy-going person. She stepped forward gracefully, bent down, stretched out a finger and lifted the maid's chin, sneering, "You? How dare such a coward betray me?"

She sneered and pushed her chin hard in her hand, then stepped forward and stepped hard on her hand.

The bottom of the flower pot was twisted slowly bit by bit, and the maid was sweating all over from the pain. Seeing her frightened look, Concubine Yi lost interest and coldly moved her foot away: "Fight her thirty times, cut off her hands, and send her to Chuxiu Palace."

The maid was so frightened that her face turned pale. She could not stop kneeling on the ground and pulling at Concubine Yi's legs: "Your Majesty, spare me. I will never dare to do it again next time."

However, due to the trembling of his hands, he did not touch Concubine Yi's legs, and was taken out by the nanny behind him. Soon, the sound of beating could be heard in the yard, mixed with crying and shouting.

After a while, the nanny came in and replied, "Madam, after thirty strokes of the cane, the man has fainted."

Concubine Yi's expression did not change, and she said calmly: "Take off your hand and throw it to that bitch."

***

"Your Majesty, Yuqing was beaten with thirty boards by Concubine Yi, and then her hands were removed and she was sent back." Feicui, Hepin's personal maid, stepped forward to report.

When Hepin heard this, she didn't even bat an eyelid: "Arrange a place for her to take it. Remember, don't let her say anything she shouldn't say."

Although she felt a little regretful that her eyeliner was found out, the face of Concubine Yi today made her feel extremely happy.

"She used to want to be better than me in everything, but now I am just wearing the same clothes as her, and she is so angry that she jumps up and down." Hepin touched the golden peony hairpin on her head and looked down: "You are very good."

Sitting below her was Su Qingqiu, who heard this and said gently, "As long as Your Majesty feels relieved, then that is what I should do."

Since that day, the emperor not only neglected Concubine He, but also neglected her.

But Concubine He is the head of a palace after all, and she has the crown prince as her nephew, so even if she falls out of favor, it won't hurt her at all.

But she was different. She was just a concubine. Without the favor, the servants dared to step on her.

What's more, Concubine Ning had disliked her from the beginning, and now that she had just lost power, she couldn't help but want to step on her.

Su Qingqiu touched her red and swollen knees. Concubine Ning was only one level older than her, but she could make her kneel in the imperial garden for two hours without being able to get up.

Without the emperor's favor in the harem, the low-ranking concubines were like grass.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do for you?" Concubine He tricked Concubine Yi and now she felt extremely happy.

"What I want is just one of these things." Su Qingqiu knew that Concubine He couldn't stand her pitiful appearance, so she stopped pretending: "I want the emperor's favor, and I also want Concubine Wen to die in the cold palace."

When she said the three words "Noble Lady Wen", she couldn't help but grit her teeth. She had been on guard against her day and night for so long, but in the end, someone still saw the emperor and seduced him into sleeping with her.

She can become a noble lady after just one visit. If she comes a few more times in the future, won't she be directly promoted to a concubine or a royal consort?

When Su Qingqiu thought of this, she became afraid, afraid of Wen Zhixu's revenge. In this case, it was no wonder that she wanted to find a way to prevent her from turning over.

"You look like someone who wouldn't even step on an ant to death. You're such a vicious person." Hepin laughed and said sarcastically.

"However, your performance is not enough for me to plan so many things for you." Hepin is not stupid. If she hurts Concubine Yi's face, it will make her angry for two days at most, and Concubine Yi may retaliate against her double in the future.

Su Qingqiu shook her head: "Of course, there is more that I can do for you, Your Majesty."

She looked out the window with empty eyes, and spoke in a light tone as if she was talking about something extra simple: "What the Queen wants is nothing more than for Concubine Yi to be completely hopeless and in great pain."

"Oh?" Hepin put down what she was holding and became interested: "Do you really have a way to do it?"

He glanced at Su Qingqiu coldly: "That's Concubine Yi."

Su Qingqiu nodded imperceptibly and said softly, "Of course I know it's Concubine Yi." She looked back at Concubine He and said, "Don't you think so?"

"Of course I do." Hepin yelled, almost breaking her voice. She had been suppressed by Concubine Yi for so many years in the palace, and seeing her so high and mighty, she simply wanted to kill her day and night.

In agony, he knelt at his own feet.

Although Su Qingqiu's words were tempting, Hepin still had some reason and asked doubtfully, "What on earth are you thinking of?"

Su Qingqiu didn't keep the secret and asked, "Your Majesty, do you know what Concubine Yi cares about most besides the Emperor?"

He Bin suddenly had an idea: "Child?"

He yelled again: "Eleventh Prince?"

Su Qingqiu nodded: "It is the Eleventh Prince. The Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince are already older. The Eleventh Prince is now the sweetheart of Concubine Yi."

The tone was indifferent but full of venom: "If the Eleventh Prince died, would Concubine Yi be so sad that she would follow him?"

The author has something to say: Comments on this chapter will be drawn to give out red envelopes, fairies, come and comment to kill me, hahahaha