The imperial concubine also sighed, "Perhaps Sister Tongpin's health had already deteriorated, and she has been depressed these past few years..."

She didn't say it very clearly, but those who understood would understand.

The next morning, after Kangxi paid homage to his ancestors, he went to Chengqian Palace.

The palace servants were all surprised to see him coming, but the huge courtyard was already filled with dilapidated scenes.

When I walked into the inner hall, I saw Concubine Wuya holding the child and talking to Tong Jia, while Shushu was standing beside them with a sad face.

She was startled to see Kangxi come in. After bowing and paying her respects, Kangxi sat down beside the bed and looked at his once arrogant little cousin, who now looked terminally ill. He felt very sorry for her.

In fact, he had already consulted the imperial physician before coming. Tong Jia was completely dying this time. It would be considered a long time if she could survive for half a year.

"Why didn't you send someone to call me when you were sick?"

Kangxi's tone of voice was rarely gentle, but Tong Jia smiled weakly.

Upon seeing this, Concubine Wu Ya took the children and left first, leaving them this rare time alone.

"I know I can't do it anymore..."

Tong Jia couldn't help but gasp for breath mid-sentence, and after a long pause she continued, "I often wonder if I hadn't done those foolish things back then, would my cousin and I have been able to enjoy a few more years of happiness?"

Kangxi closed his eyes, and the image of the two of them as children emerged in his mind.

As the legitimate daughter of the Tong family, Tong Jia often entered the palace when she was a child.

At that time, he also vaguely knew that this little cousin would marry him in the future.

At that time, she was a sunny girl, a girl who stood under the shade of a tree and pointed at the kite in the sky and laughed non-stop, a girl who ran in front of him wearing new clothes and showed off her style.

But all this ended when she entered the palace as a concubine.

If he had known this, he would not have allowed her to enter the palace.

As the emperor's most honorable cousin, she can be allowed to enter any mansion as a concubine.

She can still be a free and easy woman and do whatever she wants.

But the only thing that is not allowed is entering the palace.

The worst thing she should have done was to attack Baocheng.

If this incident had not happened, no matter how evil she would become in the future, perhaps he would not treat her coldly, let alone punish or demote her because of the Longkodo incident.

But some things are like one wrong step, and then all the steps go wrong.

It's too late to regret.

"Take good care of yourself. The imperial physician said that as long as you rest peacefully and don't let your mind wander, you'll be fine."

Tong Jia forced a smile, but tears started to flow as she smiled.

"Cousin, if everything could start over again, and I wouldn't harm the prince again, then you wouldn't hate me anymore...right?"

Kangxi held her hand, holding back his tears, and said with a choked voice: "Don't let your imagination run wild. I have never hated you."

After saying this, he looked at Liang Jiugong who was standing beside him and said, "Pass on my decree to promote Concubine Tong to Imperial Noble Consort, and promote her to the rank immediately."

Tong Jia smiled bitterly, "My cousin has promoted me. It seems... I really... am going to fail..."

Kangxi's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled. "It seems you're alright. Your mind works pretty quickly."

Tong Jia also rarely smiled. The two chatted for a while before Kangxi got up and left.

As soon as Kangxi left, Shushu came in and congratulated with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, you are now the Imperial Noble Consort. It seems that our Emperor is thinking of you."

Tong Jia shook her head and closed her eyes without saying anything.

Is he thinking about himself?

no.

He just felt guilty towards Empress Xiaokangzhang.

After this day, Tong Jia's health deteriorated further and further. It became normal for her to be unable to get out of bed, and she would often fall into a coma.

Sometimes I would be in a coma for three or four days, and when I woke up again I would have temporary amnesia.

Until the ninth day of July, she woke up in the morning feeling unusually clear-headed and in excellent condition.

She already had an idea in her mind, it was probably today.

Someone was sent to invite the emperor over and some wine and food were prepared.

The two sat together and had a rare peaceful meal.

"Cousin, sometimes when I'm sober, I feel both happy and unwilling."

"I'm lucky to be born into a wealthy and prominent family like the Tong family, lucky to be childhood sweethearts with the Emperor, and lucky to be able to enter the palace and become an empress. All of this seems ordinary, but how many women can really do it?"

"I often feel resentful. Why did I act so impulsively against the Crown Prince? Why did my younger brother do such a foolish thing and bring me to this point? Why... why was it that my cousin and I were childhood sweethearts, yet in the end, he was just a concubine."

Her eyes were hazy and tears rolled down her corners as she looked at Kangxi.

"Cousin, if you were not the emperor, would I have the chance to become your legal wife?"

Kangxi closed his eyes and tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Liang Jiugong has issued an edict. Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia, dignified in appearance, beautiful in both appearance and wisdom, is to be canonized as Empress today. All concubines in the harem are ordered to come to Chengqian Palace immediately to pay their respects to the Empress."

Liang Jiugong and everyone in the hall were shocked, even Tong Jia herself was stunned for a while.

"Hurry up and go." Kangxi glared at Liang Jiugong, who immediately ran away.

"Cousin..." Tong Jia was stunned.

Kangxi gave her a forced smile, "Even if I am the emperor, you can still be my legal wife."

Tong Jia could no longer suppress her inner sadness, and she covered her face with her hands and cried out loudly.

Half an hour later, all the concubines in the harem gathered in Chengqian Palace and kowtowed to Tong Jia in accordance with the rules and etiquette.

Tong Jia looked at the people in front of her and smiled with a hint of bitterness.

"Okay, everyone get up."

Seeing her like this, everyone knew that this time she really didn't have many days left.

Although I had many disagreements with her in the past, I couldn't help but feel sad when I saw her in such a state today.

That night, Kangxi stayed in Chengqian Palace. The next day, as soon as Kangxi's morning court ended, he heard that Tong Jia had passed away.

Kangxi took a deep breath, bestowed the posthumous title of Empress Xiaoyi Ren, and ordered the Ministry of Rites to be responsible for the empress's funeral.

The concubines in the harem and the female members of the royal family kneel in front of the spirit for a month, but the prince does not need to kneel and kowtow.

In the Qianqing Palace, Yinreng walked in with a food box. When he saw Kangxi with a tired face, he felt very reluctant.

"Father, your son is here to see you."

Kangxi looked over when he heard the sound and saw Yinreng walking in with a food box. He smiled and waved at him, "Baocheng, why are you here at this hour? Why don't you go to rest?"

Yinreng took out a bowl of ginseng soup from his food box and said, "My son has noticed that the Emperor has looked listless these past few days. I'm really worried, so I came to visit him specially."

After a pause, he continued, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. I think that Empress Xiaoyiren's promotion to the title of Empress before her death is what she wished for."

When this matter was mentioned, Kangxi looked at Yinreng and said seriously, "Baocheng, Father was just about to explain this to you."