Night had just fallen, and the north wind outside the palace had been blowing for several days. It was even colder than when it was snowing. The palace servants on duty everywhere hunched their necks in the north wind and put their hands in their sleeves.

Emperor Kangxi fainted again, but this time the imperial physicians tried acupuncture for a long time without being able to revive him. Liang Jiugong had no choice but to summon the four imperial concubines; if anything happened to Kangxi, they would be the ones to make the decisions.

The Qianqing Palace was immediately placed under martial law. The princes were summoned into the palace one by one, and several important ministers of the cabinet also came. They were all waiting outside the West Warm Pavilion.

"Imperial Physician Yang, why hasn't His Majesty woken up yet?" Consort De asked anxiously, seeing that Kangxi showed no signs of waking up. Consort Hui and Consort Rong, who were standing to the side, remained silent and did not ask any questions. Consort Yi was about to ask when Consort De spoke first.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty's health is at its limit. I have just instructed several physicians to administer acupuncture, and he should wake up, but it's also possible he won't. We have done our utmost; now it's up to fate," said Physician Yang, bowing his head, his white beard gleaming slightly. He was the most senior physician still serving in the Imperial Medical Academy, having been there since Dorgon's reign.

"You mean, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is probably not going to wake up?" Consort Yi quickly replied upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that His Majesty's condition is quite serious this time, and it seems we'll have to wait a while longer," Physician Yang immediately said, bowing.

The imperial physicians' diagnoses would vary depending on the master they were dealing with.

“With His Majesty like this, someone needs to be here to watch over him at all times. The imperial physicians should take turns watching over him, Eunuch Liang?” Consort De said.

“Your servant is here!” Liang Jiugong immediately lowered his head and walked over with a hunched back.

"Go outside and tell the princes, nobles, and ministers about the Emperor's condition, and then tell them to go back first. The Emperor cannot see them for the time being," said Consort De.

Liang Jiugong immediately bowed and went out to deliver the message.

“Sister Hui, Sister Rong, Sister Yi, why don’t the four of us take turns guarding the Emperor here? Apart from the imperial physicians, the four of us sisters have served the Emperor the longest. Now that he is in such a state, we should do our duty,” Consort De said to the three of them.

Since Prince Yinti was imprisoned by Emperor Kangxi, Consort Hui's spirits had plummeted. Now, she was listless and no longer bothered to wear bright clothes, spending her days devoted to Buddhist practices. Hearing Consort Hui's words, she merely nodded coldly, her face revealing little emotion. Perhaps, she resented Kangxi, resenting his heartlessness. Her son had rendered so much military service to the Qing Dynasty, and as the eldest son, how could he have been so cruelly imprisoned?

Consort Rong nodded calmly, as always, without saying anything. Prince Yi was now enjoying a peaceful life as a prince, and she really had no more requests.

Consort Yi thought for a moment and said, "Yes, His Majesty is like this, so we sisters should stay by his side. How about I stay here tonight?"

Seeing that Consort Yi was so enthusiastic, Consort De could not object, so she said, "Then let my younger sister come today, I will come tomorrow, Sister Rong the day after tomorrow, and Sister Hui the day after that. Let's take turns."

After the four of them reached an agreement, they asked the imperial physician some more questions before leaving the West Warm Pavilion.