When Kangxi saw the little concubine with her head down, her mouth bulging from eating, looking like a little hamster, he immediately found it funny.

"Hahaha!"

Wanyi swallowed the food in her mouth, raised her head in confusion to look at Kangxi, as if to say, "Why are you laughing for no reason?"

"It's nothing. I just found the hamsters eating incredibly cute." Kangxi seemed to sense Wanyi's doubts and spoke directly without hesitation.

"As long as His Majesty is happy."

Liang Jiugong, standing to the side, looked at Consort Suo Zhuolun, who was still in a daze, and tried hard to suppress his laughter, which made him tremble all over.

Wanyi, who was still eating, belatedly realized that Kangxi was talking about her!

"Is Your Majesty referring to me?" Wanyi pointed at herself with the finger that wasn't holding chopsticks, incredulous.

"Hmm, humph!" Kangxi only made two sounds without speaking, and smiled at Wanyi.

Wan Yi's lips twitched, and three black lines appeared on her forehead as she looked at Liang Jiugong, whose face was flushed and who was trying hard to suppress his laughter.

"Why is Eunuch Liang's face so red? Is he sick?" You little brat, how dare you laugh at your old lady.

"This servant is fine. It's just a bit hot in the hall, but it will be alright in a moment," Liang Jiugong replied calmly.

"Are you full?"

Kangxi looked at Wanyi, who was "chatting" with the servants, and said with some dissatisfaction.

"It's all better now."

"Then let's take it away! My beloved consort, accompany me to the study to read some books." Kangxi said, then got up and walked out.

"Yes." Wanyi glared at Liang Jiugong and followed. Liang Jiugong wasn't afraid of Wanyi's glare, since even Consort Suo Zhuolun couldn't hit him anyway.

Cining Palace

"Your Highness has found out. It's the network left behind by Empress Xiaokangzhang, but some of it has already fallen into the hands of Consort Tong, which is why it was so difficult to investigate." Sumalagu told Bumbutai the information she had found.

"Empress Xiaokangzhang, the Tong family, it seems they have grown too ambitious. I will not allow the Tong family to produce another empress."

In fact, Empress Xiaokangzhang was sent away by Bumbutai. After Kangxi ascended the throne, when he was only eight years old and didn't understand much, the Tong family tried to control Kangxi through Empress Xiaokangzhang, hoping to seize control of the court. Did they think Bumbutai was dead? She knew she couldn't kill the Tong family all at once, so she could only give her a weakening medicine, making her unable to get out of bed, and then slowly plotted against her until she was sent away two years later.

"Princess, the Emperor will not allow the Tong family to produce another Empress. After all, having too much power in the maternal relatives is not good for the court." If Su Mala Gu could see through this, Bumbutai naturally understood it as well.

“That’s true. I’m afraid the emperor might do something rash in his heart to compensate the Tong family. You’ve seen how well the Tong family is being treated now. The Tong family has tasted the sweetness of having produced an empress, so naturally they’ll want to get even more.” Bumbutai thought to herself that if she were from the Tong family, she would definitely try to seize the empress’s position, or at least support a prince to ascend the throne.

Sumalagu knew she couldn't comment on these matters, otherwise it would be considered interference in politics.

"Su Ma La Gu, have someone keep a close eye on Consort Tong. If there is any disturbance, report back to me immediately."

"Yes, Princess." Sumalagu replied and went out to make the arrangements.

"Your Majesty, are you tired of looking around? Would you like to have a cup of tea that I have prepared?"

Wanyi walked in carrying a cup of Pu'er tea. Just then, she saw Kangxi put down his book, so she placed the tea on the tea table. Kangxi took it without hesitation, since he didn't get to drink this tea often.

"Does my beloved concubine know how to paint?" Kangxi asked casually, putting down his tea.

"This humble servant knows a little, but my painting skills are crude, and I fear they might offend Your Majesty's eyes."

Wanyi said shyly that she was good at oil painting and had also been involved in it in her previous life when she came to the Kangxi era. She could be said to be good at all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

"My beloved consort, please draw something and let me give you some pointers." Upon hearing that Wanyi would be able to draw something, Kangxi became interested and waved for Liang Jiugong to prepare brush and ink.

Wanyi walked to the desk, picked up the small wolf-shaped pen, and slowly began to draw. Kangxi watched Wanyi's skillful drawing and walked to the desk. Even from the reverse side, Kangxi could roughly tell what Wanyi was going to draw. When Wanyi finished, it was exactly what Kangxi had expected.

"What made you decide to paint this?" Kangxi looked at Wanyi with a meaningful gaze, as if he wanted to see right through her.

"This concubine doesn't know what to paint. This is what this concubine is best at, and it's also one of the flowers this concubine likes."

Her father in the modern world liked this flower and had planted many at home, so when she transmigrated to this place, besides the flowers she liked, this was the only one she could cherish.

"One of them? You like other flowers too?" So fickle?

“Every flower is unique. I love the elegance of orchids, the national beauty of peonies, the purity of plum blossoms, and so many more! They are all so beautiful, how can I only like one of them? Their flowering period is short, and they bloom at their most beautiful in that short time, so they all deserve my love and care.” Her favorite flower was the peony, while the orchid was just a symbol of her affection.

Kangxi suddenly realized that Wanyi was right. Every flower is beautiful, so how could he only be fond of one?

Emperor Kangxi looked at the delicate orchid buds, like bright green pearls hanging at the ends of the flower path, making the winding path even more curved. He was very pleased with the painting.

"I will inscribe this for you."

As Kangxi spoke, he walked behind Wanyi, half-embracing her, placing his right hand on hers as she held the brush. He dipped the brush in ink, picked up the brush, and wrote a character in one swift, decisive stroke. Where Kangxi couldn't see, Wanyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"After the snow melts, a strange fragrance emerges from the deep forest, where withered pines and oaks stand in disarray. This is probably where orchids bloom, but travelers are not allowed to pay attention to them."

Wanyi carefully read the poem written by Kangxi. The calligraphy was beautiful, with strokes that flowed like dragons and snakes, which more than doubled the value of her painting.

"Is this a line from a poem by Fang Hui of the Song Dynasty?"

"You've been to school?"

Kangxi looked at Wanyi with some surprise. After all, women sent to the palace were not allowed to learn poetry and books. They were only required to know a few words and distinguish right from wrong. What was Suo Zhuolun's family trying to do?

"This humble servant has never been to school. It was only after entering the palace that I learned that Your Majesty is proficient in Manchu, Mongol, and Han languages. I thought that if I wanted to understand Your Majesty, I could only learn these things like Your Majesty. I have many poetry collections in my palace, but they are all ordinary ones."

Wanyi really wanted to yell at Kangxi, "He's so suspicious! Damn it!"

Wanyi didn't even consider that she had stepped into a minefield herself, yet she blamed Kangxi for being suspicious. Naturally, Wanyi stayed to serve him that night. Everyone in the harem thought that after Consort Ulanara fell out of favor, Consort Suozhuolun would be the next to gain favor. However, fate was unkind. News came from the front that Prince Wu Sangui of Pingxi had conquered all the cities and counties in Hunan. Kangxi was so busy that he had no time to go into the harem or summon his concubines to serve him.