"Just wear it like this!" Consort Tong looked at herself in the red gauze, which subtly revealed her graceful figure. This was also a touch of boudoir romance that Tong Mama had helped her with.

"Your Majesty is truly radiant and beautiful tonight. Even I am captivated by you, let alone His Majesty," Ningdong teased.

"How dare you mock me! Hurry up and get ready, or I will not forgive you if things go wrong!" Consort Tong said angrily, without any shock.

"Yes, this servant will go prepare right away." Ningdong left with a smile, since Kangxi was not coming for dinner, he would come directly to serve her in bed.

After their lovemaking, Consort Tong turned to the side and drew circles on Emperor Kangxi's chest with her hand.

"Is my cousin asleep?" Tong Fei asked softly, her voice incredibly gentle.

"What's wrong? Isn't that enough?" Kangxi suddenly began to doubt his own abilities. Did Consort Tong want to do it again?

“Cousin, that’s not what I meant. Ever since that poor child was lost, I’ve been thinking about him day and night, and I often dream about him.”

As Consort Tong spoke, a few tears streamed down her face. Her tearful appearance made Kangxi frown, thinking, "You're not sleepy, but I am! What is it? Tell me!"

"Don't be sad, cousin. It's all in the past. You'll have more." Kangxi patiently pulled Consort Tong's head into his arms, gently comforting her with his other hand.

"But every time I see Consort Zhaojia, I think of my child. If she were still here, she would be almost two years old by now." Consort Tong began to sob.

"Don't cry. If the child sees that heaven has risen, he will be sad." Kangxi probably understood what Consort Tong meant.

"I didn't mean to, but I kept thinking about her as soon as I fell asleep. Cousin, is she coming back? That's why I keep dreaming about her." Consort Tong looked pitiful and delicate, making people feel sorry for her.

"Zhao Jia is of bondservant birth, and it is not easy for her to raise her child. How about this? Tomorrow, I will use the excuse that you are taking care of Consort Zhao Jia to move her to Chengqian Palace. After she gives birth, you can take her to raise her child there!" Kangxi looked at Consort Tong with a meaningful gaze. When a concubine in the same palace gives birth, the one of lower rank is taken to the main palace to be raised by the head of the palace.

He intended to make Consort Tong empress. If she had a prince, she would not be able to sit on the empress's throne. The prince raised by her would be the legitimate son, which would shake the position of the crown prince.

"Your Majesty, I thank you, but I cannot bear to see Consort Zhao Jia separated from her child," Consort Tong said, wiping away her tears and feigning innocence.

"Your body is weak and you can hardly endure the pain of pregnancy. It would be good to adopt a child who will be close to you." Kangxi thought that Consort Tong wanted him to get pregnant and give birth, so he quickly sat up, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, and said seriously.

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Consort Tong said, her face filled with emotion. She thought to herself, "My cousin truly loves me. He gave me another man's child to raise so that I wouldn't suffer."

"Rest now!" Kangxi lay down and closed his eyes, but felt an indescribable disappointment in his heart.

The next day, Consort Tong happily tidied up the East Side Hall and welcomed Consort Zhaojia to move in.

"Hmph, this Tong family really has a good plan. Let's see if I'm willing."

The Empress Dowager slammed her teacup down on the side table with a loud thud, startling the waiting maidservant.

"Princess, I suppose His Majesty considered this before deciding to entrust Consort Zhaojia's child to Consort Tong for upbringing," Su Mala Gu said, downplaying the seriousness of the matter.

"Now it's a child, then it will be the empress, and above the empress is the throne. That's how people's appetites are grown. I've been through this, how could I not know! After court, summon the emperor. I have important matters to discuss with him. Go there yourself."

The Empress Dowager felt that she needed to get things settled before she could feel at ease, and she believed that Niohuru was the most suitable person to be the successor empress.

"Yes, this servant will go right away." Su Mala Gu glanced at the funnel; it would be about time to go now.

Meanwhile, Wanyi slept until late morning before getting up. She then closed the door to read and write, since she was currently "sick" and couldn't go out, so this was the only way.

"His Majesty is about to appoint a new Empress, which means our promotion won't be far off. But I haven't conceived yet. How can I possibly get a high position?"

When Consort Wuya heard Chu Yao say that Emperor Kangxi had ordered the Imperial Household Department to rush to make the Empress's court dress, she immediately connected it with the fact that Emperor Kangxi would be bestowing titles upon the harem.

"Then what should we do, Your Highness?" If Your Highness's rank is low, then her status as the head palace maid will also be low.

"Thinking about it, all it takes to get a high position is to get pregnant, give birth, be favored, and have a family." Wu Ya Chen Bi has none of those.

"Go and gather all the prescriptions for that medicine. It's just a matter of pregnancy; I have plenty of ways to deal with that."

Consort Wuya smiled smugly. Before she entered the palace, her mother took her to a temple to have her fortune told. The fortune teller said that she was destined for wealth and nobility. If she could find someone with a similar destiny and seize that destiny to suppress her, she could become a phoenix. Unfortunately, Consort Suozhuolun had suddenly become shrewd. Now, she could only suppress her rank as well and then slowly make her move.

"Won't this harm her body? Although Consort Tong seems to be fine in all aspects, we don't know what's going on inside her body."

Chu Yao was somewhat disapproving. This secret medicine was still in the experimental stage, and it was already being used on her master before any results were obtained. If something happened, it would be too late to regret it.

"Use it first! It can cause a miscarriage in advance. I need to plan it carefully, but Consort Suo Zhuolun has been ill, which is a bit tricky." Consort Wuya suddenly remembered that Consort Suo Zhuolun was currently ill.

"Yes." Chu Yao saw Consort Wuya wave her away and knew she couldn't change her decision. She was just a servant and could only help Consort Wuya keep things discreet.

Cining Palace

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" As soon as Kangxi finished his morning court session, he saw Su Ma La Gu waiting outside, saying that the Empress Dowager had something important to ask him. Seeing Su Ma La Gu's pale face, Kangxi thought that something had happened to the Empress Dowager, so he rushed over here in a hurry.

"I am fine, but what's wrong with the Emperor?" Kangxi's anxiety startled even the Empress Dowager.

"It's good that you're alright. I noticed that Sumalagu's face was unusually pale, and I thought something serious had happened." Kangxi was relieved and picked up the tea next to him to drink a few sips to quench his thirst.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Granny Su is unwell and has asked me to request leave on her behalf." At this moment, Granny He came in to report on behalf of Granny Su.

"So that's how it is! Go to the Imperial Hospital and ask a physician to take a look at her. You may all leave now!" The Empress Dowager was quite pleased, after all, having someone worry about you makes you feel needed.

"Yes." Granny He was also very happy. She was trained by Su Ma La Gu. The Empress Dowager was kind and it was already very good that she could invite a doctor. She did not expect that she would directly invite the imperial physician. This was a privilege that only masters could enjoy.