Ning Chuge was young, and no matter how smart he was, he couldn't understand the hidden meaning in Xiu Ning's words.
Kangxi could understand her, but he was more surprised than anything else, because the way she spoke was slightly different from Xiuning's usual persona. He could detect a hint of jealousy and a touch of sullenness in her voice.
"You want to deliver the reward on my behalf?"
Kangxi put down the soup bowl in his hand and looked at Xiuning with indifferent eyes.
At this moment, if it were any of the concubines in the imperial harem, facing Kangxi's intimidating demeanor, they would probably have already regretted saying the wrong thing, and some of the timid ones would have even admitted their mistake and begged for forgiveness.
But Xiuning was different. Instead, as she listened to Kangxi's words, she calmly served him food while putting down the spoon in her hand. "If Your Majesty likes it, I will naturally reward you. I do this not for any other reason than to encourage them to work harder in the future."
Furthermore, this concubine has a personal reason: His Majesty enjoys this soup, so this concubine cannot miss out.
He had an expression that said, "I'm going to learn this trick to please you," which was very open and aboveboard.
Kangxi was taken aback at first, but then burst into laughter after realizing what was happening. Ning Chuge, who was eating diligently nearby, looked up and glanced around, puzzled.
"Alright, if you like it, then go ahead and make it," Kangxi continued his meal, while also picking up two pieces of what he considered to be good dishes for Ning Chuge. "The soup is good, but you'll get tired of drinking it all the time. My dear consort, if you're so inclined, you can try other flavors. I trust your abilities."
Xiuning: ...
The more she talks, the more inappropriate it becomes. She doesn't even fully understand her own abilities.
With a hint of coquettishness and shyness in her eyes, Xiu Ning stopped speaking, but her expression became increasingly rich.
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, then joined in the silliness.
Although the two adults' demeanor changed drastically, they both tacitly maintained their image in front of Ning Chuge, and decided to postpone more subtle adult topics until late at night.
After finishing their meal, Idel, who had been sent to the side hall earlier, was brought back by the wet nurse.
Xiu Ning reached out and took it, occasionally glancing at Kangxi and Ning Chuge, father and daughter, who were playing on the couch. She didn't say anything, just watched quietly, and a warm feeling spread from the room.
"Put the child down quickly, you must be tired."
Kangxi beckoned to Xiuning, his eyes glancing at the chubby little boy in Xiuning's arms.
As someone who had held Yidel in his arms, Emperor Kangxi knew the child's weight all too well; just like his appearance, he was quite sturdy.
Xiuning smiled and found an open space in the tatami room to lay Ider flat. "It's not that I'm tired, it's just that this child has a lot of energy. Once he's played well, he probably won't want to sleep easily."
Children's sleep schedules are not fixed. Idel is the kind of child who sleeps too much during the day and is not sleepy at night. He sleeps through the night and is bound to be noisy during the day.
Kangxi nodded, looking like he understood. "Children are all like that."
"Is your daughter like this too?" Ning Chuge peeked out from the side.
Kangxi reached out and touched Ning Chuge. "Yes, you were quite a handful back then," he said, adding that Ning Chuge wouldn't even let him hug him when he visited Shou Kang Palace.
Thinking of Ning Chuge's amusing childhood stories, Kangxi's expression softened. Time flies, and he's grown up so much.
"Ooh ooh wah wah ya ya ya"
Idel started his baby talk again, speaking in words that no one else could understand, happily playing by himself while sucking on his little hands.
Emperor Kangxi teased the child, touching his little hands and feet, and casually using a string of Buddhist prayer beads to entice Yider to reach out and grab them.
Xiu Ning leaned against Kangxi, watching him do such a childish thing, a smile playing on her lips, while her attention was also focused on Ning Chuge.
With both children present, especially since Ider is still an innocent toddler, Xiuning couldn't afford to neglect Ning Chuge at a time like this.
Right now is perfect; both children are accompanied by adults, and the whole family is lively, warm, and harmonious.
As darkness fell, candlelight was lit in the room.
Ning Chuge was already yawning, while Yider was becoming increasingly energetic.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning could only lead Ning Chuge to the side hall to wash up.
Mother
Ning Chuge tilted her head back, her eyes glazed over as if she couldn't open them.
Xiu Ning used a towel to dry Ning Chuge's body, and then changed her into her nightgown.
"Good boy, go back to sleep in a little while. Tomorrow morning, your mother will take you back to Shou Kang Palace."
Ning Chuge nodded upon hearing this, and at the same time found a comfortable position to hang himself on Xiu Ning without moving.
Helpless, Xiu Ning called Chun Yu to help her carry Ning Chu Ge to bed.
"Keep the night watchman on watch, keep an eye on Ning Chuge, and check the bedding frequently."
After giving a few detailed instructions, Xiuning got up, took Chunyu's hand, and went back to her room.
Inside the room, Idel was still making a fuss and showed no intention of going to sleep.
Kangxi was helpless. It was only at this moment that he understood what Xiuning meant when she said that the child was really having so much fun that she was never sleepy. Her eyes were wide open like copper bells, so bright that they were dazzling.
"Okay, stop laughing. It's getting late, and you're going to disturb our rest."
Kangxi didn't come here just to sleep; he was wasting the time of both of them.
Xiu Ning blushed slightly and couldn't help but spit at Kangxi, saying, "You're so improper, you dare to say anything out loud."
When Kangxi saw this, he laughed out loud. It was not that Xiuning's expression was offensive; on the contrary, it aroused Kangxi's desires even more.
With a helpless glare at Kangxi, Xiuning stepped forward and pulled Yider into her arms.
Humming an unknown lullaby, she gently patted Ider's back. The previously excited little boy instantly calmed down, his chubby little hands grabbing Xiu Ning's clothes, and he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Seeing this miraculous scene, especially Xiu Ning's expression as she looked at Yi De'er, Kangxi couldn't help but feel his heart soften.
Of all the concubines in the harem, Xiu Ning was the best at caring for her child.
Having never enjoyed much care from his mother since childhood, Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but feel a little jealous, but more than that, he felt envy and a sense of fulfillment.
In the carefree days of childhood, who wouldn't want to be inseparable from their mother?
Seeing that Yidel was fast asleep, Xiuning quickly called the wet nurse at the door to take the child away, saying, "Be careful, it might be troublesome to soothe the child if you wake him up."
The wet nurse nodded in agreement, and dared not move her arms that were holding the child.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning frowned slightly, but did not urge the other party. Instead, she carefully saw the other party out and watched them return to their room.
"Alright, come and rest. If any of these palace maids who serve the young prince make a mistake, we can just replace them with another batch."
Before anyone knew it, Kangxi appeared behind Xiuning.
Xiu Ning smiled upon hearing this, thinking to herself that replacing someone would be easy, but the impact would be much greater.
She looked up, about to say something, when suddenly a young eunuch rushed in from outside the door, interrupting Xiuning's speech.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, something has happened outside."
Xiuning turned her head, but Kangxi stepped out first. "Keep your voice down. What happened?"
The young eunuch knelt down with a thud. "Xianfu Palace has just sent word that the Fourth Princess has suddenly fainted and her life is in danger. Consort Zhang begs Your Majesty to come to Xianfu Palace."
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