Kangxi nodded, his eyes, as clear as black glass, were full of smiles.
"Yes, my beloved consort is right."
"Our fourth child is quite cute."
Aoki, who had just entered the palace, already knew that the Emperor had come to the palace to see the Empress. Knowing that his Empress must be in a good mood, he spoke in a lighthearted tone.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Highness, dinner has arrived."
With a smile, Consort Tong asked Emperor Kangxi in a soft voice.
"Cousin Emperor, will you dine with me tonight?"
Consort Tong knew that since the Emperor was arriving so late, he would definitely have dinner here and stay overnight at Chengqian Palace. She had only asked casually, and wanted to assure him, for fear that the seductive women of the harem might find an excuse to seduce the Emperor.
Emperor Kangxi, who was drinking tea nearby, nodded when he heard the maid relaying a message to Consort Tong.
"Yes. I will stay in your palace tonight. Let's go, my beloved concubine, and have a meal together."
Eunuchs carrying red lacquered boxes lined up and quickly served various dishes, meals, and soups on the table.
There were special eunuchs who tasted the food beforehand to ensure its safety.
Seeing a bowl of steamed eight-treasure fish on the table, Kangxi knew that this was a dish that Consort Tong had said she liked. Kangxi picked it up and put it into Consort Tong's bowl, and then said.
"I know, this is what my cousin likes to eat. Eat more. I heard you haven't had a good appetite lately. You can't ruin your health."
She then casually picked up a few dishes for the Fourth Prince, who was sitting next to her, and told him to eat more and grow up healthy, as there were too few of the emperor's children still alive in the palace.
Upon hearing the emperor's instructions, the fourth prince nodded his little head vigorously and then put the food his mother had put in his mouth.
When Consort Tong heard Emperor Kangxi's gentle and caring voice, a warm feeling flowed through her heart, and a genuine smile appeared on her face, her expression very sweet.
The emperor cousin still remembered what she liked to eat and was also very concerned about the fourth prince they raised together. Consort Tong's mouth moved slightly, as if she was about to say something.
A eunuch announced from the door that Consort De's sixth son, Yinzhuo, was ill and wished to see his father, the Emperor, and requested the Emperor's presence.
Consort Tong's face contorted for a moment, but she quickly recovered.
Even if she was seething with hatred inside and wished the Sixth Prince would die of illness, she would still put on a kind and understanding face and speak gently.
“Cousin Emperor, why don’t you go to Yonghe Palace later to see the Sixth Prince?”
Kangxi was initially in a dilemma, as he had promised his cousin he would stay overnight. However, since his cousin was so understanding, he no longer felt he had to make things difficult.
"Yes, my cousin is so understanding. I'm a little worried about the Sixth Prince. I'll go over now, and I'll come see my cousin again tomorrow."
Consort Tong saw the Emperor off with a face full of reluctance. Standing at the door, it was already completely dark, and Consort Tong's delicate facial expression could not be seen. However, the servants around her could also sense that their lady was in a bad mood.
He had barely taken a bite or two of his meal when he was seduced by the glamorous and shameless women in the palace. Although he claimed he was going to see the Sixth Prince, everyone knew that the Emperor was going to spend the night at Yonghe Palace.
As she walked out of Chengqian Palace, those seductive women in the palace were probably secretly mocking Consort Tong for being incompetent and unable to keep the emperor.
The Fourth Prince, who was standing to one side, sensed that his mother was in a bad mood. He raised his head, and his two dark eyes showed a hint of helplessness.
"Mother, let's go back and have a meal. Father has left. I'll eat with you. Don't be sad. Father will come again tomorrow."
Consort Tong felt a warmth slowly rise in her heart as she heard the Fourth Prince's clumsy words of comfort. She felt that she had not raised the Fourth Prince in vain. Looking at his childish face, she saw worry and unease in his eyes.
"It's alright, Mother is alright. Come on, Mother will have a meal with Zhen'er. Zhen'er, eat more today. Mother has ordered many of your favorite dishes."
Consort Tong stepped into the palace. The bright lights illuminated her gentle and charming face, which carried a hint of tenderness, a hint of melancholy, and a hint of comfort.
Consort Tong cheered herself up and finished dinner with the Fourth Prince. Seeing that the Fourth Prince ate an extra bowl of rice, she felt a little happier.
The eunuch Wang Ji served Duofu a rich and varied dinner. Duofu's dinner included not only goat milk, but also various snacks, meatballs, and various complementary foods added to the goat milk.
It tasted absolutely amazing; the food made in the imperial kitchen was incomparable to that from the big pot. It was so delicious.
Duofu works hard. There's a saying that goes, "If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your thinking." As a positive-minded little puppy, how could Duofu not be enthusiastic about eating?
After Duofu had eaten until his belly was round and full, there was hardly any food left. He didn't leave a single meatball, only one small snack, and not a drop of goat milk.
Duofu stared at the piece of pastry on the plate, a struggle raging within him.
Should I eat or not? I feel full, but I still eat.
As the saying goes, wasting food is shameful. Finish it up! By the time Duofu finished the last piece of snack, his belly was already bulging as big as it could get.
The eunuch Wang Ji looked at Duofu with a worried expression, his heart filled with despair. If he didn't let Duofu eat, it would bark and roll on the ground, and he simply couldn't stop it from eating.
Otherwise, his masters would think he had mistreated Duofu.
He ate too much and his stomach felt uncomfortable. Looking at Duofu scratching his stomach with his two paws, he was full of worry and fear, afraid that the Fourth Prince would send him back and not let him take care of Duofu.
After dinner, the Fourth Prince took Consort Tong to see Xiao Duofu, and that's when they saw the scene before them.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
