Chapter 114: Sharp Turn
On the day of the Gold Award Ceremony.
Tong Jia attended the ceremony in gorgeous attire and sat a little below Kangxi, like an expensive and exquisite sculpture.
Standing behind her was Zishang, whose whole attention was focused on Tong Jia. She looked at Tong Jia with worry in her eyes, and asked a few questions from time to time, but all she got in return was a slight shake of the head and a "There's nothing wrong with me".
Tong Jia stood up straight, looking at the people at the banquet with a smile on her face. From time to time, someone toasted her, and she accepted them with a smile.
All those sitting at the banquet today are members of the royal family, so Tong Jia naturally has to give them face.
Watching Tong Jia drinking cup after cup of wine, her heavy makeup could not hide her pale complexion. Beads of sweat were seen dripping from her forehead, and her whole body seemed to be shaking.
Zichang hurried forward and pretended to pour wine for her, but in fact she was helping her to steady her body.
"Your Majesty, why don't we ask the Emperor to leave? I'm sure the Emperor knows your health and won't blame us."
Zishang glanced at Kangxi's position.
Kangxi was even busier. There was an endless stream of people toasting him all night long, and he never put down his wine glass. He had no time to care whether Tong Jia was feeling unwell or not.
Tong Jia shook her head and signaled Zishang to step back, saying that she could still hold on.
Zishang didn't dare to speak for her master, so she had to listen to Tong Jia's words. However, seeing Tong Jia's forcing herself to hold on, her eyes turned red.
Tong Jia had been unhappy ever since she was rejected from the Palace of Heavenly Purity that day. Especially since Concubine Jin was favored by the emperor, she seemed even more lonely.
Tong Jia had no appetite all day and was busy preparing for the Golden Festival. Even a strong body would be exhausted, let alone Tong Jia's body which was like a funnel.
Yesterday, Tong Jia fainted.
The imperial physician was invited to come and advise her not to worry too much, not to overwork herself, and to rest.
But today was the Golden Award Ceremony, and Tong Jia had to attend. So early in the morning, Tong Jia asked Zishang to put on enough makeup to cover her face, and she also changed into bright clothes, putting on the airs of an imperial concubine.
After all, this was a rare occasion for her to attend a banquet with Kangxi as the Imperial Noble Consort instead of the Queen.
She didn't want to miss it.
After the Golden Award Ceremony, Tong Jia's health deteriorated rapidly, and she even became bedridden at one point.
Because the Imperial Noble Consort was unwell, the entire Chengqian Palace was silent. Tong Jia even specifically ordered Zishang to move Yinsi to the room farthest away from her, and even ordered Yinzhen to stay in the North Five Houses and not come back, for fear that the disease would be passed on to the two children.
Kangxi also visited Tong Jia after the court session and found that she had difficulty even getting up. He called the imperial physician to ask about it. When Kangxi heard that Tong Jia was depressed and worried, he thought it was the sequelae of Tong Jia's hard work in awarding the Golden Festival.
So he issued an order to divide the palace power held by Tong Jia among Concubine Niu Hulu and the remaining three concubines, and told Tong Jia to rest and recuperate, and when she recovered, he would take back the palace power. In addition, he would also have people look after Yinzhen and Yinsi.
The most important thing for Tong Jia right now is to recuperate.
"Thank you, cousin."
Tong Jia was lying on the bed, her body was extremely thin. Seeing Kangxi's soft expression and admonishing her, Tong Jia thanked Kangxi in a weak voice.
Kangxi didn't sit for long before leaving.
At the same time, the people in Chengqian Palace could not stop Yinzhen.
"Mother!"
Yinzhen's voice came from far away and was getting closer and closer to Tong Jia's bedroom.
As soon as the class in the study room ended today, Yinzhen received the news that Tong Jia was ill and he was not allowed to visit her. Without thinking, he quickly ran back to Chengqian Palace, and even Su Peisheng couldn't catch up with him.
"Xiao Si, why don't you listen to your mother? Get out now!"
Tong Jia became anxious and seemed to want to get up and drive Yinzhen out.
"Mother, are you okay?" Yinzhen's eyes were red. He dodged Tong Jia's hand that was trying to push him and grabbed it instead.
"Mother, it's okay. Be good, little boy, listen to mother and go out first." Tong Jia coaxed Yinzhen.
Yinzhen refused to listen and refused to leave no matter how they tried to drive him away. He wanted to stay with Tong Jia.
"Then Xiao Si, can you go check on Xiao Ba for Mom? Xiao Ba hasn't practiced speaking yet. Can you help Mom teach Xiao Ba to speak?"
Tong Jia used Yinsi as an excuse to send Yinzhen away.
"If you let the Fourth Prince break in again next time, you will all be punished by me." Tong Jia glanced at the servants serving in the hall and said coldly.
"Yes, madam."
Tong Jia was seriously ill, and the people who had gained power in the palace were like being hit by a pie, especially Concubine De and Concubine Yi, who were secretly happy in their own palaces.
Defei always held a grudge against Tong Jia for not only taking away Yinzhen, but also hiding the fact that she was Yinzhen's biological mother. She wished that Tong Jia would have a miserable life.
Concubine Yi simply had a conflict with Tong Jia. After all, when she was in favor, Tong Jia often found reasons to punish her.
Kangxi naturally didn't know what his concubines were thinking. If he knew, he would definitely not easily hand over the palace power to them. After Kangxi came out of Chengqian Palace, he took a walk and went to Yuying's Yongshou Palace.
Yuying was leading Qingtao and others to play shuttlecock when they didn't expect Kangxi to come suddenly.
Everyone had no choice but to put their things away, and Yuying accompanied Kangxi into the hall.
"Is the Imperial Concubine okay?" Yuying took the initiative to show concern for Tong Jia's health.
"Aying also knows about this?" Kangxi glanced at Yuying, "My cousin is overworked. She will be fine after a few days of rest."
Kangxi did not take this too seriously, after all, this was not the first time that Tonggiya had done this.
Hearing Kangxi say this, Yuying didn't quite believe Kangxi's words that Tong Jia was just overworked. "Your Majesty, are you sure? How about asking the imperial physician to take another closer look?"
"What does Ah Ying mean by this?"
Kangxi seemed not to understand. Could he be talking nonsense?
"Um..." Yuying hesitated, "I think the Imperial Concubine has been sick every three days and every five days. It can't be because of overwork, right? Let the imperial physician take a good look at her. If there is any problem, it can be treated as soon as possible."
[I can’t say I knew the Imperial Concubine would die next year, right? I’m not the King of Hell, so I’m not going to make a decision.]
Yuying grumbled in her heart. Although Tong Jia and she had a quarrel, she still hoped that Tong Jia could survive the catastrophe. On the one hand, in Yuying's opinion, it was a pity for anyone to die before the age of 30; on the other hand, Yinzhen and Yinsi were now raised by Tong Jia. If Tong Jia died, what would happen to the two children?
Does Yinzhen really want to go back to Concubine De? What is the relationship between Concubine De and Yinzhen?
Not to mention Yinsi, who had just changed his adoptive mother. What should he do?
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