Chapter 188 Heating Up
After the court meeting, Kangxi did not forget to send someone to remind Yinreng, Yinzhi and Yinzhen to bring their respective wives to the Qianqing Palace to pay their respects.
Kangxi couldn't wait to return to the West Warm Pavilion.
"Aying!"
Seeing Yuying still staying in the west warm room, Kangxi couldn't wait to step forward and hold her in his arms.
"Has the emperor had his meal yet?" Yuying had just gotten up and was having her meal when Kangxi came back.
"I haven't eaten yet." Looking at the soup on the table in front of him, Kangxi turned around and told Liang Jiugong: "Go, get another set of bowls and chopsticks. I want to have dinner with your noble concubine."
Yuying didn't care. She couldn't finish it anyway, so it didn't matter if there was one more person to eat.
Liang Jiugong looked at the dishes ordered by the imperial concubines in front of him, observed Kangxi's expression, and suggested: "Your Majesty, why don't you order two more dishes, and I will fetch them together?"
Kangxi waved his hand and said, "No, I'll just eat what the imperial concubine ordered."
"Well, I'll go right away."
Liang Jiugong turned around and went downstairs.
The emperor is really good at lying. Look at the dishes ordered by the imperial concubine. Almost every dish has scallions, which the emperor doesn't like. What? Is it because he likes the imperial concubine so much that he wants the same taste?
Although Liang Jiugong was muttering in his heart, his pace did not slow down at all, and he even looked serious. No one could tell that he was so bold as to make up stories about the emperor in his mind.
Not long after, Liang Jiugong brought the bowl and chopsticks, but Yuying had already put down her chopsticks and sat aside, rubbing her stomach.
Yuying signaled to Kangxi to let her go and eat quickly.
Kangxi reluctantly let Yuying go.
Seeing Kangxi taking the bowl and chopsticks from Liang Jiugong and picking them up himself, Yuying joked, "These are my leftovers. Your Majesty, don't you mind?"
During the break in the meal, Kangxi glanced at Yuying.
This look contained a lot, as if saying: "Do you think I look disgusted?"
This look made Yuying feel embarrassed. Speaking of which, Emperor Kangxi only acted like an emperor in front of her at the beginning, but he always indulged her afterwards.
Thinking of this, Yuying's eyes couldn't help but be moved.
Seeing Yuying's expression change, Kangxi didn't care about eating. He put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hand and asked anxiously: "What's wrong with Ah Ying?"
Yuying didn't speak immediately.
Kangxi waved his hand, signaling his servants to remove all the things.
Well, the Emperor and the Empress have something private to say again.
When the people in the hall saw Kangxi's action, they immediately followed Liang Jiugong out. Soon, Kangxi and Yuying were the only ones left in the hall that was full of people just now.
"Okay, now Aying, can you tell me what happened just now?"
Yuying and Kangxi sat face to face. She stared into Kangxi's eyes and saw the tolerance in his eyes clearly.
"Will the emperor feel wronged?" Yuying asked softly.
"Huh? How do I feel wronged?" Kangxi seemed to not understand why Yu Yingying asked this.
"I despise the imperial power, act recklessly, and push my luck..." Yuying counted her shortcomings on her fingers, and finally looked directly into Kangxi's eyes, "...I can't even give you the love you want. Don't you feel wronged?"
Kangxi was speechless. He didn't expect Yuying to think so much. His eyes became gentle again. He hugged Yuying tightly like a tolerant elder, "I never feel wronged. I don't think what Aying said are all shortcomings. It is because of what Aying said that she is Aying, isn't it?"
"Besides, don't I have more shortcomings than Aying? I am sensitive, suspicious, and domineering. If it weren't for Aying, I would have ended up with a reputation of being dishonest."
Kangxi made a light joke.
His hand stroked Yuying's back again and again, "Aying, you don't have to feel guilty. Everything I give to Aying is what I want to give to Aying."
"It doesn't matter if you don't love me. It's me who can't get Ah Ying's love. Ah Ying is not wrong."
After all, he was much older than her. Looking at the confusion in Yuying's eyes, Kangxi probably understood that it was because of what he had done that made Yuying feel uneasy.
"Don't be afraid, Ying. I don't necessarily need your response."
Kangxi finished speaking quietly. He stared into Yuying's eyes the whole time, wanting her to understand that what he said was from the heart.
Yuying's eyes were slightly red. She reached out and hugged Kangxi's neck, burying her face in his neck.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Yuying said sullenly.
Sensing the wetness on his neck, Kangxi felt as if his heart was about to be tightened into a ball, and the sourness that surged from his heart was about to swallow him whole.
He squeezed out a few words from his throat: "Aying will never have to say the word "sorry" to me again."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yuying still didn't raise her head from Kangxi's neck.
Yuying was not unintentional, and she could naturally feel Kangxi's growing love for her day by day. But sometimes, such love is also a burden for those who can never return the same emotion.
Because of what she has learned, thought and felt, Yuying could not and did not want to fall in love with a feudal emperor like Kangxi. But Yuying is just an ordinary person. How could she really remain indifferent when such a powerful person only bows to her?
The dual emotions intertwined in Yuying's mind, making her feel anxious all day long.
Fortunately, Kangxi understood her and understood her hesitation to speak.
Perhaps this moment is the most at ease moment for Yuying in this era.
Yuying was finally coaxed to sleep by Kangxi. Kangxi carried Yuying to bed, took off her coat and shoes, and asked someone to fetch water to wipe her face.
Seeing Yuying's eyelids slightly swollen even with her eyes closed because she had been crying for too long, Kangxi picked up a handkerchief and touched them gently, his action full of tenderness.
Only after doing all this did Kangxi walk out of the hall.
Liang Jiugong followed behind him, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Kangxi followed the direction of Liang Jiugong's gaze and remembered that Yuying had just cried on him. He was afraid that his clothes would not be able to be seen at this moment.
"I want to take a bath."
Kangxi ordered in a deep voice.
By the time Kangxi changed his clothes and came out, Yinreng with the Crown Princess, Yinzhi, and Yinzhen with their wives had been waiting for a long time.
Kangxi became the serious emperor again and signaled Liang Jiugong to bring the person over.
"Your son/daughter-in-law pays homage to Khan Ama."
Three newly married couples paid their respects to Kangxi.
Kangxi nodded and motioned for everyone to stand up.
After the Crown Princess and the Third and Fourth Concubines offered tea to Kangxi, and Kangxi drank a sip each out of respect, Kangxi signaled Liang Jiugong to pass on the rewards to the few people. Then he spoke to them again, mainly hoping that they could give birth to legitimate sons as soon as possible so that he could hold his grandson soon.
Naturally, several people nodded in agreement.
After saying this, Kangxi signaled everyone to go back.
But before leaving, Kangxi casually mentioned: "Recently, Concubine Jin has been in a bad mood. Crown Princess, please go to Yongshou Palace more often and talk to Concubine Jin."
Kangxi thought about it and decided that instead of letting Yuying deal with his concubines, it would be better to let Yuying deal with this group of princes and their wives.
Everyone was stunned, but still agreed.
Yuqing Palace and the princes were in two different directions. After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Yinreng was the first to separate from his two younger brothers.
On the way back to Yuqing Palace, Crown Princess Shi Miaowan turned her head and asked Yinreng: "Your Highness, the Emperor... Khan Ama just said, should I do it?"
Yinreng felt most guilty towards Yuying at this moment, especially when he heard that Concubine Jin was still in a bad mood, he understood everything.
Presumably, Khan Ama told Concubine Jin that she could not be made queen, so when he heard the Crown Princess ask about it, he nodded seriously and said, "Yes, you should pay more attention to this matter. I got some new and interesting things a few days ago, and I will give them to you later. You can also take them to Yongshou Palace for Concubine Jin to enjoy."
"Yes, your highness, don't worry."
The couple went to Yuqing Palace together.
At this time, on the other side, the couple Yinzhi and Yinzhen who were going to the prince's place were also discussing this matter.
"Fourth brother, how come I don't know that Concubine Jin is in a bad mood, do you know?" Yinzhi came close to Yinzhen to inquire, while his wife was also talking to the fourth wife.
When Yinzhen came out of the Qianqing Palace, he frowned and thought about what Kangxi said, but he had no clue.
Seeing Yinzhi speak, he shook his head honestly, "I don't know. The day before yesterday, when I and Xiaoba went to pay our respects to my aunt, we didn't notice anything."
Yinzhi looked Yinzhen up and down with suspicion in his eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Yinzhen asked with a dark face.
Yinzhi looked like he had good intentions for him. He patted his shoulder and spoke earnestly, "My fourth brother, everyone in the palace knows that Concubine Jin treats you like her own daughter. You can't just ignore her because she's just your adoptive mother! Look at you, you don't even know that Concubine Jin is in a bad mood."
Yinzhi finished speaking with condemnation in his eyes.
Yinzhen slapped his hand away and said with a dark face: "Third brother! How can you slander your brother with empty words? I respect my aunt from the bottom of my heart. But I am sure! My aunt was fine a few days ago. I guess she is just in a bad mood these days!"
"Alright, alright. I was just saying that. Don't be angry, fourth brother." Yinzhi came closer again, "Then we also need to know why Concubine Jin is in a bad mood? This way we can find the right remedy. Khan Ama has entrusted the task to our wife, we can't just ignore it, right?"
"Third brother, please stop talking nonsense in the future. Forget about it today." Yinzhen generously forgave Yinzhi. "As for why aunt is in a bad mood, Xiaoba and I will go to pay our respects to aunt tomorrow and ask her."
"Okay! Then I'll leave this matter to you!" Yinzhi patted Yinzhen on the shoulder.
"Fujin, let's go."
Yinzhi and Yinzhen were also separated in the prince's residence.
Only after returning to his residence did Fucha Yejia have the opportunity to ask the questions in his mind.
"Khan Ama hopes to have a grandson as soon as possible, but didn't my aunt let us..." Fucha Yejia was a little shy. She and Yinzhen had consummated their marriage on their wedding day. Although they slept in the same place at night in the following days, they never consummated their marriage again because of what Yuying said before.
Yinzhen was stunned, especially since his wife was still looking at him, waiting for his answer.
He poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp.
"Fourth Master, tell me! Who should we listen to?" Fucha Yejia pulled Yinzhen's sleeve and acted coquettishly.
Yinzhen managed to suppress the shame in his heart and said, "Listen to my aunt, we still have a long time to live, and it's okay to have a child later."
He had also gone to the Imperial Hospital to ask questions recently, and had also looked up the delivery conditions of women in the Qing Dynasty in recent years, and had some understanding of these things.
But the more he understood, the more frightened he became.
My aunt was right. The mortality rate of children born to younger women had reached a horrifying level. On the contrary, many more children born to older women grew up to adulthood.
Yinzhen told Fucha Yejia what he had found out, and Fucha Yejia turned pale with fear. She was terrified of pregnancy for a long time afterwards. No matter how Yinzhen coaxed her, she was unwilling to consummate the marriage with him.
Of course, this is something that happened later. At this time, Yinzhen just held her hand and comforted her: "Don't be afraid, Fujin, I will definitely protect you."
Fucha Yejia snuggled into Yinzhen's arms and refused to come out.
At the same time, Yuying woke up in the west warm pavilion. She was not sleepy at all, but fell asleep because she was tired from crying.
As soon as she woke up, she looked around and found that Kangxi was not there. She felt a little aggrieved. She sat on the bed dejectedly and did not call anyone to help her wash up. She just sat there without saying a word.
This was the Yuying that Kangxi saw when he rushed back.
He walked over quickly, wrapped Yuying in a blanket, and touched her cold hands. "Why didn't you call anyone in to help you after you woke up? You're wearing so little, sitting here like this, what if you get cold?"
Kangxi was gentle to Yuying, but that didn't mean he was gentle to everyone. After seeing Yuying wrapped up tightly, Kangxi scolded the palace maids who came in with him: "You bunch of slaves! How did you serve me? You didn't send anyone in to check on me for so long? What's the point of keeping you!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Qingtao, Qingdai and others all knelt on the ground, trembling.
Seeing that her maids were all frightened, Yuying stretched out a hand and put it in Kangxi's hand. Kangxi subconsciously held Yuying's hand in his palm, trying to transfer the warmth in his palm to Yuying's palm.
"Your Majesty, it was my fault that I didn't call anyone in. Please don't blame them." Yuying pleaded for them.
Kangxi looked at Yuying and said, "Aying, you are too soft-hearted. That's why these servants are so careless."
Yuying didn't say anything, but just shook her hand that was held by Kangxi.
"Well, since your queen has pleaded for you, I will fine each of you three months' salary as a warning to others. If there is a next time, I will never let you off easily."
A group of people accepted the punishment, apologized for their sins and left the hall. A few of them looked at each other outside the door, feeling as if they had escaped a disaster.
"It was our negligence today. From now on, when the emperor is not around, we must leave someone to guard the queen."
As soon as Qingdai opened her mouth, everyone nodded in fear.
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