In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi summoned his ministers, got angry and lost his temper, but still felt suffocated.
Although the emperor is noble, it is not an easy job. Whenever there is a problem or someone is unsure of what to do, they come to him for help, and he naturally has to deal with it.
There's a limit to how things can be resolved. There are always a few idiots who bother him every day with trivial matters. They're not serious, but dealing with them is really exhausting.
After taking a sip of tea, Kangxi frowned: "Why is the tea so strong today?" His head was throbbing from the commotion caused by a few dim-witted people, and the tea tasted bitter.
Liang Jiugong quickly said, "The palace maid who served the tea was newly sent by the Imperial Household Department and doesn't quite know His Majesty's taste. This servant will get you a different cup right away."
Kangxi shook his head and put down his teacup: "Never mind."
He couldn't drink anymore. Looking at the memorials on the table, he had no desire to read them. He stood up and said, "Come with me for a walk."
“Zha”
There was a charcoal brazier inside, so it wasn't cold. But it was a different story outside. Kangxi always had to put on two layers of clothing before going out.
After leaving the Qianqing Palace, they walked towards the Imperial Garden. In this weather, even with all the talented gardeners in the palace, the Imperial Garden was not particularly beautiful. So His Majesty could only go to Jiangxue Pavilion. Liang Jiugong thought to himself, "It's been several months now, and His Majesty's affection for Consort Shu is quite remarkable."
Emperor Kangxi did not actually intend to go directly to Jiangxue Pavilion; he only planned to take a casual stroll. However, as he walked, he somehow ended up at Jiangxue Pavilion.
Emperor Kangxi did not bring many people with him this time: Liang Jiugong and Liang Jiugong's apprentice, Liang Jing.
Upon entering Jiangxue Pavilion, Kangxi didn't order any whips to be fired and went straight in. Seeing that the courtyard was deserted and there wasn't even a gatekeeper, he wondered where everyone had gone. The door wasn't locked, so there must be someone there.
Kangxi lightened his pace and slowly walked towards the room where Youqing usually stayed. As he got closer, he could hear laughter and chatter coming from inside the room.
The sounds were mixed; everyone from Jiangxuexuan must be inside.
Thinking of his own exhausting work in the Qianqing Palace, where even drinking water was uncomfortable, Kangxi felt particularly unbalanced upon hearing the lively sounds coming from inside.
His face darkened slightly; he wasn't exactly angry, but he certainly wasn't in a good mood.
Inside the room, Youqing was listening to several eunuchs and palace maids talking about their hometown dishes. Youqing couldn't help but swallow her saliva and decided that she would definitely send someone to the kitchen to order some for dinner that night.
Just as I was fantasizing about the delicious food I would be eating that night, the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.
The sounds inside the room suddenly stopped. People looked towards the door, wondering who was so bold as to push the door open like that, only to find that it was Emperor Kangxi.
A hint of surprise flashed in Youqing's eyes. She quickly got up and went to greet them. Everyone else also got up from their embroidered stools to pay their respects.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty."
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
Kangxi walked straight past Sangzhu Chengying and the others, sat on the couch where Youqing had been sitting, and said, "No need for formalities, all of you, get up! Consort Shu, come and sit down."
Everyone expressed their gratitude, and Youqing followed suit, then sat down on the couch on the other side.
Liang Jiugong, being sensible, led everyone out of the room.
Youqing asked, "It's cold outside, why did Your Majesty come here?"
After spending several months together, Youqing also discovered that although Kangxi had the majesty of an emperor, he was not bad to women, and his words were less distant.
"Can't I come to see you?"
"Of course I can, I would be honored."
"When I came in just now, there was no one guarding the courtyard. Is it because we don't have enough servants? If you need someone to serve you, I will have the Imperial Household Department send you two."
Youqing quickly refused. Her place wasn't very big, and with four people serving her, it was enough for her. If there were more people, not only would she not be able to handle them, but it might also cause some unnecessary trouble.
"I just felt cold and there was nothing else to do, so I let them all come inside to warm up. There are plenty of people to serve you, thank you for remembering me, Your Majesty."
"You are quite considerate."
"I just feel that they all have it tough. They always do their jobs diligently and run errands for me. I should always think of them. When I have nothing to do, it's boring to be alone. Listening to them talk can be quite amusing."
"I have a bit of a headache, come and rub my forehead."
When facing Emperor Kangxi, Youqing only took the initiative once, when she was serving him in bed. Otherwise, she never took the initiative. Her attitude towards Kangxi was basically that she would only do what he asked her to do, unlike when he asked her to bring him soup or water, or when he asked her to come forward.
Youqing, who had never massaged anyone's head before, hesitated and said, "I'm not good with my hands. Maybe I should have Liang Jiugong send someone over. I'm afraid His Majesty will be uncomfortable."
Kangxi frowned and said in a way that left no room for refusal, "I need you here. Come quickly."
Upon hearing this, Youqing could only let it go. In any case, she had said what she needed to say, and in the end, she wouldn't be the one to suffer.
Sitting behind Kangxi, Youqing placed her hands on both sides of his head and began to gently massage it.
The room was warm, and Youqing's health had been quite good these days, mainly thanks to the ample "yang energy" from Emperor Kangxi. Youqing's hands were warm and soft, which felt very comfortable.
About fifteen minutes later, Kangxi raised his hand and took her hand. With a forceful pull, Youqing fell into Kangxi's arms.
"My beloved concubine's technique is quite good; I like it very much."
"I'm glad Your Majesty doesn't mind."
"How could that be? My dear consort, you did a wonderful job. Is there anything you wish for?" Kangxi felt comfortable after her massage. While her technique was certainly not as good as a professional's, he did feel much more relaxed afterward, so he wanted to reward her with something, otherwise it would be a disservice to his comfort.
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