The Virtuous Concubine

Kangxi sat on the imperial sedan chair, his eyes were blank, and no one knew what he was thinking. The Forbidden City looked particularly solemn and majestic in the night, and the moonlight sprinkled on the yellow glazed tiles, reflecting a faint light. The imperial sedan chair moved slowly forward, passing through the palace gates one after another, and the flames of the lanterns swayed in the night wind, casting long shadows.

Beside the imperial chariot, the eunuchs lowered their heads and followed quietly, like cats walking at night, not daring to make any noise for fear of disturbing the emperor in his deep thoughts. Their shadows, illuminated by the palace lanterns, became longer and shorter, and as the imperial chariot moved, they looked like a flowing painting.

For some reason, Liang Jiugong felt that Kangxi didn't want to leave Yonghe Palace today, let alone meet Concubine Tong. But for various reasons, he forced himself to go. He had followed Kangxi for many years and knew the emperor's temperament well. Tonight, he could feel the contradiction and struggle in Emperor Kangxi's heart.

But Liang Jiugong knew without thinking that Kangxi would do what he thought was right even if he was unwilling. As an emperor, he had experienced the dark years in his childhood when Concubine Dong E directly made all the concubines pale in comparison, and was constrained by the Empress Dowager on his way to growth. The subsequent major events such as the reduction of vassal states and the capture of Oboi made the emperor realize that even if he was rich, he was not qualified to be willful.

But he really wanted to stay in Yonghe Palace just now, to watch Malu smiling as she watched the Fourth Prince eat, and if Malu was still in good spirits, to listen to her play the sentimental song "The Quail Flies".

Soon, Kangxi and his entourage arrived at the brightly lit Chengqian Palace. Kangxi got off the sedan chair neatly, and his figure looked particularly lonely in the moonlight. The maids of Chengqian Palace had been waiting outside the door for a long time. When they saw the emperor coming, they all saluted in unison. Because of her health problems, Kangxi had exempted Concubine Tong from the complicated etiquette of receiving the emperor. Fortunately, she had the highest rank in the harem, so she did not need to salute anyone except Kangxi, the empress dowager, and the grand empress dowager.

Kangxi nodded slightly and walked straight into the palace. The Chengqian Palace was magnificently decorated, but under the bright lights, Kangxi's heart was not disturbed at all. It was not until he passed through the beaded curtain and stepped into the inner room that he saw Concubine Tong leaning on the bed, her face pale and her eyes empty and weak that he felt a little distressed.

When Concubine Tong saw Kangxi coming in, she wanted to stand up to greet him, but Kangxi gently held her back: "Cousin, are you feeling better recently?"

Concubine Tong sighed softly, her voice no longer as lively as before: "It's still the same old way, drinking bowl after bowl of bitter juice but not seeing any improvement."

Kangxi sat by the bed, holding Concubine Tong's hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, but felt only a layer of cold sweat: "I really don't know what these imperial doctors do for a living! I will replace you with a new batch, and recruit talented people from the public, and seek famous doctors from all over the world to treat you, and I will definitely be able to make you better."

Concubine Tong smiled slightly, revealing a gentleness that she had never had in her past despite her sickness: "Your Majesty, the ice is three feet thick and it didn't freeze overnight. Isn't it said that illness goes away like pulling out a thread? It will definitely take some time. I only hope that I can accompany Your Majesty more in the limited days."

Kangxi was moved when he heard Concubine Tong's words, which were almost as if she was determined to die. He knew that Concubine Tong was suffering from a mental illness that could not be cured by medicine. "Why are you doing this? I know what you are thinking, but I hope you can relax. You and I have been together for many years, how can I not feel sorry for you? I will try my best to find a doctor for you, and I hope you can take care of yourself for me."

Seeing that Kangxi was still unwilling to give her any promise, Concubine Tong's face turned even paler. At first, she only wanted the emperor's exclusive favor and love, and it didn't matter if she couldn't get it. Now she just wanted a child, why didn't the emperor want to give her one? She cried, made a scene, and now she was so sick, but the emperor's mind seemed always unfathomable.

A trace of tears flashed in Concubine Tong's eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, but she still tried to smile: "Your Majesty, I know that you treat me sincerely. I also understand your concerns..."

Kangxi gently touched Concubine Tong's face, but his tone was still firm: "My cousin, you naturally understand my intention. I not only want you to understand, but also want you to recover."

Concubine Tong listened to Kangxi's seemingly firm but evasive words, and gently lowered her eyes. Finally, she couldn't hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes, and turned her head away from Kangxi. Kangxi didn't force her, and looked at Concubine Tong with a look of guilt and pity in his eyes: "I owe you... but you also have to learn to understand that I can't help myself."

Concubine Tong then raised her head, her tearful eyes filled with a hint of expectation: "Your Majesty, I dare not ask for too much, I only hope to give birth to a son for Your Majesty and continue the royal bloodline. Even if it is just to adopt a child, if that is possible, I will die without regrets."

Seeing that Concubine Tong had lowered her attitude and was still refusing to give up, Kangxi felt helpless and annoyed at the same time. Why couldn't his cousin learn to think for herself? He couldn't help but have a hint of blame in his tone as he spoke: "As the ruler of a country, I cannot act based on personal feelings. Do you understand?"

Imperial Concubine Tong shook her head like a rattle: "I understand everything, but who can understand me? If I can't support concubines from the Manchu families, then I can't support concubines from humble backgrounds either?" She became more and more excited, and finally blurted out, "Cousin, are you afraid of the families behind them, or are you afraid of the Tong family?!"

Kangxi's face darkened. He didn't expect Concubine Tong to say such a thing! He angrily scolded Concubine Tong: "How outrageous!"

Without waiting for Concubine Tong to explain to him, he stood up and paced back and forth, trying to calm himself down: "The Tong family is my mother's family, and I have never had such an idea. In the previous dynasty and the harem, I ask myself if I have a clear conscience towards the Tong family! I have always tried my best to promote the children of the Tong family, and the harem has also given you an unparalleled position. What else do you want from me? Just let the Tong family sit on the throne, why do you need to go to great lengths to plan and seize a prince as an excuse?"

As he was talking, Kangxi became angry and walked away, no longer paying attention to Concubine Tong on the bed.

Coming to Chengqian Palace today was a really wrong decision!

Concubine Tong was frightened by Kangxi's anger. She lay on the bed, tears rolling down like beads from a broken string. Every word of the emperor hit her heart hard. She knew that her slip of the tongue had touched the emperor's reverse scale. The palace maids saw that Concubine Tong's slip of the tongue had touched the emperor's reverse scale, and they were all panicked and did not dare to step forward to persuade her. Liuying, who was standing aside, was even more disappointed. Didn't they have a good agreement before, and they had discussed clearly what to say and what to do, so why did they quarrel?

Kangxi had already walked out of Chengqian Palace quickly. The night wind was blowing on his face, but he couldn't calm down. Concubine Tong's words also made him feel deeply helpless and angry. Liang Jiugong followed behind Kangxi and asked carefully: "Your Majesty, are you going back to Qianqing Palace now?"

Emperor Kangxi was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "I need to be quiet for a while, let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."

In the Imperial Garden, the flowers and trees were even more tranquil under the night sky, and the fragrance of flowers accompanied by the breeze should have been a refreshing scene, but Emperor Kangxi had no intention of appreciating it. After walking for almost an hour, the eunuchs carrying the imperial sedan chair began to breathe heavily, and Liang Jiugong had to gently remind them: "Your Majesty, it's getting darker and the dew is heavy, you should return to the palace to rest early."

If you don't go back now, the sedan chair will fall down because you can't carry it anymore!

Kangxi said nothing, as if he had not heard anything. Liang Jiugong naturally did not dare to say anything more, and motioned everyone to continue walking. Just as Kangxi was immersed in his own thoughts, a light figure appeared on the small road under the moonlight. It seemed to be a palace maid, she was holding a palace lantern and looking for something, her slender figure looked particularly elegant and refined in the night.