The Virtuous Concubine

Malu stood quietly by the side like a silent statue, watching Kangxi holding the Fourth Prince's hand again. The father and son walked together to the spirit of Queen Tong and lit three incense sticks for her.

Seeing her so quiet, Kangxi was once again impressed by her gentleness, grace, and her non-competitiveness, and his thoughts became more intense.

"Defei," Kangxi called her softly, breaking the silence, "I have something to say to you alone."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince immediately understood what he meant. He led Bai Fu, Bai Xia, Jing Yi and others out of the Baohua Hall quietly. Suddenly, only Kangxi and Malu were left in the Baohua Hall, and the air was filled with an indescribable tranquility.

Malu's heart was filled with alarm bells, it was definitely not a good thing!

But she was not nervous. It looked like Kangxi was going to lose his temper again. She would not speak first and suffocate him!

Sure enough, seeing Malu's impatience, even an emperor like Kangxi became a little impatient. Isn't she usually very smart? Why is she so hard to read today?

Kangxi slowly walked towards Malu, his eyes complicated: "De Fei, I have had trouble sleeping at night these days, and I have many things in my mind."

Malu could only pretend to understand and nodded: "I understand. The emperor and the queen have been childhood sweethearts and have a deep love for each other... even I am deeply saddened."

Kangxi's face was also moved when he heard this. He sighed softly: "De Fei, you always understand my heart. I am sorry to Xiaoyi. She...her life...is generally safe, prosperous, smooth and worry-free..."

Kangxi burst into tears. It is said that men do not shed tears easily, but this emperor has always been very emotional. Xiaoyi is the posthumous title of Queen Tong. This combination of soft and hard words made Malu even more nervous.

There must be ghosts!

Malu did not respond, but just gently stroked Kangxi's back, as if she was also heartbroken and felt the same way as Kangxi.

"There are only two things that she regretted, and she didn't let them go before she died." As he said this, Kangxi looked at Malu with burning eyes.

Malu didn't understand! She forced a smile on her face, and she wanted to send Kangxi away to accompany Queen Tong: "I wonder what the regret is?"

Kangxi spoke slowly, and every word seemed to be a torture to Malu: "First, you failed to become my queen, my wife... Second, you wanted to have a child with me."

"Your Majesty," Malu finally spoke, "Heaven and earth can bear witness that the Empress is indeed deeply in love with Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has lived up to her wishes. In the end, she became Your Majesty's wife, and there is nothing to regret. Your Majesty is the ruler of the country and the hope of the people. Please accept my condolences and take care of yourself."

At this point, Malu could no longer play dumb - Kangxi was asking her for a child, wanting to give one or even a pair of children to Tong Qing'er to make up for her regrets in her lifetime!

Malu was filled with strong resistance. She could not accept such an arrangement. The Fourth Prince was her own flesh and blood! She had been working so hard all this time just to be able to raise the Fourth Prince herself.

In extreme anger and powerlessness, Malu, who wanted to kill the king very much at this moment, knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the ground, without saying a word. His refusal could not be more obvious.

Kangxi felt mixed emotions when he saw this. He understood Malu's resistance and her feelings as a mother. But he really felt sorry for his cousin. At this moment, the air in Baohua Hall seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere between the two was extremely tense.

In the end, it was Kangxi who broke the silence first and spoke slowly: "De Fei, I know how you feel, but... don't you consider the future of the Fourth Prince? If the Fourth Prince is registered under the name of Xiaoyi, he will have the status of a legitimate son."

Ma Lu almost sneered when he heard this. Bullshit! If the Fourth Prince becomes the legitimate son, can he be recommended as the Crown Prince like the Second Prince? Wouldn't it be a crazy target for the Crown Prince and the Hesheli family?

You want me to pay for your beautiful love, right?! She really wanted to pull Queen Tong out of the coffin and let her judge. This was really too much!

When Malu raised her head, tears glistened in her eyes, but more of it was determination: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is your son and my flesh and blood. He has my blood in his veins, and he is not Concubine Tong's child, Your Majesty! I cannot and do not want to hand him over to someone else. He does not need the status of a legitimate son, Your Majesty - there has only been one legitimate son, the Crown Prince."

Kangxi frowned, he walked to Malu, stretched out his hand to help her up: "Defei, stand up and talk. I know your difficulties, but you have twins, don't you? Besides, I am doing this for the Fourth Prince, for..."

Malu turned away from Kangxi's hand. How ridiculous! She would never be fooled and sacrifice her own son for Kangxi's psychological comfort!

She said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry I can't obey your command."

Seeing that Malu was so stubborn, Kangxi felt a surge of anger in his heart. Why couldn't she understand and sympathize with him like before?

"Defei, are you challenging my decision?" There was a hint of warning in Kangxi's voice, but more of helplessness.

Ma Lu did not flinch. She looked directly at Kangxi and said word by word, "Your Majesty, I dare not challenge your decision. But does the Empress Dowager agree? Is the Fourth Prince willing? Will the Crown Prince be happy?"

Malu, who was originally very tough, burst into tears after saying this, like pearls falling from a string, splashing on the lapis lazuli floor:

"As a concubine and your subject, Uya Malu naturally dares not disobey. But as the biological mother of the Fourth Prince and a concubine who also loves you very much, I dare to ask you, Queen Tong's heart will be broken, but won't my heart be broken too?"

Kangxi was shocked as if struck by lightning. He took two steps back in shock and looked at Malu in silence.

Seeing that her questioning had shaken Kangxi, Malu quickly took advantage of the situation and cried even more miserably, with every word filled with endless sorrow and pleading: "If you use my sincerity to compensate Concubine Tong, then who will compensate me then——"

"Defei, you..." Kangxi wanted to say something, but found himself speechless.

Malu stopped talking and just fell to the ground crying.

Kangxi stood there in silence. He knew that today's request was too much for Concubine De. He looked at Malu's weak but firm shoulders, and a rare feeling of guilt welled up in his heart.

His request might really be too selfish and ignore her feelings as a mother.

"De Fei, I..." Kangxi spoke again, only to feel his throat dry, "I will reconsider this matter."

Malu's crying paused slightly. She raised her head and looked at Kangxi with tearful eyes, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"De Fei, please stand up." Kangxi repeated again, and this time he spoke without hesitation, "I understand your feelings. I will reconsider this matter and will not force you and the Fourth Prince."