The Virtuous Concubine

As Rong Ji walked, he carefully put away the banknotes, thinking in his mind that he would use them all in the name of Malu and Wuya's family to provide porridge, free medical treatment and charity.

It would help the Empress gain some reputation among the people, and she would also receive more support in the palace.

No one could tell what he was planning, but after he came out of Yonghe Palace, the banknotes in his arms and hands were seen by others.

Gradually, everyone in the palace spread the rumor that Concubine De was anxious to get pregnant again so that she could compete with Concubine Yi. She spared no expense in seeking a child and rewarded the imperial physician with huge sums of silver just to get him in good health.

Malu wanted to laugh when she heard this. Why was she in a hurry to have another child when she already had three? Didn't the person who made this up use his brain? So she just threw it aside and ignored it.

When Kangxi heard Liang Jiugong mention this rumor in a veiled way, he was both angry and amused: "How could such a ridiculous thing happen? Why would you ask the imperial physician for help if you don't ask me for help!"

As he said this, he became a little worried again.

Kangxi was remarkable in this respect. Unlike some emperors who believed in tonics and longevity, Kangxi firmly believed that birth, aging, illness and death were all determined by heaven, and people could only take good care of themselves and adapt to the situation.

In terms of medicine, he was more cautious. Kangxi was very knowledgeable about Chinese medicine, and he would even prescribe his own medicine, and he would not take tonic medicine randomly. So when he heard the rumor, his first reaction was that Concubine De had finally come to her senses and knew how to compete for favor.

My second reaction was to worry that Malu was taking medicine indiscriminately and damaging his health.

Kangxi frowned, thought for a moment, and said to Liang Jiugong: "I will go to Concubine De's place tonight. You go to the Imperial Hospital and bring Concubine De's pulse record and the latest prescription."

Liang Jiugong took the order and left. Not long after, Rong Ji brought the pulse case and followed Liang Jiugong to the Qianqing Palace.

Liang Jiugong's ability to do things is reflected in his thoroughness.

Although Kangxi only said that he wanted to see the documents, who could be more familiar with the case than the imperial physician himself? At worst, he would make the imperial physician go for nothing, but if Kangxi wanted to ask for details, the emperor could immediately find the imperial physician to ask.

Rong Ji followed Liang Jiugong in paying his respects and then stood respectfully aside.

Kangxi first carefully looked at the pulse record and prescription, and did not find any medicine for regulating the body or aiding pregnancy, but he felt that the imperial physician might have concealed the actual situation and did not record it truthfully.

He raised his head and glanced at Rong Ji, then asked in a deep voice, "How is Concubine De's health?"

Rong Ji hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Concubine De is fine."

Kangxi snorted coldly: "Then where did the rumor in the palace come from?" Rong Ji's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he said in a trembling voice: "I don't know, I don't know what the rumor is? Please tell me clearly... Your Majesty, is your Majesty in good health? Maybe someone is maliciously spreading rumors to cause trouble."

Kangxi asked with a serious expression, "Doctor Rong, has Concubine De asked you to prescribe any prescriptions for conditioning or pregnancy recently?"

Rong Ji was somewhat confused after hearing this, and replied in panic: "Your Majesty, I have not prescribed any medicine to the Empress Defei recently."

Kangxi stared at him sharply and asked, "But everyone in the palace is saying that Concubine De is eager to have a child, and she rewarded the imperial physician with silver for the miraculous prescription!"

what?

At this moment, Rong Ji had a new understanding of the strangeness of the rumors in the palace.

He felt relieved and just told the truth!

He immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I really don't know. The Virtuous Concubine did give me money, but she never mentioned any prescription for having a child to me."

Kangxi could not help but lean forward and asked curiously, "What did Concubine De give you the silver for?"

Rong Ji replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Empress Defei gave me some silver because I mentioned free clinics when I was seeing patients. The Empress is kind-hearted and thinks that the patients who go to free clinics are poor people who lack medical care and medicine, so she gave me some silver... so that I can buy medicine for the patients who go to free clinics."

When Kangxi heard this, his expression eased a little, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, and he said, "De Fei is indeed kind-hearted."

But then his eyes became stern again, and he asked, "Then where did this rumor in the palace come from? Could it be that someone deliberately fabricated it?"

Rong Ji kowtowed and said, "I don't know, maybe someone is jealous and deliberately plotted against Concubine De to cause trouble."

Kangxi pondered for a moment and said, "I will send someone to investigate this matter. If someone really slandered Concubine De maliciously, I will not let him off easily. You may leave first."

Rong Ji kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling: "I dare not lie in the slightest, I hope Your Majesty will understand."

Kangxi waved his hand, signaling Rong Ji to leave. Rong Ji was as if he had been pardoned, and quickly left the palace. When he left, Aunt Shu Yu, who was standing next to him, came in with tea.

Because the imperial physician of the Yonghe Palace had been here the whole time, she had waited until her tea had gone cold. But she did not dare to leave, so she could only prick up her ears and listen to the noise inside, but she could only hear fragments of words that she could not piece together.

Seeing him so reckless, she had an idea in her mind. She touched the teapot, and took the group back to make some new tea, under the pretext that the tea was cold. In the meantime, she quickly sent a maid under her command to deliver a message from the imperial kitchen to Yonghe Palace.

The content of the message was as simple as ever. For safety reasons, the little girl only knew the words "imperial physician" and "free clinic". When she knew it, Ma Lu was a little confused, but she immediately sent someone to the Imperial Hospital to ask Rong Ji.

As the chief eunuch of Yonghe Palace, Zhou Quanfu naturally took on this job. He scalded his hand while preparing medicinal food in the small kitchen, and had to run to the Imperial Hospital to seek medical treatment and medicine, which was just right.

Rong Ji was anxiously working in the Imperial Hospital. When he saw Zhou Quanfu coming to him to ask for medicine, he went to write a prescription and get the medicine without saying a word.

While picking up the medicine, he chatted, "The queen knew that I was going to the free clinic a while ago, and she was worried that the patients would lack medical care and medicine. The money she gave me as a subsidy has already been used. I wonder when I should give this account book to the queen?"

Zhou Quanfu understood what he meant, and said as if no one was around: "Don't worry, Doctor Rong. We are here now, so it's just a side job. We will also need to change the medicine later, so you can hand over the account book to me and don't worry."

Rong Ji nodded slightly, still with a hint of worry on his face.

Zhou Quanfu returned to Yonghe Palace and quickly conveyed Rong Ji's words to Malu. Malu didn't know what this sudden "account book" was about, nor what the free clinic was about.

But she believed in Rong Ji and Aunt Shu Yu. No matter who asked what, she would definitely continue with what she said. And she also wanted to complete the matter. Thinking of this, she asked Zhou Quanfu to take the money from her private account and register it with the previous date, and then instructed Bai Fu and Bai Xia.

In the afternoon, Kangxi indeed came to Yonghe Palace.

Malu led the people of Yonghe Palace to greet them at the palace gate. Seeing that Kangxi looked normal, she bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

Kangxi helped her up and said softly, "No need to be polite, my beloved concubine." He felt relieved when he saw that she looked well and did not look ruddy from over-nourishing, nor was she pale and thin, as if she was suffering from a lack of energy and blood.

After they sat down, they chatted for a while and then brought the twins to see. Now the two children could walk very well, and Kangxi could hardly hold them with one hand each.

"I have been strong since childhood, with great muscle strength. I can pull a fifteen-force bow and shoot thirteen arrows. I didn't expect these two children to be so noisy. I can't stand it anymore!" Kangxi smiled heartily, but his eyes were full of kindness.

Malu smiled gently and replied, "Your Majesty, please don't blame them. It's a good thing for the child to be more lively."

Kangxi smiled and shook his head: "How could I really blame them? These two little guys remind me of the Fourth Prince when he was a child. They are completely different. You really work hard on weekdays. You raise your children so well."

Ma Lu gently poured a cup of tea for Kangxi: "A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each of them is different, not to mention that the emperor has more than nine sons."

Kangxi asked casually, "Are you ready to have another child for me?"