The Virtuous Concubine

Doctor Rong quickly replied respectfully, "Your Highness, I am grateful for the Emperor's trust in me. Everything is going well for me as a minister in front of the Emperor. Your Highness... How are you these days?"

Malu smiled softly: "I feel that everything is fine, but whether this is really fine or not, the imperial physician has done a thorough examination. Do you still need to ask me?"

Doctor Rong was slightly startled, then he understood what Malu meant. He quickly raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, you are joking. Your Majesty is in good health, which is a blessing for everyone."

As he spoke, he really looked at Malu, as if he wanted to engrave Malu's appearance in his heart.

At the same time, Malu was also looking at Rong Ji. He seemed... looked much older and haggard, and even had a beard.

Most men in the Qing Dynasty grew beards, which was considered a tradition and a symbol of maturity and stability.

But Malu didn't like men to grow beards, she always thought it was better to be clean. So Rongji didn't grow a beard when he was in Yonghe Palace, but when he came to the emperor's presence, he dressed himself up like a court judge in order to hide his appearance and prevent Kangxi from suspecting him and Malu.

Malu looked at Rong Ji's current appearance, and she couldn't help but feel a little emotional. She could probably guess the intention of Rong Ji's actions, and seeing him being so cautious today, she felt a little more at ease.

After a few breaths, he lowered his head again and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Your pulse is fine, but I still suggest that you put your worries aside, relax and take good care of yourself."

After hearing this, Malu felt that nothing could be hidden from a Chinese doctor. However, she quickly reacted and made an excuse for her worries with a wry smile: "The emperor will personally lead the army today and bring the fourth prince with him. How can I rest assured?"

Wei Zhu took in the entire interaction between the two and secretly praised Concubine De even more highly in her heart.

They were able to win over such an imperial physician, who was valued by the emperor and who did not mind and still trusted him. The methods of these two people were indeed extraordinary.

At this time, Liang Jiugong came out and interrupted their conversation. He saw Malu waiting at the door and was shocked: "How long has the queen been waiting here?" Then he turned around and slapped Wei Zhu with his whisk: "You are really wild, why didn't you inform me when the queen came?"

In fact, Kangxi had already heard someone at the door, so he asked Liang Jiugong to come and take a look. He happened to run into Malu who said that she was worried about the emperor and the fourth prince.

Wei Zhu immediately knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Please forgive me, sir. I wanted to wait for a suitable time before reporting. I didn't want to keep you waiting for too long."

Ma Lu raised her hand slightly: "Forget it, Eunuch Liang, there is no need to blame Wei Zhu. It was me who was waiting. I wonder if the emperor has finished his work?"

Liang Jiugong replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, the Emperor and Noble Lady Wang are inside, waiting for you."

Malu nodded, straightened the non-existent wrinkles on her clothes, and followed Liang Jiugong into the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Bai Fu and the others waited outside the door. After entering the palace, Malu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Wang Guiren was standing next to Kangxi, and the two were very intimate. Wang Guiren did not dodge or avoid, and seemed to accept Malu's gift.

Fortunately, Kangxi pushed Concubine Wang and said, "Go, let Concubine De try this tea too." With this action, Concubine Wang had no choice but to move aside, still avoiding the direction where Malu was saluting.

Although Wang Guiren was unwilling, she did not dare to disobey Kangxi's order. She turned around charmingly, brought tea to Malu, and said, "Empress Defei, please have some tea."

The tone was quite respectful, but it would have been better if the look he gave Malu was not slanted upwards.

Malu didn't know where her inexplicable hostility came from. Was she angry that he had disturbed her and Kangxi's good times?

Heaven and earth are all clear, everyone knows that starting from the imperial concubine, everyone will go to see Kangxi every other day. If I don't come, Kangxi will leave.

While Malu cursed Kangxi in her heart, she tried to persuade herself that she was just a little girl, a dozen years younger than herself.

She took the tea with a smile, took a sip, and said, "Thank you, Noble Wang."

Malu concluded that it was not as good as what the prince brought back to her from Jiangnan that day.

At this time, the atmosphere in the hall was somewhat subtle.

Kangxi asked Malu with a smile: "How is it? This tea was brought by Shiqi Niang from Jiangnan. Is it suitable for your taste?"

Malu lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Your Majesty, this tea does have the charm of Jiangnan. It is comparable to the tea that the prince brought to me the other day."

Seventeenth Lady... Kangxi called her that in a very intimate way. He only called Wang Guiren like that in front of him. I don't know if he really doted on her or just didn't take her seriously.

Although Malu's words were a compliment, they also set a trap for Concubine Wang. The tea that the prince could get was almost the same as the tea that Concubine Wang could get. Kangxi could probably figure out the mystery.

Kangxi heard this, and a hint of interest flashed in his eyes, "Oh? Yinreng didn't send me these."

Ma Lu said quickly: "The Emperor and the Crown Prince came back from Jiangnan together, and they are actually trying to argue with me about these local rituals."

She touched her face and smiled to herself, very charmingly: "Besides, isn't the tea that Shiqi Niang gave you enough for you to drink?"

Kangxi was slightly startled after hearing Malu's words, then burst into laughter: "You are becoming more and more mischievous." Malu glanced at Kangxi coquettishly: "Are you looking down on me for being old again? Hey, I just said three words when I came in, and I was scolded twice. I'd better leave!"

As she said this, she pretended to go get the soup. Kangxi couldn't help laughing, but he still hurriedly stood up to stop her: "Alright, alright, you've made a fool of yourself. We're an old couple, and you're still arguing with me about this. What Yinreng gave you was naturally thoughtful. You're jealous of me, and I'm jealous of you too."

Wang Guiren watched the interaction between Kangxi and Malu from the side and decided to give this Defei another try. She bit her lip slightly and interrupted the conversation between Kangxi and Malu: "Empress Defei likes the tea brought back by the prince so much, so the tea must have something special. I also want to try it."

Ma Lu glanced at Concubine Wang and said calmly, "Concubine Wang, you are joking. You have lived in Jiangnan for many years, so you must have a lot of good tea. What I care about is just the prince's kindness."

Wang Guiren refused to give up and continued, "Your Majesty, what you said is wrong. Although I have lived in Jiangnan for a long time, I am from a humble family. Even these things presented to the emperor were obtained after much effort. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so attentive to you, your Majesty. I really envy him."

Before Malu could understand what Concubine Wang meant, Kangxi was already impatient: "Okay, you can go down. Concubine De, please stay with me. I have something else to tell you."

Kangxi had spoken, and Concubine Wang had no choice but to pick up her zither and leave. After Concubine Wang left, Kangxi looked at Malu, frowned slightly and said, "This Concubine Wang has become less and less disciplined recently."

Malu sneered in his heart. He called her "Little Sweetie" in front of others, and then told her that she was immature after the others left. . . Should he tell Wang Guiren later that Concubine De had this kind of temperament only because she was old?

I have to say, Malu is telling the truth.

Ma Lu was too lazy to expose Kangxi, and only said softly: "Maybe the noble lady Wang is not used to the rules of the palace yet."

Kangxi shook his head: "If she is disrespectful to you, you don't have to be polite to her. She heard that Rong Taiyi had served you before, and she specially called someone to test you. It's really unreasonable."