The Virtuous Concubine

As her makeup gradually became more complete and skilled, Malu's appearance changed dramatically. She was no longer the imperial concubine that everyone was familiar with, but seemed to have become another person.

Her appearance was not as outstanding as her original one, and she looked even more immature and young.

Her figure had not changed, she was still plump and delicate, not as thin and flat as a teenage girl.

But it will be the same if you wrap it up at that time.

Malu felt that her makeup today was very successful. On a whim, she simply took off her complicated bun and asked Bai Xia to make a small bun like a palace maid, and then put on some pearl flowers made of rice beads.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Malu was very satisfied: "How is it, do you look young?"

Bai Xia tried to persuade Malu: "Madam... why are you doing this? You look better without your face. What's the point of just looking young? You look much better now."

Malu knew that Bai Xia had misunderstood her, thinking that she was mourning the loss of her youth and was deliberately acting younger.

She didn't explain, but just smiled and asked Bai Xia: "Hurry up and tell me."

Bai Xia felt helpless and said honestly: "They are completely different people."

Only then did Malu let her go with satisfaction.

The prince was also in a restless mood when he returned. He couldn't sleep on the first day and tossed and turned in bed.

He felt uncomfortable, but he didn't know why.

He was very happy again, and felt as if he was in the clouds, floating in the air and not knowing why.

The prince tried to drive Malu out of his mind. After all, the emperor was keeping a close eye on him, and he couldn't slack off in his studies, riding and shooting, and government affairs.

Unfortunately, the results were minimal. He would think of Malu no matter what he did, at any time.

Is this what love is?

Several days passed, and the prince still looked dazed from time to time. Kangxi was keenly aware of his abnormality, but he did not ask the prince directly, but called Chen Xin over.

Kangxi asked him directly: "The prince has been in a bad state recently. Do you know why?"

Chen Xin's heart suddenly tightened. He knew that the Crown Prince's heart was now entirely on Concubine De Zhao, but even if he had ten thousand guts, he would not dare to reveal the truth.

He pretended to hesitate and hesitated for a moment before he came up with the excuse he had thought of before and said, "Your Majesty, I only know that the Crown Prince's unusual behavior started when he went to Yonghe Palace and the Imperial Concubine Dezhao discussed various preparations for the marriage with His Majesty."

Kangxi finally felt relieved. It seemed that the boy was in love for the first time. Knowing that he was going to marry the Crown Princess and become a man, he began to feel distracted.

He is worthy of being the greatest emperor of all time, this guess is correct.

Kangxi nodded: "What did you talk about?"

Chen Xin lowered her head and dared not look at Kangxi: "It was probably about the specifications of the wedding and the selection of the trial princess. His Royal Highness mentioned the names of two palace maids."

Kangxi laughed and scolded, "You little bastard, really. It seems that someone has already chosen one, but he has kept it a secret from me, the Emperor. Have you checked these two maids?"

Chen Xin replied timidly, "Your Majesty, I have checked, and Concubine De Zhao should have checked as well. They are all good girls with clean backgrounds and dignified and steady personalities."

"In that case, then choose these two maids. The prince's marriage cannot go wrong at all. You must pay close attention to it. If there is anything, don't wait for me to ask you."

Chen Xin knew that he had passed this test, and quickly responded: "I obey your order."

However, just two days after this conversation, Kangxi fell ill.

Kangxi usually paid great attention to health preservation and rarely got sick. But healthy people are like this, they don't get minor illnesses, and if they do get sick, it's a serious illness that the immune system can't overcome.

For a time, the whole palace was in a panic. The emperor was no longer young, and the princes were all in their prime. Who knew what would happen if they got sick... ?

The imperial doctors stayed in Kangxi's bedroom day and night, racking their brains to discuss treatment plans.

The concubines and princes also had to take turns to tend to the sick, and Malu was the leader.

One reason was that Kangxi had just issued an imperial edict to promote the imperial concubine, and Kangxi had publicly mentioned many times that Malu should pay more attention to the prince. Malu's status had already surpassed that of the little Niuhulu.

Another reason was that little Niuhulu herself was bedridden, and Kangxi felt that letting two patients stay together would only make the illness worse.

Malu was well aware of her current delicate situation. Although her status had been raised, she was more cautious even for the sake of the Fourth Prince or the Crown Prince. She did not dare to slack off in serving Kangxi and stayed by his side almost all the time.

While little Niuhulu was ill, she inevitably felt lost and unwilling, and secretly began to harbor dissatisfaction with Malu.

It was fine that her tenth prince was not as good as her fourth prince, after all, there was an age difference. But the fourteenth prince was more popular in the study and in front of Emperor Kangxi, and her favor and status in the emperor's heart were even inferior to his.

She dragged her sick body to handle palace affairs, but it was still a thankless task. The emperor still preferred to leave the important matters to Concubine De Zhao.

And the title was a thorn in the heart of little Niuhulu. Whenever little Niuhulu thought of it, she would feel endless sorrow and resentment.

Fortunately, in addition to the Tenth Prince, he still has a potential stock like the Eighth Prince in his hands. Together with Concubine Yi's Ninth Prince and three other princes, he is not inferior to her!

Yes, after the Eighth Prince hit a wall with Malu, he quickly turned to Xiao Niuhulu, and the historical trio was finally formed. Xiao Niuhulu looked at the Eighth Prince who was accompanying him attentively and the Tenth Prince who was submissive to the Eighth Prince, and felt more confident.

Ma Lu also noticed that the princes were divided into groups to serve. She was forced to work, staying by Kangxi's side every day, and interacting with the princes more and more. Naturally, she found that the princes had spontaneously formed a group.

The eldest prince was still under house arrest, but he sent letters every day to express his concern for his father. Yinzhen and Yinzuo were naturally in one faction, the eighty, ninety and tenth princes were in another faction, and the third and fifth princes mediated in the middle. The sixth prince was an invisible person, because of his foot disease, he was not favored by Kangxi, so he always shrank behind Yinzuo and had little sense of existence.

The remaining brothers were too young and it was good enough that they did not cause trouble, so Malu did not assign shifts for them.

The prince was a separate faction and was sent away by Kangxi to handle state affairs, so he rarely appeared at the beginning.

Malu was helpless about the prince's honesty in this matter. After enduring for two days, he sent someone to warn Chen Xin and asked Chen Xin to remind the prince.

By letting other brothers take the lead at this time, does he think his position as crown prince is too secure?

The Fourth Prince had no idea that Malu was making her bid for the throne more difficult for the sake of her young lover. He devoted himself to serving Kangxi and occasionally cooperated with his mother.

After being warned, Chen Xin finally confirmed that Concubine De Zhao did have a prince in her heart, and she breathed a sigh of relief.