The Virtuous Concubine

Kangxi was both angry and amused by Wen Xian's series of actions. Finally, he sighed helplessly and said, "Children are all debts. You are really becoming more and more unruly, girl. It's all your mother's fault for spoiling you like this!"

Wen Xian, however, chuckled and said, "Father, you are the one who spoiled me, so don't blame my mother. But Father, why don't you like my hair? This is the standard hairstyle for Manchu men. If——"

Kangxi glared at her, knowing that she was about to say something outrageous, and quickly shut her up: "Nonsense! The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed."

Wen Xian stuck out his tongue and said no more.

Malu quickly pulled her aside and said with a smile, "Look at your weird outfit. Come on, change into men's clothes. I remember that Yonghe Palace has kept your fourth brother and Yinzuo's clothes when they left the palace. Bai Fu, go and choose something the princess hasn't worn yet."

Kangxi was about to stop her, but Wen Xian had already rushed out to change clothes. Ma Lu smiled and massaged Kangxi's shoulders, asking him to calm down: "Wen Xian did remind me, and I also want to recall what the emperor looked like when he was young."

Kangxi laughed: "Are you saying that I am old?"

Malu smiled and touched her face: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and I am old. I miss the youthful days. I met Your Majesty at my best age. Now Your Majesty is still as elegant as ever, and even more dignified than before, but I am already old and ugly~"

Kangxi smiled and pulled her into his arms, earning a coquettish look from Malu.

He held Malu in his arms until she sat still, then said, "You haven't aged at all, but have become more mature and charming. I like you very much."

Malu shook her head: "The emperor said he likes it, but in fact he still likes young and tender girls. He is just saving face for me."

Kangxi smiled and said, "You don't believe it? Let's try it tonight, and you'll know if I like it or not."

Malu just felt that these words were too harsh and too explicit, and she didn't like to hear them anyway.

She quickly covered Kangxi's mouth: "Your Majesty! What do you mean by try it tonight? Such nonsense——"

Kangxi was rarely interested: "Do you want to try it now?"

Malu quickly stood up and broke free, looking outside awkwardly: "Your Majesty! Wen Xian will be here soon."

Kangxi looked at Malu's panic and found it very interesting. He smiled and teased, "Why? Are you afraid that Wen Xian will see us being so close? If we weren't close, how could we have so many children?"

Malu blushed and said angrily, "Your Majesty only knows how to make fun of me."

At this time, footsteps were heard outside. Wen Xian had indeed returned. Seeing Kangxi and Malu standing so close to each other, she smiled slyly: "What are the emperor and mother whispering about?"

Malu quickly straightened his clothes and said, "Nothing, Wen Xian, have you changed your clothes?"

Wen Xian nodded, turned lightly in front of Kangxi and Malu, and asked, "Father, mother, do I look good dressed like this?"

Kangxi and Malu both smiled as they watched Wen Xian's joyful expression. Malu even praised Wen Xian generously: "I wonder which noble family's handsome young man has come? Come, come over here, let me take a good look at him."

Wen Xian was delighted to hear Malu's praise. She said with a smile, "Father and mother, I will go to Jiangnan in this look!"

Kangxi shook his head helplessly: "Jiangnan, Jiangnan, there is only Jiangnan in your mind. I can't control you anymore. When you go there, you have to listen to your fourth brother, understand?"

Wen Xian nodded obediently and said, "Don't worry, Father Huang."

But whether she listened or not, she didn't agree.

Kangxi didn't expect her to really listen to him, so he invited her to come for dinner.

During the meal, Kangxi also taught her how ordinary men would eat and how to talk while eating.

The father and daughter chatted with each other for quite some time. By the time Wen Xian had learned how to do it, crossing his legs and eating, the food had already gotten cold.

But this was not as cold as Malu's heart. She glanced at Kangxi and Wenxian with resentment: "I worked so hard to teach my daughter for more than ten years, but in just one day, she has lost all her manners!"

Malu covered her face, feeling helpless. Kangxi couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw Malu like this.

Every time he came to Yonghe Palace, no matter what his mood was before he came, he would quickly become happy.

Wen Xian was also a little embarrassed. He quickly straightened his posture and picked up another dish for his mother with chopsticks: "Mother, this is temporary. Wait until your son comes back--"

Kangxi laughed even louder: "Listen, listen! Your fourth son has appeared."

Wen Xian smiled proudly, bowed and said, "Father has taught me well."

As Malu watched the father and daughter singing the same tune, she felt a rare liking for Kangxi.

However, this pleasing feeling was soon shattered by Kangxi's departure - Concubine Wang sent someone to say that the Sixteenth Prince was ill and asked the Emperor to go and see him.

When Kangxi heard that the Sixteenth Prince was ill, the smile on his face immediately disappeared.

Wen Xian was about to get angry at the palace maid who came to report the news, but Malu stopped her with a look and instead persuaded Kangxi to go and take a look.

"Your Majesty, the concubine must be panicking right now and needs a backbone. Your Majesty, why don't you go and take a look?"

Kangxi thought for a moment, then immediately stood up and said to Malu and Wen Xian, "Then I will go to see the Sixteenth Prince. The affairs of the harem and Wen Xian's trip to Jiangnan are all in your hands during this period of time."

Having said that, he left in a hurry.

Malu looked at Kangxi's departing back, and the slight good impression that had just risen in her heart disappeared without a trace in an instant.

As if he felt something, Wen Xian came over and hugged his mother, trying to comfort her.

She felt that the Emperor was very good to her and was quite preferential and tolerant to her, but he was not good enough to her mother!

A son should not speak of his father's faults, so she didn't know what to say, but she knew her mother must be feeling uncomfortable.

Malu sighed slightly and said to Wen Xian: "You see, the emperor is like this. Once he has other things to do, he immediately forgets about us."

Wen Xian comforted her: "Don't be angry, mother. Mother is the most important to me, more important than anything else."

Malu touched Wen Xian's head and said, "You."

Malu kissed her daughter's forehead and said, "I know you are very close to your father, but he is not only your father, nor is he only my husband."

Wen Xian was confused. Maybe she had schemes and strategies, and extraordinary intelligence and means, but she knew nothing about the relationship between men and women.

"But the Emperor is Wen Xian's only Emperor. What about Mother? Is the Emperor her only husband?"