The Virtuous Concubine

Concubine Tong wanted to speak, but found her voice weak and hoarse: "Water..."

Fan Xing, who was standing by, immediately brought some warm water, carefully helped Concubine Tong up, and asked her to drink a few sips. The warm water moistened her throat and also slightly restored her spirits.

Liuying looked at Concubine Tong eagerly and asked her how she felt now.

In fact, Concubine Tong still felt pain in her heart, so she sat up for a while, but her face was as pale as paper and her forehead was covered with cold sweat.

She knew that this attack would affect her life span. Seeing this, Liuying was filled with worry. She gently consoled her, "Your Majesty, you just woke up and are still weak. Don't worry about it. You must take care of yourself. The Emperor stayed with you until dark yesterday." As for what happened after she went to Noble Lady Wuya, Liuying was very tactful and kept silent about it.

Concubine Tong smiled bitterly, as if she had used up all her strength. Her voice was low and weak: "Liu Ying, you don't understand... My heart feels like it's been cut by a knife. Niu Hulu... She was actually named the queen."

Liuying's eyes were full of heartache. She knew Concubine Tong's deep affection for the emperor, and also understood her desire for the position of empress. The emperor was trying to kill his young lady by doing this! She comforted him softly, "My queen, you have an irreplaceable position in the emperor's heart, which cannot be taken away by anyone. You must believe in the emperor, he will understand your feelings."

Concubine Tong closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew she couldn't bear such heartache, so she didn't want to think about it anymore. She knew that what Liuying said was all false! It was all lies to comfort her.

But she really didn't know what to do.

"Liuying, what do you think I should do?" Concubine Tong opened her eyes again, her eyes full of confusion and helplessness.

Since she was a child, her family members said that she would marry her cousin and become his wife. Her cousin often visited her outside the palace, and she even accompanied her cousin in Bailongyufu and played like ordinary men and women during the Lantern Festival.

Her cousin read the jade table to her and gave her a red silk ribbon. She remembered every detail.

But she failed to become her cousin's first wife. She thought about it for a long time and felt that her cousin had just taken power and could not make the decision. The Tong family was too weak and she was too young, so Hesheli Fang'er took the lead and became her cousin's first wife. It took her a long time to get over this. When she heard the news of Hesheli Fang'er's death, she rekindled her hope.

She entered the palace at the same time as Consort Nianhulu. This time, Kangxi had already taken control of the government, and there was no obstacle between them. She could legitimately stand beside her cousin, express their love for each other, and become a pair of emperors and empresses whose names would go down in history and whose love would never fade. Their deep love would last forever, just like the Qing dynasty.

But what about this time? !

The more she thought about the past, the more she felt heartbroken. But in this pain, Kangxi's ruthlessness became clearer. She couldn't lie to herself anymore. Kangxi didn't love her at all, so he didn't choose her twice.

Even if she loved him, his love was worthless because he didn't respect or care about her thoughts at all.

Liuying wiped her tears and said, "My Lady, let it go!"

Before Concubine Tong could hear Liuying's next words, the eunuch's announcement came from outside: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Concubine Tong's heart tightened. She knew that she had vomited blood and fainted because of the news that Concubine Nianhulu was crowned as the queen. She didn't know how the emperor would view this matter. Would he think that she was jealous? Would he be angry with her?

If Concubine Nianhulu or Malu were here, they would definitely think that this love-brained man is hopeless.

Concubine Tong tried hard to support her body and wanted to stand up to salute, but was gently held down by Kangxi who came in.

Kangxi sat by the bed and held Concubine Tong's hand. His palm was so warm and powerful, as if he was holding Concubine Tong who was drowning: "No need to bow, your health is important. I... I understand your feelings. I am sorry for you."

At this moment, Kangxi's face showed both heartache and guilt.

When Concubine Tong saw him like this, tears welled up in her eyes: "Your Majesty...I lost my composure. I...I just lost control for a moment, I had no other intentions."

Kangxi quickly hugged her and wiped her tears: "You don't even call me cousin anymore. It seems you are really angry with me."

Concubine Tong's tears flowed like pearls from a broken string, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She choked and sobbed, "Cousin... Cousin... Qing'er didn't mean it, it's just... it's just that Concubine Niu Hulu... she was named queen, and Qing'er couldn't accept it for a while."

Emperor Kangxi patted Concubine Tong gently on the back, his eyes full of pity: "I know, I know everything. I feel the same way you feel. You and I have been together for many years, how could I not know your feelings?" But he did not mention changing his will or that he actually wanted to make her the queen.

Otherwise, if she had thoughts that she shouldn't have, then Niuhulu would definitely find it difficult to suppress her.

Concubine Tong was immersed in the tenderness displayed by Kangxi at this moment. She felt as if her heart was alive, but her tears could not be stopped: "Cousin... why, why? Why do I know the reason, but my heart still hurts? Please punish me, cousin..."

Kangxi shook his head and wiped away the tears on Concubine Tong's face with his fingertips: "Silly girl, how could I punish you? I just hope you can get better soon. If you keep being sad like this, my heart will also be hurt."

Concubine Tong tightly grasped Emperor Kangxi's hand, as if she had grasped the most precious thing in her life: "Cousin... Qing'er is not greedy for power and wealth, Qing'er just hopes to be with you in this life, before and after death..."

Emperor Kangxi's eyes flashed with emotion, and he whispered, "It is my blessing to meet you. Don't worry, I will always be by your side, protecting you and loving you. The matter of Niuhulu was the suggestion of the Grand Empress Dowager. I can't disobey it. What's more, you have been in poor health, and I don't want you to be tired. Let her handle the affairs of the harem. You take good care of yourself and give me a child who is the closest to me by blood. Isn't it good?"

Kangxi's words were clearly meant to shift the blame to the Empress Dowager, and with just a few words, he took away Concubine Tong's power over the six palaces. Liuying, who was standing by, was a little anxious, but she was just a servant and didn't dare to interrupt. Moreover, Concubine Tong couldn't stand the provocation. If she was exposed, she might not be able to survive.

With the consolation of Emperor Kangxi, Concubine Tong gradually calmed down. She felt that the emperor had her in his heart, and she was not so angry when she saw Concubine Nianhulu was crowned as the queen. My cousin has me in his heart! Concubine Tong felt the emperor's care and regained her strength. Kangxi even fed her a bowl of milk and bird's nest with his own hands, which moved her to tears again.

Kangxi scratched her nose and said, "Little fool, if you keep crying like this, how can I dare to treat you better in the future?"

Concubine Tong smiled a little. Kangxi stayed with Concubine Tong for a while, and only got up and left when he was sure that she had calmed down. Before leaving, he promised that as long as she took good care of herself, he would come every day and they would be together day and night, and they would be no different from husband and wife.

In the following days, Kangxi fulfilled his promise and took time to visit Concubine Tong every day. After the careful treatment of the imperial physician and Kangxi's psychological massage, Concubine Tong's condition gradually improved. Of course, he also went to Kunning Palace where Concubine Niuhulu lived every day, and occasionally took time to visit Malu's new home, Yonghe Palace. He was really a master of keeping things balanced.