Emperor Kangxi lay on the dragon bed in Qianqing Palace, yet the entire room was filled with a disgusting stench.
How could this be?
He cried out loudly, but no one came in. Only after he was completely exhausted did a little eunuch with a blurred face come in: "What does the Retired Emperor require?"
The Retired Emperor? Emperor Kangxi asked incredulously, his voice hoarse, "What did you call me?"
"The Retired Emperor, of course!" The little eunuch said with some disdain, "The current Emperor is His Majesty, and you are the Retired Emperor!"
"The Retired Emperor? The Retired Emperor?" Emperor Kangxi rasped: "The Emperor? The Emperor? Who is the Emperor? Who, the Crown Prince?"
"Retired Emperor, are you confused? His Majesty has not yet appointed a Crown Prince!" After saying this, the little eunuch left, casually placing a cup of tea that had lost its warmth beside Emperor Kangxi's hand.
