The Empress Dowager and Sumalagu looked surprised.

"I hope this is just a nightmare, but Zhang doesn't even know where Tancheng is, and besides, I dare not gamble! After all, they are all my subjects!"

After Kangxi finished speaking, it was as if his wavering heart had suddenly settled down.

Why worry about it? Just send people to investigate, collect the grain ahead of schedule, and arrange for the relocation of the people.

The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment, then her tone became much gentler.

"Whether it's true or not, let's be prepared! If it's true, then Zhang must be rewarded handsomely! My great-grandson has come to repay a debt of gratitude!"

For a moment, the Empress Dowager seemed to see a plump, white baby, and her eyes crinkled with joy.

"Then this servant will prepare more soft and skin-friendly fabrics for the young masters."

Sumalagu chimed in, adding her own comment.

Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager's expressions softened.

"That makes sense!" the Empress Dowager said, then remembered something, "However, this news shouldn't be spread, lest it cause panic!"

Of course, the main reason was that she didn't want her great-grandson to get involved in gossip because of the greed of the women in the harem.

After all, the matter is not yet settled.

"Grandson understands!" Kangxi was pleased to receive the support of his maternal grandmother.

"However, since Zhang's belly is so big, she should stay in the palace and rest well during her pregnancy!"

The Empress Dowager issued an imperial edict, confining Shirley to the palace.

Of course, she was still pregnant, and the imperial physicians and the imperial kitchen, having been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, dared not be perfunctory.

Rumors circulated in the palace that "Consort Zhang, relying on her pregnancy, became arrogant and even chased the Emperor away in the middle of the night."

Of course, there were also rumors that "Consort Zhang was disliked by the Emperor, and the Emperor left in the middle of the night!"

Even more outrageous is the story that "Consort Zhang called out another man's name in her sleep, which the Emperor overheard, and she'll be sent to the Cold Palace after giving birth..."

"..."

In short, there were all sorts of things going on. The Empress was afraid that Xue Li wouldn't know, so she specially arranged for someone to send her messages every day.

Every time Aunt Liu Yi and the two nannies heard those strange rumors, their expressions were truly unpleasant.

Because of the two children in her womb, Liu Yi began to select reliable palace maids and eunuchs.

After all, powerful families have no shortage of their own people.

Sherry had no choice but to cling tightly to Kangxi's leg.

Liu Yi and Jinbao's trip was worthwhile; their connections were enough to screen a group of people.

Emperor Kangxi was still worried, so he secretly sent over a few people.

Half a month later, news came from Qingzhou Prefecture.

On the evening of June 17, 1668 (the 7th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign), the meandering and gentle Mihe River in Qingzhou Prefecture suddenly surged as if it had been boiled. Fish and shrimp, which were rarely seen in normal times, desperately leaped out of the water. For a moment, the river surface shimmered with silver light and splashed, creating a spectacular sight!

The ordinary people who were going about their daily work were stunned by this strange sight. They were dumbfounded and completely bewildered!

The children were the first to react, and with a shout of joy, they were about to jump into the river to catch fish and shrimp.

Just then, a rumble of thunder came from afar in the clear sky, and in an instant it was right above everyone's heads. The "boom" was like hundreds of giant stone rollers rolling over their heads...

The sky, which had been gradually darkening as the sun set, inexplicably brightened up again!

The air was thick with a sense of oppression and inexplicable fear, causing everyone to stand frozen in place, exchanging bewildered glances.

As the river water churned more and more violently, it gradually surged like a frightened wild horse, crashing against the riverbank with rapid force, and the waves even rose more than ten feet high!

The wells by the roadside suddenly roared like beasts, "Boom—" spewing out huge, turbid, black water columns, some of which even spewed out rolling mortar!

In an instant, chickens and dogs crowed and barked, people and horses were thrown into disarray, and an immense sense of fear gripped the hearts of all living beings, causing them to scatter like headless flies...

This news caught the attention of Emperor Kangxi and his court officials, who were still hesitant.

To prevent a disaster, the imperial court mobilized the army.

The people were quite resentful, but Kangxi offered no explanation.

With time running out and the task at hand, how could he have time to say anything else?

Even though Shirley was hiding in the palace to rest during her pregnancy, she was still criticized and gossiped about behind her back by both the court and the harem!

It's unclear who leaked the information.

It is said that "Consort Zhang made baseless accusations that a dragon would rise from the ground in Tancheng, causing the people to be displaced and filled with resentment..."

Of course, this rumor only circulated within the palace and the capital.

The Empress wanted to spread the word so that everyone would know, but Suo'etu stopped her.

After all, he knew all too well what was going on in the previous dynasty.

If nothing is absolutely certain, don't go to extremes!

This is the way of survival for powerful and influential families.

The Empress angrily withdrew her hand, but ignored the rumors circulating in the palace.

The rumors are getting worse!

In other words, Shirley was too indifferent to ask questions, and several nannies and palace maids remarked that this lady was very fortunate.

Did Emperor Kangxi know? He knew immediately.

They arranged for secret guards to remove the spies from the Qing palace for him.

The Empress Dowager had served three emperors, and the Cining Palace was furnished like an iron barrel.

That can only be a problem with the Qing Dynasty.

No, there's also Yikun Palace.

Emperor Kangxi then ordered people to search Yikun Palace again.

Even after the matter was sorted out, the rumors in the palace were not suppressed at all.

At that moment, Kangxi understood perfectly well that powerful and wealthy families were insatiably greedy!

The Empress is the same!

"Your Majesty the Empress, the Emperor has said that Your Majesty's management of the inner palace is arduous, and that Consort Niohuru should share some of the burden!"

Liang Jiugong replied with a smile, but didn't say anything when he saw the Empress's sudden change in expression.

"I understand!" The Empress laughed for a moment, then burst into tears!

Granny Ma hugged the Empress with heartache and comforted her: "Your Majesty, perhaps those rumors have affected the Emperor. I've heard that some people in the common folk are even making up little songs to curse the Emperor and the wicked concubine!"

The empress's face was filled with disbelief.

"I...I only wanted to give Zhang a warning! I am of one mind with the Emperor, how could I..."

The Empress belatedly realized that there were many rebels causing trouble among the people.

Those people in the shadows took advantage of her influence and fanned the flames, so she became their pawn.

Empress Hesheri was furious!

The empress sat there in silence for a long time, and suddenly became somewhat melancholy.

One second she was furious at the emperor's heartlessness, the next she was filled with guilt and unease!

Even if Consort Niohuru were to share power, she wouldn't find it so hard to accept.

However, what needs to be done still needs to be done!

She is the mother of the nation!

The Empress issued an edict explicitly forbidding the palace from discussing unfounded matters; anyone caught doing so would be slapped!

But soon, neither the court nor the harem cared about making sarcastic remarks.

The people didn't even care about the grain they had harvested ahead of schedule.

On July 25, 1668 (the seventh year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign), a strong earthquake occurred in southern Shandong. The magnitude was approximately 8.5, and the epicenter was located at the junction of Tancheng, Linyi, and Linshu counties.