"Jiaojiao is getting smarter and smarter, isn't she?"

After Dulan left, Kangxi pulled her into his arms and bit Harigana's ear until her neck turned bright red before letting her go.

"You said it, I didn't suggest it!"

Harigana ate her fill, and with her baby in tow, she wasn't afraid of what Emperor Kangxi might do to her.

Emperor Kangxi choked, thinking: Could pregnancy really make someone smarter? Harigana used to be dull and stupid, but now he's actually learned to talk back!

"Tell me! What kind of look did you give me just now?!"

Kangxi didn't want to continue talking about cucumbers with Harigana; the more they talked, the more he felt like the fool! Thinking of that look in his eyes earlier, he quickly changed the subject.

Harigana didn't want to talk about it; if Kangxi admitted it, she would be disgusted! She could treat anything she hadn't heard with her own ears as false!

"It's alright! Have you finished reviewing your memorials? Get ready to rest!"

As Harigana spoke, she tried to get off Kangxi, but Kangxi clearly saw the words "wanting to say something but holding back" on her face. Regardless of whether it was out of curiosity or simply because he didn't want Harigana to misunderstand, he had to get to the bottom of it.

"Jiaojiao! Didn't we agree before? We couldn't hide anything from each other, you promised me!"

Kangxi knew that Harigana liked it when he spoke in her ear, especially in a deep voice. Whenever Harigana wanted to back down, he would use this method, and it would be absolutely effective!

Sure enough, Harigana's ears turned red.

She reached up and rubbed her ears before saying, "It's nothing! I've already figured it out, don't worry!"

Kangxi was now certain it was related to him; otherwise, he would never have said he had "come to terms with it"! This little girl can't even lie properly; I really don't know how Baoliri raised her!

However, he only thought about it and wouldn't be foolish enough to ask out loud. After all, she never intended for Harigana to enter the palace; she simply wanted to find her a suitable husband to keep by her side.

"Jiaojiao! Speak up! Since you've come to terms with it, it proves you don't care anymore. Tell me!"

Emperor Kangxi enjoyed this feeling; he felt a sense of accomplishment, after all, everything that Harigana had now and everything that would come in the future was something he had personally taught him!

Harigana glanced up at Kangxi secretly, then buried his head in his chest and said in a muffled voice, "It's that Angel! Will you treat me the same way you treated her in the future?"

Before Harigana could finish speaking, Kangxi immediately retorted, "Jiaojiao, can't you compare yourself to a good person? What are you comparing yourself to her for?"

Emperor Kangxi almost said, "You are my wife," but he still had some reservations. Moreover, he couldn't promise Harigana something he wasn't certain of so early. He could guarantee that no one would be above her, but establishing an empress involved too many complexities, and he needed to make thorough preparations.

Harigana sat up straight, looking at Kangxi with disbelief.

"Xuan Ye, tell me, what's the difference between us? She's your woman, and so am I! We're both just your concubines, what's there to be incomparable about us!"

Emperor Kangxi was even more displeased. What did this have to do with anything?

"Jiaojiao, I haven't even touched that Angel, and I don't plan to do anything to her in the future. You can't wrong me! I've had women before, but you can't wrong me about things I didn't do! You and she are different!"

Harigana somewhat believed Kangxi's words; after all, he had no reason to lie to her. But if he hadn't touched her, how could Dulan have overheard those words before? So ultimately, it was because Kangxi had made such a commotion, whatever the reason! However, she felt relieved; the imperial carriage was, for the time being, clean!

"oh!"

What Kangxi originally wanted to say was left unsaid by Harigana's "oh"!

"No! Jiaojiao, I've been with you the whole time, and even though I was busy reviewing memorials and didn't have time to see you for the past few days, I didn't ask anyone to sleep with me!"

Harigana kept his head down, refusing to look at Kangxi. However, since he had already prepared to vie for favor, now was an opportunity to slowly infiltrate the emperor.

You're lying!

Kangxi was a little angry seeing Harigana with her head down and not saying a word. He had said so many times that if there were problems between them, they should talk about them, but she was like a silent gourd. Just as he was about to poke that little head of hers up, he heard her sobbing.

"Jiaojiao!"

Harigana hadn't intended to cry, but after saying those words, for some reason, tears just started flowing. She was surprised; perhaps it was because of her pregnancy? Anyway, it felt very timely.

Emperor Kangxi cupped Harigana's face in his hands and saw a beautiful woman with tears streaming down her face. However, the way she cried broke Kangxi's heart.

"I have never lied to you, you cannot wrong me! Even if I were the emperor, I would never kill anyone without distinguishing right from wrong. You have to give me a chance to explain!"

Emperor Kangxi couldn't bear to see Harigana like this, and wanted to wipe her face with a silk handkerchief, but neither of them had one on them.

"ah!"

Harigana gasped softly, never expecting that Kangxi would kiss her tears. And inch by inch, leaving her cheeks covered in Kangxi's scent, making her too afraid to cry anymore!

"Jiaojiao! What did I lie to you about? Hmm?"

Seeing that Harigana had stopped crying, Kangxi was actually a little disappointed. He hadn't kissed her enough yet, what a pity!

"You clearly favor Angel!"

Harigana glared angrily, her confidence wavering. She had just realized there must be some misunderstanding, but from the moment her ears turned red, things couldn't stop.

"Harigana, I don't have it!"

This is what makes Harigana so special. If it were anyone else, even if they knew that Kangxi had favored someone else, they wouldn't dare to say anything, because he was the emperor.

Kangxi was now completely under Harigana's spell, so his feelings were complicated. He was angry because Harigana had spread rumors. Yet, he was also happy; Harigana's behavior seemed suspiciously jealous. Did this prove that Harigana wasn't entirely without feelings for him?

"Oh! You say you don't have it, so you don't have it!"

Harigana nodded in agreement with Kangxi's statement, but the latter disagreed. What if Harigana's affection for him disappeared if this couldn't be resolved?

"Jiaojiao, I really didn't! Last time I was just so angry with you that I wanted to call her over! But I promise, I really didn't touch her. After she got into the carriage, she stayed in the corner the whole time, and she didn't even touch my sleeve!"

"oh!"

Harigana remained unchanged, clearly not believing! Kangxi now truly regretted his impulsive actions back then.

"It's alright, you are the Emperor! I understand! Besides, didn't you say back then that I was just your concubine? I remember that clearly! I will never overstep my bounds!"