"Your Majesty, the Empress won't let you in!"

Li Dequan really went to great lengths for Kangxi and Harigana; it's hard to say too harshly, since they were his masters.

He tried to reason with them for two days, but nobody listened to him, which gave him a huge headache.

"Your Majesty, push! This servant can see the baby's head! You must push!"

Harigana has been exhausted for two days because of the baby in her belly, and she can't even eat. She's really worn out.

Fortunately, Granny Hu and Physician Zhao were prepared. When they sensed something was wrong, they immediately put ginseng slices in her mouth. After a short while, she finally regained some strength.

Emperor Kangxi would listen intently at the door for a while, and pace back and forth for a while; there was never a moment of peace and quiet.

Why is there no sound?

Apart from that shout, there was no other sound inside.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant greets you! Your Majesty, the suspect has been caught red-handed."

Little Li was a little excited. He didn't expect that someone would actually dare to make a move at this time. If it weren't for Granny Su's medical skills and the Emperor's secret guards' timely intervention, they might have succeeded.

Kangxi's face darkened: "Lock her up first, don't let her die, and keep a close watch on her. Li Dequan, go and do it."

"Yes! Your servant obeys!"

Li Dequan followed Xiao Lizi out and, seeing the palace maid bound hand and foot, immediately ordered her to be locked in the woodshed.

"Go, dislocate her jaw and limbs, and keep a close watch on her."

Xiao Taijia immediately stepped forward, and after a few cracking sounds, the little palace maid lay limp on the ground, her eyes filled with fear.

"Why did you have to go against the Imperial Concubine?"

"Enjoy life tonight while you can. Once the Empress gives birth to the imperial heir, the Emperor will surely exterminate your entire clan."

After Li Dequan finished speaking, he stopped looking at him, instructed his men to keep a close watch on him, and immediately returned to Kangxi's side.

"Your Majesty, it's been locked."

Kangxi nodded without asking further questions. Regardless of who it was, he was determined to eradicate those corrupt officials after this incident.

Cining Palace

"Hasn't she given birth yet?"

There was still no news from Qingxi Palace, and Bumbutai couldn't sleep; she was getting anxious.

Regardless of what happens to Harigana, the child in her womb is Xuan Ye's child, and also her great-grandson.

"Your Majesty, the servants guarding that side haven't sent any news yet. It's getting late, you should get some rest."

Sumalagu coaxed the Empress Dowager.

Bumbutai was still worried. She was pregnant with twins and had already been through two days of labor. She was afraid that if something went wrong, Xuan Ye would suffer the same fate as Fu Lin.

"Prepare the sedan chair and palanquin, I'm going to take a look!"

Sumalagu was overjoyed; the Empress Dowager had finally compromised.

It wasn't the kind of threat the Emperor had made before, but rather a genuine understanding that if she wasn't treated well by the Consort, her relationship with the Emperor would never improve.

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant will go right away!"

Bumbutai watched Sumalagu's retreating figure, as if this was the first time in a long time that Sumalagu had agreed so readily, without trying to dissuade her.

She didn't have the energy to think deeply about the reasons behind it; her only reason for going to Qingxi Palace was for the two imperial heirs.

Kangxi sat on the stool. It was already midnight, but Harigana still hadn't been born, and his heart grew colder and colder.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have arrived."

Li Dequan whispered, feeling uneasy, wondering what these two wanted to do today.

Emperor Kangxi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, stood up, and went out to greet them personally.

"Royal Grandmother, Queen Mother."

The two people's sedan chairs came to a stop, and Kangxi went over to help the Empress Dowager.

"How is the Imperial Concubine? Is the child alright?"

Bumbutai's tone was unnatural; if she didn't like it, she simply didn't like it. If it weren't for the child and the fear that Kangxi would be heartbroken, she definitely wouldn't have come here.

Kangxi did not know what she was thinking, but he guessed most of it, so he did not feel moved or happy.

But since the old man at least cares about his daughter now, he can't really do anything about it.

"Grandmother, they are fine, you don't need to worry. It's getting late, let Li Dequan escort you back to the palace to rest. Jiaojiao will probably need some more time, and Xuan Ye is worried you won't be able to stay up."

Bumbutai was a little angry when he heard the first sentence, but the last sentence was pleasing to the ear. Considering that he was also anxious, he didn't think much of it.

"It's alright! I won't be able to sleep anyway if I go back."

"Yes, Xuan Ye, let's see how things go. If she really can't take it anymore, I'll send the Empress Dowager back."

The Empress Dowager also stepped forward to speak, but Kangxi, worried about the situation inside, didn't say much to them and helped the Empress Dowager walk inside.

Harigana no longer knows what pain feels like; apart from using it, she has no other senses.

"Your Majesty, push! We can see the baby's head! Push, Your Majesty!"

Hearing the midwife's words, she took a deep breath and focused all her strength on her belly.

"ah!"

Kangxi heard Harigana's voice again. Just as he stood up, he heard a cry of "Wah!"

"It's born! It's born! Her Majesty has given birth!"

Dulan and Li Dequan jumped up excitedly at the door, needless to say, they were overjoyed to mention their father, Emperor Kangxi.

I wanted to go in and see, but Granny Hu came out first, holding a child in her arms.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations on the birth of a prince by the Empress."

Physician Zhao rushed over to examine the child and confirmed that there was nothing wrong with him, which put everyone present at ease.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!