When she arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, all the civil and military officials were standing in front of the hall waiting. Some sharp-eyed people immediately noticed that something was wrong with her decorations.

She kept her mouth shut and didn't dare to make a sound. Didn't she see that the Emperor was already walking towards this concubine?

After pushing Dulan aside, Kangxi helped Harigana and ascended the high platform together, preparing to receive the homage of the officials.

The last time she walked up these steps, she thought that day would be the saddest day of her life, but now it seems that today is the saddest day.

She can scream when giving birth, but now she's in a lot of pain, yet she still has to smile dignifiedly and not show any unpleasant expression.

This isn't enjoyment, this is death!

"Jiaojiao, don't worry, I'm here!"

Others might not have noticed, but Emperor Kangxi saw through her fake smile at a glance, assuming she was nervous, and whispered words of comfort.

"Okay!"

Harigana's main stance is that whatever he says goes.

Kangxi liked to see her being obedient and growing up according to his wishes, so he let her be.

Ultimately, she hasn't lost her true self, and it's good that she knows what she really wants.

The hand on Kangxi's arm slowly tightened, and she had to breathe a sigh of relief with each step she took, afraid that she might twist her neck if she wasn't careful.

Finally reaching the top, watching the civil and military officials kneeling and kowtowing, she suddenly felt dazed.

She glanced at the man beside her out of the corner of her eye. Perhaps, she could slowly begin to accept him.

There's a big difference between genuinely liking someone and pretending to like someone.

Kangxi may have begun to doubt her so-called sincerity. Having come this far, she could not back down.

However, it can only be a liking.

Kangxi's affection was deep, but she didn't think it was love.

Perhaps Kangxi loved her, but she had her own standards for love, and until he met her standards, she could only like him.

At first, she could act, but now, acting is no longer a viable way to sustain her career.

Therefore, she must like her, but not in a way that leads to obsession.

That's all.

Composing himself, he listened to the imperial edict being read aloud. All the officials knelt in obeisance, and Harigana smiled throughout. Even when he tried to kneel to receive the edict, Kangxi held his hand tightly and did not let go.

As a result, she became the only person in history to be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort without having to kneel to receive the imperial decree.

After the ceremony, they did not return to Qingxi Palace.

Emperor Kangxi had already prepared clothes for her in her bedroom in the Qianqing Palace. Looking at the bright yellow phoenix robe, she completely gave up struggling.

She lay on the bed and let Dulan massage her neck for a while. Feeling a bit more comfortable, she sat up and started to do her makeup.

The one-month celebration for her two children is coming up soon, and she has to look her best when she goes.

After changing my clothes, I went straight to the Hall of Preserving Harmony to attend the midday banquet.

Imperial Study

Kangxi looked at the people kneeling below with a half-smile, listening quietly to their endless chatter without making any comment.

The people below spoke until their throats were dry, until they realized they had run out of words and their voices gradually faded away.

"emperor!"

The ministers' voices were filled with disappointment and frustration. If they hadn't investigated the people behind them, Kangxi might have really wondered if he had made a mistake and hurt the feelings of his court officials.

"Hmm! Speak, I'm listening!"

The ministers were immediately deflated. No matter how loudly they argued, they couldn't do anything if the emperor didn't express his opinion.

He glanced furtively at Tong Guowei, Suo'etu, and the others kneeling before him; for a moment, the imperial study was quiet.

"What, are you all finished? May I speak now?"

Kangxi's voice was very soft, but the people below kept kowtowing.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The atmosphere in the imperial study instantly became tense; they could not afford to be angered by the emperor.

Some people are already regretting why they came along to wade into this mess, while others have no choice but to come.

But no matter what they do, it has nothing to do with Emperor Kangxi.

He is the emperor, and everyone should revolve around him and act according to his wishes.

"Of course I must calm down. I'm still thinking, is there anyone among you who is more suitable to be the emperor than me?"

"You should recommend your respective masters and see if they are up to the task. I may abdicate then."

"Your Majesty, please forgive us. We deserve to die a thousand deaths."

The ministers who were able to come here were all important officials of the imperial court.

Kangxi looked at the officials prostrate on the ground with a fierce gaze.

Now I finally understand why dynasties changed so quickly. It wasn't just because the emperors were incompetent; the most important reason was the interference of the empress's relatives in politics.

He, the emperor of the mighty Qing Dynasty, was actually threatened by his own subject.

The pain of his childhood is still vivid in his mind. He finally captured Ao Bai and quelled the Three Feudatories. Does he really have to let so-called relatives interfere in politics?

"What crime have you committed? It is I, I am the one who deserves to die!"

After Kangxi finished speaking, he threw the string of beads in his hand and slammed it onto the desk with a bang.

The courtiers below were trembling with fear, repeatedly begging for the emperor's forgiveness.

After a long while, seeing that it was almost time and the palace banquet was about to begin, he decided not to delay any longer.

"Remember this, all of you: I am the emperor of this Great Qing Dynasty, and this land belongs to the Aisin Gioro clan."

You must remember who your master is. If you can't recognize him, I won't mind letting your whole family find out who truly controls your lives.

I aspire to be a wise ruler, but what if my court officials are disloyal?

Kangxi paused, his gaze sweeping over the people in front of him, then said in a low voice, "To dare to be loyal to two masters, such a heartless and treacherous servant, I can exterminate his entire clan."

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