As Nalan Mingzhu finished speaking, she glanced at Harigana discreetly, drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Lord Mingzhu, what's wrong? Did that man claim to be my younger brother?"

Harigana's words caused everyone present to burst into laughter, especially Emperor Kangxi, who couldn't help but laugh out loud at her shocked expression.

The Empress Dowager patted her shoulder with a smile, her eyes full of helplessness.

"Your Highness, you have misunderstood."

Nalan Mingzhu wanted to facepalm. How did she even think of coming up here? That person didn't look like a Mongolian at all!

"Oh! Is it inconvenient for you to speak here since I am here?"

Nalan Mingzhu immediately stood up and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please calm down, this servant did not mean that."

Harigana instinctively hid behind Kangxi: "No, then why are you looking at me?"

Nalan Mingzhu felt that he was just being superfluous by glancing at them. Whether others were happy or not was the Emperor's business; why was he worrying about it?

"Alright, get up. Hurry up and tell me!"

Kangxi patted her hand, and had a general idea in his mind.

However, his beloved is probably not such a petty person and won't hold a grudge against him.

"Yes! Your servant obeys."

Nalan Mingzhu sat back down, not daring to delay: "Your Majesty, that man is Suo'etu's eighth son by a concubine."

Harigana, Hesheli clan? Well, saying he's Kangxi's brother-in-law isn't too much to ask.

But none of that matters; it has nothing to do with her.

Little did she know that the meal she had just eaten had made Kangxi's heart leap into his throat.

She glanced at the person next to her and realized that she wasn't looking at her, which made her even more flustered.

"Mingzhu, I'm entrusting this matter to you. You must investigate thoroughly. Such lawless people must not be tolerated."

Emperor Kangxi was already thinking of what excuse to use to deal with the Hesheli clan, but he never expected that such a big handle would be handed to him today.

We don't need to wait two more days; we can start right away.

"Yes! This servant will go and oversee it immediately."

Nalan Mingzhu and Suo'etu fought for more than a decade. If it weren't for the Emperor's consideration for Empress Hesheli and His Highness the Crown Prince, he would have been executed long ago for his arrogant and domineering nature.

But things took an unexpected turn, and today it ended up in his hands.

He will definitely investigate thoroughly and meticulously, leaving no stone unturned, and uncover everything.

How could Emperor Kangxi not know about the conflict between Suo'etu and Nalan Mingzhu? It was indeed a coincidence that he ended up in the middle of it.

But it was precisely because of this that he felt even more at ease, certain that Nalan Mingzhu would not let him down.

"Go quickly, I need an answer within three days."

Kangxi turned to look at Li Dequan: "Later, send Mingzhu a token and personally instruct them to cooperate with Mingzhu. If anyone is found to be disobedient, they will be imprisoned in the imperial prison for the same crime."

"Your servant obeys!"

Li Dequan was shocked. Was the Emperor about to take action?

The Minister of Revenue and Zhang Ying, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, since whatever was going on in the capital had nothing to do with them.

They were incorruptible, worthy of the emperor's trust and the people of the land.

As Harigana watched Nalan Mingzhu walk away, he suddenly remembered Nalan Rongruo, who always said he would only have one wife for life, but ended up having more wives than anyone else.

Kangxi glanced at the person still looking at Nalan Mingzhu and gently squeezed her hand to express his displeasure.

"Zhang Zisong, where is the rainwater you collected? Take me to see it."

Zhang Zisong, whose full name is Zhang Jiazisong, is the full name of the Minister of Revenue.

When Harigana heard Zhang Zisong's name, he almost burst out laughing. "Zhang Zisong, what a good name! Evergreen tree."

"Your Majesty, I have already had it carried up and is placed outside."

The group went outside, where two servants were guarding a vat, looking around warily.

If someone didn't know better, they might think this water was some kind of magical elixir.

The rainwater was indeed clear; even the bottom of the jar wasn't very murky. It could be said that it was just as good as well water.

"It's so clear!"

The Empress Dowager also glanced at it and sighed.

Kangxi nodded. He had felt something was strange since last night, especially when he heard them say that the rainwater was very clear during the morning court session. His doubts deepened.

After leaving the Zhang residence, the group went to Chunmanyuan, a restaurant that Li Dequan had booked in advance.

Unlike the restaurant we visited last time, this place has a more elegant ambiance, and the furnishings in the room look quite expensive.

Although Harigana didn't look at the menu, he knew that this place was absolutely unaffordable for anyone who wasn't a high-ranking official or aristocrat.

"Mother, is there any dish you would like to eat? Let them make it for you."

Harigana was more meticulous than Kangxi. He had been going to Ning Shou Palace a lot recently, and the two of them had eaten together a few times. The Empress Dowager always had a strong palate, and there were not many dishes on the table that she liked.

"No need, this is fine."

It's already quite good that the Empress Dowager was able to come out for a trip. As for the food, it's just something to eat; we can make do with it and eat it again when we get back.

Harigana noticed her discomfort and turned to look at Li Dequan: "Li Dequan, I want to eat spicy stir-fried chicken, garlic ribs, and stir-fried mutton."

Kangxi remained silent, but Zhang Zisong was somewhat surprised. The Imperial Noble Consort was actually addressed as Eji, and neither the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager had objected. It seemed that she was not far from becoming Empress.

"Yes! This servant will have someone do it right away."

Li Dequan responded and went out to arrange the dishes.

The Empress Dowager felt a warmth in her heart. Those dishes weren't what Harigana wanted to eat; they were clearly ordered for her.

Especially the spicy stir-fried chicken, which is her favorite dish.

“My dear daughter, you are so kind.”

Emperor Kangxi was unhappy. What did he mean by "Eji's daughter"? Shouldn't she be "daughter-in-law"?

Why are there always people eyeing his beloved? Dulan first, then the Empress Dowager, they're all trying to steal her away from him.

The food came out quickly; there were twelve dishes for the four of us.

The chef's skills were excellent. I don't know how the three of them, including Emperor Kangxi, enjoyed the meal, but Harigana and the Empress Dowager ate their fill.

After leaving the restaurant, the group strolled around leisurely.

Harigana and the Empress Dowager got together again, with the little eunuchs following them carrying all sorts of trinkets they had bought.

"Mother, look how pretty this hairpin is!"

As she was speaking, she reached for the hairpin, but before she could even hold it in her hand, it was snatched away.

"I'll take this hairpin. How much is it?"

The vendor looked at Harigana with a troubled expression. It was someone else who had taken a liking to it first, and now he couldn't conjure up a second one.

"I'm asking you a question, how much silver?"

The girl was wearing a bright red dress, had fair skin, but her appearance was average.

"five,"

The merchant was about to say five coins, but Dulan interjected, "Fifty taels of silver! The shopkeeper just said, 'Don't you listen to the price before you try to steal something?'"