Dulan should have come in, but her clothes were stained with chicken blood from being chased by chickens, so Li Dequan had to knock on the door to ask.

Standing at the door, he took a long, deep breath before daring to knock, wondering how the Emperor would punish him.

The Empress was so frightened, he'd be lucky to escape with his life.

"roll!"

Kangxi glanced down at Harigana, and seeing her shaking her head vigorously, he immediately started cursing.

"Yes! Your servant obeys."

Li Dequan retreated with a wronged expression, went to the kitchen and said, "You all eat by yourselves, don't sit at the table," and then obediently went back to continue his duty.

When Dulan came out after changing her clothes, she saw Li Dequan with his head down, flicking his whisk, exuding an air of decadence.

"Eunuch Li, what's wrong with you?"

She walked up to him and asked in a low voice, then, remembering what had just happened, she instantly understood: "Eunuch Li, with Her Majesty the Empress here, the Emperor will not punish you."

Trust me, don't worry.

At most, the Emperor might privately fine you a little or scold you, but he would never beat you.

Although Li Dequan liked what she said, he always felt that her tone was annoying.

"real?"

Even though Li Dequan had served Harigana for three years, he still didn't understand her as well as Dulan did.

Moreover, just now, listening to the Emperor's voice, it was so cold it seemed he wanted to kill him.

Looking at Dulan with some skepticism, he asked in a very low voice.

"Really, don't worry, Her Majesty won't let the Emperor punish you."

Dulan spoke with great certainty, but Li Dequan was still worried.

It wasn't until he served Kangxi his morning washing up that he finally felt relieved. Just as Dulan had said, Kangxi had only punished him with a year's worth of allowance, but he hadn't suffered any physical pain.

"Useless thing."

He put on his outer robe, cursed at Li Dequan who was pretending to be a quail with his head down, and then went back to his room.

"See? Was I right?"

After Kangxi returned, Dulan naturally came out of her room and looked at Li Dequan, who had fully recovered, with a hint of smugness in her eyes.

"Girl, why are you so sure?"

He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Have you done something like this before?"

Dulan rolled her eyes at him: "Do you think everyone is like you?"

Li Dequan really wanted to hit someone; this statement made him sound like a fool.

Taking a deep breath, he smiled and asked, "Tell me about it."

I thought Dulan would tell me the reason, but she just chuckled mysteriously and then turned and went back to her room.

"Hey!"

He shook his head helplessly as he watched Dulan's retreating figure.

It wasn't until many years later that he learned it was actually Dulan who guessed.

Since Harigana would not punish servants, and since the accident happened because of her, she would be even less likely to punish them.

Most importantly, this was Li Dequan's first time doing this, so it's only natural that he might not know how. Given Harigana's personality, he would definitely not punish anyone.

This matter became a little secret by West Lake. The Emperor and Empress didn't tell anyone, and naturally, no one else dared to utter a word.

The person who started the whole thing was being gently coaxed by Emperor Kangxi and soon fell asleep.

The next day, the two of them got up slowly, rode their horses to visit the surrounding cities, and returned in the evening to take a boat tour on the lake arranged by Li Dequan.

"Xuan Ye, this is truly a pleasant experience."

Looking at the shimmering lake, one can hear faint sounds of singing and dancing in the distance, the voices melodious and the music lingering.

"Want to hear it? Should I arrange one for you too?"

Seeing her straining to listen to the singing coming from across the room, he chuckled softly, "Want to enjoy it too?"

"don't want!"

After saying that, Harigana turned around and hugged Kangxi's waist, nestling obediently in his arms: "I don't want to."

Kangxi sensed that she had inexplicably become a little emotional.

She glanced down at him, pouted, and held his waist tightly.

"Hahaha! Jiaojiao, you're getting more and more stingy."

In an instant, I understood where her little mood came from, and I was extremely happy.

"My little darling, I only need you, there won't be anyone else, sweetie."

Holding the person in his arms, he thought of how she had told him with a blank expression that she would abide by the palace rules and obediently be a concubine in his harem. It all seemed like only yesterday.

Now, his beloved is completely devoted to him, and she's even jealous of a songstress. How could he not be happy?

"Then I don't want it either."

Emperor Kangxi discovered her little scheme, and although she blushed, she did not refute it.

After saying that, she snuggled closer to him, finding a comfortable position, and smiled slightly where Kangxi couldn't see.

Occasionally expressing your possessiveness can not only make a man feel pity for you, but also prevent him from having any improper thoughts.

Don't be too deliberate; the timing must be right, the words must be slightly sarcastic, and you must let the other person understand your thoughts immediately.

This was the first time she had used this method, and it seemed to be working very well.

Harigana has been pondering lately whether love at first sight or love that grows over time is more appealing to her.

Between the two, she prefers feelings that develop over time.

Love at first sight may begin with physical attraction, but the reasons for parting ways can be anything other than physical attraction.

But love that grows over time is different. Everything else is suitable except for physical appearance, and the basis for suitability is that you already find each other pleasing to the eye.

Just like her and Emperor Kangxi.

Kangxi fell in love at first sight, but she definitely made efforts afterward as well.

If you can't escape it, then change it.

But she wasn't.

While Emperor Kangxi was undoubtedly handsome, given the choice, he would definitely not be the first choice for a good husband.

But things had already come to that point, and she had no choice but to confront her feelings.

However, whether it's love at first sight or love that grows over time, it still requires careful nurturing.

As the saying goes, old tricks always win people's hearts, and they certainly didn't disappoint her.

"Okay, no, I'll listen to Jiaojiao."

Although it was already July, the lake was still a bit chilly at night, so we sat outside with Harigana for a while before going back inside.

"Xuan Ye, would you like a little bit?"

Seeing the wine and drinks prepared by Li Dequan, he impulsively pulled Kangxi to sit at the table and poured two glasses of wine: "I'll only drink a small glass to keep you company."

Osmanthus wine, the kind with a low alcohol content.

After sneaking drinks from time to time during this period, her alcohol tolerance has improved to the point where she can drink a small glass of alcohol without getting drunk.

"good."

When the young lady wanted to drink, Emperor Kangxi naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Jiaojiao, eat something first, so you won't get drunk easily."

He agreed, but didn't drink it right away.

He set his wine glass aside and placed some food on the plate in front of her.

"Okay, sure."

After eating until I was half full, I drank a glass of wine in several sips. I don't know if it was because of the environment, but Harigana didn't feel drunk at all.

She looked longingly at Kangxi and held out her wine cup to him: "Xuan Ye, more."

Looking at the petite woman whose cheeks were slightly flushed but whose expression remained completely normal, he said, "Half a cup, no more."

"good!"

They agreed very readily.