Kangxi sighed helplessly, then affectionately ruffled Harigana's hair before instructing Li Dequan to carry out the task.

Li Dequan returned shortly afterward!

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician says that the Imperial Concubine can use a little less, but not too much or too spicy food!"

Harigana was somewhat disappointed. He turned his head and looked at Kangxi pitifully, afraid that he would refuse.

"Jiaojiao, tell Li Dequan what you want to eat!"

Kangxi initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Harigana's gaze, he instantly abandoned the idea. The imperial physician said she could eat a little, and he would keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't eat too much!

"Fish! We want spicy boiled fish!"

Emperor Kangxi frowned, but did not speak to stop him. Instead, he gave Li Dequan a subtle look and said, "You heard the Consort's request, didn't you? Go now!"

Harigana was somewhat puzzled. She felt that Kangxi had agreed too quickly, which was quite unusual! Most importantly, she wanted spicy food, yet Kangxi didn't object!

Sure enough, her intuition was right!

When the spicy fish she ordered arrived, Harigana's face darkened upon seeing the two red chilies in it. Moreover, it was obvious that the chilies had been added later, probably before they had even absorbed the flavor into the broth.

Not to mention Harigana, even Kangxi dared not look Harigana in the eye, glancing sideways at Li Dequan with murderous intent in his eyes.

Kangxi thought to himself that Li Dequan was always to his liking in other matters, but when it came to Harigana, there was never a single thing that the two of them could agree on!

Li Dequan felt even more aggrieved; these were the only two chili peppers he had left. He felt even more wronged when Harigana turned around and glared at him!

"Your Majesty! Please try this fish. It looks very spicy and numbing, but it must taste incredibly delicious!"

As Harigana spoke, she picked up her chopsticks and placed a large piece of fish tail meat on Kangxi's plate. Not only Li Dequan, but even Kangxi could sense her dissatisfaction in her tone.

"Li Dequan, three months' wages are gone!"

As soon as Kangxi finished speaking, Li Dequan wanted to beg for mercy, but looking at Harigana's gloating face and the emperor's dark expression, he could only accept this unexpected disaster.

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant knows his crime!" Li Dequan knelt on the ground to admit his guilt, making Harigana somewhat embarrassed! Originally, they were worried about her, but now that they had done this, she felt that she had been too unreasonable!

Moreover, Li Dequan was just a lackey; if Kangxi hadn't done something, how could he have pulled this stunt?

However, Harigana did not immediately plead for the servants after Kangxi finished punishing them. The emperor's words were law, and it would be unreasonable for her to contradict him so soon after he finished speaking!

"go out!"

Enraged, Kangxi ordered Li Dequan to retreat immediately, leaving only Harigana and Kangxi in the tent.

After Li Dequan left, Harigana glared at Kangxi, who quickly retorted, "Jiaojiao! It really wasn't me who asked him to do it! If I didn't want you to eat it, I could have just refused. Why did I have to go through all this trouble?"

Harigana was rolling her eyes so hard she wanted to jump to the sky. If it weren't for her, who would dare to do something like this?

"Yes, yes, yes! Your Majesty, please try it, this fish should be delicious!"

Kangxi was now in a situation where he couldn't clear his name no matter what, but he couldn't bring Li Dequan in for a confrontation, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

The fish was indeed a very fresh large carp, and aside from the two bright red chili peppers on top, there was nothing wrong with it.

"Okay! Jiaojiao will eat too!"

Since both Harigana's concubines and the Emperor had spoken up, Kangxi naturally went along with her. However, eating the fish was a difficult process; Harigana had already finished her meal, but Kangxi was still struggling with the fish.

"Alright, alright! Eat this!"

Kangxi's clumsy attempt to pick out the fish bones cheered Harigana up considerably. He then took the remaining fish tail from the plate and gave him a piece of fish belly instead.

"Jiaojiao!"

Now it was Emperor Kangxi's turn to feel aggrieved. When had he ever eaten a fish tail?!

"I'll pick out the bones for you, hurry up and eat!"

Harigana coughed lightly, feeling awkward. Kangxi's expression was so pitiful that she was somewhat shocked.

Upon hearing that Harigana would help him remove the fish bones, Kangxi's resentful eyes brightened with joy. Looking at the girl sitting beside him, head bowed, diligently removing the fish bones, his eyes overflowed with affection.

After lunch, the group rested briefly before continuing their journey. Harigana, having eaten and drunk his fill, looked at his sketchbook for a while after getting on the bus, and then fell asleep immediately!

However, Harigana didn't sleep very soundly; he felt groggy and nauseous. He had been fine when he ate fish at noon, but now the fishy smell was getting stronger and stronger in his mouth.

"Jiaojiao!"

Emperor Kangxi sensed Harigana's restlessness and quickly woke him up.

"Jiaojiao! Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Harigana frowned and replied in a very low voice, "Xuan Ye, I feel dizzy, nauseous, and want to vomit!"

Emperor Kangxi heard this clearly and was so frightened that he immediately shouted, "Li Dequan, quickly summon Physician Zhao! Hurry!"

Harigana was already feeling unwell, and hearing Kangxi shout made his brows furrow even more. It was as if the words "hurry up!" were playing in his ears repeatedly!

Anxious and worried, Emperor Kangxi tried to wake Harigana to stop her from sleeping any longer.

"Xuan Ye! I feel unwell, don't shake me!"

Harigana spoke very softly, and after he finished speaking, he covered his mouth and gagged.

Kangxi was extremely anxious, and had already come up with many conspiracy theories in his mind. He even suspected that the sketchbook she had just looked at might have been poisoned.

"Jiaojiao! Immediately! The imperial physician is coming right away!"

The carriage had stopped moving forward. The large group of people didn't know why, but seeing Physician Zhao rushing towards the imperial carriage with his medicine box, everyone had a general idea.

"Su Ma! Go check! Is it Xuan Ye?!"

Bumbutai's eyelids twitched; she had a feeling that something out of her control was about to happen. Regarding Harigana, who had repeatedly hindered the army's advance, her feelings had shifted from initial dislike to wariness, and now to utter disgust—she felt absolutely no goodwill towards him.

Moreover, although she said that she wanted Sumalagu to go and see Kangxi, she had already concluded in her heart that the woman from the Borchijin tribe must have been the one who got into trouble.

"Yes! This servant will go right away!"

Inside the imperial carriage, there was only a pale-faced Harigana, a furrowed brow on Emperor Kangxi's face, and Imperial Physician Zhao kneeling to one side, sweating profusely.