Finally, Mingxiu couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Crown Prince and the First Prince were doing something in the Imperial Garden, and I was a little worried, so I went to see them. This has nothing to do with me."
Mingxiu timidly stepped forward and said, completely ignoring the surprised and incredulous looks from the two pairs of eyes behind her.
Yinreng and Yinti felt somewhat wronged, but upon closer reflection, it seemed there was no problem; that was indeed the case. They could only nod reluctantly, acknowledging that it was their fault and had nothing to do with Consort Ming.
Kangxi looked at his two sons below, who had been easily swayed by Mingxiu's few words, and said with some helplessness, "Is that so? But I see you are quite happy. Weren't you laughing quite happily just now? I see you are even more excited than the two of them."
Mingxiu's expression stiffened: "No, Your Majesty, I just feel... I feel that if we don't finish watching it soon, the two children will be so heartbroken."
After Mingxiu finished speaking, she nodded as if to reinforce the credibility of her words.
Are these two kids really real? An looked at Mingxiu with disbelief, her eyes filled with a "How could you do this?" expression.
Mingxiu smiled awkwardly at the two of them, gesturing with her eyes, "I'm sorry, both of you. I'll make you something delicious later to make it up to you."
Unable to bear the exchange of glances between the three people below, he interrupted them directly: "Hmph, you two know you're in the wrong, huh? You're so young and already know how to enjoy yourself. Each of you is to write three calligraphy practice books. Once you're done, bring them to me. I'll check them myself. Now, get out of here."
After Kangxi finished speaking, he told Yinreng and Yinti to leave first.
Seeing this, Mingxiu prepared to quietly follow him out. Just as she took a step back, Kangxi noticed her movement and said in a deep voice, "Consort Ming, stay here. You two may leave."
After saying that, she stopped talking. Mingxiu glanced timidly at Kangxi above, then at the two people who were about to leave.
With a face full of grievance, Yinreng couldn't stand seeing Mingxiu like this. He was about to say something when Kangxi gave him a look that immediately stopped him.
He quickly pulled Yinti and the other person out. They still had large characters to write, and if they didn't finish, they would probably be punished.
Mingxiu, still standing behind with Erkang's outstretched hand, could only watch helplessly as the two people quickly left.
At the same time, he cursed himself inwardly for coming out to watch the show; now he'd become the show himself.
Turning back, she looked at Kangxi with an embarrassed smile: "Your Majesty, I really just wanted to see the two of them, I really didn't mean anything by it, Your Majesty~"
Mingxiu started to act cute.
Kangxi sat there and completely ignored her.
Seeing that no one spoke, Mingxiu looked at Liang Jiugong somewhat awkwardly, hoping they could put in a good word for her.
Liang Jiugong, who was being stared at by Mingxiu's burning gaze, dared not speak. He waved his hand and led his men out, leaving only Mingxiu and Kangxi behind.
Somewhat dumbfounded, she didn't mean that, but her gaze couldn't stop her, and soon only Kangxi and Mingxiu were left in the room.
Mingxiu pouted, walked straight up to Kangxi, pulled away his arm as he was reading, plopped down in his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck: "Your Majesty, please pay attention to me. I admit I was a little curious to see what was going on, but they weren't lying. Chen Qieji only went there because he heard the Crown Prince and the First Prince playing in the Imperial Garden. Your Majesty~" She then shook Kangxi, snatched the book from his hands, and placed it on the table.
Kangxi looked at her with a hint of helplessness and amusement, "Do you know where your problem lies?"
Mingxiu lowered her head, somewhat aggrieved: "I know, as an elder, I shouldn't have gone over to join in the fun."
Seeing her downcast and aggrieved look, Kangxi sighed, and his original intention to tease her disappeared: "It's not that I'm not letting you play, but next time you should consider the occasion, you know? There are so many people in the palace, aren't you afraid that people will laugh at you?"
Hearing this, Mingxiu knew that nothing serious had happened, and she relaxed even more: "Oh, Your Majesty, I won't do it again next time, but I'm not afraid of them laughing at me. Let them laugh, I'm thick-skinned and don't think it's a big deal."
"Haha, you're so thick-skinned!" Kangxi was amused and reached out to flick her nose. It wasn't a big deal, but he was mainly worried that she would be impeached or reprimanded by others.
But now Kangxi has realized what's going on. Oh well, he'll take care of everything. He'll protect her from all harm.
A storm dissipated with that laugh.
Sitting in Kangxi's lap, Mingxiu turned the pages of the book for him, one by one. Every time Kangxi finished reading, he would give her waist a light pinch, and Mingxiu would turn the page for him.
Mingxiu couldn't stand it for long. She was very ticklish and struggled to get down, but Kangxi held her even tighter. She had no choice but to stay in Kangxi's arms and try to reduce the tingling sensation.
Everything here is harmonious.
There are no secrets in the palace. Everyone who needs to know that Mingxiu was playing cockfighting with the Crown Prince and the First Prince already knows, and everyone wants to see how the Emperor will deal with her.
It's so shameful! They have no manners at all and actually play such low-class games with the princes.
However, when those who came out to inquire learned that the Crown Prince and the First Prince had returned, but Mingxiu had not yet returned, they knew that the Emperor might not pursue the matter much.
When Consort Tong heard this news, her face grew increasingly grim. She could sense that Kangxi was treating Mingxiu in a different way.
"Your Highness, don't worry. She's just a concubine after all. No matter how much the Emperor favors her, he can't surpass Your Highness. The most important thing for us now is to have a child. Then our position will be secure, and we can give our families an explanation." The nanny behind her saw that Consort Tong's expression was not right and quickly advised her.
"Besides, it's not just us watching; the Empress Dowager won't allow it either."
Hearing this, Consort Tong's expression softened, and she nodded. Indeed, that old witch would never allow the Emperor to favor one person too much.
"How is the one in the inner palace?" Consort Tong asked, her emotions calming down.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is proceeding according to plan. We are being served the best food and drink. Once the baby is born, we can bring it directly to Your Majesty."
"No!" Consort Tong's expression turned fierce: "Granny, what I want is to remove the mother and keep the child. The child can only have me as his mother. Only in this way will he be close to me, and the family will feel more at ease, won't they?"
The old woman behind her trembled: "Yes, Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will arrange it."
Empress Dowager's Palace
Sumalagu looked at the Empress Dowager, who was frowning, and offered some words of advice.
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