Kangxi listened to Zhang Tingyu's report with a stern face, his hand gripping the jade bodhi seed tightly.
“Your Majesty, I have already examined the body, and it is indeed Zhao Fangjing. It’s a pity; if we had acted sooner, he might not have been silenced. This was my negligence, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me!” Zhang Tingyu said cautiously. He had originally sent someone to follow Zhao Fangjing, and in fact, after Li Wei followed Zhao Fangjing, Zhang Tingyu’s men were also behind him. Because the Fourth Prince hadn’t sent anyone else, it was fortunate that he sent Li Wei, a stranger; otherwise, Kangxi would have known by now that he also suspected Zhao Fangjing.
"You're saying a group of men in black first kidnapped him from the inn and then killed him? Didn't the men you sent go into Zhao Fangjing's room to check?" Kangxi said, his eyes flashing slightly.
"It was all my fault for being too careless. I should have sent more people to keep an eye on things. My men were following those men in black, so they didn't check Zhao Fangjing's room again," Zhang Tingyu said.
Kangxi's gaze darkened, his mustache trembled slightly, and he stared at the jade pot with two rats playing with a pearl on the table for a long time.
“Your Majesty, I have already sent men to check Zhao Fangjing’s room, but they found nothing suspicious. However, the innkeeper said that Zhao Fangjing was drunk the night before and shouldn’t have left so early. Clearly, no one knew when Zhao Fangjing was abducted. These people must be skilled in martial arts to be able to abduct someone so stealthily under these circumstances,” Zhang Tingyu said, glancing cautiously at Kangxi.
"You just said that Zhao Fangjing drank with someone yesterday?" Kangxi asked, keenly sensing this unusual detail.
"Yes, they are said to be a group of students. I asked the shopkeeper, but I didn't get anything of value out of him," Zhang Tingyu said.
Kangxi suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said angrily, "It seems that someone has been manipulating all this. Perhaps I have been too lenient with some people. Continue the investigation. Have someone continue to investigate Zhao Fangjing's hometown. However, I don't have time to stay here any longer. Issue my decree that we shall depart tomorrow."
Zhang Tingyu acknowledged and withdrew, while Liang Jiugong busied himself conveying Emperor Kangxi's decree to various places.
Upon receiving the news, various places immediately prepared to pack the items that had just been taken out of the boxes back in their original condition. Some people couldn't help but feel that following Kangxi on this trip was no easy feat.
"Your Highness, please have some lunch. I noticed you haven't eaten much!" Hui'an urged as she helped the palace servants tidy up Holland's things.
"I have no appetite. I don't know why, but I've suddenly felt nauseous in my chest these past few days! Huian, do you think I might be pregnant?" Ever since she came out with Kangxi, Holland had been asking the accompanying doctor to prescribe medicine for her under the pretext of nourishing her body. However, the prescription was actually prepared by herself. It was the secret formula for conceiving a child that Yang Shi Tuolanqin had given her.
Huian paused, his brows furrowing. He thought about how Holland's period seemed to be several days late, and couldn't help but excitedly say, "Master, why don't we ask a doctor to take her pulse? Maybe she really is pregnant."
Holland nodded upon hearing this and said, "Go ahead and invite them, but do it discreetly, so that no one finds out."
Hui'an put down what she was holding, gave a few instructions to the palace servants, and then withdrew.
Before long, Doctor Meng, who accompanied Emperor Kangxi on his trip, arrived with his medicine chest. He had always had a good reputation in the Imperial Hospital, and being young and with exceptional medical skills, he was quickly rewarded by Emperor Kangxi and became one of the imperial physicians accompanying the emperor this time.
"Greetings to Consort Lan. May I ask what is wrong with you?" Doctor Meng was a man of imposing stature, but when he saw Holland, he kept his eyes lowered the entire time, not daring to overstep his bounds.
"Imperial Physician Meng, I have been feeling unwell these past few days and often feel nauseous, so I have requested that you come and take my pulse," Holland said sweetly.
Upon hearing this, Physician Meng immediately put down his medicine box, took out a medical pillow and a piece of thin gauze from the bushes, and said to Holland, who was sitting in a chair, with his head bowed, "Extend your hand, Your Excellency, so that I may take your pulse!"
So Huian immediately brought a stool for Physician Meng, and Holland cooperated by placing his hand on Physician Meng's examination pillow. After he covered Holland's wrist with a thin gauze, Physician Meng then extended two fingers and placed them on Holland's wrist.
As time went by, Holland grew increasingly anxious. Seeing Doctor Meng deep in thought, her mood gradually declined. Perhaps she hadn't conceived!
"How is it? Physician Meng, how is this noble person?" Holland couldn't help but ask, frowning.
Physician Meng originally intended to examine her more carefully, but after being asked this question, he had no choice but to reply, "Your Majesty, I have just felt a faint pulse of pregnancy, but it may be too early and is not very obvious yet. Please allow me to examine her more carefully."
Upon hearing this, Holland was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Are you telling the truth? This noble lady is indeed pregnant!"
Physician Meng cautiously replied, "Your Excellency, it is still early, and the pulse is not very clear, but I can be fairly certain that it is a pregnancy pulse."
Hui'an and Holland exchanged a smile and said reassuringly, "Don't be in such a hurry, sir. Let Physician Meng take a good look at you!"
Holland suppressed his elation, silently praying that it was all true. His mother's secret recipe had indeed worked.
After examining the child for another quarter of an hour, Physician Meng withdrew his fingers, stood up from the embroidered stool, clenched one fist, and covered it with the other, saying, "Your Majesty, you have been suspecting this for over a month. However, Your Majesty's body is delicate, so please go to bed and rest well. During the first three months, you must not move around or do anything too strenuous. I will prescribe another prescription for pregnancy preservation medicine. If you take it on time, it should ensure the safety of the imperial fetus."
Holland carefully stood up from the chair and said happily, "Thank you, Physician Meng. I understand. Please inform His Majesty on my behalf."
Physician Meng bowed his head and said, "Of course, please rest assured, Your Highness. I will inform the Emperor immediately. Please ask Miss Hui'an to go to the room I provided to get the medicine and take it on time. It will be of great benefit to Your Highness."
Holland nodded, raising her hand to stroke her still-flat belly, immersed in the joy of having a child.
In an instant, the news that Holland was pregnant with a dragon's child spread to everyone who needed to know.
When Emperor Kangxi heard that he was about to have another son, he naturally bestowed many gifts upon the Dutch. Although it was not as much as the palace, there were still quite a few good things that were presented as tribute by his subordinates.
When Consort Hui heard that Holland was pregnant, she remained silent for a while before ordering her palace servants to pack a few items and send them to Holland's Guanlan Residence as a congratulatory gift.
Lanqin learned from Fourth Master that Holland was indeed pregnant, and immediately sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts to Holland, but she did not go herself. Yang had tricked her into sending the secret formula to Holland, but the formula she received had the dosage altered, turning what was meant to help women conceive into a harmful one. This truly chilled her heart, and she could never genuinely befriend Holland without any resentment.
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