Kangxi did not notice anything unusual about Harigana. He held the person in his arms and gently stroked her back, comforting her not to worry.
The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was cloudless.
As the emperor proclaimed "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!", Kangxi was the first to alight from the carriage. Just when everyone thought the emperor would rise, he turned around and reached out his hand towards the carriage.
Everyone was puzzled, wondering if it was the Empress Dowager and the Emperor together?
Before they could figure it out, they saw a delicate white hand reach out from inside the carriage and place it on Kangxi's large palm.
Everyone was shocked. After all, that was the imperial carriage. Normally, the concubines who accompanied the emperor would just sit on it, but for someone to get off the imperial carriage on such an occasion, their status must be extraordinary!
Those who already knew the inside story remained calm, and even the members of the Tongjia clan did not show the slightest sign of anything amiss.
It's not just the Tongjia clan that people from several prominent families know about the Mongolian concubine who is favored by the emperor and has been granted the rank of concubine. She has now surpassed the Tongjia Imperial Concubine and become an Imperial Concubine with a title.
Only minor officials and unfavored concubines were plunged into a deep crisis upon seeing Harigana. The palace once housed the free-spirited and innocent Consort Yi, the elderly Consort Hui, and later the highly favored and noble Consort Tongjia, and the gentle and considerate Consort De.
Although everyone knew that Kangxi would return to the palace with several Mongol concubines after this inspection tour—after all, the Empress Dowager's intentions were too obvious—they never took the Mongol concubines seriously. No matter how beautiful they were, they wouldn't be favored by the Emperor. After all, with an Empress Dowager and a Grand Empress Dowager already in place, for the Mongols to even think of taking the position of Empress was utterly delusional.
Only the Empress Dowager felt that the Emperor respected him, so she wanted to use marriage to solidify the relationship between Mongolia and the Qing Dynasty. But who couldn't see that the Emperor had long been extremely averse to this, and had even refused to allow any of his Mongolian concubines to bear him a prince? This was enough to show that the Emperor had no desire for children with Mongolian blood.
But now, the appearance of Harigana has shattered all their previous ideas, and many people have fallen into deep thought.
Some of the more ambitious ones wanted to befriend Harigana when they had the time, because considering the recent extensive renovations to the palace and the woman who was personally helped down from the imperial carriage by the emperor, they knew that this person was definitely not comparable to the Mongolian concubines of the past!
Some with darker intentions were thinking that they should band together to get rid of this woman and restore the situation to what it was before.
Regardless of what they thought, Kangxi held Harigana's hand tightly and walked to the Empress Dowager's side: "Grandmother!"
Bumbutai kept her eyes straight ahead, but even if she looked down on Harigana, she would not lose her royal demeanor in this situation.
"Yes, finally back in the palace!"
"rise!"
At Kangxi's signal, Li Dequan shouted loudly, and the crowd shouted in unison again: Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!
Looking at the perfectly aligned formation and the deafening noise, Harigana really wondered if these people had practiced beforehand, otherwise the scene was just too orderly!
Officials such as Suo'etu stood up and immediately stepped forward, as did Longkodo, Tong Guowei, and others.
For a time, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager were surrounded by people offering them words of comfort and concern. Even the concubines stood at a distance, watching Kangxi, hoping to receive a little bit of his favor.
"Father!"
A child's voice stood out prominently amidst the insincere flattery.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
People around him bowed, and Harigana subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a boy about 1.2 meters tall, wearing a blue shirt, with his forehead cleanly shaved like Emperor Kangxi's, and a smile on his face walking towards them.
Kangxi tightened his grip on Harigana's hand and subconsciously turned to look at her. He found her staring curiously in Yinreng's direction, her face showing no sign of distress. Although he felt uneasy, he did not show it.
Outsiders might not know, but how could Harigana not know? Her hand was being held by Kangxi, and the feeling of him gripping her hand tightly was far too obvious.
No wonder she felt that Kangxi was hesitant to speak when she was in the carriage, especially after entering the capital. Now she realized it must have been his good sons!
During this time, he thoroughly explained his past. Especially after leaving the Summer Palace, he intentionally or unintentionally told her about things in the palace, but he didn't mention the child.
Even if she did guess it, she wouldn't say it out loud.
To reiterate, she could only be bound to Kangxi for the rest of her life, so she could only try to make Kangxi's love last longer. Although Kangxi was now doing anything for her, he hadn't yet reached the age of forty, nor had he allowed his children to fight each other in order to remain emperor for a few more years.
She's only at the beginning; the emperor's favor comes and goes quickly!
Let Kangxi feel guilty; with both love and guilt, she can go further in life.
So when she realized that Kangxi had turned to look at her, she instinctively pulled her hand away, while her other hand touched her stomach. However, she quickly composed herself, turned to look at Kangxi, and gently shook her head. She did this so quickly that she lowered her head before Kangxi could even see her expression.
Emperor Kangxi felt a pang of pain in his heart, for he had still caused Harigana heartache.
"Baocheng! Get up!"
Regardless of what happens to Harigana, all he can do now is hold her hand tightly and silently tell her that he will always be with her and always by her side.
Yinreng was only eight years old at the time. Seeing that his father had a new woman by his side, a look of sadness and resentment flashed in his eyes. But he regained his composure in an instant, and Kangxi saw it all.
"Father Emperor, Bao Cheng misses you so much!"
Yinreng stood up and walked to Kangxi's side, wanting to hug his arm as he did when he was a child. But with the Empress Dowager on one side and Harigana on the other, he couldn't take the Empress Dowager's place and stand in the middle himself, so he could only reach out and hug Harigana's hand.
When Yinreng rushed over, Harigana was already prepared to let go of Kangxi's hand, after all, she was one of only two people who saw the unreadable emotions in Yinreng's eyes.
Fortunately, Emperor Kangxi had already made plans. When Yinreng approached him, he released the Empress Dowager's hand, put his arm around him, and pulled Harigana behind him to avoid being bumped.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
