Emperor Kangxi was taken aback.
He doesn't seem to have done anything wrong, so how could Jiao Jiao have such a big misunderstanding?
“Xuan Ye, it was last year when I returned to the capital. I had an injury on my back, and I was in the carriage…” Harigana’s voice was very soft, but Kangxi understood what she was implying.
Although the wound on Harigana's back had scabbed over, Emperor Kangxi was afraid that it would be covered up, so he would occasionally let her cool her back in the carriage with only her clothes on.
The windows on both sides were half-open to allow air in, but were indeed blocked by curtains so that the view inside could not be seen.
"I felt very comfortable at the time, and it wasn't too hot. Then I thought about whether I could make a small one so that two babies could sit on it."
It is well-founded and based on evidence, and it was actually experienced by Emperor Kangxi himself. It was not fabricated or made up out of thin air.
Emperor Kangxi had no choice but to believe it, whether he wanted to or not.
From the very first moment they met, she was constantly being watched, with no secrets whatsoever.
The reason she can do these things is because she is clever and quick-witted, and can learn by analogy.
"Jiaojiao! You're so smart!"
He stroked her head, his tone full of pride, but his eyes seemed a little off.
There was no doubt, for no other reason than that the drawing was too rough, and only she could draw something so rough.
Harigana was unaware that her paintings were being disliked until the car was finished, at which point she realized what Kangxi's expression meant.
"Of course!"
She proudly raised her chin, only to have the man lean down and capture her lips.
The letter she wanted to write to Seneja was never completed; all her strength turned into sobs, and after a long while, she was limply held in someone's arms.
"Jiaojiao, look at this. It's a drawing I made of Kunning Palace. Is there anything you want to add?"
The layout is clearly marked on the map, and Harigana can be understood at a glance.
Kunning Palace is very large, more than twice the size of Qingxi Palace.
"Xuan Ye, may I ask you a question?"
Holding the layout map in his hand, he looked at Kangxi, his voice slightly hoarse from the kiss just now.
"Speak freely, tell me everything you know, and leave nothing unsaid."
He helped her fix her hair, and after saying that, he kissed her on the corner of her lips.
Hariga glanced at him with a chill in the air, then pushed his hand away and sat up straight: "What were you thinking back then? Why did you prefer to pretend to be the Hall of Union?"
Kangxi originally wanted to pull her back and hug her, but when he heard what she asked, his hand froze.
Why?
He didn't know why, but he just felt that none of the palaces in the harem were worthy of her.
"What's wrong? Is it inconvenient?"
Harigana wasn't looking for trouble; he just suddenly realized that the Kunning Palace had housed two of Emperor Kangxi's empresses, and both of them had died there.
Although it has undergone extensive renovations, the original frame is still there, and she still considers that place quite unlucky.
Having lived in the hospital for so many years, I've seen it all, including life and death.
What she couldn't accept the most was that the person who had been chatting with her the day before would not show up for several days, and when she went to look for them, there was someone else lying in the bed.
At first she was scared because she was young. Later, as her parents stopped visiting her, she became more and more silent. As she got older, there was only one thing she hated: the bed where someone had died would immediately be occupied by a new person.
Although it has been a little over four years since Empress Niohuru passed away, she still feels uneasy.
Firstly, because people have died there; since the Ming and Qing dynasties, none of the people who lived in Kunning Palace have lived long.
Secondly, when the Qing dynasty moved into the Forbidden City, they first deposed one empress and sent her back, and another was almost deposed as well. Although she is now the Empress Dowager, she has never received the love of her own man in her entire life.
With her enjoying such favor, I hope nothing unexpected happens to her after she goes there.
Kangxi helplessly pulled her into his arms: "Jiaojiao, what are you thinking about now?"
Harigana pursed her lips and stared at him expectantly.
"Jiaojiao!"
I knew I couldn't escape this calamity, but I didn't expect it to come so quickly.
He supported her by her arms, letting her straddle his lap, and placed his hands on her soft waist before explaining.
“I’ve been conflicted about your rank since the beginning. I always felt that the rank of Consort was too low, but the rank of Imperial Concubine was not right either, since no one in Khorchin has ever held the rank of Imperial Concubine.”
Harigana didn't seem to mind; she knew Kangxi was stingy with titles.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken Consort Hui and the others so many years to become consorts.
As for Lady Tongjia, she wouldn't say anything. After all, she was his cousin, so it was understandable that she was given a high position.
"Hmm, and then what?"
Looking at her calm expression, Kangxi felt uneasy, thinking she was too composed.
"Jiaojiao, before you, I didn't know what love was. In my eyes, there was only power and judgment."
"Woman, you're with me."
Kangxi paused, unsure of what to say.
Harigana noticed his inner turmoil, reached out and hugged his neck, looking at him with disdain: "Useful! Dispensable? Can be discarded at any time?"
With each word spoken, Kangxi's heart ached a little more.
He was indeed like that before.
But it wasn't all his fault. Apart from Harigana, none of the women in the harem were ones he wanted and brought in.
"Jiaojiao, I have never schemed against you!"
Kangxi spoke with certainty, as if he were giving a genuine reply.
She rolled her eyes: "Really? Are you sure there was no scheming involved? Not even a little bit?"
The sarcastic tone, coupled with the eye-rolling gesture, made Kangxi laugh in exasperation.
"Hehe! Jiaojiao, I didn't—" Kangxi started to say, but then, thinking of that matter, he looked at her cautiously: "Well, it seems there is something."
He held her slender waist tightly, afraid that she would get angry and run away.
He had promised not to lie to her and that he would tell her if she asked, so he was a little timid for a moment.
Weren't we just talking about her rank? How did we get steered to this topic?
"Hmm! Tell me, what's wrong?"
"Jiaojiao, why don't we continue talking about Qingxi Palace?"
Harigana didn't say anything, just stared at him, making him feel uneasy.
Left with no other choice, I had to tell the truth.
"It's just that I ruined your relationship with that damn Batu."
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