Harigana, unaware of the turmoil outside, would secretly work on things in the small kitchen every day while Emperor Kangxi was reviewing memorials.
Because of her pregnancy, she couldn't stay for too long, so she just strolled around each day and let them explore on their own.
Wei Qi wished he could become deaf and mute that day, fearing that the Emperor might suddenly ask him about the Imperial Concubine, which would put him in a real dilemma.
The Imperial Concubine repeatedly warned him not to let the Emperor know about this, but he could not disobey the Emperor's orders, so he was constantly living in fear.
"Your Majesty, this is news from outside the palace!"
A few days ago, Li Dequan heard some rumors through his own people. After reporting to Kangxi, he sent people out to investigate. As a result, the matter was clarified, but the mastermind behind it could not be found out.
I wonder which wicked person did this, and they're not afraid that the emperor will find out and execute their entire family.
After glancing at the letter presented to him, Emperor Kangxi burst into laughter in exasperation.
No one but those few people would use such methods.
Moreover, he had a rough idea of who it was, but he hadn't expected that person to actually do it.
"Li Dequan, when do you think people can be satisfied?"
Kangxi's words left Li Dequan completely bewildered, as if he already knew who was behind it all.
"Your Majesty, this servant is a eunuch, and my heart is only for Your Majesty. This servant truly knows nothing of such matters!"
Kangxi glared at Li Dequan and waved him away. This matter was a good starting point for him to study carefully, as it might be possible to control those people.
Outside the palace.
"Have you heard? The one inside might be a fox spirit in disguise. They say she's completely bewitched the Emperor!"
"Keep your voice down, or someone will hear you, and you'll be in big trouble!"
"Yes, yes, I'm just so excited, so excited!"
"I don't believe in this. I remember last year, it was that lady who donated silver to the national treasury. Otherwise, the disaster victims wouldn't have had anything to eat."
"Actually, I don't believe it either, but that's what everyone says. And it's said that the Emperor has always favored this Consort, and even when she was pregnant, he didn't ask anyone else to sleep with him."
"Let alone the emperor, with so many beauties in the harem, even ordinary officials couldn't do that."
"Yes, I also heard that the Emperor missed two morning court sessions because of this concubine, and the Empress Dowager was so upset that she fell ill!"
"Hey! Why should we worry about this? We have food, clothes, and shelter. That empress hasn't said she's done anything immoral. Even if she really is, as long as the emperor is willing, what does it have to do with us?"
"Yeah, I'll go back. I don't know what's wrong with my husband these past few days, we're always arguing for no reason."
"Mine is the same, sigh!"
Such rumors gradually spread among the crowd, and within a few days, people throughout the Qing Dynasty were saying that Harigana was a fox spirit in disguise. Some even compared her to Yang Guifei, Su Daji, and Bao Si, saying that the Qing Dynasty was very likely to suffer the same fate.
However, the tide turned in just a few days.
Not only did they say that Harigana was beautiful and kind-hearted, but they even said that it was a blessing for the Qing Dynasty to have such a woman.
As the situation escalated, court officials wanted to seize the opportunity to submit a memorial, but due to Kangxi's autocratic rule, they dared not actually do anything and could only pretend to be deaf and dumb.
"Your Majesty, it's done!"
Dulan looked at the small cake in front of her and was so excited that she almost jumped up. It took them almost a month to make it.
It's not that they took too long to make it; after all, in order to keep Kangxi from finding out about this, they could only make it when he wasn't around, and after finishing, they had to leave time so that Kangxi wouldn't smell the sweet aroma.
Moreover, Harigana had only seen the method of making this in a book, and only knew the procedure, not the proportions. They needed to study everything on their own.
"Yes! After the Emperor's birthday, you can cook for yourselves."
Harigana knew Kangxi's petty nature. If he knew that this thing was made for him but he wasn't the first to eat it, even if he didn't say it, he would definitely find ways to torment them.
So this little cake can only go into her own stomach, otherwise, everyone, including her, will be in trouble.
"Your Majesty, what this servant knows is that the first thing must be given to the Emperor!"
Dulan pursed her lips, speaking respectfully, but her eyes betrayed her accusation against Kangxi.
Harigana smiled. If Kangxi knew that everyone had discovered his little scheme, would he be furious?
"Dulan, distribute the reward money to the people of Qingxi Palace. Your beautiful princess is happy today."
Give each person who participated in making the cake two taels of silver, and add another two taels of silver to the little eunuch who tipped them off.
Dulan nodded and went out to carry out the task assigned to him by Harigana.
After she left, Harigana touched her stomach and felt as if it was sinking downwards.
Just then, Granny Hu came in, so we quickly asked her to come and take a look.
"Granny Hu, am I about to give birth?"
Previously, when she had nothing to do, Granny Hu would often talk to Harigana about things that would happen during childbirth and things that needed to be avoided.
Moreover, Harigana has lived in the hospital for over ten years, so he is quite knowledgeable about such matters.
Granny Hu put down the cloth in her hand, then walked to the bedside and reached out to touch it.
"Your Majesty, I reckon it will be over in the next few days. Please be careful these next few days, and be sure to tell me if you feel unwell."
Granny Hu stood up, looking at Harigana with a heart full of pity.
Giving birth is already a life-or-death ordeal for women, but this lady has already given birth to two children at such a young age. Hopefully, she can give birth safely and without any complications!
"Granny Hu, can we then ask the Emperor to bring in the midwife?"
Harigana was a little nervous. Even in modern times, childbirth could be fatal; how much more so in ancient times? Although her pregnancy had gone smoothly, with no discomfort and even nausea only at the beginning, she couldn't help but worry, especially since it was twins.
"This servant will speak to His Majesty about this matter, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"
Touching her belly, Harigana's mind was racing. When Dulan came in, she had her help her to the study.
"Your Highness, are you going to write a letter to the Chief and the Grand Queen?"
Harigana shook his head, not letting Dulan see the contents of the letter. After writing it mysteriously, he personally sealed the envelope before handing it to Dulan.
"Dulan, keep this letter safe. If anything happens to me on the day of your delivery, you must give it to the Emperor immediately, understand?"
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