Could Fang He not hear that the scoundrel was mocking her?
How heavy could her head be, to make Kangxi’s arm unable to move…
It must be that he was too weak.
But… this shouldn’t count as damaging the Emperor’s dignity, right?
She pretended not to understand Kangxi’s words, eagerly helping him sit down, her voice sweet and soft.
“If Your Majesty still feels unwell, this servant knows a little bit of massage. Shall I give you a rub?”
As long as there’s no evidence, nothing happened.
Kangxi let out a light chuckle through his nose, lazily humming in agreement, quite pleased with Fang He’s attentiveness.
In truth, when Fang He leaned on him, his arm only went numb for a while, without much discomfort.
But before leaving the carriage, Fang He was still asleep.
He patted her twice, and she mumbled in annoyance, not knowing who was the master.
Kangxi was both angry and amused, but in the end, he didn’t bother arguing with someone half-asleep.
Afraid that Fang He might fall off the seat, he carried her to the ground, using the arm she had leaned on, and accidentally strained a muscle.
Liang Jiugong had already massaged it for him, easing the discomfort, and now Liang Jiugong was attending to him.
As a martial artist, kangxi muscles were too hard.
With Fang He’s meager strength, after pressing for a while, she was too tired to continue.
She didn’t say to stop, only slowing down her movements.
Kangxi helplessly said,
“Alright, rest for a while. We’ll set off in an hour. I’m not as delicate as you; I’ll be fine soon.”
Fang He immediately took the opportunity to step back, sitting properly to the side, nodding seriously.
“Your Majesty’s criticism is correct. This servant will definitely improve in the future!”
How much she could improve was uncertain, but if she exhausted him, she had to show the right attitude.
If Kangxi wanted to, he could charm women better than most men.
Now that he regarded Fang He as his own, he naturally wouldn’t treat her as before.
He patted Fang He’s head with a smile,
“Being yourself is fine. After all, I raised you myself. What haven’t I seen? I can handle it.”
Other women in this world might feel sweet in their hearts hearing the Emperor speak so intimately.
But Fang He only secretly rolled her eyes in her heart, lowering her gaze without a word.
There were many sides of her he hadn’t seen.
With her real temper, she would have already slapped him and run away by now.
Leaning on him was his good fortune.
If he had the ability, he could send her back!
The soldiers had been marching all night and needed rest.
Alan Tai ordered everyone to sit down for a light nap.
Hearing the outside gradually quiet down, Fang He called Chun Lai to guard for her and ran to a nearby grove to take care of personal matters.
Not long after returning, the team set off again.
They approached a deserted dock at the middle and lower reaches of the Harha River near dawn.
The scouts sent by Alan Tai had somehow procured a semi-new, semi-old ship, which looked quite large, with two levels of cabins.
Kangxi ordered,
“Alan Tai, take nine hundred men and continue the march. Hide to the left of the three bends. Peng Chun is returning from Yaksa and should be on the right.”
“Send people who can swim to cross the river secretly. Once Peng Chun’s traces are found, immediately convey my decree to him.”
Alan Tai immediately understood the Emperor’s plan.
They would use the places where the Mongols and the Russians might set up ambushes to turn the tables, trapping them from both sides, cutting off their retreat, and catching them off guard.
He was slightly worried,
“Your Majesty, leaving only a hundred men seems a bit too few. What if the enemy also sends scouts and discovers your position…”
Kangxi sneered,
“Then let them come. It will be just right for me and you to act as the vanguard, attracting their attention. Don’t let a single one escape!”
Although he had never been on the battlefield, in terms of martial arts, Alan Tai and Peng Chun might not be his match.
As a Qing Dynasty hero, Kangxi didn’t mind killing a few more enemies to boost morale.
Even in a crisis, he was confident he could escape smoothly.
Seeing the Emperor’s insistence, Alan Tai didn’t dare to say more.
Time was of the essence, and he immediately led the men to continue along the river.
Once on the ship, Fang He’s heart gradually filled with anxiety.
She pulled Chun Lai and whispered,
“What if a real fight breaks out? What will we do?
“I’m not afraid, but I’m afraid of dragging His Majesty down. If something happens, our family graves won’t be enough to be dug up.”
Having grown up in peacetime, she had no real sense of war.
But just now, hearing Kangxi’s orders, it seemed like a fight could break out at any moment, and there were only a hundred people left.
On the other hand, the enemy was one that the Qing needed three thousand men to deal with, plus the Dzungars…
Even if she wasn’t well-versed in history, she knew about the three expeditions against Galdan.
If it took Kangxi three times to subdue him, he would be a formidable foe.
The more she thought, the more scared she became, so much so that she could eat one less bowl of rice.
Oh, the money in the palace hasn’t been spent yet.
Is there anything sadder than this?
Chun Lai knew that her lady’s mouth was the toughest part of her body.
Holding back a laugh, she was about to explain when Kangxi appeared at the second-floor railing.
The guards were nowhere to be seen, and the ship was quite quiet.
Kangxi’s sharp ears caught her words, and he responded with a smile.
“If you’re not afraid, that’s good. If a fight breaks out, Chun Lai and Liang Jiugong know martial arts, and I can definitely run faster than you.”
“With such a loyal maid like you covering the rear, I will surely remain safe, protecting your family graves.”
Fang He: “…”
The family graves are safe, but her own grave might start growing grass.
She puffed her cheeks, regretting not insisting on staying in the palace for the money.
Back then, Kangxi wouldn’t have stopped her.
Maybe because of her fear of death, he would have given up on keeping her.
After all the trouble, she still hasn’t left the palace.
If she were to lose her life in both lifetimes because of her love for money, she would be so angry she’d climb out of the ground!
Kangxi waved to Chun Lai, who held back a laugh and retreated to tidy up the living quarters.
Calling Fang He to the second floor, in the summer night’s breeze, Kangxi’s voice was casual and lazy, as if they were on a pleasure boat.
“We are pretending to be northern merchants collecting fur on this trip. Even if we encounter those who kill and fight, spending money to avoid disaster will suffice. We won’t confront the enemy directly.”
“But the Russians can’t understand us. Can we really avoid them?”
Fang He was still worried, so worried that she was hungry, afraid of losing money and suffering disaster.
She didn’t know if the Russian soldiers understood English, but how could she explain that she couldn’t recognize most Chinese characters but could speak English fluently?
Kangxi held Fang He’s arm, pulling the little girl, who was almost frowning into a bun, in front of him, his voice soft with a hint of laughter.
“Don’t be afraid. I know a few words of Russian. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to say I’m a fur collector, would I?”
Fang He thought about it.
It made sense.
This man even had foreign ministers.
She relaxed a bit.
A flash of amusement passed through Kangxi’s eyes, and he pretended to be serious,
“So… Liang Jiugong is the steward, Li Dequan is the attendant, and you and Chun Lai will be my maids.”
“To ensure nothing goes wrong, be careful. Call me ‘Master, and don’t give us away.”
Fang He instinctively nodded.
No problem, her acting skills were top-notch.
But halfway through nodding, she suddenly realized.
“Wait, a master traveling with only one attendant but two maids…”
She couldn’t feel scared anymore, only subtly peeking at Kangxi’s expression.
Could these be proper maids?
Kangxi leaned down, meeting Fang He’s gaze, a meaningful glint in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.
“You’re best at slacking off. One maid to warm the bed, one maid to do chores, isn’t that just right?”
His voice was deliberately low, the laughter hidden in the tone.
Fang He was actually a bit of a voice enthusiast.
In her past life, her second boyfriend pursued her.
She originally preferred younger men, but she was won over by his pleasant voice.
Now, hearing Kangxi’s deep and magnetic voice, she instantly felt numb, especially her scalp.
She vaguely sensed that Kangxi suspected her previous exaggerated ‘stupidity’ had its limits… or that she was unwilling to serve in bed.
She lightly bit her lip, forcing a smile,
“As long as Your Majesty doesn’t mind this servant hasn’t bathed properly, I’ll go warm your bed?”
Kangxi looked at her for a few seconds, then straightened up and walked inside, leaving behind a light chuckle.
“Wait for Chun Lai to tidy up, then you can sleep for a while. I still have things to do… If you’re not clean, don’t touch my bed!”
Fang He: “…”
She could be dirty enough to go to Mulan Hunting Grounds, really!
“Your Majesty!”
She hurried a few steps, calling out to Kangxi.
When he turned around, Fang He gracefully bowed.
“Your Majesty’s word is as good as an imperial decree.
“This servant has never asked for anything from you. In this lifetime, I only ask for one thing, not just this time, but in the future, no matter what happens, if there’s any danger, I beg Your Majesty to run ahead!”
If Kangxi runs, she might survive.
If anything happens to Kangxi, she will surely die thoroughly.
Since she can’t leave the palace and can’t outrun him, she must maximize the goodwill!
Kangxi carefully examined Fang He, finding her unprecedentedly serious, and his heart was slightly shaken.
Even though many were willing to shed blood for him, he knew what they sought.
No one had ever made protecting him a once-in-a-lifetime request.
He didn’t promise, only deeply gazed at Fang He, “I’ve noted it down…” And took it seriously.
She would never leave his side in this lifetime.
Even though Kangxi gave his assurance, Fang He was still a bit afraid. What if they needed to run?
In her past life, she dreaded the 800-meter run.
How much faster could she be in this life?
Her four-digit wealth!!
Chun Lai came to invite her after tidying up, but Fang He still looked melancholic.
“I’m worried about Your Majesty. It’s hard to sleep. I’ll just lie down for a while and rest after breakfast at dawn.”
But she quickly started snoring lightly.
The road to the dock was too bumpy, and everyone had been up all night.
Chun Lai, ready to comfort and chat:
When Fang He woke up at noon, Kangxi hadn’t rested, sitting in the first-floor cabin.
The hundred guards weren’t idle either, split into groups of ten, most of them sent out.
Some took small boats to scout the surroundings, some stood guard on the second floor, and more rode out in batches, relaying messages between the three bends and the ship.
The three bends of the Harha River were at the entrance to the upper reaches, not far from them.
Alan Tai had only marched out two hundred miles when the scouts heard the Mongolian soldiers.
They were digging pits, and some were tying trip ropes.
Alan Tai immediately ordered his men to hide and stealthily approached.
They could only tell they were from the western Mongols.
These Mongolian men didn’t carry the tribe’s signature scimitars, so it was unclear if they were Dzungars.
They were clearly colluding with the Russians but weren’t ready to break ties with the Qing.
Alan Tai immediately sent a message, avoiding the Mongolian soldiers’ alert positions, retreating dozens of miles to set up camp.
Upon receiving the message, Kangxi immediately ordered,
“Send ten men to cross the river. Don’t worry about Peng Chun yet. Search left and right for traces of Russian soldiers.”
The next evening, Alan Tai sent another message.
On the right side of the three bends, closer to Kangxi, traces of Russian soldiers were indeed found.
The Russians hid cannons in hollowed-out tree trunks, lying in wait in the grass for Peng Chun.
The scouts stealthily advanced dozens of miles, temporarily not finding Peng Chun and Lang Tan’s army.
Kangxi stood indifferently before a simple sand table, gently moving the Russian soldiers in the opposite direction with a wooden stick.
When he looked up again, his eyes suddenly sharpened, like a divine blade decisively cutting through the air.
“Order Alan Tai to leave five hundred men to kill those Mongolian soldiers. No need to take prisoners!”
“The remaining four hundred wait for the main army. At their pace, they’ll arrive within a day at most!”
“Do not engage the Russian soldiers. Use branches to make brooms, and let small groups pass through the forest noisily, startling the enemy, then head straight for Peng Chun’s army. The rest will trap them!”
Fang He mostly served by the side, reminding Kangxi not to forget meals, and even bathing and sleeping became her tasks.
Not that she suddenly became diligent.
It was just that many attendants weren’t brought along.
Liang Jiugong and Li Dequan had multiple roles, and even Chun Lai had to do laundry.
Fang He couldn’t slack off.
Thinking of Kangxi’s previous probing, without Liang Jiugong’s orders, Fang He took the initiative to handle the Emperor’s affairs.
The closer they got to the battlefield, the more Kangxi’s strategic aura became apparent.
Fang He suddenly realized this was Kangxi’s most glorious and spirited era.
In the next few years, he would make the entire court his own, with no one daring to challenge his authority.
Such an emperor, whether truly caring for someone or just treating her as a pastime, whether with gentle or strong means, would never allow a second possibility.
From the moment he set his mind, she could only stay in the palace.
Her so-called struggle was nothing more than this man’s amusement, seen through but not spoken, a snack for his wine.
In just three days, Lang Tan led a thousand soldiers to ambush on the way back to Yaksa, with Alan Tai and Peng Chun attacking from both sides, quickly disrupting the collusion between the Dzungars and the Russians.
Of course, calling them Dzungars was just a guess everyone knew.
After hundreds of small Mongolian troops were annihilated, Galdan never showed up.
Even the western Mongolian soldiers raiding elsewhere didn’t plan to face the enemy directly, as if receiving some signal, quickly dispersed from various places.
Thinking of chasing Mongolian soldiers by the water’s edge and in the vast grasslands was a pipe dream.
Upon hearing the news, Kangxi only sneered, not taking it to heart.
When he reached Mulan Hunting Grounds, he could meet Galdan.
If Galdan didn’t dare to go, he wouldn’t amount to much.