“No matter who you are doing this for, Your Majesty is the emperor, the heavenly Khan. Where your decree reaches, there should be no disobedience.”
“I have never doubted your ability to rule, nor do I intend to provoke the ladies. On the contrary, I have added to your troubles. Although your foot-stomping appearance is more majestic and powerful than others, you have hands…”
Kangxi: “…………”
He had never heard such flattery before.
Looking into Fang He’s eyes, which had regained their liveliness and mischievousness, his anger inexplicably subsided.
This was good, and it was worth all the effort he had put in.
He just hoped she would never become like Consort Hui and Consort Rong.
He reached out and pulled Fang He to his front, nibbling on her lips,
“I have hands not only for this. A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands. From now on, if you anger me again, I won’t tap you anymore…”
“Ugh………” Fang He was forced to lean back, pushing against his chest with her small hands.
She wanted to play along, but the height difference was not kind to her waist.
Maybe she should just use her hands.
A gentleman would probably cry if he heard Kangxi’s shameless words…
Ever since he first kissed Fang He, Kangxi seemed to have developed a thirst, always craving something sweet and finding any opportunity to pull her close and kiss her.
Fang He, fearing discomfort, had prepared more than ten different ways to explore the mysteries of the human body within the curtains, but he never seemed to have the intention of teaching her again…
Although the dragon’s stick might have had other ideas.
At this moment, Fang He felt her legs going weak from the kissing and was uncomfortable from the stick’s prodding.
She wished she could just push him down and take care of it herself.
Her waist was indeed struggling a bit.
But Kangxi let go of her and went to the side to calm down with some cool tea.
She inwardly gave him a thumbs-up.
It was better to delay if she could.
She was really afraid of his skills.
But she reasonably suspected that he was abstaining because he was going hunting.
He probably didn’t want to do any physical work the night before and risk not having enough energy the next day.
After all, Kangxi was a man who always strived to be strong, someone who could study so hard that he could vomit blood.
When Kangxi had almost calmed down, Liang Jiugong returned, dusty and weary and said,
“Your Majesty, Minister Alan Tai has sent word that Prince Galdan of the Dzungars, along with his son Tsewang Rabtan, has arrived near the Xiao Lu River.”
Kangxi raised his eyebrows slightly.
The Xiao Lu River was less than ten km from the hunting grounds, and it would take only half an hour to get there.
The hunting was set to begin the next day, and Galdan had perfect timing.
He glanced at Fang He, who immediately went out and called the attendants from the Duan Ning Hall to come in and help Kangxi change into his dragon robe.
Soon after, the princes of Khalkha arrived, and Galdan requested an audience with the Emperor outside the imperial tent.
Kangxi kept him waiting for a while before allowing Galdan and Tsewang Rabtan to enter.
Fang He, staying in the tent behind the sleeping quarters, separated by two layers of screens, could only vaguely see that Galdan was a tall and robust man, a head taller than Kangxi.
His beard glistened with silver, and he entered with a jingling sound, adorned with countless accessories.
As soon as they entered, Galdan and Tsewang Rabtan knelt down sharply, their voices thunderous:
“Galdan greets the Emperor. We heard that the Emperor was going to hunt at Mulan, so we set off early. However, we encountered a pack of wolves on the way, were unfortunately injured, and thus delayed. We have arrived late, and we ask for the Emperor’s forgiveness!”
Kangxi, seated in front of the imperial desk, let out a light chuckle and picked up his tea cup and said,
“What if I do not grant forgiveness? Would the curved sword of the Boghda Khan be turned against me?”
The atmosphere in the tent instantly tensed up, and even Tsewang Rabtan, who was only fourteen years old, showed a fierce look on his face.
Galdan coughed a few times and let out a ‘weak’ laugh, drawing his curved sword and raising it above his head.
“The Emperor jests. If you do not forgive us, Galdan is willing to offer his sword for punishment, and would never dare to be disrespectful to the Emperor!”
This sword was a symbol of Galdan’s position as the leader of the Dzungar tribe, and Kangxi would certainly not accept it, and Galdan knew he would not.
But Galdan’s display of submission, though obvious, relieved several princes who had been on guard or frightened.
Galdan had already unified the Western Desert and occasionally invaded the Northern Desert.
Only the Khalkha Mongol tribes could still offer some resistance, but they did not dare to challenge the Dzungar’s might.
Kangxi could not afford to lose face and, after a mild reprimand, rose with a gentle smile and personally helped Galdan to his feet.
“I was only joking, Boghda Khan. Do not take it seriously. It is just a pity that you are injured and cannot participate in this hunt, which is truly a great regret.”
Galdan, as if he did not detect Kangxi’s probing, smiled and pointed to Tsewang Rabtan.
“I was bitten on the back and leg by the wolf king and can only compete another day.”
“But Tsewang Rabtan, who has been taught by me, is quite skilled at hunting beasts. Let him participate this year and compete with the Emperor’s crown prince and princes, what do you think?”
Kangxi’s eyes gleamed as he laughed heartily.
“Good! Prince Bandi and the others have also brought their sons. It is time for them to see some blood!”
Galdan’s smile deepened. “The Emperor is right. Only an eagle that has seen blood can soar in the sky.”
And he, Galdan, would one day dominate the skies of the Forbidden City.
After Galdan and the northern Mongolian nobles had left, before Fang He could come out from behind, Kangxi’s voice, laden with a very strong intent to kill, instructed Liang Jiugong.
“Have people closely monitor Galdan and Tsewang Rabtan’s every move, and convey my decree to Zhao Chang. There should be an opportunity when Galdan is alone, kill him!”
Kangxi, having practiced martial arts for many years, was well-versed in the signs of an injured person’s breath.
Even though Galdan’s face did indeed appear somewhat pale from blood loss, his deep and strong breaths could not be disguised.
Galdan was likely wary of ambushes or other plans during the hunt.
Regardless of his intentions, Kangxi had no intention of letting him leave easily.
Without Galdan, the Dzungars would need at least another decade to pose a threat to the Qing Dynasty, giving Kangxi ample time to deal with the northern Mongolian threat and eliminate the Dzungar menace.
Fang He’s steps faltered, and a chill ran through her heart.
It had nothing to do with right or wrong, or her position.
She just became more lucid.
This world was completely different from her previous life, and the man before her would not tolerate any defiance.
She sighed inwardly, and with that, the last bit of reluctance to stay by Kangxi’s side vanished.
The next day, as dawn barely broke, Prince Fuquan of Yu and Prince Changning of Gong, along with four thousand soldiers, stood below the erected platform.
Not far away, patrolling officers rode their horses.
Every few men, there was a commander in formal attire, holding a banner inscribed with the character “Qing” in Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese at the edge of the hunting grounds.
When Kangxi, dressed in his golden armor, appeared on the platform, Fuquan and Changning led all the soldiers to kneel and cry out “Long live the Emperor!”
The commanders then shouted,
“The encirclement is complete, please hunt, Your Majesty,” their voices deep and resonant, spreading far and wide.
Even Fang He and Chunlai, standing by the imperial tent and gazing over, could hear it clearly.
The sky was clear and cloudless.
Kangxi mounted his horse with great vigor, looked around, and raised his whip.
“Today, whoever wins the hunt will receive a golden dagger. My sons, show me your skills!”
Liang Jiugong and Li Dequan announced simultaneously, “The hunt begins!”
The autumn hunt consisted of four stages: setting the encirclement, observing the encirclement, the actual hunting, and the conclusion of the hunt, usually lasting half a month.
The first two stages were not open to the Empress Dowager and the other female relatives, who could not witness the grandeur.
However, once the actual hunting began, the Empress Dowager could join the consorts and the families of the Mongolian princes and nobles on the platform to observe the hunt.
At this moment, there was no grand spectacle to watch, but the female relatives could not just sit idly by.
They could participate in horse racing, archery…
There were many activities to pass the time, with bets on flowers.
Of course, many martial arenas were also opened, where the sons of the Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners could display their martial prowess to the Manchu and Mongolian noble ladies, as well as to Kangxi, who would return from the hunt.
The former was for romance, and the latter was for career advancement.
In any case, before the female relatives had a chance to organize themselves, the martial arenas were already bustling with noise.
Many young female relatives who had come along gathered in front of different arenas, either openly or shyly, cheering on the warriors.
Fang He was invited by Princess Wuyunzhu to attend the Empress Dowager, with Chunlai accompanying her this time.
Both of them couldn’t help but crane their necks to see the excitement.
After all, who doesn’t love a good spectacle!
Especially when those young girls threw handkerchiefs into the arena, and the fighters inside became even more spirited, Fang He inwardly clicked her tongue and let out a regretful sigh.
She was still a young girl!
Who wouldn’t love to watch muscular young men with six-pack abs!
If it were in her previous life, she would have pushed her way to the front.
But here, because of her current status as a prospective concubine, with so many eyes on her, she couldn’t go over.
Although Consort Hui and Consort Rong were still under house arrest under the pretext of illness, Consort Jin and Consort An were not, and they were still around.
If she went to join the excitement, these people would surely spread the word that she was not adhering to proper conduct, making it known throughout the palace and beyond.
As Fang He was feeling regretful, she heard a Mongolian princess beside the Empress Dowager burst into laughter, pointing at her and speaking a string of Mongolian.
Before she could show a puzzled expression, Wuyunzhu translated with a smile:
“Princess of Prince Laxsen said that when they were young, they were much bolder than the girls nowadays, throwing daggers directly.”
Fang He: “……”
So, being a fan doesn’t have to be this hardcore, right?
Wuyunzhu, suppressing her laughter, explained to Fang He,
“The dagger represents the identity of a Mongolian noble girl. With the dagger, one can obtain the opportunity to compete for the chance to marry the noble girl.”
“Twenty daggers were prepared by the master when he entered the palace that year, but unfortunately………” Wuyunzhu paused,Â
“The princess and the Empress Dowager are good friends. She doesn’t want the Empress Dowager to have any regrets and wants you to throw the daggers on behalf of the Empress Dowager.”
Fang He: “…………”
So, being wealthy also means being a werewolf!
What a coincidence!
Her hobbies are similar; she just loves to pick dozens of walls and laugh hehe…..
Suppressing her excitement, Fang He politely hesitated for a moment,
“It might not be appropriate for me to go over there with my status. How about Chunlai goes?”
When she comes back, she can describe in detail how many handsome young men there are!
Wuyunzhu waited until the Empress Dowager shook her head and finished speaking before smiling and saying,