Chapter 42: She admired this man’s confidence! (2/2)
The Russian soldiers, who had planned to set traps with the western Mongols, without the Mongolian support, were brutally scattered by Alan Tai and Peng Chun, who had marched to the point of vomiting.
After most died, the Russian soldiers abandoned cannons and supplies, fleeing in defeat.
Peng Chun and Alan Tai weren’t familiar with the area, and Lang Tan was ambushing their return path, so they didn’t pursue.
Peng Chun reorganized the army.
He would return to Yaksa City to completely resolve the Russian threat.
Alan Tailed the guards back, personally delivering the good news to Kangxi.
Kangxi stood high on the second-floor railing, laughing heartily—
“Good! Worthy of the finest men of Manchuria! For those who died, submit a memorial to the Ministry of Revenue. Double the compensation!”
“All guards on this trip, upon returning to the capital, will be rewarded according to their merits!”
Alan Tailed nearly a thousand soldiers, kneeling firmly.
The majestic cries of “Long live the Emperor” echoed far across the Harha River, startling countless birds, as if celebrating the swift victory.
Yaksa wouldn’t end so quickly.
Kangxi planned to follow the Harha River down to Rehe to meet the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince.
Traveling by ship was much faster than by land, so Kangxi wasn’t in a hurry, even ordering people to buy some kumis and beef and mutton from nearby tribes to reward the accompanying guards.
By evening, before the sun dipped below the horizon, the cabin and deck were filled with the rich aroma of roasted meat.
The milky scent of kumis wafted over the river, intertwining with the meat, intoxicating to the senses.
Fang He hadn’t even seen the enemy’s shadow and was about to return, feeling much more relaxed.
She didn’t seek attention among the men, taking the chance to slack off.
While Kangxi drank with Alan Tai, she hid at the ship’s stern, sitting to watch the sunset.
Though she was quite hungry, she oddly had little appetite.
After issuing the edicts for compensation and rewards, Kangxi entered and smiled at her, his eyes no longer cold and sharp as before, but lazily carefree.
From his gaze, she sensed this man’s intent to enlighten her again, and with him drinking…
She sighed softly, leaning on the railing, quietly staring at the river.
To stay, she had to be favored.
Dreams of living as a lay Buddhist or celibate were just nonsense.
She wouldn’t do things that only tormented herself without any benefit.
But when to be favored, what status to reach before serving, and when to have children…
These tangled in her mind like a summary report at a hotel, something she had to do, yet was extremely troublesome.
“Miss, I brought you some lamb leg meat.” Chun Lai soon found her, with a warm smile.
“And some freshly baked naan from the tribe, sprinkled with cumin. It’s especially delicious. Try it.”
Fang He turned, startled.
A porcelain plate as big as a head was filled with meat, and a tray in the box had cut naan.
This plate was almost three times the size of the imperial plate… even a pig couldn’t eat this much!
Fang He looked at Chun Lai,
“Are you planning to kill me by overfeeding, so you can inherit the money I left in the palace?”
Chun Lai was startled, hurriedly waving her hands,
“How dare I! It’s His Majesty’s order. He said you have a big appetite and must eat your fill to work hard.”
Fang He: “….”
Damn, her sharp intuition was right again.
She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and decided not to comply, but knew she couldn’t keep playing dumb.
A drunk man had less patience, but a drunk man was also more emotional…
Accompanying Kangxi on this journey, being together most of the time, she had somewhat understood his temperament and was clear about the path ahead.
Chun Lai went to boil water.
Fang He carefully bathed, tidied herself, and took the initiative to return to Kangxi’s sleeping cabin.
The ship was large, but it was a cargo ship with few rooms.
With guards around, Chun Lai slept in the outer room these days, and Fang He slept on the couch.
Kangxi soon returned, with a fresh aura from bathing.
His phoenix eyes held a calmness absent in the previous two drunken states, clearly not too drunk for physical exertion.
Having bathed in the spacious area on the first floor, he wore only bright yellow inner garments after removing his cloak.
Kangxi strode in, seeing Fang He standing there gracefully, as if waiting for him.
Her slightly longer bangs covered her eyebrows, making her starry eyes even brighter and clearer.
Fang He hadn’t used powder after bathing.
Her small face was smooth as fat, with a faint pink blush on her cheeks, exuding a charming sweetness that seeped into Kangxi’s heart, making him even more elated.
This rascal had finally opened up.
For a man, celebrating victory with drinks and sleeping with the woman he liked was the happiest thing in the world.
With a soft, lingering smile, he pulled Fang He into his arms, making her sit facing him on his lap, kissing her pink lips, his voice seemingly drunk yet not.
“Why are you so obedient today?”
Fang He looked at Kangxi without shyness, her voice crisp,
“Chun Lai said you ordered me to eat my fill. I know, Your Majesty is going to teach me
about the ways of the world!”
Kangxi tensed up, his Adam’s apple slightly rolling.
Not that it was impossible…
He gently pushed Fang He back, using a clever move to trap her in his arms, his voice instantly heavy with hoarseness.
“My way of teaching is different from Mother Li’s. I believe hands-on experience is easier to understand…”
Fang He: “…”
You haven’t even figured out the bed situation, and now you’re planning to tackle the ship?
She admired this man’s confidence!
Kangxi reached out to undo the button on Fang He’s delicate neck, while Fang He also raised her small hand to grasp his lapel, puffing her cheeks as she struggled to undo his inner garment.
Kangxi: “……”
Is this rascal planning to play the bandit again?
Seeing Kangxi pause, Fang He urged,
“Your Majesty, don’t stop. Although I’m foolish, you know I’m eager to learn. Whatever you do, I’ll just follow along.”
Kangxi thought to himself, then you’re just like Liang Jiugong, probably missing a few parts.
But Fang He’s cold little hand touched him, igniting a fire that surged downward.
Kangxi suddenly felt the urge to slow down, bending his head to lightly brush his thin lips against the corner of her mouth, then raised his head with a smile to look at her.
Fang He promptly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
In her experience, this didn’t even count as a tease.
Kiss if you must, who’s afraid of whom!
Kangxi slightly raised his brow, the curve of his lips deepening.
Though his body was taut with discomfort, he leisurely brushed aside Fang He’s bangs.
In that instant, Kangxi was slightly stunned.
This seemed to be the first time he had clearly seen Fang He’s face.
Her full forehead with a small widow’s peak made her look like a freshly ripened peach, her skin as smooth as cream without even peeling the skin.
Her features remained the same, but with her forehead and eyebrows exposed, her face appeared exceptionally refined and elegant.
The most captivating were her shimmering eyes, clear enough for him to understand what the brilliance of moonlight meant, radiant and transcendent.
Kangxi gently kissed her forehead,
“My Heer, so sweet…”
Fang He, who was just tilting her head up to kiss back, suddenly hesitated.
“What…” Kangxi’s voice, hoarse with a nasal tone, was muffled in the kiss, so tender it could drown one.
“I’m not sweet at all, really!” Fang He said seriously.
“Nurse Su said you dislike sweet things, I… should be sour!”
“…I dislike sweet things, except for He’er.”
Kangxi:”…”
Fang He was momentarily stunned, then realized and actively hugged Kangxi, kissing his forehead, smiling and following his lead.
“You should have said so earlier! My Emperor, you are so beautiful!”
Kangxi couldn’t help but laugh,
“…… Men shouldn’t be described as beautiful.”
Fang He obediently nodded,
“I also dislike hard things, but although Your Majesty is sturdy, you’re so handsome, it really puts me in a dilemma!”
Kangxi took a deep breath, suddenly leaning on Fang He’s neck, laughing softly.
“Believe me, you’ll like it later.”
Fang He: “……”
Tsk tsk, not bad speed.
While the two were whispering, Fang He’s dress flew out of the canopy, and Kangxi kissed along Fang He’s ear, reaching the most exquisite part.
Fang He bit her tongue, suppressing the urge to moan, seriously following along, but as soon as her little hand touched, she exclaimed.
“This isn’t fair, you’re so flat, how am I supposed to learn?”
Kangxi:”….”
He turned, holding Fang He’s hand down,
“Didn’t the nurse teach you that men and women are different? You’re looking in the wrong place.”
Fang He nodded seriously, mimicking his actions, opening her fair palm, applying force with a twist
“Ouch…” Kangxi sucked in a breath, grabbing Fang He’s hand, the sudden sour pain almost rendering him speechless.
“……Are you trying to die?”
He suddenly remembered what happened on the dragon boat during his southern tour.
Thankfully, he hadn’t used too much force just now…… no, he shouldn’t have handed such an important tool to this rascal.
“Ah? What did I do wrong this time?”
Fang He quickly knelt up obediently, as if wanting to reach out and rub to ease the pain.
“Tell me, I promise to change!”
Kangxi’s arousal was dissipated by the pain, not daring to let her touch him again, seeing her anxious face, he laughed bitterly and grabbed her wrist.
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re doing this on purpose……”
“You just realized?” Fang He suddenly changed her expression, calmly whispering.
“You praised my intelligence, I thought you already knew, there are no fools in the palace.”
It was time to lay the cards on the table, foolishness only brings bitter laughter, honesty can earn her due position.
Kangxi was stunned, his face immediately darkening,
“You’re impudent!”
Fang He flipped off the bed, kneeling on the floor,
“I just want to save my life.”
Kangxi coldly scoffed,
“Can serving me take your life?”
Fang He thought, with your skills, at least half my life would be lost.
His voice was as cold as the depth of winter,
“If you don’t want to serve, just say so, I’m not short of servants, get out.”
Before things could escalate, Fang He boldly interrupted Kangxi.
“Your Majesty said you would cherish me, but do you know what I truly want?”
Kangxi looked down at Fang He with suppressed violence,
“A forced melon isn’t sweet, if you want to leave the palace, I’ll let you.”
But he couldn’t tolerate being led by the nose by a palace maid.
Even if he spared her life out of respect for his mother, he should make her understand that life outside the palace isn’t as easy.
Fang He shook her head with red eyes,
“No, I never truly thought of leaving the palace, I was just scared and did those foolish things.”
She secretly retracted her hand by her side, tears sliding down her pale cheeks, slightly looking up at Kangxi.
“Since my father passed away, my mother has been depressed, barely keeping me alive.”
“When I entered the palace, I was well aware of my aunt’s dislike, I had to be cautious, never daring to make a mistake…… sometimes I wonder, am I just unworthy of being loved?”
As she spoke, two teardrops fell straight to the ground, causing Kangxi’s anger to pause slightly.
He frowned, coldly asking, “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Fang He lowered her gaze,
“I dare not believe that Your Majesty would love me, even if there is some affection, it might be taken back someday.”
“But you are so dazzling, especially after seeing how you can intimidate enemies from hundreds of miles away, my admiration can’t be suppressed, but it’s more tangled……”
She gradually started sobbing, if she didn’t cry, she might cough from her own mushiness.
“But you are so high above, I want to get close to you, yet I dare not have any delusions, that’s why I don’t want to serve.”
Kangxi gradually relaxed, leaning against the head of the bed, his eyes downcast, unreadable.
Fang He delivered another heavy blow,
“I want to serve Your Majesty for a lifetime, but I don’t want to have children, fearing to let them call me mother would be too much.”
She might just end up perishing with that dog.
“Nor do I want to be killed in the palace one day, leaving my child like me, without a mother’s protection, living at the mercy of others, feeling unworthy of love……”
Kangxi seemed to recall the past, and also the Crown Prince, staring at her for a while, then coldly spoke
“No more next time, you may leave now.”
Fang He looked up with teary eyes,
“Your Majesty…… should I sleep on the deck then?”
If she were in the palace, she wouldn’t dare to be so candid.
Now, unless he wanted her to be seen or drowned….. knowing Kangxi, she bet he wouldn’t.
Thank you, wise self who made a good impression earlier!
Kangxi pinched the bridge of his nose, letting down the just lifted canopy.
He didn’t want to say another word to Fang He.
Regardless of the truth in her words, Kangxi wasn’t planning to indulge her anymore, too lazy to deal with her.
Fang He slightly hooked the corner of her mouth, picking up her clothes and heading to the couch.
Not being told to leave meant there was still hope.
Taking advantage of a situation, once you start, there’s no stopping.
Sitting on the couch, Fang He softly sobbed a few times, chanting a Buddha’s name.
“May the heavens bless Your Majesty’s wishes, may next year’s selection bring more beauties, I am willing to serve Buddha and Your Majesty for a lifetime.”
“Shut up! Sleep!”
Kangxi impatiently glanced outside the canopy.
Dimly seeing Fang He curled up like a shrimp on the couch, the annoyance in his heart inexplicably subsided a bit.
After a while, Kangxi still couldn’t sleep, closing his eyes only brought up the rascal’s earlier plea and her tears.
Hearing Fang He’s breathing steady, he angrily sat up, opened the canopy, and walked to the couch.
Kangxi had good eyesight, even in the dim candlelight, he could see the tear tracks on Fang He’s face, making her look especially pitiful.
He took a deep breath, then without much ceremony, bent down and carried Fang He back to bed.
Whoever he wanted to pamper, who would dare to make trouble under his nose?
With this rascal’s lazy nature, Buddha certainly wouldn’t take her.
Once he dealt with Galdan, he’d have plenty of time to straighten her out.
He had drunk some wine, the alcohol was getting to him, yawning, he grumpily hugged Fang He to his chest, and sleepiness took over.
He didn’t notice Fang He was secretly tilting her head to yawn, two more tears falling from her eyes.
With her regular biological clock, holding back sleepiness was too hard, the tears on her face were all from yawning.
This guy finally fell asleep…… Fang He instantly fell into a deep sleep, her hand and leg flailing onto Kangxi.
Startling Kangxi to open his eyes, looking down to see a small hand kneading his inner garment…… is this bandit not done, or still playing dumb in her dreams?
Kangxi gritted his teeth, couldn’t help but slap that annoying butt.