Fang He woke up early, worried about things and needing to pack up to leave the boat in the afternoon.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt something was off.
Kangxi wasn’t in the cabin, but she was somehow in bed??
She didn’t have a habit of sleepwalking, so Kangxi must have carried her here.
This should have been a good thing, but it happened after Kangxi had been drinking…
She put her half-floating heart back in her stomach, feeling a bit uneasy.
Mainly because this lord had two completely different faces when drunk versus sober, and was extremely petty.
She wondered if nearby tribes sold poison…
Chun Lai heard movement and came to attend to her.
As Fang He expected, Chun Lai looked at her like she was a Buddha statue in a temple.
“Did Miss offend His Majesty?” she asked cautiously in a whisper.
Seeing Fang He not respond, Chun Lai didn’t dare ask more, only reminding her:
“His Majesty got up before dawn. Manager Liang and Li Dequan were scolded one after another. Miss should be careful when attending to him later.”
“I understand, let’s eat first.” Fang He sighed lightly, getting up with a bitter face to wash up.
If she discovered she had been deceived, and had softened towards the deceiver due to not thinking clearly, she would be upset for days.
Given Kangxi’s controlling nature, it would be a miracle if he was in a good mood.
Eating well gives strength for the journey…
No!
For carefully avoiding Kangxi’s bad mood.
Fresh mutton was delivered early this morning.
Manager Liang personally stewed a pot of mutton soup for Kangxi, to be eaten with naan bread.
The flavor was quite good.
Fang He ate this as well.
Li Dequan brought Kangxi’s portion to him.
As she ate, Fang He pondered that it was no wonder Kangxi scolded them.
After being angered half to death by someone thoughtless last night, then drinking mutton soup in the morning – was Liang trying to make sure his master’s temper wasn’t calmed enough?
She completely ignored who the thoughtless one actually was, very half-heartedly sighing for Liang’s undeserved misfortune, before hurrying to go attend to Kangxi.
As soon as she entered the first level cabin, Fang He felt a chill in the air unsuited to the season.
She pressed her lips together slightly, swallowing the last bit of mutton soup flavor, and summoned her acting skills to timidly and quietly stand in the corner.
Without even looking closely, just a glance from the corner of her eye revealed Kangxi sitting expressionless at his desk reading.
Hearing her footsteps, he didn’t even lift his head, as if she didn’t exist.
Fang He knew Kangxi didn’t want to see her right now, so she very consciously made herself into a pillar.
Occasionally floating over to change the tea, she was like a butterfly battered by wind and rain, carefully holding her breath, fluttering back and forth with almost no movement.
Seeing her so obedient, Kangxi’s anger only grew.
It wasn’t because Fang He had deceived him.
Kangxi had long suspected this troublemaker wasn’t truly stupid.
He knew she still hadn’t given up thoughts of leaving the palace, and had only been indulging her for idle amusement.
He didn’t believe a single word she said last night!
But in his drunken state, she dared to question and confess in… that way.
Couldn’t she just speak plainly?
Usually when he was enraged, no one dared say a word.
But this troublemaker was silver-tongued, and he had actually been muddle-headed enough to be moved by her words, feeling sympathy…
The key was that this girl couldn’t even sleep properly!
At night she was either rubbing or kicking.
If Kangxi had been woken up by Fang He a few less times and gotten a good night’s sleep, he wouldn’t be so angry.
After sobering up, with Kangxi’s years of experience as emperor, he understood Fang He’s calculations almost without thinking.
Pretending to be stupid couldn’t last forever.
She would eventually become his.
But this troublemaker was unwilling to serve him as a palace maid.
Whether pretending to be stupid, confessing honestly, or crying in front of him, it was all to force him to promise her a position.
This was what angered Kangxi the most.
With all the mistakes she had made in his presence, anyone else would have long been dead and buried.
Yet she was still bouncing around in front of him, becoming more and more lawless.
Hadn’t she thought about why?
But she had never trusted his favor, always doing things to make him unhappy.
Kangxi didn’t want to banish her from the palace, but keeping her here, he couldn’t get rid of that anger.
Yet this troublemaker acted as if nothing was wrong, blinking those expressive big eyes, with fear and obedience written all over her face.
Kangxi laughed coldly to himself – who was she putting on this act for now?
Though annoyed, Kangxi couldn’t help but feel curious.
He liked this girl precisely because Fang He was different from other women.
This difference was never on the surface, and even now seemed like a candle flame wrapped in mist, making one want to walk over and look, but never able to truly see.
He was determined to see what that candle wick really looked like!
Kangxi had always had strong self-control.
By the time they were to disembark, his anger had mostly subsided.
Even knowing Fang He was putting on an act, seeing her be as obedient as a cat for half the day, not even daring to eat in front of him, he truly couldn’t stay angry.
When Liang Jiugong returned to attend him in the afternoon, she even ran outside to be a pillar, not afraid of getting tanned black again.
Thinking of this, Kangxi suddenly smiled at the urgent memorial that had just been sent 800 li from Rehe.
Forget it, it wasn’t her first day being mischievous.
Getting angry at her was purely a waste of effort.
Being able to see right through her would be boring too.
That troublemaker always took advantage when he was drunk to cause chaos, which had actually inspired him.
Liang Jiugong heard his master laugh and was confused.
The memorial that had been rushed over surely contained troublesome matters that needed to be dealt with quickly.
Why was the Emperor laughing?
But seeing the storm had passed, and considering the memorial had just arrived, Liang Jiugong also smiled along.
“Your Majesty, the carriage is ready. Shall we depart now, or wait a bit longer?”
Kangxi said calmly,
“No rush. Moor by the shore for half a day, we’ll set out in the morning.”
“Have someone go fishing, and buy some sheep’s milk wine from nearby. We’ll have a fish feast tonight.”
Since the crisis had passed, imperial chefs had naturally been sent along with the memorial, so Liang Jiugong no longer had to worry.
He didn’t think much of it and readily agreed.
In the evening, after Kangxi finished reviewing the memorial and had it sent off urgently, he strolled leisurely back to the second level cabin.
Seeing Fang He still standing there meekly with lowered eyes, Kangxi gave her a cool glance and went straight inside.
Soon, eunuchs from the imperial kitchen came carrying food boxes to set out the meal.
The Emperor had asked for a fish feast, but the chefs couldn’t only make fish dishes.
They naturally chose the freshest ingredients.
Even through the food boxes, Fang He could smell the delicious aromas of fish and crab roe.
Fang He couldn’t help but swallow.
Damn it, Liang Jiugong’s cooking skills were poor, but he didn’t dare let others handle the cooking.
The past few days on the boat she had only eaten grilled fish and fish soup.
If she hadn’t confessed last night, at least half of these delicious dishes would be in her stomach now, right?
She rubbed her belly and looked pitifully towards where the food was being prepared downstairs, hoping Chun Lai remembered to save her some good food.
She wondered when Chun Lai would come to replace her.
Even just a bit of crab meat would be fine.
She loved all kinds of river and seafood, and never got tired of them!
But before Chun Lai arrived, a cold command came from inside:
“Come in!”
Fang He hesitated, then saw Liang Jiugong come out smiling and step aside.
It was obvious who was being called in.
She took a deep breath, her heart starting to whimper again.
She was hungry, her acting skills couldn’t keep up.
Couldn’t they at least let her eat a couple bites first?
Kangxi didn’t even look at her.
“Come here, keep me company for the meal.”
Hm?
Fang He’s eyes lit up.
This was acceptable!
She suppressed her gaze (and drool) from drifting towards the table full of fragrant and spicy seafood dishes, obediently sat at the lower seat, and very politely said:
“Is Your Majesty no longer angry with this slave?”
Kangxi first poured a bowl of wine and pushed it in front of Fang He before finally lifting his eyes to glance at her.
“Is there any use in me being angry with you?”
Fang He stared blankly at the bowl of wine with a milky aroma in front of her.
Great, one cup of poison wasn’t enough.
Knowing her appetite, they’d switched to a bowl??
Kangxi noticed her staring worriedly at the wine bowl and said irritably:
“That poisoned wine was just to scare you. You don’t remember my kindness to you, but you keep dwelling on this little thing.”
“If I really wanted you to drink it, would I have you drink it in front of me?”
He didn’t have some fetish for watching people bleed from seven orifices.
Fang He breathed a sigh of relief and gave Kangxi a troubled yet ingratiating smile.
“This slave has never drunk alcohol from childhood to adulthood. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up with Your Majesty…”
Kangxi lifted the wine bowl and took a sip himself.
“It’s fine. You’ve ruined my mood more than once or twice. Eat something first to line your stomach.”
Fang He’s eyes flickered.
Well then, she wouldn’t stand during the ceremony!
Kangxi had Liang Jiugong attending him, so she avoided the dishes placed in front of Kangxi and happily helped herself, immediately picking up a crab roe bun with her chopsticks.
“Mmm…” Fang He let out an almost imperceptible sigh of satisfaction.
Compared to the fragrant crab roe buns of later times, this bun first had a chewy skin with a milky aroma when it entered the mouth, unexpectedly made without leavened dough.
After biting into it, the crab roe inside was extremely soft and smooth.
The first taste was umami, the second was sweet, followed by a rush of hot fragrant flavor.
Before she knew it, all six crab roe buns had gone into her stomach.
Kangxi glanced over.
Liang Jiugong followed his master’s gaze and was about to reach out when he froze.
Goodness, the imperial chefs hadn’t made enough!
Fang He noticed and felt a bit embarrassed.
She had said hunger would make her acting skills deteriorate.
She proactively raised her wine bowl to cover her forgetfulness.
“This slave toasts Your Majesty… one sip.”
Kangxi: “…Why don’t you just wet your lips.”
He wasn’t full yet and didn’t have the energy to deal with a drunk.
Fang He really listened and took a tiny sip with a sweet smile.
Mmm…
No wonder herdsmen used this wine to warm themselves.
Beneath the milky aroma, the wine’s fragrance hit the throat directly, turning into a ball of fire sliding into the stomach.
Comfortable!
She imperceptibly curved the corners of her eyes.
How could someone who loved to eat and hated work not enjoy drinking a bit?
Whether for social occasions or gatherings with friends, she had drunk plenty in her past life.
When the two had eaten their fill, Liang Jiugong quickly had people clear away the dishes and replace them with braised meat and cold dishes for them to drink with.
Kangxi had people change the cups.
Though they said it was a light entourage for travel, Liang Jiugong was truly capable; he had even brought jade wine cups!
“Since you plan to become a nun, keep me company for a few more drinks while you’re not tonsured yet. There won’t be many chances in the future.”
Fang He: “…This slave toasts Your Majesty!”
Who said anything about tonsuring?
Did you eat the lay Buddhist with your wine?
She looked at the cup of sheep’s milk wine, about three mouthfuls worth, and realized this lord seemed to want to get her drunk today!
Was this the decline of morals, planning to do inhuman things, or to make it easier to interrogate her?
Lost in thought, Fang He respectfully clinked Kangxi’s wine cup and downed it in one go.
Besides the ability to coax people, what she was most proud of was her alcohol tolerance and drinking etiquette.
A thousand cups…
Well, several dozen cups without getting drunk.
That was her, Fang Guoguo!
Even when drunk, she never said anything that would affect her money-making prospects or ability to freeload.
Waiting for her to spill truths when drunk?
In the next life!
Let’s see who passes out first!
She didn’t notice at all that the few sips of wine earlier had already turned her jade like complexion rosy red.
After several cups of wine went down she said,
“You know my alcohol tolerance. I’m telling you very responsibly -”
Fang He slurred, looking at Kangxi with unfocused eyes and pounding the table.
“Out of everyone, I have the best relationship with you. We’re like blood brothers from different parents!”
Kangxi: “…”
Yes, he knew.
In total she had only drunk about as much as the bottom of one bowl.
He said impassively:
“Since we’re blood brothers, come sit closer and talk.”
Fang He slammed her wine cup on the table with a “bang” and pointed at it, urging Kangxi to pour more.
“Don’t waste words! Why be so clingy between brothers?”
“Brothers need to keep some distance. If I get all chummy with you, what if you get a wife someday and she hits you? That’s fine, but what if she hits me?”
“I rely on this beautiful face to coax people!”
Kangxi silently snorted, seeing that this troublemaker had taken his words about being her elder brother to heart.
Seeing Fang He’s enthusiasm for talking, he didn’t rush to ask questions and just poured a tiny bit more wine for her.
Fang He downed the wine in one gulp and sighed.
“Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart – I’m suffering. People are always controlling me, boo hoo… I’m counting on you to survive. I’ll definitely give you a big gift in the future!”
She had a fatherly boyfriend who took meticulous care of her in daily life.
But he forced her to live healthily with him, eating low-fat low-sodium meals every day and not letting her drink.
That was simply not a human life.
Otherwise, with her monthly salary and bonuses of tens of thousands, would she need to come out to freeload?
Just because she had many friends, her boyfriend always felt she didn’t love him and refused to marry her and have kids.
But she had never been loved since childhood.
What did she know about love?
Being willing to have kids with him and grow old together should be enough, right?
Kangxi vaguely felt something was off and asked with a gentle laugh:
“You want to give me a gift?”
There was such a saying among commoners, but who would dare in the palace?
Besides, he had already been married twice.
The fortune teller said his fate was too strong, so he didn’t plan to take another empress.
Fang He suddenly sat up straight.
“Zhen? Oh, I misspoke…”
She had forgotten she had changed bosses!
The person in front of her wasn’t her brother, but her boss!
Damn, why was she drinking with her boss?
Was this guy trying to take advantage of her?
She, Master Fang, didn’t do unprofitable business.
With her bad temper, what if she couldn’t hold back and offended him completely?
What about the golden box?
Kangxi raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Where did you misspeak?”