Kangxi devoted all his energy to military training.
From the moment he woke up each day, apart from reviewing memorials, having meals, and taking a midday rest, he had no idle moments.
This year, during the Mulan Autumn Hunt, he only brought along the eldest prince, Yinti, and the crown prince, Yinreng, taking them with him during the training sessions.
When Yinti learned he could participate in the training, he was so thrilled he jumped three feet high, forgetting even to compete with the crown prince.
He was so excited he couldn’t sleep until midnight and almost overslept the next day.
Yinreng was also excited.
Although he had already started attending court and could listen to political discussions, he was only allowed to listen.
He could only access trivial greeting memorials and those from previous reigns and years; he had no involvement in the actual court affairs.
Being able to participate in the training, in Yinreng’s view, represented his father’s recognition of him.
So even on the first day, when Yinreng’s inner thighs were rubbed raw from long hours of horseback riding, he gritted his teeth and didn’t utter a word.
Seeing Yinreng endure, Yinti, who was also suffering, clenched his teeth even tighter.
But neither of them knew this was just the beginning.
Kangxi had set the date for the Mulan Autumn Hunt on the tenth day of the ninth month.
From the twenty-fourth day of the eighth month to the eighth day of the ninth month, they left before dawn every day, rested at noon, and then went out again, returning under the stars.
Even though Yinti and Yinreng had long been practicing archery and horsemanship, they were starting to struggle.
Between the two of them, there wasn’t a patch of unblemished skin on their inner thighs.
The two brothers, now in the same boat, even forgot their previous conflicts.
On the way back, after their eunuchs applied medicine, they wished they could just hug and cry.
Yinti, with a bitter expression, asked the crown prince, “Do you think Father, who lives in luxury in the palace every day, doesn’t get tired?”
Yinreng rolled his eyes at Yinti, “Father practices martial arts for an hour every day before the morning court, you know?”
“Father is the hero of the Qing Dynasty, a role model for the Eight Banners. Naturally, he can do anything.”
Originally, Yinreng was already in awe of his father’s political acumen, but now he revered Kangxi as a deity, hoping to become an emperor like him in the future.
This time, Yinti didn’t retort.
He thought for a moment, and a look of determination appeared on his face.
The imperial selection had already concluded in June, and his mother had arranged for him to marry the eldest daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Kerkun, next year.
Once married, he would be an adult and would take his father as a role model, aspiring to become the greatest hero of the Qing Dynasty!
Meanwhile, Kangxi, who was being praised by his two sons who were finally getting along, was actually lying in the imperial carriage, letting Liang Jiugong apply medicine to him.
Liang Jiugong, seeing the emperor’s chafed thighs, wanted to cry, “Your Majesty, I dare not interfere with the training, but you must take care of your health, mustn’t you?
“These wounds haven’t healed, and new ones are added every day. Imperial Physician Qin said that if this continues, scars will form. If the ancestors find out…”
“I know what I’m doing,” Kangxi interrupted Liang Jiugong calmly.
“Is Zhao Chang back yet?”
Liang Jiugong sighed inwardly, finally understanding.
Ever since the emperor learned of the Empress Dowager and Lady Lakshin’s schemes, he had been holding in his anger, unable to vent it.
If he didn’t find something to do, he might end up like at the end of last year…
He replied cautiously, “Your Majesty, he hasn’t returned yet, but he sent a message. Li Dequan has already placed it on your imperial desk.”
Kangxi remained silent.
Upon arriving at the temporary palace, he ordered the guards to carry Yinti and Yinreng back.
As if unharmed, he strode confidently into the Wanhe Songfeng Hall under the admiring gazes of his two sons.
“Your Majesty…” Li Dequan, hearing the commotion, came out with Wei Zhu to greet him.
Kangxi waved his hand and swept past them like a gust of wind, heading straight to the imperial desk.
He opened the note delivered by a carrier pigeon.
But the contents were not what Kangxi had hoped to see.
His brow furrowed slightly.
Zhao Chang reported that no useful evidence had been found.
There was nothing unusual around Princess Tana of Lakshen.
The secret guards had followed the palace servants who went to visit her at Fangyuan Residence to eavesdrop, but they only discussed Tana’s condition with the Empress Dowager.
Zhao Chang and his men had scoured the Mulan Hunting Grounds but found no trace of Fang He ever being there.
Expressionlessly, Kangxi burned the note over the flame.
Liang Jiugong sensed the heavy atmosphere and understood that nothing had been uncovered.
Seeing his master sitting wearily in his chair, pressing his temples with his thumb ring to stay alert, Liang Jiugong quietly dismissed Li Dequan and Wei Zhu and approached cautiously.
“Your Majesty, perhaps I was mistaken that day.”
“The Empress Dowager was in a hurry to visit, likely to confirm whether Princess Tana of Lakshen had the energy to deal with Lady Wuyunzhu. You must not overthink this, as it may harm your health…”
Kangxi lowered his hand, staring thoughtfully at the candle wick, and suddenly laughed.
He stood up and remarked with a hint of sarcasm, “You’re wrong. It’s precisely because the Empress Dowager was in such a hurry that there’s a problem.”
If there was nothing to hide, why would the Empress Dowager conceal it from Lady Wuyunzhu and rush to send someone?
If she were truly in a hurry, she could have openly dispatched someone to gallop ahead on the road to check on the patient.
Yet, when it was clear something was amiss, nothing was found that was the biggest flaw.
Liang Jiugong looked puzzled, but Kangxi was in no mood to explain.
He yawned slightly, feeling somewhat relaxed.
“Enough. Prepare the water. We’ll set off for the hunting grounds early tomorrow morning.”
Due to Kangxi’s close supervision, the military training in Rehe had been highly effective.
Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, during the large-scale drills on the grasslands by the Xiaoluan River, the tens of thousands of Qing soldiers roared with such intensity that it nearly intimidated all the northern Mongol tribes.
They likely understood why Kangxi was doing this and couldn’t help glancing toward the western deserts.
This year, Galdan had arrived early with the princes of the western deserts and stood among the northern Mongol princes, listening to the distant commotion with an inscrutable expression.
As Kangxi had anticipated, even before the Qing soldiers officially began patrolling in preparation for the hunt, he received news that Galdan had sent someone back to the western deserts to deliver a message.
Kangxi sneered inwardly.
If Galdan dared to stir up trouble at such a time, he would have respected him as a man.
Unfortunately, Galdan was more cunning than a wolf on the grasslands, only daring to carry out covert assassinations.
But Kangxi pretended to know nothing.
On the first day of the hunt, he took the Crown Prince and the eldest prince and bagged two tigers and three deer.
The three of them didn’t hunt any small game.
The butchered meat was tied to their horses, and at first, no one noticed anything unusual, thinking they had merely gone through the motions without putting in much effort.
But when the accompanying guards threw the animal heads onto the ground and began counting, Galdan’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and he almost couldn’t suppress the killing intent in his heart.
Apart from the five prey, there were actually thirty-six wolf heads dragged behind the horses, which was exactly the number of the princes from the western desert.
Some people from the northern and southern desert tribes also noticed this and quietly observed Galdan and the Dzungar tribe’s expressions.
However, except for Tseren, whose face showed some undisguised arrogance and ferocity, the others, especially Galdan, showed no unusual expressions.
In fact, when it was announced that Kangxi had the most prey that day, Galdan was the first among the northern Mongol princes to kneel on one knee, place his hand on his chest, and bow his head to Kangxi in submission.
Although the northern Mongols were troubled by wolves, many tribes revered the wolf as their totem, adhering to the principle of strength above all.
Kangxi, representing the Qing dynasty, had shown his might, and his gentle approach to winning them over was even more convincing.
All the northern Mongol princes followed suit, lowering their heads and shouting, “Long live the Heavenly Khan!”
Kangxi glanced at Galdan indifferently, but he didn’t feel as triumphant as he had imagined.
He knew he had underestimated Galdan.
If Galdan were impulsive and quick-tempered, Kangxi wouldn’t have been as wary.
But Galdan was more pragmatic than anyone else, and if he ever became an enemy, he would undoubtedly be the most formidable opponent.
Kangxi smiled and called for everyone to rise, announcing that he would not participate in the hunting competition and that a guard from the Khalkha Mongols had won the top prize.
Kangxi repeatedly praised the guard, and Prince Bandi also respectfully flattered the Heavenly Khan.
The bonfire banquet concluded amidst friendly mutual compliments.
When Kangxi returned to the imperial tent, Zhao Chang was already waiting outside, which slightly excited Kangxi, who had had a bit to drink.
Before Zhao Chang could kneel, Kangxi grabbed his arm and pulled him into the imperial tent.
“How did the investigation go?”
After entering the tent, Zhao Chang still knelt down.
“Your servant is incompetent. Without alerting anyone, no matter how I investigated, I couldn’t find any information.”
Just as Kangxi’s expression darkened, Zhao Chang added—
“But your servant did not come back empty-handed…”
Seeing Zhao Chang glance around, Kangxi waved his hand at Liang Jiugong, signaling him to take the others away.
Wei Zhu looked at Zhao Chang several times before gritting his teeth and following Liang Jiugong out.
Once they were alone, Zhao Chang crawled forward a few steps and reported in a low voice, “The reason your servant found nothing is not because the secret guards are incompetent. During the investigation, we discovered traces of the Left Wing Central Banner.”
“The other party deliberately cleaned up all traces, and the forest was also cleared. Following this lead, your servant found that the people involved were Prince Bandi’s personal guards.”
Kangxi understood Zhao Chang’s implication.
Prince Bandi wouldn’t cover up for Lakshin Furen, which meant… it was the Empress Dowager’s doing.
The tent fell silent for a while before Kangxi suddenly let out a low laugh, even gasping for breath.
Zhao Chang was puzzled.
“Your Majesty?”
Kangxi patted Zhao Chang’s shoulder, signaling him to rise, the amusement and certainty in his eyes evident.
“The Empress Dowager is acting strangely, and the Grand Empress Dowager is also acting strangely. Tell me, what could be the reason?”
Zhao Chang was stunned for a moment before a look of realization crossed his face, and he blurted out his guess-
“Because Consort Fang is still alive!”
No, it was even possible that the Grand Empress Dowager had noticed Kangxi’s excessive concern for Fang He and had instructed the Empress Dowager to let her go, though he didn’t dare to speculate so boldly.
Kangxi’s mind was filled with countless speculations, but whether it was the doing of the Empress Dowager or the Empress Mother, and whether the Empress Dowager had simply gone along with the flow, none of it truly mattered.