She completely lay-no, sprawled flat, pitifully raising her tear-filled eyes and sobbing as she tried to make amends.
“Then what will I be called from now on?”
“Third Girl.”
Fang He:”….”
What a distinctive and memorable name.
She cautiously probed, “What about the people in the inn?”
Kangxi lay beside her, not looking at her pitiful expression.
“The inn is owned by Fan Shaohui of the Fan family. What does it have to do with me or your Zasihuli clan?”
Fang He breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
It seemed that letting Kangxi vent his anger was the right move, saving others from bearing the brunt of his frustration.
But she wanted to stay in the south, where she might have a chance to escape for good.
When she learned of Kangxi’s southern tour, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to leave Yizhen County.
She had even closed the inn to lay low for a while.
Watching dramas and reading novels made it seem like wandering the martial world was easy, but when you’re actually in it, you realize that without travel permits and identification, unless you become an outlaw, there’s nowhere to go.
When she chose to open the inn, she had discussed it with Naren.
If she had to live in fear and become a fugitive, she’d rather live boldly and freely.
Better to live a life of passion and die with no regrets than to have her descendants become outlaws, living in the shadows forever.
The sudden closure of the inn would only raise suspicions.
She didn’t dare gamble on whether Kangxi’s spies would make things worse.
She could only lie low, betting that Kangxi wouldn’t notice a small inn in the countryside.
Unfortunately, she lost that bet.
But she hadn’t lost completely.
She let out a few soft sobs and reached for Kangxi’s hand.
“Are you keeping me from entering the palace now because you’re afraid the Empress Dowager will have me killed?”
“But sooner or later, she’ll find out. Will you have to kill me again then?”
Kangxi pulled his hand away, closed his eyes, and said calmly, “That’s not something you need to worry about.”
In truth, he had initially planned to bring Fang He into the palace.
The travel permits and identification for the Zasihuli clan were already prepared, and he had long since made arrangements with the Empress Dowager.
But now… he really didn’t want to see this troublemaker in front of him, or he might just die of anger.
It was more important to deal with those who needed to be dealt with.
Moreover, being apart might help him calm down.
If he could let go of this troublemaker, he could let her marry the new commander of the Bordered Blue Banner as she had originally planned.
If he couldn’t let go… well, that was another matter.
Fang He continued to reach for his hand.
“Why not let me stay with the Cao family to learn the rules? With your wet nurse guiding me, it would be safer than sending me to an unfamiliar place…”
“Do you think I’d give you another chance to escape?”
Kangxi finally couldn’t help but open his eyes, giving her a cold glance, though he didn’t look directly at her face.
Fang He instinctively covered her bottom.
“If I were going to run away, I wouldn’t have stayed obediently in the inn, waiting for you to catch me like a turtle in a jar!”
In reality, Madam Liang went to Suzhou to obtain travel permits for Huguang.
In the Qing Dynasty, with Kangxi’s power, it wouldn’t be too difficult to find someone if he really put his mind to it.
But as long as the travel permits were in order, there was a chance for everyone to head to the open ports and sail away.
Who knows, they might even create a new country.
That scoundrel couldn’t possibly grow wings and fly over there.
Kangxi sneered, “If you had travel permits and identification, would you stay in Jiangnan?”
“If you want me to continue ordering that chef to be fed to the dogs, keep talking!”
This troublemaker probably thought he was a fool.
He turned over, refusing to look at Fang He.
Fang He was so angry she wished she could kick him again.
Her mind raced, and she fiercely lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Kangxi’s waist.
Kangxi pried her hands away, but Fang He, in her anger, climbed onto him, using her entire body to pin him down and force him to look at her.
“I’ve explained everything I needed to explain. I’ve even hit you. What are you still sulking about?”
“If you’re going to treat me like a prisoner from now on, you might as well kill me right now!”
Kangxi met her face, which had become unusually vivid with anger, and felt a pang of discomfort in his chest, even a headache, giving him the genuine urge to strangle her.
If such a scoundrel had never existed in this world, he wouldn’t have become less and less like himself.
As Fang He wished, he looked up at her steadily, “Others I cannot kill, but you… I really do want to end you.”
Fang He: The word “end” is quite subtle!
She subtly shifted downward, “I originally had the chance to be with one person for a lifetime, but now I have to compete with others for a man. I’m not angry anymore, so please don’t be angry either…”
Kangxi let her move down but suddenly flipped over, trapping her in a confined space.
He lowered his head, his gaze tightly locked with hers, the turbulence in his eyes making Fang He gasp.
“Fang He, I do understand you. If you wanted to stay, you would have found a way to ask me what status you would have in the palace.”
“You would have immediately retracted all your thorns, trying to coax me with that little mouth of yours…” Kangxi paused, the mockery in his heart growing heavier.
He couldn’t quite tell whether he wanted to see a more genuine Fang He or if he preferred her to continue her deceitful ways as before.
Repeatedly.
“But you didn’t mention a single word. Tell me, how should I trust you?”
Fang He’s tears kept flowing, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
When she didn’t speak, her tearful eyes seemed to contain a myriad of emotions.
Kangxi couldn’t help but hold her tighter, even though she had humiliated him so, he still wanted to embed her into his body, better than being tormented by longing and worry.
“Your Majesty…” Fang He’s voice trembled as she tried to get closer to him.
Kangxi instinctively lowered his head, finally capturing the little mouth he had been longing for.
Then he heard Fang He start to cry, “You’re crushing my butt! Wuwuwu…”
Kangxi: “…”
He took a deep breath, rolled over to lie beside her, one hand covering his eyes, the other pointing outside.
“Get out!”
Fang He, with tears in her eyes, rolled over, crying uncontrollably, “Where am I supposed to go?”
Kangxi wanted to say there were plenty of rooms, she could go anywhere, but the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
“If you say one more word, I’ll kill someone in the inn, starting with that fool!”
Fang He: “…”
Damn, not even asking if I’ll sleep in the courtyard?
She gritted her teeth, got up, and walked out without a word.
“Stop!” Kangxi scolded in a low voice, but Fang He turned a deaf ear, only making Kangxi’s headache worse.
“Xu Fang He!!”
Fang He left him with nothing but an angry backside.
If he told her to leave, she would leave; if he told her to stop, she would stop.
Did she have no temper at all?
Kangxi watched her retreating figure, feeling an inexplicable chill rise in his heart.
Whenever this scoundrel entered his dreams, she always left just as decisively.
He said coldly, “If you take one more step, I will immediately order your—”
“Don’t call me Xu Fang He!” Fang He turned around furiously, struggled back onto the bed, and buried herself under the covers.
“Why call a dead person? Call me Za Sanniu!”
Kangxi:”….”
He was both angry and amused, leaning back on the pillow, remaining silent for a long time.
Only when he heard the familiar sound of light snoring did he softly call for Liang Jiugong to bring in the wound ointment.
With practiced ease but gentle hands, he applied the ointment to Fang He, then gently pulled her into his arms, restraining her limbs to prevent her from accidentally touching the swollen areas.
Kangxi closed his eyes again.
Feeling the head in his chest impatiently nuzzling against him, Kangxi sighed silently, feeling the entire world instantly calm down.
Unfortunately, this peace was short-lived.
By midnight, he was awakened by the restless movements in his arms.
He had a headache and asked in a hoarse voice, “What are you up to now?”
“I’m hungry!” Fang He clutched her growling stomach, starving to the point of feeling hollow.
“Endure it!” Kangxi pulled her closer, just wanting to sleep a little longer.
Because of this scoundrel, he had been unable to eat or sleep properly, and he still had a busy day ahead tomorrow.
He just wanted to get some rest.
Fang He pressed her bottom, wondering why it didn’t hurt as much anymore, which made it easier for her to wriggle out of Kangxi’s grasp and quietly climb out of bed.
Without her soft and obedient Xiao Qiao, she couldn’t even get a meal.
Thinking about it made her feel a wave of sadness.
She should go find her Liang Anda to get something to eat.
Liang Jiugong had already prepared easily digestible food, fearing that Kangxi and Fang He, who hadn’t eaten dinner, would be hungry.
Hearing the commotion inside—first a heart-stopping argument, then some moaning and slapping but no call for water before they settled down, he wasn’t sure if they had consummated anything or not.
So, he had both hot water and food prepared.
Now, seeing Fang He come out as usual, Liang Jiugong knew that nothing had happened.
He couldn’t help but elevate her status in his mind a bit more, second only to Kangxi.
After all, there were plenty who had angered the Emperor and lost their lives, or used that kind of thing to vent their frustrations.
But His Majesty had spent half the night with this scoundrel and hadn’t laid a finger on her.
To put it bluntly, even the princes and princesses in the palace didn’t receive such treatment.
Therefore, as soon as Fang He mentioned wanting to eat, Liang Jiugong immediately bowed with a smile, “Miss, please wait a moment. This servant will have someone bring a bowl… I mean, the meal right away.”
Fang He was puzzled by Liang Jiugong’s change of words, but when she turned her head, she saw the tall figure in bright yellow standing at the door with a frown.
“Weren’t you not hungry?” She rolled her eyes and sat down at the table more casually than yesterday.
Kangxi remained silent.
Could he say that as soon as his arms were empty, his sleepiness vanished too?
If this scoundrel found out, who knows what kind of fuss she would make.
He sat calmly at the head of the table, addressing Fang He:
“After some thought, I’ve decided you should return to the palace with me. I’ll have you brought in under the Empress Dowager’s decree to accompany her and assist in her care.”
Fang He’s heart sank.
If she went to Shengjing, Sister Liang and the others might still find a way to get her out.
But if she entered the palace, she’d be trapped there for life.
“But I’ve just been widowed. Isn’t it inauspicious for me to enter the palace now?” she muttered, feigning casualness.
“Besides, if the Empress Dowager sees me, she might think I’ve risen from the dead and scare herself into illness…”
Kangxi glanced at her coolly.
“Think carefully before you speak. If I hear another word of nonsense from you, I’ll—”
“I just kissed someone, that’s all!” Fang He slammed her hand on the table, her patience wearing thin.
After more than a year outside, her temper had grown less restrained, and she was thoroughly annoyed by Kangxi’s double standards.
Li Dequan and Wei Zhu, who had just entered with a food box, trembled slightly.
Though they were used to Fang He’s explosive remarks, it had been a while since they’d experienced such a shock, and they weren’t quite prepared.
Fang He turned her head, saw it was just them, and continued, “You’ve kissed at least a hundred people, if not more. Who knows how many more there’ll be in the future-“
“No,” Kangxi replied calmly.
Fang He paused. “Oh.”
Kangxi looked at Li Dequan and Wei Zhu, who stood awkwardly at the door, their faces calm despite their discomfort.
They had endured greater humiliations before, and now they seemed almost resigned to it.
Kangxi gestured for Li Dequan to set the table and continued, “Aside from one scoundrel who’s already dead, I’ve never kissed anyone else. I’ve fulfilled her wish by scattering her ashes in the mountains. As for you, Zha Sanniu, you’ll stay by my side.”
Fang He: “……”
So, when the child is dead, you mourn, but when the child is alive, you do nothing, huh?
She picked up a bowl of chicken noodle soup, took a big bite, and mumbled defensively, “Well, now you’ve kissed Zha Sanniu too. We’re even-two kisses each.”
Before Kangxi could respond, she added coldly, “If you keep counting, I might just compete with Liang Anda for the privilege of serving you in bed and tally up how many future mothers of your children there’ll be!”
Kangxi gave her an inscrutable look.
“Fine, come back to the palace with me, and you can count them slowly. Until you’ve finished counting, everyone in the inn will remain in Jiangnan for the rest of their lives. Whatever schemes you’re plotting, I suggest you abandon them.”
Fang He paused mid-bite, then shoved an even larger mouthful of noodles into her mouth.
After finishing, she stormed into the room.
Chunlai cautiously followed to attend to her, only to be pulled aside by Fang He, who whispered, “I need to ask you something life-or- death.”
Chunlai’s heart trembled.
“Y-you can ask.”
But she might not know the answer!
Fang He’s expression turned serious.
“The money I left in the palace, who has it now?”
She was practical.
If she was going to live a life of luxury and tear flowers from people’s hair, she’d need money to buy those flowers.
She couldn’t let anyone tear her apart instead!
Chunlai instinctively glanced outside.
This, she actually knew.
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