Chapter 10 Yin You

Little brother, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask.

Runxi felt uncomfortable all over after being glanced at by him so casually. Before, Chen Guanxue had been by her side, so she hadn't felt anything, but now that she was asleep and the person guarding her was still awake, the air in the carriage was filled with unease.

Runxi hugged her legs and curled up to one side, resting her head on her knees, her eyes fixed on the white leather at her feet and a corner of the thin golden blanket.

Kangxi was the wolf king, and Chen Guanxue was the treasure he brought back to his nest. He covered her with the best things so that only he could catch a glimpse of her beauty.

Under Runxi's gaze, the thin blanket stirred.

She dared not look up again. She could only guess that Kangxi had lifted a corner of the blanket, pulled it over her body, and then carefully tucked it in, falling asleep alongside his precious treasure.

The carriage was silent except for the sound of horses' hooves outside, which, in the quiet and warm space, made one want to fall asleep.

Chen Guanxue went to bed late last night, as did Runxi. With their backs against the carriage wall and not under Kangxi's dangerous gaze, they naturally felt very safe.

People only fall asleep quickly when they feel safe.

Emperor Kangxi, who was resting with his eyes closed, heard a muffled thud. He opened his eyes and glanced at Runxi, who was rubbing the back of his head. He frowned and then closed his eyes again.

Tsk, what a smart person, how did he choose such a lackey?

After Chen Guanxue entered the palace, many people spoke ill of Runxi, saying that her hands were rough, she was not meticulous in her work, and she had no manners. She had been told this countless times.

He wasn't blind, nor was Chen Guanxue, so they naturally saw her stupidity. They kept her by their side because she had some redeeming qualities.

He had previously thought that Runxi was only loyal, but now he realized that she was not only loyal but also truly knew what she should do.

His indulgence and subtle actions towards Chen Guanxue surprised even Liang Jiugong, who had been with him the longest. Only she would ignore these things and wholeheartedly follow Chen Guanxue's ideas.

Is he stupid? Not necessarily.

They all knew what the emperor was like from a young age, yet they still managed to live comfortably after entering the palace. They seemed to have something to rely on when they were with Chen Guanxue, only revealing their fear of him after she fell asleep.

This isn't stupidity; it's intelligence that surpasses others. It shows a keen eye for subtlety and an understanding of when to advance and retreat.

If one were not of low birth, even a bondservant could have an immeasurable future with a little ambition, since bondservantes could enter the palace as palace maids.

Serving alongside concubines meant that someone with discerning eyes would always find a way to send her to a prince's residence, where wealth and status would be easily within her grasp.

It's better to be by Chen Guanxue's side. Such a smart person would rather be a servant with only two masters than to scheme and plot in the backyard to win a man.

Kangxi smiled and hugged Chen Guanxue even tighter.

His eyesight is so sharp, he sees everything clearly and has a long-term perspective. It's not bad to have someone who can make you laugh around.

The marching troops did not move very slowly, but Kangxi ordered a rest period at noon so that they could stop to rest and have a hot meal.

Chen Guanxue also slept for a long time and only woke up when she smelled the aroma of food.

Emperor Kangxi wasn't so particular when he was out, he just ate a little better than others. But when he was with Chen Guanxue, he wouldn't be so casual. He even selected two imperial chefs from the imperial kitchen to bring along. They were both young and could withstand the hardships of travel and were good at cooking a variety of dishes.

However, the ingredients they brought were not as plentiful as those in the palace, and the dishes they made were barely palatable to Emperor Kangxi.

As soon as the carriage stopped, cloth was placed around it to prevent people outside from seeing what was happening in that area.

When Kangxi saw her open her eyes, he reached out and handed her a cup, letting her drink a sip of warm water before asking, "The meal has been prepared. Shall we eat outside or in the carriage?"

"Let's eat outside." Eating in the carriage will leave a lingering smell, and you don't know how uncomfortable that will be for the rest of the journey.

Kangxi went downstairs first, and Runxi came over to fold up the quilt before helping her up and walking outside.

Stepping down the wooden steps from the carriage, he immediately noticed a table and chairs on one side. The tablecloths and plates on them were the same styles and patterns commonly used in the palace. He wondered how much stuff he had had moved this time.

She now enjoys eating sweet and sour dishes, and Kangxi eats them with her, showing no displeasure whatsoever.

Come to think of it, she had never seen him show any likes or dislikes when it came to food. Anyway, they always ate together before, and she had rarely seen him eat alone. When she did see him eat, it was the same food she usually ate.

She didn't quite believe that his tastes were so similar to hers; she probably only liked him because she liked him.

But seeing how much he enjoys eating everything, I really don't know what he likes to eat.

"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince and the Seventh Prince request an audience." Lunch was almost finished when a young eunuch approached.

Chen Guanxue raised her eyebrows slightly. It was quite a coincidence that she had met the Fourth Prince, this benefactor, again.

Kangxi had no intention of hiding Chen Guanxue, but since no one had seen her before and no one knew he had brought someone with him, he said, "Let her in."

She had met Yinzhen before; he looked younger than he would have twenty years later, and his face wasn't as cold. However, the people following behind him were not very common.

The Seventh Prince, Yin You, was born with a disability, which destined him to never ascend the throne. Although he suffered some hardships in his childhood, he grew up to be a brave and skilled warrior and enjoyed good fortune.

As soon as he entered, Chen Guanxue stared at his feet. Only upon closer inspection could she notice that he walked with a slight limp, a congenital condition that could not be cured. Otherwise, during the struggle for the throne, the other princes would have had another formidable rival.

"Greetings to Father Emperor, and greetings to Miss Chen." Yinzhen was the one who brought her into the palace and knew how to address her, while Yinyou, not knowing, spoke after him.

Neither of them paid any attention to her. Regardless of her status, the person accompanying Kangxi was not someone they could look at.

When Yinzhen lowered his head, he was even more nervous than Yinyou, and was even a little afraid that her eyes would fall on him. He also regretted that he had come to see Kangxi at this time.

He thought to himself, "I didn't know Father had brought this one out with him. I will definitely not come looking for him at mealtimes in the future."

"Is there something you need?" They weren't the kind of people who would come to pay their respects for no reason.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from the Dzungars. Galdan has already begun to make his move."

The imperial edict to personally lead the expedition has been issued for quite some time, and the troop deployment was a major undertaking. It's only now that we've learned of this, which indicates that some information has been delayed.

After looking at Yin You, Chen Guanxue looked away and couldn't help but feel curious about the sudden change in Kangxi's aura.

The beast that grovels at her feet still has its fangs, and it is when he reveals his ferocity that she feels surprised. Perhaps it is the human yearning for power and the desire to conquer that drives her.

She felt that this was more like the way he occasionally showed his fangs—dangerous yet alluringly mysterious.

Her eyes gradually revealed infatuation, and her gaze towards him was as intense as his gaze towards her.

When Kangxi happened to turn his head and saw her like this, he said, "Send a message to them to prepare. Whether it is food or manpower, the time to launch a major attack will come when I arrive."

"yes."

The two men left after receiving the message. Yin You was very puzzled. This was very different from Kangxi's previous behavior. The next step should have been to gather everyone, speculate on Galdan's next move, and then point out the errors in their speculations.

He frowned and slightly raised his head to look at the person sitting next to Kangxi.

She was quite beautiful, with the appearance of a Han Chinese woman, and dressed in the attire of an unmarried woman. However, her temperament was so striking that even sitting next to Emperor Kangxi, she was not overshadowed in the slightest, which was truly strange.

What's even stranger is the obsessive fervor she displays for Emperor Kangxi.

She glanced at him briefly before lowering her head. She followed Yinzhen for quite a distance before quietly asking, "Is that the Chen family girl?"

Yinzhen nodded and instructed, "Don't ask anymore. Just know that it's this person."

"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Yin You knew he had asked too many questions earlier when he saw that the man had said this specifically.

His words earned him a pat on the shoulder from Yinzhen, and the two of them went together to their respective places.

Emperor Kangxi, who had told them to leave, looked into her eyes, his imposing aura dissipating. He saw the infatuation in her eyes fade instantly, and felt somewhat helpless.

I knew she wasn't an innocent little rabbit, but her sudden change in attitude towards him still surprised me. We're both just one person, why treat her like two different people? Can't she just be captivated by his current appearance?

"Your Majesty looked better just now."

She gave him the most accurate answer.

cannot.

"I just can't do anything with you."