Mingxiu sat in the carriage looking at the scenery outside. Next to her, Kangxi sat on the sofa with one leg bent, holding a water cup in one hand, quietly listening to Mingxiu tell him stories. Mingxiu told the stories happily, of course, they were still about things related to the Qing Dynasty.

This trip to Yunnan brought back Mingxiu's memories of Aunt Qiong Yao's "Princess Pearl." Although she knew it was just a legend, it was still quite amusing to listen to it.

Kangxi listened quietly from the side, his hands clenching tighter and tighter as he listened. He glanced at the enthusiastic Mingxiu, then turned away helplessly. Only Mingxiu could tell such stories as if they were true; he couldn't accept it. If it were true, he would probably be furious.

What kind of descendants are these? They're all so useless.

The group walked along the road for several days without incident. Although there were many merchants on this road, some of whom were of questionable character and would rob small caravans, Mingxiu and her companions were clearly not ordinary people. They were followed by either guards or Kangxi's secret guards, so no one dared to lay a hand on them.

"Sigh"

Mingxiu had just finished thinking when she heard the carriage stop abruptly.

"Hey you up ahead, let me tell you, I'm the chieftain of Tiangang Village. If you know what's good for you, leave your things here obediently, and I might consider sparing your lives. But if you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for not sparing your lives with my blade."

Kangxi: ......

Mingxiu:......

Just as Kangxi and Mingxiu felt the carriage outside stop and were about to go out to see what was going on, they heard a sound coming from outside.

Kangxi looked at Mingxiu with a strange expression.

Mingxiu was speechless, having strangely understood Kangxi's meaning. How could she be blamed? She had no idea that there were actually people so clueless.

“My lord, this servant has looked over here. They are just ordinary mountain bandits, not any other force,” the guard outside said as he approached the carriage.

"Alright, I understand. Just handle it." Kangxi waved his hand.

Although Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty could not guarantee that everyone would eat well, he was not forced to become an outlaw. Therefore, the bandits at this time could only be pure bad people.

Soon after, the sounds of clanging and banging and sharp blades slicing came from outside. Mingxiu pulled the curtain open, but Kangxi grabbed her hand tightly and gestured for her not to move.

Mingxiu pouted and said, "Fine, I won't move then."

"Your Majesty, these people have been dealt with. Someone just said they live in a mountain stronghold nearby, and there are still people they kidnapped up there." After the guard finished speaking, he stood quietly outside, waiting for Kangxi's instructions on what to do next.

What can we do? In the past, we would rescue these people and then hand them over to the local government. If they found a way out on their own, we would leave them alone, but if they didn't, we would just help them find a job.

Kangxi opened his mouth, about to say that he would do it the same way as before, when Mingxiu tugged at his sleeve.

"Grandpa, let's go take a look together. I don't know what a mountain stronghold is like. I'm quite curious," Mingxiu said, blinking her big eyes.

Kangxi sighed helplessly, "What's so interesting about this? They're just ordinary buildings. Besides, what if something happens if we go up there? Let's just stay here."

"No." Mingxiu pulled on Kangxi's sleeve, her strength returning. "I really want to go and see. Please let me go, take a look, and come back."

Kangxi waited for Mingxiu, who looked at him with a pitiful expression.

After a long while, a voice came from inside the carriage: "Have someone lead the way to the top of the mountain stronghold."

"Yes," the guard thought to himself with a secret sense of satisfaction. Ever since Mingxiu suggested going to the mountain stronghold, the guard had already sent someone to deliver the message. He knew that the Emperor Emeritus would never disagree with the Imperial Concubine's words. This was a profound lesson he had learned over the past few years.

Inside the carriage, Kangxi looked at Mingxiu helplessly: "Alright, are you happy now?"

Mingxiu put away her aggrieved expression and looked at Kangxi happily: "Happy, of course I'm happy. Thank you, Your Majesty. I knew you loved me the most."

Kangxi rolled his eyes at her, thinking she was being hypocritical after getting the benefit, and then lowered his head to continue reading his book, a slight smile playing on his lips in a corner where Mingxiu couldn't see him.

The carriage slowly started moving, and Mingxiu looked excitedly at the newly opened window.

The village really wasn't far away. Mingxiu got off the carriage and looked around at the surroundings with some confusion: "No, it's really close. It's so close to the official road, doesn't anyone care?" Mingxiu expressed her great incomprehension.

Kangxi glanced at it and said, "This place is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The government troops must have come several times, but they must have escaped each time." However, it was also due to their lack of ability.

Emperor Kangxi quietly concluded that it seemed the officers and soldiers here should be replaced.

Kangxi, accompanied by Mingxiu, followed the guards up the mountain. There was a mountain nearby that the carriage couldn't climb, so they had to go up on foot.

There were already advance guards who went up to check the situation, so Kangxi wasn't too worried. If there were any problems, someone would have come down to report them already.

Mingxiu and Kangxi walked uphill, and when they were halfway up, Mingxiu grabbed Kangxi's sleeve and started panting heavily. She hadn't climbed a mountain in a long time, and this was too tiring.

Kangxi looked at Mingxiu and asked, "How about it? Are you still going up? We've only gone halfway."

Mingxiu gritted her teeth and nodded as she looked at the halfway point of the mountain path ahead. No, she had already gone halfway up, and she absolutely couldn't give up now. Otherwise, all that effort would have been for nothing, what a waste!

"Let's go, I refuse to believe that this little mountain can stop me." Mingxiu gritted her teeth and followed Kangxi up the mountain.

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