"Jiaojiao, don't be afraid! Close your eyes!"

When Kangxi set off, he was accompanied by more than a dozen guards and secret guards, so he wasn't too afraid at the moment. The brown bear looked adorable and stood at a distance, tilting its head and watching them.

Bears are naturally incredibly strong, and although they look clumsy, they are extremely fast.

Tigers are said to be the kings of the forest, but when it comes to a real fight, bears are the truly fierce ones.

If this weren't a forest, they could simply ride at full speed and the brown bear wouldn't stand a chance. But this is a forest; not only can the horses not run fast, but this is likely the bear's territory, and the bear knows this place very well.

"Xuan Ye! Don't move, whatever you do, don't move! As long as we don't attack him, he won't attack us! If he comes, hold your breath, remember that!"

However, Harigana forgot that while humans can control their breath, horses cannot!

A short while later, the brown bear walked towards them. (A Class II protected animal in China! Protect! Protect! Protect!)

"Jiaojiao! Don't be afraid! I'm here! Hold me tight, okay? Don't think about anything, cover your ears!"

As Kangxi spoke, he quietly turned Harigana around so that the two of them sat facing each other, and he held Harigana tightly in his arms.

The bear was getting closer and closer, and everyone held their breath, waiting for instructions.

"Your Majesty! You and Consort Chen should retreat first, while I and my men will cover your retreat!"

Li Dequan asked Kangxi nervously in a low voice, while Dulan beside him took out his bow and arrow and looked at the brown bear with a wary gaze.

"Okay! Be careful!"

If Harigana hadn't been by Kangxi's side, he would have definitely shot and killed this tyrannical man. But since Harigana was with him, his first priority was to protect his beloved daughter from harm.

Li Dequan breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that the Emperor would want to show off his manly qualities in front of Consort Chen, so he was unwilling to retreat.

Fortunately, the emperor was rational enough not to do anything that would give them a headache.

What Li Dequan didn't know was that Kangxi was able to listen to advice and go back only because Harigana was by his side. If it weren't for Harigana, he would have had a headache.

Brown bears walk very slowly, sniffing around as they go. If they smell something different, they grab it with their paws and put it in their mouths, or throw it behind them.

Without further ado, Kangxi, after giving instructions to Li Dequan, turned around and prepared to walk around the brown bear.

But as soon as the horse moved two steps, the brown bear seemed to know what they were about to do and let out a low growl. The sound was deafening and made the horses under the guards restless.

The birds in the woods suddenly flew into the sky, forming a dark, ominous mass.

The guards had to be distracted, calming their horses while keeping an eye on the brown bear to prevent it from harming the Emperor and Consort Chen!

Where is the Emperor?

The Empress Dowager felt a tightness in her chest. She had drunk some wine the night before, and her sleep quality hadn't been very good lately, so she thought that drinking some wine would help her sleep more soundly.

Fortunately, the alcohol did have an effect; she slept until almost lunchtime before waking up.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty has taken Consort Chen into the mountains!"

Sumalagu only found out because she saw them riding away on horseback; otherwise, she really wouldn't have known about it.

The Empress Dowager looked displeased. There were many unknowns in the forest. How could an emperor act so recklessly?

Although my dislike for Harigana had reached its peak, I didn't lose control and start cursing like I had done before.

After pondering for a long time, he asked softly, "Are you bringing a lot of people?"

Sumalagu was somewhat surprised. Based on previous experiences, she thought that the Empress Dowager would be extremely angry upon hearing this news. However, to her utter surprise, the Empress Dowager simply asked her a single question calmly.

"Empress Dowager, this servant saw from afar that His Majesty went with about a dozen people. Please rest assured, His Majesty will be fine!"

The Empress Dowager nodded and rubbed her temples: "Go and call Urina over. I have something to tell her."

"Yes! This servant will go right away!"

Sumalagu turned to leave, but was stopped by Bumbutai: "Suma, let someone else go!"

Sumalagu paused, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

A short while later, Urina arrived.

"This humble servant greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed!"

Urina followed the Manchu etiquette and bowed to Bumbutai, which made Bumbutai frown slightly, but she didn't say anything because she thought about what would happen after returning home.

"Get up!"

Bumbutai was quite satisfied with Urina's appearance. Although she wasn't as stunning as Harigana, she was still a rare beauty on the grassland.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Urina stood up and, with the help of her maid, sat on the stool below Bumbutai, nervously clutching the silk handkerchief in her hand.

"Urina, don't be nervous! I've come to talk to you today!"

Although Bumbutai liked Urina's appearance, she found her petty manner rather unappealing. She wasn't some monster; why were her hands clenched so nervously?

"Yes! I obey the Empress Dowager!"

Sumalagu stood to the side, watching Urina's performance, and shook her head inwardly. The Emperor would never like someone with such a personality. She had watched Xuan Ye grow up; Xuan Ye possessed an inherent domineering nature. He loved to rule everyone and to have people depend on him.

This kind of personality is clearly not the kind that Xuan Ye likes; it's too petty!

"Urina, have you already met Consort Chen? How was it?"

The Empress Dowager's voice was very kind, as if she were having a casual chat, but Urina's mind was racing as she tried to figure out how to answer the question.

Yes, Urina's entire act was an act!

Before heading south with the main force, her mother passed on all her life experience to Urina, the most important of which was how to disguise herself.

Therefore, from the moment she boarded the carriage, Urina maintained a carefree personality while simultaneously displaying extreme caution upon seeing those in positions of power.

The reason she was able to ride a horse to catch up with Harigana that day was because her maidservant said a few words to her. This maidservant was sent by the Empress Dowager to serve the Khorchin concubines!

She had initially wondered if she had misunderstood, but now it seems that her guess was correct!