"You've done such a great service this time, your father won't be so strict with you anymore." Hailancha patted the boy's shoulder with a smile, finding it amusing that his good brother's good intentions would be misunderstood by his son.
Fu Kang'an also felt that he had made a contribution, and his father should no longer stop him from going to the battlefield. Besides, he had great faith in Hailancha.
Hailancha has already comforted one person, so naturally he won't leave the other one unattended.
He sat down directly in front of Fu'ertai's campfire, his hands already busy, automatically adding two more pieces of firewood. He looked up at the calm and composed young man who had been in the army camp ever since. "Tell me, why are you looking so worried?" Hailancha asked, sounding like a seasoned veteran.
"It's nothing." Voltaire smiled faintly. He knew Hailancha meant well, but he was unwilling to make his private affairs public.
Hailancha didn't force the issue. Everyone has their own secrets; some people are willing to speak their minds freely, while others don't want their private affairs to be known by the whole world. He respected all the boy's decisions.
Hailancha nodded. "Alright, I'll be waiting for you whenever you want to talk." He added another piece of firewood to the fire before gradually walking away.
However, a moment later, Hailancha's voice came, "Roast for another 15 minutes, then everyone rest. The army will set off tomorrow."
Everyone answered "Yes," their voices ringing out loudly.
Fifteen minutes later, everyone fell asleep.
*
Upon learning of the army's victorious return today, An Ke got up early to wash and dress, choosing a noble and dignified purple brocade dress, and adorning her head with a camellia hairpin.
Then, she followed Yongqi, who had arrived early at Cining Palace to wait for Anke, to the palace gate.
As the weather gradually turned colder, a chilly wind blew in the morning. As soon as Anke stepped out, the wind blew fiercely against her meticulously made-up face.
The two walked quickly towards the palace gate, where they saw the emperor already prepared his imperial carriage and waiting there.
The Emperor was not surprised to see An Ke, but he frowned when he saw that An Ke was dressed so thinly. He ordered Li Yu to bring his fox fur cloak and draped it over An Ke's shoulders.
Just as An Ke was about to refuse, the Emperor said firmly, "In this cold weather, I'm already risking offending your father by letting you out. Put on this cloak so you don't catch a cold. Otherwise, I'll have Physician Hu prescribe the bitterest medicine to treat you." The Emperor spoke half-persuading and half-threatening.
However, the Emperor's words were indeed quite right. Didn't you see Prince Rui's glares directed at the Emperor? It was as if he was questioning why the Emperor had let his precious daughter out in such cold weather. Immediately afterwards, disapproving glances were also directed at his precious daughter.
Anke didn't see Prince Rui's reproachful gaze; she stood on high ground, gazing into the distance.
"My palanquin is right here. If An'an gets cold, go up there and warm up first." The Emperor looked at his niece with heartache. If he didn't tell her when the army would return, he was afraid she would ask him about it later. But if he did tell her, she would wait here.
The Emperor gritted his teeth in anger. If Fu Ertai treated the princess badly, even tearing him to pieces wouldn't be enough to quell his and his brother's fury.
An Ke nodded listlessly, but still waited outside the palace gates, without making a special move by getting into the sedan chair to warm up.
Less than the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the army finally returned. They were neat and orderly.
The army marched swiftly toward the palace gates, and upon seeing the emperor, Hailancha and the generals leading the army dismounted.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" The shouts echoed through the sky.
"Alright, all of you, get up." The Emperor said with a smile, and personally helped Hailancha, who was closest to him, to his feet. "Good, good, good. You have defeated the Dzungars so quickly. You are truly a valiant minister. Tonight, I will hold a victory banquet for you. Come to the palace."
The well-trained army marched toward the camp, while the generals followed behind the emperor with their heads held high.
Fu Ertai saw the princess as soon as he was mounted on his horse. If he hadn't been mindful of his commander, he probably would have galloped straight to her.
With excitement, Ertai approached the palace gates and saw the princess's bright eyes. He felt the trip had been worthwhile. However, when he saw the princess's nose, which was red from the cold, Ertai frowned slightly. When he saw the princess smiling at him, he returned her smile.
Next, they followed the emperor into the palace to receive rewards. Yongqi and Anke were beside the emperor, Hailancha was on the other side, and then came the generals.
An Ke glanced back at Ertai several times along the way, and each time she did, she saw Ertai gazing at her intently and affectionately. The deep affection in his eyes was like a spider web, completely enveloping An Ke. An Ke felt as if her Dao heart was about to crumble, and she lightly patted her cheek. She no longer looked back at Ertai, who was captivating her.
Fu Ertai found An Ke's little actions adorable and chuckled softly. Fu Kang'an heard the laughter and moved closer to him.
In an almost inaudible voice, she asked Ertai, "What are you laughing at? You look so lovestruck."
"Did I? You must be mistaken." Seeing Fu Kang'an leaning closer, Ertai immediately stopped smiling. His expression changed incredibly quickly.
Fu Kang'an was so angry at Fu Ertai's appearance that he gritted his teeth. Indeed, he couldn't ask him, and he couldn't win an argument. Then a thought struck Fu Kang'an: if Fu Ertai wouldn't tell him, couldn't he investigate secretly? He might not know, but his father certainly did.
Fu Kang'an: Hmph, so what if you don't tell me? You'll find out eventually.
This scene deeply stung the eyes of a guard, who stood there for a long time, gripping the wall tightly, his gaze lingering on Voltaire.
Just then, a passing guard saw him idling around and stepped forward to scold him, "Which palace guard are you from? What are you up to, sneaking around here?"
The guard quickly lowered his head and whispered, "This servant is from the Imperial Kitchen. I was just curious and that's why I peeked in here."
Now the guard felt his doubts dispelled. After all, today was the day the army was returning to the capital. What he had just seen was probably the generals being rewarded for their merits. That made sense; who hadn't dreamed of protecting their country? If he could, he too would want to go to the battlefield and fight.
The guard coughed, realizing that the man, like himself, was merely envious. After all, people like them would never go to the battlefield. "Alright, now that you've seen it, hurry back to the imperial kitchen."
The guard lowered his head and replied with a "yes," his expression unreadable. After the guard left, he raised his head and revealed himself to be Fu Erkang, who had been demoted to the imperial kitchen.
He had only just heard that the army had returned to the capital, and that's when he remembered his good younger brother had also gone to the battlefield, so he thought he'd come and see him. He had expected to see his brother in a sorry state, but instead, he was still looking triumphant and was about to be rewarded for his merits.
But why should he have all this? He was the eldest son of the Fu family, and he was once a royal bodyguard. Now, all this glory no longer belonged to him; it all went to his younger brother, whom he had once looked down upon. He was resentful and bitter.
But what does he have to compare with his younger brother now? His status as the eldest son of the Fu family? But he has already broken away from the Fu family and severed all ties with them.
As for status, he's currently inferior to his younger brother; he'd probably have to bow to him when he sees Fu Ertai. No, that's not what he wants. How can he, the elder brother, bow to his younger brother?
Fu Erkang stood there for a while before dragging his numb body toward the imperial kitchen.
He didn't know if it was the Emperor's deliberate order or someone else's, but he felt that the people in the Imperial Kitchen were deliberately making things difficult for him. He was clearly a guard, yet he had been demoted to the Imperial Kitchen, which was already an insult to him.
But those dog-like eunuchs in the imperial kitchen, looking down on people, actually ordered him to start a fire. He refused, and Master Zhuang wouldn't tolerate it either, pointing at him and saying that he wasn't a former imperial bodyguard anymore, and that he still had his eyes on the top of his head. The imperial kitchen didn't lack bodyguards, it only lacked cooks to start fires.
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Besides, Ziwei is also imprisoned and confined to Shufangzhai. He has no choice but to obey Master Zhuang's instructions and start a fire in the imperial kitchen.
But he was a pampered young master who had been raised in luxury since childhood. He spent his days either studying or practicing martial arts, so how could he know how to start a fire? The first time he tried to start a fire, the imperial kitchen was filled with thick smoke, making people's noses and eyes water.
That didn't look like they were starting a fire at all; it looked more like they were there to cause trouble, almost setting the imperial kitchen on fire.
Master Zhuang simply didn't know how to describe him. He taught him once and then watched him closely. Gradually, he learned how to start a fire.
But whenever he tried to start a fire, other people would always come over and ask him for help. It was always something like chopping chili peppers or washing various things. Then, during the hottest part of the imperial kitchen, he'd be made to go in and start the fire. He was worn down by this and lost seven or eight pounds.
But when he returned to the mansion and wanted to tell his father about his experiences in the imperial kitchen, his father always waved his hand and told him to think it over. He had already been forgiven for the crime of deceiving the emperor, and he should be content.
He didn't understand. If his father were willing to plead for him, he might be able to get out of the Imperial Kitchen. But why wouldn't his father? Even if Ertai performed a great service, he was no longer considered a member of the Fu family and had no connection with them. Wouldn't the Fu family's future glory still depend on him, Fu Erkang?
He went to see his mother, but she avoided the topic. He could only drift along aimlessly, nearing the end of his life.
*
Hall of Supreme Harmony
The Emperor was very pleased tonight and held a celebratory banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to celebrate their achievements.
The atmosphere was lively, with toasts and laughter filling the air. The singers and dancers in the center performed with great enthusiasm, creating an impression of peace and tranquility.
"This battle was fought so swiftly and decisively, which was something I had not anticipated! I raise this glass to you all." The Emperor began by warming up the atmosphere.
Who would dare disrespect the Emperor? They all stood up in unison, raised their wine cups, and drank it down in one gulp. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"This battle was fought brilliantly, and it has shown the Dzungars that our Great Qing is not to be trifled with. The fact that we were able to return to the capital so quickly is inseparable from the efforts of all of you." The Emperor spoke with righteous indignation and fervor.
The generals below were also moved to tears. Some of them had met the Emperor before, while others had never, but they never expected him to say such words. Their hearts felt as if a warm current had flowed into them.
"I am holding this victory banquet for you today to reward your merits," the Emperor said enthusiastically, bringing the banquet to a climax.
"Hailancha, listen to my decree! You have not disappointed me. You have defeated the Dzungars so quickly. I hereby appoint you as General Jianwei and award you one hundred taels of gold," the Emperor said with a wave of his hand.
Hailancha loudly expressed his gratitude to the Emperor for his great favor. The generals present were all happy for Hailancha, seeing how much the Emperor cared for his general.
"Fu Kang'an, it was your father who gave you permission to go to the battlefield. If your father hadn't agreed, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to let you go," the Emperor teased. Fu Kang'an looked at his father with emotion.
Fu Heng knew that his son had made a contribution, and he nodded to his son with satisfaction.
"I have heard of your valiant fighting in the Dzungar Khanate. Now I hereby appoint you as General Jiwei and award you one hundred taels of gold. I hope you will remain true to your original aspirations and continue to protect the Great Qing." The Emperor had hesitated for a long time before making this decision, so it was not an insult to him.
Fu Kang'an's eyes lit up upon hearing this. His greatest wish was to be able to fight on the battlefield again in the future, and he had worried that there wouldn't be another battle after this one. He never expected that the Emperor would understand him so well. Fu Kang'an was so moved that he couldn't express his gratitude in words.
Fuheng glanced at his son with disdain, then stood up from his seat and joined his son in loudly thanking the Emperor for his grace. After all, this was an honor for their Fucha family.
Many officials stood by, congratulating Fuheng, who accepted their greetings one by one, and drank cup after cup of wine. In his joy, Fuheng didn't restrain himself.
Some people genuinely admired them, while others were sullen with envy. After all, the Fucha family had produced many generals. Especially Fuheng, the father and son had both risen to prominence. They couldn't help but think of their own good-for-nothing son, feeling a mix of emotions—a day filled with both resentment and envy for others.
"After hearing Hailancha's description, I, Fu'ertai, found you to be incredibly brave and valiant in battle, even risking your life to lure the enemy deep into your territory. This spirit is worthy of emulation by all generals. I also heard you were injured; have you recovered yet?" Before saying his last words, the Emperor glanced at Anke.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but I am already well." Fu'ertai was completely bewildered. No matter how great his achievements were, why would the Emperor inquire about his health?
Your Majesty: If An'an hadn't been worried, do you think I would have asked you this? On the battlefield, swords have no eyes, and getting injured is normal. Who cares?
"Very well, very well. Fu'ertai, with a small force, launched a proactive attack and decisively defeated the reinforcements of the Dzungars, achieving numerous merits. I hereby appoint you as General of Martial Merit, grant you a mansion, and award you one hundred taels of gold. Furthermore, I hereby grant you another decree: you are free to marry. If you find someone you love, I will directly issue an imperial decree to grant you marriage." The Emperor had truly gone to great lengths for them, knowing that Fu'ertai had been extricated from the Fu family and that he had no home to live in.
To marry a princess, one must not only have a suitable status, but also a place to live.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Long live the Emperor!" Fu Ertai said from the bottom of his heart.
He now wanted to ask the Emperor for his hand in marriage directly, but he also knew that Prince Rui had returned to the capital, and he wouldn't make such a rash request without obtaining his father-in-law's consent.
Immediately afterwards, Fu Ertai returned to the table and inadvertently made eye contact with An Ke. The big dog seemed to have only An Ke in his eyes, and the love in his eyes was almost overflowing.
“There’s one more,” the Emperor thought hard, “who is Ji Chu?”
A tall, fair-skinned young man slowly stood up from the table.
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