Fu Erkang was dragged out of Cining Palace before he remembered to call for the Emperor. Xiao Luzi happened to come out and saw Fu Erkang about to shout. Xiao Luzi quickly ordered the eunuch next to him, "Quickly gag him so as not to disturb or offend the nobleman."
The eunuch, head bowed, quickly gagged him. Only then was Fu Erkang dragged away safely.
Fu Erkang stared wide-eyed, filled with resentment. This couldn't be right. He had once been a illustrious imperial bodyguard, the eldest son of the prestigious Fu family. How could he be forced to work in a place like the imperial kitchen? Fu Erkang felt this was an insult to his body and soul. He was unwilling and resentful, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
Furen watched as Fu Erkang was dragged away, closed his eyes briefly, and thought, "So be it. It's all his fate. It's good enough that he's alive."
"Consort Ling," the Emperor looked at Consort Ling with disappointment, even though Consort Ling couldn't stop shaking her head, "Although I don't know if you were involved in this matter, you were the one who released Xiao Yanzi from the palace today. You are hereby demoted to the rank of Consort, fined three months' salary, and confined to the palace for one month."
Consort Ling slumped to the ground, utterly dejected, her eyes vacant and lifeless. Only one thought echoed in her mind: It's over, completely over. She had climbed step by step to her current position, only to fall from her rank because of this trivial matter.
Seeing her mistress in such a state, Consort Ling's maid felt as if her heart was being torn apart. But now was not the time to grieve, so she hurriedly helped Consort Ling up—no, she should now be called Consort Ling.
After Xiao Yanzi was beaten with a board, she was dragged and thrown into the Imperial Clan Court.
Fortunately, Xiao Yanzi was still locked up with Ziwei. When Xiao Yanzi was thrown back like a dead fish, Ziwei quickly caught her. However, the impact was too great, and Xiao Yanzi directly pushed Ziwei down onto the haystack.
Ziwei, disregarding her own safety, quickly turned Xiaoyanzi over. Xiaoyanzi unconsciously groaned in pain, after all, she had just been spanked. But making her lie face down wasn't practical, since her mouth was still open.
Ziwei touched Xiaoyanzi's forehead and found it was unusually hot. Ziwei panicked; Xiaoyanzi absolutely couldn't have a fever at this time. Ziwei slowly moved to the door and pounded on the prison door with both hands.
"Help! Help!" Ziwei, no longer caring about her composure, shouted loudly, "Is anyone there?"
Fortunately, shouting worked. A guard came over, cursing and spitting. "What are you doing? You're locked up here, and you still won't behave?"
The guard had a very bad temper because he had just lost a rock-paper-scissors game to the other guards and was forced to come over.
Ziwei didn't care about anything else and hurriedly grabbed the prison door. "Is there any water? Xiaoyanzi has a high fever. She's still Princess Huanzhu, after all. We can't let something happen to her in the Imperial Clan Court. If something happens to her there, you'll all be in deep trouble." This was the first time Ziwei had used her power to suppress someone.
The guard was unaware of what had happened at Cining Palace, and at first glance, Ziwei's words seemed quite alarming. In his panic, the guard grabbed a copper basin filled with cold water and a clean handkerchief.
“Then,” the guard opened the cell door and stuffed the copper basin inside, “this is the medicine we use. No imperial physicians will come to the Imperial Clan Court to treat patients now.” He also threw in the fever reducers they used to use.
Ziwei glanced gratefully at the guard, then hurriedly used a cold handkerchief to cool Xiaoyanzi down physically, silently praying to heaven that Xiaoyanzi wouldn't develop a high fever that night.
The first day passed peacefully. Although Xiao Yanzi was still unable to move on the second day, at least it wasn't as serious as the first day.
*
After all those who were to be taken away were taken away, the Cining Palace immediately fell silent.
The emperor was the first to take his leave, followed by the concubines.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager didn't seem to be in high spirits, An Ke tried her best to cheer her up. She and Qing'er even coaxed the Empress Dowager into eating two more bowls of food at dinner.
Just before going to bed, Saiya skipped and hopped to the Cining Palace. The three of them squeezed into Old Anke's bedchamber as before.
Saiya cut straight to the point, asking Anke what happened next. Anke answered truthfully, there was nothing to hide.
After hearing this, Saiya felt incredibly energetic, so excited she couldn't sleep. "So, Fu Erkang really was demoted to the imperial kitchen?"
“Yes,” Anke yawned. “It was probably because he made a big fuss in the imperial kitchen last time that he left a deep impression on the Emperor. Demoting him there is like breaking his pride.”
Saiya nodded knowingly. Although she didn't know much about Fu Erkang, his performance on the day of the martial arts competition showed that he was an extremely arrogant and conceited person. After enjoying the rest of the gossip, Saiya drifted off to sleep contentedly.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor read through memorials, unable to sleep all night.
The Fu family was devastated and wailed. When the Fujin saw that Fu Erkang was being carried back again and saw her husband looking dejected, she fainted.
When she woke up again, the master told her in detail about what happened at Cining Palace and warned her not to interfere. Even Consort Ling in the palace was implicated, so no one else could intervene.
The princess felt a deep despair, "But Ziwei is really the emperor's daughter, why did the emperor..."
"Shut up!" Fu Lun shouted sternly, "How can a mere woman like you comment on the Emperor's decision? The Emperor is hesitant to act for fear of consequences, given the previous incident with Xiao Yanzi. No matter what, the Emperor cannot simply accept Ziwei as his successor."
"Is this all there is to it?" The Princess Consort was still deeply unwilling. "Erkang has fallen all the way down from being a royal bodyguard to where he is now, forced to work in the imperial kitchen. How can someone as proud and arrogant as him tolerate this?"
"You have to endure it even if you can't bear it." Fu Lun looked coldly at the Fujin. "A doting mother spoils her son. It's time for him to suffer a bit. Let's not talk about this anymore. No one will care about the future of the Fu family."
*
The next day, the emperor, accompanied by his concubines, civil and military officials, went to the palace gate to bid farewell to the Mongol prince.
Since Saiya left, life seemed to have returned to its previous tranquility.
Qing'er would come to see An Ke from time to time, and the two of them would either embroider together or enjoy the scenery together.
Yongqi and Benjamin embarked on a long journey to investigate Ziwei's matter.
The peaceful life we enjoy today is only possible because someone is bearing the burden for us.
*
Junggar border
"Fu Kang'an, lead a small team to circle around from Huer Mountain and form an encirclement." Hailancha looked at the terrain on the sand table, pondering carefully how to fight next.
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." Fu Kang'an rubbed his hands together excitedly. These days, traveling with the army, he felt that his temperament was almost worn down.
Every time he wanted to charge forward, Hailancha would stop him. Hailancha always restrained him as his father's friend, but now that he was finally free to do so, he could finally show his skills.
"Foltai, you will lead 200 men to burn the enemy's supplies, cut off their reinforcements, and hold them back from further reinforcements." This was an extremely difficult task. Through his observation of the men over the past few days, Hailancha found that Foltai was the most composed and also very courageous.
This task is most suitable for him. Moreover, judging from the Emperor's words, he also hopes that Fu'ertai will achieve great merit in this battle. If so, if he is willing to risk his life to overcome this tough challenge, the credit for this great achievement will surely be awarded to him.
Hearing this, Voltaire was secretly delighted, but his face remained expressionless. No one knew that Voltaire was overjoyed inside.
Fu Kang'an glanced at Fu Ertai with sympathy. Cutting off their food and supply lines was not a big deal, but holding back their main reinforcements would not be an easy task either.
"Alright, you can go and make the arrangements now." Hailancha stared intently at the sand table in front of him. "We will launch the attack at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow. I hope we can return victorious this time."
These words stirred the hearts of Fu Ertai and Fu Kang'an, who both responded in unison, "Yes!"
Once outside the tent, Fu Kang'an bumped fists with Fu Ertai, saying, "Good brother, take care of yourself when we move on."
"You too, we'll have a good showdown after we get back to the capital," Fu Ertai replied with a smile.
Immediately afterward, the two went down to prepare: one to flank them from behind, and the other to cut off their reinforcements. They had to start making arrangements now.
Before setting off, Ertai clutched the purse he treasured tightly, inside which lay a small portrait of the princess and a lock of her hair. He kissed the purse tenderly, his hands gently rubbing it. Then he placed it against his heart.
Once outside the tent, Ertai was no longer the affectionate man he had been just moments before; he seemed to have donned a mask of icy indifference.
Fuertai selected 200 men from the army, who could be considered his personal guard. He had led this force since they first arrived and began fighting the Dzungars. They had developed a deep friendship, having been through thick and thin together.
"Tomorrow's battle is a must-win situation. We must not only cut off their supplies, but also hold back their main force. Anyone who is afraid should leave this group from now on," Fu Ertai said in a deep voice.
During this period of training, with the wind howling at the border, Fu Ertai's skin was no longer as smooth as it had been in the capital, and his appearance had become more rugged.
Having spent some time on the battlefield, witnessing countless battles, bloodshed, and death, Fu Ertai had become immune to it and was no longer surprised. However, this mission was extremely dangerous, and he couldn't let these people risk not returning by following him.
But he was determined to complete this mission, even at the cost of his life; after all, he needed to return and see his princess. However, some of these people had elderly parents and young children to support, and couldn't blindly follow him on this perilous journey.
After Fu Ertai finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. But after only half an incense stick's time, the crowd erupted in chatter again, each person chiming in with their own words.
"General Fu, why do you look down on us? Now that we've come here, we're here to follow you and stand with you through thick and thin."
"Yes, we've killed quite a few Dzungars these past few days while following the general. It's been worth it. Your subordinate is willing to follow the general to the death."
"We will advance and retreat together, and follow the general to the death!" The shouts of the crowd echoed throughout the mountain stream.
These calls struck a chord in Voltaire's heart. He felt deeply comforted and moved, and decided to rest well before marching at night.
We'll infiltrate behind them while they rest. We'll begin our operation tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), so let's conserve our energy now.
"Yes!" everyone responded, and then those who were supposed to eat began to eat, and those who were supposed to rest began to rest.
Fu Ertai silently walked to the earthen slope where he had always stood, gazing in the direction of the capital city he longed for.
"I didn't expect you to miss the capital so much?" About half an hour later, Fu Kang'an's teasing voice came from behind.
"We're all going to push forward, why aren't you resting yet?" Voltaire didn't turn around, he just asked casually.
Fu Kang'an wasn't annoyed by this, and jumped up the embankment alone. "You haven't rested either, have you?"
"I can't sleep, I'm a little excited," Voltaire said casually.
"Me too. These past few days, the Dzungars have been like snot that I can't shake off, sticky and disgusting. I've been looking forward to tomorrow's battle for a long time. I'm determined to teach them a lesson and show our military might." Fu Kang'an was always so spirited, and the boy's eyes were so bright that they seemed to shine even brighter than the stars in the sky.
“Then let’s agree that we must fight this battle well.” Fu Ertai estimated that the time was about right, walked down the slope, and called all 200 people to gather together.
Heading towards their agreed-upon location, not long after Fu Ertai left, Fu Kang'an also estimated that the time had come, so he had his men assemble and head towards their destination.
*
The next day at Chenshi
Hailancha led his main force to confront the attacking Junggar army head-on. Unlike the passive resistance at the beginning, they were like a tiger coming out of the mountains, unstoppable, and firmly pressed their "prey" under their claws.
As agreed, Fu Kang'an also attacked from behind. Jungar was caught in a dilemma, unable to break through from any direction, and could only fight head-on, pinning their hopes on reinforcements.
Fu Ertai had already burned the grain supplies early on, since he needed to put out the fire first. While they were still putting out the fire, Fu Ertai led his troops in an attack, catching them off guard and killing all the soldiers escorting the grain.
They then had some men put on Jungar military uniforms and clean up the scene again, while the rest of the men lay in ambush in various places according to the terrain.
When the follow-up troops wanted to provide support, they happened to see the supply corps traveling ahead and wanted to join them.
Unexpectedly, even their own people betrayed them, raising their knives to kill each other. Just then, a wave of enemy soldiers surged up from the nearby trees and the earthen slope.
But the Jungar are now overwhelmed, having to deal with both their own people who have betrayed them and the enemy. They are utterly exhausted.
However, within a quarter of an hour, those who needed to be killed had been killed, and the rest, having seen through the situation, all surrendered.
The main force in Hailancha also surrendered one after another without receiving further support.
This battle was brilliantly fought! This battle showcased our national power! This was a great victory! We can finally return home in triumph.
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