After Liao Yanzhi and his entourage, along with the army sent by Qi County to protect the emperor, left Wutai Mountain in a grand procession, several riders on black horses, along with a carriage covered in blue oilcloth, quietly departed from a mountain road behind Wutai Mountain.
Emperor Kangxi and his personal eunuch Liang Jiugong sat in this carriage covered with blue oilcloth. They were surrounded by his son and several guards, including Qin Gang, as well as more than fifteen guards who followed the Fourth Prince, the Tenth Prince, and the Fourteenth Prince, including Xiniu, who was dressed as a woman.
The Tenth Prince, accompanied by Xi Niu dressed as a man, rode ahead on horseback with several guards; the Tenth Prince and his guards followed on either side of Kangxi's carriage; the Fourth Prince and Qin Gang brought up the rear.
The mountain path was uneven, and after riding for a while, one felt dizzy from the jolting. For those like the Fourth Prince who had practiced riding and archery since childhood, it was still bearable. Emperor Kangxi, who was in the carriage, had also practiced riding and archery since childhood, but the bumpy mountain road made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty, why don't we let those outside stop and rest? This mountain road is really quite bumpy." Liang Jiugong, despite his old age, was also feeling a bit uncomfortable, but since the emperor hadn't complained, he didn't dare say anything more.
Emperor Kangxi was listening quietly to the birdsong in the mountains with his eyes closed. Although the ride was a bit bumpy, the air was so fresh on such a quiet path, it was truly a pleasure.
"Your old bones can't take it anymore! Fine, make them stop, I need to relieve myself," Kangxi said. His heart was heavy. Master Xingchi might still be alive, but to eliminate his worries, he had ended his life by self-immolation.
After Liang Jiugong signaled the carriage to stop, everyone else also stopped their horses.
"Your Majesty, let them follow you." Liang Jiugong gestured for two guards to follow and protect Kangxi.
"No need, you can just come with me. What danger could there be in the middle of nowhere?" Kangxi waved his hand and said.
"But Your Majesty, someone needs to shield you from the wind!" Liang Jiugong said in surprise. Emperor Kangxi used to be very particular about these things. Why has he become less so after coming down from Mount Wutai?
"It's just urinating, there's no need to block it. Let's go, stop arguing," Kangxi said.
The two walked into the bushes, and Kangxi gestured for them to go a little further in. The Fourth Prince and Qin Gang, who had been waiting behind Kangxi's carriage, now held the horse and stood still.
"Fourth Prince, I'm still unsure whether we can safely escort His Majesty back to the capital. I don't understand why His Majesty insists on this journey. Actually, I only feel a little more at ease with the guards escorting him," Qin Gang said.
"Father is feeling unwell, but he won't let you know why. Just be on your guard and avoid being seen, and you'll be fine," said the Fourth Prince.
Meanwhile, Xi Niu and the Fourteenth Prince stood in front for a long time, but still did not see Kangxi come out. So Xi Niu jumped off her horse. The Fourteenth Prince followed suit and dismounted behind Xi Niu.
"Are you tired?" Fourteen asked considerately.
"Hmm, a little. Why didn't the chief constable take the main road? Why did he take this narrow path?" Xi Niu touched the water bottle hanging under the horse's neck, unscrewed the cap, and took a small sip.
"The chief constable was merely momentarily captivated by the scenery of these mountains and fields," said Fourteen.
"Fourteen, here. I need to use the restroom, don't follow me!" Xi Niu tossed the water bottle to Fourteen, then winked at him before turning and walking into the bushes ahead.
After a while, Kangxi and his servants still hadn't returned. The Fourth Prince and Qin Gang exchanged a glance, then quickly dismounted and headed in the direction Kangxi had gone.
"Fourth Brother, what's wrong?" Tenth Master asked as he saw Fourth Master and Qin Gang walking in that direction.
“Go find the master!” Fourth Master replied.
After the Fourth Prince and Qin Gang walked around inside and looked around, they did not see Emperor Kangxi and his servants.
"Go, quickly send them over to find us!" Fourth Master said coldly.
Qin Gang panicked and quickly said, "Fourth Prince, please go back and call for help. I'll continue searching for the old man over there!"
Fourth Master nodded, then immediately turned around and walked back to call for help to find the person.
"Tenth Prince, Fourteenth Prince, come here!" Fourth Prince stepped out of the bushes and beckoned to Tenth Prince, Fourteenth Prince, and the guards.
"Fourth Brother, what's wrong?" the Tenth Brother hurriedly came over and asked.
"We can't find the old man! Quick, everyone go and look for him!" Fourth Master shouted.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Fourth Master in surprise.
"What are you still standing there for? Go find him!" Fourth Prince suddenly sounded a little hesitant. Normally, Kangxi wouldn't have gone far, much less disappear without a word.
Everyone immediately followed Fourth Master to search for her. Fourteenth Master suddenly remembered that Xiniu had not returned yet, so he turned around and looked anxiously, searching for Xiniu's figure, but where could he find her?
When the thirteen people reached the place where Kangxi disappeared, they were divided into four teams by the Fourth Prince to search from four directions.
"Fourth Prince, come here quickly!" Qin Gang's voice suddenly rang out from the front.
Fourth Master and the others rushed over and saw Qin Gang standing in front of a big tree, looking down with a thick branch in his hand.
"What's wrong?" Fourth Master and the others rushed over.
"There's emptiness below this place. What if the old man falls down from here?" Qin Gang looked down and saw what appeared to be a bottomless abyss.
"Impossible!" Fourth Master grabbed the tree trunk and looked down. Sure enough, it was an extremely hidden and dangerous cliff. If you didn't look down like that, no one could see what was below.
"It's so high, what would happen if someone fell down?!" Tenth Master said, trembling.
"Impossible, how could two people fall down together?" Fourteen said in disbelief.
"Fourteenth Prince is right. Father Emperor is blessed with great fortune; he couldn't have fallen from here. He must be somewhere else. Go find him quickly!" Fourth Prince said.
"What are you all doing?" A calm yet firm voice rang out from behind the group.
It was Kangxi and Liang Jiugong who had just come out from the other side when they saw a crowd gathered at the edge of the cliff.
"Father, where have you been? We rushed over here and couldn't find you. We were worried something had happened to you!" the Fourth Prince said hurriedly. Everyone was relieved. If something had happened to Kangxi, they wouldn't know how to face the situation.
“There’s a beautiful sea of flowers over there, but we just went to take a look. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” Kangxi said. Then he took Liang Jiugong’s hand and walked toward the carriage.
The others followed behind, heading towards the carriage. Once they had all returned, they found Xi Niu alone, who, seeing them all come out, exclaimed in surprise, "Did you all go to the toilet? I thought you'd abandoned me and left!"
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