Yan Ning was suddenly thrown aside by Fukang'an, and she lost her balance and fell to the ground. Her eyes blinked in shock.
Fukang'an approached her, looking down at her with an unprecedented chill in his voice. "Whoever inherits the throne in the future is none of my concern! My only duty is to protect the safety of the Qing Dynasty!" He then crouched down, pinching Yan Ning's chin. "Remember what I said! Don't get involved in these court intrigues!"
Ignoring the cold grass, Yan Ning knelt down and shouted at Fukang'an's departing figure, "Don't you care about the glory and status of the Fucha family either?" Thinking of the repeated suppression of the Fucha family by the Fifteenth Prince after his ascension to the throne, and the repeated demotion of Fukang'an's descendants' titles, she couldn't stand idly by and pretend not to know about these things.
In the darkness, Fukang'an's imposing figure halted. He turned and helped Yan Ning up, holding her in his arms. "I, Fukang'an, am willing to fight for the Qing Dynasty to the death. Only by remaining aloof can I protect the honor and safety of the Fucha family. Do you understand? You are my woman, Fukang'an's woman, and you must also remain aloof and not get involved."
Under the pale moonlight, Yan Ning smoothed the wrinkles between Fukang'an's brows with her hand. From Fukang'an's expression, Yan Ning understood. In his heart, there was not disgust for the Emperor, but rather the sonly reverence he had held for his father since childhood. It was only when this reverence was repeatedly questioned that he was in such pain.
She smiled at him and nodded. In her heart, however, she vowed to resolve the misunderstanding between them, otherwise Fukang'an's lifelong military achievements would be questioned by the Emperor, and even by the future Fifteenth Prince who would ascend the throne.
As the campfire was extinguished, gusts of wind blew up ashes, blurring Yan Ning's vision.
The emperor's yurt was surrounded by layers of imperial guards, like an impenetrable net, which firmly imprisoned the emperor under the lamplight.
At this moment, Yan Ning realized that the Forbidden City was not a palace fixed in the capital. It was a mobile cage, following the emperor wherever he went, imprisoning the emperor and his entourage, from princes and ministers to ordinary people, within its walls.
The Eighth Prince, patrolling with his guards, saw Yan Ning standing outside looking dejected. He snorted coldly and walked past her. His eyes were filled with overflowing hatred, which made Yan Ning tremble.
The Emperor was advanced in years, and his visit was primarily to comfort the ethnic minority tribes on the border. Therefore, he did not go out hunting all day, but instead waited for the hunting generals and princes to return at dusk, and then he would enjoy himself with them around the campfire.
A few days later, Yan Ning received the chestnut cake from the tray brought by Wu Shulai. The Emperor did not look up, his eyes still fixed on the memorial in his hands. Although far from the capital, memorials continued to arrive from the capital every day.
Sometimes, the emperor would sit and review memorials for days and nights on end. The red candle flames remained upright and lifeless after the eunuchs repeatedly trimmed the slightly tilted wicks.
As Yan Ning watched the tea in the teacup grow stronger and stronger, and the Emperor's seated figure like a stone statue, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
Looking up and meeting Wu Shulai's equally distressed expression, Yan Ning put her foot back down. "This servant heard from Eunuch Wu that His Majesty's horsemanship and archery skills are unmatched. But we've been here for so many days, and His Majesty has only been here reviewing memorials. Isn't this a waste of the trip to the Mulan Hunting Grounds!"
When Wu Shulai saw Yan Ning speak before the Emperor, he was both afraid and pleased. Having served the Emperor for so many years, he knew that the Emperor disliked it most when others spoke while he was reviewing memorials. Therefore, for decades, serving tea and meals had always been done quietly.
Yan Ning's words not only stunned the Emperor on the spot, but also stunned the servants such as Wu Shulai.
If the yurt was tranquil before, it is now completely silent.
Yan Ning was completely unaware that she had committed a crime, and still spoke gracefully: "Although Your Majesty claims to be an old man who is nearly seventy years old, I don't think so. I see you as a general who is about to go to the battlefield every day, full of vigor and spirit!"
"Ha ha ha ha······"
The emperor burst into laughter, and Wu Shulai, who had been observing the emperor's expression, immediately ordered his apprentice to fetch the emperor's hunting robes.
The Emperor looked up, his face deepening with wrinkles, a smile overflowing from him. "Truly, people from different families speak like that! If you were to marry a blacksmith someday, wouldn't I be like Guan Yu, red-faced and sullen, standing before the furnace!"
Yan Ning could tell that although the Emperor's words carried anger, his smile grew wider, and she secretly scolded herself for not knowing how to flatter. She stuck out her tongue, secretly relieved that her rough and unreasonable words hadn't angered the Emperor.
"Wu Shulai!" The Emperor put down the memorial, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up.
Wu Shulai hurriedly stepped forward, "This servant has prepared everything for you, Your Majesty, please proceed!"
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction at Wu Shulai and strode forward.
Yan Ning followed behind the Emperor and clapped for Wu Shulai. Although Wu Shulai did not understand Yan Ning's meaning, he still nodded to her, indicating that she had done a good job.
On the boundless green lawn, attendants were busy at work. Fukang'an, dressed in armor and holding a sword, stood by the emperor's side.
Dressed in civilian clothes, the Emperor mounted his horse and said to Fukang'an, who was about to mount, "It's been a long time since I've hunted with you. Go change out of your armor and come with me." Then, as if afraid Fukang'an would refuse, the Emperor pointed his whip at Yan Ning, "Didn't you want to see my riding and archery skills? Go change into men's gear and come along!"
Overjoyed, Yan Ning, who was eager to ease the tension between the Emperor and Fukang'an, curtsied to the Emperor and ran back to her yurt.
Fukang'an watched Yan Ning run off into the distance, unwilling to accept it, yet he walked towards the yurt. The armor on his body clanged like metal.
Once outside, Yan Ning realized she couldn't ride a horse and looked at the Emperor with an innocent expression. "This servant can't ride a horse!"
Knowing Yan Ning's intentions, Fukang'an mounted his horse with a smile on his face. He felt helpless at her overestimation of her abilities, but was angry at her for making decisions on her own and ignoring his advice.
The Emperor casually pointed to a guard and said, "Go and fetch her horse!"
Yan Ning looked at the Emperor riding his horse at full speed and couldn't believe she could think of him as an old man nearing seventy.
Her horse was led by the emperor's guards, which was a great honor, but as she watched the emperor and Fukang'an gradually walk away from her, Yan Ning wanted to cry but had no tears. The emperor's permission for her to follow was useless.
The two figures receded further and further from Yan Ning's sight, becoming a tiny black dot on the grassland.
Just as Yan Ning was scolding the guards beside her for walking too slowly, a series of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.
"Whoa!"
Heshen, who had caught up with Yan Ning on horseback, tightened the reins and looked at her with a smile as bright as a crescent moon.
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