Chapter 70 After Marriage
The thirteenth year of Kangxi
Emperor Kangxi, who ascended the throne at the age of thirteen and began ruling in his own right at seventeen, made his first trip to the south of the Yangtze River at the age of twenty-six.
A long procession finally arrived in the prosperous Jiangnan region after more than a month, following the official road. The imperial guards escorting the emperor surrounded his carriage in layers. Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard more than ten kilometers away, the twenty-six-year-old emperor sat idly, clinging to a woman's waist, muttering softly, "You never come to see your son. I miss you so much, Mother, that I had no choice but to come and see you." He seemed completely oblivious to the murderous intent emanating from his father's gaze behind him.
Galo chuckled, hugging her son and ruffling his fluffy head. She and Fulin left the capital when Xuan Ye was fifteen, appointing him as a regent and then departing. Now, Xuan Ye is the father of several children. His former biological mother is now the Empress Dowager, spending her days happily with her grandchildren, enjoying her retirement at a young age.
Galo did not give birth to any children. At first, she thought it was because her body was not suitable for having children. But later she found out that Fulin was afraid that she would miscarry or have any mishaps. It turned out that she was taking contraceptive medicine every day.
"Alright, alright, your mother is very happy to see you. The weather is chilly today, so your father and I are going to have hot pot. You should stay too."
Xuan Ye happily agreed, completely ignoring his father's cold snort from the side.
Fu Lin: "......."
If only he had stayed in Khorchin with Jialuo for a few more months! If it weren't for those damned shirtless men on horseback, would he have left in such a hurry? He had just escaped those uncouth savages, and before he could even properly spend some time with his wife in Jiangnan, he encountered this burden who should have been in the Forbidden City. Fulin was extremely unhappy, but seeing Jialuo's smiling face, he ultimately didn't utter the words of expulsion to his son.
Even as night fell, holding the tender woman in his arms, he could not suppress the bitterness in his heart.
“New Sal, look at me.”
Galo was exhausted and only wanted to sleep. She didn't want to look at him at all, so she gave him a perfunctory glance and prepared to go to sleep.
Fu Lin refused, pinching her lips and kissing her repeatedly. It didn't hurt, but he just couldn't let her fall asleep.
Annoyed by him to no end, Galo finally opened her sleepy eyes, propped herself up against his chest, and looked up at him. The man was still handsome, but time had softened his features, making him more mature and giving him a more composed charm. His long, narrow, upturned phoenix eyes were like ink strokes, with a hint of red at the corners, adding a touch of ambiguity.
A slight stirring in Galo's heart caused her deep sleepiness to recede like a receding tide. Her slightly flushed and warm fingertips gently caressed the corners of the man's eyes and the bridge of his straight nose. Then, just as her fingers touched his lips, they were gently taken into his mouth, warm and moist. Her heart, too, felt a moistness.
"Kiss me."
"Galo said in a low voice."
Fu Lin released her fingers and steadied her lips as she offered them. The curtains slowly fell, the red candles burned out and dripped, filling the room with the warmth of spring, their love unwavering, as it had been for ten years.
………
“When the Emperor Emeritus comes, you all need to be careful. Even though he is your brother-in-law, he is still the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.” Wu Keshan’s hair was now gray, and his face bore the deep marks of age, but his eyes were still bright, and his face was full of smiles.
The Benbaqi brothers now have their own tribes and rarely get together. They all gathered at Abu's yurt that afternoon after hearing that their sister and the Emperor Emeritus were coming to Khorchin. Aside from Basa, his relationship with Anglama was the closest. When Anglama was transported back to Khorchin, he had cut his arm with a knife, declaring he would sever all ties with the noble Qing Empress. His absence now was therefore understandable.
Wu Keshan did not force his children to be harmonious, and he did not say anything when his son did not come. When the Grand Queen Consort heard about this, she just sneered and then led her subordinates to the place where Angrama was buried, saying that she wanted to sweep the grave and recite scriptures for her daughter.
At this moment, Galo led Fulin on horseback, traveling all the way to the official road. When they reached the edge of the Horqin Grassland, Galo's originally excited mood became more and more peaceful.
At this moment, inside a post station, Galo, whip in hand, leaned casually against the railing, gazing wistfully at the boundless grasslands in the distance. Fulin, now middle-aged, was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark indigo robe with subtle bamboo-patterned embroidery and a six-sided hat. His thick, sword-like eyebrows and slightly upturned phoenix eyes exuded an innate imperial aura. His gaze had been fixed on the graceful figure leaning against the railing since he ascended the stairs. Following the direction the woman looked up, he gazed at the distant grasslands. They had chosen the perfect time to arrive; it was July, the grass lush and green, teeming with cattle and sheep.
"What are you thinking about?"
Galo turned her head and glanced at the man, her expression softening. "I was wondering if my older brothers and sisters at home still welcome me."
Fu Lin understood. He stepped forward and, with a natural yet somewhat forceful air, put his arm around the woman's waist, giving it a light but firm squeeze. "Your Abu is a prince. If he can raise a daughter like you, his son will naturally be sensible too." "Your sister Gaowa is now living harmoniously with Boguor. Does she treat you any differently now than before?"
Galo was taken aback and sighed softly. Every time the Khorchin paid tribute, her brothers and sisters would give her more and more things. Some of her sisters initially distanced themselves from her, but after she arranged good marriages for her nephews and nieces, they gradually returned to their former relationship.
"I'm afraid Mother still won't see me."
Fulin still harbored a very bad impression of this unreasonable Grand Consort. However, he couldn't say it directly, so he gave a cold laugh and said indifferently, "What does she care? Your mother has been unkind to you ever since she gave birth to you, and later, for that ungrateful fifth daughter, she even tried to take your life." Fulin's brows were furrowed with deep disgust. "She actually dared to try to kill you, control my harem, and sow discord between me and my mother; this alone is a capital offense."
Galo naturally knew how much Fulin hated his mother, and she didn't really have much motherly affection for her anymore. But now, as she approached her hometown, she felt apprehensive and remembered the tears her mother shed when she was about to marry someone else before she married Fulin.
"never mind…"
The past cannot be changed. The best that can be achieved now is for her and her mother to live peacefully. She looked up at the man, whose expression still held a hint of resentment. Jialuo found it amusing; ever since he was no longer emperor, Fulin had become increasingly open about his emotions. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. Sure enough, the man forgot everything else and immediately pulled her close, about to kiss her.
Just then, a guard's angry shout rang out from outside the post station: "Who goes there?!"
Galo subconsciously turned her head, and the man's kiss immediately landed on the corner of her mouth.
"You're not paying attention."
The man muttered something unpleasantly.
Galo's expression changed. He quickly released the man and ran downstairs. Sure enough, as soon as he got downstairs, he heard several men with blood all over their heads stop on horseback outside the guards' perimeter. Then, a man being carried by the horse slid down the stairs with the help of the men.
"elder brother!"
Galo ordered his guards to step aside and rushed to the front of the man, whose life was uncertain and who was covered in blood. The man was tall, with a large, clean wound on his abdomen, his waist still tightly wrapped in his clothes. The strong stench of blood filled the air.
Fulin arrived with his accompanying imperial physician. The physician's expression changed upon seeing the wound; he quickly ordered a clean room prepared and closed the door. Jialuo dared not disturb the physician and stood guard at the door, her heart pounding and her body trembling. She had just seen not only the incision that had almost completely severed her abdomen, but also a large section of intestine wrapped in clothing. In this era, even a small bacterial infection could kill her fourth brother.
She stood frozen at the doorway, while Fu Lin asked one of his subordinates, whose wound was minor, how he had been injured. Just as Galo had predicted, it was because of a dispute with another tribe over water and grass. The two tribal leaders had then engaged in a duel. Life or death were irrelevant, and revenge was out of the question.
By evening, Galo still couldn't eat. Fu Lin fed her by hand and coaxed her. Galo knew he meant well, but she just couldn't eat.
"New Sarri!"
Suddenly, a man's shout came from afar. The voice was bright and resonant. Galo was startled and looked at the man with some suspicion. The man slightly curved his lips and fed her the beef from the spoon again. This time, Galo swallowed it casually, her heart suddenly feeling as if something was tightly squeezing it—anticipation mixed with panic. She quickly got up and ran towards the door.
"Brother!" "Abu!!!"
A group of people rode in from afar; it was none other than Wu Keshan and Benbaqi.
"New Sari." Before Benbazima had even come to a complete stop, he leaped down and scooped up his sister in his arms. Just like when they were little, he spun her around a few times. The two siblings were very close, and for a moment they were overjoyed.
Wu Keshan walked to the front and bowed to Fulin, who had followed him out. Fulin took two steps forward, took his arm, and told him not to bow. "Father-in-law, there's no need for that. I am no longer the emperor."
Galo took her brother's hand and followed him over. Benbaqi released his sister's hand and was about to bow to Fulin as well. Fulin naturally helped her up. "We're all family, no need for formalities."
The group walked further into the post station. Wu Keshan looked at the tightly closed door, which opened slightly after a while, revealing basin after basin of bloody water. Benbaqi couldn't contain his temper and whispered to Galo, "That's how Basa is. Abudu told him not to fight with the Yehe tribe. That's the border between the two tribes. The Yehe tribe's cattle and horses suffered from plague in the first half of the month, and they don't have enough water and grass. They'll definitely do whatever it takes to seize it. Tell him not to force them."
Galo glanced at Abu and replied in a low voice, "Brother, you know Fourth Brother. In the past, the Yehe tribe fought with him for Sister Suiyue, which led to Sister Suiyue... He naturally wouldn't let the Yehe tribe take the waterweed away from him."
Upon hearing this, Benbazi sighed and remained silent.
………
The imperial physician finally left the house the following morning, saying that if he didn't have a high fever for the next two weeks, he would recover. Galo and Benbaqi, the siblings, took turns watching over him. Then one morning, the man on the bed slowly opened his eyes. Galo was immediately excited and was about to rush forward when she suddenly heard the man murmur softly.
"Fifth Sister..." "Suiyue..."
Galo was taken aback, then stopped and quietly went out the door.
"What's wrong?" Fu Lin sat outside the door, propping his forehead up with his hand. Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes. Every time Galo took her night watch, Fu Lin would sit at the door waiting for her.
"Fourth brother is awake."
Fu Lin stood up, his gaze heavy as he looked at her, neither confirming nor denying. He didn't ask why she wasn't in the room talking to her brother, nor why there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes despite her happiness. He simply took her hand and led her to breakfast. Meanwhile, the quick-witted security guard had already relayed the message to Wu Keshan and Benbaqi.
After having breakfast, Galo suddenly said to Fulin, "How about we ride back to Khorchin first?"
Fu Lin naturally let her do as she pleased.
………
Inside the post station, Basa looked displeased. Benbazi was about to say something when he heard the security guard rush in from outside and whisper to Wu Keshan, who was sitting on the couch to the side, "The Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager said that since the Fourth Prince is well, they will not delay any longer and will return to Khorchin first."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent. Ben Bazi sneered and left. Basa, lying on the bed, remained unreadable. After a while, knowing Basa had taken the medicine, Wu Keshan sighed and said, "What do you think your sister meant to you?" "Angrama wanted her dead, and it's understandable that the Emperor killed Angrama for Xin Sa Ri." "Xin Sa Ri saving you wasn't her way of atoning for something, was it?" "Simply because you're her brother."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Keshan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Take good care of your injuries." Then he left. Only he and the two imperial physicians remained in the room. Basa sat blankly on the bed, saying nothing.
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