As Kangxi's figure receded into the distance, Youqing's stomach suddenly stirred, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She touched her belly and said, "Don't worry, I'll come back." Emperor Kangxi was the longest-reigning emperor in history, so he wouldn't die so easily.
But she still couldn't help worrying.
She's already here; history has already changed, and things on the battlefield are hard to predict.
If possible, Youqing would like to give the system to Kangxi to use first, but it's not possible. Youqing does want to go there, but her belly is getting bigger and bigger, so it's impossible for her to go with the army.
Youqing could only wait anxiously in the manor.
This time, Emperor Kangxi personally led the expedition, accompanied by his eldest and third sons. The crown prince, along with officials from the Ministry of Revenue, was in charge of the provisions. All three parties were hoping to gain merit in this war and thus secure their position in the court.
Kangxi left after the first month of the lunar calendar, and now it has been three months since then. He has been on the expedition for two months. Although no bad news has come back, every message that has been sent back is alarming.
"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived."
Youqing quickly said, "The letter, let me see it."
As a result, Youqing opened and read the letter in Chengying's hand.
In the letter, Kangxi mentioned the war situation and said everything was fine. The remaining several pages were filled with instructions for her to take care of her health and herself.
Youqing knew he was alright, so she wrote back to him, but she didn't know when the letter would reach him.
Another month passed, and Youqing was eight months pregnant. It was the most important time to be careful, and she needed someone to support her as she took each step.
Youqing felt it was unnecessary, after all, she knew her own body perfectly well, but she couldn't go against Sangzhu and Chengying's wishes, and they made it seem like they were pregnant when she was pregnant.
After dinner, while it was still bright outside, Youqing took her usual walk in the courtyard. Suddenly, she felt a tightness in her chest, as if something had covered her, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
Seeing Youqing suddenly frown, Sangzhu quickly asked, "Master, are you alright?"
Youqing shook her head, only uttering a brief silence: "It's nothing."
"How about I help you to the pavilion to rest for a while?"
"Alright."
Sitting in the pavilion, Youqing was restless and looked preoccupied.
"My lady, should I go and fetch the imperial physician? I see you are not feeling well."
Youqing shook her head: "No need, I just feel a little stuffy, I'm fine."
Sangzhu was still worried, and kept a close eye on her, afraid that something might happen to her.
Youqing asked the system, "Why did I suddenly feel chest tightness just now?"
System: "I don't know either. Maybe you're just too nervous. Isn't that normal for pregnant women?"
Youqing sensed something was wrong and grew increasingly panicked, but she couldn't say anything.
That evening, Sangzhu, still worried, planned to invite the imperial physician over.
Cheng Ying: "What are you rushing off to?"
Sangzhu: "When I was taking a walk in the evening, I noticed that my master was not quite right, so I went to ask the imperial physician to come and take a look."
Cheng Ying frowned: "Then go quickly."
Sangzhu immediately ran out.
The imperial physician arrived shortly afterward. In order to allow her to have a proper pregnancy, Emperor Kangxi arranged for the physician to stay at Youqing's estate, just for her convenience.
Youqing wasn't surprised to see the imperial physician who came in with Sangzhu, but since the physician meant well, Youqing didn't refuse.
The imperial physician took her pulse and after a while said, "Your Majesty's health is fine, but she seems a little restless. Just rest well and relax."
Upon hearing that Sangzhu was agitated, she pressed him for details, asking, "Do you need to take your medicine?"
The imperial physician shook his head: "All medicines have some toxicity. Her Majesty is in good health and just needs to rest well."
After seeing the imperial physician off, Sangzhu comforted him, saying, "His Majesty is personally leading the expedition with elite troops and generals. He will surely return safely, so Your Majesty need not worry."
Youqing nodded, but she still felt a little uneasy, as if something was about to happen, and this feeling was very unpleasant.
In the middle of the night, Youqing was awakened by a nightmare.
In the dream, Kangxi's clothes were stained crimson with blood, making it impossible to discern their original color. He was surrounded by his own people, but there were even more people surrounding him.
Then she saw more and more wounds on Kangxi's body, and one by one the people around him fell down, until finally he also fell into a pool of blood.
Youqing was breathing heavily, her forehead covered with glistening beads of sweat. Chengying, who was on night watch, immediately stood up upon hearing the commotion: "Master, this servant will go and fetch the imperial physician right away."
Youqing: "No need, I just had a nightmare."
Cheng Ying was still worried, so the imperial physician finally came.
Nothing serious, but I'm still feeling uneasy.
Lying down again, Youqing couldn't help but ask the system, "Could something really have happened to Kangxi?"
Historically, Emperor Kangxi returned safely from several personal military campaigns, but the history of the Qing Dynasty has changed drastically, and she was genuinely afraid something might happen to him.
System: "I can't say for sure. Your existence has already changed the original course of history. As for whether Kangxi can remain safe, that depends on his abilities."
"I'm pregnant, can't you even comfort me?"
"The system has no program to comfort people."
...
Two more days passed, and Youqing was still restless. She would occasionally have nightmares, the content of which could be summarized as 108 ways to die on the battlefield during the Kangxi era.
Youqing was eating dinner. Because of her restless state of mind, she had a poor appetite these past few days and felt full after only a few bites.
Before I could even put down my chopsticks, I heard a noise coming from outside.
Youqing asked, "What happened?"
Cheng Ying came in, her face looking rather pale, but she didn't dare to speak.
A bad feeling welled up in Youqing's heart.
"Speak quickly."
She felt it must be something that happened to Emperor Kangxi, otherwise Chengying wouldn't have acted this way.
Then Cheng Ying said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty... His Majesty has contracted malaria and fell ill on his way back to the capital."
Youqing was taken aback. Malaria?
Kangxi's personal campaign against the Dzungars was very successful. The musket troops caught the Dzungars off guard, and the mother-and-child cannons were invincible, leaving the Dzungars caught off guard.
The Dzungars were not unprepared, but they underestimated the power of Kangxi's musket troops and the mother-and-child cannons.
This battle taught the Dzungars what it meant to be utterly routed; the Dzungars were defeated and surrendered.
Everything was almost over, and Emperor Kangxi was returning to the capital when he suddenly contracted malaria on the way. Given the weather and the fact that he was on a military campaign, this was quite possible.
Malaria was a deadly disease in ancient times. Kangxi's condition worsened, and he had intermittent fevers. By the time the news reached Youqing, Kangxi had already been ill for several days.
"Chengying, prepare the carriage."
Cheng Ying was startled upon hearing this and immediately realized what she was about to do. She quickly advised, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed. You are already eight months pregnant and should not travel long distances. His Majesty is a lucky man and nothing will happen to him. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."
Youqing knew that eight months was a critical time, but Kangxi couldn't wait; malaria could be fatal if not handled carefully.
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