Chapter 120: Chapter 120

At the same time, inside the military tent, Hongxi lightly twirled a jade pendant in his hand with an enigmatic smile, glancing at someone who had grown increasingly silent. After a long pause, he finally spoke with a light chuckle:

"What, finally come back to your senses?"

"This servant deserves death!"

Guarding in a full uniform, Guwalgiya Zhaoshun immediately dropped to his knees, his body rigid as he spoke with mechanical precision: "Please punish this lowly one, Your Highness!"

"Enough! Zecheng, this temperament of yours..."

Truth be told, this man had been by his side for two or three years now, during which he'd seen his cousin sister numerous times...

Yet... Lowering his gaze to the stiffly kneeling figure, with this kind of personality where three strikes couldn't force out a fart, if not for today's quick reflexes and the careful way he'd held that little fox, Hongxi might never have noticed.

Let alone his cousin sister herself.

Under the dim lamplight, Hongxi's expression remained inscrutable. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke slowly:

"Reporting to Your Highness, this servant doesn't know either."

At first, he'd only thought her an exceptionally pretty little girl—His Highness's beloved cousin sister, a noble young lady who required careful treatment. By the time he realized it, his gaze had already become difficult to avert...

Thinking of that radiant person bright as the morning sun, Guard Guwalgiya instinctively lowered his head, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

How could anyone not like someone like the young lady? As far as he knew, among His Highness's retinue alone, those with intentions weren't limited to just him.

So what did His Highness mean by today's actions...

Zhaoshun unconsciously clenched his fists.

At least he has some brains, Hongxi thought as he took in the man's reactions, chuckling lightly:

"As far as this prince knows, over these past two years, no fewer than a dozen have inquired with Ninth Uncle. Yet you, Zecheng—a descendant of nobility after all—are truly content to remain obscure ?"

Not to mention distant examples, just take that Fuqa family's son—even after being disciplined by him and Ninth Uncle to such an extent, hasn't he become more determined the more he's thwarted?

Fool. Little does he know the more he jumps about, the more Ninth Uncle and the others will look down on him.

Hongxi inwardly scoffed.

Nobility? A nearly extinct noble family?

Guard Guwalgiya thought bitterly.

Apart from the insignificant title left by his father, even his own future remained uncertain. How could he dare aspire to such a bright moon?

Someone like the young lady should forever remain in her golden nobility.

Without further thought, Guwalgiya Zhaoshun made his decision almost instantly:

"This servant will follow Your Highness's instructions!"

"Think carefully. Taking this step—if successful, naturally brings fame and fortune, but if you fail..."

His answer came without hesitation: "This servant would die ten thousand deaths without regret."

At least he has some courage. After a long pause, Hongxi finally smiled. Only as Guwalgiya Zhaoshun was about to leave did he hear the quiet remark:

"This prince kindly reminds you—my little cousin sister has never liked using things others have touched since childhood."

After a stunned moment, realizing the implication, Guwalgiya Zhaoshun's face flushed crimson, and he nearly stumbled out of the tent in his awkwardness.

Only after the man's figure had completely disappeared did a scholar in blue robes slowly emerge from behind the screen.

"Your Highness, the Western Camp has long been Prince Zhi's territory. Though His Majesty has purged much over the years, their advantage remains. Guard Guwalgiya is after all your man, personally appointed by His Majesty. Sending him now would be like..."

Sending a lamb to the slaughter?

The scholar didn't voice the last four words, but the meaning was clear enough.

Though Guard Guwalgiya had lost both parents, his father General Guwalgiya had after all died saving the Emperor...

As if knowing what the other was thinking:

"If he lacks even this much courage, he should keep his little thoughts properly hidden and not offend others' eyes!"

Tapping a folding fan on the table, revealing its vivid riverside sunrise painting, Hongxi's tone remained as unfathomable as ever: "Besides, Boqing, through this campaign, we might glimpse at least thirty percent of Han Mafa's true intentions, no?"

True, Han Mafa had carefully instructed him these years, treating him generously everywhere, yet in earlier years had treated his own father even better, only to...

Precisely because of this, he must win this battle.

"Those who covet treasures must pay some price, no?"

Hongxi's final words weren't particularly heavy, yet for some reason, the scholar beside him felt a chill, silently mourning for Guard Guwalgiya.

Unaware of the minor episode elsewhere, having swiftly kicked out her nominal husband, mother and daughter nestled together under the same quilt like in childhood.

Rather than scolding or opposing her daughter's declaration of not marrying, An Ning simply held her close as always:

"Didn't Mother say before? No matter when, as long as your father and I are here, the Beile residence will always be your home!"

"Of course! I'm Father and Mother's most precious, most beloved treasure!"

The little girl proudly lifted her chin, all earlier melancholy instantly vanishing as she whispered conspiratorially against her mother:

"Even if I must marry someday, that person will have to listen to me—I'll come home every few days no matter what. If it doesn't work out, after having children I'll just kick him out and stay with Father and Mother instead!"

After all, Father and Mother would never reject her.

Gently stroking her daughter's head, An Ning inwardly nodded. Yes, whoever dared wrong her daughter could simply be... dispatched.

Having settled everything to her satisfaction, the next day Yu Ludai cheerfully went out to play with friends again.

As for that Fuqa guard—on the very second day he approached, he'd been swiftly punished for leaving his post without permission and was still recuperating in his tent!

His injuries were said to fluctuate between better and worse.

By the time the imperial entourage departed, he still couldn't rise from bed!

However furious the Fuqa family might be, they could only swallow their anger. As the saying goes, the barefoot fear not the shod—against those imperial princes contending for succession, you might have leverage, but against this man with only one treasured daughter who might not even care about his future and would stop at nothing when enraged—being the current Emperor's son to boot—even the most powerful families could only throw up their hands.

Frustrated, Old Master Fuqa could only drag out his unlucky son for another beating, strictly forbidding further approaches.

Unfortunately, the rebellious young master Fuqa currently felt everyone was obstructing his true love.

Old Master Fuqa: "..."

An Ning merely noted this farce in passing, while Yu Ludai paid it no mind at all.

"Doing it for her"? Everything he'd done had been his own choice—what did it have to do with her?

Days flew by as mother and daughter happily boated, rode horses, exchanged painting techniques, and pampered their skin.

Only when Kangxi's 61st year passed uneventfully and a new year began did An Ning pause, seeing the Emperor at the head table still looking normal, merrily toasting and rewarding his beloved sons without any sign of crisis.

Yet seeing the somewhat pale but increasingly spirited former Crown Prince nearby, she suddenly understood.

Apparently, deposing the crown prince twice and falling out with his beloved son had truly taken its toll on the old man!

In fact, without the Crown Prince as a concern, the Emperor had been full of energy these years, effortlessly suppressing his other sons.

The historical chaotic factional struggles simply didn't exist.

Of course, An Ning suspected this had something to do with the premature demise of the biggest Eighth Prince faction this lifetime—with the Ninth and Tenth Princes having parted ways early, the Fourteenth Prince still distrusted due to his mother and brother (even during campaigns he was supervised by the capable Thirteenth Prince).

Attempting anything? Not a chance.

Most remarkably, after the Emperor's brilliant maneuver turning the Eldest and Eighth Princes against each other—when the Eldest Prince suddenly realized his junior had been poaching his supporters—they'd fought relentlessly only to both be outmaneuvered by the Emperor.

Undoubtedly with some help from that former Crown Prince.

As for the Fourth Prince—this lifetime he'd been galloping nonstop down the path of true solitary loyalty.

Historically: Nine Dragons Contending for the Throne.

This lifetime: Roosters Pecking Each Other.

Sipping cool rice wine, An Ning couldn't help feeling some sympathy seeing the now mostly white-haired Eldest Prince and the increasingly weary Eighth Prince nearby.

Not that they needed her sympathy—seeing the energetic Emperor chatting merrily with the former Crown Prince, the Eldest Prince's mentality completely collapsed.

If earlier he'd gloated over the Crown Prince's fall, now...

Eternal Heaven, he was already over fifty!

What sane ruler would pass the throne to a fifty-something likely to kick the bucket any moment?

Equally distraught was the Eighth Prince nearby. Though the same age as the Ninth Prince, comparing his own graying hair at barely forty to his younger-looking brother...

What had all these years of struggle gained him?

Most crucially, seeing the harmonious scene between the Emperor and the former Crown Prince's family...

However unwilling, Yin Si clearly realized that as Hongxi grew, their chances dwindled.

Yin Zhen drained his cup in one gulp, suppressing his last vestige of ambition.

As it turned out, these men still had some foresight.

With the new year came sudden serious illness, and one day Emperor Kangxi announced before all ministers his abdication!