Chapter Nine, the Southern Garden was unexpectedly attacked in the dark of night

Dongzhu urged the horse forward, closely pursuing Kangxi's mount. As they advanced, he leaped forward and forcefully grabbed the reins, but the horse remained unyielding, continuing to gallop wildly with its hooves raised high. In a moment of desperation, Dongzhu suddenly tore off his pouch and stuffed all the powder inside into the horse's mouth. Soon, the horse finally came to a halt. Ignoring the pain in his hands and feet, Dongzhu immediately dismounted and pulled Kangxi's foot out of the stirrup.

Dongzhu smiled: "Does the Emperor keep his word?"

The Emperor can no longer speak, but he exerts all his strength to extend three fingers, his face filled with bitterness

Cao Yin, accompanied by his guards, had also caught up at this moment, and the sudden turn of events left everyone at a loss.

After returning to the palace, in order to avoid alarming more people, Dongzhu instructed Cao Yin to carry Kangxi to the courtyard where she resided, locked the courtyard gate, and then went to invite the imperial physician to come for a consultation

Your Majesty! The voice of Dongzhu was filled with tremors and sobs, as if the sky were about to collapse. This was the first time in her life that she felt so close to the brink of life and death

"Give me a promise, that one day, you will allow me to leave the palace," she said

Cao Yin scratched his head and said, "Keep your distance."

It is ! ''

As her condition worsened, the Empress repeatedly said to herself in her final days: "Xuan Ye, please ask your father for me, beg him to give me a promise, otherwise, I will die with my eyes unclosed!"

In my view, it is a tremendous grace! Her expression is filled with anticipation, "To yearn for something with all one's heart is the most beautiful."

She was seen quietly leaving the courtyard alone, leading a horse and holding something in her arms

After drinking the medicinal soup, I felt a heaviness in my body, as if I were in a state of half-sleep. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck me, and I sensed a surge of heat flowing out. I knew in my heart that the arrow had been removed. After bandaging the wound and changing into clean clothes, I leaned against the bed and gradually regained consciousness.

"You are very fond of using tricks." Kangxi suddenly appeared and spoke, which naturally startled Dongzhu. She was taken aback for a moment before replying, "I never use my tricks to harm others." She even forgot to pay her respects.

She led me to a small hill

Having spoken, he swiftly mounted his horse and stood upon its back, quietly gazing at Dongzhu as if to issue a challenge

Her melodious voice was like a celestial sound, instantly captivating Kangxi

What are you sighing about

Soon, Father Emperor departed

However, he really wants to see her tonight

Kangxi, with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor not, looked at the woman before him and said with a hint of playfulness: "What happened during the day doesn't count. Let us compete in horsemanship and see who reaches the Golden Pool first. If you truly win this time, I will grant you this promise"

The sound of the sigh reminded him of that day in Kun Ning Palace; it turned out to be her sighing

After finishing these tasks, Dong Zhu let out a long sigh while looking at the dark forest garden

"Are you following?" the guard asked Cao Yin

"A promise?" He felt a slight unease in his heart. Once, in the palace, during the time when his father was gravely ill, his mother cried like a weeping person. She knelt before his father, saying, "Grant me a promise, in the next life, in the next life, there will be no her. Please grant me a next life!"

"You yourself have admitted to being opportunistic. Nowadays, the yellow jacket has already been awarded to both individuals and books, and I have nothing left to give you," he said

At that time, he harbored a deep resentment towards his father, wondering why he could not make a promise to his mother

This truly left Dongzhu at a loss for words. "Well, in any case, I can distinguish clearly. I do not actively harm others, but if someone harms me, I will not foolishly allow myself to be beaten. Therefore, using some tricks is a precaution. Moreover, many times, helping is harming, and harming is helping; what is good is bad, and what is bad is good. One cannot discern this without being involved. Can the Emperor distinguish it clearly?"

She smiled with her lips pressed together, resembling the slender crescent moon at the horizon, exceptionally graceful. "The Emperor has never lacked for others to bow and worship him. Yet I, in my heart, worship you!"

Not far away, Cao Yin and the guards exchanged glances with each other

Until today, Dongzhu asked him for a promise, and he felt as if his heart had been scorched by fire, causing him discomfort. He was both surprised and frightened, and at that moment, he realized that those who cannot make promises and those who cannot obtain them are actually equally sorrowful.

"Doctor Hu, please take a look at the Imperial Concubine Zhao as well." Kangxi gazed at Dongzhu, and it was only then that Dongzhu realized her hands were covered in blood, both Kangxi's blood and her own from the reins that had chafed her skin. On her right hand, there was a large gash that was oozing blood, evidently from being bitten by the horse.

Fly! Fly far away, do not let anyone catch you, and do not fall for others' bait again!" She lifted the dove with great effort, and the two doves flew away

What did you say? He said he did not expect that the promise she wanted was not for a lifetime or three lifetimes, but rather to leave the palace? Kangxi was completely shocked

The imperial physician instructed Cao Yin to decoct the medicine and also treated the injury on Kangxi's back

She pleaded repeatedly for the so-called promise, passing away in a state of madness with a sense of desolation

As night fell, the evening in the Southern Garden was much more tranquil and spacious than that of the Forbidden City. After dinner, Kangxi stepped out of his sleeping quarters with the intention of taking a horse to run around the garden and aid digestion. However, after running for a while, he found it rather dull. For some reason, he ended up outside the residence of Consort Zhao, marking the first time he had taken the initiative to see her. Having entered the palace for a month, aside from encountering her while paying respects at the Cining Palace and during the grand wedding ceremony, he had never seen her before.

It turned out that she was afraid of blood. For some reason, Kangxi suddenly felt a warmth in his heart

"San Sheng, did you promise her three lifetimes and three worlds?" The mournful cries of the Empress echoed throughout the grand hall, frightening him into quietly slipping away.

"Are you asking me for a favor?" he asked again, feeling somewhat perplexed; no matter how he looked at it, her expression did not seem like that of someone seeking a favor.

This year's hunting has astonished everyone, and it is far from being limited to just this

"Why did you only call the imperial physician at the last moment?" After Kangxi sat down, he felt an excruciating pain from the arrow wound, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. He then realized he was somewhat dissatisfied with Dongzhu's arrangements.

Thus, everyone mounted their horses and followed from a distance, keeping the emperor and the empress's mounts within their sight, maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close, which should be the most appropriate.

"You know that this is not what I want," she said

"Do you know that what you seek is the greatest disgrace for the women of the palace?" he said

Lord Cao, please escort His Majesty back to the palace immediately. Leave two people to pursue in the southeast direction, and promptly send someone to inform the ministers and the palace commander to seal off the garden and conduct a night search. Remember, keep the internal situation tight while allowing external matters to be loose, and seal off the information; do not disclose anything to anyone.

"Your Majesty, you owe me a promise," she said

Just as she was thinking, she suddenly noticed a peculiar sound mixed in with the wind. Dongzhu felt a sense of unease; she was only a horse's length away from Kangxi. Suddenly, a flash of silver light appeared, and Dongzhu shouted, "Your Majesty, be careful!"

She held her head high, meeting his gaze, her eyes filled with sincerity

Chun Yin widened her eyes: "Your Highness ... ..."

Kangxi, racing forward, showed no intention of yielding to Dongzhu, as if venting his frustrations by urging his horse onward with great force. Dongzhu closely followed behind; she could surpass Kangxi, for her equestrian skills were not only exceptional among women, but she had also bested both Fei Yanggu and even Aobai. However, she did not plan to overtake the Emperor just yet, as she wanted to give him some face. Dongzhu intended to make her move at the last moment, winning by a horse's length would suffice. However, she did not plan to overtake the Emperor just yet, as she wanted to give him some face. Dongzhu intended to make her move at the last moment, winning by a horse's length would suffice

It was unexpectedly an arrow. Without time to think, Dongzhu removed her cloak and forcefully flicked away the arrow aimed at Kangxi. Little did she expect that before they could catch their breath, a second and third arrow swiftly followed. Kangxi, dodging left and right on horseback, was caught off guard when an arrow struck the horse's rear. The horse, in pain, bolted and leaped wildly. In his attempt to control the frenzied horse, Kangxi inadvertently took an arrow to his right shoulder, causing him to lose his balance and fall from the horse. However, one foot remained caught in the stirrup, dragging him several zhangs away.

Quickly go and pour a cup of hot tea for His Majesty" Dongzhu pushed Chunyin, and only then did Chunyin come to her senses from her astonishment, hurriedly going to pour the tea

The imperial physician has arrived. Cao Yin, along with the attending eunuchs, invited the physician in. After the examination, the physician said: "The scratches on the back are not serious; after cleaning and applying medicine, it will heal in a few days. However, the arrow wound on the shoulder needs to be treated first; the arrow must be removed, and this pain is unbearable for an ordinary person. I need to prescribe a remedy; after the Emperor takes the medicine, I will then remove the arrow, which will alleviate the pain by half."

"The more you use it, how can you distinguish which is harming others and which is helping?" Kangxi asked coldly

Cunning! Kangxi found this girl before him to be exceedingly clever and whimsical. The disparity between her inner self and her outward appearance was striking; her exterior resembled that of a fairy, ethereal and unparalleled, yet her inner thoughts were so peculiar that they left one at a loss.

Kangxi nodded

Of course, Kangxi's expression was resolute

Dong Zhu also mounted the horse, and the two of them clasped arms and struck palms before setting off.

I just examined the wound; the arrow should not be poisoned. Your Majesty, please bear with it for a while longer. Dongzhu took the teacup from Chunyin's hands and brought it to Kangxi's lips, and Kangxi drank half a cup with her hand.

The yellow robe was ultimately awarded to Fei Yanggu, and no one understood what scheme the emperor was concocting.

Blood! Dongzhu suddenly fainted.

"I can be your concubine, but you do not lack concubines. I can also be your servant, but you do not lack servants either. A person's life is very short, and I only wish that one day I can be myself again." Staring into his eyes, she spoke with utmost sincerity, "No one can choose their own destiny, just as the Emperor cannot either; this is not a choice you made, yet you can determine the destinies of many others."