Spring in the Hall of Paintings

The fierce clash of battle unfolded before Emperor Kangxi. Rongxuan had left behind enough of his subordinates to ensure Kangxi’s safe arrival at General Fei Yanggu’s camp. Emperor Kangxi did not leave; instead, he stood at a distance. Having once been trapped in a similar situation, Kangxi had felt divine protection when he saw Rongxuan coming to his rescue. He had not considered the risk Rongxuan was taking. As Rongxuan fought valiantly to save the two princes, his curved sword slashed through the air, blood splattering. It was at this moment that Kangxi truly realized Rongxuan’s unwavering loyalty and courage, surpassing that of any soldier.

“Fourth Prince, be careful!” Rongxuan rushed to the side of Yinzhen (the Fourth Prince). As he saw an arrow aimed at Yinzhen’s back, he had no time to react fully. He grabbed Yinzhen’s arm and shielded him with his own body. The arrow struck deeply into Rongxuan’s shoulder with a sharp “thud,” blood splattering. Yinzhen, who knew Rongxuan, was deeply moved by his selfless act. “Lord Tong… you…”

Yinzhen supported Rongxuan, whose shoulder was now drenched in blood. “Yinzhen will remember Lord Tong’s life-saving grace.”

“Your servant does not dare.”

Rongxuan, feeling numb in his shoulder, could barely feel the pain. With his uninjured arm, he hurled his curved sword through the air, striking down a rebel soldier attacking the Eighth Prince, Yinti. Yinzhen, silently impressed, thought to himself, ‘What excellent skill. He truly keeps his eyes and ears open.’ After narrowly escaping danger, Yinti rushed over and cupped his hands in gratitude. “Lord Tong, thank you.”

“No need for words, Your Highnesses. Let’s push forward. The Emperor… the Emperor is not far.”

“The Emperor is also here?” Both Yinzhen and Yinti said at the same time. Rongxuan nodded. “I believe the Emperor would not leave you two princes behind. You are the Emperor’s most beloved sons. There is no time to lose. Please, follow me.”

Rongxuan glanced at the arrow still lodged in his shoulder. It appeared to have barbs, which would make it even more painful to remove. If it hadn’t gone all the way through, it would have been fine, but if it was embedded deeply, pulling it out would tear flesh and cause even more blood loss. Rongxuan felt his head growing heavy, but he couldn’t fall now. The Tong family’s reputation had to be upheld. He had yet to see his son marry or his daughter’s grand wedding.

Rongxuan gritted his teeth and grasped the arrow tightly. Only the pain could keep him conscious and determined. With a fierce yank, he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder, blood spraying from the wound. As expected, the arrowhead was covered in pieces of flesh. Rongxuan threw the arrow to the ground and pulled a curved sword from the body of a fallen enemy. “Brothers, follow me!” he shouted.

“Your Highnesses, stay close!” Rongxuan led the charge. The battlefield was the stage for men, filled with heroic spirit. Rongxuan’s near-suicidal bravery stirred the soldiers’ morale. Under such a steadfast leader, they felt they could defeat any enemy. Before being harsh on others, one must first be harsh on oneself.

Yinzhen silently followed Rongxuan, his cold eyes now burning with fire. Yinti, in admiration, said, “Fourth Brother, a true man of honor—this is Tong Rongxuan.”

Yinzhen nodded in agreement. The soldiers, now invigorated, fought with renewed strength, as though they were driven by a surge of energy. Whether they were Rongxuan’s subordinates who had come to rescue the princes, or the soldiers who had followed the two princes, all followed Rongxuan’s command. The pain in his shoulder kept Rongxuan focused. Through clever leadership and strategic decisions, the soldiers were filled with fighting spirit, catching the enemy off guard. Remarkably, Rongxuan led the two princes safely out of the encirclement and repelled the pursuing enemies. It was nothing short of a miracle.

“Your son pays his respects to the Emperor.” The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, and the Eighth Prince, Yinti, both had blood on their faces and their swords were stained red. Though they were a little more disheveled than usual, their entire demeanor radiated strength and valor.

“Good, good, as long as you are back, that’s all that matters. I… I…” Emperor Kangxi said, his emotions overwhelming him. He pulled his two sons close, looking them over, not knowing how to express his concern. He asked, “How did you two end up together?”

The Eighth Prince, Yinti, wiped the blood off his forehead and calmly explained. After learning that Kangxi was trapped, both the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince had volunteered to rescue him. However, they faced opposition from the Eldest Prince and other military leaders, who argued that they should first send scouts to gather more information before attempting a rescue. The Eighth Prince, Yinti, had been raised by the Eldest Prince’s mother, Concubine Hui, and could not directly oppose the Eldest Prince’s words. Furthermore, the Eldest Prince’s reasoning was sound. Therefore, he privately sent out men to investigate, and it just so happened that he came to the same conclusion as the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, so they decided to act together.

Emperor Kangxi, with his keen political sense, could easily read between the lines from their words. He let out a cold smile. “I will handle this matter. Your filial piety, both of you, I will remember.”

In fact, the Fourth and Eighth Princes had come out precisely for these words from Kangxi. They had achieved their goal, but the journey was perilous. Had they not encountered Rongxuan, they might not have made it out of the encirclement alive. The Eighth Prince, Yinti, turned to look at Rongxuan, who was still gritting his teeth and standing strong, and he cupped his hands solemnly, saying, “Lord Tong, thank you.”

The usually eloquent and respectful Eighth Prince, Yinti, felt that any words at this point would be unnecessary. He could only express his admiration and respect for Rongxuan with these two words and a heart full of gratitude. Standing aside, Yinzhen lowered his gaze, his thoughts concealed. He was grateful to Rongxuan, but more so, he noticed how much Emperor Kangxi admired him. Yinzhen’s fingers twitched under his sleeve. Rongxuan would surely be greatly valued in the future. His daughter… Yinzhen’s mind wandered to his beautiful niece, Yun Lan, whom he regarded as a close confidante. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth; his niece was also quite exceptional.

As Rongxuan relaxed, his body swayed, and his vision blurred. He weakly muttered, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty… I… I am fortunate to still be alive. Long live… Long live…”

With a crash, Rongxuan collapsed to the ground. Yinti stepped forward immediately, crouching beside him and calling out, “Lord Tong, Lord Tong.”

Emperor Kangxi, equally anxious, trembled slightly. “Someone, lift Lord Tong and bring him with me to meet General Fei Yanggu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The way Kangxi addressed Rongxuan, with the title “Lord Tong,” was not lost on Yinzhen and Yinti. There was something profound in it. It was clear that Rongxuan’s promotion was imminent. After meeting with General Fei Yanggu, Kangxi immediately ordered the imperial physicians to treat Rongxuan. He declared that if the doctors were unable to save him, he would have their heads, and their families would be sent to Ningguta to serve as slaves.

The imperial physician dared not delay and worked tirelessly to treat Rongxuan. Military leaders like Fei Yanggu admired Rongxuan, so he was not jealous. He saw that he had earned his position with his life. Especially when he heard that Rongxuan had more than ten stab wounds, and that the arrow in his shoulder had caused a bloody hole, he couldn’t help but respect him. Fei Yanggu, who was getting old, wondered if this would be his last military campaign after this conquest of Zungar. He knew Rongxuan’s future would be bright. Delighted to go along with the current, he praised Rongxuan in front of Kangxi and the other generals: “Your Majesty, Tong Rongxuan is loyal, righteous, and brave, a model for all of us. A true son of the Eight Banners, a man like Tong Rongxuan.”

Kangxi clapped his hands and laughed heartily. “I agree with this statement.”

Kangxi personally confirmed Rongxuan’s merits, and no one dared to question him afterward. When Kangxi heard that Rongxuan had regained consciousness, he personally went to his tent to visit him. Rongxuan, wrapped up like a mummy, tried to rise, but Kangxi gently pressed him back onto the bed. With a kind tone, Kangxi urged him to rest and recover. Emperor Kangxi spoke in a deep voice: “Rongxuan, I intend to use you greatly.”

“Your servant swears to serve His Majesty to the death.”

Kangxi nodded with satisfaction. He did not return the deerskin water bottle and map to Rongxuan. It seemed he had forgotten about it. He reassured Rongxuan a few more times before leaving the tent. Rongxuan closed his eyes in exhaustion, but the sounds of battle still echoed in his ears. It was as though he was still fighting on the battlefield. Rongxuan licked his dry lips.

“Mother, I’ve achieved it. I’ve brought glory and prosperity to the Tong family. My wife and son will be honored, and I’ve done this for you as well. You won’t be disappointed.”