Chapter 49: I went around half of the globe to find you

  Judi accompanied Kang Fan back to the capital, although they were in high spirits, but also saw that Kang Fan's official duties were urgent, so he didn't make any excessive demands. When they arrived at the capital, Kang Fan entered the palace to meet Empress Dowager Cixi, while Judi waited at the embassy. However, since Kang Fan had already gained fame for defeating the Japanese pirates in Tianjin, as soon as he entered the palace, he was surrounded by many flattering and sycophantic officials, who were hard to shake off. After finally escaping from them, Judi had been waiting impatiently at the embassy, and came alone to wait outside the palace gate, where he coincidentally ran into a group of Boxer rebels performing rituals on the street, causing trouble. The guards stationed outside the palace gate saw that Judi was being harassed by the Boxers and rushed over, beating them up with fists and feet, chasing them away, then forming a circle to protect Judi until Kang Fan came out of the palace.

  Judy's residence was in a small Western-style house inside the US Embassy compound, where she lived with several colleagues from the embassy. Judy's room wasn't big, but it had everything: kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. After Judy's decoration, the whole place was filled with a unique exotic flavor that felt very special.

  Your country is now in a mess! Judy said with lingering fear.

  Kang Fan waved his hand and said: Never mind that. I'm hungry, shall we have Chinese food or American food?

  Judy laughed: You have an American nurse, of course you're eating American food. How's the steak and fried eggs?

  Of course it's fine. However, I currently only have one hand available, so I won't be able to use both knife and fork at the same time. Kang Fan said with a bitter face.

  Judy said: I'll feed you.

  Kang Fan laughed, and of course, it was even better.

  I'll take good care of you. Judy said, holding Kang Fan's face and gazing at him lovingly. My parents hurt you, didn't they? I feel terrible inside, torn between my parents and the one I love. I wanted us to get along harmoniously, but it seems impossible now.

  Kang Fan didn't say a word. He hated these racists, but facing Judy's parents, what could he do?

  I don't want to leave you and I also don't want to quarrel with my parents. I really don't know what to do now, Judy said with a worried expression.

  Kang Fan smiled wryly, aren't you doing it now? In any case, aren't we together again?

  Judi rushed into Kang Fan's arms and cried, beating Kang Fan, why did God let me meet you...

  Because of those diamonds. Kong Fan smiled and said as he took out a small exquisite brocade box from his pocket, it's for you.

  Judy wiped away her tears and looked up to ask: What is it?

  In the brocade box was a dazzling diamond necklace. The six diamonds on the necklace were part of the bag of diamonds that the King of Ethiopia had given to Kang Fan, and Kang Fan had specially commissioned He Shui Kuan to have them made into a piece of jewelry at a Jewish-owned shop in Tianjin, where only this one piece was made. This time he came to Tianjin originally to ask Captain Li to give the necklace to Judy, but Captain Li refused to help, and unexpectedly Judy herself arrived in China.

  Hand it over to Judy personally when you see her, that would be more meaningful. Captain Li said so.

  Is this for me? Judy was stunned.

  Yes. Convinced, Kevin carefully put the necklace on Judy. You could have kept these diamonds for yourself and no one would have known. But you had to bring them here, destined to meet me.

  Judy's tears flowed again, and she wiped them away as she gazed at herself in the mirror for a long time, treasuring every moment.

  Kang Fan lay on his back on Judy's bed, closing his eyes. The wound was still painful, and the scenes of the recent battles flashed clearly before his eyes. In fact: this Jin army was very worthy of his trust, and his hard work had not been in vain. When the Jin army grew stronger in the future, he would be able to do many, many things he wanted to do.

  What a great hunting rifle! Kang Fan muttered to himself, involuntarily pulling out the 92 handgun and fondling it affectionately. As his emotions surged, he didn't notice that his palms were already sweating profusely.

  Judi suddenly turned her head and asked: "Kang Fan, you must have something else to take care of this time you came to Beijing, right?"

  Kang Fan was stunned, I've already taken care of everything.

  Judy pouted, "Don't try to coax me. How can a busy person like you accompany me so sincerely?"

  Kang Fan pointed at his own injuries and said, "I need to recover."

  That little injury can stop you from doing things? Judy looked disdainful.

  Kang Fan put on a bitter face, how can you be so indifferent to me?

  "If I didn't care about you, could I have gone around half of the globe to find you?" Judy asked back.

  Kang Fan fell silent. In fact, he had something to say, but it was not easy to tell Zudi: After the coup of 1898, Empress Dowager Cixi originally wanted to abolish Emperor Guangxu and establish Prince Duan's son Pu Jun as emperor, but was opposed by Western powers and had to give up. Therefore, Prince Duan was extremely hostile to Western powers and Emperor Guangxu, and had secretly plotted to kill the emperor, but was stopped by Empress Dowager Cixi. However, although Empress Dowager Cixi saved Emperor Guangxu's life, she did not dare to confront the conservative forces led by Grand Minister Ronglu, Prince Duan, Prince Chun, Prince Gong, and others, who were supported by officials such as Zhao Shuqiao, Yu Xian, and Dong Fuxiang. These conservatives used the Boxers as a political tool to achieve their goal of expelling foreigners and controlling the government. Therefore, Kang Fan did not believe that Empress Dowager Cixi's edict to disband the Boxers would be effective. The empress dowager had only dared to issue the edict because she had the strong support of people like Kang Youwei and Nie Shicheng, but the current political situation was actually controlled by Grand Minister Ronglu and others. Although Empress Dowager Cixi had issued the edict, it was uncertain whether it could be truly implemented in the Beijing-Tianjin area. Furthermore, several Han Chinese governors of provinces, such as Liu Kunyi and Zhang Zhidong, who were powerful warlords, had repeatedly ignored imperial orders and acted on their own. It was also unpredictable how much the edict would be implemented outside of Beijing and Tianjin. Therefore, Kang Fan's main purpose in staying in Beijing this time was to support Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, at least allowing the edict to be truly implemented in the Beijing-Tianjin area where Boxer activity was most intense, stabilizing the situation, appeasing foreign powers, and avoiding war.

  Never mind, just don't reveal your military secrets because of me. Judy said with a sour tone.

  Kang Fan shook his head helplessly, you will see it eventually, I don't need to say anything.

  I don't want to look, I just need to see you, Judy said with a smile.

  Judy's steak was delicious, and Kong Fan couldn't stop eating. Judy was busy cutting more but couldn't keep up. After dinner, the two of them rested at home without going out. The capital city is currently very unstable, with some Qing government officials and Boxer rebels colluding together, causing trouble everywhere, and there's a risk of losing control of the situation. It's better to stay in the embassy district.

  Kang Fan thought that after parting ways in South Africa, he would never see Judy again. This time, they reunited, and the passion that had been dormant in his heart was rekindled by Judy's fiery enthusiasm, making it impossible to suppress. Judy also truly felt Kang Fan's longing for her, and her initial nervousness settled down, replaced by visions of happiness. Everything else - the Boxers, the royal court, Empress Dowager Cixi, the embassy, the President of the United States - was cast into the Pacific Ocean as they devoted themselves to each other. The two were like Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit, strolling in a suddenly beautiful Garden of Eden, where nothing else mattered.

  "Kang Fan, if you don't think of a way, we'll starve to death." Judy said with a worried face. At this time, Kang Fan was still lying in bed, while Judy had already returned home after lunch break.

  Kang Fan thought Judy was joking, but when he looked up and saw Judy in a crisp light gray suit, with a slender figure, light makeup, and a unique charm, he couldn't help but feel excited again...

  Judy pushed him away, her pretty face still clouded with worry: "Kang Fan, stop messing around, I'm telling you the truth!"

  Originally, the chaotic situation in Beijing had already begun to affect the normal life of residents. Those official families, such as He Shui Xi's family who enjoyed imperial salaries, were still doing well, but the supply of daily necessities for ordinary people was becoming increasingly tense, and some profiteering merchants also took advantage of the situation to raise prices and make a fortune from the national disaster. As time went on, this situation caused widespread panic among the citizens of Beijing. Of course, under the intentional obstruction of the Boxers, the embassy district where foreigners gathered was the most severely affected area, with the German Embassy being the worst off, having been cut off from food supplies for two days already. The American Embassy had originally had more reserves, but after this period of consumption, it could hold on for at most another two days! I've been staying at Judy's place these past few days, too lazy to care about anything else under the sun, apart from Judy's beautiful body and delicious American food - truly a decadent life!

  Kang Fan immediately assembled the guards and began to drive back and forth between the suburbs and Beijing every day, bringing in rice, flour, meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, oil and other necessities from various places to maintain his life with Judy and even the daily needs of the entire US embassy staff. As a result, the huge internal space of the armored personnel carrier was put to use. Judy accompanied Kang Fan on shopping trips every day, not only to personally select her favorite items but also to get out of the embassy and clear her mind. She also took this opportunity to run between various embassies, providing material assistance to each embassy while vigorously promoting Kang Fan and his army, showcasing her diplomatic talent to the fullest extent. In just a few days, Kang Fan became a great savior in the eyes of Western diplomats stationed in Beijing, even the Japanese embassy, which had always been hostile towards Kang Fan, temporarily set aside their hatred and adopted a cooperative attitude on the surface while shamelessly accepting gifts, demonstrating Judy's abilities.