It was merely protection, not wealth and glory; Kangxi understood this distinction perfectly.

The father and son of the imperial family are truly cold-hearted.

Last time, when the brothers Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei said they wanted to reform the Imperial Household Department, they really did take drastic measures.

Emperor Kangxi was so biased towards his maternal clan that he would turn a blind eye to everything except for the Tong brothers, who would try to kill him on his throne.

The Imperial Household Department existed to serve the royal family, but having been entrenched in the Forbidden City for many years, they gradually forgot their status as servants.

Especially when Consort Wuya was ranked among the four consorts, the Imperial Household Department became exceptionally powerful.

Uya clan wielded immense power within the Imperial Household Department, entirely due to Consort Uya's past rise to a high position. They subtly and gradually planted spies throughout the palace, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water. Aside from the Qianqing Palace, Ningshou Palace, and Yuqing Palace, they had people everywhere.

Coincidentally, Consort Wuya recently returned to Emperor Kangxi's attention. With the help of her two-year-old son, the Fourteenth Prince, she managed to get Emperor Kangxi back into Yonghe Palace.

Consort Wang, who had been promoted from a low-ranking concubine to a high-ranking one, touched her flat stomach and felt extremely resentful.

Women in the imperial harem who have children are destined not to fall out of favor forever.

Having fallen out of favor for a while, Consort Wuya is now behaving cautiously, displaying a more humble and apprehensive demeanor compared to her former gentleness and attentiveness.

Tong Guowei is a man, and he understands men's psychology best.

The only reason Kangxi was willing to pay attention to Consort Wuya again was because of the Fourteenth Prince.

Therefore, he showed no mercy when he tormented the people of the Uya clan.

Before Consort Wuya could react, Tong Guowei swiftly chopped down many members of the Wuya clan.

It's impossible to say that this wasn't approved by Emperor Kangxi.

When Uyapin's father came to her crying, it was too late for her to change anything.

However, the imperial concubines and the court were closely connected, and Consort Wuya's ability to gain the emperor's favor was inseparable from the influence of the Wuya clan within the Imperial Household Department.

With a heavy heart, she began to sob when Kangxi came to see the Fourteenth Prince again.

"Your Majesty, my father has been inexplicably demoted. What did I do wrong?" Consort Wuya said tearfully.

As Kangxi gazed at the fine lines around Consort Wuya's eyes, he suddenly looked up and saw Consort Wang walking past in the outer courtyard.

Women from Jiangnan have fair and delicate skin. Consort Wang was in the prime of her youth, a beautiful young woman just beginning to bloom, far more beautiful than Consort Wuya, who was in her early thirties.

Kangxi held Consort Wuya's hand; it was somewhat rough, unlike the soft, boneless hand she used to have.

He grasped it and then let go, and Wu Yapin felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if pricked by needles.

"Your Majesty, seeing my father serving you in the Imperial Household Department for so many years, even if he has been demoted, please allow him to return to his hometown in glory." Consort Wuya was determined to fight for power for her family.

Kangxi watched her cry pitifully, completely unable to recall why he had ever favored a servant girl from the Imperial Household Department.

"I used to think you were well-educated and reasonable, and that you never interfered in court affairs, so I was willing to give you a chance out of old friendship. What merits has your father rendered to the Qing Dynasty that he deserves the title of 'returning home in glory'? You really are a palace maid; your words are laughable." Kangxi's words were as sharp as if he had a knife in his mouth.

Consort Wuya's face turned deathly pale; such a ruthless turn of events was truly outrageous.

Emperor Kangxi wouldn't care about a woman he didn't care about; he was more interested in Consort Wang.

After deliberately lingering outside the window of the side hall where Consort Wuya was, Consort Wang returned to her room and quickly changed into another set of clothes.

Not long after she changed her clothes, Emperor Kangxi appeared before her, and she burst into tears.

A crystal-clear tear, half-fallen yet half-held in her eye socket, like a dewdrop on a flower blooming in the morning.

She is beautiful and lovely, making one feel sorry for her.

Emperor Kangxi, who had a lustful son, was not a celibate gentleman.

He was the emperor, and could do whatever he wanted. When Consort Wang came to his door, he naturally favored her.

Consort Yi of Yikun Palace revealed a knowing smile. Wuya wanted to be reinstated, but didn't she even consider whether Consort Yi agreed?

Despite the blow, Consort Uya was fortunately not confined to her quarters again.

She actually sent someone to invite Yinzhen, as if she had forgotten all the vows she had made to have no further connection with him and to sever all ties with him.

Originally, this wouldn't have been a big deal. Yinzhen had lost his respect and affection for Consort Wuya, but since she was his child, he couldn't refuse to show her any courtesy.

It's a pity that when Consort Wuya thought of Yinzhen, she didn't first ask where he was.

The servant who delivered the message remembered what Consort Wuya had said: "You must bring the Fourth Prince to Yonghe Palace. If you cannot, you need not come back."

When the servant inquired around and learned that Yinzhen was in Yuqing Palace, his legs trembled.

The Crown Prince of Yuqing Palace is extremely protective of his own; he's not someone to mess with.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Yinzhen, Yinreng, and Tong Wanyan were roasting rabbit meat on the grass in the back garden of Yuqing Palace when they saw this clueless servant.

The servant nervously relayed the message, turning a short sentence into a dozen or so stammering sentences.

Tong Wanyan sat next to Yinreng, holding a plate in her hand, waiting for Yinreng to roast the rabbit meat, cut it up, dip it in sauce, and put it on her plate.

If it weren't for Yinzhen's presence, she would have simply waited with her mouth open for Yinreng to feed her; there would have been no need for her to go through all this trouble.

Yinreng slowly and meticulously sliced ​​the rabbit meat, his elegant movements befitting the crown prince carefully educated by Emperor Kangxi. Truly, whatever he did was exquisitely beautiful.

After Tong Wanyan took small bites of rabbit meat, he used a handkerchief to wipe the oil stains off his fingers.

"What brings Consort Wuya to invite Fourth Brother over?" Yinreng asked, raising his eyebrows.

The young eunuch's throat was dry and sore from fright: "This servant does not know."

"I don't know? Fourth Brother will be marrying his wife next year. It's probably not appropriate for a prince who is about to come of age to meet his consort so abruptly," Yinreng said slowly.

For a moment, Tong Wanyan forgot to chew the fragrant rabbit meat in her mouth.

That's shameless! How could you say something like that?

Yinzhen's cold face softened for a moment upon hearing this, regaining its gentleness.

His birth mother hated him and used him, but he had a foster mother and brother who were devoted to him. It was a case of losing one thing and gaining another, which wasn't bad.

The young eunuch was so shocked by Yinreng's cold and fierce gaze that he almost cried.

"Consort Wuya is the Fourth Prince's birth mother, so she should be fine, right?" The little eunuch carefully squeezed out the words through his teeth. After he finished speaking, his back was damp and he felt completely exhausted.

Yinreng scoffed, "I still vividly remember the scene of Consort Wuya resolutely severing her mother-son relationship with Fourth Brother in front of Father. Since Father has granted Consort Wuya's request, then Fourth Brother is the Imperial Noble Consort's biological son. They are not biological mother and son, and should not meet in private. Can you and Consort Wuya bear the crime of defiling the palace?"

The young eunuch knelt down with a thud, his legs too weak to stand.

"But, Consort Wuya...she..." The little eunuch was so frightened that he couldn't stop crying.

Tong Wanyan swallowed the rabbit meat in her mouth and beckoned Su Jixiang over.

“The eldest princess should be awake by now. She’s always clinging to the fourth prince. Why don’t you take the fourth prince over?” Tong Wanyan said.

The couple instinctively protected their younger brother, and Yinzhen quickly lowered his head, afraid that his slightly red eyes would be seen.

"Thank you for reminding me, Second Sister-in-law. I'm going to see my eldest niece now," Yinzhen replied.