The previous imperial edict stated that he should bring his wife along, but that was because Kangxi was so angry he lost his mind. How could he possibly bring his wife to the military camp? That would make him a laughingstock.

The main purpose of this trip was to bring back Prince Yu and Yinzhen, so Yinyou also went along.

Emperor Kangxi originally disagreed with Yinyou's going, but it was only after it was revealed that the Seventh Prince's wife was three months pregnant that Kangxi allowed him to go.

The entire first month of the lunar calendar was very quiet and peaceful, and no trouble occurred either inside or outside the palace.

The Prince Yu's Mansion had been preparing for Baotai's wedding since the previous year, and as the day drew nearer, the boy became increasingly nervous.

Inside the restaurant, Baotai, Yinxiang, and Yinti sat together drinking.

“In the blink of an eye, the three of us are all getting married,” Bao Tai remarked first.

Yinxiang couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, I didn't expect the three of us to be getting married so close together. Fortunately, we all started preparing last year, so it won't be too rushed."

Yinzhen had developed a bold and unrestrained personality during his years in the army, and his speech and behavior were unconventional.

"The old master has issued a decree that I must go to the military camp again next year."

Baotai looked at him. When he first sent Yinti to the military camp, the boy was full of resentment, but now he seemed to have gotten used to life in the army.

"Fourteenth, don't you plan to enter the imperial court?" Bao Tai asked.

Yinzhen glanced at him, "Now that the overall situation is settled, what difference does it make whether I join or not? Besides, these past few years in the military camp have made me feel more at ease than ever before, much better than the intricacies of the court."

Yinxiang was genuinely happy for Yinti when he saw the changes in him, but when he thought of Yinzhen…

"Fourteenth, your fourth brother has always been thinking of you."

Yinzhen didn't speak, but silently drank his wine.

After leaving the restaurant, he inexplicably wandered to the entrance of the Prince Yong's mansion. He stood quietly at the entrance as before, without needing a servant to announce his arrival, and with no intention of going in.

He had already figured some things out in his heart, but he still didn't want to face them.

In a carriage not far away, Yinzhen watched this scene quietly.

Having not seen him for so long, how could he not miss his younger brother?

He even thought that as long as Yinzhen sent someone in to announce his arrival, or even if Yinzhen intended to meet him, he would resolutely walk towards him.

But Yinzhen did not.

He only stood at the gate of the mansion for a short while before leaving.

Yinzhen silently lowered the carriage curtain, and after a moment said, "Let's go back to the manor."

On the eve of Yinzhen's wedding, Yinzhen went to his residence under the moonlight.

The two brothers said something, but the candlelight in the study stayed on all night.

Not long after Yinzhen left, low sobs could be heard coming from the study.

The servants stood guard at the door, not daring to breathe loudly. The next morning, news came that Yinzhen had been sent to inspect Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

It is said that during the wedding, Yinzhen had a smile on his face the whole time, as if he was finally releasing the emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for many years.

When Yinreng saw this, he simply raised an eyebrow and smiled.

He had heard that although Yinzhen had come empty-handed last night, the Yongjun Prince's Mansion had brought ten large boxes under the cover of night after he left.

Without even guessing, I knew it was a congratulatory gift.

Good heavens, who sends gifts by the boxful?

He truly is my younger brother.

Now that Kangxi's several adult princes have all gotten married, everyone's attention has turned to the grandchildren.

Inside the Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager was discussing suitable candidates with the Crown Princess while holding a pile of portraits.

Since her last conversation with Hongxi about Qingqing, she hadn't brought it up again. She had assumed that Hongxi's feelings for Qingqing were nothing special, but the Crown Princess remembered the matter again because of the search for Dunke.

She tentatively said, "Grandma, actually, I think... Qingqing is quite nice too."

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, "Qingqing is indeed a good girl. I am also preparing to choose a suitable family for her."

Seeing that the old lady did not understand her meaning, the Crown Princess paused and then said, "What do you think of Qingqing and Hongxi being together?"

The Empress Dowager's hand holding the portrait froze, and she even looked at the Crown Princess with some surprise.

"I once considered betrothing Qingqing to Hongyu because Hongyu had no chance of inheriting the throne. But Hongxi's status is different; His Majesty will never allow Mongolia to have another empress."

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi looked at Yinreng with a puzzled expression, "Baocheng, are you sure you want Hongxi to marry Qingqing?"

Yinreng nodded without hesitation.

He had thought about this matter for a long time.

Although Hongxi always emphasized that he would leave everything to fate and not force anything, he would pay extra attention to anything involving Qingqing.

Yinreng thought that Hongxi's so-called "listening to fate" might just be a temporary thing, and what if he regretted it one day?

After all, Qingqing was his wife in his previous life. How could they not have any feelings for each other after living together for so long?

He really didn't want Hongxi to regret it.

"Father, Mongolia is no longer as powerful as it used to be. With the fall of the Dzungar Khanate, the other tribes are just barely holding on."

Emperor Kangxi remained silent.

"The Qing Dynasty did not produce a Mongol empress to prevent the Mongols from having any other ideas. But if the Qing Dynasty were strong enough, what would it have to fear from them?"

“Kejing has already truly seized power in the southern part of the desert. We can completely subdue them through taming.”

Seeing Kangxi's silence, Yinreng advised, "Father is in good health now. It will probably be forty or fifty years before Hongxi ascends the throne. At that time, will we really need to fear the Mongols?"

Kangxi looked up at Yinreng and after a long while said, "I need to think about it."

Back at Yuqing Palace, Yinreng stood in the courtyard, gazing at the fish in the pond, lost in thought.

Even now, he still cannot truly control his own destiny, and he doesn't even know if Hongxi will ever ascend the throne.

Therefore, he did not want to ruin Hongxi's good marriage because of the Mongol empress.

“Father.”

After hearing about what happened at the Qianqing Palace, Hongxi rushed back from the palace school. Seeing his father's lonely figure, he felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

"thank you."

Yinreng turned to look at him, his face full of mockery.

"Didn't you say you'd leave everything to fate? Why are you thanking me?"

Hongxi scratched his head sheepishly.

He didn't want to implicate his father because he knew too much.

Because they are mindful of their identity, they dare not pursue their goals boldly.

It is precisely because they bear responsibilities and missions that they always think of leaving things to fate.

But at this moment, seeing her father's teasing expression, she suddenly couldn't control her emotions and rushed over, choking back tears as she said, "Father, why? Why risk angering Grandfather by saying those things over such a small matter concerning your son? What if Grandfather really blames you for this?"