This morning, Emperor Kangxi announced the end of court very early.

Everyone assumed it was because the eldest prince's family had returned, and that Kangxi had just bestowed upon the eldest prince the title of Prince Zhi, the first among all the princes to receive this honor, which was enough to prove Kangxi's high regard for the eldest prince.

However, the main reason why Kangxi withdrew from court so early was because of the Crown Prince. He Xue had also returned this time, and He Xue was of marriageable age. If the Crown Prince did not dislike He Xue, Kangxi would directly bestow a marriage upon the Crown Prince during the New Year's imperial concubine selection.

Although he made an excuse for the crown prince, his continued refusal to marry still caused some gossip.

Some say the Crown Prince is unmarried because of his health, while others claim he is homosexual. In any case, his unmarried status has negatively impacted his reputation.

Emperor Kangxi also sent people to investigate, but they could not find out who was behind it. Kangxi believed that the person behind it was deliberately targeting the Crown Prince.

The best way to quell the rumors now is for the Crown Prince to get married.

Emperor Kangxi summoned the Crown Prince to the Qianqing Palace. "Baocheng, this time Hexue has also returned to the capital with your elder brother's family!"

When He Xue was little, she especially loved to hang around you. You haven't seen each other for so long, so when you go pick up your older brother today, you can also go see He Xue!

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!" the Crown Prince replied, suppressing his joy.

After the Crown Prince left the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi said, "Follow the Crown Prince and carefully observe his expression!"

"Yes!" a voice replied.

Emperor Kangxi waited anxiously in the Qianqing Palace.

"Princess, we've arrived in the capital!" Qingdai said to Hexue, looking out of the carriage.

"We're finally here! I'm exhausted!" Xue stretched a bit. The carriage ride was too tiring, and the road was rough. She really missed cars!

"Princess, let me help you tidy up!" Xia Bing said to He Xue.

"Okay!" Maybe someone will come to pick up the eldest prince in a while, and she will definitely have to get off the carriage. She can't look too sloppy!

The crown prince and his brothers waited at the city gate.

The crown prince kept staring into the distance; the person he had been longing for was finally coming back.

"Fourth Brother, when will Eldest Brother arrive?" asked the youngest of the princes who had come along.

"It'll be here soon! Just wait a little longer!" the Fourth Prince said to the Fourteenth Prince.

"Alright!" The Fourteenth Prince could only continue to wait.

The Thirteenth Prince walked up to the Fourteenth Prince and said, "Didn't you want to become a great general like your eldest brother? How come you have no patience at all!"

"Who said that! I'm just anxious to see my elder brother!" the Fourteenth Prince said anxiously.

The Thirteenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince were both born to Consort Min. Because the Thirteenth Prince was close to the Fourth Prince, the Fourteenth Prince was also very dependent on the Fourth Prince.

"Look, here it comes!" Ninth Prince said, pointing to the carriage in the distance.

The prince clenched his fists nervously, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his throat.

When the eldest prince saw the crown prince and the others, he said a few words to his wife in the carriage and then rode over first.

"Eldest brother!" Upon seeing the eldest prince, the crown prince was the first to greet him.

The others also greeted the eldest prince one after another.

The eldest prince looked at his younger brothers in front of him. He heard that his father, the emperor, had already given birth to his sixteenth brother, and the seventeenth brother should be born soon. It seemed that his army of brothers was just around the corner!

"Brother, where are my sister-in-law and niece?" the Crown Prince asked.

"They're in the carriage behind. I rushed over as soon as I saw you all here!" the eldest prince said with a smile.

"Brother, we're waiting here for sister-in-law, our two little nieces, and elder sister! Brother, you're taking yourself too seriously!" Ninth Prince said, holding a fan in his hand and boasting of his charm.

"Are you cold or hot?" The eldest prince felt an itch to join in when he saw the ninth prince holding a fan in the dead of winter.

"Second brother, this won't do. You can't spoil them too much. If you can't handle it, just take action!" The eldest prince decided that this time he would definitely teach those disobedient younger brothers a lesson.

"I'll have to trouble you from now on, elder brother!" The crown prince was in no mood to say anything to the eldest prince, as Xue's carriage had already arrived.

Qingdai got off the carriage first, and then Xue helped Qingdai down.

The prince stared intently at He Xue. His little girl had grown up. He Xue wore a fiery red cloak with a soft, fluffy white fur around her neck. The fur made her face look even more lively and adorable.

The Crown Prince immediately walked towards He Xue, but his words were cut short by a single sentence from He Xue.