As night fell, a bonfire was lit in the middle of the camp, and the noble ladies of Mongolia came out first, singing and dancing to the accompaniment of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle).

On both sides, tables were set up, and Mongolian female slaves were setting out their evening meal.

Qingyan heard music outside from inside the tent. The Mongolian women were all skilled in singing and dancing, and at every banquet, they would show their best side to Kangxi and the princes.

"Sisi, we're going to drink again today. Why don't you have some snacks first?" Qingyan advised.

The banquet lasted too long, and Yin drank too much; he certainly wouldn't feel well.

Yin took a few pieces of the pastry and ate them. Every autumn, he would have a stomachache in the last few days.

"Thank you, little darling!" Yin said with emotion.

Later that evening, the banquet began. Emperor Kangxi accepted the toasts from the leaders with a smile, but the Empress Dowager was not present.

strangeness!

Qingyan was puzzled. The Empress Dowager would always attend the Mongolian banquets in full dress.

"Fourth Prince, why didn't the Empress Dowager come?" Qingyan asked, puzzled.

Yin nodded: "Every time we arrive at the Aobao, the Empress Dowager chants scriptures in the tent and doesn't come over in person."

The Empress Dowager maintained this practice for many years, and every time she came, she would observe a vegetarian diet and fast.

Beside the campfire, the same dances that have been going on for days on end, the women of each tribe wearing exquisite Mongolian long robes and with delicate makeup on their faces.

"Suyan, go prepare some food." Yin was worried that Qingyan's banquet wouldn't be good; the food this time was all mutton, and the taste was really bad.

Qingyan watched the dance intently. The Mongolian noblewoman in front of him had the best appearance. Her Mongolian long-distance runner was perfectly suited to her body, outlining her beautiful figure.

The noblewoman, holding a wine cup, walked step by step toward the prince. Qingyan looked toward the Mongol chieftain, whose father was smiling at his daughter. This daughter was the most beautiful, and if she could be by the prince's side, it would be an honor for the tribe.

"Haha, Tashan, your daughter is quite remarkable," Kangxi laughed heartily.

“This is my favorite daughter. She is already engaged in the tribe. I brought her here today only to show the tribe’s goodwill.” Tashan understood that Kangxi was warning him.

The Mongol leaders were startled; their day had started poorly, and they quickly changed their story.

Emperor Kangxi squinted his eyes, pleased with Tashan's explanation.

Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Every banquet was like a trial, and Qingyan was always worried that Kangxi would bestow a marriage upon Yinzhen.

Snap!

Yin threw down his wine cup, and the Mongol leaders' faces instantly darkened; the Crown Prince clearly looked down on them.

The noblewoman's eyes were brimming with tears, and the crown prince had directly humiliated her.

"Heh, this kind of scum dares to offer a toast!" Yin said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the princes were all speechless. Had the crown prince drunk too much?

Qingyan carefully observed the Crown Prince, whose eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the Mongolian noblewoman with obvious displeasure.

Kangxi frowned. What's wrong with Yinzhi?

"Shut up, Li Dequan! The Crown Prince has drunk too much. Send him back!" Kangxi was furious. Yinzhi had completely enraged Kangxi.

Tulichen personally came over to support Yin, preparing to take him back to the tent.

"No! Father Emperor, I haven't drunk too much. These past few days, they've sent over several noble ladies?" Yin protested.

The Crown Princess sat to one side, her face extremely unpleasant. Before the Crown Prince came out, his eyes were icy cold. The banquet had just begun, and he had already finished a whole pot of wine.

"Father, your daughter-in-law is guilty for failing to dissuade the Crown Prince." The Crown Princess quickly went around the table and knelt on the grass to beg for forgiveness.

Husband and wife are one. If the Crown Prince does something wrong and the Crown Princess doesn't step in to resolve it, Emperor Kangxi will definitely be furious.

Kangxi looked down at the Crown Princess; her expression was sincere, and the Crown Prince did not appear to be drunk.

Qingyan nervously rolled up her small handkerchief. Could it be that the wine had been drugged?

He reached out his left hand and grasped Qingyan's cold little hand; the scene before him had probably frightened her.

"Hmm, Your Highness, what exactly happened to the Crown Prince?" Kangxi was concerned about his reputation, so if the Crown Prince said something so outrageous, he would need a reasonable excuse.

"I failed in my duty to admonish him. The Crown Prince drank a whole pot of wine as soon as the banquet began," the Crown Princess said with a guilty expression. "At lunch, the Prince followed Father Emperor's orders and dined with several leaders. He drank quite a bit of wine and has been in a deep sleep ever since."

As the Crown Princess finished speaking, the Mongol leaders secretly sneered. Did she think they were wrong?

The prince's alcohol tolerance was really poor; as the ancients said, "In vino veritas" (truth comes out after drinking).

It's obvious that the Crown Prince looks down on them; otherwise, why would he say such a thing?

Ga'lu's position became awkward. Her face darkened. Her presence clearly reminded the Mongolians that the Crown Prince disliked Mongolian noblewomen.

"Is that so!" Kangxi looked at the Crown Princess; this reason was far-fetched.

"Yes, I guarantee it, the master certainly didn't have such intentions." The Crown Princess was also annoyed and insisted on summoning Imperial Physician Yuan to see what was going on.

The Crown Prince never mentions having a share; today, it's far too unusual for him.

"Imperial Physician Yuan, go and examine the Crown Prince's pulse!" Kangxi sensed something was amiss.

Imperial Physician Yuan quickly left his seat, and the Crown Princess dared not get up, remaining kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, the camp fell silent, and apart from the sound of the campfire, no one dared to say anything more.

She looked down at the roast meat on the plate, wanting to pick up a fork and eat it.

Yin glared at her; at this moment, no one could protect her if she used any means necessary.

A quarter of an hour later, Imperial Physician Yuan returned, knelt on the ground, and reported rapidly: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has apparently taken incompatible medicines and is showing signs of poisoning."

Zata panicked instantly. Lunch was being eaten in his tent, and this...

"Enhegulang Khan, the lunch prepared by this servant has been inspected by the imperial physicians," Zata said, kneeling on the grass.

Kangxi looked coldly at the three people present. Yin should not be related to lunch.

"Zata, get up!" Kangxi wouldn't blame Zata; among the various tribes, Zata's tribe was the most loyal. "Imperial Physician Yuan, what kind of poisoning is it?"

"This poison is a mixture of two special ingredients. One is from the wine used by the princes, and the other is a seasoning used in their evening meals." Imperial Physician Yuan dared not say whether the poisoning was sudden or deliberate.

What? !

Everyone put down their glasses, and Qingyan was especially furious, wondering if she would also be poisoned.

Yin held Qingyan tightly, trying to reassure her, since the women used different wines than they did.

He bit his tongue to stay alert, determined not to be disrespectful to his father.

"Is there any way to resolve this?" Kangxi was more concerned about what would happen to the other princes; it was enough that the crown prince was the one who lost face.

"Your Majesty, plain water will suffice!" As soon as Physician Yuan finished speaking, the eunuchs around the princes quickly brought over plain water for the princes to drink.