The morning light shone into the room, and on the large bed covered with pale purple brocade curtains, there was a small protrusion. The little girl's face was flushed from sleep, and her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was having a bad dream.

Suddenly, she stretched out her left hand, trying to block out the annoying morning light.

The beautiful woman on the bed opened her eyes, her large, watery eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Her heart was filled with many things. Yesterday, she thought that her relationship with the Jue Luo family could be improved, but in the end, her hopes were dashed.

That heart, yearning for its mother's care, is aching. Is it because I haven't done enough? Or is it simply not meant to be?

Tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the pillow. A few days ago, the Ulanara residence was besieged, and she was extremely worried about the safety of the Gioro clan. Eshuo, Saito, and she all tried to make up for the Gioro clan's sins with their achievements.

Emperor Kangxi had finally relented, but then Consort Jue Luo made another foolish move, ordering Zhu Ying to wait for her in the Imperial Garden. Consort Tong looked displeased; the servant had even dared to talk back, leaving her only able to watch helplessly.

"Little darling, get up and have breakfast yet?" After finishing his reading, Yin Chen came back to check on Qing Yan, feeling uneasy. He sat by the bed and wiped away her tears with his right hand.

Her forced smile broke his heart.

"Little darling, if you don't want to laugh, then don't laugh." Qingyan, who was always optimistic and cheerful, suddenly became miserable overnight.

In the early morning, before Fei Yanggu went to court, he woke up Yin and reminded him to take good care of Qingyan today, in order to prevent the little guy from being in a bad mood.

"Get up..." Qingyan's nasal voice made Yin a little worried. They had been traveling for several days and had finally arrived at the mansion. Her mood had been fluctuating between joy and sorrow, and she might fall ill if things went wrong.

Yin picked up Qingyan and dressed her in a qipao, a gesture they had both grown accustomed to every day.

If Yin returns to the palace, he will feel particularly lost without Qingyan by his side.

"Fourth Sister, Mother has left?!" Qingyan was at a loss. Since Lady Jue Luo had not left, she did not know how to face her mother.

Yin nodded. Fei Yanggu had long anticipated that Qingyan would be uncomfortable. After the argument last night, he had A'dun personally escort Jue Luo back to the old house and issued a curfew order to the women in the old house.

Qingyan lowered his eyelids. In the court, rewards were being distributed based on merit. If Fei Yanggu and his two sons didn't receive any rewards, everyone would attribute the events in the palace to the Jue Luo clan, and that would...

"Sisi, I'm scared!" Qingyan had always been a strong girl, but under immense pressure, she completely broke down.

Yin wrapped his arms around her waist and gently patted her back. The two children were unaware that their actions were becoming increasingly mature.

"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the palace!" Su Peisheng stood at the door with his head down. Yin was very possessive, and no man could serve Qingyan. Even eunuchs were classified as men by Yin.

Yin bent down and helped Qingyan put on her embroidered shoes before carrying her outside.

In just a few short years, Qingyan had grown accustomed to Yin's embrace. Sometimes, she would mock herself inwardly, thinking that she was about the same age as Bei Xiaoqi. Xiaoqi was spoiled beyond measure by her father and brothers, while she was spoiled by Yin without any limits.

As Su Peisheng watched his two masters emerge, he respectfully handed them a slip of paper in the handwriting of Consort Tong. The merits of Fei Yanggu and his two sons had not been stripped away, and everything Qingyan had worked so hard to achieve had been used to pay off the debts of the Jue Luo clan.

The Empress Dowager was relentless in her pursuit of the numerous secret formulas in Qingyan's possession. After examining them, Yinzhi clenched his fists tightly. The Empress Dowager was clearly trying to suppress Qingyan. Just as they had tormented the Crown Prince in Mongolia, she would likely torment Xiao Guai in the Cining Palace.

"Little darling, don't come to the palace to pay your respects recently. Pretend to be sick." The Empress Dowager's health probably only lasts for another six months, so Kangxi and Consort Tong's intention is for Qingyan to avoid it.

Yesterday, Emperor Kangxi issued an edict to expel the Mongol wives. This morning, those wives went to Cining Palace and blamed Consort Tong and Qingyan for the trouble at Chenggan Palace. They said that it was these two women, one big and one small, who gossiped in front of Emperor Kangxi and caused Consort Tong to lose face when she paid her respects to the Empress Dowager.

During the greetings, the Empress Dowager found a flimsy excuse and publicly punished Consort Tong by making her kneel on the ground for half an hour. The other wives gloated and mocked Consort Tong. Now, they were ready to shift all their attention to Qingyan.

When Emperor Kangxi learned of what had happened at Cining Palace, he issued an additional imperial edict acknowledging the military achievements of Fei Yanggu and his two sons, while ignoring Qingyan's edict.

After the morning court session, when the Empress Dowager learned of Kangxi's actions, she smiled coldly. She was warning the Cining Palace not to make any further unnecessary moves.

At the Ulanara residence, Yin was feeding Qingyan breakfast. His beloved child, whom he had always pampered, had almost been plotted against by the Empress Dowager. How could he be at peace with this?

"Eat more breakfast. You've lost weight these past few days!" Yin looked at Qingyan, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.

Last night, Qingyan didn't sleep well, often waking up in fright from his dreams. He could only watch anxiously from the sidelines; Qingyan wouldn't allow him to do anything to harm the Jueluo clan.

"Fourth Prince, why don't you sleep in the guest room for the next few days?" This was the first time Yin had been expelled from the inner chambers since entering the mansion. She needed to think carefully about what to do next.

The slightest misstep could bring utter destruction to the family, and even to Yin himself.

In just six months, the Empress Dowager had many opportunities to frame her. Consort Tong risked sending the message out, probably hoping that Qingyan would come to her senses.

"I will stay with you." Yin's attitude was firm. He would never leave Qingyan's side when she was at her most vulnerable.

Qingyan felt physically and mentally exhausted. She felt at ease with Yin by her side, but he had to study in the Imperial Study during the day, and she didn't want him to be listless, since that was Yin's battlefield.

"Fourth Prince, I need to calm down, just for a few days!" Qingyan remembered that he had asked her to pretend to be sick. "You are the Emperor, how can I let you share a room with me when I'm sick?"

Yin smiled. Once the little guy has made up his mind, it's hard for outsiders to persuade him. Fine, let's give Qingyan some peace and quiet.

"I can't wait too long!" He'll definitely have trouble sleeping if she's not in his arms.

Today, Emperor Kangxi instructed his sons to inform them that classes at the Imperial Study would be suspended for one day, so that he could spend time with Qingyan.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Shunzi, who serves the Third Prince, says that you and Princess Qingyan are invited to the appointment. His Majesty has decreed that the First Prince is getting married." At the end of the year, Yinhui will marry Lady Yingenjueluo as his primary consort, marking the first wedding of one of Kangxi's princes.

She opened her mouth in surprise. Yin seems to be only 15 years old, right?

"Su Peisheng, have Xiao Shunzi tell Third Brother that Qingyan isn't feeling well!" Yin refused the dinner party; he couldn't let anything happen to her. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)