When Qingyan woke up, the spot beside her was already cold. She sat up, wrapped in the covers, staring blankly at the door of the inner bedroom.

Hearing the noise outside, Su Lan quickly came in. Seeing Qing Yan's half-asleep state, she wondered whether she should wake her master.

"Sulan, is it four or four already?" Qingyan shook his head, completely banishing his sleepiness.

"My lord went to His Majesty's courtyard. Before leaving, he told me not to wake you!" Su Lan was already used to Qing Yan's boundless pampering of the Fourth Prince.

Qingyan smiled, leaning against the pillow, her face scrunched up. She had been sitting in the carriage for a while and felt uncomfortable all over. Kangxi had sent the imperial guards, but she had endured it to prevent her secret space from being exposed.

Her frail little body was almost falling apart; perhaps she really needed a good rest.

"Hmph!" Qingyan saw the figure at the door and immediately turned her head away without responding.

"Get your things ready and then go downstairs." Yin, dressed in a golden prince's casual robe and black boots with auspicious cloud patterns, walked in step by step from the doorway.

During his days off, Yin would wait for Qingyan to wake up together. Today, however, he was ordered by Kangxi to give a subtle greeting, so he did not wait for Xiaoguai to get up.

"Come, let me change your clothes!" Yin's lips curled up slightly. His every move was under Kangxi's watchful eye. The 20,000 cartloads of grain were nothing more than buying a reputation for filial piety.

Qingyan was a little confused. He was a melancholy young man last night, so why did he become so sunny and cheerful today?

"Father Emperor knows about the disaster relief grain!" Yin felt no guilt.

ah? !

Qingyan was stunned. The disaster relief grain was distributed in secret. Could it be that the donation was also approved by Kangxi?

"There's nothing in the world that Father Emperor doesn't know, only things he doesn't want to know," Yin whispered in her ear.

At this moment, she was furious. She had lost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in the south, and Kangxi knew about it but remained silent.

Anger slowly gathered in her eyes, and Yin covered her eyes with his left hand.

"Father's actions are all well-intentioned!" Yin quietly reminded Qingyan that at this moment, he must not show any annoyance.

Qingyan took two deep breaths, forcibly suppressing her anger.

As Kangxi's confidants, Fei Yanggu and his two sons probably understood that the family's losses were for Kangxi's sake. They were dutiful and responsible, but they didn't consider her feelings.

After he lowered his hand, she gave a bitter smile, and her watery eyes regained their calm.

"We're going to see Father in a bit!" Qingyan leaned against Yin's chest, preparing to avoid facing Kangxi and instead ask Fei Yanggu.

These past few days, Fei Yanggu has been working non-stop, and now, he and his daughter finally have time to meet.

"Okay!" Yin agreed without worry.

After breakfast, Qingyan took the things for Fei Yanggu and his two sons and went directly to their courtyard.

As she entered the courtyard, she could hear the sounds of fighting coming from within. In the new house, the three of them would spar every morning. The familiar sounds made her feel as if she had returned to the years before she was married.

"Father! Ah Hun!" Qingyan's clear voice rang out in the courtyard. Fei Yanggu quickly put down his long sword and ran out. His daughter, dressed in a lake-blue palace gown, stood smiling at the round gate. Fei Yanggu was very excited; his daughter hadn't returned for a long time.

The three of them went closer and saw that her smile was really forced. At that moment, Fei Yanggu felt even more sorry for his daughter's plight.

"Father, I..." Qingyan lowered his head. His Majesty knew everything about the silver Qingyan had amassed. Fei Yanggu and the others had a clear conscience and had not been embezzled by Kangxi.

They understood Kangxi's meaning: Qingyan would suffer some losses, but it would gain a powerful backer.

"A-Dun, take Gege to the study!" Fei Yanggu pinched his daughter's cheek and told A-Dun to take her back first.

There were many servants of Emperor Kangxi and his princes in the courtyard. It would be difficult to handle if the whole family were discussing matters here.

“!” A’dun obeyed the order and prepared to leave with Qingyan.

Half an hour later, the three of them changed into casual clothes and watched Qingyan pacing anxiously in the study.

"Father!" Qingyan rushed into Feiyanggu's arms. Every time she was bullied, it was Feiyanggu who stood up for her.

Fei Yanggu held the little girl in his arms, patting her back affectionately. Soon, he felt a slight dampness in his arms; the little one had really cried.

"Father, I feel terrible!" Qingyan pouted, looking unhappy.

He looked down at her. "When the emperor commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die." This is a famous saying throughout the ages. Fei Yanggu knew that Xiao Guai would be furious if she knew the truth. Kangxi could confiscate a subject's belongings without hesitation.

"Let me calm down!" Qingyan cried her heart out and felt much better.

After E'shuo returned with Yin and the other two, he became increasingly silent. Erlu's appearance made him realize the fragility of the relationship between the royal father and son. If Yin had not returned decisively, he would most likely have become cannon fodder. Among those refugees who rushed into the mansion, Qingyan would have been the one most hurt.

"Little one, we need to know our place!" E Shuo pondered for a moment, then pointed out to the little guy not to be too persistent.

She nodded. From Consort Tong's words yesterday, she understood that not only would she have to bear the cost of those silver herself, but the Ministry of Revenue would also not give her any further compensation, and even the shop's discounts would be canceled.

This blow was so profound that she kept wondering if she should expand the scale of the business.

"Father, let's scale down." The managers of Yuelai Inn were all sent by Yin, and there must be many of Kangxi's spies among them.

Now that everything has come to a head, she feels like she can't take it anymore.

"What?!" Fei Yanggu was puzzled. Qingyan returned with a melancholy air about him.

"It's the Yuelai Inn. In a few years, all of these will be handed over to Yinlai!" The ladies of the court were all eyeing the power in Xiaoguai's hands.

Now, she has completely figured it out. After returning to the capital, she will go directly back to her residence and no longer need to go out for social engagements.

"Father, I'm so tired." Qingyan leaned on the armrest, pouting as she complained to Fei Yanggu.

At this moment, the father and his two sons were unable to help their little one, and they felt a pang of sadness.

After venting her emotions, she raised her little face, her eyes red from crying, and her little nose twitching. All three of them felt sorry for her.

From a young age, Xiao Guai was pampered and spoiled. After entering the royal family, she constantly suppressed her own grievances, and even more so, Yinzhi continued to pamper her. No one could refute a single word from Kangxi.

"Little Darling, after we return to the capital, hand over all the businesses to the manager." Fei Yanggu pondered for a moment and finally decided to delegate power to Qingyan.

Qingyan nodded, content to be an ordinary noblewoman, at most offering advice to Linglong Pavilion. The Tong family's interference in the two main stores in Beijing was understandable, as she was willing to push all the blame onto Si'er. (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.)