Chapter 75 has far-reaching implications.
Emperor Kangxi acted swiftly and decisively, appointing Yinzhen as Imperial Commissioner, with Zhang Tingyu as his assistant and Tongjia Yuexing'a leading the guards, to thoroughly investigate corruption cases in Jiangnan.
After the court session ended, the somewhat enigmatic Mingzhu dismissed the approaching ministers and returned to his residence alone. Sitting in his study, he drank a cup of tea and slowly came to his senses.
The Emperor is clearly well-prepared; he doesn't seem like someone who just found out. Irali Asan is obviously a trap. I wonder who the Emperor has fallen for?
The Fourth Prince was also the Emperor's choice, wasn't he? Knowing the Fourth Prince as he did, the Emperor knew his trip to Jiangnan would inevitably unleash bloodshed. Given the Emperor's changes over the years, he shouldn't have chosen the Fourth Prince. Did the Emperor truly not care about the Fourth Prince's safety?
So, even if the Fourth Prince is sacrificed, who is he targeting?
Mingzhu seemed to be deep in thought. The Emperor wouldn't allow the Crown Prince's faction to grow too powerful, so...
Suddenly chilled by the Emperor's methods, Mingzhu vaguely felt that it was time to retire gracefully.
...
The next day, Prince Yong, Yinzhen, led his entourage out of the capital and headed straight for Jiangnan.
The prelude to the 41st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign began with the bloodshed in Jiangnan.
From February to June, throughout the first half of the year, Prince Yong, Yinzhen, could be said to have gone on a rampage in Jiangnan.
Holding the gold medal bestowed upon him by Emperor Kangxi, Yinzhen was ruthless in his actions, as long as the evidence was conclusive. Whether it was a prefectural governor or a minor official in a county, anyone found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, or failing to report such acts would be imprisoned or demoted, and those who resisted would be executed on the spot.
It is said that the prisons in all the prefectures of Jiangnan were overflowing, and there were not enough guards. So, batches of criminals were constantly being escorted to the capital.
The people of Jiangnan region subtly began to deify Yinzhen, no longer claiming he was the reincarnation of Bao Zheng, but rather preferring to believe that Prince Yong was the reincarnation of the mythical beast Xie Zhi. Because this seemed to fit his status as a prince, the people believed it without question.
Initially, it was because Yinzhen genuinely arrested corrupt officials, earning him the trust of the people in the Jiangnan region who had been saved. Subsequently, Yinzhen's reputation for brilliant and insightful judgment spread, and any official who was imprisoned after his trial was condemned by the people.
These convicted officials were subjected to enthusiastic attacks of rotten vegetable leaves from the people on their way to the capital.
This was a terrifying influence. Zhang Tingyu, who followed Yinzhen closely, realized that it was fortunate that Prince Yong was not one to abuse his power for personal gain. Otherwise, it would have been easy for him to interfere in the officialdom of Jiangnan.
Zhang Tingyu, who had only heard of Prince Yong's name before, found it hard not to admire him after spending more time with him. In the eyes of this young genius, Prince Yong, Yinzhen, was the most selfless and concerned for the people among all the Emperor's sons, even more so than the Crown Prince…
The uproar caused among the common people went unnoticed by the officials in the imperial court. But as Yinzhen investigated and killed his way through, more and more people were implicated, and the officials involved rose higher and higher.
The investigations by Shanxi Governor Ga Li, Jiangning Textile Commissioner Cao Yin, and Lianghuai Salt Commissioner Li Xu caused turmoil throughout the court. Even if Yinzhen's investigations were true, the court officials did not want him to continue the investigation.
In the imperial court, many people stood up to speak out, from Grand Secretaries to officials of the Six Ministries, from civil officials to military generals. The court had a rare consensus: they wanted Prince Yong to return to the capital and stop the investigation.
In Jiangnan, the deeper Yinzhen and his men investigated, the more obstacles they encountered, and the more frequent the assassinations became. People were constantly injured and killed. The guards from the capital had completely shed their air of wealth and extravagance in the repeated battles, and each of them was like a soldier who had just emerged from the battlefield, exuding a chilling aura.
Among them, Tong Jia Yue Xing'a has changed the most. This boy, who once appealed for his mother with all his passion, has completely shed his childishness and become calm and reliable.
Having gone through life and death together, the group's relationship became increasingly close and united.
But the dangers increased, and at the worst time, Yinzhen had just been injured and hadn't even had time to catch his breath when another wave of attacks came.
When the news reached the capital, Emperor Kangxi was furious. Under the expectant gaze of everyone, he finally decided to summon Yinzhen and his entourage back.
So, in late June, the investigation team arrived in the capital, and the storm that had lasted for almost half a year finally came to an end. Nearly half of the officials in the Jiangnan region were replaced, and tens of millions of yuan in silver were confiscated, along with countless pieces of jewelry, utensils, and calligraphy and paintings by famous artists.
...
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
At the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, Yinzhen, who had just finished reporting the news to Emperor Kangxi, encountered Crown Prince Yinreng shortly after he came out.
Yinreng glanced at Yinzhen, who was respectfully bowing, and deliberately left him waiting for a while before telling him to get up.
"I have heard of my fourth brother's great achievements."
"Your Highness flatters me." Yinzhen straightened up, his face pale, clearly still recovering from his injuries.
"Look at Fourth Brother, being a Xie Zhi isn't so easy. Go back to the manor and get some rest." While saying these caring words, Yinreng reached out and pressed hard on his shoulder.
To outsiders, it appeared to be a close relationship between the Crown Prince and Prince Yong, but there was a wound on Yinzhen's shoulder that was faintly bleeding under the pressure of Yinreng's hand.
Feeling the pain, Yinzhen raised his eyes and met the Crown Prince's undisguised warning gaze. His expression remained unchanged, and he replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I understand."
"It's good that Fourth Brother has truly learned something," Yinreng patted him on the shoulder again and said with a smile, "Father has something to call me for, so I won't keep Fourth Brother any longer."
"Respectfully seeing off the Crown Prince."
There was nothing wrong with Yinzhen's every move. As the two passed each other, Yinzhen smelled the blood on him, and Yinreng's smile became even more genuine.
...
"Your Highness..."
When Yinzhen returned to his residence, he stumbled as he got off the carriage, which startled Su Peisheng, who quickly reached out to support him. Yixiu also rushed over anxiously. She noticed the blood on Yinzhen's shoulder and her eyes filled with tears, but at Yinzhen's prompting, she said nothing.
Amidst the chaos, everyone else was herded back to their own courtyards. In the front bedroom, only Yixiu and Su Peisheng remained, watching the imperial physician re-bandage Yinzhen.
"Your Highness, you've suffered so much." After dismissing the servants, Yixiu stayed by Yinzhen's side, personally taking care of him. Thinking of the unhealed wounds on Yinzhen's body that she had just seen, as well as the obvious man-made tear on his shoulder, she couldn't help but shed tears.
"It's alright, nothing serious will happen next. I'll take good care of myself. I'll have to trouble Xiao Yi these next few days." Yinzhen leaned against the bed with pale lips, gently patting Yixiu's hand to comfort her.
Seeing that Yinzhen was unwilling to say more, Yixiu did not press him. She did not understand the important affairs of the court and only thought about taking good care of Yinzhen in the future. In order to make Yinzhen happy, Yixiu rarely mentioned the women in the backyard and said, "I forgot to tell Your Highness the good news. Concubine Mei gave birth to a prince, and I took the liberty of promoting her to the rank of Gege."
"Really? That's good news indeed. Xiao Yi, you've managed the backyard very well." Yinzhen smiled faintly, his expression more of praise for Yixiu than joy at having another son.
Mei Qiyue was merely a concubine with no one to rely on, so Yixiu could tolerate her. Now that she had gained Yinzhen's trust, Yixiu was even happier.
"Oh right, isn't the eldest princess one year old now?" Yinzhen said as if he had just remembered.
“Yes, the eldest princess’s first birthday banquet has already been held, and it’s time to name her. Does Your Highness have any ideas?” Yixiu maintained the demeanor of a mistress and took the initiative to bring up the matter of naming her.
“That’s good, let’s call him Bu’erhe.” Yinzhen nodded, pondered for a while, and came up with this name.
"Buerhe, it's a good name. I'll pass on the message to Sister Song right away; I'm sure she'll be very happy." Yixiu nodded with a smile. Buerhe refers to a crane, symbolizing longevity. For Song Wan'er, who lost a princess in her youth, this name was indeed the best blessing for her daughter. The Prince truly put his heart into it…
"Furthermore, since Lady Mei is of lowly status, let's entrust the Second Prince to Yuebin for upbringing, and Lady Mei can also move to Yuebin's courtyard."
Having resolved the issue of the eldest princess's name, Yinzhen casually mentioned it, and then decided on the whereabouts of the second prince. Yixiu's smile froze; she hadn't expected that a prince would be sent to Qi Yuebin.
"Sister Qi is kind and gentle, and is indeed suitable to raise the young prince. Your Highness is very kind."
Yixiu agreed, but couldn't help but wonder if the prince was doing this for the sake of the second prince or for Qi Yuebin.
From that moment on, Yi Xiu knew perfectly well that even though Qi Yuebin hadn't done anything, a rift had formed in her heart, and their alliance was about to end. In the backyard, there are no lasting allies…
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