A trickle of dark red blood flowed from the corner of Consort Li's mouth, and Yinreng looked at her with a cold smile.
His eyes were filled with savagery. Did he think he could get away with cursing people before he died? What a joke! He even had to be ground to ashes!
"Master, this girl was just trying to take advantage of the chaos to harm the eldest princess and the eldest prince." Deshun dragged a girl in from outside the door.
Yinreng stared coldly at her bound hands: "The Li family plotted to harm my offspring. Their entire clan shall be exterminated. Within three generations, no one in the family shall be allowed to serve as an official in the court for five generations."
The little girl's terrified eyes pleased Yinreng.
"Your master said before he died that no matter how much she tried to gain my favor, she never thought of harming my offspring. Now it seems that not a single word of that cunning and venomous woman can be trusted." Yinreng gestured to Deshun.
De Shun lowered his head and said to the guard beside him, "Deal with her."
"Present the evidence of Li Jia's murder to the authorities and have it filed," Yinreng said.
"Yes, this servant has already sent the purse containing the powder for smallpox scabs to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review." De Shun was more than just a servant.
On this day, Yuqing Palace was thoroughly cleaned by everyone.
All the servants who had been in contact with Consort Li were sent to the Imperial Prison for severe interrogation.
Forming cliques and factions was something that Emperor Kangxi and others usually turned a blind eye to. But once they decided to make an issue of it, it would be a serious offense that was taboo.
Tang Gege hid behind the window and watched as Yinreng walked out of the North Courtyard, his whole body radiating coldness.
He suddenly turned around and smiled slightly at her.
Startled, Tang Gege shrank back, slammed the window shut, and crouched on the ground, trembling.
She no longer thought about winning the Crown Prince's favor. Being favored was good, but her life was more important.
Yinreng was pleased that he had scared another one. With such a small amount of courage, he still dared to bother him. How pathetic.
In the south courtyard, Granny Ling stood guard over Tong Wanyan, Hongzhao, and Tana, ready for anything.
Yinreng informed Ling Mama in advance about Consort Li's matter to avoid any unexpected trouble that might harm Tong Wanyan's side.
Tong Wanyan coaxed the twins to sleep and sat down next to Granny Ling.
Granny Ling sat on the veranda, embroidering a handkerchief in her hands, threading the needle, her skill still resembling that of a young girl.
"Granny, won't people criticize the master for doing this? From Lady Fucha to Lady Lijia..." Tong Wanyan said worriedly.
Granny Ling put the needle and thread away and set them aside.
Her eyes were full of affection: "Consort, this is fate. Just look at the Emperor's harem now. At least a dozen concubines have died, and countless children have died young. Some of them were truly short-lived, and some were simply less cunning than others. In fact, from the day they entered the palace, they were prepared to die."
"Not only that, but also the servants in the palace. So many servants are selected to enter the palace every year, and nearly half of them die young. The palace is the place where people are least willing to risk their lives. But even so, countless people still want to marry into the royal family. That's the allure of power."
"Just watch, there are currently three vacancies for the position of secondary consort in Yuqing Palace. The Crown Princess has not yet entered the Eastern Palace, so there must be many Manchu noble ladies who want to compete for it."
Ling Mama had served Empress Hesheli for so many years and had protected Yinreng very well in the cannibalistic harem, ensuring that he never went astray.
She was a woman of great wisdom, and she never used her position as the Crown Prince's wet nurse to boss Yinreng around.
She did what she was supposed to do, and everything she did was for Yinreng's sake, to make Yinreng happy.
"Thank you, Granny Ling. It is a blessing for my master and me to have you," Tong Wanyan said.
Ling Mama smiled so much that wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes: "Consort, what are you saying? This servant was just doing my duty. The Crown Prince cares about you, and you are wholeheartedly devoted to him. This is the best thing."
"Mmm," Tong Wanyan responded emphatically.
After calming everything down, Yinreng changed his clothes and went to the South Courtyard.
When he entered the room and saw his wet nurse and his beloved being together peacefully, he felt that everything he had done was worthwhile.
A million women cannot compare to his Xiao Yan.
He is not a puppet crown prince, so he doesn't need to curry favor with the ministers.
Moreover, he has the Hesheli and Tongjia clans, as well as countless loyal Han officials. Those who try to use their daughters or sisters to curry favor with him will not succeed.
The prince walked over with captivating charm; every gesture he made was incredibly graceful.
Tong Wanyan let out a soft cry, happily ran over, and threw herself into his arms.
"I made you a sweet soup. Go sit down, I'll bring it over." Tong Wanyan held Yinreng's hand, smiling sweetly.
She knew his hands had been stained with blood, but it was all for her.
Yinreng gently touched her face, and his figure was clearly reflected in her clear eyes, without a trace of gloom.
“My daughter is the most beautiful. Even after having children, she is still the same,” Yinreng said sincerely.
With a snap, Tong Wanyan slapped Yinreng's hand away.
"Even after having a baby, it's the same? Are you saying that a woman isn't as beautiful as she was when she was a young maiden after giving birth?" Tong Wanyan looked at him angrily: "We don't have any sweet soup or anything like that anymore."
Yinreng was caught off guard by this sudden change of expression; he was praising her.
"Granny Ling?" Yinreng looked at Granny Ling for help, wanting her to tell him what he had said wrong.
Granny Ling smiled, her chin plump, clearly a wise old woman who had been kind to by the years.
"This servant is old and confused, I don't know anything anymore. Your Highness and Consort, please get along well. This servant will take my leave." Granny Ling picked up the small basket containing the embroidery, her flowerpot-soled shoes walking with incredible steadiness, and left with a brisk pace.
Granny Ling abandoned the poor Crown Prince, who felt wronged.
"Little Yan, my darling, you will always be the most beautiful in my heart, no matter what." Yinreng coaxed her pitifully.
"Where is it beautiful?" Tong Wanyan asked coyly.
Yinreng held her hand: "You are beautiful, kind-hearted, and have a great figure. You have a soft voice and fair skin, and I love you very much."
"I don't understand." Tong Wanyan's lips curled slightly, but she forced herself to suppress it.
Seeing that her attitude had softened, Yinreng pressed his advantage, saying, "Even the most beautiful descriptions, like 'fish sinking off cliffs' or 'the moon hiding its face and flowers blushing,' are not worthy to describe my darling. Xiaoyan is like a peony, a flower of unparalleled beauty, making all other flowers pale in comparison."
Tong Wanyan frowned: "And a hundred flowers?"
Oops, I said the wrong thing again.
Yinreng wished he could bite his own tongue: "No, no, from beginning to end, my heart and body belong only to Xiaoyan."
"Really?" Tong Wanyan looked at him suspiciously.
Yinreng said repeatedly, "It's absolutely true, Xiaoyan, you've seen the goods. My heart is all with you, I wouldn't even look at anyone else."
"I'll believe it for now." Tong Wanyan's anger turned to joy, and she smiled sweetly.
When Yinreng saw her smile, he felt a sweet joy in his heart.
"I will always believe," Yinreng said.
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