After the Fourth Prince returned with Lanqin and Wuxiha, Consort De was already being led by Granny De to her small Buddhist shrine.
"De Rong, what do you suggest we do? Both sons want to divide the inheritance. If we favor one, the other will be heartbroken." Consort De knelt on a straw mat, with a porcelain basin in front of her filled with grains of rice of varying sizes.
Granny De naturally knew what Consort De was talking about. She had been with Consort De for almost half a century. She sighed and said, "Your Majesty, this is not as simple as dividing the family property. Both princes are your own flesh and blood. Their abilities, skills, and specialties are also different. His Majesty has probably already made his choice. Your Majesty only needs to obey. Why make trouble for yourself?"
Consort De began picking out the rice grains one by one from the porcelain basin. Hearing Consort De's words, Consort De knew she couldn't change anything; Kangxi had already made his decision, and she could only watch from the sidelines. But these were her sons fighting over this; could she just watch them fight to the death right before her eyes? In the end, only one could win, and what would happen to the loser?
"Bodhisattva, I have been burning incense for so many years, praying that you will bless the two brothers so that they will not kill each other. I will continue to burn incense for you for the rest of my life." Consort De said, her hands clasped together, staring at the green Ru kiln Guanyin Bodhisattva in front of her.
Meanwhile, far away in the Northwest military camp, the Fourteenth Prince was drinking with several generals. In the middle of the room, a whole roasted lamb was being grilled, the charcoal fire constantly heating it until it was increasingly charred. The aroma was irresistible, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
"Fourteenth Prince, this humble general toasts you!" A man with a thick beard and wearing white military armor raised his wine cup to the Fourteenth Prince. He was Akshan, the commander of the Plain White Banner, who had been ordered to bring 20,000 soldiers of the Plain White Banner to garrison here.
"Alright, let's do it!" Fourteen, dressed in blue military armor, was full of vigor, with a mustache on his upper lip that added to his masculine charm.
After the two finished their drinks, Akshan said, "General, we think you should go back now. The Emperor is not well, and if you stay out here, you won't know anything if anything happens in the capital."
The Fourteenth Prince knew what the generals who followed him were thinking. He also wanted to compete, but his father, the Emperor, was still alive. He couldn't just go back so casually; his father wouldn't allow that.
“General, now that you are here, even if something happens in the capital, you are powerless to intervene,” said another man in blue armor, the commander of the Bordered Blue Banner. These men had been stationed in the Northwest with the Fourteenth Prince for several years and naturally hoped he would ascend to that position, so that they could have earned their place in the imperial court.
"You don't need to be anxious. Father is still healthy and strong; he will make arrangements. If I rashly go back now and someone catches me red-handed, they can accuse me of dereliction of duty," Fourteenth said. Although his subordinates were speculating about his return, he understood that if he went back now, under what pretext, and then simply stayed in the mansion and refused to return, Father could truly punish him!
After drinking with them, the Fourteenth Prince returned to his backyard, reeking of alcohol. When he first came, he brought a concubine, a princess, along with Madam Chen and her son. Now, he had two women in his backyard in the Northwest.
Chen was gentle and kind, and Fourteenth Prince had always liked her. After she came to the Northwest with Fourteenth Prince, their relationship grew even stronger.
"Master, why have you drunk so much?" Madam Chen asked, smelling a strong aroma of wine when the Fourteenth Master entered.
"It's just those few. There's no war going on, so they drink all day to relieve their boredom. Jing'er, are you asleep?" Fourteen asked about his son with Chen.
"He's already asleep. Let me help you wash your face, Master." Madam Chen reached out and began to untie Fourteen's belt. Compared to the pampered Wanyan, she was much gentler and more hands-on in serving Fourteen, which made Fourteen more willing to be close to her.
"Hmm. I'm sleepy too." The Fourteenth Prince was already a little drowsy, but he forced himself to stay awake as Chen dragged him to wash his hands and face. Although Wanyan had repeatedly written to inquire about the whereabouts of Chen and her son, he simply wouldn't tell her. Anyway, she wouldn't come back to see them, so keeping it a secret would prevent Wanyan from making a scene.
"Master, did they force you to go back again?" Madam Chen asked, wiping Fourteen's face.
"Hmm, you're oversimplifying things. I have no reason to go back now. If Fourth Brother catches me doing something wrong and accuses me of desertion, I'll be in deep trouble," Fourteenth said with his eyes closed.
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