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After Hongli left, still puzzled, Lanqin instructed the maids to clear away the dinner table and dismissed everyone before sitting opposite the Fourth Prince on the heated couch. Lanqin knew that the Fourth Prince must have something he hadn't said yet, and she also knew that his sudden suggestion to prepare a residence for Hongli was not just empty talk.
"Your Highness, is there something you need to discuss with me today? Also, Hongli is still so young, is it really necessary to rush into choosing a servant for him?" Lanqin asked.
The Fourth Prince smiled slightly and said, "It is necessary. Not only that, Hongshi, Hongsheng, and Hongzhou will also have them. However, I would like to prepare them for Hongli first."
Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart. Although she knew that the Fourth Prince's fatherly love had to be divided into many, many parts and given to other children, she naturally felt comfortable that he could plan ahead for Hongli in this way.
"Your Highness's sudden change of heart, could it be that you've made some decision?" Lanqin wondered, noticing a strange expression on the Fourth Prince's face.
"Qin'er, I have already read the imperial edict," the Fourth Prince said calmly. "Father, it turns out you had already decided to entrust this important task to me."
Countless speculations finally came to an end at this moment. So many guesses and rumors had been discussed about the legitimacy of Yongzheng's succession, with some saying that he had altered the imperial edict. Now, hearing it from the Fourth Prince's own ears, Lanqin was still deeply shocked.
"What's wrong with you?" Fourth Master noticed that Lanqin's expression was strange. They had been together for many years and had long since noticed any slight change in each other.
"It's nothing, I'm just surprised. Since Father Emperor has already made his decision, why did he still allow the Fourteenth Prince to control so many troops?" Lanqin asked, actually asking the same question that the Fourth Prince was thinking. If the Fourteenth Prince hadn't been sent by Kangxi to garrison the Northwest, things wouldn't be like they are today. He controls a large and powerful army, threatening the safety of the court. This undoubtedly created a powerful opponent for the Fourth Prince, and one who was also his own brother.
Lanqin suddenly found Kangxi's actions quite intriguing. The Fourth Prince seemed to have thought of something as well, and the two sat quietly without speaking.
"Your Highness, I think Father Emperor's move is truly wise!" After thinking it over, Lanqin decided to tell the Fourth Prince her thoughts.
"Oh?" Fourth Master said.
“Father is afraid of putting the Prince in the public eye too soon. The deposed Crown Prince is the best example. He attracted countless open and covert attacks, which everyone witnessed. Father doesn’t want the Prince to suffer the same fate, so he hasn’t designated an heir, only drafted the edict and hid it behind the plaque of Zhengda Guangming. That’s one reason,” Lanqin said. These words were from a speculation she had written in her later life as Lin Mengyao about the legitimacy of Yongzheng’s succession. She never expected to use them here today.
The Fourth Prince was indeed shaken by Lanqin's words. Upon careful consideration, he realized they made a lot of sense. He recalled how Kangxi had cultivated him over the years and how he had treated the other princes, all of which seemed to indicate that Kangxi had intentionally kept the succession ambiguous.
"Furthermore, Father Emperor sent the Fourteenth Prince to the Northwest to take control of the army, which seems to have created a formidable enemy for the Prince. However, this formidable enemy has also relieved the Prince of much suspicion and attention. If it weren't for the Fourteenth Prince, I'm afraid the other princes would have paid more attention to what Father Emperor was doing to the Prince. That's the second reason," Lanqin said.
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