"Everyone, go back and prepare. I have already issued the mobilization order, and the army will be assembled within seven days. Fourth Prince, you can stay in the palace then." After saying this, Kangxi waved to his sons, indicating that they should leave.
The group bowed to Emperor Kangxi again before leaving in turn.
After they came out, each person had a different expression on their face.
The Eighth Prince looked somber. He had been in charge of the Imperial Household Department for over a year and had contact with officials from all over the country. He should have been the best candidate to manage the grain and soldiers, but Kangxi did not let him stay. Instead, he let the Fourth Prince stay.
The third brother pulled the fourth brother aside and said, "Fourth brother, this time you don't have to accompany Father Emperor on his personal campaign, but you will be with the Crown Prince in the palace to coordinate things. It won't be easy."
When the Fourth Prince heard that Emperor Kangxi had made such an arrangement, he was also taken aback. Although he felt a little regretful that he could not go to the battlefield to make military achievements, the fact that his father was willing to entrust the responsibility of managing the household to him and the Crown Prince showed that his father still trusted him.
When the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince heard what the Third Prince said, their faces both darkened. Just as they were about to say something, they heard the Prince of Zhi say, "Fourth Brother has a heavy responsibility. The Crown Prince is in charge of overseeing the country and he has to handle the daily affairs of the country. So the task of allocating food for the army falls entirely on Fourth Brother. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."
Before Ninth Master could say anything more, Eighth Master gave him a wink, signaling him not to say anything.
The Fourth Prince cupped his hands in greeting to the Prince of Zhi and said, "Brother's ability to accompany Father Emperor on his personal campaign is truly unmatched by us." The Prince of Zhi laughed heartily and strode out.
The Crown Prince, accompanied by his personal servants, headed towards Minqing Palace, parting ways with the others. The Fourth Prince then caught up with him, calling out, "Crown Prince, Second Brother!"
The Crown Prince was unhappy that Kangxi had left the Fourth Prince behind to assist him in overseeing the country. This showed that Kangxi did not trust the Fourth Prince, which was why he had sent the usually serious, cold, and ruthless Fourth Prince to guard the capital.
"What is it, Fourth Brother?" The Crown Prince stopped and turned to the Fourth Prince who had caught up with him.
"I am truly surprised to have gained Father's trust, and even more humbled to be able to assist you, Second Brother. I am not familiar with these matters, and I hope you will be kind enough to teach me," the Fourth Prince said earnestly, not wanting to create a rift between himself and the Crown Prince because of this.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince's words were moving and reasonable, the Crown Prince's expression softened slightly, and he said, "It's the same as you and I working together to prepare food and medicine for Father Emperor."
The Fourth Prince immediately agreed, exchanged a few more words with the Crown Prince, and then took his leave, turning towards the Shenwu Gate.
When the Fourth Prince returned to his residence, it was already past dinner time. After thinking for a moment, he sent someone to the Thirteenth Prince's residence to invite him over.
When he returned to his study, he sat behind his desk, tilted his head back, rested his head against the back of the chair, and closed his eyes to rest.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince's expression was displeased, Su Peisheng cautiously said, "Your Highness, just now, a maid from Consort Nian's side came over and said that Consort Nian would like to invite the Fourth Prince to dinner."
The Fourth Prince did not open his eyes, but said, "Go to the storeroom and pick out two things to send to Princess Nian. Tell her that I will visit her when I have time."
Seeing that the Fourth Master still hadn't opened his eyes, Su Peisheng said "Yes, sir" and went to carry out his duties.
"Someone come here!" Si shouted, opening his eyes.
"Your servant is here, please give your orders, Master." Zhao Quan, who was guarding outside, heard the summons from inside and immediately pushed open the door and came in.
"Go tell the kitchen to roast a lamb. I want to have a good drink with Thirteen," Fourth Master said.
"Yes, ma'am!" Zhao Quan was slightly disappointed to see that it wasn't anything serious. He hadn't sent a message to his wife in a long time, and he was starting to run out of money.
Su Peisheng then picked out two items from the storeroom: a crystal wine pot and a pair of gilded jade hairpins. He showed them to the Fourth Master in his study before personally taking the two items to Madam Nian's courtyard.
Furthermore, Lady Nian had already gotten a pretty good grasp of the situation in the manor over the past few days. The day Fourth Master left them behind, he went to the other courtyard and stayed for three days. Only then did she get a preliminary understanding of Lanqin's favor with the emperor. She knew as soon as Fourth Master returned, which showed that Lady Nian was indeed quite capable.
“Princess, I’ve never seen a whole nail of gold on the path I sweep in the front yard, so you immediately agreed to my request.” Cui Ling said, massaging the back of Nian’s neck.
"Hmph, money makes the world go round. This principle applies everywhere." Madam Nian was sitting on the main couch, letting Birou paint her nails.
"What was the master's reply?" Madam Nian asked.
"Reporting to Your Highness, that Eunuch Su said that Master just returned and he could only go in to inform him first, without giving a clear answer. This Hongling, she didn't even stay there, she just came back." Zi Ning was dusting the red sandalwood furniture behind Nian Shi with a feather duster.
"Go tell her not to eat tonight. She can't even handle this little thing, what's the point of eating?" Nian's face was adorned with an extremely exquisite makeup, and a light cherry blossom mark was specially imprinted between her eyebrows. She was truly more beautiful than a flower.
"Princess, Princess, Eunuch Su is here!" Hongling suddenly walked to the door and called out to the inner room.
When Lady Nian heard that Su Peisheng had arrived, she thought that the Fourth Prince was about to come, and she was overjoyed. She quickly stood up from the couch and was about to go to greet him, but then she noticed that she had only painted half of her hand, so she said to Zi Ning, "Quickly put nail guards on this princess."
She looked down at her clothes again; it was a pale ginger-yellow cheongsam embroidered with pansies, which suited her skin tone very well.
"Princess, Eunuch Su requests an audience!" Hongling said from outside.
Only then did Madam Nian realize what was happening, and asked in confusion, "What, is it only Eunuch Su?"
Hongling, who was outside, said, "Yes, there's a little servant following behind."
The smile on Nian's face vanished instantly, and she said disappointedly, "Let him in."
Su Peisheng led a young servant carrying a lacquer tray into the main room of Madam Nian. He saw Madam Nian sitting on the main couch, but he couldn't make out the expression on her face. She seemed somewhat disappointed.
"This servant greets Lady Nian." Su Peisheng bowed and greeted Lady Nian. The Fourth Prince has been able to bestow gifts upon Lady Nian time and again, which shows that he values her highly, so proper etiquette is essential.
"Please rise, sir. May I ask what brings you here?" Madam Nian knew that Su Peisheng was the most trusted servant of the Fourth Master, so she asked politely.
“This servant has already conveyed the princess’s sentiments to Master, but Master had to see the Thirteenth Prince, so he couldn’t come. However, Master specially bestowed two gifts upon the princess and instructed this servant to bring them to her, saying that he would come to see her when he had time,” Su Peisheng said.
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