"Come, let me offer you all a toast as a way of thanking the relatives present for their advice on the marriage alliance..." The Fourth Prince raised his cup to invite everyone to drink together, and everyone naturally responded enthusiastically, standing up and raising their cups to the Fourth Prince.
"I am very happy today. It reminds me of my childhood when my brothers and I can gather together like this. Time flies, and it is a great blessing in life to be able to get together like this to drink and chat..." the Fourth Prince said excitedly.
"I am able to govern the Qing Dynasty well thanks to your support, and I know that in my heart..." Several princes who had not offered to send their daughters looked embarrassed for a moment. Fortunately, the Third Prince excitedly agreed to the Fourth Prince's words and took credit for it, saying, "It is the responsibility of us royal descendants to relieve the Emperor's worries and contribute to the Qing Dynasty. The Emperor is busy with state affairs every day and is concerned about the country and its people. This is the blessing of the Qing Dynasty..."
"His Majesty has made invaluable contributions; he is wise and mighty..." someone exclaimed.
The atmosphere at the banquet seemed quite harmonious.
The Fourth Prince, though drunk, was not truly sober. He clearly understood that all this peace was merely a facade. The Third Prince's enthusiastic response to his proposal of a marriage alliance was simply a means to ensure his survival. Ever since Emperor Kangxi's death and the Fourth Prince's ascension to the throne, the Third Prince had lived in constant fear. Throughout history, princes vied for the throne, with the victor becoming king and the loser a bandit. The Fourteenth Prince was the best example, so these princes lived each day in the constant terror of losing their lives.
Fifth Master was no exception. Now that the political situation was settled, simply surviving was difficult enough. Fourth Master was always unfathomable and cunning; if he couldn't quickly establish a firm foothold and clearly state his stance, he might be dealt with by Fourth Master in the future. Fifth Master eagerly flattered and fawned, and although he came after Third Master, he finally felt relieved to learn that his daughter had been taken in by Fourth Master…
Only Seventh Master genuinely wanted to help Fourth Master, a fact that Fourth Master was well aware of.
After a few drinks, the Third Prince, feeling slightly dizzy, sat back down in his seat. His wife helped him up and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, the Emperor seems very pleased. It seems you've finally won his favor this time."
The Third Prince nodded smugly, slurring, "I just seized the opportunity. One or two illegitimate daughters can bring peace to our royal palace. It's worth it..."
The Third Prince's wife glanced at the Third Prince and smiled, "If Consort Tian knew, Your Highness..."
The Third Prince interrupted sharply: "Even if she is my legitimate daughter, she cannot be an exception when it is time for her to serve the Prince's Mansion, let alone a daughter born out of wedlock..."
The Ninth Prince observed the subtle interactions between the Third Master and his wife, took a sip of wine, and chuckled, "Third Brother is truly ruthless; she's still his own daughter..."
The Eighth Prince's wife poured a cup of wine for the Ninth and Eighth Princes, and said sarcastically, "Third Prince, how could you have thought so far ahead? As long as you can win the Emperor's favor, I'm afraid you'd be willing to send your daughter to the ends of the earth..."
Ninth Prince chuckled, "Third Princess should be glad her daughter is already married, otherwise who knows whether the three daughters sent to her would be legitimate or illegitimate princesses..."
The Eighth Prince raised his head slightly and smiled faintly, "Princesses sent for political marriages never meet a good end. What about the daughters of the royal family? They can never escape the fierce storms of the grasslands. No matter how down on my luck I am, I will never send my own flesh and blood to a place where I am doomed..."
The Eighth Prince's wife glanced at him, silently added some food to his plate, and carefully advised, "Your Highness, please drink less. Your stomach isn't good, so please take good care of yourself..."
Ninth Master glanced at Third Master and said, "Eighth Brother, when Third Brother was vying for the position of Crown Prince, he wasn't like this at all..."
Eighth Master said, seemingly casually, "Haven't we changed too..."
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