"Did you all hear the shouts outside?" Kangxi asked.
“Father, actually, the people in my residence also heard the shouts of those disaster victims outside. They said that a monstrous star had descended from the sky to bring disaster to the Qing Dynasty,” said Prince Heshuo.
Kangxi neither agreed nor disagreed, but gestured for the others to continue.
"Father, I believe the people are suffering from the drought, which is why they are easily manipulated by those with ulterior motives. 'Demon star'? Where did this 'demon star' come from?" the Fourth Prince said firmly.
"Yes, Father Emperor, I also think that the so-called 'demon star' theory is completely unfounded," said the Eighth Prince.
“These ignorant people, in my opinion, Father Emperor, you should let me lead men to arrest them all,” said Ninth Prince.
"With so many people, how can you possibly arrest them all?" Kangxi angrily rebuked the Ninth Prince. "Where are the Tenth and Fourteenth Princes?"
"Your Majesty, I sent those two out on some business. They should be out mobilizing troops by now," the Fourth Prince said hastily when Kangxi asked. It turned out that while Kangxi was praying for rain, the Fourteenth Prince had secretly told the Fourth Prince about the fleeting face he had seen.
"What is it?" Kangxi asked, staring intently at the Fourth Prince.
"Fourteenth Prince said he found the person from Wutai Mountain in the crowd. For safety's sake, I have already ordered him and Tenth Prince to mobilize troops. I believe that someone is deliberately mingling among those disaster victims and spreading the so-called 'demon star' to incite their emotions. Father, I believe that the most urgent task now is to set the record straight!" Fourth Prince said.
When the Fourth Prince said these words, the Prince of Heshuo unconsciously clenched his fist, internally struggling with a dilemma. Indeed, among those disaster victims were "disaster victims" arranged by Yinti, specifically responsible for spreading the "demon star theory."
"Fourth brother, I feel that your words are somewhat of a cover-up." He decided to take a gamble and said this.
"What do you mean by that, elder brother?" Fourth Prince turned to Prince Heshuo and asked.
"Fourth brother, do you really not know? Isn't the so-called 'demon star' from your own household?" Prince Heshuo stared at the fourth prince and said.
These words shocked everyone present, including Emperor Kangxi, who all looked at Yinti with astonishment.
"Brother, don't speak carelessly!" the Fourth Prince said coldly. She had never been spoken to like this before, and even if Emperor Kangxi were alive, he would not allow Yinti to slander her like this.
"Isn't the concubine in your household pregnant with twins? It's said that she saw ghosts and countless poisonous snakes suddenly appearing in her courtyard while she was pregnant. Isn't that enough to prove that she's carrying a monstrous evil that will bring disaster to our Great Qing?" Seeing that things had come to this point, Yinti decided to speak frankly. The fourth prince had shown his face before Kangxi, something he absolutely wouldn't allow.
"You're talking nonsense!" The Fourth Prince suddenly grabbed Yinti by the collar, staring coldly into his eyes, and said, "Don't you dare slander her!"
"Do you even respect me?" Kangxi shouted as his two sons were about to fight in front of him.
"Fourth brother, talk to me nicely, why did you have to resort to violence!" The third brother was secretly overjoyed.
"Fourth Brother, we can talk things out, don't resort to violence!" said Eighth Master.
The Fourth Prince's grip on Yinti's hand gradually loosened. If Emperor Kangxi hadn't been present, he would have already punched him. He and the First Prince Yinti had never had a direct conflict before, but now he dared to challenge his bottom line.
"Fourth Prince, if you don't believe me, go ask him yourself. I'm not making this up. Father, so many strange things have been found on Consort Niu in Fourth Prince's residence. Could it be an omen? Why don't we have Lord Ji do a proper divination?" Yinti suddenly pulled Fourth Prince's hand off his collar and said.
"Father, my concubine, Niohuru, is definitely not carrying any 'cursed star' as they claim. Father, someone is secretly inciting public sentiment and trying to find an excuse to cause trouble!" The Fourth Prince clasped his hands and said to Emperor Kangxi.
The noise outside grew louder and louder, and it seemed that even the yamen runners couldn't hold it back. Kangxi frowned and said to the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince, "You two go out and comfort the disaster victims. You must tell them that the court has been trying to find a solution. The rain will definitely come. Tell them to calm down. As for the so-called 'evil star,' it's pure slander and nonsense."
When Prince Heshuo saw that Kangxi's attitude was to protect the Fourth Prince, he knew that it would probably not work to suppress the matter through this.
After the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince went out to comfort the disaster victims, Kangxi said to the princes standing in the room, "Tell me, what exactly did those 'evil stars' say?"
Third Master and Fourth Master, accompanied by their guards, approached the restless disaster victims and patiently persuaded them.
"Your commotion here is useless. The Emperor has personally come to pray for rain. It will definitely rain," the Third Master shouted.
"You're lying! There's no rain! You're just kidding us," someone said.
"His Majesty knows that you have been forced to flee your homes due to the severe drought and have traveled thousands of miles to find water. His Majesty has been searching for a solution for everyone's sake. Do not listen to the instigation of those with ulterior motives," the Fourth Prince continued.
“If we get rid of the ‘evil star,’ we’ll stop causing trouble. The Emperor himself came to pray for rain, but the heavens didn’t send any. It’s clear that the ‘evil star’ is too harmful. We must get rid of the ‘evil star,’ and then we will naturally go back,” someone else said.
Every time Fourth Master tried to see who was talking to him, it seemed that the voice always hid itself in the crowd, and he had no idea who was speaking.
"Who just said that? Step forward and speak to me, Your Highness! What kind of skill is it to hide in the shadows!" Fourth Prince shouted at the voice in the crowd.
For some reason, after the Fourth Master said those words, the restless crowd quieted down considerably.
"Can't we even speak? Folks, he's that 'demon star's' father. If he doesn't protect the 'demon star,' who will?" A voice came from behind the crowd.
Fourth Master tried hard to find the owner of the voice, but he still couldn't. There were just too many people, and they were deliberately hiding among them, so it was impossible to find out who was speaking.
Fourth Master was fairly certain that some people were hiding among the disaster victims, stirring up trouble. Therefore, as long as these people were caught, the disaster victims would not cause any more trouble.
"Get rid of the 'evil star'!" This cry erupted again from the crowd. As the shouts grew louder, the yamen runners of the Prefect of the Capital gradually began to be unable to control the increasingly restless crowd.
"Fourth Prince, that person looks familiar!" the Third Prince suddenly said to the Fourth Prince.
"Are you sure?" Fourth Master and Third Master took a step back.
"It seems to be a servant of the eldest son's family!" the Third Prince exclaimed in surprise.
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