When Hongli learned of the dethronement of Consort Xi, he was practicing calligraphy in a side hall of the imperial mausoleum.
The brush suddenly stopped, and the ink spread out in a dark smear on the rice paper.
His face turned deathly pale instantly, and the pen in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
"My mother... has been deposed?" he murmured, a flash of disbelief and anger in his eyes.
He thought his plan was foolproof, using the rumors about the "demon star" to shake Consort Lin's position and then paving the way for himself.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor found the source so quickly that he even went so far as to depose his mother!
Hongli clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
"Father, how could you be so heartless..." He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently.
But he quickly forced himself to calm down.
Now is not the time to act impulsively. Since Father Emperor was able to investigate to this extent, he must have become suspicious of him.
Hongli took a deep breath, slowly loosened his fist, and the anger in his eyes gradually turned into a coldness.
He must lie low and wait for the right opportunity.
Even the most powerful emperor has his oversights.
What he had to do was to endure, and endure some more.
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After dealing with the rumors, Yongzheng turned his attention to the Ministry of War.
More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the military reforms have begun to take shape.
The new type of firearms equipped elite troops, and generals from various regions underwent rigorous assessments, with the best being weeded out. The garrison in the capital region was also completely transformed.
On this day, Emperor Yongzheng arrived at Yanxi Palace at dusk and saw Lin Yun leaning against the window, playing with two children, her eyes full of tenderness.
He walked over, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and said softly, "Yun'er, there will be a military parade at the camp outside the capital in three days. Would you like to come with me?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yun's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned around, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Of course I'm willing! I've been cooped up in the palace for so long, I've been wanting to go out for a walk for a while now."
She tugged at Yongzheng's sleeve, her tone slightly coquettish, "Your Majesty must take me with you, okay?"
Seeing her like this, Yongzheng couldn't help but chuckle and pinched the tip of her nose: "Alright, I promise you. But the military camp is not like the palace. You must stay with me and not run around."
Lin Yun nodded repeatedly, her smile as bright as a spring flower in bloom: "Your Majesty, I will be good and will not cause any trouble."
Three days later, the sky cleared and the air was fresh.
Emperor Yongzheng was dressed in an indigo blue casual robe, with a dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist, exuding an air of refined elegance.
Lin Yun specially chose a palace dress in the same color scheme, with silver thread embroidered on the hem, which was both dignified and lively.
The two walked out of the palace gate one after the other, boarded the carriage, and headed towards the camp on the outskirts of the capital.
Lin Yun lifted the car curtain and looked at the scenery rushing past outside the window, her eyes filled with joy.
Yongzheng glanced at her, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips: "So happy?"
Lin Yun turned around and smiled at him: "Of course I'm happy to go out with Your Majesty."
Yongzheng squeezed her hand and said in a low voice, "Don't stray too far from me later." Lin Yun nodded obediently, "Your Majesty, I understand."
At the military camp on the outskirts of Beijing, banners fluttered in the wind, and soldiers were already lined up, waiting.
Upon learning that the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine were personally present, the soldiers were all in high spirits, stood up straight, and had bright, piercing eyes.
As the carriage slowly drove into the camp, everyone's eyes were involuntarily drawn to it.
Lin Yun helped Yongzheng down from the carriage, the sunlight shining on her as if coating her with a soft halo.
The soldiers were stunned, and some couldn't help but whisper in admiration, "The Imperial Concubine is truly a celestial being descended to earth!"
Yongzheng noticed the gazes around him, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure welled up in his heart.
He secretly regretted it: he had forgotten how lovable his Yun'er was, and these soldiers probably hadn't seen a woman in a long time.
Then he thought about it again, and realized that he hadn't had enough to eat last time either... Thinking of this, he couldn't help but tighten his grip on the soft hand.
The military parade began with the beating of war drums and the sounding of bugles.
Squads of soldiers marched in unison across the high platform, their armor gleaming, their imposing presence overwhelming.
The musket team demonstrated their new weapons, the gunfire deafening and the smoke billowing, eliciting repeated exclamations of amazement from Lin Yun.
She whispered in Yongzheng's ear, "Your Majesty, these muskets are incredibly powerful!"
Yongzheng smiled slightly: "This is all thanks to Yun'er. If it weren't for the improvement methods you proposed, how could our military equipment be so excellent?"
Lin Yun smiled, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes.
Just then, a cavalry unit of about a hundred men galloped past, their hooves thundering and dust billowing.
Lin Yun was overwhelmed by this aura and couldn't help but move closer to Yongzheng.
Yongzheng pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Are you scared?"
Lin Yun shook her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "I just think it's too magnificent!"
Looking at her rosy cheeks, Yongzheng's heart softened, and he couldn't help but lower his head and gently kiss her forehead.
This scene was witnessed by soldiers in the distance, and a low murmur of jeers immediately arose from the crowd.
Lin Yun blushed and buried her face in Yongzheng's chest.
Yongzheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at them, and everyone immediately fell silent.
As they were talking, the infantry battalion suddenly changed formation, with shield bearers in front and pikemen behind, instantly forming an impenetrable wall.
Lin Yun was engrossed in watching when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her palm. The Emperor had somehow tightened his grip on her hand.
She turned her head in confusion, only to see the emperor with a stern face, his gaze like a knife piercing a captain in the formation who kept looking up.
Lin Yun then belatedly realized what was happening and chuckled to herself, "Your Majesty, is there something on my face? Why are the soldiers staring at me like this?"
Yongzheng said with a stern face, "The military camp is an important place, where one should be focused and undistracted. It seems that the daily drills have been too lax." Before he finished speaking, a commotion arose in the distance.
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