The child had limited stamina and became sleepy after playing for a while. Granny Wang signaled to the wet nurse to take the child back to sleep.
Back in the inner room of the east courtyard, "Madam, the young master has been carried back to the warm pavilion and is asleep."
"Yes, Granny is very thoughtful."
At night, everything was covered in white. Rouyin looked out the window at the snow falling heavier and heavier. "Grandpa should be here soon, right?"
Meanwhile, Yinzhen, traveling through the night with over twenty guards, kept moving tirelessly. When hungry, they ate some dry rations to tide them over; when thirsty, they collected snow, heated it in a container, and drank it. The distance from the capital to the southwest wasn't too far, and with their relentless travel, they arrived at the Qing army's rear early the next morning. Upon receiving news of the Fourth Prince's arrival, the junior commander guarding the rear hurriedly rushed to greet him and sent messengers to inform the Emperor, the First Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourteenth Prince.
Upon seeing the person who was to receive him, Yinzhen indicated that there was no need to make a fuss. "Please trouble the general to show me to a place first. I will wash up before meeting the emperor."
Commander Lin, who was in charge of receiving them, replied respectfully, "Yes, Fourth Prince, please follow me." He secretly admired him, thinking that he was indeed a famously cold-faced prince in the capital. Even though he was somewhat disheveled, his imposing presence was not diminished and he was still awe-inspiring.
After finding the tent, Yinzhen quickly washed up, looked at himself in the mirror, and thought he was ready. He then walked towards his father's tent.
Leaving aside how shocked Kangxi was to see his fourth son in the early hours of the morning, looking at his son, who was covered in dust and had dark circles under his eyes, clearly exhausted from not having rested for a long time, Kangxi felt both heartache and relief. He quickly helped his fourth son, who had rushed over overnight, to his feet, saying, "You! Get up. I only suffered a minor injury, yet you still... rushed over!"
"Your Majesty, I am not troubled. Your Majesty's safety is a matter of national importance. I only hope that Your Majesty will be blessed with boundless good fortune!"
Looking at his fourth son, who always kept a straight face, was calm and composed, and never shirked responsibility or became arrogant, Kangxi was extremely satisfied. Compared to the Crown Prince in the palace who did nothing, he felt somewhat relieved.
Upon receiving news of his fourth brother's sudden arrival, both the eldest prince, Yinzhi, and the third prince, Yinzhi, curled their lips in disapproval. The fourth prince was truly cunning, rushing to curry favor with their father overnight—his intentions were certainly not small! They secretly increased their vigilance towards him. Only the fourteenth prince, Yinzhen, was genuinely delighted by his fourth brother's arrival, even worrying about his sister-in-law and his newborn nephews who remained at home.
In the previous dynasty, the Crown Prince, upon receiving news that the Fourth Prince had rushed to his father's side overnight, twitched his eyebrows and thought unhappily, "The Fourth Prince really is blind!" However, since he was responsible for overseeing the country, he would not hold it against him for the time being!
"Your Highness, it might be disadvantageous for you if the Fourth Prince goes to the Emperor's side," said Wang Cheng, a trusted advisor under the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince scoffed, "What's the matter? My father has always valued me highly; how could a mere prince who hasn't even been granted a title influence me!"
Facing the stubborn and headstrong Crown Prince, Wang Cheng felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The Emperor valued the Crown Prince, but there could only be one throne. How could the Emperor tolerate a Crown Prince who coveted the throne? The Emperor and his son were of the same family... If the Crown Prince didn't show the Emperor's affection soon... Alas, the Crown Prince was becoming increasingly violent and wouldn't listen to anyone's advice. He dared not try to persuade him any further. Just two days ago, he had seen a strategist dragged out of the Crown Prince's palace, a strategist who had disobeyed him and been tortured beyond recognition. He feared that the next corpse to be dragged out would be himself.
A few days later, Emperor Kangxi returned to the capital with several of his sons, including Yinzhen.
In Yonghe Palace, Consort De looked at her youngest son, who was travel-worn but still full of vigor. Her whole being radiant was like a newly drawn sword, her eyes flashing with the sharpness of someone who had seen blood. She leaned close and cupped Yinzhen's face in her hands, her eyes red, "You've lost weight, you've lost weight! Your mother has prepared your favorite red soup chicken soup."
“Mother, I’ve been eating and drinking with Father Emperor at the border, and I haven’t lost any weight! And let me tell you, Mother, the Southwest is truly magnificent. The towering mountains and lush green rivers are breathtaking, and the tides are absolutely magnificent…”
Watching the Fourteenth Prince speak so eloquently, Consort De listened with satisfaction, not interrupting him. The atmosphere was uniquely warm and harmonious. When Yinzhen arrived to visit his mother, this was a picture of a family where no one could interfere. He fell silent, stopped in his tracks, and looked at Consort De with a slightly disappointed expression. The Fourteenth Prince, Yinzhen, whose alertness honed on the battlefield, immediately spotted his fourth brother. Desperate to mend the relationship between his mother and brother, Yinzhen's eyes lit up. "Fourth Brother! Mother, Fourth Brother took good care of me when you came to the border!"
Consort De felt somewhat awkward upon noticing her eldest son. She was used to treating him coldly, and suddenly having to soften her tone, she stiffly said to Yinzhen, "You already have six children. Bring them in to see us tomorrow!"
Yinzhen was somewhat surprised, but quickly replied, "I will rest for a while and bring my wife and children to see Mother tomorrow."
"Um"
There was a moment of silence. The Fourteenth Prince, who had been leading the conversation, finally took the blame. He chuckled awkwardly, "Haha, Mother, you have no idea how handsome my Fourth Brother and his younger brothers are! Especially Hongzhou's eyes, they're so much like yours, so bright and beautiful. And the other nephews are really..."
Consort De had indeed been curious about the quadruplets for a long time, especially the little prince who looked exactly like her. She couldn't imagine what her face would look like on a boy. How could anyone tell that he resembled her? And those little princes who looked like His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Grand Empress Dowager—Ulanara was truly blessed! Her face had become a talisman! She would never have allowed them to enter the palace often before, but now it didn't matter.
Back at his residence, Yinzhen washed up carefully. Rouyin was clean and couldn't stand any strange smells, so he had to restrain himself before he could be affectionate with her.
Rouyin rushed towards Yinzhen, who was dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold dragon patterns, and said softly, "You've lost weight, Your Highness."
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