Hongxi caught up with the group under the guise of the Crown Prince. The story goes that the Crown Prince couldn't bear to part with his sister and specially ordered his son to escort her for another hundred miles.
The people from the Borjigit Ongniud tribe who came to welcome the princess had no suspicions. They just felt that the prince was being too good to this eighth princess and that they must not neglect her after returning home.
During the escort, Hongxi didn't say much to Wenke. They both knew what was going on and didn't want to lie.
Along the way, Hongxi sent people to carefully search for any trace of Dunke in the crowd.
Even if a living person is taken out of the palace in a box, she cannot be kept hidden in the box forever; she would suffocate after a while.
Judging from the letter, Wen Ke only wanted to retaliate against being neglected and to make the favored princess Dun Ke fawn over her for survival; she didn't really want to kill her.
However, after searching all the way, there was no trace of Hongxi.
Qingqing, who came with him, whispered a reminder, "Is it possible that Dunke is hiding in Wenke's sedan chair?"
The reason I brought Qingqing along this time is mainly because she is Wen Ke's woman. If it really comes down to it, Qingqing will definitely be easier to deal with than Hongxi.
Moreover, Qingqing grew up in Mongolia and is very good at horseback riding and archery, so having her by my side makes me feel safe.
Hearing Qingqing's words, Hongxi thought it was possible, so during a rest stop, he had Qingqing get into Wen Ke's sedan chair under the pretense of delivering food.
At first, Wen Ke's palace maids wouldn't allow Qingqing to get into the sedan chair, until Qingqing slapped her unconscious, and then the others obediently made way.
Before Qingqing even stepped inside the sedan chair, she saw Dunke with her hands and feet bound. Her mouth was stuffed with a strip of cloth, and she looked listless, suggesting that she had been drugged.
Wen Ke sat there confidently, looking at Qingqing with a smug expression. "So what if you find her? I don't believe you can openly take her out of the sedan chair."
Qingqing sneered, "Why not?"
Hongxi, who was outside the carriage, heard the commotion inside. Although he didn't know what had happened, he figured... something had been done.
Hongxi touched his nose, surprised that Qingqing was so tough, even such a small sedan chair could be so forceful.
Even though the palace maids who were driven out heard the sounds inside, they didn't dare to lift the sedan curtain to take a look, mainly because they were no match for the enemy.
When they arrived at the post station, Qingqing helped the bride, who was wearing a veil, to get down from the sedan chair. After exchanging a glance with Hongxi, she helped her into the post station.
Several palace maids seemed to realize something, but under Hongxi's murderous gaze, they still followed Qingqing inside.
Hongxi lifted the sedan curtain only after all his entourage had entered the post station.
Sure enough, Wen Ke's hands and feet were bound, and her mouth was stuffed with a strip of cloth, so no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't make a sound.
Hongxi said coldly, "I will send people to guard the carriage to ensure your life is not in danger. After Aunt Shi is taken away tomorrow, you will be free."
Wen Ke's eyes blazed with boundless fury, but as the carriage curtain was lowered, her story came to an end.
After resting for a night, before dawn the next day, Dunke was dressed in men's clothing and returned to the capital under the escort of Qingqing and a group of guards.
Hongxi continued to escort the group until they had traveled another hundred miles before returning.
As they parted, Hongxi looked at Wen Ke, who had already changed back into his bridal attire, and said coldly, "I hope you can find a way to protect yourself over there, otherwise... your mother's clan will not offer you any help."
Wen Ke watched the young man's aloof figure walk further and further away, and slowly closed his eyes.
Back at the palace, Dunke underwent a second medical examination, and apart from various signs of weakness, there were no other abnormalities, which put everyone at ease.
As Hongxi said, Kangxi treated Wen Ke the same way, ignoring him and letting him fend for himself.
After seeing Wen Ke off, the biggest event of the year is the wedding of Prince Zhi.
Although it was a marriage to a second wife, Prince Zhi's status was special, and the old man wanted to save face for him, so he demanded that the Ministry of Rites handle the entire wedding as a normal grand wedding, without any reduction in standards.
So, the Ministry of Rites, which had just finished arranging Princess Wenke's wedding, had no time to catch its breath before it began to busy itself with the wedding of Prince Zhi.
Yin Tao has been extremely busy lately, constantly shuttling between the Ministry of Rites and the Prince Zhi's residence.
With less than a month to go before the third day of the ninth month, Songgotu and Yinqi sent letters respectively, saying that Tsewang Arabtan was indeed not quiet. He secretly colluded with Tsarist Russia, constantly launching surprise attacks on important towns such as Kobdo and Barkol, and sending troops to invade Tibet.
Therefore, after discussing with his ministers, Emperor Kangxi, at the insistence of Yinti, ordered him to lead troops into Tibet to join forces with the Tibetan army to suppress the rebellion. After half a month of fierce fighting, they finally drove the Tsewang Arabtan rebellion out of Tibet.
On August 21st, Emperor Kangxi received news of the victory in the great battle and immediately promoted Yinti to Prince Zhi. Just when everyone thought the wedding would be postponed, Yinti returned the night before the wedding.
The entire palace and even the capital city were in an uproar, with countless people lining the streets overnight to welcome their hero.
On the second day, along the way to the wedding procession, the people showed even greater enthusiasm, shouting and cheering as they followed the procession.
Hongxi followed Hongyu, sensing the intense atmosphere, and whispered, "I heard that Uncle didn't sleep all night, but he's still so energetic today."
Hongyu couldn't help but laugh, "Who would have thought that the first thing Father did upon returning was to thank the Emperor, and the second thing was to go to Yuqing Palace to show off to Second Uncle? Sigh... He was so happy when he got back to the manor that he didn't sleep a wink all night."
When this matter was brought up, Hongxi couldn't help but facepalm.
Last night, after my uncle went to the Qianqing Palace to express his gratitude, he did not leave the palace but instead went to the Yuqing Palace, insisting on drinking with the Crown Prince, which infuriated the Crown Prince.
In the end, the two brothers drank two jars before stopping, and the Crown Prince is still asleep in Yuqing Palace.
"Among the elders, my eldest uncle is the first and currently the only one to be granted the title of Prince. He is truly remarkable."
Hongyu looked at his father with eyes full of respect and admiration.
"All of Ama's honors were earned with his life. In the future, I will also be like Ama and protect everything I care about with my life."
Hongxi looked at Hongyu beside him and thought to himself, "Prince Yu is so old and still wants to fight on the battlefield. He probably does it to earn merit and ensure that his descendants can live in peace."
Prince Zhi's wedding went smoothly, since no one dared to cause trouble at his wedding. Even his brothers, who wanted to get him drunk, gave up their struggles after hearing that the Crown Prince was still lying in Yuqing Palace, still drunk.
As a result, the wedding day went exceptionally smoothly, from the moment the bride was picked up to the moment she entered the bridal chamber.
With the end of the great war, both Suo'etu and Yinqi returned during the New Year period. As soon as the New Year's Eve banquet ended, Yinqi was urged to go to the military camp.
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