As soon as Yinreng entered the palace, covered in dust from his journey, he saw Zhao Lihe fawningly step forward, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness must be tired from your journey."
Yinreng knew that the old ancestor had invited him as soon as he saw him.
"I will first go back to Yuqing Palace to wash up before going to Cining Palace to pay my respects to the Ancestor."
Zhao Lihe knew that his master had been eagerly waiting every day, and now that he knew His Highness the Crown Prince had returned, he couldn't wait even a moment longer.
"Your Highness," Zhao Li fawned, clinging to Yinreng's leg, his face scrunched up like a bun, "Ever since learning that Your Highness had left the palace, the old matriarch has been unable to sleep day or night, constantly chanting Buddhist prayers whenever she has her eyes open. Now that she has learned of Your Highness's return, she is even more anxious to come and see you in person..."
"Alright, alright, stop talking, I'll go with you." Yinreng couldn't stand the old man's nagging any longer.
Upon entering Cining Palace, one could see Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang standing at the entrance of her sleeping quarters, looking in this direction. When she saw Yinreng walk in, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
“My darling, my darling, you’ve finally come back safe and sound.”
Upon seeing this, Yinreng immediately ran a few steps and rushed into Xiaozhuang's arms, "Grandma Wukuma, Baocheng missed you so much."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was already teary-eyed, and upon hearing Yinreng's words, her tears flowed even more freely.
"My goodness, how could you do something so dangerous? What if something goes wrong? You're going to kill me!"
Yinreng hugged Xiaozhuang tightly, feeling her trembling body, and felt very guilty.
"Grandma Ukuma, it's all Baocheng's fault for making you worry."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang wiped away her tears, held onto Yinreng tightly, and walked inside together.
Hongxi, being held by Xiuhe, immediately reached out his little hands when he saw Yinreng enter, saying, "Father, hug me."
Yinreng was surprised.
"You're finally back! If you hadn't come back, Yuqing Palace would have been gone."
Yinreng paused in his steps.
On the way to Cining Palace, Zhao Lihe had already recounted all the events that had happened at Yuqing Palace during this period, as instructed by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
Yinreng did not care about the punishment of Niohuru, but he disagreed with the decision to confine the Crown Princess to her quarters.
But he knew that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was angry and that's why she took it out on the Crown Princess, so he couldn't say anything. At worst, he could just comfort the Crown Princess when he returned to Yuqing Palace.
But upon hearing Hongxi's words, Yinreng felt that the boy was exaggerating and was probably feeling indignant on behalf of the Crown Princess.
Sure enough, as soon as Yinreng picked up Hongxi, he heard the little guy complaining in his mind again.
[My poor mother! Not only was she confined to Yuqing Palace, but she was also stripped of her power. The old matriarch actually let a concubine manage the household, and I almost froze to death because of it.]
Yinreng pursed his lips and subconsciously patted Hongxi's little bottom.
Why doesn't he believe that this kid can freeze to death?
"Does Hongxi miss his father?"
Yinreng teased him.
"Yes." Hongxi hugged Yinreng's neck and kissed him on the cheek.
The little guy uses the same trick on everyone he meets now, making everyone happy.
Yinreng, holding Hongxi, sat down beside Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, then looked around the hall. "The Crown Princess isn't here?"
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was somewhat embarrassed. Oh no, she had forgotten to inform the Crown Princess.
Seeing Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's expression, Su Mala Gu immediately said, "The Crown Princess is on her way and will be here shortly." After saying that, she winked at Zhao Lihe, who immediately ran out to find her.
Seeing that he hadn't seen anything, Yinreng held Hongxi and told Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang about the situation on Kangxi's side.
"Father was faking illness, not actually fainting. He was just trying to gauge the thoughts of the various Mongol tribes. Although a few tribes were somewhat unsettled, the overall situation remained stable, and no major trouble arose."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had always been worried about her grandson's health. Now that she heard he was faking illness, she breathed a sigh of relief, but then she realized something was wrong.
It makes sense that Emperor Kangxi feigned illness to deceive the various tribes of the grasslands, but why didn't he even tell the truth to his own son?
Was he trying to find out what the tribes of the grasslands were thinking, or what his sons were thinking?
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sighed silently. Well, as long as the situation is within a controllable range, she will not investigate further to avoid hurting their relationship.
Before long, Lady Guarjia arrived with her entourage in a hurry, and her eyes reddened when she saw Yinreng from afar.
Her life was saved.
"This humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Guarjia was about to perform the ceremony when Yinreng raised his hand to stop her.
"I am grateful to the Crown Princess for taking care of me during my absence."
Knowing that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was watching her, Lady Guarjia naturally dared not speak carelessly. "I haven't done anything special, I've just been chanting sutras and praying for His Highness the Crown Prince, hoping that he can return safely."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded in satisfaction and invited Sumalagu to serve tea and refreshments. "Princess Consort, please sit down and let's talk things over slowly."
When Hongxi saw that Lady Guarjia had arrived, he stretched out his little hand and tried to support her. Seeing this, Yinreng had no choice but to hand the child to her.
"This child is still closer to you."
Guarjia blushed. "When the child is young, he will naturally be closer to his mother. But when he grows up, he will always look for his father."
Yinreng smiled without speaking, then turned to look at Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, "No major incidents have occurred in the court recently, which must be due to the help and efforts of Granny Wukuma. Baocheng will no longer dare to act on his own and worry Granny Wukuma."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang knew that Yinreng was a sensible child.
Now that the Emperor is not in the capital, if the Crown Prince, who is in charge of the State, does not appear for several days in a row, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the court and panic among the court officials.
Even with the suppression from figures like Suo'etu, he was still a subject, and trouble was bound to happen eventually.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang patted Yinreng's hand and said, "Baocheng, if you have any plans in the future, you must tell me. I will always support you. Just don't do things secretly anymore."
Fortunately, she still has the power she wields over the years and has been able to maintain the situation; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
After leaving Cining Palace, Yinreng carried Hongxi and led Guarjia clan towards Yuqing Palace.
The weather was quite nice today, and the three of them strolled along leisurely, just like any other ordinary couple.
"I know you've suffered some injustices lately, but the Ancestor is also very angry. Although I can't say anything to the Ancestor, I will make it up to you."
Guarjia looked at him gratefully, "I understand everything. If the old master is angry, it doesn't matter if I am confined to my quarters. Besides, the old master has not really abandoned me. Whether it is the affairs of the court or the Yuqing Palace, the old master has helped to handle and clean up the mess. I am truly grateful."
Seeing that Lady Guarjia was genuinely grateful, Yinreng felt much more at ease.
[It was truly aggrieved that my mother was confined to Yuqing Palace to copy scriptures. She was, after all, the Crown Princess, not some lowly concubine.]
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