Prince Gong of the First Rank, Changning, was appointed as the General of Anbei, leading 20,000 troops from the famous Xifengkou Pass as the right wing army.
With a well-trained and well-supplied army, they set off on a long expedition.
Unfortunately, Emperor Kangxi fell ill and had to return to the palace, unable to complete his personal campaign.
The Qing army exchanged fire with the Dzungar army using heavy firepower, and heavy artillery bombarded the camel city.
The Dzungar army only had a small number of Russian firearms, which were no match for the Qing army. In addition, the stalemate lasted for a long time and they ran out of ammunition, resulting in a major defeat for the Dzungar army!
Although the Qing army ultimately won, the losses were also quite heavy, with Kangxi's uncle, Tong Guogang, dying from a Russian smoothbore gun.
When Yinzhi returned to the capital, the weather had already turned cold.
Sherry's belly was already quite big, after all, it was twins.
Yinzhi knew that Xue Li was pregnant, but he didn't expect that her belly would be bigger than it had been at the same stage of pregnancy before.
Shirley looked at the young man who had experienced the baptism of war, a nineteen-year-old boy who possessed both the wildness of a man and the purity of a youth.
The imposing man's eyes seemed to sparkle the moment he saw Sherry.
Sherry vaguely saw his little tail swaying like a propeller behind him.
"My lord, I miss you so much!" Shirley couldn't help but smile happily when she saw him.
Yinzhi flashed his bright white teeth and eagerly pulled her back to her room.
The wet nurse, Wang, stepped over the fire basin and used pomelo leaves to whip and hit him.
Yinzhi glanced at Xue Li's belly and stood obediently without moving.
Sherry didn't say anything, she just stared at him.
His skin has become darker and rougher, and his beard has grown longer, but he looks more masculine now.
Yinzhi didn't speak, but stared intently into Xue Li's eyes.
Sherry had already arranged for someone to order water.
She wanted to bathe him herself, but Yinzhi refused, fearing she would fall.
Sherry didn't leave either; she just stood there watching.
It must be said that Yinzhi had well-defined muscles; his physique was already somewhat robust, but his muscles were particularly firm.
Sherry couldn't help but let her gaze linger on his chest, abdomen, and shoulders...
By the time Sherry came to her senses, Yinzhi's face had turned a dark reddish-brown, and he was hurriedly changing his clothes.
"Sir, you're so handsome!"
Fitness is indeed the best cosmetic procedure for men.
"Ahem..." Yinzhi coughed, too embarrassed to say anything, his shy and hesitant appearance making him seem like a timid young wife being teased.
He's a grown man, clearly happy but pretending to be aloof.
"I really want to hide you away and not let anyone see you!" Sherry's face was full of mischief.
"Hmm...be good, don't be silly!" Yinzhi's eyes were full of shyness and sweetness, and he calmed down again when he saw Xue Li's belly.
"My lord, I have prepared five beautiful princesses for you!" Sherry suddenly wanted to play a trick.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Yinzhi's face turned ashen.
He turned his head away angrily without saying a word, but when he saw her belly, he turned back and helped her out.
Sherry was surprised that this rough and careless man was so sincere.
After finishing his meal, Yinzhi turned to leave with a dark expression.
Shirley pulled him, but he still looked unhappy!
What's even funnier is that this time, even a kiss couldn't soothe her.
Sherry clutched her stomach and cried out "Ouch! Ouch!" pretending to have a stomachache.
Yinzhi couldn't hold back any longer. With a dark face, he hugged Xue Li and gently stroked her round belly.
"Good girl, don't be like your mother, always making me angry!" Yinzhi said through gritted teeth, rubbing his belly.
Sherry couldn't help but chuckle at his adorable appearance.
The two entered the bedchamber and nestled together. Shirley listened to his heartbeat, her delicate, boneless fingers seeming to dance, twirling, leaping, and lightly tapping.
A moment later, Yinzhi looked at her with teary eyes, his gaze filled with helplessness and adoration.
After an unknown amount of time, Yinzhi held Xue Li and gently wiped her with a handkerchief.
Sherry whispered in his ear, "Do you like this Five-Finger Princess, Master?"
"..." Yinzhi blushed and nestled against her neck, refusing to look up.
Sherry's face was gentle as water, but her mind was racing.
Yinzhi didn't know what Xueli was laughing about. He happily helped Xueli wash her hands and then held her as they went to bed.
In the following days, Emperor Kangxi intended to reward him.
Xue Li focused on her pregnancy, and Yin Zhi also took a rare break at home.
But every now and then, news would come in.
"Sir, do you want to be the emperor?" Sherry suddenly asked as she flipped through her book.
Yinzhi looked at her with disbelief.
"Guo'er, watch your words!"
“Grandpa, let’s have a chat tonight, just a casual conversation.” Shirley patted his head.
Yinzhi hesitated for a long time, looking somewhat bewildered.
"Whatever is fine~" Her words were full of uncertainty.
"Do you think Father Emperor favors you?" Sherry asked again.
"I don't know. Every time I feel hopeless, Father Emperor will give me a boost. But when I finally manage to surpass the Crown Prince, Father Emperor can't bear to let me go..."
As Yinzhi spoke, he sounded somewhat aggrieved.
"Who do you think the Emperor values more, Songgotu or Nalan Mingzhu?"
Sherry's expression was indifferent, unusually quiet and dignified.
"They're all the same, each has its own strengths!" Yinzhi's brows furrowed into a tight knot.
"What do you think is the difference between you, the Crown Prince, Suo'etu, and Nalan Mingzhu?" Shirley put down her book and stared at him intently.
Shatter his expectations and fantasies as soon as possible; perhaps then life will be easier and more enjoyable.
"Guo'er, what do you want to say?" Yinzhi scratched his head, looking puzzled.
"The way of balance for an emperor lies in balance. And that's exactly who you are! Right now, you're just a whetstone for the crown prince, but in the future..."
Sherry thought of the crickets that some spoiled rich kids liked to play with!
Yinzhi's expression was not good, and he lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time.
What about the future?
Have you ever played with crickets? Or do you know Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji?!
Sherry remained calm, saying it was too early to say that.
Upon hearing this, Yinzhi's expression darkened even further.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang certainly knew.
In his later years, Li Longji developed a strong sense of wariness towards his sons, including Crown Prince Li Ying.
This defensive mentality stemmed from several factors: First, Emperor Xuanzong had a strong desire for power and worried that his sons would seize it from him; second, in terms of personal feelings, he valued filial piety and disliked his sons doing things that went against his will; third, influenced by his favorite concubine, Consort Wu Hui, his impression of his sons gradually worsened; and fourth, the treacherous minister Li Linfu's framing of the crown prince made Emperor Xuanzong even more vigilant towards him.
Ultimately, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang killed three of his own sons, including Crown Prince Li Ying, in a single day. His fear of power transition and his wariness of his sons reached their peak in his old age.
"Your Majesty... I don't think Father Emperor would do such a thing!" After a long while, Yinzhi tentatively spoke up.
But his tone seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.
"We have a long future ahead of us! But from now on, don't rely too much on Nalan Mingzhu. Protect your reputation and don't let your lackeys act under your name!"
Sherry stared at him with a serious expression, and after a long silence, Yinzhi's eyes suddenly reddened for no apparent reason.
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