And Yinzhen did indeed go to the residence of Consort Ulanara.
"Sir, what brings you here at this hour?"
When Yinzhen arrived at Ulanara's place, it was already quite late. Ulanara was still looking at the palace's account books and had not yet rested.
"I haven't come to see you in a long time, so I just came to check on you."
The princess put down the account book in her hand, dismissed the servants, and personally brewed tea for them.
"Sir, please speak plainly."
Ulanara did not believe that Yinzhen had come just to see her, nor did she want to hear him speak such official language to her.
"Yingxue, it's been a long time since we've had a conversation like this."
Yinzhen took a few sips of the tea in his hand, and then leaned back against the cushion as if he had suddenly unloaded a heavy burden.
Looking at the exhausted Yinzhen, Ulanara concealed the heartache in her eyes and handed him a peeled orange.
“You’re right, sir. This is the first time you’ve stepped into this courtyard since I was released from confinement.”
"...Yingxue, do you hate me?"
Ulanara was taken aback; the prince hadn't called her name for many years.
Although surprised, she calmly answered Yinzhen's question:
"It would be a lie to say I don't hate them, but I don't hate them as much now."
"Then let me ask you, why did you do those things?"
Yinzhen believed that what Ulanara had done before was nothing more than jealousy.
But after hearing what his father said, he suddenly understood that Ulanara did those things not out of jealousy, but out of hatred—hatred for him, and hatred for herself.
“Honghui is very smart, you have taught him very well.”
When Yinzhen mentioned her son's name, Ulanara's eyes welled up with tears.
"Sir, do you ever dream about our son?"
Yes, many times.
Even the cold-hearted Ulanara clan could be moved by her own son.
"My lord, Honghui has been gone for so many years, and I have missed him for so many years. I was once a mother myself, how could I bear to harm the children in this household!"
Yes, she was once a mother, and a very good one at that. How could she bear to harm a young child?
"But you still did those things in the end."
"My lord, have you ever truly cared about me?"
Ulanara stood up, walked to the window, looked at the dim moon outside, and for the first time revealed her vulnerability to Yinzhen.
"I still remember how overjoyed I was when I first received the imperial decree, thinking that I had truly been blessed by Heaven. Even after I entered the manor, when Song and Li gave birth to your children one after another, I had no complaints and was willing to treat them as my own. But as a woman, as your consort, I am not always free. That person in the palace used Honghui as a threat, and I had no choice but to obey."
Ulanara wiped away her tears and continued speaking with her back to Yinzhen:
"Those jars were indeed drugged, but the drug has been replaced. The only thing that's happened is that they haven't conceived in the last few years. As for the children who have already left, I don't need to mention them anymore."
"...Why didn't you tell me all this beforehand?"
Ulanara turned around, her tears already wiped away, leaving only faint tear stains:
"My lord, you are a man destined for great things, and you should not let these matters hold you back. Rest assured, I will never do anything to betray you again. As for those troublesome matters in the palace, leave them to me."
Yinzhen didn't speak, stood there blankly for a long time, and then left.
Ulanara stood by the window, weeping bitterly.
They both knew that things could never go back to the way they were.
After that, Prince Yong's mansion entered a period of peace, and even the usually competitive Nian Yunrong became much more docile.
The prestige of Yinzhen and others in the court was also enhanced.
"What are your opinions, my esteemed ministers, regarding the missionaries' disturbance?"
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the cause of this missionary disturbance is internal conflict. Some of them advocate prohibiting believers from venerating Confucius and worshipping Heaven, which is simply a contempt for the national prestige of the Qing Dynasty."
"Father, I believe we should not generalize or incite public anger because of the problems of a few individuals."
Yinxiang stepped forward and explained his point of view, which displeased the Ninth Prince standing next to him.
"Could it be that Thirteenth Brother is afraid of them?"
"Ninth Brother, be careful what you say."
Before the two could start arguing, Kangxi spoke first:
“What you say makes sense. In that case, then issue my decree to expel all missionaries and ban Catholic missionary activities.”
"Father, I have one more thing to say."
Kangxi glanced at the eighth prince standing below.
"explain."
“Father, in the past few days, I have received several memorials regarding this year’s drought. In order to avoid the emergence of refugees, I believe that some of the grain in the national treasury can be transported to various prefectures and counties in Zhili for storage, in case of emergency.”
Emperor Kangxi nodded, thinking it was a good idea.
"In that case, I'll leave this matter to you."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
After returning to Prince Yong's residence, Yinxiang explained his concerns.
"Fourth Brother, don't be fooled by Eighth Brother's high-sounding words in court. In reality, he just wants to use this opportunity to amass wealth and win people's hearts. Are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Yinzhen sneered:
"That eighth brother is really foolish, thinking he can fool me with such a little trick. Don't worry, I've already sent people to keep an eye on him."
Yinxiang smiled upon hearing this:
"That Eighth Brother is really something. Father Emperor doesn't like anyone interfering with the national treasury, especially grain. Now he's taking the initiative to be the first to stick his neck out. I really don't know what he's thinking."
Yinzhen sighed:
"He's just unwilling to accept it."
That evening, Yinzhen went to Geng Youran's place.
"Your Highness, aren't you busy lately?"
"How so?"
"You come to my humble abode every few days, and I'm almost out of ingredients in my little kitchen."
With his eyes closed, Yinzhen received a massage from Geng Youran while bickering with her.
"What, you don't like me?"
"How could I dare? It's just that you come to my place a little too often; I'm afraid the other sisters will feel uncomfortable."
"Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable if I went to someone else's place?"
Yinzhen suddenly opened his eyes, startling Geng Youran. Then, upon hearing Yinzhen's question, she was speechless.
Seeing that Geng Youran didn't speak, Yinzhen didn't make things difficult for her any further. He closed his eyes and let her continue to massage his shoulders.
Geng Youran came to her senses and, without explaining, simply began to massage Yinzhen's shoulders in a daze.
After a long while, Yinzhen finally sat up again:
"You Ran, tell me the truth, do you actually not want me to come?"
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