Perhaps it was the comforting words of Geng Youran and others that worked, as Nian Yunrong's condition gradually improved, which made Yinzhen feel very gratified.
After all, due to the affairs of the court, he had very limited time to comfort Nian Yunrong.
"You bastards! Is this how you do your job while receiving salaries from the imperial court?"
"Father (Your Majesty), please calm your anger! Your humble servant deserves to die!"
"Ten thousand deaths? Even ten thousand deaths wouldn't be enough for you!"
On this day, Emperor Kangxi, unusually furious, erupted in court because he had just received news that a peasant uprising had broken out in Yiyang, Henan.
He had ruled the country for so many years, but he never expected that a peasant uprising would occur, and that the magistrate of Yongning County would even be kidnapped and taken to the village.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Your Majesty, after negotiating with Kang Ting, the leader of this peasant uprising, we have now grasped the main reasons for their rebellion. These people did not really intend to revolt; the real reason is that the local magistrate, Zhang Yuhui, has been tyrannical and oppressive towards the people. He has colluded with the prefect of Henan Prefecture and the governor of Henan Province to use force to suppress and exploit the people. The local people are suffering so much that they have resorted to this desperate measure."
At this moment, the murderous intent in Kangxi's eyes was almost overflowing.
"Seventh Prince, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Take 300 soldiers and, together with the local troops, you will surely rescue the magistrate of Yongning. Also, I want the leader of the rebel army alive."
"Your subject obeys the decree!"
Emperor Kangxi's seventh son, Yinyou, was the son of Consort Cheng, of the Daijia clan. Although he was born with a leg disability, he was intelligent and studious, and thus gained a certain degree of appreciation from Emperor Kangxi.
Knowing he had no chance of ascending the throne, he never participated in the struggles between his brothers, but only followed Kangxi's orders.
Because he had followed Emperor Kangxi in his campaign against Galdan and was quite outstanding in military affairs, Emperor Kangxi chose to send him to handle the Yiyang peasant uprising.
Yinyou did not disappoint Kangxi's trust. After receiving the imperial decree, he immediately led several hundred soldiers to Yiyang on horseback, without giving any of his brothers a chance to meet in private.
After Yin You arrived in Yiyang, Zhang Shengzuo, the governor of Henan, was already waiting for him there. The group joined forces and headed to the stronghold where Gao Shiqing was to launch a siege.
That night, Gao Shiqing was rescued. The rebel leader, realizing that the soldiers' goal was not to kill him but to capture him alive, committed suicide during the encirclement and suppression.
The leader committed suicide, and the morale of the rebel army instantly began to waver, eventually leading to their capture.
Three days later, Yinyou reported to Emperor Kangxi in court on the progress of the campaign to suppress the rebels, as well as all the evidence collected during the campaign.
"Father, these are two reports on the situation of this siege. One records the details of the siege, and the other is evidence of the Yiyang magistrate's exploitation of the people."
Kangxi picked up the memorial containing the evidence, opened it, and glanced at it briefly.
"I never imagined that a mere magistrate of Yiyang would implicate so many people. Even the governor and the provincial treasurer are involved. These people really think they've had their heads on their shoulders for too long!"
“Father, as far as I know, the Governor of Henan, Zhang Shengzuo, has always been an honest and upright official. He should not do such a treasonous thing.”
It was the Ninth Prince, Yin Tang, who pleaded for Zhang Shengzuo.
He didn't see the look Yinzhi was giving him, and stepped forward on his own to plead for Zhang Shengzuo.
"Oh? You know him very well?"
"this......"
"Ninth Prince, don't think I don't know what you're up to. Seventh Prince dug up two large chests of silver from the backyard of Zhang Shengzuo's official residence, and you still say he's an honest official? Don't you find that ridiculous?"
Subsequently, Emperor Kangxi directly ordered that Zhang Yuhui, the magistrate of Yiyang County, and Bai Cheng, the magistrate of Wenxiang County, be sentenced to death by strangulation with reprieve for extortion and inciting unrest among the people; Li Tingchen, the prefect of Henan Prefecture, was sentenced to death with reprieve; and Li Xi, the former governor of Henan, was sentenced to immediate execution. The current governor Zhang Shengzuo, the provincial treasurer Zhang Bocong, and the commander-in-chief Feng Junxi were all dismissed from their posts.
After the court session, Yin Tang found Yin Zhen.
"Fourth Brother, you even turn on your own people, that's ruthless."
Yinzhen fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his thumb and said expressionlessly:
"I wonder what brings you to say this, Ninth Brother?"
Seeing that Yinzhen's expression and tone remained completely calm, the Ninth Prince grew even angrier.
"Fourth Brother, do you dare say the Henan Provincial Governor isn't one of your men? Most of the evidence Seventh Brother has in his possession was probably handed over by him, right?"
Yinzhen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Ninth Brother, where did you hear all this news? Could it be that those two chests of silver in Zhang Shengzuo's backyard are related to you?"
That's utterly unreasonable.
Yinzhen felt he was in the wrong and couldn't argue with Yinzhen, so he had no choice but to leave in a huff.
At this moment, the Seventh Prince Yinyou and the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang also came out together.
Fourth Brother.
"Seventh brother, you did a good job."
"Thank you for the compliment, Fourth Brother. If you hadn't had Thirteenth Brother remind me, I probably wouldn't have been able to find something on Zhang Shengzuo and the others."
Yinzhen patted Yinyou on the shoulder without saying a word.
Afterwards, Yinyou returned to his own Prince's residence, while Yinxiang continued to follow Yinzhen back to Prince Yong's residence for meals.
"Hey thirteenth brother, what's the deal with you leaving your own residence and following me back to the Yong Prince's Mansion every day?"
"Oh, does the older brother dislike his younger brother?"
Yinzhen shook his head helplessly and went to Geng Youran on his own, while Yinxiang followed behind with a smile.
"This humble servant greets the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince. May both princes be blessed."
"The master and the thirteenth brother have just finished court and haven't had a chance to eat yet. Go and make some snacks, and also prepare a portion for him to take back to his wife to try."
Although Geng Youran was already used to Yinzhen's habit of "eating and taking" things, she still couldn't help but secretly roll her eyes.
"Qianxue, serve tea to the two princes first, then come find me in the small kitchen."
"Yes, Princess."
Qianxue and Xiao Anzi, who were waiting outside the door, tried their best to keep their mouths shut so they wouldn't laugh out loud.
Yinzhen and Yinxiang were casually flipping through books in Geng Youran's study, chatting about matters of the court, while Geng Youran was preparing ingredients in the small kitchen.
"Princess, these are peaches delivered this morning. Take a look, are you satisfied?"
Looking at the two baskets full of peaches in front of him, Geng Youran closed his eyes speechlessly and rubbed his forehead.
“Hey Xiao Anzi, I told you to ask the manager for some peaches, why did you just have them send me two baskets of these? I’m not a monkey.”
"this......"
Xiao Anzi was also a little embarrassed.
“Princess, the steward said there are many kinds of peaches on the market, and I thought I would choose a few more, but I didn’t expect so many to be sent over.”
"Never mind, we'll just send some to each courtyard later."
The two were talking when Qianxue arrived.
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