"What's up?"
"Your Highness, I have something important to ask you. Is now a convenient time for you?"
Geng Youran naturally wouldn't enter the study, a place considered important. And since there were likely spies from other courtyards lurking around, she had to be careful.
Yinzhen roughly guessed what Geng Youran wanted to ask.
"I'll be there tonight, you go back and wait."
"yes."
Afterwards, Geng Youran left, and Yinzhen went into the study. On the table was a letter, the handwriting of which was that of his son, Hongli.
It turns out that while Hongli was sending a letter to his mother, Niohuru Wanru, he also secretly sent a letter to his father, Yinzhen. Knowing that his father had spies in the palace, he knew that his actions could not be kept secret, so he simply told his father directly.
At first, Yinzhen was quite surprised when he received Hongli's letter, but as he read its contents, his expression became increasingly serious.
On the one hand, he did not expect that Hongli would consider things so comprehensively now; on the other hand, he felt uneasy because of Yinzhi's scheming.
Now that he has returned and is seeing this letter again, and recalling his conversation with Hongshi before he returned to the palace, Yinzhen felt a chill run down his spine.
"Hongshi, have you thought clearly about why your father punished you during this time?"
"Father, your son has figured it out."
Although Hongshi said that, Yinzhen could see that something was wrong with the expression on Hongshi's face.
"You'll be twenty next year. Your father has already chosen a wife for you. After your grandfather's birthday celebration, your father will ask for permission to arrange your wedding."
"Thank you, Father."
Hongshi responded coldly, seemingly expressing his dissatisfaction in this way.
“Hongshi, if you’re still not convinced, then prove it to your father with the results. Remember, the royal family’s mercy is only for those who are capable, while the rest are only used as stepping stones.”
"Thank you for your guidance, Father."
Looking back now, Yinzhen thinks that perhaps he really was too strict.
Back then, when he was first sent back to his mother's side, he studied diligently, hoping that his mother would see him and praise him.
However, he later discovered that his mother was more indifferent to him than to his other brothers. Until that day, when he saw his mother wiping the sweat from his fourteenth brother, he finally understood that he would never receive love from his mother.
That's why he was strict with his children, especially with Hongshi.
He didn't care about whether the son was born of the legitimate wife or a concubine; to him, the heir apparent should naturally be someone capable. But Hongshi was the eldest son, and he bore the responsibility of setting an example for his younger brothers.
Just as Yinzhen was sitting at his desk lost in thought, Gao Wuyong stepped forward and called him back to reality.
"Your Highness, Consort Li has arrived, saying she has something to ask of you."
"I'm busy, tell her to go back first. I'll go when I'm done."
"Yes, sir."
After Gao Wuyong left, he shook his head at Li Jingshu.
With tears streaming down her face, Li Jingshu had no choice but to return. She was very uneasy, worried that Hongshi would lose the prince's favor from now on.
Over the years, she gradually came to understand that the Emperor would never make Hongshi the heir apparent; he had someone else in mind.
But no matter what, Hongshi is the prince's eldest son. Once he loses the prince's protection, Hongshi's life will be ruined.
Meanwhile, the princess consort, who had been observing all these people's actions, was drinking tea and practicing calligraphy in her room.
"You just said that the Prince did not see Consort Li?"
"Yes, our people said that Consort Li stood at the Prince's door for an hour, but the Prince refused to come out to see her. He only sent Eunuch Gao to say that he would come over when he had time."
Ulanara smiled disdainfully:
"He's just a son of a concubine, yet he dares to aspire to the position of heir apparent. How ignorant!"
The maidservant beside her, while grinding ink, asked curiously:
"My lady, I've heard that among the princes who are studying in the palace, the Emperor's favorite is our Prince Hongli. I wonder if this is true."
"It's just a bunch of indecisive people spreading rumors. What does it mean to like someone? Is it about giving them many gifts or seeing their face more often?"
Ulanara didn't say anything more, but this was what she kept thinking:
"Back then, the Second Prince was so favored and raised by the Emperor himself, but what good was it? In the end, he still ended up in prison."
In the evening, Yinzhen arrived at Geng Youran's place as promised, and Geng Youran had prepared a meal in advance.
"Your Highness, may you be blessed."
"Get up."
The two finished their tea in silence. Afterwards, Qianxue placed the brewed tea on the table on the couch in the side room and then retreated outside the door.
Only Yinzhen and Geng Youran remained in the room.
“Hongzhou is doing well in the palace, so you don’t need to worry.”
Geng Youran was still organizing her thoughts when Yinzhen broke the silence.
"With Master sending people to keep an eye on things, I am naturally at ease."
Yinzhen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then asked:
"You summoned me here today to inquire about Hongshi, didn't you?"
That being said, the tone was certain.
Before Geng Youran could speak, Yinzhen handed the letter to her.
Geng Youran took it with a puzzled look, and became more and more surprised as she looked at it.
"Master, has Hongli told you everything?"
Yinzhen smiled faintly:
“Although Hongli is young, he is very thoughtful. He knew that sending a letter to Wanru would make the master aware of it, so he simply sent one to the master as well.”
"Then, sir, what's your opinion on this matter?"
"I have already chosen a wife for Hongshi. Once Father Emperor's birthday is over, I will ask Father Emperor for permission. With his wife by his side to advise him, perhaps Hongshi will be more composed."
“My lord, I think you should discuss this with Consort Li again. Hongshi is not a bad person by nature; he has been manipulated.”
“When he returned to the palace, the emperor had already made it clear to him. He is nineteen years old now, and what he does and what he does in the future is his own decision, and he must naturally bear the responsibility himself.”
Geng Youran nodded, hoping so.
That evening, Yinzhen had Gao Wuyong bring several memorials to Geng Youran's study for review, while Geng Youran ground ink beside him.
Late at night, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.
Meanwhile, Emperor Kangxi, who had already returned to the palace, was awakened by Liang Jiugong's exclamation.
"Liang Jiugong, what's the matter that you're so panicked?"
"Your Majesty, this is an urgent report: a tidal surge has occurred in southwestern Haifeng, flooding over a hundred villages!"
"Quickly, summon the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Works, and others to the palace tonight!"
"Yes, sir!"
Following this, Emperor Kangxi issued several imperial edicts, dispatching people overnight to the scene to oversee post-disaster work, including search and rescue and relief efforts.
In addition, local officials requested permission from the imperial court to send several imperial physicians to the area to treat the surviving people.
This tsunami caused the deaths of a large number of livestock, and if treatment is not timely, it could very likely lead to a serious epidemic.
At the same time, the Ministry of Works mobilized the local people to build seawalls to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
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