After the brief Spring Festival, Kangxi returned victorious with his army. The news spread from the northwestern border to the capital, and Songgotu was immediately thrown into a panic. Kangxi was back in power and would certainly not let him off the hook. The crown prince was a child Kangxi had personally raised, and Kangxi had poured so much of his heart and soul into him.
Thousands of miles away, Yin and Qingyan sat obediently in the carriage. The people along the way decorated the carriage with lanterns and colorful decorations, congratulating His Majesty on his victorious return from his personal expedition. The entire Qing Dynasty was immersed in a sea of celebration.
At this moment, Yin was not at peace. His muscles were tense, and his unease was growing day by day.
She used a silver fork to pick up a peeled lychee and put it to his lips, but today, Yinzhi didn't react at all.
"Fourth Prince, you're worried again..." Qingyan couldn't understand. On the way back, Yin was actually looking worried. What was wrong with him?
Yin didn't explain to Qingyan; he only came to his senses after eating the lychee.
"Little Darling, you've brought these things out again." To protect Qingyan, Yin had the Blood Droplets deal with the servants around him quite often.
Each time, she would be peaceful for two days before all sorts of problems arose again.
"That's all. We can finish it without leaving a trace," Qingyan replied stubbornly. If she hadn't found the winter fruits too monotonous, would she have risked taking the fruits out of her space?
He didn't stop me when I took out the items, but now he's starting to lecture me.
He turned his head and looked at her angry little gesture, and couldn't help but think that she was very cute.
"Our journey will not be peaceful." They had only gone halfway when Kangxi dispatched a considerable number of additional imperial guards. On the surface, they were still being welcomed by the people, but in reality, the closest to the yellow curtains were a whole group of imperial guards who had disguised themselves as imperial bodyguards. E'shuo had taken nearly 200 imperial bodyguards ahead of time and quietly left the main army to act as the vanguard, clearing obstacles for the army's smooth progress.
She pouted, unsure how to comfort Yin.
The eerie stillness of the daytime put the army on high alert, and Emperor Kangxi secretly ordered the Imperial Guards to protect the safety of the emperor's family and commander.
As evening fell, they missed the village where they were to camp and had to set up camp in a valley.
Qingyan was carried off the carriage by Yin. She looked around the camp. The camp was located at the foot of the mountain, backed by a dense primeval forest, with a rushing river in front of it. To the east was the direction of the capital, and behind it were three escape routes to bypass the ambush in front.
She had to admit that Kangxi was a visionary emperor who was able to choose such a place to set up camp, allowing him to advance or retreat at will, and to attack or defend as needed.
"Little darling, there's a primeval forest behind us. Ordinary people can't get close. Without a familiar guide, you'll definitely get lost within 50 meters." Yin whispered to Qingyan, explaining that she needed to have a long-term perspective. After her status changed, many powerful families would try to take advantage of her for the position of Fourth Prince's Consort.
When Qingyan turned ten, he couldn't be with her all the time. To put his mind at ease, he had to teach her escape routes in advance. She stared at him blankly. She wasn't going to fight in a war; what did she need to know these things for?
Confusion appeared in her large, watery eyes. Inside the camp, Li Dequan led the prince's personal servants to start arranging food and lodging. First, the imperial tent was set up, and the prince and important officials were invited there.
The two little ones could only stay in the inner chamber with Consort Tong. Before setting up camp today, the wives of Prince Yu, Prince Gong, and Prince Chun had already arrived. Lan Xi was taking the pulses of the three of them in the inner chamber.
The two legitimate sons of Prince Yu's wife, Lady Xiruke, both died when they were three or four years old. She had no choice but to push Fuquan into the inner courtyard, hoping that Fuquan would not die out.
Prince Chun Longxi's primary wife was Shang Kexi's granddaughter. Among the wives, Shang Jia's position was the most awkward. Since the abolition of the Three Feudatories, she had become taciturn and rarely spoke in public. She did not want her words to bring disaster to Longxi.
Qingyan looked at Lady Shangjia. She was originally a concubine of Longxi. After Longxi died young at the age of 19, Lady Shangjia gave birth to a posthumous son, Fuerhulun, four months after his death. Unfortunately, the child died at the age of three. Lady Shangjia died from excessive grief after losing her husband and son. From then on, the lineage of Prince Changning of Chunqing died out.
She sized up Lady Shangjia. Although she was Han Chinese, she had been raised by her father, Shang Kexi's seventh son, Shang Zhilong, with the customs of a Manchu noblewoman. She possessed not only the charm of a Han Chinese but also the boldness of a Manchu. Her beautiful face was impossible to ignore. No wonder, in history, Longxi only had one child born to her.
Yin knew that the death of Fu Erhulun was orchestrated by the Empress Dowager herself. Even Princess Jianning lost her husband and son. The Qing Dynasty was immersed in the joy of eliminating the Three Feudatories. Who knew that this high-ranking princess would have to endure the fate of her husband and son being beheaded by their own relatives? Princess Jianning, only forty years old, committed suicide by poisoning herself. The Empress Dowager cursed her for being ungrateful afterward.
In this life, Kangxi did much better than in his previous life. He had the Dragon Guards exchange Wu Yingxiong and his son for death row inmates ahead of time, so that the two of them would live with masks for the rest of their lives.
Princess Jianning was very grateful to Emperor Kangxi, at least because her husband and son were still alive.
"Your Majesty, the poison of Princess Chun is the most severe among all the women." Lan Xi looked at Shang Jia Shi and couldn't help but think to herself, what do the power struggles in the court have to do with the women in the inner palace?
Shang Jia lowered her head. Ever since Shang Kexi was completely defeated, she has rarely been seen at gatherings of her sisters-in-law.
"Seventh sister-in-law, this has nothing to do with you. You should let Imperial Physician Lan examine your pulse so that you can give birth to an heir for your seventh brother," Consort Tong comforted Lady Shangjia.
This time, Kangxi would send the wives of the three princes over to prevent the Empress Dowager from taking advantage of the situation.
“Sister-in-law…” Longxi was the youngest of Kangxi’s brothers. He had a very good relationship with Lady Shangjia. Longxi’s harem was also the cleanest among his brothers. The two were used to being alone together and did not hesitate to go against the Empress Dowager.
"Seventh Sister, don't think too much. Once married, you should follow your husband!" Xiluke looked at Shangjia. She envied the relationship between Longxi and Shangjia. Every time she looked at Fuquan's concubines, her heart ached more and more.
Consort Tong nodded in agreement. Consort Niohuru had a relationship with Oboi, yet Emperor Kangxi didn't blame her.
"You don't need to pay any attention to that person in the palace. She has no choice. Choosing Mongolian wives for your fifth and seventh brothers depends on His Majesty's approval." Consort Tong's words reassured the two wives.
Changning's wife, Lady La, was a staunch follower of Ao Bai. Since the family's downfall, Lady La always felt inferior to the concubines and others, but Changning's relationship with her grew better and better.
“Yes, Fifth Sister-in-law and Seventh Sister-in-law, Her Majesty is right!” Xiluke also agreed. Every time the Empress Dowager held a selection of candidates, she would assign two girls to Prince Yu, for fear that the Prince Yu’s harem would not be chaotic.
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