The afternoon sun shone into the flower hall. Near the floor-to-ceiling windows, ivory-white tables and chairs were placed, with three cups of plum juice on the table.
Yiken wore a navy blue casual outfit and a black melon-shaped hat on his head. The warm jade in the center of the hat looked expensive, and below it was a small, still-childish face.
"Father, what do you want to see me about?" Yiken'e saw that Yinzhen had sent Hutulifengshengzhalafen to Songkelierha, and he knew that he had something to say.
Qingyan sat upright to the side and noticed that Yinzhen was in a difficult position.
"Yiken'er, do you like playing on the deck?" Qingyan noticed that Yinzhen was not knowing what to say, so she asked first.
Yiken nodded. Staying on the deck, he felt much better. He always felt a bit depressed in the flower hall and the suite.
“Even if you like it, you can’t go too often. Yiken’e is about to enter the battlefield. If you stay on the deck and the enemy sees you, they will target you!” Yinzhen treated Yiken’e like a big child, analyzing all the pros and cons.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yiken'e frowned slightly, listening to Yinzhen's analysis with a serious expression. Logically speaking, Yinzhen would not discourage Yiken'e's enthusiasm for exploration.
While in the capital, Yinzhen often secretly took Yiken'e out for strolls, even to places where people mingled, all in preparation for a banquet.
"Father, do I really not want to go on adventures anymore?" Yiken'e understood that being in the royal family meant there were too many things he couldn't do.
Yinzhen stared at Yiken'e seriously for a while, his stubborn gaze making him feel somewhat dazed.
"Yes." After considering it for a moment, Yinzhen decided that it would be best to keep Yiken'e in a safe place.
Yinti and he would take turns appearing on the deck to boost the morale of the soldiers below. Yiken'e, on the other hand, would not do so, as the soldiers would probably grumble about it if they discovered him.
"Yes, I'll take care of Mother and my sister!" Yiken'e didn't press the matter further. Since she couldn't go out, she would do what she could.
Both Yin Genjue Luo Shi and Qing Yan had daughters. Among the three children, Yi Ken'e was the only son, which made the burden on his shoulders even heavier.
"Good!" Yinzhen pinched Yiken'e's little face and praised her.
Su Peisheng sent Yiken'e down for a nap. Yinzhen squeezed Qingyan's nervous little hand. Yiken'e is a good child and will surely understand their good intentions.
"Sisi, Yiken'e's matter has been resolved, why are you still frowning?" Qingyan asked in confusion.
Inside the flower hall, the servants had all been sent to the door by Yinzhen. Only the couple remained in the hall, and Qingyan added a few ice cubes to Yinzhen's teacup.
"It's a problem with the grain supplies in the capital!" Yinzhen discovered that the people in the Ministry of Revenue were making excuses, saying that they couldn't transport the grain.
Now, all the shops have received a notice from the Ministry of Revenue. Very few shops are able to handle the transportation, and no one wants to offend the people in the Ministry of Revenue over this matter.
"Hmm? Wasn't it already transported out?" Qingyan wasn't in the capital, but news about the naval port would be continuously sent to him by his spies in the capital.
"The Ministry of Revenue said that there has been constant fighting near the coast, and the transport convoy cannot be guaranteed to arrive safely!" Yinzhen frowned, his heart filled with unspoken bitterness.
The Crown Prince was clearly using this excuse to prevent Yinti and Yinzhen from expanding their power. The navy was already completely under their control, and the new army was under the control of Saito and Ershuo.
Yinzhen held too much power, and the Crown Prince, after listening to the Prime Minister's instigation, developed a grudge against Yinzhen.
"Fourth Brother, do you think the provisions are ready?" Qingyan was a little puzzled. If the Ministry of Revenue had prepared all the provisions, they should have sent them directly.
Now that Yinzhen has taken charge of the Ministry of Revenue, his subordinates will definitely try to curry favor with him. Even though the Crown Prince has a high status, not everyone will fawn over him.
"It is said that everything is ready. This time it is a bit unusual. However, I think that there must be someone from the Minister Suo stirring things up!" Before leaving the capital, Yinzhen had a special investigation of the Ministry of Revenue. The Minister Suo arranged for several vice ministers to enter, so it is reasonable that there may be problems with the grain supplies.
"Your Majesty, news has arrived from the capital!" Su Peisheng brought in a bamboo tube containing messages delivered by a gyrfalcon. Yinzhen opened the tube and saw several secret letters inside, recording the movements of the Ministry of Revenue.
Yinzhen did not return to the capital from the south, leading some to believe that he had lost power, causing unrest among the people. As a result, the preparation of provisions was interrupted for several days.
After reading it, Yinzhen handed the secret to Qingyan. She looked at the contents and frowned. This... was clearly a plan to find another master.
Following Yinzhen's instructions, Su Peisheng summoned Saito and Eshuo together. They had secret communication channels with the New Army and should have other information. Gathering them together to exchange opinions was probably the best approach.
"Fourth brother, Su Peisheng said that the Ministry of Revenue's grain supplies are in trouble again?" After Yinti discovered that the grain supply preparation had been interrupted, he had already secretly instructed his spies in the capital to keep an eye on things.
Yinzhen handed the secret letter to several people. It not only said that there were some problems with the Ministry of Revenue's grain supplies, but also that the Yuelai Inn was being closely monitored. They could only prepare enough grain for the inn each day, and they could not even prepare any extra grain supplies.
"Who came up with such a ruthless idea?" Seto asked, frowning.
The Yuelai Inn was the last remaining grain depot for Yinti and Yinzhen. The fact that the enemy had seized the grain at the Yuelai Inn was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the military port.
"I was right, it should be the Crown Prince's faction!" Yinti glanced at the notes and recorded all the contents, which were basically all the advantages that Yinzhen's side had.
Yinzhen smiled bitterly. Yes, the Crown Prince had treated him quite well. With Consort Tong alive, their relationship had actually changed.
"Does His Majesty know about the Ministry of Revenue's actions?" Yinti wondered.
Kangxi understood whether the Ministry of Revenue's actions were a test for the two brothers or a way to protect the Crown Prince's reputation and let them do as they pleased.
"It's probably not clear yet. I think the Dragon Guards will deliver Kangxi's secret order in the next few days." Fei Yanggu wasn't on the ship, so Yinti and Yinzhen, along with the two pairs of brothers, Saito and Eshuo, began to discuss the matter. Yuelai Inn belonged to Qingyan, so the little girl would definitely be attending the meeting.
"In the end, we'll have to trouble Xiao Guai again. The Yue Lai Inn in the capital can't move the grain, so what about somewhere nearby?" Yinzhen considered that the Jiangnan water towns were a land of plenty, with ample supplies.
After a brief consideration, Qingyan concluded that since Jiangnan was under Cao Yin's control, as long as enough money was provided, there shouldn't be any problems.
"Would Cao Yin send a message to the Crown Prince?" Qingyan thought for a long time before finally saying this.
Yinti and Yinzhen were stunned. Cao Yin was keeping a neutral stance, intending not to offend either side. If the two sides were at odds, he would probably not take any action and would pretend to be ignorant.
"Probably not, but we must be on guard!" Yinti said with a sigh.
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