Upon his triumphant return, Yinzhen's confidence was greatly boosted, but he also found himself caught up with the ever-growing list of casualties. He couldn't help but sigh to himself, "One general's fame is built on the bones of ten thousand."
The naval port returned to tranquility. At six o'clock in the morning, the shouts of training rang out again. After being awakened by the shouts, Qingyan changed into a light blue flowing Hanfu, tied her hair into a Ruyi bun with a plum blossom hairpin, sat sideways on the soft couch in the inner chamber, and turned her head to look out the window.
In the courtyard, some servants began their new day, busily cleaning the courtyard and preparing hot water for their masters to wash up after they woke up.
"Master, shall we get up now?" Su Lan heard the voice of the servant and pushed open the door to come in. She saw Qing Yan sitting on the soft couch, looking at the courtyard with a slightly empty gaze.
Qingyan waved his hand, indicating that Sulan could stand aside.
“Today, the Fifth Prince, the Eighth Prince, and the Ninth Prince will be coming with their female relatives,” Su Lan said quickly when she saw Qing Yan staring blankly.
What?!
Qingyan regained her senses and turned to look at Sulan.
"Are you sure?" Qingyan asked, slightly puzzled.
The Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince were not on good terms with Yinzhen, so why did Kangxi put them in the military port? Could it be that something happened?
"Yes, I heard Su Peisheng mention that, apart from the Eighth Prince's wife, the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince both have princesses with them." Su Lan admired the Eighth Prince's wife very much. In the capital, apart from the princes' wives, only the Eighth Prince's wife stayed alone in the backyard.
Before Qingyan gave birth to twins, the censors didn't miss any opportunity to try and persuade Yinzhen to take a concubine. With the arrival of the twins, the pressure on Qingyan's shoulders eased considerably.
The censors dared not say anything more. The Eighth Prince's wife's tough methods attracted their attention again. Relying on Prince An's power, Lady Guoluo made Yinsi bow down. Even though she had a concubine, she was kept in a separate courtyard.
In stark contrast to Yinzhen's situation, Yinsi still enjoyed being served by his concubines, while Yinzhen avoided it himself.
In Kangxi's eyes, Yinzhen was someone he disliked but supported. However, Yinsi was the complete opposite; he was forced into power by his wife and was controlled by the women in the family.
"Little darling, what are you thinking about?" Yinzhen walked in from outside and saw Qingyan frowning slightly, lost in thought.
"Fourth Prince, is Eighth Prince's wife coming?" Qingyan was picked up by Yinzhen, her hands still around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist, just like a little child.
Yinzhen nodded, and Yinqi, Yinsi, and Yintang all came over. They were preparing to go to Guangzhou to build a new naval port.
Emperor Kangxi instructed that two naval ports be established, with the one under Yinzhen as the main port and Guangdong as the secondary port, in addition to the new army and the later Dalian port.
With the silver and mineral resources collected from Ryukyu, the Ministry of Revenue and private treasuries were already quite full. He considered that the naval port established by Yinqi and others was for the protection of the coastal areas of Guangdong.
“They will stay here for three months, and then go to Guangzhou to take up their posts.” Yinzhen sat on the soft couch and patted her little bottom. “So, you should restrain yourself and make the children go there less often. The Eighth Prince’s wife definitely doesn’t like the children.”
Qingyan sneered. She couldn't have children herself, yet she was always tormenting the pregnant princess.
"I won't let the children go. I look down on the Eighth Prince's methods. If I make you feel embarrassed, don't blame me!" Qingyan said in advance to prevent the Eighth Prince from complaining.
Yinzhen agreed, suggesting that Qingyan gradually distance herself from the Eighth Prince's wife. After all, the reputation of women was very important; birds of a feather flock together, and to avoid anyone talking about her behind her back, it was best to avoid seeing her as much as possible.
"Master, Fifth Master, Eighth Master, and Ninth Master have arrived!" Su Peisheng hurriedly came in to report.
"Hmm!" Yinzhen nodded. "Little darling, change into a bright red palace dress."
It is said that on her way here, the Eighth Prince's wife made things difficult for the Fifth and Ninth Princes' wives. Because she was of a higher status, she acted all high and mighty.
Su Lan served Qing Yan by changing into a bright red dress embroidered with eight phoenixes in gold thread. The phoenixes spread their wings and soared into the sky, with the most beautiful tail of the phoenixes at the hem of the dress.
Qingyan sat in front of the bronze mirror. Sulan quickly styled her hair into a swallowtail bun, adorned with a ruby and pearl hairpin, three pearl earrings on each ear, a ruby ring on the ring finger of her left hand, and three gold nail guards on the back three fingers of each hand.
After washing up, she stood up and turned around. Apart from attending royal banquets, she usually dressed very simply, prioritizing comfort.
"Little darling, you're dressed up quite well!" When Qingyan came out of the inner chamber, Yinzhen's eyes lit up. She rarely dressed up so elaborately, so she had a different charm than usual.
Qingyan smiled and said, "Fourth Prince, this outfit should be able to suppress the Eighth Prince's wife, right?"
Inside the palace, the Eighth Prince's wife always got along with Qingyan, and at every banquet, she would make fun of Qingyan.
Previously, the Eighth Prince's wife watched Qingyan live a carefree life. Even when the censors made trouble in the court, Yinzhen would take the blame. Yinsi did not have such courage. Most importantly, Yinsi was only more tolerant of her because of Prince An's power.
"Little darling, let's go." Yinzhen nodded in satisfaction, and he and Qingyan left the courtyard one after the other.
"Suzhu, you take care of the twins. Apart from Father and Ah Hun, you must stop everyone else!" Qingyan considered for a moment and then walked out.
At the corner of the corridor, they saw Yinti and Lady Yingenjueluo. Lady Yingenjueluo was also dressed in her finest attire today. The two women smiled at each other.
"Sister-in-law, you're dressed up for the occasion too?" Qingyan covered her mouth and laughed. "It's good that the Eighth Prince's wife is here; it's made us bring out all our most treasured possessions."
"That's right. If this decoration weren't there, the Eighth Prince's wife would definitely not give you a good look." Lady Yin Genjue Luo didn't like the Eighth Prince's wife very much. She was ambitious but incompetent, and also arrogant.
"Alright, try to avoid it when you get back. The children can't learn these bad habits!" Qingyan quickly advised.
Yinti and Yinzhen doted on their two daughters unconditionally, treating them like royalty. They were even more favored than before, and if they were spoiled by such pampering, they would not be as beautiful.
"That's for sure. Girls should be well-behaved. If they all become like the Eighth Prince's wife, we won't be able to control them!" Lady Yin Genjue Luo thought Qingyan was absolutely right. Noble ladies must be taught by the nannies. The Eighth Prince's wife is favored by Prince An, and the women in Prince An's mansion ignore her.
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