As the sun slowly rose in the early morning, Yin changed into his princely robes and prepared to return to the palace.
He took everything he had left in the new house with him. In a little over ten days, he would be living in the palace with Qingyan, so leaving things here would be a waste.
"Fourth Prince, everything in the palace depends on you." Fei Yanggu received a secret order from Emperor Kangxi, allowing Ulanara to assist Qingyan, who was in charge of the Fourth Prince's residence. Recently, Fei Yanggu has been investigating all the servants in the residence.
"Fourth Uncle, Xiao Guai is my Fujin. There are traitors in the Prince's quarters. You can just have the Shadow Guard inform me. Father and Mother have already given me the list of those sent to the Prince's quarters. This is the family details behind them." Yin took out several thin sheets of Xuan paper from his purse. They were densely filled with the names of many families. These were all prepared by Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong for their son.
After ten years without investigation, it remains a question whether these people have betrayed their masters.
In just over ten days, Fei Yanggu dispatched almost all the shadow guards under Kangxi's control. He investigated this darling without Kangxi's knowledge. As the emperor, he hoped that Fei Yanggu had some minor flaws.
Emperor Kangxi, though he verbally criticized his daughter's obsessive love for him as a sign of being useless, was secretly quite pleased with her.
"Fourth Prince, does His Majesty know that you will give me the list?" Fei Yanggu did not want to do things behind Kangxi's back, as this would put Qingyan in danger.
Yin nodded. When leaving the palace yesterday, Kangxi and Consort Tong repeatedly instructed that the list must be given to Fei Yanggu. Firstly, it would save Fei Yanggu time in his investigation, and secondly, Kangxi hoped that Fei Yanggu could find out how many spies the Empress Dowager had hidden in the Princes' quarters.
This time, just as Kangxi was discussing the imperial edict for the marriage with Fei Yanggu Yin and the others, the Empress Dowager got wind of it. This clearly indicates that the Empress Dowager had people in the Qianqing Palace, Chenggan Palace, and the Prince's Palace. She did not want her people to be wiped out.
Yin turned and got into the carriage. Fei Yanggu watched the carriage drive away into the distance, feeling a sense of unease. The problems between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were getting worse. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager was old and her body could not hold on for much longer.
Behind the Empress Dowager stood the Mongol tribes. The old lady was making such a fuss, it was hard to say that it wasn't because Emperor Kangxi had used the banquet as an excuse to punish the Khorchin prince and his heir for their antics.
"Father, why is that person making things difficult for my sister?" E'shuo waited in the courtyard. He had been thinking about it all night. It was obvious that the Empress Dowager was deliberately making things difficult for Qingyan.
"Those people who want to marry Xiao Guai off to Mongolia have ulterior motives. Xiao Guai will be schemed against, and her life will definitely be difficult. The former prince of Khorchin has already said that if Xiao Guai enters Mongolian territory, she will be nominally a princess consort, but not only will she not receive...favor...she will also have to work as a slave. Hmph! Do they really think the Qing Dynasty has no one left?" Fei Yanggu sneered. For the sake of his own reputation, Kangxi would not let the Empress Dowager succeed. The Empress Dowager liked Xiao Guai very much, and those Khorchin princes' schemes against the princesses were doomed to fail.
E Shuo's face darkened. Damn it! What else can those people do besides enjoy the blessings of their ancestors?
"What about Qingya? Will she be sent there?" Even if Qingya doesn't get along with Qingyan, Xiaoguai must feel terrible that she has to suffer in Qingyan's place.
"No, the Dzungar Khanate in the northern desert has just settled down, and His Majesty needs someone to maintain balance. If Qingya goes there, she won't be neglected. That child has a strong sense of pride and will gradually manage her own life well." Fei Yanggu was not worried about his third daughter. That child was definitely smart. Xiao Guai had been protected too well and knew nothing about the infighting among the women.
Now, Kangxi values Yinzhi more and more, perhaps... wait...
Fei Yanggu recalled that Yin had used a red pill given to him by Master Yuan Yi, who had told Yin that it would grant his wishes. Judging by the timing, it should be taking effect soon.
Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong were unaware of this matter; otherwise, wouldn't Emperor Kangxi be furious if Yinzhi had secretly eaten something that hadn't been tested for poison?
The father and son talked as they walked back.
Half an hour later, Yin returned to Chenggan Palace. As soon as he entered, he felt that something was wrong in the hall. Consort Tong had a dark face, and two outstanding-looking palace maids were standing beside her.
"Mother, I'm back!" Yin softened his voice. For two lifetimes, Consort Tong had truly given him maternal love.
"The fourth prince is back? These two are the guiding princesses chosen for you by the Empress Dowager!" Consort Tong was somewhat annoyed. Yin was still young, and Qingyan had not yet come of age. What did the old lady mean by this?
Yin looked at the two women with a stern face. They looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with large frames, and didn't seem to be from a bondservant family.
"Where were you selected to enter the palace?" Yin's question put Consort Tong at ease.
Yesterday, Emperor Xuan Ye mentioned that the two noble ladies chosen from a collateral branch of the Borjigit clan were Empress Dowagers, and she intended to ensure that Qingyan was not neglected.
"We were chosen by the Empress Dowager's family," the girl in the pink dress said directly. She was quite confident in her appearance and took a step forward as if to touch Yin's sleeve.
Yin's expression darkened. This behavior was somewhat similar to Qingyan's; they had grown up together, and their familiarity led to this kind of action...
Before he could think much of it, the woman touched his hand. It was just a simple touch, but within moments, a patch of red bumps appeared on the back of his hand.
"Mother, select the imperial physician, Su Peisheng. Have four maids come in from outside the palace!" Yin showed his hands, which were covered in red bumps, and the maid in the pink dress was stunned.
In Cining Palace, the two of them had been training for many days and firmly remembered the actions Qingyan would take when she was with Yin.
Today, the girls in pink palace dresses are closer to the Empress Dowager's bloodline. The thought of being able to step on the dignity of the Manchu noble ladies, suppress the primary consort, and gain favor fills them with excitement.
"Damn it! Shu, go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and invite His Majesty here. Wang Mama, take these two lowly maids outside and make them kneel." Consort Tong was truly enraged, looking at Yin's hands. Qingyan had shared a bed with Yin for so many days, how come Yin hadn't shown any problems? That woman…
The Empress Dowager was indeed up to no good.
"Also, send someone to the Imperial Hospital and have Physician Yuan come over!" Consort Tong was worried about the imperial physicians. Some people in the Imperial Hospital were controlled by the Empress Dowager. What if they didn't treat Yin properly because of the Empress Dowager, and what if he suffered some aftereffects?
"Yes!" Shu had watched Yin grow up, and seeing him in trouble, she felt a sudden panic. It was really hard to say who was responsible.
"Your Highness, you can't treat us like this! We were chosen by the Empress Dowager!" The palace maid in blue, pampered since childhood, would never suffer such injustice. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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