Sunlight streamed in through the windows and doors, bathing the large side curtain in its warmth. The ladies-in-waiting began to sweat. Physician Yuan's medical skills were superb; the tasks the leaders had asked them to perform were mere trifles, and could not be concealed from him.
Qingyan took in the expressions of the wives. The time for Imperial Physician Yuan to take their pulses was predetermined. If the wives apologized first, according to Yinzhen's intention, it would be considered a pardon. It was their first time visiting the Right Wing Prince's tribe, and they couldn't let the chief and his wives fall from grace.
She glanced around at the wives with her almond-shaped eyes and found that none of them wanted to apologize.
Imperial Physician Yuan first greeted Qingyan, then took her pulse and found that she was fine and hadn't eaten anything she shouldn't have.
After taking her pulse, Qingyan pointed to the food and asked Imperial Physician Yuan to examine it as usual.
"It was the master's order that anything brought to the palace by outsiders must be inspected by Imperial Physician Yuan. Ladies, please don't worry. In the royal family, many rules are beyond our control," Qingyan said, spreading his hands.
The wives became anxious. If Imperial Physician Yuan discovered something amiss, they would need a better excuse, otherwise...
Imperial Physician Yuan personally inspected the items and discovered that they all contained added medicinal herbs. If they were actually used, it would surely lead to embarrassment.
"This servant has something to say to the Fourth Master." After Imperial Physician Yuan took his leave, the side tent fell silent, though the atmosphere remained somewhat awkward.
A moment later, Su Peisheng appeared directly in the side tent and invited all the women into the tent. Qingyan stepped into the tent and saw that the leaders who had come to pay their respects were all kneeling on the ground. Qingyan and Yinzhen exchanged a glance and saw satisfaction in each other's eyes.
Qingyan smiled and asked, "Master, what's wrong with these leaders?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the wives quickly knelt beside their respective leaders, while Qingyan sat down next to Yinzhen.
"Imperial Physician Yuan, explain this to the Princess again," Yinzhen sneered.
The leaders and their wives all lowered their heads. The imperial physician Yuan did not mention the ingredients or effects of any of the drugs, and the wives' faces darkened. These were basically aphrodisiacs. If the Fourth Princess dared to use them, she would definitely do something outrageous.
If Yinzhen loses face, Qingyan's fate will definitely be bad; she will either be divorced or die.
Regardless of the outcome, it would be a win-win situation for all the Mongol tribes.
The reputation of the twins would be ruined, so Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen could only marry into Mongolia; otherwise, other ministers' families would definitely look down on her.
After imagining all this, Yinzhen felt a surge of anger.
“Since the wives have kindly prepared food for Xiao Guai, I shouldn’t say anything more. Su Peisheng, exchange the tonic soups that these wives brought and give them to them. Before Father Emperor left, he reminded us that we shouldn’t use anything other than food prepared by our own people when we come here,” Yinzhen said, trying to defuse the situation.
Qingyan was finally relieved after hearing Yinzhen's words. Yinzhen was on her side, so she was no longer worried even if they clashed head-on with the Mongol tribes.
The Mongol wives dared not refute Yinzhen's words at all.
The leaders knelt on the ground, begging Yinzhen for mercy, hoping that his wives would be spared.
Yinzhen didn't speak, but just looked at Tulichen outside the tent and told him to come in and handle things. When he came, Kangxi had specially sent Tulichen along. The Mongol wives had started a fight, and he had been listening outside the tent the whole time.
"Fourth Master, please allow this servant to handle this." Tu Lichen stood beside Yinzhen and bowed as he spoke to him.
Yinzhen nodded: "Su Peisheng, hand the man over to Tulichen."
Upon hearing Yinzhen's words, the leader immediately knelt down before Batu Buhe, looking at him pleadingly.
Batubuhe lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and felt much better. After learning how the leaders had treated Qingyan, he really didn't want to care about them anymore.
"Now you know how to plead for mercy? What would happen if the Fourth Princess really used these soups? Don't tell me they were ineffective; it's just that the people around the Fourth Princess are capable." Batu Buhe sneered.
It seems we need to deal with the people in the Right Wing Prince's tribe properly; we can't just let them live through the New Year.
"Fourth Master, please leave me some capable people," Batubuhe said directly.
Yinzhen nodded: "Let Bayan help you. Huricha will definitely know more about the situation in the tribe."
Batubuhe quickly agreed: "Huricha, take Bayan and go investigate immediately. I need the most detailed information."
Since the old prince left, the leaders have become somewhat lax in their self-discipline. Batubuhe was just a child, and they held him in some contempt.
The leaders were taken away as a form of arrest. Batubuhe slumped into a chair, looking dejected. In the capital, he could avoid seeing them and being bothered by them, but now he had to face reality. They were all personally selected by the old prince, so that his son would have someone to rely on.
In just a few months, these were the very people who were the first to betray the old prince.
"Father, shall we stay here for two days and then leave immediately?" Batubuhe smiled wryly. "It seems that the tribe is not very safe."
Yinzhen nodded in agreement, indicating that he would definitely stay here for the night.
"Batu Buhe, aren't you going to check on your own home?" Yinzhen noticed that Batu Buhe was quite conflicted about returning to the main tent.
“Eji is no longer here. Fujin sent Eji to accompany Abu a long time ago. In addition, Abu personally wrote the imperial edict, so there is no one left in the main tent. Even if there is, it is the daughter of the primary Fujin, who has been hostile to me since childhood,” Batu Buhe explained.
Yinzhen didn't say much and directly set up the tent here. The guards left by the old prince were very loyal to Batu Buhe. When the princesses of the old prince's primary wife returned home and wanted to stay in the main tent, they were all refused by the guards.
Batubuhe heard about the guards' actions from Huricha, and when he returned, he specifically asked Huricha to reward each of them with one hundred taels of silver.
"Has the reward been sent?" Yinzhen asked Batu Buhe.
"Father, it's already been sent over, and there's even a reward from Mother. I really hadn't thought about the women's side yet; thankfully Mother reminded me." Batu Buhe scratched his head sheepishly. If Qingyan hadn't mentioned it, he definitely would have overlooked this matter.
Qingyan smiled and said, "Everything has been prepared for you. The shopkeeper will send it over in a couple of days. You should let me know in advance that it's a reward."
“Alright, I’ll have Huricha deliver the order tomorrow,” Batubhe said gratefully.
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