In the following days, Yinzhen accompanied Qingyan and the children on a stroll across the grassland. The leaders' spies focused on the family of four. Some people with ulterior motives tried to get close to Hutulifengshengzhalafen, but they were all blocked by Erlu.
Batubhe, however, was living in dire straits. Many leaders came to pay their respects, but he could only stay alone in his tent.
"Master, by lunchtime those leaders should have calmed down," Huricha said, seeing Batubuhe looking expectantly out of the tent.
“It was the right choice for Father and Mother to take them out together. Look at what those people are saying. Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen is no object. Why do they have to fight over her like this?” Batubuhe treated Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen like a younger sister.
They discovered that some people in the tribe had ulterior motives and wanted to take advantage of the situation to get him to recruit Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen.
“Master, I see that the people in the tribe are different from before. Should we talk to Fourth Master and be on guard against anyone causing trouble for you?” Su Zhu said to Qing Yan.
Initially, Yinzhen and Qingyan planned to support Batu Buhe, but after his Abu died and his mother was framed by the chief's wives and forced to be buried alive, he was so young that he didn't even have a home, and Huricha by his side was just a servant.
Now, Batubuhe is becoming more and more capable, which makes Yinzhen feel even more that this child was truly worth raising.
"No need. What we can think of, Fourth Prince has already considered. When will the wives arrive?" Qingyan looked outside the tent. Many carriages had already stopped in the camp, but the wives had not yet come out of the carriages.
"It should be the hour of Si (9-11 AM)." Su Zhu checked the time and quickly reported.
Just after 9 AM, the Mongol wives disembarked from their carriages and walked towards the tent of the banquet hall. In front of them were wives with somewhat unpleasant expressions. Some were outwardly very respectful to the wives, while others showed no respect at all.
These pale-faced leading ladies were all princesses from the Qing Dynasty. They were nominally sent to marry foreign rulers for political reasons. Although they were unhappy on the Mongolian grasslands, they understood their responsibilities and never complained to the people in the capital. They always reported good news and never bad news.
Seeing the expressions on the faces of the wives, Qingyan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly sent Sulan to find Imperial Physician Yuan and asked him to wait in the side tent.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Yuan has arrived," Su Lan whispered in Qing Yan's ear.
Qingyan wore a faint smile as she watched the Mongolian wives bow and greet her respectfully. Qingyan waved her hand, signaling them to kowtow first.
Seeing that Qingyan wasn't very angry, the Mongolian wives couldn't help but harbor wicked thoughts.
"My aunts, it's a pleasure to see you all." Qingyan's voice was very gentle, and the wives of the principal wives' eyes reddened upon hearing the Manchu language. "Are these your elders?"
“No… I am a concubine.” One of the Mongolian noblewomen said proudly.
A concubine?!
"A concubine can interfere in the affairs of the primary wife? It seems I have truly failed in my duty!" Qingyan sneered.
The concubines exchanged glances. This fourth concubine was different from the rumors; she was actually facing these Mongolian concubines directly.
"I haven't learned proper etiquette. Since the primary wife has been unable to manage the affairs of the tribe for many years, I inevitably become somewhat domineering." The secondary wife was not afraid at all.
Yinzhen and Qingyan only brought a small number of guards with them; what did they have to be afraid of on their own territory?
Qingyan listened to the concubines' words and sneered inwardly. These people were indeed difficult to discipline, daring to speak of people like that.
"Alright, you concubines can go back now. I have something to discuss with my aunts." Qingyan waved her hand, signaling the concubines to leave.
"Fourth Princess Consort, you are unaware of the Princess Consort's situation. The Chief has said that if the Princess Consort is to attend an event, I need to accompany her." The Princess Consort of Prince Garga kept retorting.
Qingyan laughed coldly: "So, in the eyes of you people, the conversations of the primary wives are all to be eavesdropped on?"
"This humble woman dares not!" The concubine of Prince Garga looked at the Fourth Prince's wife with a disdainful expression, which greatly annoyed Qingyan.
"Sulan, go and fetch the master. I might really be unable to control the situation." Qingyan sneered.
When the concubines heard that Yinzhen was to be summoned, they were all frightened. Yinzhen's status was definitely much higher than Qingyan's, not to mention that Yinzhen would be the final heir.
A moment later, Yinzhen arrived with the Mongol leaders. Qingyan stood up and bowed to Yinzhen first.
"Your Majesty, I really can't control things here. These wives just won't listen to me," Qingyan complained to Yinzhen.
Hearing Qingyan's complaints, none of the primary wives dared to speak.
Yinzhen sat down next to Qingyan and patted her hand to reassure her not to worry too much.
"It seems you don't value the princesses who came from the Qing Dynasty for political marriages, and you've let your concubines run the household." Yinzhen looked coldly at the leaders.
In Batubuhe's tribe, these chiefs all did this, let alone other tribes.
"Your servants dare not!" The leaders all knelt on the ground, their faces filled with terror.
"Dare not?" Yinzhen took a sip of tea. "My aunts haven't been back to the capital for over a decade. Father Emperor ordered me to bring them back this time, hoping they can experience the changes in the capital."
As soon as they finished speaking, the chieftains tried to find an excuse to keep all the primary wives behind. Life wasn't easy for the primary wives in the tribe, and if they returned to the capital, they would definitely complain to Emperor Kangxi.
“Don’t tell me that the aunts are supposed to manage the tribe. This concubine said that the primary wife has never managed the tribe. Moreover, in my conversation with the primary wife, these concubines are supposed to be by her side.” Qingyan said, pointing to the concubine of Prince Garga.
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen turned to look at the Prince, hoping he could provide an explanation.
"Really?" Yinzhen asked Qingyan.
“As I just said, I left the tent flap open, so the guards standing outside could definitely hear me,” Qingyan said, looking at the guards outside.
"Yes, all of you come in." Yinzhen nodded to Su Peisheng, and Bayan entered with his guards.
“What the Lady says is true,” Bayan and the others knelt down and assured her.
Yinzhen's expression grew increasingly grim, and a chill ran through the leaders. Kangxi had probably sent guards to investigate the situation of the wives.
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