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Around noon, the Empress Dowager received news that Emperor Kangxi had left the palace with Consort Tong to go to the Tianjin naval port to welcome the returning warships. Her face immediately darkened.
The Empress Dowager had already heard about the successful voyage of the ships and even spoke to Emperor Kangxi, hoping that he could bring Consort Xin to greet them. Emperor Kangxi told her that he would definitely consider it carefully.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has also gone to the naval port. Who should be in charge of preparing for the Winter Solstice?" Consort Yi wanted to step forward and assert her authority.
After Yinqi and Yin returned, they were immediately disliked by Emperor Kangxi, so she needed to stand up for her children.
"Consort Yi, didn't Consort Tong give any instructions before she left?" The Empress Dowager didn't believe that Consort Tong would leave the palace without properly handling the matter.
"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine gave instructions to keep an eye on the stewards of the Imperial Household Department!" Consort Xin replied, standing up.
The Empress Dowager was conflicted. Consort Tong had left the palace, leaving the task of standing up to Consort Xin. If Consort Xin had left with Emperor Kangxi, she would definitely not have had such a prestigious position.
"Hmm, Consort Tong has entrusted you with an important task. You must handle it well!" The Empress Dowager was very pleased with Consort Tong's unexpected actions.
Consort Yi was instantly speechless. The power she had been hoping to seize had actually been given to Consort Xin by Consort Tong.
"Alright, that concludes today's greetings. Consort Xin, please stay behind for a moment!" The Empress Dowager kept Consort Xin behind to give her further instruction.
News from within the palace was quickly delivered to Emperor Kangxi by the Dragon Guards via hawk-borne messengers.
Qingyan was talking with Consort Tong about the Eighth Prince's wife. In the military ports of Guangdong and Guangxi, the Eighth Prince's wife was acting arrogantly, which made the officials' wives below very fearful.
"My dear, after we return from the Winter Solstice, you must pay even closer attention to the actions of those officials' wives. After all, the matter concerning the Eighth Prince's wife has had a terrible impact on the image of the royal family!" Consort Tong was annoyed.
To prevent the Eighth Prince's wife from becoming too unruly, before leaving, Consort Tong sent a nanny to instruct her.
"Mother, I think those people are quite sensible. They realized I'm different from the Eighth Prince's wife, and that's why they've started to get closer to me," Qingyan reassured Consort Tong.
Back at the courtyard in Tianjin Port, Su Lan specially brought a lot of invitations and handed them to Qing Yan, saying that they were specially sent by the wives of officials in the capital, inviting the Fujin (princess) to attend the banquet.
"No need, I wasn't feeling well and went back." Qingyan touched the child, marveling at how timely the child's arrival was.
Both of Yin's primary wives were pregnant, and they used the Empress Dowager to plant spies around them for the sake of the family.
"Master, look at this!" Su Lan glanced at the invitations and was surprised to find that there was an invitation from the Jue Luo clan.
Qingyan sneered: "Let's go sit with Mother!"
After realizing her mistake, Jue Luo felt a desire to make amends to Qing Yan and, under normal circumstances, would not object to Qing Yan's requests.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Lady Jue Luo was writing down the items to be used in the old house for the winter solstice. A letter from the capital requested that the Princess Consort compile a list so that the purchasing department of the mansion could make the purchases.
"Little darling, what brings you here?" Jue Luo was surprised to hear from the nanny beside her that Qingyan had come, and quickly invited Qingyan in.
"Mother!" Qingyan placed Jue Luo's invitation on the table, and Jue Luo glanced at it.
“There’s no need to go. Your mother has already dealt with the matter. Those people are insatiable. If you go this time, they will be even more ruthless next time.” Jue Luo Shi was very disappointed in her brothers.
"If we don't go, won't it make Mother lose face?" Qingyan would at least consider the reputation of the Jue Luo clan.
After the relationship between Jue Luo and Qing Yan improved, many people's attitudes toward her changed significantly.
"No need, none of us will go!" Jue Luo wanted to send someone to the palace, but if Qing Yan went, she would definitely be asked to do this and that by those people, which Jue Luo was naturally unwilling to do.
Qingyan was completely relieved. In the past, Jue Luo Shi's attitude often changed, which made her very passive. Now, after several tests, Jue Luo Shi had not changed at all, and she felt much better.
"Mother said that you should also go to the palace to attend the banquet on the Winter Solstice. Don't keep pretending to be sick to avoid going!" Fei Yanggu didn't want to cause trouble for Qingyan, so he kept making Jue Luo Shi pretend to be sick to avoid going to the palace. This was not a good solution.
"Yes, Mother understands!" Jue Luo Shi finally understood the mistakes she had made, and under Fei Yang Gu's nagging, she slowly changed.
"In addition, Qingya wrote a letter saying that she is doing well and that her aunt's health has improved a lot. She asked Yuelai Inn to send some news back to you!" Jueluo Shi thought about her attitude towards Qingya and Qingyan over the years and felt a little emotional.
Qingyan's eyes widened in surprise; Qingya had actually given in to her.
"Mother..." Qingyan was a little confused. Before Qingya got married, she wished she were dead.
"Don't worry, after marriage, no matter how fierce the sisters fight, they will feel that it is a warm fight!" Jue Luo Shi still remembers that she asked Fei Yang Gu to save the lives of her half-sister and her children. No matter how fierce the fight is in her own family, when she looks back on it many years later, it will all seem like a trivial matter.
Qingyan fell silent. News from Outer Mongolia was hard to come by, and even though Yuelai Inn had gathered some information, it was only superficial.
"Is she safe?" Qingyan didn't want to sacrifice Qingya either.
Jue Luo laughed: "Definitely not. Qingya is very intelligent. Once you've established yourself in the royal family, Qingya will only be favored."
Fei Yanggu stood outside the window, listening to the conversation between the mother and daughter, and was very satisfied. At least Jue Luo was no longer so petty.
"Little darling, what brings you here today?" Fei Yang, dressed in ancient attire, had just come in from outside and was surprised to see Qing Yan at home.
"Father..." Qingyan tilted her head and looked outside. In the courtyard, Yin was leading the twins to play on the swing. A smile appeared on her lips. Father must have been eavesdropping outside. "Hmph, eavesdropping is not allowed!"
Jue Luo looked surprised after hearing Qing Yan's words.
"Alright, this won't happen again!" Fei Yanggu pleaded.
After Fei Yanggu took his seat, he told Qingyan about Qingyan's situation. The leaders of Outer Mongolia all hoped to obtain some outdated firearms from Daqing. Even these outdated firearms would be enough for them to resist the invasions of those large tribes.
As the navy demonstrated its formidable fighting power, the Mongol leaders became more subdued, which is why Kangxi did not obstruct Yinzhen and others from proposing to sustain the war through warfare.
"Father, you said it was Qingya's husband who asked her to send the message?" Qingyan hadn't expected that discarded firearms would still have such a great use.
Yin walked in and sat down next to Qingyan. She was unaware of the specific situation outside, but even outdated weapons were extremely formidable when taken out.
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