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After the incident at Yuanmingyuan, Consort Yi, who lived in Changchun Garden, became somewhat nervous. She knew a little about the servants arranged by her family. Emperor Kangxi's visit to Yuanmingyuan, which resulted in him remaining silent, greatly upset Consort Yi.
Xiao Taohong brought a cup of warm tea to Consort Yi. Ever since Fifth Prince and Ninth Prince were sent back to the capital, Consort Yi had often been lost in thought.
"Your Highness, please have some warm tea first," Xiao Taohong called softly as she approached Consort Yi.
"Little Peach Blossom, has His Majesty returned from the Old Summer Palace?" Consort Yi looked at the sunset outside the door, her heart filled with even more sorrow.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty should be having dinner at the Yuanmingyuan Garden," Xiao Taohong whispered in response.
At the Yuanmingyuan, Kangxi and Fei Yanggu stared wide-eyed as Li Dequan reported the news. The two servants, cowardly and afraid of death, had revealed a great deal of information. Guo Luoluo was very shrewd; she had not only plotted against Qingyan, but also targeted the twins and their unborn child.
"Father, I think we should invite my elder brother's family as well. Lady Guoluo has also schemed against my sister-in-law. My elder brother is very concerned about the child in my sister-in-law's belly!" Yin said with a frown.
Inside the flower hall, Consort Tong felt slightly relieved after hearing the results of Imperial Physician Yuan's diagnosis of Qingyan.
Qingyan's health is fine. If we calculate the time, this child will probably be born in a military port in Guangdong and Guangxi. Therefore, Xiaoguai will need Jueluo's care during her postpartum period.
"Little darling, we'll be returning from the Guangdong and Guangxi naval ports for the Spring Festival. During this time, will you stay in the capital or go back to the naval port with the Fourth Prince?" Consort Tong meant that Qingyan was not allowed to return.
"Mother, I want to go back with Fourth Prince. There are still many things to prepare in Guangdong and Guangxi, and we also need to take good care of Yin." After thinking it over, Qingyan decided it would be better to go with Fourth Prince.
Consort Tong was conflicted. She was pleased with Qingyan's choice, as Yin was placed first, but she was also worried about her health.
"The eldest son's family will also go together, so the two of you can take care of each other. Jue Luo Shi, are you planning to stay in the capital?" Consort Tong glanced at Jue Luo Shi. Fei Yanggu planned to go to the military port in Guangdong and Guangxi together after the New Year, so only Yin and Yin would be going back this time.
"Yes, Your Highness, Fei Yanggu is preparing to return after the Spring Festival. He still needs to handle some matters in the capital!" Jue Luo Shi was also worried about Qing Yan, but there was nothing she could do to help.
After dinner, Yinhe Qingyan saw off Kangxi and Consort Tong. The two walked side by side toward Jiuzhou Qingyan, with two nannies carrying the twins following behind them.
"Fourth Prince, shall we leave after the Winter Solstice?" Qingyan didn't want to return to the capital. In the military port, the women of the court wouldn't dare to scheme against them like this.
Having just returned to Beijing, and before the banquet could even begin to rest, some people started making moves. They not only used the servants of the Yuanmingyuan, but also served as a warning to them: people were now daring to imitate the clothes that Yin wore every time he went out.
"Little darling, you did a great job today!" Yin was very happy. Qingyan had encountered similar situations before, and she would feel a pang of sadness in her heart.
"I want to see just how many tricks those people have up their sleeves to cause trouble!" Qingyan was annoyed. With the servants from the Imperial Household Department constantly causing trouble, how could things possibly be peaceful at the Yuanmingyuan?
At midnight, in a secluded courtyard of the Yuanmingyuan Garden, several servants dressed as chief stewards gathered together, discussing the connections of the Guo Luo Luo clan that day.
The group consisted of heads of prominent families within the Imperial Household Department, each controlling the villas of several princes.
“We must get out of here quickly. His Majesty is taking this seriously; we can’t afford to be eliminated again. The Uya clan is slowly declining, and our previous plans may fall through,” Kexing’e said hastily.
Kexing'e was an informant sent by a prominent family of the Imperial Household Department to the Fifth Prince's residence. After the Fifth Prince was placed under house arrest, Kexing'e was like an ant on a hot pan, constantly searching for a way out.
Before anyone could say anything, the door to the room was pushed open, and when they looked inside, their faces turned deathly pale. Su Peisheng led the Imperial Guards over and arrested all the servants from the Imperial Household Department.
In the courtyard, Li Dequan was waiting, and Tu Lichen was preparing to secretly transport these stewards to Changchun Garden.
"Eunuch Li, everyone has been detained; not a single person has escaped," Su Peisheng reported respectfully.
After dinner, Kangxi specifically instructed Yin to keep a close eye on things in the courtyard in the middle of the night. Yin obediently went to the Sticky Rod Office and soon received news that the servants of the Imperial Household Department had gathered at the Yuanmingyuan Garden to prepare for a meeting and discussion.
"Gag them all and take them away!" Li Dequan's gloomy voice made all the stewards tremble.
They were puzzled. They had been very careful during the operation, arriving quietly after their masters had fallen asleep. Why was it that Yin discovered them in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea after arriving at Yuanmingyuan?
Su Peisheng went to the study and told Yin and Qingyan that the matter had been successfully completed. Qingyan sighed, saying that the Yuanmingyuan had become a gathering place for these people.
"Little darling, let's get some rest too. You can't stay up late!" Yin coaxed Qingyan to sleep. Today was a special case, so Yin arranged for Qingyan to go to bed later.
The following morning, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong issued a special decree requiring all princes and their primary wives to pay their respects at Changchun Garden.
After receiving the order, Qingyan was slightly confused, but she still changed into a loose-fitting, light blue winter coat with butterflies and peonies, and a fox fur cloak. She then helped Sulan walk step by step toward Consort Tong's courtyard.
Inside Changchun Garden, many of the princesses came over and gathered in the corridor at the entrance, whispering about Consort Tong's unusual order.
"Little darling, is this about what happened yesterday?" Seeing Qingyan approaching, Yin Genjue Luo Shi quickly went to greet her.
Both women were pregnant, and the other wives kept their distance from them. The Third Wife coldly stared at their bellies.
"I don't know. I was also called here. I have a feeling that something is about to happen!" Qingyan shook her head. Before leaving, Yin told her to listen more and talk less when she went to pay her respects.
"Sister-in-law, are you going back with me like this? Or will you go back after the New Year?" Qingyan wanted to confirm.
"Mother hopes I can go back after the New Year, but Father has decided that I can go back with him after the Winter Solstice. Then, the two of us will keep each other company!" Yin Genjue Luo Shi was less pregnant than Qing Yan. The two of them had been pregnant for more than three months, and the baby was considered to be stable.
"Third Princess Consort's eyes are not quite right, sister-in-law, you must be careful!" Qingyan caught a glimpse of Dong E's resentful eyes out of the corner of her eye, and her heart jumped instantly.
"Yes, you too!" Lady Yin Genjue nodded helplessly. Princess Dong'e was pregnant, but Lady Dong'e had no news. This caused Lady Dong'e's resources to shift, and the Third Princess was naturally not happy.
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