After Qingyan took his seat, he looked at Yin with some curiosity.
He did not immediately order his guards to enter the backyard, which was completely different from what was shown on television.
"Sisi, why didn't you go in?" Qingyan asked, puzzled.
Upon entering the mansion, the well-trained guards gathered and kept watch over the servants, only inspecting the first courtyard.
Unlike what's shown on TV, they didn't rush straight into the backyard, scaring the women into running around in panic, while the young children watched them in terror.
“These people’s ancestors followed the Aisin Gioro family through thick and thin, so we should leave them a way out. It’s acceptable for the women to keep some silver notes for themselves,” Yin explained in a low voice.
Qingyan narrowed her eyes. Sure enough, Yin was kind-hearted. If he had encountered someone with a hard heart, he probably wouldn't have let it go so easily.
"Fourth Brother, shouldn't the soldiers trained by Ah Hun be well-behaved?" Qingyan looked at the guards outside the courtyard, who had sealed away all the boxes of jewels and hadn't kept anything for themselves.
Yin nodded. The troops from the Xishan camp that were dispatched this time were mostly well-paid, and many of them were illegitimate sons from prominent families. They were quite perceptive.
"Fourth Master, the women in the inner quarters have all been arranged," Su Peisheng reported to Yin. "Wang Geng's wife has left with her youngest son!"
Yin's face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Let them leave!" Yin was not as resolute as he had been in his previous life; leaving a bloodline for those who were confiscating his property was acceptable.
Qingyan's eyes widened. This... is fine.
“The youngest son of the legitimate wife is usually no more than 3 years old. Wang Geng’s wife is a lady from a respectable family and is able to raise the child to adulthood, which is enough.”
In his past life, he went too far, which is why he was criticized by his subordinates.
With Emperor Kangxi overseeing things from above, his quiet act of leaving behind a bloodline reassured his ministers. A commotion arose in the backyard. Wang Geng, seeing that Su Peisheng had entered the main hall without issuing any decrees, felt relieved. His wife had taken hundreds of thousands of silver notes, along with gold, valuable paintings, and jewelry previously stored in their Yangzhou residence—enough for their child to live on for generations.
"Fourth Prince, won't the Emperor say something about you?" Yinzhi left behind a bloodline for someone else, which he probably didn't tell Kangxi about. How could Kangxi not be suspicious?
Yin shook his head. Kangxi practiced benevolent governance, and as long as there was no trouble, the higher-ups would turn a blind eye.
"No... Madam isn't here! Why are you taking my child!" A sharp shout from behind made Yin frown.
Qingyan turned her head to try and see what was going on through the back window.
"Sisi, let's go take a look!" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity; something special must have happened to make someone react so strongly.
Yin patted Qingyan's little head, took his little hand and walked outside. She noticed that the servants in the mansion looked strangely taller than the two of them from Dalian, and suddenly remembered that she was wearing men's clothing.
"Let go!" Qingyan blushed; this Sisi was just too stupid.
Empress Yin belatedly realized what was happening and quickly let go.
Upon entering the backyard, Qingyan noticed a young woman kneeling among the concubines, crying out in pain. Beside her, a matron from the Imperial Household Department was holding a baby boy who was less than a year old.
The boy's round eyes looked around with a somewhat confused expression.
"My lord, please have mercy! My child is the youngest heir in the manor. The legitimate son is already three years old. He will surely remember this hatred." Wang Geng glared angrily at the concubine.
When the woman lunged forward, she grabbed the hem of Qingyan's clothes and knelt on the ground with a face full of sorrow. She looked at the two of them, and Qingyan seemed to be easier to talk to.
"How dare you! Kneel properly!" Wang Geng was choosing between his legitimate and illegitimate sons. The illegitimate son was young, and the woman was a favored concubine, so she should be able to support the child.
"Give the children back to her. All children under three years old should be placed with their biological mothers for care!" Yin said.
She was surprised; among her offspring, quite a few were under three years old. As soon as she finished speaking, many women in the group kowtowed to Yin, thanking this esteemed official.
Seeing some of the lower-ranking concubines weeping with joy, Yin felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
The guards came over and began registering the items in the women's private treasuries. Yin was relieved to see that the number of silver notes registered was much smaller.
Concubines are generally not sentenced unless they have committed too many crimes.
Children under the age of 3 would not be implicated; Emperor Kangxi's benevolent rule was aimed at developing the Qing Dynasty even better.
The guards were sealing up chests of jewels, and Qingyan couldn't help but gape in astonishment. There was more jewels than she had in her own small storeroom!
This principal wife was also considered wealthy.
Wang Geng kept a close eye on Yin and Qingyan's expressions. Her surprised look made his calm heart rise again. There must be some changes at the meeting.
"Fourth Master, everyone has gathered here. The headcount has been completed," E Shuo replied respectfully.
E'shuo was shocked by those records. The Wang family had a lot of silver in their savings, much of it in official silver ingots.
"The women are all sent to the family temple, and the men over the age of 16 are sent to the criminal court!" Yin glanced at the boys under the age of 16, his eyes flashing slightly. "Those who are under the age of 16 are also imprisoned with their mothers."
Yin's heart softened?!
The Fourth Prince of Qing Dynasty has been slandered by many people.
At this moment, she felt she understood the truth even more: when the Fourth Prince ransacked homes, he would give people a chance to correct their mistakes.
At this point, the women stopped crying out for justice.
Mothers are strong!
Qingyan thought that the concubine was still able to say those things even after being glared at by Wang Geng, probably because she wanted her child to be returned to her.
Upon hearing Yin's instructions, E'shuo arranged for the guards to escort the people away one by one.
After everyone in the Wang residence had left, Yin walked into the hall in the backyard.
"Little darling, come with me to take a look!" Yin remembered that many corrupt officials in his past life had secret rooms. They kept a lot of their most treasured documents inside.
She looked completely bewildered. Hadn't all these places already been searched?
Why watch it again?
After Yin went inside, he started prying at the walls randomly. Qingyan realized that he was trying to find the secret room.
She activated the spatial system and quickly located the secret chamber of the main hall. Just as she was about to walk over, he grabbed her arm.
"Tap it like this~" Yin slightly curled the corners of his mouth. There were still quite a few people watching outside, and Xiao Guai's behavior absolutely could not go too far.
Qingyan instantly understood Yin's thoughts, and couldn't help but reach out her small hand and casually tap the wall. Soon, she found the empty wall.
"This is it!" Yin nodded in satisfaction at Qingyan's actions; this was the best solution.
Yin surveyed the treasure pavilion on his left, which displayed numerous valuable porcelain pieces. Which one was it? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
