The next day, when she paid her respects, Consort Tong noticed that Xiao Guai was dressed in a lake-blue palace gown with wide, three-quarter sleeves. Underneath, she wore a long-sleeved shirt with an elegant white base and embroidered auspicious patterns, and only two jade bracelets on her wrists.
The lake-blue palace dress was a front-opening style, unlike the current trend of slanted-front dresses. Consort Tong found Xiao Guai's outfit quite refreshing.
"Little darling, this outfit is quite nice!" Both lake blue and white are considered simple and elegant colors, perfect for the occasion of mourning. The auspicious patterns embroidered in royal blue silk thread on the white cuffs complement the lake blue coat perfectly.
"Hehe, Your Majesty, this is my design, and it's the first time I've worn it!" Qingyan smiled. Women all like trendy outfits, and this outfit is definitely fashionable.
"Hmm, not bad. I'll have someone take a look later and make two or three sets for use during the mourning period." Consort Tong didn't wear many plain colors. Emperor Kangxi often interfered with Consort Tong's clothing, forcing her to prepare clothes according to his wishes.
After the morning court session, Kangxi and Yinzhen came over. Both of them were immediately struck by Qingyan's clothes. Kangxi looked at the two bracelets on Qingyan's wrist and couldn't help but laugh.
"Fourth Prince, were those bracelets made by you after spending half a month working on them in the Imperial Workshop?" Kangxi listened as the head of the Imperial Household Department complained that the workers in the workshop were always lamenting how difficult it was to make the bracelets for the Fourth Prince, as the materials were extremely rare.
“Yes, Mother’s bracelet should have been given by Father!” Yin retorted immediately.
Inside Chenggan Palace, this was their home. Here, Kangxi set aside his imperial airs and became just an ordinary gentleman and father.
"You brat!" Consort Tong said angrily.
“My little darling doesn’t know its value. She insists it’s just an ordinary lotus. I specially had a double lotus carved. Father, do you want me to give it to Mother?” Yin asked rhetorically. “I don’t mind giving it to Mother!”
When Kangxi heard this, his eyebrows shot up. That brat was going to embarrass him.
"Of course not! Bring me the blueprints!" Kangxi felt aggrieved seeing Lanya's envious gaze.
Yin was the same; he spent all his time pondering these things for Qingyan, and he didn't neglect his political affairs either, to the point that he couldn't even reprimand him.
"Yes, Father, I'm taking Xiao Guai out. I need to get ready before heading out!" Yin said directly.
"Go on, but come back before you lay the key!" Kangxi waved his hand dismissively, telling the brat to get lost.
Qingyan was a little confused when Yin pulled her out of Chenggan Palace. As soon as they stepped out, they heard Kangxi praising Consort Tong from inside.
"Lanya, that brat only likes Xiaoguai and doesn't care about you at all. We won't embroider purses for him anymore. I'll have someone prepare bracelets and jewelry for you..." As she walked away, her voice grew softer and softer.
Qingyan tilted her head and saw Yin frowning, his face full of disgust.
"Little darling, let's go out first. Father Emperor is always like this." Yin Dao felt that Kangxi should also pay attention to Consort Tong's mood when dealing with state affairs.
"Alright!" Qingyan quickened her pace, preparing to leave with Yin.
An hour later, a carriage slowly left the palace. As Yinzhi watched the carriage depart, he became increasingly unwilling.
Three days have passed, and I've visited every pharmacy in Beijing. Everyone says that such medicinal herbs are extremely rare, and finding even one or two thousand-year-old herbs is considered very lucky.
Yin Zhi refused to believe it and prepared to continue the search.
Qingyan leaned on Yin's shoulder, looking at the scenery outside.
"Little darling, Yinzhi is doomed," Yin said gloatingly.
Dong Eqi mobilized the resources of his family to find medicinal herbs for the Dong E clan.
Two days ago, Dong'e Wan Ning's aunt was beaten to death by Lady Dong'e. Yesterday, the news reached the palace, and Dong'e Wan Ning immediately closed her doors to rest and prepare for childbirth.
Yin Dao felt that Yin Zhi's princely residence was not chaotic enough and should be further inflamed.
"Huh?!" Qingyan looked at him in confusion.
A couple of days ago, she was still interested in observing the gossip at the Dong'e Mansion, but these past few days, she felt it was unnecessary; the novelty had long worn off.
“Dong’e Wan Ning has been abandoned by her family. She’s quite shrewd. In just one day, she managed to win over Yin Zhi and make him focus all his attention on her. If she had a prince, she could have established herself in the prince’s heart even without the family’s support!” Yin sighed.
Back then, the Li family used this method to force Xiao Guai, who was being pressured, to change his ways.
"Wow!"
Qingyan complained about Yinzhi, saying that this was acceptable, since Dong'e had just lost her child, and the scumbag turned around and immediately doted on someone else.
In some ways, Dong E Wan Ning was a formidable rival to the Dong E clan.
"Isn't it ridiculous?" The story of the Dong E sisters became a model for the noblewomen of the Eight Banners to teach their daughters, and the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate daughters became even more intense.
Dong E Wan Ning became the target of unfavored concubine daughters, who hoped their own marriages would go so smoothly, ruthlessly trampling the legitimate daughters under their feet.
"Yes, she was abandoned?" Wasn't Dong'e Wan Ning's mother the favored one?
"After Lady Dong'e returned, she had Dong'e Wan Ning's concubine beaten to death, and the illegitimate son left home in resentment." Yin also felt that Lady Dong'e had gone too far. "Dong'e Qishi had not yet returned from the military camp, and the illegitimate son directly signed up to go to the Xishan camp. E Shuo's men had already recruited him."
The men of the Eight Banners would never go to suffer under Eshuo's command unless they were desperate; it was simply not a place fit for human beings.
Pfft!
E'shuo has really gone too far. Dong'e has repeatedly caused trouble at the Qingyan banquet, and she's getting better and better at making things difficult for everyone.
The real battle only began after Dong E returned to his residence at the age of seventy.
"Does Lady Dong'e have a legitimate son?" Qingyan asked, looking at the bustling crowd outside, as she continued gossiping with Yin.
"Yes, but they can't be raised!" Lady Dong'e's legitimate sons always died young when they reached adulthood. After several sons died young, Lady Dong'e Qishi completely gave up the idea of letting her legitimate son inherit the family business.
Dong E Wan Ning's elder brother was Dong E Qi Shi's most favored successor, and this time, Lady Dong E is in trouble.
"Hmph, the fierce competition between legitimate and illegitimate children is all because you men are too fickle," Qingyan said disdainfully.
"You even brought up Fourth Uncle!" Yin felt a pang of sadness. The little guy always spoke with such logic and evidence that it was impossible to refute him.
"Hmph, Father is very obedient now!" After Fei Yanggu went to the new house, he immediately gave all the concubines sterilization drugs.
Therefore, she did not have to deal with those illegitimate children.
"Yes, I will learn from Fourth Uncle in the future, and I will be very well-behaved." Yin laughed. With more illegitimate sons, the safety of the legitimate sons would be in danger.
Honghui!
His only legitimate son was murdered by his concubines, and he would not allow such a tragedy to repeat itself.
"Where are we going?" Qingyan asked.
"Let's go see a play!" Yin was delighted. The Third Prince, while searching for medicinal herbs, found a mistress. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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