Inside the naval port, Emperor Kangxi specially brought Li Guangdi, who had retired from the capital, to the port. Yinzhi stared at the old man in the carriage and froze on the spot.
"Fourth Master, this servant has retired for the time being. His Majesty has said that this servant should come and serve as Prince Hongye's tutor." Li Guangdi was nearly seventy years old, but he still had a ruddy complexion. He was in a particularly good mood when he saw the Fourth Master.
The atmosphere in the capital was getting worse and worse. Li Guangdi was feeling powerless to face these disasters, and even the princes were starting to prepare their own escape routes.
"Master, please don't say that!" Yin was still very respectful to Li Guangdi, who had been his mentor for a few days.
"Fourth Master, this servant has settled down in the military port. After the young prince returns to the capital to study, this servant can return to his hometown." Li Guangdi can then retire successfully.
Yin stepped aside for Li Guangdi, and Su Peisheng quickly took Li Guangdi's luggage from behind and respectfully escorted him to the front courtyard.
When Fei Yanggu and his two sons saw Li Guangdi, they found it very strange. Why did Li Guangdi come here?
"Hey old man, what brings you here?" Fei Yanggu quickly came to greet him.
“I’m retiring now, Fei Yanggu. How about we get together later?” Li Guangdi looked at Fei Yanggu and saw that he was in much better spirits than when he was in the capital. He sighed inwardly. The capital was a deep pit. Many people hoped to enter the officialdom, but in reality, they were exhausted from working hard every day.
Yin returned to the courtyard and saw Qingyan leaning against the chaise longue, holding a book in her left hand, listening to Yiken'e reciting the Thousand Character Classic. The sight of the mother and son in the sunlight brought tears to his eyes.
"Father!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen sat on the other side of the chaise longue, looking at his textbook. When he looked up, he saw Yin standing at the door with his hands behind his back.
"Father!" Yiken'e respectfully bowed to Yin and greeted him. His small appearance warmed Yin's heart.
"Little darling, how are you feeling?" Yin picked up one child in each arm, and the three of them sat together on the chaise longue, with Yiken'e and Hutulifengshengzhalafen sitting on his lap.
"Not bad." Qingyan felt that her body was fine, and she had rested quite well.
"Father Emperor has sent a tutor to Yiken'e from the capital, so we should go and take a look!" Yin said, glancing at Qingyan. "Both of you are getting your first lessons, and this tutor is excellent. Father was also taught by him for a few days back then."
Yin glanced at Suzhu and told her to stay with the two children, who were dressed in proper qipao and were very respectful.
After the twins were sent away, Qingyan stared wide-eyed at Yin, wanting to know from him who had become Yiken'e's mentor.
"It's Li Guangdi!" Yin had been taught by him for a few days when he was a child, so he also had to respect his teacher.
Ugh!
Qingyan was stunned: "This is Father Emperor's loyal servant!"
Yin nodded: "Li Guangdi has retired, so Father Emperor heard that Yiken'e has no tutor here, so he sent him over first. After we return to the capital, Li Guangdi will go back to his hometown!"
Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Recently, Yin had been thinking about what kind of tutor to find for Yiken'e. He couldn't let Yin be in charge of everything. With more and more things happening at the military port, Yin could only leave homework during the day and have classes at night.
With more work at the naval port, Yineng had less time to manage Yiken'e's studies, and the child spent most of his time reading books.
"Sulan, take out the two newly delivered purple-haired brushes, and also take out that piece of Huizhou ink with plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum designs!" Qingyan naturally prepared some gifts for the apprenticeship ceremony.
"How did you come to have the Purple Hair Brush?" Yin looked at Su Lan as she took out a sandalwood box. When she opened it, there were two brushes with warm jade handles and white nibs. Near the handles, there was a circle of purple.
"Hehe, I just happened to run into him. He's the successor of the Purple Hair Brush and is on business at the Linglong Pavilion. If you want some, I can give you some!" The raw materials for the Purple Hair Brush are hard to find. They are made from the finest wolf hair, so it took a lot of effort to collect them.
"Two of them must be presented to Father Emperor!" Yin pinched Qingyan's little nose.
“These are on the gift list for this year’s birthday celebration. I specially had them made.” Qingyan had expected this. Even her father and uncles said that these things were not for ordinary people.
After the first batch of purple-haired brushes was made, Qingyan placed the two most exquisite ones in a box and sent them directly to the palace.
Yin was relieved after hearing Qingyan's words. Qingyan had finally grown up and understood that some things could not be hidden away.
"Moreover, we have prepared three or four sets of Huizhou inkstones featuring plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums," Qingyan said softly, pursing her lips.
Huizhou ink is even rarer, and its exquisite craftsmanship makes it a cherished item for many scholars.
"Give me one set, and leave the other set with Yiken'e." Yin used Panlong ink, which was prepared by Consort Tong.
"Okay, Sisi, I've selected a lot of dragon-patterned ink, and they look quite different in shape." Qingyan also really liked all kinds of Huizhou ink, but those were all meant to be presented as tribute to the imperial family, and very few were actually kept.
Yin smiled and said, "I didn't know that Xiao Guai likes to collect these things."
The two children changed their clothes, and Su Zhu carried a tray with Huizhou ink and a purple-haired brush on it. For scholars, these were the most precious things.
"Fourth Prince, I'll send your share to your study!" Qingyan covered her mouth and laughed. Yinzong always liked to compete with Yiken'e for things; if Yiken'e had something, Yinzong had to have it too.
Every time Qingyan watched the father and son causing trouble, she felt a terrible headache.
"Send Yiken'e's share to his study as well. Neither of you should fight over it!" Qingyan said directly. After all, if Yin and Yiken'e were not settled, the mansion would be in for a lot of trouble.
The twins came over, and Yin and Qingyan walked together towards the study.
Inside the study, Fei Yanggu and Li Guangdi were discussing matters. The situation in the capital was really not good. Fei Yanggu knew this in his heart. Li Guangdi was a staff member personally sent by Emperor Kangxi.
"You'll need to keep a close eye on the naval ports in Guangdong and Guangxi as well," Fei Yanggu said to Li Guangdi. "Is the situation in Beijing not good?"
"That's right. Luckily you got away beforehand. The Nine Gates area is a deep pit. Anyone who dares to cause trouble behind it will not get away with it by His Majesty!" Li Guangdi shook his head. The servants of the Nine Gates and the Imperial Household Department were the most punished. Many of them had their families confiscated and their clans exterminated.
Fei Yanggu's mood gradually turned dejected. Who could say that this incident wasn't orchestrated by that person?
“Alright, I’m leaving the little prince to you. This child is really mischievous,” Fei Yanggu said directly.
Li Guangdi laughed. His Majesty had said what level that young master would reach in the future!
With just a simple hint, he understood the situation and directly guided his young master in that direction.
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