As noon approached, the princes from the northern deserts, who had arrived earlier, set up camp around the imperial tent. These princes all brought their daughters with them. The noble ladies of Mongolia noticed Qingyan's shoulder...
The gyrfalcon on its wing stirred his heart.
Less than half an hour after the falconry was completed in the early morning, news that Qingyan had tamed the gyrfalcon spread throughout the camp.
Even the Empress Dowager found it quite strange. She had trained eagles on the Mongolian grasslands and had never seen such a rapid transformation in time, making the wild and untamed gyrfalcon so obedient.
Kangxi laughed when he heard this. Fei Yanggu always boasted that Qingyan had developed some interest in animals, and now it seemed that the little guy's abilities were extremely high.
Looking at the gyrfalcon still hopping around inside the imperial tent, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
At this moment, Qingyan and Yin had just finished lunch. The gyrfalcon obediently stood on the specially made rack and was enjoying its roasted meat. Qingyan looked at the gyrfalcon happily eating the roasted meat, her almond-shaped eyes flashed, and she thought of a good idea.
"Si Si, do you think this gyrfalcon can find the person?" Qing Yan felt that the eagle should be good. If he could take on the responsibility of delivering messages to Fei Yanggu and E Shuo, it would save a lot of carrier pigeons.
Yin looked at Xiao Guai's expression with suspicion, wondering what Xiao Guai meant.
"Um?"
“My father and his men often go on expeditions, and communication in those places would definitely be a big problem. But the gyrfalcon is different. Outsiders would think it's a wild animal from the grasslands, and very few people would hunt it!” Qingyan thought for a moment. If they could have two more, not only for Feiyanggu, but also for Eshuo and Saito, it would have unexpected benefits.
Yin's eyes lit up. What Qingyan said made sense, but how could those people possibly let them have their way?
Not only are gyrfalcons rare, but such exceptional specimens are even rarer.
"Have you set your sights on Mother's?" The two gyrfalcons look similar, but Consort Tong's is definitely not as good as Qingyan's. Otherwise, that gyrfalcon wouldn't have gotten all worked up when it saw Qingyan.
The black gyrfalcon tilted its little head as it listened to Qingyan's words, its large eagle eyes observing its young master's intentions.
"Of course, but Father Emperor will definitely not agree. I'll talk to Father and Ah Hun. They've lived on the grasslands for so long, how could they not have seen a gyrfalcon yet?" Qingyan always thought that the more they could win, the more guarantees they would have. Yin looked at Qingyan's little face and couldn't help but think about it for a moment. He decided to do as Qingyan suggested.
Yin stood up and paced around inside the tent. Looking at Xiao Guai's appearance, he nodded.
"You are not allowed to talk to Father Emperor about this. I will mention it to Father Emperor, and then it will not only be our business!" Yin thought this was a matter for the military advisors and belonged to the previous dynasty.
During dinner, Yin mentioned it to Kangxi, and Consort Tong looked at Qingyan with satisfaction. They both understood that this somewhat whimsical idea was Qingyan's.
"Yin, do you have any other ideas?"
“Father, we don’t necessarily need to find such a good gyrfalcon. The worst kind will do. Generally, no one will hunt adult gyrfalcons casually. They are either tamed or wild animals. Our tamed ones don’t need to have any markings.” Yin pondered for a moment and then said.
Yin's suggestion was good, and Kangxi took these matters very seriously.
"You two can use this, I'm taking the fourth son to the study!" Kangxi looked at Yinzhi. Now was a crucial time, and any good suggestions, no matter how small, had to be implemented ahead of schedule.
Consort Tong led Qingyan in bowing, while Xiao Guai watched Yin's retreating figure, feeling rather uneasy.
"Mother, how is your gyrfalcon?" Such wild animals are not usually kept in front of them.
"It's not at the window; anyone other than the people in the bird shed will be pecked if they get close!" Consort Tong was somewhat annoyed; this gyrfalcon was particularly disliked.
After dinner, Qingyan led everyone back alone, but Lady Dong'e was waiting for her on the way back.
"Isn't this the Fourth Princess Consort? Why did you come back on your own?" Dong Eshi didn't have a good impression of Qingyan, and in addition, Consort Rong had often made her look at Qingyan, which made Dong Eshi particularly resentful.
"Third Sister-in-law, you're not under house arrest, so why are you out strolling around? Is Consort Rong trying to defy the imperial decree?" Qingyan retorted.
The smile on Dong E's face vanished completely. Qing Yan, who stood before her, was no longer the person she could easily manipulate.
"Can you give me that gyrfalcon you got? I'll pay any amount of silver!" Dong Eshi, who was given to her by Yin Zhi, insisted on getting the gyrfalcon from Qing Yan. Even Consort Rong said that giving Qing Yan more silver would be fine.
"Why?" Qingyan was puzzled. The gyrfalcon was a gift from the Emperor and could not be handed over.
She was plotting something in her mind: if the imperial gift were sold without authorization, even her own family would be implicated.
Dong E felt uneasy under Qing Yan's gaze. Had she said something wrong?
Consort Rong originally intended that if Qingyan had any designs on the matter, she would simply spread the word that Qingyan was dissatisfied with the imperial gift bestowed by Emperor Kangxi.
"Third Master really likes gyrfalcons and has always wanted one!" Dong Eshi said bitterly.
If it weren't for her status, which would have allowed her to strike up a conversation with Qingyan and potentially acquire the gyrfalcon, Yinzhi probably wouldn't have gone to his own tent.
"Third Sister-in-law, that's impossible!" Qingyan refused.
She wanted to walk around Dong Eshi and go back, not wanting to pay any attention to this person!
In the instant the two parted ways, Dong Eshi tripped Qingyan, and Su Lan fell to the ground, becoming a cushion for Qingyan.
After falling, Qingyan braced himself with his hands on the ground, his palms roughened by the young master's touch, and blood appeared on his fair skin.
"Third sister-in-law, what are you trying to do?" Yin's voice rang out from behind the two of them. Dong Eshi stood stiffly, and couldn't help but look back. Yin stared at the two of them with a dark expression.
He stepped forward and helped Qingyan up, looking at the little darling's injured hand with heartache. From a young age, Qingyan had always been a strong and resilient child, and had never suffered such a serious injury before. It seemed that Yinzhi's ambitions were growing.
"Fourth brother, this... Sister-in-law didn't mean it. She just talked to Xiao Guai for a bit, and she wasn't walking steadily!" Dong Eshi firmly refused to admit that she was the one who tripped Qingyan.
There were too many people standing behind Qingyan; one person alone could have dealt with her.
Yin's lips curled up slightly. Dong Eshi was also clever enough to think that she hadn't discovered these things.
"Is that so?" Yin looked at her coldly. "If you want a gyrfalcon, have Consort Rong go to Mother."
Yin picked up Qingyan and carried her to his tent. Dong Eshi felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled Yin's last look; he was clearly angry.
How was she going to explain this to Consort Rong later?
"You, from now on, avoid her whenever you see her!" Yin placed Qingyan on the soft couch, his face full of disapproval. (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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