Inside the private room, Fei Yanggu stood by the window, looking down at the people below. Some people had followed them all the way here. The innkeeper recognized them but dared not properly bow to his masters, so he could only pay his respects after entering the room.
"What happened?!" Qingyan asked the shopkeeper.
"Master, a few months ago, some people dressed in Mongolian attire inquired about His Majesty's southern tour." The innkeeper's expression changed slightly, and he quickly reported the truth. "Moreover, they have been staying at the Yuelai Inn. Every year, our Yuelai Inn closes for a few days to entertain His Majesty. It must have been those people who heard the news and came to inquire!"
Fei Yanggu, holding his teacup, walked back to the round table and watched the shopkeeper describe the appearances of those people.
It turned out that there were a few people inside who had come with them. He noticed that these people were dressed in Manchu attire, not Mongolian robes.
"Are you sure it's Mongolian attire?" Fei Yanggu asked, staring intently at the shopkeeper.
"Yes, sir, my son-in-law is a Mongol. He comes back to stay for half a year every year. How could I not know him?" The shopkeeper's son-in-law was a minor Mongol leader. On his first trip to Jiangnan, he took a liking to the shopkeeper's daughter and begged the shopkeeper to marry her off.
The young couple has been living a very good life these past two years, which makes the shopkeeper very happy. He insists that Qingyan has given his daughter a good marriage.
"Father-in-law, what do you think?" Someone from Mongolia actually came over.
"We must be on guard and have a word with Tulichen!" Feiyangu believed that these people were either from the Mongol tribes or that someone was deliberately trying to sabotage something.
Su Peisheng quietly left and instructed Erlu to inform Tulichen to come over.
"Fourth Master, you'd better be careful too. The twins are probably their target. Make sure to have a lot of people guarding Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen!" Fei Yanggu was fed up with the Mongols' actions.
After lunch, Su Zhu and Bayan accompanied the children to their afternoon nap, while Fei Yanggu and his wife, along with Yin and his wife, waited for Tu Lichen's arrival in the flower hall.
Later that evening, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong arrived directly, much to Fei Yanggu's surprise.
"Third Master, why have you come out?!" Fei Yanggu directly addressed Kangxi by his former title.
"Let's go out for a stroll and give those people a chance!" Kangxi didn't care. In the past, he had faced many dangers, and the people around him had been tested time and time again.
“Third Master, you are different now than before!” Fei Yanggu said helplessly. Kangxi liked to fight alongside everyone.
Emperor Kangxi waved his hand: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
The shopkeeper was very nervous when he spoke to Emperor Kangxi for the first time, and he even spoke in a broken and intermittent manner.
Consort Tong started laughing, clutching her handkerchief. Emperor Kangxi glared at her, telling her to behave herself.
"Mother, did no one accompany you when you came?" Qingyan quickly asked.
Consort Tong was stunned: "Were you followed by someone when you came out?"
In the south, Consort Tong had become accustomed to being followed; officials in the south would generally send people to accompany her, and everyone was used to it.
"This is what caused it. It's said that it was caused by people from Mongolia!" Qingyan shook his head, and Consort Tong's face turned a little pale.
"The Empress Dowager is accompanying us on this southern tour this year, and it's said she wants to meet someone!" Consort Tong, seeing that only her own people remained in the room, had no choice but to reveal the answer.
Emperor Kangxi glared at Consort Tong, saying that this matter should not be discussed in front of a junior.
"Third Master, is it still that old rumor?" Fei Yanggu had served Emperor Kangxi for many years. When they were young, they often played in the palace and heard maids from the Mongol entourage talk about the Empress Dowager's past.
"It should be. That person has already passed away back then, but the 30-year agreement with the Empress Dowager happens to be this year." Kangxi was also very nervous.
If even the slightest bad rumor about the Empress Dowager were to surface, it would become a disgrace to the royal family. Therefore, Emperor Kangxi preferred to keep the Empress Dowager from seeing him.
"Did they say where it is?" Fei Yanggu didn't inquire further. Now, they were resentful that they hadn't inquired more back then.
Kangxi and Fei Yanggu exchanged a glance; neither of them knew the truth.
"Lanya, do you still remember her?" Kangxi remembered that Consort Tong was also in the palace and quickly asked.
Consort Tong shook her head; she wasn't even aware of the Empress Dowager's agreement.
"My aunt is not feeling well. I have been staying in the palace and have not gone out!" The Empress Dowager's poor health was arranged by the Grand Empress Dowager.
If Emperor Kangxi showed too much concern, it would shorten Empress Dowager Tong's lifespan.
"Third Master, this is a difficult situation!" Fei Yanggu said, spreading his hands.
Qingyan wished she could cover her ears and not hear about these royal secrets. The Empress Dowager's every move was an example for everyone.
"Little darling, you should listen carefully too. The Yuelai Inn is located in various places, so it's most convenient for you to keep an eye on it!" Kangxi said, not caring. The late emperor had no affection for the empress dowager, only treating her as a younger sister. He didn't even spend his wedding night with the empress dowager.
"Yes!" Qingyan's face showed an awkward smile.
"Feyanggu, what are your thoughts?" Kangxi looked at Feiyanggu. "I'm a little confused."
"For so many years, the Empress Dowager has always been very proper. If she were to make a request, what would you choose?" Fei Yanggu asked Kangxi in return.
An awkward expression appeared on Kangxi's face: "If it can be done without anyone noticing, I'll pretend I don't know anything."
The Empress Dowager had not overstepped any rules for many years since she came from the grasslands to the capital. If it was not a serious matter, Emperor Kangxi would still allow it.
"So, no matter who it is, you will choose to let the Empress Dowager see it?" Consort Tong was also stunned.
"Logically, I should stick to my principles. After my mother left, I stayed in my mother's courtyard. The Empress Dowager didn't want me to rely on anyone, so my mother would always secretly visit me, bringing me many things. She always told me that I must grow up well and be as strong and talented as that person." Kangxi smiled bitterly. "I always thought the Empress Dowager was referring to the late Emperor, until one time, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager had an argument, and I was preparing to go find her according to my agreement with the Empress Dowager, when I overheard it by chance."
Upon hearing this, Qingyan sighed inwardly, "Indeed, there's always a reason why someone is pitiful."
The Empress Dowager's actions can be quite annoying at times, but at other times, one can't help but feel sorry for the old lady.
"Alright, I'll ask. After lunch, I won't linger. I'll head back to the palace as soon as possible. Are you at ease now?" Kangxi glared at Fei Yanggu. This guy was always worried about some kind of danger. He wasn't porcelain that would break at the slightest touch.
"I'm glad you're safe!" Fei Yanggu patted his chest. He had done his duty on WeChat and didn't care about anything else.
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