Two days passed peacefully. Just after breakfast, Fei Yanggu hurriedly walked in and beckoned Yin and Qingyan into the study.
"After lunch, we will bid farewell to the military port in Guangdong and Guangxi. In reality, we will wait at the Yulai Inn outside the city. His Majesty will be traveling incognito with the Empress Dowager, Consort Tong, and Consort Hui!" Fei Yanggu was summoned directly to the imperial palace by Kangxi and asked about his return time.
What? !
Yin and Qingyan exchanged a glance. Are they going back so soon?
"Su Peisheng, go and get ready, we're about to return to the naval port!" Yin still needs to buy some things to take back; Yin and Yin haven't bought everything they wanted yet.
“!” Su Peisheng readily agreed.
"Make the move as big as possible!" Fei Yanggu also sent Jue Luo to buy a lot of things, and today he declined all the invitations from the female relatives. "It would be best if all the officials' wives who came with the emperor were aware of this."
After listening to Fei Yanggu's words, Qingyan took out a list from her purse. These were originally intended for Linglong Pavilion and Yuelai Inn to handle.
"Sulan, have Bayan buy the items listed here!" Qingyan said as she walked to the door.
"Master, weren't these prepared by Yuelai Inn and Linglong Pavilion?" Su Lan glanced at the items and found them very strange.
"Okay, we'll ship those things back after we return to Guangdong and Guangxi. Now, have Bayan buy this list and bring it back within one day!" Qingyan gave the instructions.
Su Lan took the list and went outside to find Bayan, while Qing Yan returned to the study.
"Alright, you all understand now. Remember to prepare the children's things as well!" Fei Yanggu gave a few instructions, "And make sure His Majesty doesn't take Hafeng'a back to the capital!"
When Fei Yanggu delivered his final, semi-final speech, he lowered his voice.
Yin was slightly taken aback. Kangxi actually wanted to keep Hafeng Age by his side?
"You don't trust me anymore?" Yin was heartbroken. Each of his children was the best to him, so Yin had always stayed by their side and would never let them live like before.
"No, it's because the censors have some complaints. The twins absolutely cannot be left with Kangxi, otherwise the eldest prince and your legitimate son will become pawns," Fei Yanggu said directly.
Yin understood. Of the two, Hafenga and Duoxihun, Hafenga had appeared, while Duoxihun was at the military port in Guangdong and Guangxi. Therefore, Hafenga was the first to be targeted.
"Fourth Master, His Majesty has sent Eunuch Li over!" Su Peisheng walked in from outside.
Li Dequan bowed to Yin according to custom.
"Anda, please rise quickly!" Yin hurriedly stood up and helped Li Dequan. "Why did you come here?"
"Fourth Prince, His Majesty has sent someone to summon you to the temporary palace," Li Dequan first relayed Kangxi's message. "Furthermore, His Majesty wants you to remember one thing: no matter who tries to persuade you, even if His Majesty says something outright, you must refuse directly on the grounds that Prince Hafeng is too young!"
Yin nodded, feeling calm. Those people were indeed about to make a move.
"Fourth Princess Consort, you should go with Fourth Master as well," Li Dequan said quickly after seeing Qingyan.
The censors couldn't touch Qingyan anymore. After all, Qingyan had already established himself and had two legitimate sons. He didn't need to pay attention to the censors' desire to make the Fourth Prince take more concubines.
On the carriage to the imperial palace, Qingyan stared blankly outside, wondering what these people were trying to do.
"Little darling, watch my look later. Remember, if anyone asks, you must refuse!" Yin was preparing to make those censors back down.
Qingyan was filled with anxiety, hoping that Hafenga would stay by her side like Yiken'e.
Inside the palace, the ministers gathered in the main hall. Fei Yanggu's high-profile actions had put everyone on guard.
At Consort Tong's residence, the women were subtly encouraging Hafeng'a to stay as a hostage.
When Qingyan arrived at Consort Tong's courtyard, she overheard Consort Tong Guowei persuading her that if she could keep a young prince by her side, she wouldn't be bored. Hafeng'a was not the eldest son and was also young, making him the best candidate.
If the third generation has another prince who can maintain close ties with the Tong family, then the Tong family will have achieved its goal.
"Little darling, you've come over!" Consort Tong interrupted Madam Tong Guowei's eloquent speech and looked directly at the door.
"Mother, how is your health?" After bowing, Qingyan inquired about Consort Tong's health in accordance with custom.
"Fourth Princess Consort, if you are worried about Consort Tong, then leave the young prince here. It's quite lonely in the palace. With the young prince's company, it will definitely be much more interesting." When Madam Tong Guowei saw Qingyan coming over, she immediately turned her attention to Qingyan and asked her directly.
"Madam Tong, who asked you to ask that?" Qingyan bowed slightly to Aunt Shu and placed the teacup on the table beside her.
Madam Tong Guowei was stunned. Qingyan was clearly very annoyed. However, the little prince had not yet been weaned, so it would be fine as long as a wet nurse was used.
"Does Fourth Princess Consort not want to show filial piety?" Madam Tong Guowei was stunned.
“No, Hafeng’a is not even a year old yet. If he were raised by his mother’s side, it would obviously be making her work hard, not giving her a leisurely life.” Qingyan said coldly. “Madam Tong Guowei is quite funny. If we’re talking about seniority, Yiken’a should stay by his mother’s side.”
Consort Tong remained silent. Her mother's words were truly unreliable. If she could, she would not allow Yiken'er to stay by her side.
“Young Prince Yiken’e is of a delicate status. If anything were to happen to him, no one could bear the consequences.” Madam Tong Guowei smiled awkwardly.
"You mean, Hafeng is not delicate. He is also Fourth Master's child. Can he be divided into different classes?" Qingyan narrowed his eyes. Madam Tong Guowei was a bit of a headache. She didn't understand her own status and was still giving orders from the side.
"Alright, little darling, you must take good care of Hafeng. The prince is still young, and it's not appropriate for him to stay by my side!" Consort Tong said, knowing her own limitations. It wouldn't be right for her to raise Hafeng herself.
"Mother, I will often bring my two little princes back to visit you!" Qingyan said with a smile.
"In truth, I, your humble servant, should not say more than this. Apart from the young prince Hafeng, the legitimate son of Prince Zhi, the young prince Duoxihui, whom I have never met," Lady Dong'e chimed in from the side.
If possible, having one of the two princes in one's grasp would surely grant one's desires.
“Doxihun is younger than Hafenga, and is the eldest son of the Prince of Zhi. If he comes as a hostage,” Qingyan said, emphasizing the word “hostage”.
The women all said they dared not, but Qingyan didn't say much. If anyone dared to scheme against the children, Qingyan wouldn't hesitate to take action.
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