In the afternoon, Yin returned with Qingyan, who was laden with spoils. However, the atmosphere in the camp was somewhat unfriendly. As soon as they stepped into the tent, Tulichen and his guards invited them to the Phoenix Tent.
Upon arriving at the door, the two exchanged a glance, both wondering what had happened.
Upon entering the imperial tent, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi sat upright on the throne. Their expressions were not good. Consort Tong had a faint smile on her lips, but Consort Rong's expression was not good.
Previously, the Mongol leaders were unaware of the true reason for the Empress Dowager's sudden death. To protect his son, Emperor Kangxi had covered up the outrageous things Yinzhi had done. However, nothing is truly secret forever. This morning, news spread throughout the camp that the Empress Dowager had been angered by the Third Prince, Yinzhi, which caused her health to collapse.
When Kangxi heard Li Dequan's report, he had no choice but to make a decision and began to investigate the matter. All the blame was directed at Yin and Qingyan. Consort Tong couldn't help but sneer. Yin had secret guards sent by Kangxi, and the young couple's every move was under his watchful eye. Apart from sleeping, the two of them had little privacy.
Later, the Empress Dowager also heard about it. She had never given Consort Rong and her daughter-in-law a kind look, but she would never show any displeasure to Emperor Kangxi in front of outsiders.
She sent Su Mo'er to Yin Yu Qingyan's tent to announce the summons. Su Peisheng, despite his injuries, reported the matter. After his master came out of the imperial tent, he went into the dense forest to hunt.
Su Mo'er then understood that the two young masters were not involved.
At this moment, Qingyan sat on a bench, looking at Consort Rong and Lady Dong'e across from him with a serious expression.
The two men appeared normal, but a hint of nervousness flickered in their eyes as the Empress Dowager spoke.
Conversely, if the rumors were to spread, the grassland leaders would certainly not let it go. If things went wrong, even if Kangxi had to compromise, the leaders would be eyeing the Fourth Prince's residence. Ultimately, they would break what Yin said: Fei Yanggu dotes on his daughter. After the incident, the relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law would also be strained.
"Little darling, what did you hunt?" The Empress Dowager smiled as she looked at Qingyan, who had a bewildered expression. "In a little while, I'll have your nanny Su show off her skills!"
The Empress Dowager felt the atmosphere was too oppressive and did not want Xiao Guai to be framed by Consort Rong and her mother-in-law again.
"Your Majesty, we can have roasted whole lamb again! Hehe, and a suckling pig too, I've already had it prepared!" Qingyan quickly said to the Empress Dowager.
Qingyan would never refuse the care of his elders. The elders hoped that the children could get along peacefully. As the throne was at stake, the princes' ambitions grew with age.
With the crown prince's position coveted by all the princes, some disputes among them are inevitable. At the very least, the princes' struggles cannot extend to the inner court.
Consort Rong carefully observed the expressions on the faces of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi, worried that the Emperor would find out that Lady Ma Jia and Lady Dong E had joined forces.
"Ma Jia, have you heard the rumors outside?" the Empress Dowager asked coldly.
Consort Rong nodded with a face full of grievance. The words spoken outside were particularly harsh. If no one knew the truth, they would never have guessed that it was her mother's family affair and the two clan leaders of the Dong E clan who had orchestrated it.
The Empress Dowager watched Rongfei's every move closely, without missing a single detail. Rongfei's reaction puzzled her.
Could it be that they guessed wrong?
The Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi exchanged a glance, a hint of scheming appearing in the latter's eyes.
Below, Qingyan quietly served as a backdrop, feeling slightly apprehensive. What would happen if the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi didn't trust her?
After calmly thinking it over, Qingyan felt a cold sweat break out on her back.
"Your Majesty, I truly did not know!" Lady Ma knelt on the ground, the oppressive aura emanating from Emperor Kangxi preventing her from making any unnecessary movements.
Looking at Consort Rong's appearance, Consort Dong'e couldn't help but despise Consort Rong for being cowardly. Emperor Kangxi's face hardened, and Consort Rong dared not say anything more.
"I don't know?!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the right armrest, coldly watching Consort Rong's trembling figure.
Qingyan picked up her teacup and used it as a shield to give Yin a meaningful look.
Across from him, Yinzhi looked anxious and kept giving Dong Eshi meaningful glances, but Dong Eshi didn't care at all. She sat leisurely in her chair, tossing a small handkerchief around in her left hand.
Dong Eshi's actions seemed to ignite Yin Zhi's anger, and his face immediately darkened.
"Fujin, how have you been keeping Mother company?" Yinzhi asked in a low voice. Everyone in the tent heard him. "Father, Mother would never do such a thing. Fujin keeps Mother company every day. If anything bad happens, she will tell us."
After speaking, Qingyan suppressed the smile that was about to come out of his mouth, while Dong Eshi looked completely unwilling.
"Is that so?" Kangxi looked at Consort Rong.
After Kangxi entered the imperial tent, he did not utter a single extra word except to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
Consort Rong and Yinzhi sensed the coldness in Kangxi's tone, and both lowered their heads, not daring to utter a single word.
"Fourth brother, these rumors have also involved you!" Yin Zhi's words made Yin sneer.
Yin Zhi was also foolish. He was already trying to destroy Qingyan, so why would you expect him to plead for mercy?
"What the Third Prince said is true. After my father and I paid our respects to Father Emperor, we went hunting. We had no time or opportunity to commit the crime!" Qingyan stopped Yin and directly refuted.
Consort Tong sat beside Emperor Kangxi, watching the two little ones helping each other outwards, and was in a good mood.
In fact, Consort Rong's scheme was within Kangxi's and her plan. They also wanted to see if Yinzhen and Qingyan could work together.
"Fourth Prince, is it really necessary for your wife to intervene in matters between us men?" Yin Zhi was annoyed. Qing Yan's sharp tongue was unacceptable, while Kangxi was overjoyed.
This is Yinzhi's last chance. Several princes have been plotted against by Consort Ma and Consort Dong'e. Initially, they set their sights on Yinzhi's harem. Consort Guarjia was not yet pregnant, which was largely due to Consort Rong's spies.
"The Fujin is taking the lead? Third Brother's words are laughable. Is Qingyan wrong?" Yin didn't care. Originally, he wanted to give Yin Zhi some face and let him lecture Dong E Shi.
The grassland leaders must be secretly pleased to see that their sons are not of one mind; these sons have been causing trouble behind the scenes quite a bit.
"You...you know in your heart that we grew up together since childhood, and I would never lay a hand on you. How could you let your wife speak like that!" Yin was somewhat annoyed.
Yin chuckled, feeling like he'd been hit where it hurt; all he said was good talk.
"Third son, shut up. Isn't what Qingyan said the truth?" The Empress Dowager favors Qingyan, and all the wives know that. Moreover, Dong Eshi has caused Qingyan a lot of trouble, and the Empress Dowager has nagged Su Mo'er behind her back ever since she found out.
Yin Zhi fell silent. The Empress Dowager's words were practically accusing them of making trouble for no reason.
"Grandma, that's not what I meant. The rumors outside are too nasty. I can't let my wife be unable to even leave the house," Yin Zhi muttered under his breath, dissatisfied. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)
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