While strolling along the street after enjoying some snacks, Kangxi became interested in the bamboo carvings on the roadside. Most of the tributes presented to him bore the imperial mark, but these in front of him were different, bearing no imperial mark whatsoever.
Qingyan bought two diabolos and a bamboo windmill and handed them to Songkelierha.
The group relaxed, and the frequent bursts of laughter from Songkrijerha further eased their minds.
Around noon, the main group arrived at the Yuelai Inn. Kangxi saw that it was similar in style to the one in the capital and shook his head.
Yin knew her interests; the Yue Lai Inn had the same decorating style, but the layouts were quite different.
"Father, the Yuelai Inn is not accepting guests these past few days!" Qingyan and the others entered the inn, and she quickly said.
Kangxi raised his eyebrows, waiting for her explanation.
"Tell the outside world that the shop owner has come to settle accounts." Qingyan felt no burden; this was one of the reasons she came.
Every year, the owners of Yuelai Inn personally take stock of the business. This year, Qingyan is the only one who has come.
Kangxi nodded and told Li Dequan to take them to rest first.
"Master, the Crown Prince has not come!" The shopkeeper had followed Qingyan for many years and was extremely loyal to the Ulanara clan.
Qingyan nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.
Upon entering the room, Yin noticed that the room specially prepared for Qingyan was very similar to the one the prince had arranged. He couldn't help but wonder how Xiren had obtained the blueprints.
"It feels so good, like coming home!" Qingyan lazily leaned against the window, looking outside.
The Yuelai Inn was filled with guards. Kangxi, the Crown Prince, Yinzhi, and Fei Yanggu and his son occupied all the best rooms in the inn. Qingyan's room was reserved for them.
"Little darling, how did these blueprints leak out?" The blueprints for the palace's layout and design are kept secret. The craftsmen who built the palace were either kept inside or silenced.
"The servants of the Imperial Household Department accepted money, Fourth... I didn't mean it!" Qingyan noticed that Yin's face darkened, and her heart skipped a beat. Would she be scolded?
She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Pfft!
Yin laughed, pulled Xiao Guai into his arms, and burst into laughter.
"Little darling, was it A-Dun who bribed him?" Yin asked.
Fei Yanggu doted on Xiao Guai, as the little girl had a habit of being picky about where she slept, and in an unfamiliar environment, she might not be able to sleep for several nights. Therefore, Emperor Kangxi specially decreed that when arranging boats for the princes, they should be built according to the style of each prince's family.
Waaaaah!
Qingyan pouted, her eyes pleading. A'dun was Fei Yanggu's most capable servant. From the new house to her marriage, A'dun had put in a lot of effort. A'dun was also exceptionally diligent in the decoration and accounting of the Yuelai Inn under the family's control.
"Father won't scold you for such a small matter!" Yin smiled slightly, secretly planning how to bring up the matter with his father.
If only a servant of the Imperial Household Department could reveal the prince's arrangements, then what about the Hall of Mental Cultivation?
"Fourth Prince, His Majesty requests your presence!" Li Dequan stood at the door and glanced into the inner chamber. He was startled to find that every detail of the Fourth Prince's room was exactly the same.
Li Dequan kept this matter in mind and, when he replied, told Kangxi about the room's layout.
Yin led Qingyan into the room and observed that the No. 1 room in this place had not been compromised due to the small city; it was exactly the same as the high-class room in the capital.
"Father, do you think the layout here is alright?" The rooms with the highest rank are reserved for the royal family or members of the imperial clan; even the wealthiest Manchu bannermen cannot enjoy them.
Emperor Kangxi nodded slightly. Consort Tong seemed to really like the European-style teacups on the high table.
It is only in the shape of a European style. The snow-white porcelain is wrapped with gold rims on the lid, spout, and base. Even the teacup has a handle and the rim is inlaid with gold.
The pure white porcelain with golden inlay gives it a very elegant and noble feel.
“Mother, we can take this porcelain back; it’s an imported item sent to Europe,” Qingyan explained. Yellow wasn’t a color that just anyone could use in the Qing Dynasty, and Consort Tong really liked the gift Xiao Guai had given her.
Emperor Kangxi shook his head. These porcelain pieces were not fired as finely as the tribute pieces; they were just more unusual in appearance.
"It doesn't look like it was made in a folk kiln!" Emperor Kangxi held the teacup and examined it carefully. The delicate porcelain was so fine that one could not tell the difference without careful observation.
Qingyan smiled shyly.
"Father, the kiln I gave to Xiao Guai will only make things that Xiao Guai likes, nothing else!" What Qing Yan sent to Europe were just practice pieces made by the apprentices at this kiln.
Consort Tong's eyes revealed a hint of envy. The concubines had received many gifts from Emperor Kangxi, and those porcelain pieces were mostly meticulously crafted by the imperial workshops. Emperor Kangxi caught a glimpse of her expression and couldn't help but glare at Yinzhen.
"Father, on Mother's birthday, I gave her a set of jewelry that I designed myself. What about you?" Yin glanced at him coldly, showing no respect for Kangxi.
"You brat, do you know the gift I gave your mother is useful?" Kangxi would never compromise.
Kangxi and Yinzhen glared at each other, neither giving an inch.
"My little darling, the Crown Prince hasn't returned yet?" Consort Tong was worried that Lady Li Jia might take Yin to places he shouldn't go. Lady Li Jia's family had caused quite a bit of trouble in the capital. If something really happened, it wouldn't be a small matter.
Qingyan nodded. The Crown Prince did not enter the palace, and the shopkeeper did not send any staff to follow him as Qingyan had instructed.
"Alright, he's old enough. It's good to let him experience life. Little Darling, tell the shopkeeper that the Crown Prince is allowed to move around freely." Kangxi disapproved of some of the Crown Prince's actions, which he considered too self-righteous.
Qingyan and Yin exchanged a glance and couldn't help but wonder why Kangxi had so resolutely told the Crown Prince to go and face the consequences.
"Father, Second Brother has never left the palace. Please let Tulichen accompany him." Yin was the youngest of the three princes, and Kangxi sent Tulichen to Yin's side.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi shook his head and refused, telling the public that the owner of the Yuelai Inn was coming to take stock and that Xiao Guai needed to maintain the final position.
"Father, shall we have some Zhenjiang specialties for lunch?" Qingyan thought of pot lid noodles.
After leaving Beijing, try to eat more local specialties, as they taste different from those made in the palace.
"Pot lid noodles are a local specialty," Qingyan said, her eyes shining. "They have both spicy and non-spicy versions, and the beef one is even more delicious!"
Qingyan changed the subject, diverting their attention from the Crown Prince to the food.
"Alright, Xiao Guai will arrange the meals. If the Crown Prince and the First Prince don't want to eat, they can go eat outside themselves. Don't interfere!" Kangxi was somewhat annoyed. Along the way, Lady Li had given Qingyan a hard time, and he didn't want the relationship between the sisters-in-law to affect the brothers' relationship. (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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