After having breakfast, Yin took Qingyan back. Before they even entered the courtyard, they heard a voice from inside apologizing.
Qingyan was puzzled. They hadn't been gone for long, so what was the reason for this?
No sooner had Yin and Qingyan left than Cao Yin came to request an audience with Kangxi. Madam Cao was annoyed by Yin's words, worried that Kangxi would implicate him in Li Xu's affair.
After breakfast, he rushed over in a hurry, but his arrival only fueled Kangxi's anger.
When Yin rushed back, Kangxi had just finished venting his anger.
"Fourth Prince, you're back!" Li Dequan rushed forward to greet Yin and Qingyan upon their return. "His Majesty is angry, so please watch your words."
Yin smiled gratefully. In fact, Li Dequan always secretly helped them, reducing the chances of them incurring Kangxi's wrath.
"The fourth prince is here!" Kangxi looked outside the door. Yin and Qingyan's quick return was within his expectations.
Inside the hall, Emperor Kangxi and his wife were also present. Consort Tong, holding Songkelierha, sat on the seat of honor, seemingly playing with her, but she kept a close eye on Cao Yin and his wife. Last night, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong strolled around the courtyard and witnessed much of the Cao family's dark side. Madam Cao was quite capable, suppressing many ambitious servants and trying her best to avoid being seen by Emperor Kangxi.
There are policies from above, and countermeasures from below.
Kangxi had to admit that they had chosen a good spot; if Lanya hadn't liked the lotus pond, they wouldn't have seen the wild mandarin ducks hiding in the bamboo grove.
Madam Cao had sealed off their courtyard long ago; to encounter something like this while taking a walk was hardly something to be proud of.
"Come back early today!" Yin wanted to ease the atmosphere. Cao Yin was a high-ranking local official, and although he was very powerful outside, he had to be cautious in front of Kangxi.
In his jurisdiction, not only was the outbreak of the epidemic concealed, but even his own residence was traitorized.
"Cao Yin, get up. We have been ruler and subject for many years, and I know you well. If you can't even sweep your own house, how can you sweep the world?" Kangxi looked at Cao Yin. The backyard was a mess, and the areas under his jurisdiction were even more chaotic. His brother-in-law had sent women to him, and the officials he personally selected had concealed the epidemic.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant knows his mistake and will certainly remember His Majesty's teachings." Cao Yin was somewhat annoyed; Li Xu's methods had always been effective.
Yin couldn't help but sigh. His mother's life had changed so much. In his previous life, his father had searched for his mother's image in these women from Jiangnan. Now, he realized that everything had changed.
"Clean up the mansion thoroughly, and as soon as possible, especially since the children came along!" Consort Tong looked at Madam Cao, implying that all the ambitious servants should be dealt with.
"Yes, this servant understands." Madam Cao was relieved that Consort Tong had not taken her anger out on her.
Kangxi waved his hand, and Li Dequan handed the captured adulterous couple to Cao Zhong. Madam Cao glanced at the woman...
"Go down first, I don't want to see such a thing again!" Kangxi said to Cao Yin.
"!"
After Cao Yin and his wife left, Kangxi sighed and looked at Yin and Yin sitting to the side. He felt somewhat relieved. These two sons were good. In just one night, two maids had climbed into the bed of the Crown Prince.
"Fourth Prince, why are you back so early?" Consort Tong asked, puzzled. Once Xiao Guai went out, he definitely wouldn't be back until evening.
"Mother, this is boring. There aren't even any shops with any unique features." Qingyan pouted, saying that apart from some delicious food, there was nothing she liked.
Emperor Kangxi was bewildered. In every place, the little guy could find different trinkets, and even if they were crude, they were still quite rustic.
"Father, it's been cleaned up too thoroughly." Yin had to admit that the people here must be wealthy.
Qingyan pouted, feeling uneasy.
"My dear, Hangzhou is much wealthier than most places. You definitely won't be able to see those markets you're looking for," Kangxi said with a smile to Qingyan. "In the next few days, I'll take you on a boat to listen to Suzhou storytelling. With West Lake around, you won't feel bored!"
Consort Tong did visit Suzhou and Hangzhou, but she was accompanied by the Empress Dowager and did not have the opportunity to go out.
"Yes, it's already quite an achievement to get you out of here. This is my first time in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and I've only stayed at the Cao family's house. From the moment I entered until I left, I didn't go out again," Consort Tong said helplessly.
Over the past few years, she had long hoped that Emperor Kangxi would visit Suzhou and Hangzhou again so that she could properly enjoy the beautiful scenery.
“Mother, it’s so hot, there’s no harm in going out. Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow. Later, I’ll have Sulan ask the Crown Prince and his concubine.” Qingyan said, sounding very reluctant.
When everyone went out together, she had to ask. She had someone inquire, and even if the Crown Prince and his concubine didn't go, the censor wouldn't say anything more.
"Li Dequan, go and ask him." Kangxi looked at Li Dequan and asked him to go and check on the Crown Prince's condition.
Qingyan was bewildered. She invited everyone to breakfast, so why did Kangxi send Li Dequan?
"Wok, is there something delicious?" Songkriyirha stared wide-eyed at Qingyan.
"Yes, there's so much delicious food!" Qingyan introduced some representative breakfast dishes. Songkelierha clapped his little hands and muttered that he must go tomorrow.
Before dinner, Yin and Qingyan went to their own courtyard and found that the Cao family had changed some of their servants, and these new servants were generally more particular about their appearance.
She carefully counted them; there were nearly fifteen, while the Cao family had only sent 25 maids.
"Fourth, more than half of them have been replaced!" Qingyan sipped her tea, complaining to Yin with a dissatisfied expression.
He pondered, "Cao Yin's residence is about to suffer a major bloodshed. Those who were replaced must have been sent by Li Xu; they are all people who have been trained for several years."
"Master, apart from the Crown Prince's courtyard, all the other maids have been replaced." Su Peisheng went outside to investigate the number of servants replaced, following Yin's orders.
"Where did the Crown Prince not change?" Yin asked in surprise.
Su Peisheng nodded. Not only was he not replaced, but Kangxi also sent two extremely beautiful women to him. The concubine was in the courtyard instructing the maids on the rules.
puff!
Upon hearing what Su Peisheng said, Qingyan immediately spat out his tea.
"The concubine sets the rules, so shouldn't she be the one being set the rules?" Qingyan said sarcastically.
Li Jia and she simply didn't get along; she disdained to fight with a concubine.
“In the Crown Prince’s residence, the concubine holds the highest position, so it is only right to establish rules for her!” Su Lan mentioned from the side.
"Hmph, I see there's instigation in other courtyards, it's definitely related to her!" Qingyan had a headache. "Did Anda go to ask? Is the Crown Prince going to have breakfast together tomorrow?"
"The Crown Prince said it's not necessary!" Su Peisheng replied awkwardly.
Yin coughed, and Su Peisheng knelt on the ground. Li Jia disdained the idea of a banquet, saying that it was petty to go out when one already had servants. (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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