As dawn broke, a commotion broke out in the courtyard. Qingyan groggily opened her eyes, listened to the sounds outside, and couldn't help but wonder who would be outside at this hour.
"Four o'clock, someone's coming!" Qingyan looked at his pocket watch; it was just 5:30.
Yin frowned, and just as he was about to sit up, the sounds outside disappeared.
"Go to sleep, we'll ask what happened when you wake up." Yin pulled Qingyan closer to the painting, patting her back to help her fall asleep quickly.
An hour later, Qingyan summoned Sulan to serve him and asked why the commotion had started earlier.
"The eldest princess has quietly come over. The eldest princess has just been taken back by the eldest princess!" Su Lan smiled. "The eldest princess isn't even wearing her usual clothes. The nanny next to her said that the eldest princess didn't get a good night's rest and came to bother you and the master, wanting to have breakfast."
“It’s understandable that the little one wants to go out and play. Did your sister-in-law say anything to Songkri Yierha?” Qingyan didn’t want the little girl to be scolded; after all, adults can’t understand a child’s feelings.
"No, the First Princess held the eldest princess and coaxed her for a long time. Even the Prince Zhi said that the eldest princess should play outside all day. However, the maids who served the eldest princess were all beaten to death!" Su Lan said with some lingering fear.
The Cao family seemed to be cursed. Two days later, many people here were beaten to death. Rumors circulated among the palace maids that they were incompatible with the Cao family.
Privately, they often hoped that His Majesty could leave the Cao family as soon as possible!
"Yes, he should be beaten to death. Even the eldest princess wasn't properly watched over. What if something really happens?" The Cao residence is not safe. The courtyard of the Prince of Zhi is separated from Yin's residence by the courtyards of Kangxi and the Crown Prince. In the adult's residence, this distance is not very long, but Songkelierha is still young, so this distance is a bit too much.
"The First Madam is very angry. Even the nanny's family has been sold off, and her two daughters have been sent directly to the Crown Prince by the Prince of Zhi." Su Lan pursed her lips. It was rumored among the servants that the Crown Prince was fond of beautiful women. Some ambitious ones wanted to be transferred to serve in the Crown Prince's courtyard. Those who remained in Yin and Yin's courtyards all wanted to serve their masters well.
"My God!" Qingyan exclaimed in surprise, "Sending him to the Crown Prince, is that considered punishment or a reward?"
"Consider it a reward. The nannies that my elder brother selected for Songkelierha were all carefully selected. If my sister-in-law hadn't stepped in to help with this problem, my elder brother wouldn't have forgiven her. So, let's give them a chance with the Crown Prince." Yin laughed coldly. Yin and Yin had always been at odds. The Crown Prince wouldn't give the maids he sent over important positions unless they were exceptionally beautiful, in which case the Crown Prince would reconsider for a while.
Yin didn't want Qingyan to know more about these dark matters, so he stopped there.
“The little one hasn’t rested well. If we go out, will she still have the energy?” Qingyan looked at Songkelierha’s actions and couldn’t help but think of her own past.
"Of course, weren't you like that when you were a child? When your father-in-law was on leave, you would pester him to take you out." Yin really remembered that vividly. When they first arrived at the new house, Qingyan slept very poorly and would wake up in a fright before 1:15 a.m.
"Hmph, that was a long time ago!" Qingyan muttered, "One wrong step can lead to eternal regret."
"Alright, alright, it was my fault!" Yin was wearing a light blue silk robe, with a vest of the same color embroidered with a four-clawed python in gold thread over it.
"Hey, we agreed to sneak out, why are you wearing this vest again!" Qingyan asked angrily.
The four-clawed python pattern on the vest is not something an ordinary person can use. Isn't wearing it just revealing his identity?
"Do you really think no one knows? Since we left the Cao family, everyone's eyes are on us." Yin tapped her little nose. "Yesterday, I noticed someone behind us, which is why I wanted to come back as soon as possible!"
Qingyan slightly opened her mouth. Was this for real?
“Those people must have been specially hired. If you find out, then it wouldn’t be worth the money,” Yin laughed.
When the two arrived at the main hall, Qingyan realized that even the ordinary clothes worn by Kangxi and Yinzhi had a strong imperial family style, without any trace of authenticity.
"Let's go and sample some of the delicacies of Jiangnan today." Emperor Kangxi led Consort Tong outside first.
In the carriage, Qingyan leaned on Yin's shoulder, her little face drooping. She had left an hour earlier than yesterday, and she was indeed a little sleepy!
"Sisi, are the shops open yet, going so early?" Qingyan asked anxiously, pursing her lips.
"The doors are open. Cao Yin must have made all the arrangements long ago. The merchants will also have made their own arrangements secretly. We went yesterday, and no more private rooms have been added to the surrounding area." Xiao Guai was so focused on the Pingtan performance that she didn't pay attention to what was happening behind her.
Ugh!
Qingyan was stunned. Were all the private rooms empty? The innkeeper's eyes were sharp enough to tell that they were different from each other so easily.
“Hefang Street is full of time-honored brands, and the shops have been run by generations. Do you think you can open a shop if you don’t even have this much insight?” Yin explained to her. “The managers of your shops are all very sharp-eyed. In particular, in the areas outside the Great Wall and in the Northwest, Yuelai Inn has protected many of the secret guards sent by the Emperor, allowing them to return directly.”
Yindu had not had time to mention this matter to Qingyan. Plainclothes guards were stationed on the two nearby streets, pretending to be passersby or committing violence, and were seen wandering around the Fujin in the hope of ensuring Kangxi's safety.
"I don't see anyone special outside?" Qingyan was confused. Yin said someone was watching them. Fei Yanggu and his two sons must have made detailed arrangements. They were traveling with them, while Tu Lichen was hiding behind the scenes directing the operation.
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