As noon approached, sunlight streamed into the main hall through the open windows and doors. Qingyan leaned wearily against a chair, having already received two groups of female guests since morning.
People from both the Cao and Li families arrived. Li Xu's wife and daughters were indeed not to be trifled with. No wonder they were able to send the later most favored Consort Mi into the palace.
"Fourth Brother, you're back!?" Qingyan saw Yin return and quickly went to greet him, a happy smile appearing on her little face.
"Yes, you're back!" Yin nodded. "How many families came today?"
Yin believed that Qingyan would definitely be able to make proper arrangements.
“Two families, the Cao family and the Li family,” Qingyan said directly to Yin.
He quickly told Su Lan to prepare a glass of chilled plum juice to quench his thirst.
“These two families are just scheming,” Yin said sarcastically.
On Kangxi's side, Cao Yin and Li Xu kept trying to please him, but the smile on Kangxi's face did not reach his eyes.
"Scheming?" Qingyan was stunned. Both of these people were loyal ministers of Emperor Kangxi.
"They've all been corrupted." Yin gulped down a mouthful of plum juice, and his anger subsided.
"Fourth, how many people are still here this afternoon?" Qingyan rubbed his temples. "The daughters that Madam Li Xu brought are all very beautiful!"
Qingyan had to admit that Li Xu's daughters were all very beautiful. If someone as lustful as Yinzhi had seen them, he probably would have taken them into his household immediately.
Pfft.
Yin turned his face to the side and sprayed plum juice directly. The little guy in front of him had no idea that the girl was not Li Xu's daughter at all.
"You're such a grown man, how come you still spit out your plum juice?" Qingyan was exasperated. What was wrong with this guy?
“Li Xu only has one legitimate daughter, who is extremely ugly. None of the daughters he has brought with him are his own,” Yin said helplessly.
Emperor Kangxi only mentioned this matter to them today. Some said she was Li Xu's niece or niece, but in reality, she was an adopted daughter.
Ugh!
Qingyan was stunned. Was this even possible?
"Fourth Brother, are you sure it's true?" Qingyan asked in astonishment.
"Of course, how can there be any sense of proportion?" Yin sneered.
Qingyan stopped talking, pondering to herself that those people didn't look like Li Xu's wives, but they all called her "Mother," so Qingyan assumed they were concubine's daughters.
"They really went all out!" Qingyan sneered. "Besides, their dressing habits are somewhat similar to my style!"
Lady Li Xu repeatedly asked when Yin would return. Qingyan assumed that Li Xu had something to convey to Yin, and even kindly wondered if she should say a few words on his behalf.
"Of course they spared no expense," Yin said with emotion.
In the pavilion in the imperial garden, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong were having lunch with their twins when Li Dequan walked in from outside and whispered a few words in Kangxi's ear.
"Let them in!" Kangxi said with a cold laugh.
After Li Dequan left to carry out his orders, Kangxi looked at the twins with affection and reached out to serve them food.
"Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen, sit next to Grandma Ma in a moment, watch and listen more, and don't say too much!" Kangxi said gently to Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen.
"Grandma, is someone trying to make things difficult for Grandma?" The little girl was young, but she knew a lot.
"No!" Kangxi shook his head directly. "You will encounter similar situations in the future!"
The twins exchanged a glance, a knowing look that suggested something interesting was about to happen.
"Xuan Ye, something happened?" Consort Tong, seeing Kangxi's serious expression, dared not ask further and only asked lightly.
"Pretty much. The Cao family and your family went to Yin's side, but they didn't get any useful information from Qingyan. They said they wanted to see you, and this time they even managed to get Granny Cao to come!" Kangxi said directly.
Consort Tong looked at him in surprise: "Didn't the old woman say she wasn't feeling well? Even the Empress Dowager said she should be considerate of an old woman's feelings, which is why she didn't pursue Cao Yin's matter."
Kangxi sneered. These people really think he's a fool.
"They must have bribed the people in Cining Palace. They always get the news from inside the palace faster!" Kangxi has already begun investigating. These spies are impossible to completely eliminate; the only option is to keep an eye on them one by one.
Consort Tong remained calm as Shu handed her a small blue-and-white porcelain box containing face cream.
She got up and took a few steps, then turned her back to the three of them and rubbed her face with a powder puff. When she turned around, Kangxi chuckled. She often used illness to deceive people, and this face cream was indeed very effective.
"How are you feeling?" Consort Tong asked Emperor Kangxi in a low voice.
"Good, you two little ones, don't let it slip. Your grandmother isn't feeling well, you know?" Kangxi instructed the twins.
"We definitely won't!" The twins sat obediently on the chairs. There were only the four of them—grandparents and grandchildren—in the pavilion. After preparing some balm for her master, Shu left immediately.
The Cao family looked at the pavilion in the distance, where a large crowd had gathered below and four people were sitting on it. Beside Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong were two little children.
The ladies of the Cao family took a closer look and realized that the children were the twins from the Fourth Prince's residence. The two children were very outstanding, inheriting the best features of the Fourth Prince and his wife.
"This servant greets His Majesty, greets Consort Tong, and greets the young princes and princesses!" Granny Cao was the first to greet the children.
"Begin your kowtow!" Kangxi said calmly.
"Granny, why are you out in the hottest time of the day?" Consort Tong stared at Granny Cao. "Shu, quickly serve Granny Cao and the ladies some refreshing drinks!"
Emperor Kangxi had already ordered the lunch to be removed, and fruit was placed on the table.
The twins ate their fruit obediently, paying no attention to the women of the Cao family.
"Your Majesty, Mother said she must check on your health. She heard a few days ago that you were unwell and was very worried!" Cao Yin's wife said quickly.
"Yes, she's only gotten a little better these past two days. His Majesty said he hadn't taken the children out for a few days, so he came over!" Consort Tong's face was still very pale, and the women of the Cao family could tell from her appearance that the news from outside was true.
"Your Majesty has had a very arduous journey!" said Madam Cao.
Emperor Kangxi sat to the side, listening to the group of people talking. He should have gotten up and left, but he stayed instead.
“The nanny knows that the Imperial Concubine does not like to use medicine. In a little while, I will have to keep an eye on her administration of medicine!” Kangxi said directly.
"Your Highness is still just like when you were a child. Back when you were with the Empress Dowager, you shed a lot of tears because of this!" Granny Cao laughed. Consort Tong had difficulty taking medicine since she was a child.
"Granny, I'm a nanny now, why are you still talking about things from my childhood?" Consort Tong said helplessly.
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