In the evening, Li Dequan informed everyone to prepare a bonfire dinner. Today, the last chieftain of the grassland had also arrived at the camp, and a bonfire dinner was to be held as planned.
Inside the tent, Qingyan felt a pang of resentment. Dealing with those people was far less appealing than watching her two sleeping children.
"Sushu, you stay in the tent and keep a close eye on the child. Erlu will guard outside the palace. Call her immediately if there are any problems." Qingyan changed into a cheongsam with a pale yellow base and embroidered with a hundred butterflies in full bloom. The small stand-up collar perfectly concealed her swan-like neck.
"Yes, I understand!" Su Shu quickly replied.
The camp was a mixed bag of people, and even though the tents were surrounded by Imperial Guards, it was still possible for spies to infiltrate.
"Also, once the children are awake, remember to send someone to inform us at the banquet," Yin said directly.
After Qingyan changed into three-inch-high flowerpot-shaped shoes, she followed Yin out of the tent.
A bonfire was lit in the camp, and the people brought by the Mongol leaders were already filled with excitement.
Emperor Kangxi personally hosted the banquet, and the Mongol leaders who were able to participate considered it a great honor, as at the very least, they were able to sit side by side with the Khorchin princes.
"Fourth, there are quite a few princes from Outer Mongolia?" Qingyan noticed that the Mongolian leaders' clothing was different; some wore more ornate clothes, while others wore very simple ones.
The differences were too great, and she was a little confused. The Mongol leaders all had very high titles, either princes or dukes, so how could their ranks be different?
“The leaders of the northern and southern Mongolian regions have different statuses, and their allowances will also be different. These people from the Imperial Household Department are all shrewd, and they will probably cut back on some things.” Yin understood the audacity of the Imperial Household Department’s servants, but the princes of the northern Mongolian regions had no way to complain.
Qingyan was stunned. These people from the Imperial Household Department were really bold. They even embezzled the Mongolians' allowances. Didn't anyone complain when the Empress Dowager was still alive?
"Didn't Grandma Angguma tell Father Emperor?" Qingyan didn't believe that the Empress Dowager could tolerate this.
Yin smiled, realizing that the little girl knew too little about Mongolia.
The Empress Dowager did not treat every Mongol tribe equally. The people of the Imperial Household Department also favored certain groups. They were very enthusiastic towards the leaders of the various tribes of Khorchin, but the people in the northern desert were different.
“If the people of Khorchin were deprived of their rights, Angguma would make a scene at the Hall of Mental Cultivation. However, it’s different for these people.” Yin said this to make Qingyan understand that there is a difference between the Mongolians of the North and the people of your ancient tribes who have suffered hardships.
She followed Yin to the middle of the camp. Yin and his female relatives had come. Qingyan sat down next to Yin, exchanged a glance with Yingenjueluo, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Little darling, are the two little ones asleep?" Yin Genjue Luo asked Qingyan in a low voice. After discussing it with her, Yin decided not to bring their daughter over.
Qingyan nodded. The Mongolian leaders were gathered together; if they brought their children along, there would certainly be danger.
"Sister-in-law, how many people have come today!" This was the first time Qingyan had seen so many Mongol leaders, and they were all surrounded by delicate women, none of whom were dressed in bright red.
She looked at them closely, noticing their appearance and figures; they seemed to be from the water towns of Jiangnan. Just now, as she followed Yin along, their voices reached her ears—soft, sweet tones, clearly from the Jiangnan region.
"Little darling, these women are not the primary wives, but rather the leaders' concubines!" Yin Genjue Luo Shi reminded Little darling first, telling her to stay away from them.
Ugh!
She hadn't expected that Lady Yin Genjueluo would be so direct, calling these people concubines.
"Sister-in-law, haven't all the primary wives come over? Why aren't they showing up?" Qingyan couldn't understand what the Mongol leaders were planning.
Yin Genjueluo smiled. These people didn't take Kangxi seriously. She had accompanied Yin to several autumn festivals, and these leaders had become increasingly bold, which was related to the Empress Dowager's indulgence.
“They’ve done this before, and Father has always turned a blind eye. These people think they won’t be punished,” said Lady Yin Genjue Luo, her words particularly vague.
Qingyan understood; the root of the problem lay with the Empress Dowager.
She noticed two malicious eyes staring at her and Yin Genjueluo Shi, so she moved closer to Yin.
He narrowed his phoenix eyes and followed the gaze to see the prince of a certain tribe in Khorchin, who was giving her a lewd smile.
Emperor Kangxi repeatedly assured that no princesses from the imperial family or clan would marry into Mongolia; otherwise, he was truly worried that Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen would be given away as a gift.
"Fourth Brother, isn't that the one who proposed before?" Qingyan still remembered that inside the imperial tent, a certain leader was preparing to ask Kangxi to bestow a marriage upon him. This must be the person he was referring to, right?
"Yes!" Yin was very annoyed and glanced directly at Li Dequan.
Li Dequan gave Yin a look, telling him to calm down.
The Mongol leaders are not going to have a good day. With the Empress Dowager still alive, Emperor Kangxi, out of filial piety, suppressed his anger and slowed down his punishment of the Mongol leaders.
"Little darling, calm down!" Yin soothed Little darling's emotions.
Um?
Qingyan turned and glanced at him, her cold expression indicating that Sisi was in a bad mood.
"Fourth brother, those should be from Khorchin, right?" Yin smiled coldly. He felt very uncomfortable that Yin Genjueluo was being targeted.
Yin nodded. These people had caused quite a bit of trouble since they arrived.
On Emperor Kangxi's desk were many memorials impeaching them.
"Brother, calm down!" As Yin became increasingly engrossed in his conversation with these people, Kangxi grew more and more disappointed in him.
Seeing Yin's beaming face, Yin couldn't help but feel angry.
"Fourth Prince, is the Crown Prince planning to get involved with the Mongols?" Yin smiled coldly. The Crown Prince had crossed Kangxi's bottom line.
The Mongol power could not grow any stronger. With the Crown Prince's involvement, they would feel that victory was assured and would become even less cautious.
"I don't know!" Yin shook his head. Recently, he had not heard of the Crown Prince having any dealings with the Mongols.
Yin thought differently. He had been fighting with the Crown Prince for so many years and knew the Crown Prince's character well. He knew that the Crown Prince would never let go of the rich prize of Mongolia.
“The Crown Prince’s tent is filled with banquets every day. Father Emperor has long had spies watching him. Even a wooden fish should know to be cautious!” Yin felt that the Crown Prince’s personality was very strange, and he could no longer guess what the Crown Prince was thinking.
Qingyan listened to the brothers' words and felt strange. Why was the Crown Prince making such a big fuss?
"Be cautious!" Yin coldly snorted. If the Crown Prince knew to be cautious, they wouldn't be in such a difficult situation! Enough is enough! Always making their brothers take the blame. (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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