After dinner, Emperor Kangxi decreed that they would depart for the capital the next day. Everyone busied themselves preparing their luggage. After washing up, she rolled into Yin's arms and rubbed her little face against his chest.
"Sisi, why are you leaving tomorrow? Why not just wait by the river for a few more days?" Qingyan muttered softly.
For several days in a row, she was on edge, fearing that Kangxi would issue an order to leave immediately.
His large hand touched her back, allowing her back, which had been tense during the day, to relax a little.
In front of Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong, she had to maintain the proper demeanor of a primary consort.
Just after 1:15 AM, a movement was heard outside the tent, and Yin slowly opened his eyes.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty said that Qichen will return to the capital in half an hour," Sulan reported from outside.
Yin looked down at Qingyan. The little girl was still asleep. He didn't plan to wake her up. He gently got up, put the pillow he was using in her arms, changed into his casual clothes, and found that the two children in Youyou's car were also asleep.
"Prepare breakfast and have the carriage go to the front of the tent. In a moment, the two young masters will get ready and go into the carriage first." Yin instructed Su Lan, and the servants who were close to him understood that Yin did not intend to let Qing Yan wake up.
After giving the instructions, Yin took out the cloak. Qingyan huddled under the covers, nodding her little head.
"You all go out first." Yin shooed everyone out, pulled her out of the blankets, wrapped her in a large cloak, even putting on the hood, picked her up horizontally, and walked out of the tent.
At the tent entrance, the carriage had just come to a stop when Yin stepped onto the stool and walked directly into the carriage. He walked around the screen and gently placed Qingyan on the soft couch.
"Little darling, go to sleep quietly." Yin bent down and kissed her forehead, coaxing her for a while before getting up and walking around the screen.
Outside the screen, Su Peisheng placed all the memorials on his desk, his eyes constantly glancing towards the screen. The Fourth Prince hadn't yet appeased his wife, and these memorials needed to be approved as soon as possible.
"These are all the memorials we requested today," Yin asked in a low voice.
"Yes!" Su Peisheng nodded. "His Majesty instructed that you should try to stay home as much as possible these next few days."
Whenever they arrived at their resting place, Yin would take Qingyan for a stroll.
In the nearby county towns, they would buy some local delicacies. It would be nice to offer Emperor Kangxi a change of pace during the march.
"Su Peisheng, prepare some breakfast and warm it up for the Fujin to get up." Yin sat cross-legged on the cushion, opened the memorials, and began to review the memorials of the day. At the very least, he wanted to do his best to reduce some of the pressure on Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, these urgent documents sent from the Imperial Carriage are memorials from the Ministry of Revenue in the capital. We hope you can review them as soon as possible and send them to the capital along with His Majesty's imperial memorials," Su Peisheng instructed.
Yin opened the memorials from the Ministry of Revenue and saw that the Imperial Household Department wanted to increase many expenditures, some of which were for autumn harvests, to prepare rewards for the leaders of the Mongol tribes.
Previously, they had underestimated the situation and had not decided to replace a large number of Mongol leaders. Many of the rewards were also insufficiently prepared. These additional rewards were only able to reach the Mongol side as quickly as possible thanks to the transportation provided by Qingyan's Linglong Pavilion.
If the rewards hadn't been transported by Linglong Pavilion, they probably wouldn't have arrived before they left. With the Kangxi Emperor's edict issued, the Khorchin leaders would certainly have kept a considerable number of fine items for themselves.
Looking at the increased amount of silver, he had to admit that the lackeys of the Imperial Household Department were only interested in credit and rewards, and hadn't taken any real action.
"Fourth Brother..." Qingyan's voice came from behind the screen. She woke up to find herself in the carriage. It seemed that she had been carried into the carriage by Fourth Brother again.
"Hmm?" Yin glanced at the pocket watch on the table. An hour had passed. According to Xiao Guai's schedule, it should be time for her to wake up.
His tall figure emerged from behind the screen, and she tilted her head, peeking out from outside.
"You got up very early today. You never sleep well when you're out." Yin pulled her into his arms and helped her change her clothes. "We'll have breakfast later, and I'll wait for you to eat together."
Yin couldn't bring himself to say that Linglong Pavilion might only earn a pittance in labor fees, not even enough to cover the reputation of transporting royal gifts. At this moment, he truly didn't know how to tell Qingyan.
"Fourth Prince, is there something you haven't told me?" Qingyan noticed Yin's hesitant manner and knew that something must have happened.
"Little darling, the Imperial Household Department has increased the rewards, but Linglong Pavilion will not be able to receive many of the rewards and reputations it should have received!" Yin believed that Kangxi would definitely take care of the Imperial Household Department first, and it would be difficult for Linglong Pavilion to pay the labor fees according to the previously agreed amount.
"Huh?!" Qingyan was a little confused and hadn't heard what Qingyin said yet.
"We will pay you a service fee, but we cannot offer you any extra rewards or fame." Qingyan pursed her lips after hearing this.
"If I had known it would turn out like this, those people from the Imperial Household Department wouldn't have missed any opportunity to reward those who had contributed." Qingyan smiled coldly, knowing full well what kind of people they were.
When it comes to getting things done, these people will always make excuses and delays, but when it comes to rewarding merit, they will be the first to act.
"It's alright, just give us the service fee we're owed." Qingyan didn't intend to accept these empty titles. Once Yin takes charge, wouldn't he have these reputations anyway?
Furthermore, the Imperial Household Department was greedy, which only made Kangxi more disgusted. The heads of the Imperial Household Department had been replaced several times, and in the end, none of them had a good ending.
"Little darling, it's my fault for not making proper arrangements!" Yin felt guilty. If the little guy made a fuss, Yin would feel more at ease.
Now, she said nothing. Yin felt that since she trusted him so much, he should fight for more for her.
"Fourth, the managers of Linglong Pavilion are all businessmen; they don't care about their reputation at all." Qingyan didn't care; as long as she got the money, that was enough.
"I do care!" Yin smiled, holding her hand tightly. The promise he made still echoed in his ears, but he had not been able to fulfill it.
"Alright, why worry so much? It doesn't do any good and only invites trouble for yourself." Qingyan waved his hand casually, telling him not to mind. "Sisi, give the girl a smile!"
Yin bent his finger and tapped her forehead; she dared to say anything.
"How can you talk like that!" Qingyan stuck out her tongue. "Fourth Brother, I saw you were in a bad mood and I was trying to cheer you up, and this is how you treat me!"
"You can say whatever you want inside the manor, but not outside," Yin whispered to Qingyan. "Besides, we probably have Father's spies here too. At such a sensitive time, we should say less and do more." (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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