On New Year's Eve, the royal family held a banquet at Changchun Garden. Emperor Kangxi specially brought the Empress Dowager out of the palace, hoping to make her happy.
Qingyan sat down with Yin, while the twins and Hafeng sat behind them.
"Mother, don't you think it's too boring to see the same thing every year?" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen complained slightly.
Qingyan smiled and said, "This is a responsibility!"
The banquets in the palace were merely a platform for everyone to meet, not for appreciation.
The Ninth and Tenth Princes' wives surrounded Lady Guoluo, listening to her recount her experiences over the past few years.
“Mother, Aunt Jiu just called me over!” Hutulifengshengzhalafen said softly, “but I didn’t go.”
Upon hearing this, Qingyan glanced over in that direction. Guoluo Shi always sat in the position of Mongolian Fujin, so Qingyan didn't want her daughter to be targeted by those people.
"Don't go there," Yin always comforted her, assuring her that he would definitely resolve the matter of their daughter's soul.
Yin smiled as he listened to the mother and daughter's conversation, and the two began to whisper among themselves.
From the time Yin was old enough to understand, he noticed that the programs for the Chinese New Year were always the same.
"Fourth brother, I haven't heard that you're investigating things in the south?" Yin Zhi asked, leaning to one side.
Yin was stunned. How did Yin Zhi find out?
"Do you have the list given to you by the Emperor?" During the investigation, Emperor Kangxi had instructed that no matter who discovered it, they were not allowed to speak of it.
"Third Brother, why do you have to talk about such unpleasant things on New Year's Day?" Yin asked with a suspicious look.
Yin Zhi was speechless. He wanted to take this opportunity to get some information from Yin and see what direction Yin was investigating, so that he could think about whether his people had been involved.
"I won't say anything, the commotion in the south is getting a bit outrageous!" Yin Zhi abruptly changed the subject. "Fourth brother, this time your third brother really has something to ask of you."
Yin's heart skipped a beat. Yin Zhi rarely asked for favors, so if he said this now, something really might have happened.
"Third Brother, now is not the place to talk. Let's meet in your younger brother's study tomorrow," Yin said in a low voice.
Qingyan heard what Yin and Yinzhi were saying and glanced in Yin's direction.
"Okay!" Yin Zhi relaxed. As long as he said such a thing, Yin Zhi must understand that he wanted something.
After the banquet, Yin took Qingyan back to the Yuanmingyuan. After they washed up, they lay down on the bed, and Yin told Qingyan about Yinzhi.
"Fourth Master, is Third Master's matter difficult to handle?" Qingyan didn't understand why Yinzhi would suddenly ask Yin for help.
Yin sneered: "Of course not. He's worried that the situation in the south will drag Dong E Peng Chun's second son into it!"
After a good night's sleep, the twins returned from Changchun Garden in the early morning. The family of five sat in the dining room having breakfast when Su Peisheng came in from outside and said that Yinzhi and the Third Princess Consort had come together.
A hint of impatience flashed in Qingyan's eyes. Ever since she married into the royal family, the Third Princess Consort had made things difficult for her. Now, they actually came to her door seeking help.
"Yiken'e, you two brothers, take good care of Hafeng!" After giving a few instructions, Yin and Qingyan walked towards the main hall.
Yinzhi brought his third wife with him today. On the way here, he specifically instructed her not to quarrel with Qingyan again. Now, Yinzhi is considered to be favored by Emperor Kangxi.
"Third Brother, why did you come so early?" Yin was extremely surprised to see Yin Zhi's anxious appearance.
Yin Zhi specifically mentioned his brother-in-law's affairs, and even went so far as to say which officials in the south had good relationships with his brother-in-law.
"Fourth Prince, I truly hope this time that my brother-in-law won't get involved. We all know that Father Emperor is really furious this time, which is why he sent you to investigate personally!" Yin Zhi said in front of the Third Prince's wife.
Qingyan felt slightly uncomfortable, shifted her body, and looked to Yin for help.
"Master, let me take Third Sister-in-law to the side hall," Qingyan said quickly, noticing the Third Princess's embarrassed expression.
"Go!" Yin nodded, but when he caught a glimpse of the Third Princess's actions, he became even more anxious.
The two sisters-in-law entered the side hall, and Su Lan, who had just prepared tea and snacks, withdrew.
Seeing that no one was in the hall, the Third Princess Consort's face showed a pleading expression.
"Fourth sister-in-law, I have made many mistakes myself, and I really hope you can help me this time!" The Third Princess was shocked when she received the letter from home.
After Dong Epengchun lost real power, his two brothers became increasingly unruly. The eldest son was a reliable candidate to ensure the success of the family, while the second son was a scheming and opportunistic individual.
"Third sister-in-law, you're married now, so you can't always take care of your family!" Qingyan reminded the Third Princess Consort. As a married woman, if she interfered too much, her family would definitely resent her.
Furthermore, Dong Epengchun's two daughters-in-law are not of good character, so they certainly wouldn't be satisfied with the Third Princess's actions.
"Alas," sighed the Third Princess Consort, "who can have the future of your two sons?"
Among the sisters-in-law, the Third Prince's wife felt envy, jealousy, and hatred towards Qingyan. When her brothers were not living up to expectations, the Third Prince's wife wanted to surpass Qingyan even more.
Today, she came to ask for help, which means she had made up her mind. How could she not understand what Qingyan was saying?
"Third Sister-in-law, I think you should leave it alone. Women can't control the affairs of the previous dynasty!" Qingyan said directly.
Hearing this, the Third Princess felt a pang of sadness, but she knew that the current situation was indeed as described.
"Sister-in-law, that's true, but if I were as insightful as you, I probably wouldn't have thought this way!" the Third Princess said bitterly.
Yesterday, a letter arrived from the Third Prince's wife's family. Lady Dong'e even asked the Third Prince's wife for help, urging her to do everything she could to secure Qingyan's assistance.
"Third sister-in-law, you should think about it. You have a legitimate son. Don't you want him to have a better life?" Yinzhi liked that although his legitimate son was healthy and considered to be established, he was not as concerned about his third wife as before. The legitimate son's situation would change drastically in the future.
"Sister-in-law, I'm awake, but I'll be more careful from now on!" The Third Princess Consort came over with a faint smile on her face.
Qingyan smiled and thought to herself that the Third Princess Consort had changed quite a bit in the past year; her ambition was no longer as high.
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Lan came in from outside and said that Yin Zhi was going back. The Third Princess Consort quickly got up to take her leave.
After seeing off the Third Prince's wife, Qingyan slowly walked towards Yin's study. A lot of news had arrived from the south. Since it was sent from Linglong Pavilion, Shuyun had to go over and unlock the door to see it.
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