Emperor Kangxi kept the five princes and their wives at the kitchen for lunch. Consort Tong asked Sulan to help out in the small kitchen, and the Crown Princess smiled while holding a handkerchief.
"Your sister-in-law's people are quite capable; they can even go into Mother's small kitchen. Our servants are only good at helping with washing and grooming!" the Crown Princess said with a light laugh.
As soon as she finished speaking, the Crown Prince frowned slightly; the Crown Princess was speaking incoherently.
"The people around Xiao Guai are quite good at cooking. This year, neither His Majesty nor I have suffered from the summer heat. The little girl is diligently learning, which is a sign of her filial piety." Consort Tong heard the Crown Princess's disdain for Hua Yu and directly spoke up for Qing Yan.
Kangxi's gaze was icy. Among his several primary wives, Yin Genjueluo and Qingyan were both filial and put their husbands first. Yin and Yin's health was good this year. In the hot summer, they not only did not lose weight, but actually gained some weight.
"Yes, the eldest son's family and the fourth son's family have done a good job, and the children are being taken care of very well!" With just one sentence from Kangxi, Qingyan gained a reputation for filial piety.
Within the palace, the Crown Princess had the best reputation. Whether this was due to Emperor Kangxi's deliberate manipulation is hard to say.
"Your Highness, you are the primary consort of the Eastern Palace, and you also have to assist Consort Tong in handling palace affairs. It's a bit of a stretch," Kangxi said after taking a sip of tea. These matters concerning women were not originally Kangxi's responsibility, but since His Highness had even gotten Consort Tong involved, he stepped in directly.
The Crown Prince secretly regretted bringing the Crown Princess along; she was arrogant and had often given him trouble.
Such a simple remark or two could leave behind future troubles between brothers.
Yin was somewhat angry. When the Crown Princess met Qingyan, she would definitely say a few words about Qingyan. As a woman, even if she didn't have to go into the kitchen all the time, the men's meals should not be entirely handed over to the servants.
The atmosphere instantly became slightly awkward, and Lady Dong'e quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"The Crown Princess is a role model for all of us, Father Emperor. What you say makes sense. Recently, the Crown Princess has been very busy with palace affairs. However, I have also heard the Crown Princess mention that the Crown Prince often suffers from summer heat, and Consort Li Jia has been taking good care of him." Dong E Shi directly said that the Consort's failure to take good care of him had nothing to do with the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess was so busy with the tasks assigned that she had no choice but to hand the Crown Prince over to the concubine.
Qingyan raised his head and stared at Dong Eshi. Faced with those unpleasant comments, Dong Eshi had never been so clever, defusing the awkward situation.
"Fourth brother's wife has her own ways of serving him. How about giving her a copy of the menu as well?" The Crown Princess noticed that Kangxi was getting angry, so she quickly asked Qingyan for the recipes.
It was already late autumn, but the Crown Princess didn't think things through and directly challenged Qingyan.
"Reporting to the Crown Princess, my sister-in-law's diet plan was formulated based on the Fourth Prince's health, and may not be suitable for everyone." Qingyan was no fool.
Previously, Consort Tong had repeatedly instructed that the recipes for Yin's meals must never be given to anyone. Otherwise, if someone did something bad outside, they might cause trouble for her. Qingyan kept these words deeply in mind, fearing that she might do something excessive.
"Is that so?" the Crown Princess questioned.
It is said that the Fourth Prince's wife has an unparalleled skill in making medicinal cuisine. Since joining the Fourth Prince's residence, apart from His Majesty and Consort Tong, few others have been able to taste it.
Even the three members of the Feiyanggu family only had a menu, and the chefs at the mansion prepared the food before taking it in.
Many ministers envied it from the bottom of their hearts, and many women went to the Jue Luo clan's peach blossom garden. Who would have thought that even this person was unaware of it?
"Sister-in-law, you are too modest. Many ministers envy Fourth Brother, and my father also envies Lord Ulanara for having such a filial daughter. Every day, Sister-in-law personally designs the menus for all three meals." The Crown Princess held onto Qingyan tightly, even dragging Fei Yanggu into the conversation.
"Ah? The Crown Princess knows quite a lot. Father's diet was specially arranged by me before I got married, and it will be changed every month." Qingyan didn't care, as it was all listed in advance.
Qingyan wouldn't let anyone find fault with her. At the very least, Qingyan's meal plan was sent directly to her family by Sulan when she was giving them gifts.
Each time, Fei Yanggu would make a copy before handing the list over to Fei Yanggu. Outsiders would never know that the Crown Princess's words instantly alerted Qing Yan. Could it be that the Crown Princess had sent spies to the Ulanara New Residence?
Over the past few years, Fei Yanggu has done a lot of work with his spies, and some of them have been secretly dealt with, so there shouldn't be any servants who would dare to betray their master again.
A glint appeared in Qingyan's eyes as he looked at the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess's family was indeed capable; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to say such a thing when the Ulanara clan was under heavy guard.
Yin noticed that Qingyan was in a bad mood, so he quickly covered her with his clothes, squeezed her small hand, and told Qingyan not to overthink it.
She smiled to herself, wondering if she had overthought things.
After lunch, Qingyan returned to the Yuanmingyuan Garden. His first act was to summon Fei Yanggu and his two sons to Yin's study and relay the Crown Princess's words.
After he finished speaking, Fei Yanggu and his two sons all frowned. Their family was clearly being watched. Either the Crown Princess was talking nonsense, or there was another traitor in the Ulanara family.
Qingyan leaned lazily against the armchair, but her mood was somewhat down.
If a minister's residence had one or two spies of the emperor, the ministers could tolerate it. But what about the Crown Prince's residence?
Based solely on his position as crown prince, Fei Yanggu and his military generals would not give the other party any chance; the crown princess's methods were clearly out of line.
The difference between the Emperor and the Crown Prince is only one character, yet it makes their portrayals of Daiyu distinctly different.
“Father, after we return to the manor, we also need to clean up the mess. If those people aren’t taught a lesson in three days, these betrayals will occur,” Qingyan said coldly.
The Crown Princess's methods are becoming increasingly despicable. Could it be that the Crown Prince is tacitly approving of these actions?
Yin recalled that the people from the Sticky Rod Office reported that the Crown Prince had cultivated some secret agents outside the palace, and these agents were dispatched to the residences of the princes and ministers.
These people gradually infiltrated various residences, and the information they obtained gradually increased.
"The Crown Prince tacitly approved it?" Fei Yanggu wondered to himself, it shouldn't be like this...
“Father-in-law, the Crown Prince… won’t listen to Father Emperor as much as before,” Yinhan said.
Yin also became more cautious, making sure that no bad news came out of his mouth, in case Fei Yanggu's spies reported it to Kangxi.
Fei Yanggu was taken aback. Yin had grown up, and thus, the struggle between the princes was about to begin, but their family had already sided with Yin.
“Father, are we going to have to endure this?” Seto was furious.
It's one thing for the Crown Prince to send people to keep watch on the military camp, but now, even his residence needs his men. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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