As the sun set, the camp came alive with activity, especially the Empress Dowager's tent, where people came and went, many of them eager to make a name for themselves.
Granny Su personally came to Yinhe Qingyan's tent and instructed Qingyan to bring Batu Buhe to pay their respects at the evening banquet. She told Batu Buhe not to be shy and that it was acceptable to wear mourning clothes. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager instructed her servants to prepare vegetarian food for Batu Buhe.
“Granny, isn’t this inappropriate? What if we offend His Majesty…” Batu Buhe was called to Qingyan’s side, and Qingyan entrusted him with this decision.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to be shy. The Empress Dowager, Changsheng, certainly hopes to see the Qing Dynasty treat the grasslands’ heirs well,” said Granny Su directly.
Batubuhe wore a faint smile, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.
"Okay!" Batubuhe nodded in agreement. At the very least, he couldn't cause trouble for Yin and Qingyan at this critical juncture.
Qingyan noticed that Batu Buhe was not very happy, so after seeing off Granny Su, she sat down next to Batu Buhe.
"Don't you want to go?" Qingyan asked directly.
Batu Buhe gave a bitter smile: "Mother, if I don't go, wouldn't I be ungrateful? I can't cause trouble for you and Father."
"No need. If you don't like it, you don't have to go. If you have to worry about even this little thing, then I don't need to take care of you anymore." Yin carried Hafeng, with the twins following closely behind, and the four of them came in from outside.
"No need, Your Majesty. I can wear mourning clothes. They've even prepared some vegetarian food for me. All of this is fine. Originally, the mourning customs in the Mongolian tribes weren't as strict as those in the interior. Some leaders scoffed at my decision to observe mourning according to the customs of the interior." Although Batu Buhe didn't leave his house, he could feel the deep malice outside. Huricha would tell Batu Buhe about the situation outside every day when he returned.
Yin frowned; the brat in front of him was indeed a bit troublesome.
"Huh? Someone's talking behind your back?" Qingyan was taken aback.
“Hurichi, several tribal leaders are all muttering that I’m too old to be on equal footing with these people.” Batubuhe was very intelligent. Yin rarely treated him like a child, but rather like an adult like Yiken’e.
Yin thought for a moment and realized that Batu Buhe was originally the son of the grasslands and should be present.
"Alright, you can attend. If anyone causes trouble behind your back, you have to come with me, understand?" Yin was somewhat worried about Batu Buhe.
Although Hu Richa is by his side every day, if someone tries to suppress them by using their seniority, there's probably nothing they can do.
“Father, I can manage. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to go in a blue mourning dress?” Batu Buhe asked.
Qingyan personally embroidered several simple purses for Batubuhe, each embroidered with silver thread, which were just what he could use to observe mourning.
"Yes!" Yin nodded. "Change the tassels on your braids to golden yellow."
Looking at his already short hair, Yin could only braid it into a short plait.
"Father, this...isn't it inappropriate?" Only princes or Mongol princes could wear golden hair tassels. When Yiken'e learned of his succession, he even sent over several of his own golden hair tassels.
"With Yiken here, it's alright." Yin smiled. "Besides, your identity can be used. When observing mourning, you don't necessarily have to use white."
Upon hearing this, Batubuhe hurriedly went back and, as Yin had instructed, had his attendants help him change his clothes.
Qingyan watched the departing figure and sighed heavily.
"This guy is being a bit too reserved, Fourth Brother. Do you really think this is a good thing?" Qingyan asked Yin curiously.
“There’s no other way for now. Showing his face in front of the Empress Dowager is a good thing for Batu Buhe. The Empress Dowager is getting old, and if she sees a guy of Batu Buhe’s age, she will definitely take care of him.” Yin looked outside the tent, and Hafeng patted Yin’s cheek to bring him back to his senses.
Later that evening, Yin and Qingyan took the four children to the Empress Dowager's tent. When the Crown Prince and Crown Princess saw Yin enter, Batu Buhe actually entered behind Yiken'e, and their eyes flickered slightly.
"Fourth Prince, why did you bring Batu Buhe here?" The Crown Prince wanted to make trouble, after all, Batu Buhe was still observing mourning, and if it was not by the Empress Dowager or Emperor Kangxi's decree, the censors would definitely cause trouble.
“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager personally sent Granny Su over. At your age, a prince cannot be left alone in the tent; there might be danger.” Yin replied directly.
"What?" The Crown Prince became curious. The Empress Dowager could actually issue orders directly.
Batu Buhe stepped forward to pay his respects to the Crown Prince, kneeling on the ground and awaiting the Crown Prince's orders.
At this moment, the crown prince was lost in his own thoughts and had no intention of waking Batu Buhe.
Inside the tent, a number of people gradually came in. As soon as they entered, they saw the figure kneeling on the ground and their eyes flickered slightly.
Since the Crown Prince's return to power, everyone has been referring to him as the Crown Prince, but in reality, he has never been reinstated.
“Your Highness, the Right Wing Prince has been kneeling for a long time. Do you think we should let him get up first?” Yin Zhi walked to the Crown Prince’s side and quickly asked.
Yinzhi wanted Batubuhe's support, but Yinzhi first obtained custody of Batubuhe, which made him very angry. However, after careful consideration, he decided to show him some goodwill.
"Get up quickly. I was thinking about something, and you, being an honest person, actually knelt down here." The Crown Prince looked at Batu Buhe and said, "Look at Yiken'e, he bowed properly and then got up."
After he finished speaking, everyone frowned. Was the Crown Prince really so ill-mannered?
Just as Batubuhe was about to step forward to explain, Yiken'e and Hutulifengshengzhalaf grabbed his clothes from either side, telling him not to "talk nonsense."
The Crown Prince looked at the three of them with a cold smile on his face. The twins had grown up and would be going to the Imperial Study when they returned. The palace was Hongxi's territory, so there would definitely be no problem.
“Your Highness, it’s Anguma’s turn. Batu Buhe can come wearing mourning clothes.” Yiken’e walked up to Batu Buhe and said.
Yiken'e didn't care how the Crown Prince slandered him, as long as Kangxi understood the situation.
The Crown Prince stared intently at the little boy in front of him, his words effectively shutting down any hints Hongxi might have had. No wonder Hongxi couldn't win the argument.
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