At the dock in Yangzhou, ministers knelt on both sides. The imperial boat was moored there. Emperor Kangxi wore a bright yellow imperial robe, while Consort Tong wore a golden consort's robe, adorned with a five-phoenix gold hairpin, each phoenix holding a pearl. She lagged behind Kangxi a few steps, supporting herself as they stood there. (Reading 1)
Yin led Qingyan off the ship and onto a small boat moored beside it, landing at the dock. Behind them followed Su Peisheng, Su Lan, and two nannies. The twins, with their little faces serious, stayed obediently in the nannies' arms.
This was the first time the family of four had appeared before the officials, and many people were paying attention to the twins.
They believed that the twins were still young and would definitely cry in front of many people. Standing behind the other princes, they were all ready to see Yinhe and Qingyan make a fool of themselves.
Unfortunately, the twins, under Kangxi's tutelage, had long been accustomed to grand occasions. Yiken'e's lips curled slightly upward, while He You's eyes were fixed on his ministers.
After the ministers kowtowed, they awaited the arrival of the twins. Kangxi noticed their thoughts but did not reply. Instead, he instructed Yiken'e to perform for them.
Qingyan stood behind Yin and watched as the court officials and their families filled the dock in the distance. The area near the street was completely covered with bright yellow curtains so that the common people could not see the imperial carriage and would not delay its departure.
The people knelt behind the curtain, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" The corners of Kangxi's mouth turned up slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"Greetings to Father Emperor, greetings to Mother Emperor." Yin led Qingyan and the twins off the ship and respectfully presented their luggage to Emperor Kangxi.
The two children spoke softly, "Mafa'an, Mama'an!"
Their soft, childlike voices surprised the ministers in the front row. The twins were so young; back in the mansion, their grandchildren of the same age couldn't even speak fluently, yet these two children greeted them so respectfully. (Read more... 1 book...)
The twins' performance completely shattered those who wanted to see them make a fool of themselves. Qingyan lowered her head and stood obediently to the side.
"Yiken'e, come to Mafa's place." Kangxi liked to show off Yiken'e and openly show her his favor, which made Yiken'e safer.
The old woman glanced at Yin, who nodded slightly, and then she carried Yiken'e towards Kangxi's direction.
Cao Yin stood opposite Kangxi, watching Yiken'e with a faint smile as she slowly approached. Kangxi then picked up Yiken'e, and the old man and the child appeared together before Cao Yin. Upon closer inspection, he gasped twice.
Everyone knows Yiken'e's name, but people only call him by his nickname and rarely by his full name. After all, there are taboos when it comes to emperors. His appearance is more similar to that of Emperor Kangxi, especially his faint expression, which is like a replica of Kangxi.
"Cao Yin, what do you think of my grandson?" Kangxi said with a hint of pride. In front of his ministers, Yiken'e represented the third generation of the imperial family.
"Your Majesty, the young prince's face seems to transport this servant back to the past." Cao Yin did not hide anything, "Yiken'e does indeed resemble the Kangxi Emperor from your time."
Back then, he was Emperor Kangxi's study companion and always stayed by his side. Now, looking at Yiken'e's appearance, he felt even more emotional.
They've really grown old; those bygone days are gone forever.
"Hehe, Cao Yin," Kangxi was very satisfied. Cao Yin still spoke the truth and had not lost his loyalty.
After exchanging a few words, Kangxi ordered his men to go to the imperial palace. Shu also quietly came over and took Hutulifengshengzhalafen away.
When they got back into the carriage, only Yin and Qingyan were inside.
The carriage moved slowly, and Qingyan looked outside in puzzlement. Why hadn't the Empress Dowager's palanquin appeared?
"Fourth Prince, where is the Empress Dowager's carriage?" Qingyan counted them carefully and found that one was missing.
"I went to the imperial palace ahead of schedule," Yin said coldly.
At noon, Emperor Kangxi specially dispatched Tulichen's capable assistants to escort the Empress Dowager's ship to the dock ahead of time. Under the escort of Imperial Physician Yuan, they left without showing their faces.
Su Mo'er played a significant role in ensuring that the officials had no doubt that the Empress Dowager had been placed under house arrest by Emperor Kangxi.
"What?!" Qingyan was stunned.
The Empress Dowager was sent to the temporary palace so easily? The officials didn't even ask a single question?
Two question marks immediately appeared in her mind. Outside the car, there were only the Imperial Guards and bright yellow curtains; she couldn't even see the street scene outside.
"The Empress Dowager has no real power and no children, so most of the ministers won't care," Yin said bluntly.
The ministers are very pragmatic; they won't care if something doesn't bring them benefits.
Moreover, they were on a southern tour, not Qiu Mi.
"Huh? If it were Qiu Mi, she would probably ask him even when she went to Kinmen." Qing Yan complained directly.
She went to Qiumi once with them, and then felt she never wanted to appear on the grassland again.
Pfft!
Yin immediately became happy. Qingyan had a lot of complaints about Qiu Mi. Those people were a real headache. All they did was ask for things and keep an eye on the noble ladies of the royal family and the imperial clan, which made people complain a lot.
Qingyan leaned on his shoulder, a relaxed expression on his face. The south was Qingyan's stronghold, and both Yuelai Inn and Linglong Pavilion sent messages to Qingyan, keeping a close eye on the words and actions of his officials.
"Fourth Brother, aren't there too many people outside?" Qingyan recalled the sounds of people bowing in greeting. The people shouldn't be bowing in such an orderly fashion, as if they were well-trained.
Qingyan was overthinking it. The various little scenarios playing out in her mind were quite worthwhile. She believed that those people must have been specially hired by Cao Yin.
He flicked her forehead, urging her to abandon her unrealistic ideas.
Each time Emperor Kangxi made his southern tour, preparations would be made in advance in the areas surrounding Jiangnan, where impoverished people would be herded to a place for special management, precisely to avoid the emperor seeing them.
"They weren't invited; they were probably small merchants and gentry from Jiangnan," Yin explained to her.
Cao Yin wouldn't deceive Kangxi by secretly doing something underhanded; that's a possibility.
"Huh?" Qingyan pondered, "Do you think the managers of Yuelai Inn and Linglong Pavilion might also be among those invited?"
Qingyan asked secretly, her eyes fixed on the roof of the carriage. Both managers were handpicked by Yin and Qingyan and were highly skilled in business.
“Yes, the two of them are kneeling in the crowd,” Yin said directly.
Erlu contacted the two shopkeepers in advance, and they mentioned that Cao Yin had sent these people to the dock ahead of time, saying that the people were there to pay their respects to His Majesty.
The merchants and gentry were all well-off, and their clothes must have been nice too. If Emperor Kangxi had seen this, he would have thought that Jiangnan was very prosperous and that the people were living very well.
On the contrary, the lives of ordinary people are far worse than they appear.
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