The banquet began, and Yin and his son met with Qingyan and her daughter. Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Yin asked worriedly, "Little Darling, is someone bullying her?"
As they spoke, Yin handed Yiken'e to Qingyan and picked up his youngest daughter.
She nestled against Yin's shoulder, pouting.
"Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen, who bullied you?" Yin spoke softly to his daughter.
The little girl shook her head; her mother had instructed her not to say too much. Madam Cao had her eye on Ah Hun. Yiken'e was the Fourth Prince's legitimate son and the future master of the Fourth Prince's mansion, so the women around him needed to be carefully selected.
Although Cao Yin was an important minister of Emperor Kangxi, he failed to properly educate the next generation.
"They've got their eyes on Yiken'e. Madam Cao wants women from the Cao family to become Yiken'e's concubines," Qingyan said in a low voice.
"Overestimating yourself!" Yin said directly.
Cao Yin had long since lost all caution and dared to plot against Yiken'e.
"Mother said not to worry about it." Qingyan was worried that Yin might misunderstand.
Yin nodded. Mother would talk to Father about it, which was good. It was better than Yin interfering in the affairs of the court officials.
"Never mind, Mother has already said so, so there's no need to worry about it." Yin agreed. "Hutulifengshengzhalafen, when we get back, Father will take you out to make a flower boat."
Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen really liked the flower boats along the canal. Yin was worried about the children's safety and had not yet agreed to let the children go to the canal to make flower boats.
Today, in order to please the little girl, he decided to take her on a trip.
"Good!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen forgot his grievances and looked at Yin happily.
Inside the palace, Li Dequan had already received the news and whispered something to Kangxi, even mentioning Consort Tong's opinion.
He looked up and saw the Yin family of four walking in. He sighed. After the birth of the twins, how many people were scheming behind his back, always thinking that their own female relatives or sons were suitable for twins.
"Li Dequan, bring Yiken'e over here." Kangxi didn't care about other people's opinions and decided to bring Yiken'e to the banquet.
Li Dequan walked over with a slight bow and reached out his hand towards Qingyan.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has instructed this old servant to report the young prince to him." Li Dequan looked at Yin Wei with a slight pause, then nodded in agreement after a moment's hesitation.
"Little darling, let Anda take Yiken'e away," Yin said, turning back to her.
Yiken'e turned back into Kangxi's arms. The court officials, watching the interaction between the grandfather and grandson, felt a chill in their hearts, worried that they might have stepped on Kangxi's Achilles' heel.
Fei Yanggu and his two sons were somewhat puzzled, as Kangxi rarely teased Yiken'e in public.
Inside the hall, many courtiers were fawning over Yiken'e beside Emperor Kangxi. The little boy had a stern face, exuding an air of nobility that even surpassed Hongxi's in terms of demeanor.
Kangxi happily accepted everyone's compliments. Yiken'e was very intelligent, and among people of the same age, Yiken'e was definitely the most outstanding.
“Master, this young prince is the eldest son of the Fourth Prince, and he is also one of your favorites. Why not arrange a marriage for him in advance?” Cao Yin remembered Madam Cao’s idea and probed Qingyan from the side.
"No need," Emperor Kangxi said, "The princes will be betrothed after they come of age. Girls of similar age to Yiken'e are still young. In case someone tries to instigate us, it would be unfair to Yiken'e if the chosen girl is too unworthy." Kangxi's words directly rejected Yiken'e's marriage.
The ministers instantly understood the Cao family's plan; twins were something he could only dream of.
As the banquet began, Emperor Kangxi, with a smile on his face, sat side by side with Consort Tong. The two held the twins in their arms, and the two little ones had smiles on their faces.
The way Kangxi fed Consort Tong was very practiced, as if they had done it countless times in private.
At this time, the court officials in the south remembered that news had come from the capital that Emperor Kangxi had taken the twins to Changchun Garden for care. The twins were very familiar with Emperor Kangxi, and when Li Dequan came forward to help take care of them, Yiken'e accepted it very readily. Even Hongxi could not do that.
It is conceivable that the child who could accompany Kangxi was Yiken'e.
When the officials in the south witnessed Kangxi's interaction with Yiken'e for the first time, they began to have other plans in mind, and they had to re-evaluate the importance of Prince Yin.
"Fourth Brother, are the two children alright with Father and Mother?" Qingyan asked in a low voice.
Yin nodded, feeling the intense gazes around him. He understood that Kangxi had brought Yiken'e into the public eye for the children's safety, and that he too would be watched by many people.
"Fourth Princess Consort, I will be hosting a Hundred Flowers Banquet in the next few days, and I hope you will grace us with your presence." Madam Li quickly came over, preparing to curry favor with the Fourth Princess Consort at her husband's prompting.
"I may have to decline this lady's invitation. The two children are too naughty and need me to keep an eye on them at all times." Qingyan smiled, indicating that she had no intention of getting involved.
Madam Li's face was very unpleasant. The Fourth Prince's wife directly refused, which clearly showed that she did not want to get too involved with the wives of officials in Jiangnan.
"Fourth Master, the banquet at my residence has invited many officials' wives," Lord Li said, coming over to offer his advice.
Yin shook his head directly, resolutely declining the man's invitation.
During the banquet, the adults were allowed to move around freely, holding wine cups and serving wine directly to the princes.
Several officials were observing from Yin Zhi's side; they would only step forward if Lord Li succeeded.
Yinzhi enjoyed the company of women and was generally unafraid to associate with women from the south. As a result, many people would send their female relatives to Yinzhi's backyard.
These girls were specially trained; each of them was proficient in poetry and prose, and they were ideal confidantes for scholars to confide in.
Yin Ze disliked these things, and those women who were skilled in poetry and literature held no appeal for him whatsoever.
"I doubt it!" Cao Yin shook his head directly. Yin could even refuse Kangxi's imperial edict, let alone these officials.
Soon, Yin refused outright, citing that the twins were still young and needed Qingyan's care, and resolutely prevented Qingyan from participating in the women's gathering.
Each banquet was basically an opportunity to send off female relatives. The principal wife and other wives would carefully observe the female relatives who were to enter the mansion, select the ones they liked, and directly ask the lady who hosted the banquet for them.
Yin understood the significance of the Hundred Flowers Banquet better than Qingyan. The Hundred Flowers Banquet outside the capital was significantly different from that inside the capital. The royal sisters-in-law would never bother with such elaborate banquets.
The women in Jiangnan are different. In order to help their husbands get promoted, they plan everything in advance. They are also very skilled at using the method of sending women to their superiors.
“Since the young prince and princess need the care of the Fujin (wife), this servant will not disturb them any further.” Madam Li understood that Yin would definitely not allow Qingyan to go.
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