The Cao residence was shrouded in a pure white. Cao Yin, dressed in mourning clothes, stood at the door waiting for Kangxi's arrival. Kangxi arrived hand in hand with Consort Tong. Consort Tong was also dressed in a plain white dress, with orchids embroidered with silver thread, and a set of silver ornaments on her head.
"This servant greets His Majesty and Consort Tong." Cao Yin, accompanied by his family, paid his respects to Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong.
When Granny Cao passed away, many court officials came to pay their respects. Everyone knew about the affection between Emperor Kangxi and Granny Cao. The officials were really going to great lengths to win a single glance from Emperor Kangxi.
"Get up and kowtow. I'll go offer incense to Granny Cao." Kangxi felt a pang of regret. Granny Cao was still alive. No matter how much Cao Yin went wrong, as long as it didn't touch the core issues, Kangxi would say that he would forgive the Cao family this time for Granny Cao's sake.
When Kangxi entered the main hall, Cao Mama's coffin was placed in the center, and Consort Tong offered incense on his behalf.
Madam Cao, along with the other women, returned the greetings. Emperor Kangxi's status was too special to be able to personally offer sacrifices, so his presence was a great honor for the Cao family.
“Your Majesty, the princes have all come to pay their respects. I have asked all the princes to wait in the side hall. I am worried that if the people paying their respects are too mixed, someone might sneak into the crowd and cause harm to the princes,” Cao Yin quickly said.
Kangxi's expression softened, and he walked directly to the side hall. The servants at the entrance of the Cao residence began to offer sacrifices to the ministers at the mansion.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" The Crown Prince, along with the princes and women, bowed directly to Emperor Kangxi.
"Proceed with a kowtow." Kangxi did not want to cause trouble for the Cao family. Cao Mama had just left, and if the Cao family made any mistakes because of the imperial procession, it was very likely that Cao Mama's reputation would also be damaged.
Kangxi looked at the attire of everyone present. The women were all dressed in plain clothes, but Qingyan's attire looked particularly pleasing to the eye. He then turned to look at Consort Tong, whose headdress was remarkably similar to Qingyan's.
"Father, why have you come in person?" The Crown Prince thought that his appearance was a sign of respect for the Cao family, but Kangxi actually came in person.
"Alright, everyone leave through the back door in a bit." Kangxi sat for a while, but there wasn't a trace of a smile on his face.
Qingyan kept her head down beside Yin. Just now, Consort Tong gave her a knowing look, telling Qingyan to pay attention to her expression at all times.
Ever since Kangxi received the news of Cao Mama's departure, he had been holding back a lot of anger, and just when he needed to vent it, Yin actually said it.
"Hmph, Granny Cao was my wet nurse. How did I teach you all to respect your wet nurses?" Kangxi's words caused the Crown Prince to lose face completely.
In front of the princes, the crown prince had always maintained the airs of the heir apparent. Today, however, Kangxi disregarded the crown prince's dignity and directly reprimanded him.
The Crown Prince didn't retort. With Granny Cao gone, Kangxi's mood was probably not very good, so venting his frustrations was understandable.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I know I was wrong." Yin's wet nurse had already left the palace.
Consort Tong disliked Yin's reliance on the nannies around him. Ever since the princess was blackmailed by the nannies after her marriage, Consort Tong had been trying to improve the way she taught Yin.
"Alright, leave through the back door. Crown Prince, you are confined for three days." Kangxi glanced at the Crown Prince, then directly ordered Li Dequan to find Cao Zhong, and the group left immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." Yin had no choice but to accept the decree.
The princes all understood that Yinzhi had crossed Kangxi's bottom line, and this time, they could stand aside and watch the show.
Cao Zhong bowed slightly and led the way, seeing off Kangxi and the princes. He then quickly returned to Cao Yin's side, whispered a few words to Cao Yin, and mingled among the officials. Cao Yin learned that Kangxi had secretly left, but the smile on his face did not change at all.
The officials noticed Cao Zhong's strange behavior and began to speculate in their minds that it was time for Kangxi and his entourage to leave.
When they offered incense, Kangxi must have allowed the servants to stay in the Cao residence. As long as they performed well, they should be able to appear before Kangxi.
"Fourth Prince, why does Father Emperor want us to leave?" Qingyan asked, confused.
“Little darling, it’s not appropriate for us to stay in the Cao residence. Most of the officials outside who are paying respects to Granny Cao are just trying to impress Emperor Kangxi,” Yin said directly.
Qingyan slightly opened her mouth. Was this all an act?
"But looking at those people, they all seem to be connected to the Cao family. Many of those who came to pay their respects have a good relationship with Granny Cao," Qingyan said, puzzled.
Although interpersonal relationships in officialdom are generally indifferent, no one expected the officialdom in Jiangnan to be so ruthless. It's probably the best example of how people are forgotten once they leave.
"Fourth Brother, are you sure?" Qingyan asked.
Granny Cao moved among the wives of officials in Jiangnan. Many of the wives sought her favor, fawning over her. Once Granny Cao left, those women would probably continue to surround Madam Cao.
Soon, Cao Mama's existence was erased again, and whoever became the mistress of the Cao family, the officials' wives would revolve around her.
"Yes, these are the wives of officials." Yin said with emotion.
He reached out and held her small hand, giving her strength; the wives of officials in the capital were much the same.
"I'm glad I was too busy with business to get too close to these women," Qingyan sneered.
Whenever there was a festival, the Fourth Prince's mansion was never peaceful. Women would always come to beg Linglong Pavilion to make them more sets of jewelry, and they would often come to bother him.
During those days, Qingyan tried to stay away from the mansion as much as possible. When the women learned that she was not at the mansion, they left immediately.
"It's not that we don't have a relationship; on the contrary, they're begging me." Qingyan felt a headache coming on; every time she visited, it was for that purpose.
"Yes, they're begging you." Yin put his arm around her shoulder. "Among the wives of officials, Linglong Pavilion has a very good reputation for its jewelry. The women who come to us are basically hoping to have more of their jewelry so they can buy some for their families, and more importantly, they hope to leave more for their daughters as dowries."
She leaned on Yin's shoulder, looking at the roof of the carriage, thinking about what the officials' wives had said. Some said they had bought too many jewelry items to prepare for their daughters' dowries, while others said they were going to give them to their maternal families.
"Fourth Sister, they're preparing to bring jewelry to put their minds at ease," Yin kissed her twice, explaining to her.
"They all envy my life, saying that women's beauty is fleeting, and when they get older, they will definitely have other ideas. I control Linglong Pavilion and Yuelai Inn, and you will protect me more because of the money," Qingyan said with a hum.
Pfft!
Yin laughed out loud. Is this how simple the women's conversation is? It's all about showing them some favor.
They always talk nonsense in front of Qingyan, which is why Qingyan is having all sorts of wild thoughts. It seems that we can't let the women have any more contact with Qingyan, or the problem will become serious.
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