For several days in a row, Yin and Qingyan were busy copying memorials, while the two children were taken to stroll around the garden by Suzhu.
Looking at the things he had organized, his mood instantly soured.
There were boxes of account books in front of the wall. If these were handed over, probably few officials in the south would be able to keep them. He had hidden the account books of the Cao family and several other prominent families.
Qingyan put away the abacus and calculated the last figure. The amount embezzled by the officials in Jiangnan was huge, and Linglong Pavilion's income could only be the sum of two or three corrupt officials.
Even the imperial customs duties in Jiangnan didn't amount to the bribes these corrupt officials received.
"I won't tell Father Emperor for now. These officials are all important ministers in the court. The stability of the officialdom in Jiangnan still requires their strong assistance," Yin explained helplessly.
She shook her head helplessly, "Do as you please. I've handed the things over to you so you can make the decision."
She stood up at the window and saw two or three people peeking around in the corner of the courtyard. She narrowed her eyes. These people were really bold, daring to bribe people inside the palace.
"There must be someone watching outside." Yin didn't even raise his head. He knew those people's methods. Those guys peeking out the door were probably sent by officials from the south.
Qingyan turned to look at him, and when she saw that he didn't look up, she knew that someone was watching from outside.
He smiled slightly, then pulled Qingyan, who was standing next to him, to sit down. The two sat side by side on a chair.
"Little darling, there's some commotion outside, don't worry about it, let's enjoy our vacation in peace." Yin ignored what was happening outside and requested a secret decree from Kangxi to allow him to rest at the imperial palace for a few days.
Erlu took away all the prying servants and sent his men to interrogate them.
After Yin finished writing the account books, he closed the mahogany box. The two against the wall were account books of bribes from high-ranking officials, while the few that were to be handed over to Kangxi were those of ordinary minor officials.
Taking this opportunity to place a few of my own people in office is nothing more than a matter of mutual consent in officialdom.
"Are you planning to stuff people in too?" Qingyan asked, tilting her head.
Since Yin left the palace to establish his own residence, he has been slowly cultivating minor officials, preparing to place them in various places.
Even if those minor officials don't achieve anything, they will gradually rise to prominence after a few years; these are all capable people.
“That’s normal.” Yin drank the plum juice, took Qingyan’s little hand, and prepared to go to the garden to find the children.
Ever since Qingyan took the children fishing, the twins have taken a liking to the sport.
They entered the garden and found the children sitting on the benches in the gazebo, looking at the fishing rods in front of them. Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen smiled and occasionally turned his head to look at the fish bucket, while Yiken'e had a stern face and stared intently at the fishing rod in front of him. All morning had passed and he hadn't caught a single small fish.
"Fourth Brother, go to your daughter's side later. I'll stay here with Yiken'e. Otherwise, Yiken'e will definitely not catch a single fish," Qingyan said to Yin in a low voice.
Yin smiled awkwardly. Yiken had inherited his genes, and Xiaoguai's decision was right.
"Alright," Yin agreed, and the two walked hand in hand into the pavilion. Their daughter happily jumped into Yin's arms, while Yiken, looking unhappy, nestled in her embrace.
Yin hugged the soft little body tightly, picked up the fishing rod, and sat down on the chair in the pavilion with his daughter in his arms.
“Hutulifengshengzhalafen, we should give way to Ahhun, shouldn’t we?” Yin lowered his voice and whispered in his daughter’s ear.
Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen raised her head to look at Yin, then glanced at her mother, and finally agreed.
"Yiken'e, look, the fish has taken the bait." Qingyan glanced at the fishing rod out of the corner of her eye. The float moved slightly. Qingyan held Yiken'e with her left hand and lifted the fishing rod directly with her right hand.
Since having children, she has become much stronger, and it is common for her to maintain the health of her children.
"Yay!" Yiken clapped her hands excitedly. This was the first fish she had caught all day.
When the fish was scooped up, Yiken'e's smiling face fell again; this little fish wasn't even as big as the one Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen had caught himself.
"Yiken'e, you have to eat one bite at a time. Nobody can get fat by eating too much." Qingyan advised Yiken'e from the side.
In the garden, Yiken'e sat in the pavilion all day without drinking a drop of water, while Hutulifengshengzhalafen had lunch.
"Sulan, go prepare some lunch." Qingyan knew his son well and directly instructed Sulan to quickly prepare some food.
Yiken'e snuggled closer to his mother's arms. He hadn't noticed until she said so, but now that she did, he felt very hungry.
After he finished speaking, Yin's expression darkened further; his son's behavior was somewhat like his own.
He was well aware of the damage this action would cause to his body. Yiken was still young, and if he continued this habit for many years, his body would develop many problems.
The struggles within the royal family are intense, and the pressure is immense.
Yiken'e was deeply favored by Emperor Kangxi, and everyone's eyes were always on her, even Hongxi's maternal family.
"Yiken'e, look at me!" Yin looked at Yiken'e with a solemn expression.
“Father!” Yiken raised his head, and two pairs of almond-shaped eyes, one big and one small, met each other’s gaze.
"Remember, no matter what happens, take good care of your health and follow your own routine for meals and sleep." Yin instructed his son to take care of himself first, and he would handle the rest.
"Yes!" Yiken replied obediently.
Today, while they were fishing, his competitive spirit was stirred, and he felt he had to have a showdown with Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen.
“Next time, if something similar happens again, Yiken’e will be punished,” Yin said solemnly.
Qingyan lowered her head and watched Yin instruct his son; she wouldn't say anything more.
“Yes, my son will never do that again,” Yiken promised.
Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen tilted her head and looked at Ahhun, then glanced at the fish in the bucket.
"Ah Hun, the fish that Hutu Lifeng Shengzha Lafen caught is also yours!" the little girl asked, puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Yiken'e's cheeks flushed slightly; his sister's words left him somewhat at a loss.
"Don't be too competitive, otherwise you'll have a hard life." Yin glanced at his son. "You need to know that there are always people better than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."
Yiken nodded his little head, indicating that he understood.
“Father, Yiken’e was wrong.” Yiken’e lowered his head and admitted his mistake.
Su Lan prepared some snacks, and Qing Yan waved for her to bring them up first. The two of them were busy in the study and didn't have a proper meal.
"Have some snacks first. In a little while, Mother will have Sulan make you some grilled fish, okay?" Qingyan looked at the one adult and two children, and their eyes lit up instantly.
Yay!
The two children clapped their hands, finally able to eat grilled fish.
"Sulan, prepare two kinds: one is pickled cabbage grilled fish, without chili peppers, and the other is devil grilled fish, with lots of chili peppers." Qingyan needed the spicy flavor to stimulate herself.
After hearing this, Su Lan picked up the water bucket beside Hu Tu Li Feng Sheng Zha La Fen and turned to go to the kitchen.
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