After the incident, Kangxi was furious and ordered the court officials to be dismissed and all the princes and their wives to return to the imperial palace.
On the carriage, Qingyan sneered; they had all become accomplices to the Crown Princess.
Every time something goes wrong, the Crown Princess will always play the victim, making all the women in the household suffer the same scolding. Qingyan has no liking for her whatsoever.
"After you're over there, don't say anything!" Qingyan has a short temper and will definitely vent if she says something wrong.
Qingyan nodded helplessly in agreement. After all, Kangxi would definitely send Consort Tong to deal with it. Consort Tong was always in an awkward position, being used as a shield by the Crown Princess time and time again.
She didn't believe that Kangxi was unaware of this; she was completely using Consort Tong's reputation to smooth things over for the Crown Prince.
"Your Majesty, thankfully we didn't bring the children with us." When Kangxi issued the summons, Qingyan had Erlu send all the children back to the villa, and Songkelierha was even secretly sent back by Yinzhen.
If the three children knew about this sordid affair, Emperor Kangxi would not have allowed them to live freely.
Yin thought Qingyan had done a good job. When Kangxi arrived, he made a special trip around and found that the three children were not there. He breathed a sigh of relief. Yin had seen Kangxi's series of actions and was extremely grateful for her decision.
"I won't let the children get hurt. Besides, they were in the wrong to begin with." The prince went too far, using the children's outing as a shield.
Why couldn't he go to the pleasure boat? Why did he have to go when the children were also playing? It was simply because he believed that Kangxi wouldn't lose face in front of the children.
Yin held Qingyan and sat back in the carriage, staring at the building blocks not far away, lost in thought.
If the roles were reversed, and Yikenge became the crown prince, he would absolutely not forgive such actions.
The crown prince is the face of the entire Qing Dynasty. If he does anything outrageous, he will definitely make it public to set an example for others.
"They can't afford to lose face over there," Qingyan sneered.
Emperor Kangxi repeatedly issued orders that officials were forbidden from going to pleasure boats, with the Crown Prince being the first to be targeted. It would be a miracle if Kangxi was in a good mood.
As they approached the imperial palace, Kangxi's carriage slowed down, and Tulichen rode a fast horse straight into the palace to convey Kangxi's orders to Consort Tong.
Qingyan leaned against the window and saw Tu Lichen's departing figure, pondering how to express her feelings to Tonggu Fei.
"Fourth Princess Consort, please come with me." Shu stood beside Yin's carriage and watched Qingyan get off the carriage, then quickly invited her in.
On the way, Shu's expression was not good. Qingyan did not dare to ask too many questions and waited for Shu to tell her what Consort Tong had said.
As expected, Consort Tong received Emperor Kangxi's order to first reprimand the women. After all, the Crown Prince's absurd behavior was due to the Crown Princess's lax discipline, so it was necessary to punish them.
"His Majesty is very concerned and has told Fourth Princess Consort not to interrupt. This reprimand will be very severe," Shu explained to Consort Tong.
Consort Tong and Qingyan had a very good relationship; at the very least, Consort Tong never reprimanded Qingyan.
“Aunt Shu, I know the Crown Prince has gone too far. Father will arrange for Mother to reprimand us, and I’m already prepared.” Qingyan wasn’t embarrassed at all; instead, she comforted Shu.
After hearing this, Shu felt relieved.
Upon arriving inside the palace, Consort Tong, dressed in a bright yellow palace gown and with her hair styled in a single bun with a phoenix hairpin, sat regally on the throne, looking down at the Crown Princess kneeling on the ground.
Upon hearing the news, the Crown Princess, who had been unable to attend, was summoned and had been kneeling in the hall for half an hour before the other women arrived.
Upon entering the banquet room, Qingyan politely greeted Consort Tong and the Crown Princess. Today, the Crown Princess was unusually accommodating and did not make things difficult for her.
"Kneel!" Consort Tong commanded in a cold voice.
Both Yin Genjue Luo and Qing Yan knelt on the ground, while Dong E was slow and had not yet come over.
On her throne, Consort Tong sipped her tea, pondering how to reprimand someone.
Qingyan lowered her head and knelt there obediently, without any intention of arguing.
At this moment, Shu approached Consort Tong and whispered a few words in her ear, conveying Qingyan's message.
Gradually, a relieved smile appeared on Consort Tong's face. Qingyan had grown up and was no longer as clueless as before.
Qingyan hid inside the space and sat on the soft sofa, watching the commotion outside. The satisfied look on Consort Tong's face made her very happy.
On the coffee table in front of me were the grilled skewers I had just ordered. Holding an ice-cold Coke in my hand, I ate the matching skewers and felt that life was still very good.
When Lady Dong'e entered, Qingyan sprayed her with cola. Lady Dong'e was wearing a bright red palace dress and her hair was styled with a longevity hairpin in the shape of a small swallowtail.
The departure of Granny Cao greatly displeased Emperor Kangxi, and the women dared not use bright colors.
Now, during the greetings ceremony inside the palace, everyone is dressed in simple, plain-colored palace attire.
Sure enough, Consort Tong narrowed her eyes. Dong E was quite bold; if Emperor Kangxi saw this, the problem would definitely be very serious.
"Kneel down!" Consort Tong uttered the cold words.
Dong Eshi had not yet realized that she had done something wrong. It wasn't a member of the royal family who had died. Besides, why should the women of the royal family be afraid of the death of a servant?
She was eager to see the Crown Princess make a fool of herself. Recently, the alliance between the Crown Princess and the Third Prince's Consort had cracked, and their alliance had collapsed long ago.
"Your Highness, how do you manage Yuqing Palace?" Consort Tong unleashed her full power, and the Crown Princess felt a chill run down her spine.
Since the Crown Princess entered the palace, she has always treated her with gentleness. Even when the Crown Princess seized power in the palace, Consort Tong just smiled faintly and did not reprimand her.
Now, Consort Tong has shown her fury in front of the Crown Princess for the first time, and the Crown Princess indeed couldn't withstand it.
"Your Highness, I...I made a mistake!" The Crown Princess was forced to admit her mistake, and she felt very uncomfortable. "The Crown Prince doesn't like me to restrain him, and he doesn't like to listen to what I have to say."
The Crown Princess believes that the Crown Prince's current absurd behavior is basically due to Li Jia's indulgence, so why should she be made to take the blame?
"You are the Crown Princess, the primary consort of Yuqing Palace. Can't you even restrain Yuqing Palace?" Consort Tong looked at the Crown Princess. Li Jia was more favored than the Crown Princess and had more influence in front of the Crown Prince.
The Crown Princess lowered her head, pondering how to reprimand Li Jia when she returned.
“Most of the power in Yuqing Palace is not in my hands. Li Jia has always been close to the Crown Prince, and many times, it is Li Jia who manages the affairs of Yuqing Palace.” The Crown Princess seemed to be at odds with Consort Tong, believing that Consort Tong was unfair in her dealings.
"Shu, go and invite Li Jia here!" Consort Tong didn't care at all. The Crown Princess had obviously made public the matter of favoring concubines over wives in Yuqing Palace, so Consort Tong didn't mind giving her a hand.
"Yes!" Shu quickly left the main hall.
Watching the Crown Princess's actions while eating chicken wings, Qingyan couldn't help but criticize her for being so irresponsible.
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