As time went by, Qingyan finally shed her swaddling clothes and entered the ranks of reptiles. Every day, she would energetically crawl around exploring.
That day, Fuquan and Feiyanggu were discussing matters in the study when Qingyan slowly crawled from the inner chamber to Feiyanggu's bedside, hugged his thigh, and slowly stood up. Feiyanggu looked down and immediately burst into laughter.
She looked up and her big eyes crinkled with laughter. Fei Yanggu carried Qingyan to a seat, and the two continued to discuss business. They did not notice that she had climbed next to the teacup and was using her mind to secretly transform the tea in the teacup into tea brewed with diluted spring water from the space. The taste was similar, but it was much better for the body.
Every day, Qingyan would be held by Fei Yanggu in the study, and even the Jue Luo clan members rarely saw her. He would personally teach her to speak, just like a modern single father.
The peaceful days at the mansion were shattered when Qingyan was three years old. These past few days, Fei Yanggu has been frowning, as if he is hesitating about something.
In the early morning, Qingyan was dressed in a bright red cheongsam, with her hair styled in two buns. A large red "Fu" character knot, made of red silk rope, was tied next to the buns, and the big "Fu" character swayed from side to side as Qingyan shook her little head.
"This servant greets the Princess!" Akdun walked to Qingyan's side and respectfully greeted her. "The master wants you to go to the study first. Granny Liao, please tell the Princess that the master will bring the Princess there later."
Qingyan looked up in confusion. Was something wrong?
She walked into the courtyard of the study, where a four- or five-year-old boy stood against the light at the doorway. He was dressed in a royal blue casual suit, but a bright yellow belt was tied around his waist.
OMG!
This is a prince! Judging by his age, which one is he?
When the boy turned around, Qingyan was stunned. A faint smile bloomed on the boy's cold face. His phoenix eyes, which were unique to royalty, were slightly upturned, and his thin lips were tightly pursed.
Just then, Aktun's voice rang out as he greeted the boy, making her little head spin.
"This servant greets the Fourth Prince!" Akdun's deep voice echoed throughout the courtyard.
Qingyan stared blankly at Sisi in front of him, the ends of his rat-tail hair slightly curled.
Previously, she had seen many descriptions of Yin's hair as naturally curly in novels, and she thought it was just for the sake of the story. Now, all she could say was, ah~ his adorable, aloof demeanor, combined with his haughty little expressions, was just too endearing.
"Qingyan, pay your respects to the Fourth Prince!" Fei Yanggu reminded Qingyan of the proper etiquette. Recently, Crown Prince Yinjian was pregnant, and the First Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince were all arranged to leave the palace, while the young Fifth Prince was taken to the Empress Dowager's palace to avoid the joy of the occasion.
Qingyan raised her chubby little hand and, unsteady on her feet, greeted the Fourth Prince. Looking at the little girl before him, Yin felt a warm current rise in his heart. His father, the Emperor, worried they might catch the illness, and had ordered the princes to seek refuge at the homes of ministers. However, Kangxi and Consort Tongjia did not send Yin to the Tong residence; instead, they chose their friend, Fei Yanggu.
Since Galdan's great victory, Fei Yanggu has assumed the position of Commander of the Nine Gates, a position considered a glorious retirement for a military general. Fei Yanggu's choice to serve was out of necessity; Qingyan was still young, and the Jue Luo clan was largely using her. Once he was away from the residence, Qingyan would most likely be used as a pawn by the Jue Luo clan again. When he returned from his campaign, Qingyan might only have a small grave left behind. Even if he killed everyone who had bullied Qingyan, his obedient little daughter would not return.
"Father! You're back so early!" Qingyan's big eyes looked around at Feiyanggu, then he pouted. Feiyanggu had said he would bring him candied hawthorns every day.
"Akdun, give it to me." Fei Yanggu laughed. How could he not know what the little girl was thinking? "Fourth Prince, these are the snacks that children outside the palace like to eat the most."
Fei Yanggu specially had two skewers made, and Qingyan would keep asking for them when he returned. However, he didn't trust the candied hawthorns from outside, so in the end, the small kitchen in the study courtyard took on the task.
She reached out and let Fei Yanggu lift her up and sit her on his lap, obediently watching the Fourth Prince's every move on her left. Yin had never seen the red fruit before. In the palace, they were all raised by nannies, and their eating habits and manners were governed by strict rules.
When Kangxi left the palace to avoid smallpox, he dismissed all the nannies from the princes' quarters, and they only brought their personal eunuchs with them.
"Is it delicious?" Qingyan's clear, childlike voice warmed up Yin's slightly disappointed mood.
He nodded and arrived at the Ulanara residence, where his life was about to change. This was no longer his mother's Chengqian Palace; he would be treated like a grown-up child.
He would have to stay here for three to ten years, until he was nine years old, before he could return to the palace.
"Mmm, it's delicious!" Because of losing his baby teeth, Yin was kept in check by his nanny and rarely ate sweets. Qingyan, however, didn't have this problem. In the mansion, apart from Lady Jueluo, who disliked her, everyone else doted on her. Her two older brothers would even buy her fun little toys before returning home during their days off.
Qingyan's bright smile put Yin's initial nervousness at ease, and he began to want to integrate into the family as quickly as possible.
"Fourth Prince, from now on, I will entrust Qingyan to your care. During the day, I will be on duty, and you and Qingyan will study together in the study." Fei Yanggu said respectfully, sitting on the right.
"Lord Nara, Father Emperor has instructed me to enter the residence as a nephew, so you don't need to refer to yourself as a servant. Before I left the palace, Father Emperor specifically instructed me to teach your fourth uncle!" Yin remembered Kangxi's instructions, but he had been so nervous earlier that he had forgotten all of that.
Now that his emotions have calmed down, Yin remembered everything.
Hearing Yin's words, she looked at him in surprise. Her big eyes widened, and her adorable little expression made Yin feel a tickle in his heart. He just wanted to reach out and pinch her little cheeks. She was just too cute.
"I dare not accept such an honor!" Since it was Kangxi's order, Fei Yanggu understood.
During the campaign against Galdan, Kangxi, Fuquan, Longxi, Changning, and he disguised themselves as brothers and moved into Galdan's territory together. At that time, he was the fourth in line!
He looked down at his daughter's expression and pinched her soft, white face. He wanted to rouse her from her reverie; being absent-minded in front of such an important person was disrespectful.
"Father! Stop pinching my face!" Qingyan got a little angry. Her slightly chubby cheeks were already a bit too big. Did Fei Yanggu want to pinch her into a round face? Her small, high nose wrinkled slightly.
On the side, Yin watched the interaction between Fei Yanggu and his daughter with envy. In Chengqian Palace, Kangxi and he could be considered a normal father and son in the palace. Now, however, he realized that compared with Fei Yanggu and his daughter, Kangxi had not completely put aside his imperial airs.
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