The journey back to Beijing was not peaceful. When Suo'etu learned that Kangxi had returned safely, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body was cold and he could not feel any warmth.
In the study, Suo'etu summoned the upper echelons of Hesheli. Suo'etu was a gambler. As soon as Kangxi set out on his expedition, he had someone sabotage the provisions. If Kangxi had not taken Yinzhi and Qingyan with him on the expedition, he probably would have been starving.
On the way back to the capital, Yin held Qingyan and leaned against the carriage. Every day, during the stops, people would appear around midnight, all of them looking for Kangxi. With each appearance, Kangxi had already become more vigilant.
Yin smiled coldly. Everyone wanted the Crown Prince to step down, but that depended on whether Kangxi was willing. He could guess Kangxi's thoughts even better; this time, Fei Yanggu would probably have to take the blame for everything.
"Fourth Prince, why did Suo'etu do this?" Qingyan was puzzled. Suo'etu was very secretive in his actions, so how did Kangxi get the news?
“The Hesheli family has people from the Emperor.” Yin did not want to hurt Qingyan. The ministers’ residences all had Kangxi’s people, but the Ulanara residence was an exception.
Qingyan shivered. The royal family was extremely suspicious. Almost every minister's residence had one, yet they hadn't discovered it. If it weren't for this incident, she probably wouldn't have known either.
"My family has one too?" Qingyan tilted her head, looking at him cautiously, not missing a single little expression.
Yin shook his head. The Ulanara residence was an exception; Fei Yanggu was trusted by Kangxi. The Qingyan banquet was his own, and the Ulanara family would not have to be subject to royal collection for at least three generations.
Qingyan took a plate of strawberries from her spatial storage and placed it on the table. Yin was already immune to them. He took one and tried it; it was indeed tastier than the tribute strawberries.
"These were all appointed by the emperor and are very well hidden," Yin whispered to Qingyan, hoping she would be careful when she went to the old house.
The ministers and servants bestowed by the emperor would be wary of some of them; some were openly displayed by Kangxi, while others were kept in secret.
"The old house has one?" Qingyan looked at Yin in astonishment. They hadn't been back for a long time. The servants at the old house were there to monitor their mother.
Qingyan's surprised expression made him laugh. Those maids were placed under the jurisdiction of the Jue Luo clan by Emperor Kangxi. Previously, the Jue Luo clan's actions had affected the imperial family's reputation, so they had to be careful.
"She was let go before the old woman even got there." Yin's words made Jin Yong smile bitterly; the royal family didn't trust her.
She nestled herself in Yin's arms, rubbing her little face against his cheek. This warm feeling was something she could only experience with her father, her two older brothers, and Yin.
Everyone says that Mother is the best support for noblewomen. In Mother's eyes, she is a bargaining chip that can bring benefits to the family. No matter who helps Eshuo and Saito, she will give herself to them as a gift.
He held her tightly. This time when they returned to the capital, Qingyan would definitely stay at the old house for a few days. Yin was worried that Jueluo Shi might cause some trouble.
"Little girl..." Yin squeezed Qingyan's small hand, hiding all his worries in his heart.
Qingyan sighed. Before returning to the capital, the Jueluo clan had received the news that Feiyanggu had asked Qingyan to go back.
“If you stay at my house, Mother won’t let me go back.” Jue Luo Shi wasn’t worried about her reputation; the better her brothers could do, the more at ease Jue Luo Shi would feel.
Yin patted Qingyan's back, his heart aching even more. Even though Wuya often caused him trouble, and Consort Tong showered him with selfless maternal love... Here, Qingyan...
The two of them were in the same boat; at least, Fei Yanggu was taking care of Qingyan.
"I won't go back to the palace. I'll stay with you, okay?" The more he was with Qingyan, the more worried he became about her.
Kangxi originally wanted Yin to return to the palace with him, but he refused. He insisted on marrying Qingyan until she was at least 10 years old. There were only a few years left. The better his relationship with Qingyan became, the more they would work together in the future and reduce the involvement of the Jue Luo clan.
Thousands of miles away, Jue Luo's expression was not good. Ever since she received the news of her son's disappearance, she had been cursing Qing Yan every day. She believed that with Qing Yan, that jinx, around, the children's bodyguards would be a huge problem.
"My lady, the prince has instructed me to inform you that after the princess returns to the capital, she will go directly to the new residence to learn etiquette." The fourth prince is the best protector, and the governesses around him are all carefully selected, with a higher status than the governesses hired by upper-class families.
Lady Jue Luo disliked Yinzong's interference in the affairs of the Ulanara residence. Kangxi suppressed her, and Fei Yanggu was also wary of her.
"What?!" Jue Luo was annoyed. She was still thinking that Qingyan had gone out with His Majesty and had done a good job, so he should have received some rewards. Qingyan was giving her some of the things he had given her last time.
She dismissed the steward, angrily sat down in a chair, and as soon as the steward left her sight, Jue Luo smashed the cup on the ground. The nannies and maids dared not speak again, serving her with utmost care.
When it came to the princess's affairs, the Fujin acted as if she didn't have this daughter at all, and always made trouble for Qingyan.
On the carriage, Yin carried Qingyan into the spatial dimension. He noticed that she didn't look well.
Upon entering the space, the screen flashed images of the Ulanara residence and the vicious words of the Jue Luo clan, which shocked him greatly. It turned out that the Jue Luo clan only showed a hint of a smile when they had expensive jewelry.
"Little darling, don't think about it anymore. After we return to the capital, send all the rewards back to the old house." Yin understood Jue Luo Shi better and better; as long as there was money, she could give Qing Yan a smile.
"A smile worth a thousand pieces of gold!" This must be what they mean by that situation, right? Yin felt sorry for her and took on the responsibility of pleasing the Jue Luo clan.
Each time he returned to the palace, he would take some fine items from Consort Tong's or Emperor Kangxi's private treasury and hand them over to Qingyan one by one. Then, during festivals, he would have her give the items to Lady Jueluo.
"Fourth Sister, those are all imperial gifts, not something anyone can use." Last time, when Lady Jue Luo used the jewelry she kept in the old house, she was scolded by Fei Yanggu. This time, she shouldn't be so blatant, right?
“No need. You’re not old enough to come of age yet. Your things are suitable for Consort Feiyanggu,” Yin explained, his tone gentle, but his eyes, as he looked at the screen, were icy cold.
The Jueluo clan was even more outrageous than the Wuya clan. Feiyanggu had already made Kangxi's imperial edict clear, yet she was causing trouble behind the scenes.
"Huh?" Qingyan was taken aback. Was her father causing trouble for her mother?
Fei Yanggu was a cautious person who would never do anything out of line. He was even more careful when dealing with gifts bestowed by the emperor.
“Fourth Uncle is always careful; he doesn’t like having his weaknesses exposed.” As Yin spoke, he squeezed her small hand, the smooth touch calming his anger.
Qingyan smiled. All three siblings had inherited Feiyanggu's caution, and they held the royal family in awe.
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