That night, Fei Yanggu didn't get a good rest. He was terrified that his youngest daughter would be left in Mongolia by the Emperor. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince always kept Qingyan by his side, so even if someone wanted to marry Qingyan, the Emperor wouldn't agree.
Qingyan's brilliance slowly shone through. Her possessions were valued by the Mongolian princes, who even traded warhorses for them—something Feiyanggu could never have imagined.
"Feiyanggu, you old rascal, you didn't even say you had such a beautiful princess." Back then, Feiyanggu fought alongside Emperor Kangxi to eliminate the Three Feudatories, and he had a good relationship with these Mongol princes.
"Yongming, my daughter is no longer under my care!" Fei Yanggu was very disappointed; he wished he could keep his daughter by his side.
The burly Mongolian man laughed, took a jug of strong liquor, and sat down on the ground next to Fei Yanggu.
"Qingyan's things are excellent." Yongming looked at the bright stars. They wanted Qingyan to stay because they hoped to get more from her.
On the grasslands, they couldn't make many other foods, so this kind of hearty food made them happy.
"If you don't use warhorses to exchange for them, what will the Emperor think?" The more dazzling the banquet was, the more uneasy Fei Yanggu felt.
"If not warhorses, then what?" Yongming knew that what Kangxi lacked most in dealing with Galdan was good warhorses. If they wanted to get something from him, wouldn't it be better if they obediently handed it over without Kangxi having to say anything?
Fei Yanggu shook his head, holding his wine glass. How could he not understand?
The Mongol princes hoped to make a good impression on Emperor Kangxi, and some of the heirs were even more eager to be betrothed by Kangxi to a beautiful woman.
"Can't you talk about this privately? Publicly, you're giving Qingyan so much more attention." What will Kangxi think? There's also the Crown Prince in the public eye. If they value Qingyan so much, the little guy might be in danger.
"Our attitude towards Kangxi was that we looked down on the Crown Prince." They genuinely disliked the Crown Prince, who was favored by Kangxi.
Despite having no ability whatsoever, the Fourth Prince was able to go on expeditions with Emperor Kangxi at such a young age, and even just sitting in the imperial tent showed great courage and was something to boast about.
The Crown Prince was considerably older than Yinzhen, yet he had always been protected within the palace, never exposed to the slightest danger. Now that Kangxi was gone, how would the Crown Prince endure the elements alone?
"You don't understand." Fei Yanggu said in frustration. As long as the Empress Dowager was still alive, the Crown Prince's position was very secure. She would not allow the Crown Prince to be in any danger.
"Hmm? Tell me!" Yongming'e, as one of the leaders of Khorchin, was familiar with the two large Buddha statues in the palace.
"The Empress Dowager has always helped the Crown Prince. Anyone who stands out will not only be suppressed but also lose their childhood reputation. The Fourth Prince has been raised in my residence. If the Empress Dowager makes a move, what will happen to Xiao Qingyan? My residence cannot withstand the Empress Dowager's offensive." Fei Yanggu looked at Yongming'e. They all gave in openly, but in the end, it was those who had always helped them who couldn't stand it.
Yongming laughed loudly. The Empress Dowager was someone Kangxi held tightly in his hands to counter the Mongols. She was from the Khorchin, and their generation's leaders had become quite distant from her.
"Rest assured, the Empress Dowager knows perfectly well that those whom His Majesty would favor and appoint as consorts to the princes are all of good status and position." Fei Yanggu is a capable and valiant general, and the Empress Dowager would not disappoint a meritorious official.
Therefore, Kangxi did not prevent the Mongol tribes from praising the Qing banquet.
Yin felt uneasy. In his previous life, none of these things had happened. Qingyan had become so dazzling, and in the end, she would be far away from his side.
"Hmm?!" Qingyan noticed that Yin's grip was getting stronger, so she patted his arm to remind him to be more careful.
"Little darling, don't wear bright colors to banquets anymore." Yin patted the little guy's head.
"Uh...this was sent by the Imperial Concubine Tong!" Qingyan noticed that Yin was angry and quickly blamed the Imperial Concubine Tong for the mistake.
Yin's face immediately fell. When did his mother become so unreliable, actually revealing the beauty of Qingyan like this?
"You're not allowed to wear what Mother prepared!!" Yin said through gritted teeth. The Mongol princes all stared intently at Qingyan. If Kangxi hadn't said before the banquet that Qingyan was already taken, it might have turned into a grand marriage proposal ceremony.
Qingyan obediently agreed; with the imperial decree in hand, how could she possibly disobey? She nodded readily, inwardly cursing the fourth man.
“Little darling, you don’t want to stay here any longer, do you? How wonderful is the capital? This place is desolate, so you must protect yourself and not give those princes any opportunity to take advantage of you, to avoid any unnecessary trouble.” Yin was annoyed. Originally, he had planned to take Qingyan horseback riding while it was still safe.
Today's scene forced Yin to back down; the glory of the Qingyan banquet was best enjoyed by himself alone, and no one else should have a chance to see it.
"You...you're too domineering~ I just wore a nice outfit, is that a big deal?" Qingyan stuck out her index finger and poked Yin's chest directly.
He looked furious, as if she had committed some terrible crime.
Yin kissed her forehead. Her charm was noticed by everyone, and he could no longer resist Qingyan. In the deep palace, there was someone with an even higher status. As Feiyanggu, Saito, and Eshuo rose in status, the problems between him and Qingyan would only grow.
"Fourth Prince, why are you worried? His Majesty has already declared that I am your consort." Qingyan pressed her forehead against his, feeling indignant.
In some matters, Yin seemed to lack confidence.
Yin held Qingyan tightly. He understood what she meant. His heart would never be at ease until the night of their wedding.
"Qingyan." Yin dared not tell Qingyan too many secrets about the palace, for those people would find every opportunity to ruin her. "You are going to participate in the imperial concubine selection. That place is a battlefield, where many women either enter or leave. If you are not careful, you will be framed."
Qingyan's reputation was too great; which of the concubines in the palace would spare her? Since they couldn't have their own children, Qingyan was destined to be ruined. They didn't want Consort Tong's backing to grow stronger.
"Uh... at least ten more years before the problem you're worried about happens!" Qingyan rolled his eyes twice. He was worrying too much. No one could predict what would happen between the two of them in ten years.
Yin held Qingyan tightly, determined not to let Xiaoguai be hurt by anyone; he had to tell his mother.
"Little darling, it's time to rest!" Qingyan has been sleeping in the carriage for a while now, so she's not feeling too well. Now that she finally has a bed, let her rest early.
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