On the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yincai finally clarified with the stewards of the Imperial Household Department that the firecrackers and other items used for the New Year were all purchased locally and had not undergone the strict inspection of the Imperial Household Department.
Fuquan and the others were prepared to prevent Kangxi from lighting the firecrackers first according to the rules, in order to prevent it from being taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives.
Kangxi refused. It was their first time celebrating the New Year away from home, and the local people considered it an extremely honorable occasion. Everyone knew the rules of the Qing Dynasty, and his unrestricted appearance would surely arouse suspicion among the people.
"Little darling, you shouldn't go to the morning ritual on the 30th." Yin felt uneasy. Qingyan, wearing a pink undergarment and with her long hair draped over her shoulders, sat on the bed with a confused look on her face.
Why can't we go?
"It's too chaotic outside." Yin's right hand stroked Qingyan's hair.
Recently, he has been embroiled in a major conflict with the servants of the Imperial Household Department. Unable to touch Yin, those families have turned all their attention to Qingyan. Yin noticed something was amiss early on and immediately relaxed his control over those people.
The safety of the banquet was of utmost importance, and seeing Yin's actions, Kangxi was completely relieved. Even when the Imperial Household Department came to complain again, he simply kept quiet and did not issue a statement.
To ensure Qingyan's safety, Yin even went against his own principles and lived with her. She was extremely happy about this, having finally gotten close to the icy Fourth Prince.
These past few days, Qingyan has always slept with her arms around Yin's right arm. Yin has never been so close to anyone in both of his lives. After he got married in his previous life, the women in the family didn't dare to touch him, and Qingyan slept very obediently.
Now, he doesn't want the governess to change Qingyan's temper too much; he just hopes she can live a carefree life.
"Sisi, I still want to sleep." Qingyan saw that it was time for her afternoon nap, and her little hands tugged at his clothes, swaying from side to side.
Every time Yin saw Qingyan acting coquettishly, he felt a pang of emotion.
"Little darling, after Wushan, I need to see the people in the inner palace." Tomorrow is the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. The people from the imperial kitchen have already come to say that they must buy ready-made New Year pigs. The New Year pigs of the wealthy villages in the vicinity have basically been purchased by the army.
Following modern relocation methods, the Qing family demanded compensation from the royal family.
"Fourth, is it about the New Year's pig?" She shook her head helplessly. In the Qing Dynasty, who could ask for the royal silver? Wasn't it all free tribute?
Yin told Kangxi about the plan for the banquet, and Kangxi agreed. He even used his private treasury to buy pigs and other items for the soldiers to celebrate the New Year.
Every compensation payment was given directly to the people; Yin personally intervened to resolve the matter.
"Little darling, your idea was excellent. Those people have had a bumper harvest." Yin looked at the people who had received their silver and were preparing to go home for the New Year. Their faces were filled with happy smiles, which was something that no amount of good reputation could match.
He picked Qingyan up and placed her on the bed. After changing her into her pajamas, he lay down on the bed with her fully clothed.
"Fourth Prince, His Majesty has spent a lot of money from the private treasury, so he must make up for it." Qingyan recalled that Emperor Qianlong often siphoned money from the national treasury into his private treasury, and she was quite disgusted by that man's behavior.
Yin nodded. Since Kangxi didn't say anything, he pretended not to know. All the soldiers in the camp knew that their New Year's goods were purchased by the emperor with silver from his private treasury, and not a single tael of silver from the national treasury was spent.
The soldiers' sense of unity has been further strengthened. At the very least, after spending many years in the military camp, this is the first time that Kangxi has felt that these people in the camp are extremely reliable.
With his eyes closed, Yin was still thinking about how to deal with those people.
"Little darling, go to sleep quickly." Qingyan's little face was puffed up with anger, while Yin was lost in thought.
In the past, when Qingyan tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, Yin would have already noticed something was wrong. But today, Yin didn't say anything, which made her furious.
"Fourth Brother, you don't care about me anymore." Qingyan pouted, her face full of sorrow.
Yin turned his head and saw that he quickly hugged the little guy tightly in his arms, whispering to comfort him, afraid that something might happen.
"My dear, how could I not care about you? I'm just thinking about something." Those people in the Imperial Household Department are all cunning and shrewd; how should he deal with them?
Kangxi would definitely have people keeping an eye on Yin, wanting to know how Yin would react after Qingyan was dealt with. An emperor's heart is inherently suspicious. If Yin were a sentimental person, and as long as the ruler had Qingyan under control, then Yin certainly wouldn't resist.
"Hmph!" Qingyan turned her head away from him.
Yin's slightly obsequious expression made Qingyan chuckle. Since His Majesty had not yet issued a clear decree to thoroughly cleanse the area, he could only silently endure it with a heavy heart.
Qingyan couldn't be happier looking at Sisi's expression. Every time, Yin's stubbornness gave her a headache, but today, Sisi finally got to experience it for herself.
"Little darling!" Yin pinched her nose in annoyance; the little one just loved to see him make a fool of himself.
"Hehe, we don't need to care whether those people are good or bad. They will all be punished by His Majesty in the end." In fact, a sense of unease rose in her heart. Kangxi was too calm about the matter of the Crown Prince.
Kangxi seemed to be avoiding something, and his unusual behavior frightened Qingyan.
Fortunately, Fei Yanggu and his two sons were all dispatched. In the past few days, a great many generals in the military camp have been imprisoned.
Qingyan and Yin's small tent was right next to the imperial tent, so they could know about any movement there. The people who were ordered by Kangxi to be taken to prison left a deep impression on Qingyan.
Whenever Qingyan thought of those pleas for mercy, she would tremble all over. He would pull her into his arms and gently comfort her.
"Fourth Brother, I'm scared!" Yin felt really bad seeing Qingyan trembling. When had his little darling ever faced such a scene?
Sometimes, he was sober that they lived next to Kangxi's imperial tent, and those princes certainly couldn't come to see Xiao Guai often; other times, he hated this position.
The generals who were punished were basically involved with Songgotu. The Emperor would not allow outsiders to know the secrets of the royal family. The father and son had become enemies. How would the Han people view them as Manchus?
"I... I'm afraid Father and the others will get involved." Qingyan was only worried about his own family. The women in the harem were incredibly skilled at framing their wives. His mother, who was so brainless, was framed by a concubine bribed by Suo'etu, and his family had no choice but to get out of the mess.
She was afraid someone would drive her away from Si Si, and her little hands gripped Yin's sleeve tightly, not wanting to let go.
Yin glanced down at the flustered Qingyan, sighed, and hugged her tightly. Back then, Qingyan wasn't so clingy. Comparing the two lifetimes, Yin preferred the current Qingyan. She trusted him wholeheartedly, and there weren't too many conflicts of interest between them.
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