Inside the main hall, the Empress Dowager was looking forward to dinner that evening, while Consort Yi and Consort Hui were wondering if they should send their servants back to Changchun Garden to get some stomach medicine, since everyone's cooking skills were rather mediocre.
"Grandma, dinner is ready. The noodles were all made by Father Emperor and the princes themselves, and the toppings were all prepared by the ladies!" Qingyan said.
Consort Hui and Consort Yi were both stunned. Emperor Kangxi had actually started making noodles by hand, which aroused their curiosity.
"Little darling, are you sure that noodle is really edible?" Consort Yi muttered softly.
Pfft!
The Empress Dowager and Consort Hui couldn't help but burst into laughter.
“Mother Yi, you really have a big appetite. The other day, Fifth Master and Ninth Master even prepared a bowl of it for a midnight snack at the Yuanmingyuan.” Qingyan said directly.
Upon hearing this, Consort Yi couldn't help but become curious. If even the Fifth and Ninth Princes had used it, she was sure she could too.
On the dining table were large bowls filled with noodles of varying thicknesses, a stark contrast to the delicate dishes on the table.
"Your Majesty, this is the first time your son has prepared dinner for you. Please give your son some face," Kangxi said somewhat embarrassedly, looking at the noodles.
He really put in a lot of effort, and when the noodles were finally served, Kangxi was a little embarrassed because they looked rather unappetizing.
The Empress Dowager laughed. It was rare to see Kangxi care so much about this.
"Alright." After everyone was seated, the Empress Dowager picked up her chopsticks first, intending to taste a bite of noodles. She took a bite and found the noodles weren't so bad after all. "Xuan Ye, the taste is really quite good!"
After hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Kangxi finally felt at ease, at least this time he did not show any weakness.
Consort Tong squeezed Kangxi's left hand with her left hand, putting him completely at ease.
"Alright, let's begin the feast. The children have also prepared food for you three mothers. This bowl was prepared by the tenth prince!" Kangxi noticed that everyone else had a mother, except for Yinzhi, so he directly used the tenth prince's bowl.
I, Yinzhi, am not so heartbroken. When I was young, Consort Niohuru left, and I received extra care from Emperor Kangxi. Over the years, I have gotten used to it.
"Yes!" Everyone started eating, but Consort Yi and Consort Hui were still surprised by the large bowl in front of them. In the palace, everyone used small bowls, and the large bowl in front of them only appeared when the soup was being made.
After dinner, everyone sat in the main hall to cool off. Consort Hui and Consort Yi were quite full. The concubines all ate very little, after all, they didn't exercise much, so they didn't eat much.
"Xuan Ye, this place is more comfortable than Changchun Garden!" the Empress Dowager exclaimed.
Beiyuan Mountain Village is quite a distance from Changchun Garden, but it gave the Empress Dowager a feeling she hadn't experienced in decades of being in the palace; here, she seemed to have a sense of freedom.
"Empress Mother, if you like, please stay here. This is where the Fourth Prince resides!" Emperor Kangxi felt that it was quieter here, free from the distractions of court affairs, and he felt more at ease and comfortable!
"Grandma, if you like, you can stay here to escape the summer heat!" Yin quickly stood up. "Father, you and Mother can also stay here, it's just that it's not as big as Changchun Garden!"
Yin said somewhat embarrassedly, but when the Empress Dowager saw Yin's expression, she burst into laughter.
"What good is a big garden if it lacks this warm and cozy feeling!" the Empress Dowager sighed. "Fourth Prince, Little Darling, I'll stay here to escape the summer heat this time!"
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was happy, Kangxi nodded directly to Yinzhi and Qingyan. Since the Empress Dowager rarely had such leisure and elegance, Kangxi naturally agreed immediately.
Yin and Qingyan exchanged a glance. If the Empress Dowager was staying here to escape the summer heat, Kangxi certainly wouldn't go back. Should they prepare another entrance in Beiyuan Mountain Village?
"Mother, your son will stay here with you to escape the summer heat. Let those rascals, the fourth prince, handle the troublesome matters." Emperor Kangxi was quite pleased with this leisurely lifestyle, so he decided to let Yinzhen and the others handle the government affairs.
The Ninth and Tenth Princes were shocked. If the Emperor were to relinquish power, what would happen to the Crown Prince? "Your subjects do not wish to suffer as a result. We will bring the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes to stay by the Emperor's side!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yin and Yin received resentful looks from their three older brothers. Neither of them felt any pressure; if those matters were not handled properly, there could be a series of disasters.
"Fourth Prince, what do you say?" Kangxi threatened Yin with his eyes. Yin was not interested in state affairs, so perhaps it would be better to let Yin handle them.
"Yes!" Yin had no choice but to agree reluctantly. "The Ninth and Tenth Princes are getting old and should start facing the court. They shouldn't be staying with their two younger brothers, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes, anymore."
Yinxiang and Yin were very fortunate that they were young and hadn't been dragged away by Yin. Otherwise, their wonderful days of being alone would definitely have been ruined by Yin.
"Ninth and Tenth Princes, work with your Fourth Brother. Remember, anyone who dares to slack off will be in trouble." Kangxi didn't finish his sentence, but his threatening tone made Yinzhi and Yinzhi tremble.
"Yes!" the two quickly agreed.
As dawn broke, Yin got up, changed into his martial arts training clothes, and quietly walked into the courtyard. He saw that his brothers were all gathered there.
"You've arrived just in time!" Kangxi came out and, seeing his sons all there, nodded with great satisfaction.
Qingyan regained consciousness after Yin left the room. Having always shared a bed with Yin, she was more sensitive to his condition.
In the courtyard, the princes began to exercise with Emperor Kangxi in the morning. Qingyan sat cross-legged on the bed, listening to the sounds outside, a smile appearing on his face.
"Huangmafa" Yiken'e arrived at the courtyard at his usual morning exercise time and found that his father and uncles had already started their morning exercises.
"Hmm!" Kangxi expressed his satisfaction with Yiken'e's uninterrupted morning exercise, then looked at the princes who hadn't come out yesterday, and looked at them with disdain, "Look at Yiken'e, and then look at yourselves. As uncles and fathers, you don't even know how to set an example!"
Yin watched the small figure run off into the distance, and his eyes darkened slightly. That brat!
"Yes, Your Majesty, I know I was wrong!" The prince quickly bowed and begged for forgiveness.
"This is the last time!" Kangxi wouldn't really punish them. These princes had already left the palace and established their own residences. They arranged their own time in their residences, so Emperor Kangxi wouldn't impose too many restrictions.
Yin and Yinqi exchanged a glance. They had always hoped to serve in the military again, so of course they valued this.
"Yes!" The princes quickly expressed their gratitude.
"Fourth Prince, you must not punish Yiken'e," Kangxi said directly, seeing the look in Yin's eyes.
"Yes!" Yin replied.
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