After the Emperor's death, a list of plans for Yin was submitted along with the princes' greetings. The list indicated Yin's request to establish trading ports in the coastal areas.
In the days before he made any comments on the memorials, Yin would often come to Qingyan, hoping she could provide him with more information.
"Ninth Brother, this matter requires your personal handling. Things like how high the customs duties should be set are useless questions for your Fourth Sister-in-law," Yin said, glancing at Yin.
Yin spread his hands. This matter was indeed not good. Yin had made it clear beforehand that Qingyan was only helping Yin to offer advice, not to handle the entire matter.
After hearing these words, Yin could only leave the villa with the memorials in his arms, and Qingyan finally relaxed.
"Fourth Prince, why won't you let me help Yin?" Qingyan asked suspiciously.
In the past, if Yin had encountered a similar situation, he might have asked Qingyan to help him.
"My dear, Father already knows about this matter. As a woman, it's best not to get involved. It's already quite good that you could offer Yin advice in private. Even if Father has heard rumors, he'll just turn a blind eye." Yin said to Qingyan.
In Kangxi's mind, women should stay obediently in the backyard. Although most of the women in Kangxi's harem were strategists, they were all very obedient in front of Kangxi and never violated his taboos.
Qingyan nodded after hearing Yin's words, indicating that she would remember them and would never touch such things again.
Three days later, along with Kangxi's instructions, an imperial edict arrived. Yin knelt in the courtyard and accepted the edict, ordering the group to hurry to the Mulan Hunting Grounds. Once there, these matters would be dealt with.
"Eldest brother, fourth brother, we may have to travel through the night," Yin said helplessly, glancing at the time on the imperial edict.
"Pack everything up, we'll set off immediately. Sister-in-law, get some more food from the Yue Lai Inn," Yin said to Qingyan. "We'll just give them the money."
"Brother, don't worry, there's no need to pay." Qingyan nodded and quickly led Sulan to find the shopkeeper.
The servants all sprang into action, packing their belongings. The courtyard was a hive of activity, and the servants serving there were all beginning to harbor ambitions, hoping to be chosen by their masters to return to the capital.
At Lian Yin's villa, the servants were unusually eager to attend to the situation. Su Peisheng, with a stern face, gave instructions to the servants to stay behind, which greatly surprised them.
“Eunuch Su, if the masters are not well served on the road, isn’t that our responsibility?” The old woman in the courtyard quickly came over. “Look, my daughter serves in the courtyards of the two masters. Wouldn’t it be great to have her go along and help out?”
Su Peisheng looked coldly at the old woman. Her daughter was only sixteen years old and was particularly restless in the masters' courtyard, as if she always had her eyes fixed on Yin.
"Bayan, give this family a 'mute' drug and sell them directly to the black market." Su Peisheng ignored the old woman's request and said to Bayan beside him.
Bayan waved his hand, and several tall men appeared beside the old woman. They picked her up and carried her out. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entire family, along with their nine generations of relatives, were dug up. Dozens of people were given a "mute" drug. Some who could write were sentenced to death, and the rest were taken away by slave traders.
Su Peisheng's tough measures completely silenced the servants in the villa. No one dared to do anything more, for fear of provoking Su Peisheng.
As the sun set, several carriages emerged from the five connected villas. Qingyan leaned back on the cushions, watching the twins practice calligraphy on the table. Yin's eyes were looking out, as if he was lost in thought.
“Yiken’e, in ten days we will be at the Mulan Hunting Grounds. Although you haven’t officially started learning to hunt, you have been practicing martial arts for some time. Father Emperor may let you enter the hunting grounds.” Yin considered Kangxi’s thoughts for a moment. It was obvious that Yiken’e was being watched by the leaders.
Yiken nodded, looking at Hutulifengshengzhalafen with concern. Although it was Kangxi, he would not allow Hutulifengshengzhalafen to go to Mongolia for a marriage alliance, as those people were not to be trifled with.
"Don't worry about your sister. Father has already found several candidates, so there's no need to worry. Those people won't cause any trouble. But you're different." Yin specifically instructed Yiken'e. It was clear that the Crown Prince had been deposed. Although no official decree had been issued, the news had already spread among the upper echelons of Mongolia.
"Father, don't worry, I will definitely be extra careful," Yiken'e said directly.
Yin nodded in satisfaction after hearing his son's assurance. Yiken would never promise something he wasn't sure of.
Ten days later, the main gate of the Mulan Hunting Ground opened, and all the Mongol leaders heard that Yinzhi would be returning from the south that day. Everyone's attention was focused on the twins, the dragon and the phoenix. The meaning that Kangxi had revealed was that Hutulifeng's daughters, Zhalafeng and Songkelierha, were not in good health and were not suitable for marriage to the Mongols.
Yiken'e, Doshihun, and Hafeng'a became the focus of these leaders' attention. Yiken'e had the highest status and was the prince of the twins, so everyone's eyes were on him.
During the autumn harvest, the leaders all considered Yiken'e, so they brought several princesses of suitable age. Although their status might not be quite right, they could all serve as concubines, as long as they could cultivate a genuine affection for each other when the princesses were young.
The Fourth Prince and his wife were childhood sweethearts, and their married life was the envy of many primary wives.
The carriage entered the hunting grounds camp, and Li Dequan and Shu stood in front of the tent, waiting for the princes to return.
"Anda." Yin and Qingyan got out of the car with the children and called out to Li Dequan, who looked much older.
"Fourth Prince, Fourth Princess, Prince, Princess, please come in with me." Li Dequan had made the arrangements in advance. Of the princes who had returned, only Yinzhi's family was taken directly to the Emperor's presence.
Upon entering the tent, Yin saw Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong, and the whole family quickly paid their respects.
"Get up and kowtow!" Kangxi waved his hand wearily.
After everyone was seated at the banquet, they finally took a look at Consort Tong. Her face was somewhat pale, clearly indicating that she hadn't had enough rest.
"Mother, haven't you been getting enough rest lately?" Qingyan asked Consort Tong.
Consort Tong gave a bitter smile. If she could get some rest, she wouldn't be in this state.
"Sigh, I'm not used to sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so I didn't get much rest," Consort Tong said helplessly.
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