After lunch, Kangxi dismissed Yinzhi and Qingyan, telling them to go home early. He didn't even send out a sedan chair, but told them to walk out directly!
Qingyan stepped out of Chenggan Palace with a helpless smile on his face. Consort Tong was right after all; men are all just children.
"Little darling, is it alright to walk such a long distance with those flowerpot-shaped shoes on your feet?" Yin looked at the flowerpot-shaped shoes on Qingyan's feet, and his resentment towards Kangxi grew even stronger.
Qingyan shook his head. This little trick was nothing to worry about, but Yin had lost face.
“It would be nice to take a walk after lunch. Mother always says, ‘Walk a hundred steps after a meal, and you’ll live to ninety-nine!’” Yin is now more concerned about health and no longer overdraws his energy like he used to.
The banquet was getting cold. Mother always said that Kangxi and Yinzhi were like children who never grew up and needed to be coaxed.
As they walked out along the palace path, they encountered many servants who, in their busy work, had to bow to the two of them.
"These are all the concubines' spies. The news that we left on foot will spread throughout the palace in no time." Yin was very happy; Xiao Guai was under too much pressure.
Every time Qingyan entered the palace, she became the target of the concubines and wives of officials, often causing minor troubles. Dong Eshi was always thinking about digging a pit for Qingyan.
He took her small hand and walked out of the palace, ignoring the stares of others. The two walked side by side, which surprised many servants.
Which of the royal princes would treat their wives like that?
As the servants' peripheral vision lingered on the two women's clasped hands for a while, she also began to find it somewhat strange.
Following their gaze, I saw that Yin and she were holding hands, which was considered an extremely intimate gesture in the Qing Dynasty.
"Let go!" Qingyan said in a low voice.
"Don't worry about it. Letting go now will only make those servants speculate that we've had a falling out!" Yin said directly.
He knew these lackeys better than anyone else. The drugged tributes, along with the tails following behind them, were all driven by self-interest and risked everything.
Only when they reached the palace gate did Yin release Qingyan's small hand. All the way, Qingyan's hand had been enveloped by his large, warm palm, without feeling even a trace of coldness.
"Is it warm?" The two got into the carriage. Yin had Su Peisheng send the servants away early and told them to light the incense burner to warm their hands. Xiao Guai had placed a hand warmer in the carriage, so the temperature inside wasn't as cold as outside. He was worried that Xiao Guai would catch a cold.
Qingyan nodded, and the carriage moved slowly. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Yin thought that he could rest at home tomorrow, so he instructed Su Peisheng to tell Fei Yanggu and his two sons that they would be having dinner quietly.
"Let's go for a hearth gathering in a bit!" Yin pinched her little nose, making her relax completely.
"Hmm? You told Ama?" The two of them sitting around the fire had no atmosphere at all, but it was different when Fei Yanggu and the others were there.
Yin nodded. Xiao Guai's guess was correct. He had agreed with Fei Yanggu and his two sons that he would take Xiao Guai back before the New Year. However, they could not grow up because the censors were still watching the princes.
However, he received news that yesterday, Yinzhi took Ying'en Gioro Shi back to her family home. He entered the palace at 1-3 AM, had breakfast with Consort Hui, and then returned to her family home. Yinzhi did not go to Dong'e Shi's residence, but instead took his secondary consort and the eldest princess to his secondary consort's family home.
Both he and Yinqi were the first to enter the palace to pay their respects, unlike others who had the opportunity to have lunch with Emperor Kangxi.
The half-hour drive made Qingyan a little impatient. Every year, Feiyanggu would lead the Ahhuns on a hunt on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. When it was time for dinner, everyone would gather together. Would it be the same this year?
She hadn't been able to participate in their fireside gathering for a long time, and she was indeed a little homesick.
"Thank you!" Qingyan wasn't just being polite; she was delighted that Yin could understand her feelings.
"The Fourth Prince's residence is your true home; that's your maternal home!" Yin looked at Qingyan, recalling what his father had said. He didn't like Qingyan focusing her attention on others.
Even if that person were her father, brother, or son, he would still be jealous.
"Fourth Brother, I know!" Qingyan was speechless. That brat Fourth Brother, she was just about to feel touched, but then she realized that all the feelings of being touched were empty.
Yin's lips curled up slightly. It's the New Year, Xiao Guai can't cry, otherwise, she won't have any good luck this year.
At this moment, the central gate of the Ulanara family's new residence slowly opened, and Fei Yanggu and his two sons stood at the door, waiting for their beloved child to return home.
They missed each other very much after not seeing each other for so long.
As the carriage came into view, a smile appeared on Fei Yanggu's resolute face, a smile that would surely startle any courtiers who saw it.
“Father, it’s my sister!” Eshuo said in a low voice.
Several princes brought their female relatives to visit their parents' home, and Yinzhi's actions were met with disdain by many powerful and influential people.
Even if they were favored in the backyard, they would never openly embarrass the primary wife.
"A'dun, have someone stop the carriage at the second gate." Fei Yanggu saw the carriage about to stop and quickly gestured to Su Peisheng, telling them to hurry inside. Sure enough, there were people following behind the carriage.
Qingyan sat in the carriage and heard her father's voice. She wanted to lift the curtain, but Yin pulled her back.
"Little darling, sit still." Yin pinched her cheek and put the cloak she had taken off back on. His gaze toward the carriage curtain grew colder and colder.
However, the smile on his lips did not disappear. Qingyan nestled shyly in his arms, unaware that a single action would turn the place upside down.
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