Chapter 43: New Year's Sweet Iron Blood Pure Love Warrior

After the heavy snow had passed and the snow had melted, Yinzhen and Yuyan set out to return to the capital.

When the Fourth Prince left, many people came with Cao Yin to see him off, and all the people who were supposed to come had come.

Yu Yan did not show up, but just watched from inside the carriage. Everyone had a sincere smile on their face, probably because they were happy to have sent away the 'property-confiscating prince' Iron-faced Prince Yan, and to be able to spend a happy new year in peace.

What's there to be happy about?

The prince in their family returned to the capital by imperial decree.

When Kangxi's decree arrived in Suzhou, Yinzhen had to go back.

But the work here has not been completed. Given this prince's personality, he will definitely find a way to come back after the new year.

Kangxi did not withdraw the two-year deadline for repaying the deficit, but now he encountered some difficulties.

Yuyan put herself in the other person's shoes and thought that if it were her, she probably would not give up either.

Since we can't use force, we should change our strategy. We should try another method to make up for the three million taels of silver.

If this gap is not filled, countless people will follow suit and the Qing government will be in complete chaos.

They did not stop on the way back to Beijing, but it still took some time to reach the capital.

When snow falls in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area south of the Yangtze River, it comes and goes quickly, and the snow never accumulates deeply, nor is it that cold.

After returning to the capital, the sun was shining brightly in the sky, but it still felt extremely cold. Judging from the weather, it will definitely snow during the New Year in a few days.

Worried that Yuyan would catch a cold and get sick when she returned, Yinzhen watched over the newly made cloak and put it on Yuyan. There was a charcoal fire burning in the room, and the floor dragon was on.

Yuyan was almost buried in the plush fox fur cloak, drinking water from the cup continuously, her cheeks bulging. Yinzhen couldn't help laughing when he saw her.

Fu Jin looks very cute like this.

She looks particularly petite and young.

Yinzhen coughed twice in his heart, meaning that she looked younger and smaller than usual.

After Yinzhen came back, he first went to the palace to pay his respects to Kangxi, but in fact he also went there to talk about what happened in Suzhou.

Kangxi did not mention anything else, and Yinzhen did not say anything else either. They just gave a simple report on their duties and then returned.

Kangxi said that he had worked hard in the past few months and asked Yinzhen to have a good rest at home for a few days as he was going to prepare for the New Year.

Yinzhen had nothing else to do but go home to rest and prepare for the New Year.

The trouble he caused in Suzhou had spread his reputation, and many people spoke ill of him behind his back. Emperor Kangxi issued an order to recall him, so few people came to see him.

It's really like closing the door to visitors, so I don't interact with anyone.

At this critical juncture, no one dared to come for fear of being implicated by him or making Kangxi angry.

Yinzhen was so happy and peaceful that even the Thirteenth and Ninth Brothers were stopped by him when they wanted to come.

Just take a good rest. It would be great if he could stay with Fu Jin.

"Why are you making fun of me, Lord Beile?" Yuyan was unhappy. Although she had never had any killing power, she still glared at Yinzhen.

"The humidity in Beijing is not that high, and the room is so warm. I'm afraid it will be too dry and cause a nosebleed, so I must drink more water."

When I was in Suzhou, the south was cold and humid, so I didn't need to drink so much water.

Yinzhen himself actually drank more water than when he was in Suzhou.

With Yuyan's guidance, he now drinks much less tea than goat's milk and cow's milk, and most of the time he drinks warm water, which feels good.

Yinzhen smiled and asked Yuyan: "Does Fujin like the south more?"

"Hmm? Why do you say that?"

Yuyan's body was warm and she didn't feel cold at all in the room. She wrapped herself in her cloak and felt lazy and comfortable, even a little drowsy.

She was now more relaxed in front of Yinzhen. Looking at Yinzhen's smiling face, she hugged the soft fur of the cloak and said frankly, "If I must compare, I may prefer the north. The south is damp and cold. Although the climate is more humid, the north is dry and the climate is more suitable for my body."

Traditional Chinese medicine often talks about nourishing qi. Yuyan is from the south, but in fact, for the body, it is naturally easier to nourish qi in the north, because humidity makes qi heavier and it is not easy to separate yin and yang. Personally, Yuyan would definitely prefer to stay in the north.

But Jiangnan is beautiful, if you want to travel, you can go there more often.

[Speaking of which, after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he almost never left the capital for thirteen years, and he almost never left the palace. Kangxi lived in Changchun Garden for a long time, but Yongzheng almost always stayed in Yangxin Palace and was busy. He was really a model worker. He wrote more than 10,000 words every day to review memorials, and at most he wrote more than 30,000 words a day.]

[If our Prince Beile is to be the emperor again in the future, he should not work so hard. He should combine hard work with rest.]

Yuyan thought to herself that it was okay to go out and relax. But she didn't know if Yinzhen didn't like to go out. If he really didn't want to go out, then he could relax in Jingcheng Garden.

But with her around, I definitely won't be allowed to sit still all the time and must always stay in Yangxin Palace to work.

Yinxiang's lips curled up slightly. That was right. He would definitely not work so hard on himself in the future. There was a long time to come. How could thirteen years be enough?

We should always take a long-term view on everything. It is great that he takes good care of himself and strives to live a long life.

"If Fu Jin likes it, if there is a chance in the future, you can actually travel to various places in the Qing Dynasty."

As for what Yuyan said about the future, Yinzhen was able to face it calmly.

Also, because Yuyan had no idea that her thoughts would be heard by Yinzhen, she didn't care at all and just thought whatever she wanted.

Therefore, when his mind was enlightened, Yinzhen could basically hear everything, and the things he heard were very diverse, without any major restrictions.

In fact, this is also an advantage. Fu Jin is not restrained and can think freely. If he knew, he would be worried for a while and would not have so many wonderful ideas.

Yinzhen knew as soon as he heard it that in the period of history that Fujin knew, he took over the Qing Dynasty which had gone through the Nine Dragon Seizures and the serious deficits in various provinces, and he had no time to go on tours and do other things.

His younger brothers were restless and wanted to continue fighting. He was busy governing the country and had to suppress his younger brothers, so he certainly couldn't just leave without permission.

In thirteen years, he couldn't actually do much. Time was tight, so he certainly couldn't spend his time on other things. He could only stay in the palace, cleaning up the mess while laying the foundation for the next monarch.

But what is the result?

The younger brother cleaned up the mess very well, but the son did not agree with him.

Yuyan thought Yinzhen's words were just a joke and smiled, but didn't take it too seriously.

At this time, it cannot be compared with the future.

Even in modern society with convenient transportation, traveling around the country is still a very exhausting task, let alone in the Qing Dynasty.

She took a carriage from Jiangnan back to the capital, and even now she sometimes dreams of herself swaying in the carriage, which shows how deep the memory it brought to her body is.

It's really impossible for her to adapt to traveling like this in such a short period of time.

Although the Four Beile Mansions did not welcome guests before the New Year, it was New Year's Day and each mansion had to send New Year gifts.

The Fourth Prince's Mansion does not intend to withdraw from the circle of power and nobility in the capital. According to the rules, accepting and returning gifts will be dealt with.

Yinzhen has to handle some of the foreign relations, and Yuyan has to handle some of the foreign relations with the female relatives.

Li cannot do this, it must be done by the legitimate wife.

Yuyan was not idle while talking to Yinzhen, she was doing this.

Originally, starting from the 11th month of the lunar calendar, the palace and the princes' residences outside would begin preparations for the New Year, and Prince Fu Jin would also have to go to the palace every day.

But when Yinzhen and Yuyan returned, more than half of the lunar month had already passed, and there were only a few days left before the New Year's Eve.

The palace has been very busy these days. In addition to attending to his own affairs, Prince Fu Jin also has to go to the palace.

But Kangxi had promised to let Yinzhen have a good rest in the mansion for a few days, so Yuyan naturally rested with him until New Year's Eve.

Sanfujin and Wufujin both wrote to her secretly to complain that they could not sit idle in the palace and had a lot to do.

Because there is no queen in the palace now, and the result of not having a queen for many years, the high-ranking concubines are in charge of the affairs together, so many things are done together.

The current situation in the palace is that Imperial Concubine Tong Jia leads the four concubines Hui, Yi, De and Rong to handle palace affairs together.

When the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince were tired, they were still protected by Concubine Rong and the Empress Dowager. However, the mother of the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang passed away too early, and there was no one to protect the Thirteenth Prince when he entered the palace. He was so busy that he didn't even have time to write to Concubine Yuyan to complain.

In the past, when entering the palace, the Thirteenth Concubine would stay with Concubine De, or would go directly to the Imperial Concubine Tong Jia's place.

When Yinxiang's mother passed away, Yinxiang was already a young boy and it was impossible for him to be raised by someone else. Yinxiang lived directly in the prince's residence and got married a few years later. Therefore, he had no close relationship with the other concubines.

That is to say, when Yinxiang was a child, it was Yinzhen who taught him how to write and read. At that time, Yinxiang also had the opportunity to enter and leave the palace of Empress Xiaoyi.

He received some care from Empress Xiaoyi out of love for his family.

Now Empress Xiaoyi has passed away, and Yinxiang and Fujin are left with no one to take care of them in the palace.

Originally, Defei did it for Yinzhen's sake, and because she was one of the four concubines and was the best at pleasing the emperor, and she knew that the emperor valued and liked the Thirteenth Prince, so she brought the Thirteenth Prince to her.

It doesn't take much effort at all, and there's nothing much to say.

But the emperor was angry after returning from his southern tour, and Yinzhen complained to her again, saying that Yinzhen had hurt him. Defei was very angry and felt that her fourth brother was too messy.

Originally, she and Yinzhen were not that close and intimate. She had always been partial to Yinzhi. Now Yinzhi whispered a lot of bad things in her ear, saying that Yinzhen had offended many people in Jiangnan. Now there were many people in the court who were dissatisfied with Yinzhen, especially those around the prince. The emperor might also be dissatisfied with the fourth prince.

These words shook Concubine De's heart, and she wanted to teach the Fourth Prince a lesson.

Concubine De thought that the Fourth Prince did not take her words to heart at all and insisted on opposing the Crown Prince, even deliberately hurting the Fourteenth Prince. What was going on?

If she doesn't show some gesture, wouldn't the fourth brother become even more lawless?

Therefore, Defei would not take care of Thirteenth Concubine Jin this time.

She couldn't influence the situation in the court, so she made some trouble in the harem, let the Fourth Prince Fu Jin know, and have him talk to her properly.

Thirteenth Concubine Jin noticed the traces of this matter and told Yinxiang about it when she returned. The couple agreed that there was no need to tell the fourth brother.

They can solve it themselves.

Originally, Yinxiang had been treated coldly in the palace. Apart from his fourth brother, who else would treat him sincerely?

Thirteenth Prince Fu Jin naturally felt that he shouldn't have provoked others, and it was hard to talk about such a thing. So he just pretended not to notice it and continued to do his job.

It's impossible that they just take advantage of Fourth Brother when he's doing well, and then refuse to stand by him when he's being criticized and blamed?

The busyness before New Year's Eve prevented Yuyan and Yinzhen from catching up, but the couple could not avoid the events in the first month after New Year's Eve.

Yinzhen was a Beile, and Yuyan was the Beile's legitimate wife, so of course they had to participate in everything.

Not to mention them, even Li, the eldest princess, the second princess, and the second prince Hongyan would also have to enter the palace.

The children are weak, but perhaps the Li and Song families really care about the children and want them to be healthy.

In the past six months, the plan for strengthening the physical fitness specified by Yu Yan has been implemented, and the several children who were born with weak constitutions seem to have improved a little.

Since he was not sick, he must go to the palace in the first month of the lunar year to pay New Year's greetings to Kangxi and the empress.

From New Year's Eve to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people would go to the palace before dawn to enjoy the fun and would basically not return until nightfall.

When entering the palace, one either sits and talks jokingly, or plays with the emperor. In short, it is a double test of mental and physical strength. Yinzhen is still a little worried about whether Yuyan's body can bear it.

In the past, when Li entered the palace and was removed from the palace after the first month of the lunar year, she would always fall ill, not to mention Fu Jin's health.

Of course, Fu Jin has recovered a lot now, but Yinzhen knows how spoiled Fu Jin is now, and he is afraid that his Fu Jin will feel tired.

So during the few days of rest in the mansion, Yinzhen was considerate enough not to touch Yuyan and let her sleep well. Yuyan herself knew how powerful she was, so she just conserved her energy to prepare for the busy Spring Festival.

They got up before dawn, and Yuyan and Yinzhen met Li with the child at the door.

The second princess and the second prince followed Li. The eldest princess stood alone at the side.

Song was just a princess, she had no qualifications to enter the palace.

The eldest princess had to go alone.

Yuyan is a royal concubine, and it is impossible for her to condescend to take care of the princess's child.

Although she felt sorry for the eldest princess in her heart, she had no intention of bringing her to her side to take care of her.

She is the legitimate wife of the emperor, and she remembers her identity. If the legitimate wife of the emperor is too lenient to the eldest princess, it will not be good and will make many people have bad impressions.

If she didn't have this status, she wouldn't be able to be kind to sick children.

But she was Yinzhen's concubine, and she didn't want to be too close to the children of Yinzhen's concubines.

This is entering the palace. The eldest princess cannot even bring her maids in. There are people to take care of her on the way, but after entering the palace, she can only take care of herself.

Yuyan glanced at Li.

During the past six months, Yuyan had often corresponded with Li, and her words were brief and direct, which deepened Li's understanding and fear of Prince Fujin.

Because even though the first wife was far away in Jiangnan, Li found that the first wife's control over the Prince's Mansion and Jingcheng Garden was far beyond her imagination.

For some reason, Li's heart skipped a beat when she saw Concubine Jin looking at her.

She understood what Di Fujin meant, and immediately whispered to the eldest princess who was about to get on the car: "After entering the palace, you follow me."

The eldest princess was stunned for a moment, then whispered, "Thank you very much, my good fortune."

Yuyan didn't even look at these sick children and got into the car.

Yinzhen originally wanted to ride a horse, but seeing Fujin's stern face, he thought about it and got on Fujin's carriage first.

It is the same if you wait until you are close to the palace gate before riding your horse.

Fu Jin seems to be angry, so you have to coax him first.

"Fujin."

Yuyan was caught off guard by Yinzhen who stuffed a small piece of sweet cake into her mouth.

Yinzhen looked at her and smiled, "Happy New Year! Fujin will be happy all year long."

Yuyan suddenly remembered what she had said to Yinzhen: when she was in a bad mood, she would feel happy if she ate something sweet.

[It’s all because of this damn feudal society!]

[You said you have nothing to do, so why do you need so many women to give birth to so many children? Well, well, it has been the same since ancient times. It is not something that can be controlled by the monogamous system. For a lifetime, one couple, it really depends on the heart, luck, and destiny. Didn’t I know this a long time ago? What are you worrying about now? ]

[When I came, he had already had these children. The man I met was the man he was at that time. I can’t dwell on the past. It’s meaningless.]

Yuyan was furious in her heart, [but she couldn't help but care.]

How could she, such a perfect pursuer of a man for his whole life, become the mistress of feudal society?

How could this make Jian Yuyan, the iron-blooded and pure-love warrior, feel?

She got up too early. She was still in a bad mood after getting up. She was chewing the sweet candy in her mouth. She looked at Yinzhen and said, "You are laughing again, Prince. What are you laughing at?"

Yinzhen held Yuyan's hand, ignoring her struggle, and gently kissed her fingertips: "Yuyan, you can just be yourself."

"You don't have to like to get close to the eldest princess. They are my children, and this cannot be changed. But for you, this is not something you need to bear."

"You are the closest to me in this house. You are related only to me."

Yuyan blinked. What are you talking about? Is this something Yinzhen would say?

After a while, Yu Yan said slowly, "Oh, did you see it?"

Yinzhen suppressed his laughter and said, "You are not very good at hiding it either."

Yuyan continued slowly, "I didn't hide anything. But I didn't have any bad intentions."

Yinzhen said, "I understand. I know everything."

Yuyan savored the sweetness of the candy.

The candy is relatively small, and seems to be made of milk. It looks very much like modern milk slices. Yuyan looked into Yinzhen's eyes, which were actually quite beautiful, sincere and honest.

Yuyan thought for a moment and asked Yinzhen: "The relationship between us is not immutable. Perhaps only this marriage is constant. You should not have any intention of dissolving it, right?"

"I mean, your relationship wasn't that good before. It was with me, and if it was managed properly, it could be better. But would you let someone else or some other relationship come in between our relationship?"

Yinzhen said without hesitation: "No."

Yuyan didn't seem surprised by his decisiveness. He was actually that kind of person.

She decided to ask for more: "No matter what I say, you won't do anything?"

"No." Yinzhen thought, what could be more shocking than what you think in your heart?

I, Aisin-Gyeol Yin-Zhen, am no longer the same Aisin-Gyeol Yin-Zhen as before!

Yuyan was relieved, took Yinzhen's hand, and complained to him frankly: "She is your mother after all. The eldest princess and the second princess are weak. They came to the palace in the cold wind before dawn in the winter. It might even snow soon. How can a grandmother be like this?"

"If the children get sick, isn't she afraid that people will say she is deliberately torturing her grandchildren?"

Yuyan asked, "Master Beile, can you find a way to let the children go back home to rest first, so they don't have to stay up until the evening?"

Yuyan looked at Yinzhen with pity.

[I am really afraid that your children will all die young like in history. What will you do if Hongshi is the only naughty child left?]

[After all, I can’t have children right now. I can’t let you find someone else to have one.]

[So, let’s try to save these few.]

Yinzhen: ...

Yinzhen: Even if I have no descendants, I will never let Hongli be born!

Yuyan is unable to have children now, but if she has a child with him in the future, the child will definitely not be named Hongli!