Kangxi was unwilling to admit or believe that it was all due to his own paranoia and his inferiority complex caused by his advancing age and declining energy.
Only by blaming all the mistakes on their son, claiming that they were disloyal and unfilial, could he alleviate the guilt and pressure in his heart.
So the day after he had the dream, he summoned Yinzhi to the palace.
The room fell silent, save for the father and son. Kangxi coldly mocked him, exposing his wolfish ambitions and telling him to stop his delusions and obediently become a tool in his own hands, or else he would not be so quick to disregard the bond between ruler and subject, father and son.
Yin Zhi was terrified. Never before had he been so afraid of the Emperor. When the Emperor was angry, millions would die.
He couldn't understand why his usually kind yet strict father had become like this, but as a subject and a son, he could only obey.
After suppressing the third and eighth princes, Kangxi turned his attention to the eldest prince and the crown prince.
While suffering from nightmares, he also desperately wanted to vent all his anger on his son.
well……
Emperor Kangxi sighed deeply.
When Yinzhen arrived, Kangxi had not yet risen. Liang Jiugong was guarding outside the palace. When he saw the Fourth Prince coming, he quickly got up to greet him and asked softly, "Fourth Prince, has come with important business?"
Upon seeing this, Yinzhen knew that his father, the Emperor, would not see him and must be busy, otherwise Liang Jiugong would not have acted this way.
He didn't say much, just handed over a basket of vegetables and half a bag of soybeans.
"Steward Liang, these are crops I grew on the estate in my spare time. The yield is not high, but I brought these here specifically to show my respect to Father Emperor."
Liang Jiugong was quite surprised. He himself came from a poor family and knew how difficult and tiring farming was. He never expected that this pampered prince would actually go to farm. Looking at the growth of the vegetables and soybeans, each one was plump and full, so he must have some skill and had put in a lot of effort and energy.
Then a smile bloomed on his face, as bright as a chrysanthemum: "Fourth Prince, you are so thoughtful. I will instruct the kitchen to prepare this for His Majesty tonight."
Yinzhen nodded: "I'll trouble Steward Liang to take good care of Father Emperor and tell him to take good care of himself. I'll be leaving now."
"Respectfully seeing off the Fourth Prince."
Yinzhen turned and left. Liang Jiugong watched Yinzhen's back as he walked away. His posture was upright, his spirit was as clear as a pine tree, he was as noble as jade, and he was truly reminiscent of the Emperor in his youth.
He didn't say much, but personally instructed people that the most important thing that night was to prepare the basket of vegetables.
When Kangxi woke up, he saw a plate of stir-fried cabbage, stewed chicken with potatoes, and stewed tofu closest to his bowl and chopsticks. He glanced at Liang Jiugong and asked, "What? Who sent this?"
Kang Jiugong bowed with a grin: "Your Majesty, this was just sent by the Fourth Prince. He said he personally grew these on his estate and wanted to send them over for you to try."
Upon hearing that it wasn't any concubine but Yinzhen, Kangxi's expression softened: "It's the fourth prince. I've heard he hasn't been wandering around outside this year, staying at the estate doing who-knows-what. Turns out he's become a farmer and farms the land."
Kangxi showed no emotion on his face. He picked up a piece of potato with his chopsticks and tasted it, but didn't find anything different about it. He then picked up a piece of green vegetable, which was somewhat sweet.
"He said he planted these himself?" Kangxi turned his head and asked. Liang Jiugong hurriedly bowed and replied, "That's right. I suppose the Fourth Prince has some experience in managing agricultural affairs in the Ministry of Revenue, so he wanted to try it out himself."
"The fourth prince is not one to play tricks; he can endure hardship and get things done." Kangxi nodded, always showing some favor to this son, born to his favorite concubine and raised by his cousin.
"How is the fourth prince doing in the manor now? How are his children? Is Lady Fucha still the most favored?"
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince currently has six sons and two daughters," Liang Jiugong replied in a low voice. However, as for who was the most favored, he dared not say, and could only say, "Consort Chun has five sons and one daughter."
Emperor Kangxi understood; it seemed that Lady Fucha was quite fertile.
Sigh, if only every son could be like the fourth one, making my life easier.
Thinking that this year was another year for the imperial concubine selection, he casually instructed: "Tell the Imperial Concubine that during this year's selection, several princes who have established their own residences should be granted two princesses."
"Yes, sir."
When this news arrived, Yinzhen was extremely busy.
He wanted to get the winter vegetable breeding project done as soon as possible, and his trip to the palace that day was rushed. Who knew that this trip would bring him two women in return?
Yinzhen was speechless. He even complained a little to his father, the Emperor. If he was going to reward someone, he should have given them a job or a title. What else could he do besides cause trouble by rewarding a woman?
In the past, he didn't care much about women anyway, and he could just throw them into some corner of the backyard. But now, his heart and eyes are only on Yao Xian. If he were to bring in a few more women, he would just find them an eyesore.
He even found it a little difficult to say; how could he tell Yao Xian?
Although he definitely wouldn't touch it, he didn't know if the girl would get angry, since she was incredibly jealous.
When he returned to Qingzhi Courtyard that evening, he seemed hesitant to speak.
Changning also noticed. She had been excitedly telling him about her daughter's upcoming chrysanthemum appreciation banquet the next day, but seeing his somber expression, she knew something was wrong.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Yinzhen gave a signal, and Su Peisheng led all the servants in the room away, leaving only the two of them in the inner room.
With a long arm, Yinzhen pulled Changning into his arms. The fragrance of her hair made him feel incredibly warm and at ease.
He paused briefly before speaking in a low voice, "News has come from the palace that Father Emperor has ordered that all princes who have established their own residences be granted two princesses in this year's imperial concubine selection."
"Oh, so that's what it was about." Changning breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought the kids had gotten into trouble again. Why are you looking so worried?"
This time it was Yinzhen's turn to be shocked, and he even felt a little aggrieved.
"Aren't you angry? I'm going to have two more women."
Changning retorted confidently, "I'm not angry. Why should I be angry? Would you touch them?"
Yinzhen quickly shook his head.
"That's right, you won't touch it, so what do I have to worry about?"
"You trust me that much?"
Seeing the light shining in Yinzhen's eyes, and a serious look in them, Changning met his gaze and said, word by word, "I understand you. You do what you say."
Yinzhen felt a warm glow in his heart.
He wouldn't be like his father, the Emperor, who was promiscuous and claimed to love Empress Hesheli, yet also cared for and doted on his mother, Tong Eni, with all the women in the palace being his darlings.
He had seen many sad faces of Tong Eniang when he was young, and he had also seen her weep alone. He understood that the reason she didn't care about other women was because she didn't love them.
He wouldn't have paid attention to women's feelings before, but now, he is very clear that he loves Yao Xian.
If I neglect her, my mind will be filled with the image of my mother being heartbroken when I was a child, and I will be even more reluctant to let her shed a single tear.
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