Upon arriving at Mulan Hunting Grounds, the purpose was to receive various Mongol tribes.
Changning was thinking about Meng Guqing and discussed with Yinzhen whether they could make contact with the Ujumqin tribe.
Yinzhen also considered this matter, after all, the Ujumqin tribe was one of his major trump cards, and he did need to make contact with them, so he sent his trusted confidants to Ujumqin.
When the banquet was held that evening with the princes and dukes of various Mongol tribes, Yinzhen, fearing that it would disturb her pregnancy, told her to stay in the yurt and not go out and bump into anything.
He ordered someone to bring over a whole roasted lamb, and also asked Hongmin and Hongchen to come and keep her company. He even persuaded the Fourteenth Prince to have his concubine, Shushu Jueluo Wanhe, come and chat with her.
Changning didn't really want to go to the banquet either. Those Mongolians were singing and dancing, and they liked to urge people to drink. She could only watch.
Wanhe brought Hongchun with her this time. Hongchun was in front with Hongyan and the others, so she didn't have to take care of him. She was happy that she didn't have to look after the child.
"Sister Fucha, how is your pregnancy this time?" Wanhe took a knife and cut some mutton and handed it to her. Watching her eat the mutton fiercely, she immediately felt that her question was pointless.
Changning took a sip of grape juice to cleanse her palate: "It's great, but I just love to sleep. The mutton here in Mongolia is so delicate and fragrant, and it doesn't have that gamey smell. It's a shame I can't eat too much."
Wanhe laughed: "Who told you to have another precious child in your arms now?"
In addition to Hongchun, Wanhe has had two more daughters over the years.
Although she no longer enjoyed the same level of favor as before, as time passed, the Fourteenth Prince gradually began to cherish her virtues—her gentleness and understanding. Moreover, she now possessed a mature charm that was even more captivating than her youthful beauty.
However, Wanhe didn't give him much of her heart, and she lived a very fulfilling life.
“Yun Chun is pregnant again and is resting in the capital.” Wanhe smiled. “She and the Thirteenth Prince are really inseparable now, and they have had quite a few children over the years.”
Changning ate another piece of lamb chop and then stopped eating. Chuixue brought her a cucumber to cleanse her palate.
"How wonderful! We've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
Wanhe nodded: "That's right, our Fujin is the same, her relationship with the Fourteenth Prince has improved a lot. And Hongming is getting older now..."
Changning understood her unspoken words: the issue of the eldest son versus the legitimate son would always exist.
"Don't worry, just wait and see how the Fourteenth Prince reacts."
Wanhe sneered: "Him? What schemes does he have? If he had even considered the well-being of us, I wouldn't be so unreliable to him."
Changning felt that the Fourteenth Prince was thinking too simply. His focus was now on the imperial court, and as for the inner court, he just wanted to keep things quiet.
The Fourteenth Prince's residence was unusually quiet. The Princess Consort held a high position, and Wanhe was favored; neither of them were the type to cause trouble, otherwise his harem would have been in chaos long ago, just like the Third Prince's residence back then.
When the topic turned to the Third Prince's residence, Wanhe continued to share gossip with her.
"I don't know what's wrong with the Third Princess Consort. I heard she's taking Tian Ce's daughter to live with her in the main courtyard."
Changning stopped eating meat and her brain started working: "Doesn't the Third Princess Consort have two daughters herself?"
Changning remembered that the third princess, born to Consort Tian, was about the same age as Hutuli and they were good playmates.
The eldest and second princesses were born to the third prince's wife, and they were just as proud as their mother.
Wanhe nodded: "Yes, the eldest and second princesses were born to the third princess's wife, and they are both over ten years old this year. Tian's daughter is not much younger than the two princesses."
Seeing Wanhe's meaningful gaze, Changning understood and whispered, "She's... finding a..."
No wonder, the eldest and second princesses have always looked down on the third princess, and the sisters often quarrel. Hu Tu has witnessed this several times.
Lady Tian and the Third Prince's wife already had a bad relationship. The two were separated by the life of Lady Tian's son, and for the sake of their daughter, they were even more at odds.
Now that the Third Prince's wife is asking the Third Princess to come over, her intentions are crystal clear.
Look, the Prince Zhi's mansion only has one princess left. Who in the Crown Prince's family dares to think that the next one to be pacified in Mongolia will be the Third Prince's mansion?
This is using three girls as scapegoats.
"Even Lady Tian would agree?" Changning didn't believe that a woman like Lady Tian would sit idly by and wait for her death, after all, she had forced the Third Princess Consort to the brink of despair back then.
Wanhe's gaze darkened: "They were making a scene. Tian was almost going to kneel in the street and cause trouble at the Imperial Clan Court, but she was slapped by the Third Prince instead."
Changning didn't know what to say anymore, and she lost her appetite and stopped eating.
Wanhe herself has two daughters, who are young, but how could she not think about their future?
She knew that the Fourteenth Prince was unreliable, but the Fourth Prince had some ability. He doted on Sister Fucha for ten years without fail; perhaps he could find a way.
Wanhe's voice was barely audible: "Sister Fucha, can't we... abolish the policy of appeasing the Mongols...?"
Changning's heart stirred slightly.
Emperor Kangxi's order for princesses and other noblewomen to pacify the Mongol tribes was simply to strengthen ties with them. After all, at that time, the Mongols were an entity that needed to be won over while remaining vigilant in order to resist the Dzungar Khanate.
Marrying a princess or noblewoman to Mongolia was the most convenient method. It not only built connections through marriage but also allowed spies to be planted there, enabling the noble princess of the Qing Dynasty to take control of Mongolia.
Or rather, this is a different kind of "sweetness".
Changning also felt a tightness in his chest.
She suddenly remembered that during the Qianlong era, the princess born to Empress Xiaoxian was also sent to Mongolia, but her princess residence was built in the capital, so the princess did not have to go to Mongolia.
This is a good approach. However, it requires an unprecedented strengthening of control over Mongolia.
According to the normal course of history, this would have been achieved during the Qianlong era. However, with the variable of Mengguqing and her influence in Ujumqin, which extends to the entire Mongolian region, it might be possible to complete this ahead of schedule.
In this way, when Yinzhen successfully ascends the throne, he can build a princess's residence in the capital, just like Empress Xiaoxian's legitimate princess, without having to go to Mongolia again.
Changning had a plan in mind, but she didn't tell Wanhe. She knew what Wanhe meant, and she didn't want these beautiful young women to go out and experience the harsh Mongolian winds. However, it was still too early to say anything about something that wasn't even confirmed yet.
Wanhe was an extremely intelligent person. She didn't even need to hear Changning say it herself. Just by looking at Changning's relieved expression, she knew that there must be some progress in this matter. She felt relieved and changed the subject with a smile.
At the previous banquet, Kangxi seemed to have taken some kind of elixir, and his spirits were indeed much better. He was able to chat and laugh with the Mongol princes.
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