After the new year, Fang He sent a letter; the palace had held the Golden Banquet, so they no longer needed to avoid mentioning it.
The food served at the banquet had become a must-order specialty at Tianya Inn. Â
Thinking of the delicious sour and spicy noodles and Wolf Fang Golden Beans, everyone present couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Lin Chen urged Qiao Xiaoyuan, “I’ll take people to catch mantis shrimp. You quickly prep your spices; if you don’t have enough, I’ll buy more. Whether it tastes good depends entirely on you!”
Qiao Xiaoyuan was eager too, clutching the recipe and running toward the kitchen.
“Wait,” Liang Madam grabbed him, “Guoguo said this dish is too overpowering in flavor. There are two other dishes that are quite strong as well. They might be too much for the inn’s atmosphere.”
“She said these recipes are very important and can’t be shared prematurely, especially not with those accompanying the southern tour.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan looked confused, “But if I don’t try them, I can’t perfect the recipes.” Â
Naren stood, “We bought several estates to grow golden grains, didn’t we? You’ve been working nonstop in the kitchen these years. You should rest at the estate for a while. I’ll have people deliver ingredients to you.” Â
The big boss of Tianya Inn was always Fang He—that never changed.
The former Jiangning textile official Cao Xi and the newly appointed Cao Yin both tacitly accepted this. Â
The ones managing affairs on the surface were Liang Madam and her husband.
Naren, who had organized everything in the Southland, only managed Fang He’s part behind the scenes and handled miscellaneous matters.
Many suspected she was the true boss behind the curtain.
In reality, small matters were handled by Fan Shaohui and Liang Madam, but major issues were Naren’s responsibility.
When she spoke, even Lin Chen and others who wanted to keep Qiao Xiaoyuan quiet would not dare object. Â
Qiao Xiaoyuan wouldn’t oppose either.
With some recipes still unfinished, he had no interest in cooking other dishes.
Besides, he had already trained several apprentices in the kitchen; his absence wouldn’t affect the inn’s business.
The plan was settled.
When Kangxi arrived in Jiangning and thought of the taste Fang He described of the red fruit, he even asked Cao Yin to inquire about Tianya Inn.
Cao Yin smiled, “Eunuch Gu just sent a letter saying the esteemed Mistress has matters to attend to, and the person is already locked up at the estate. At this moment, he probably can’t be seen.”
He handed Kangxi the letter from Eunuch Gu.
Opening it, as expected, the handwriting was Gu’s.
Besides the instructions and details, at the bottom was a sentence:Â Â
“On behalf of Master, I report to Your Majesty that this matter concerns a grudge between me and the Crown Prince. The Emperor should simply pretend not to know; otherwise, my schemes will be fully exposed!”
Kangxi: “…..”
This letter was written to Cao Yin; otherwise, no palace letter would be casually sent out by him.
He had been curious about this for half a month.
Now seeing the Emperor’s helpless yet amused expression, he couldn’t help but ask,  “Your Majesty, what grudge does the esteemed Mistress have with the Crown Prince?” Â
Cao Yin knew the story of the Imperial Garden incident and the Crown Prince’s public submission at the New Year’s Eve palace banquet had long passed, right?
Kangxi glanced at him coldly.
“What does your business have to do with their grudge?”
“Have you found the red fruit I asked for?”
“Has the matter of salt smuggling been thoroughly investigated?”
Kangxi couldn’t do anything about his own scoundrel sons, but he wouldn’t indulge Cao Yin here either.
He chuckled, “You’d better worry about your own backyard. You’re past thirty, still childless, and before your Father passed, he even submitted memorials crying to me. And you dare ask about the imperial family’s matters here!”
“Before, it was because Madam Gu was infertile. Now you’ve married into the Li family for over half a year but there’s still no news… If I were you, I’d go to Tianya Inn and ask that Liang Madam to take a look!”
At the end of the 26th year, Cao Xi passed away.
Madam Gu returned to Jiangning to manage the official’s funeral and was exhausted by the long journey. Â
After his mourning period, Cao Yin married the younger sister of the Suzhou textile official Li Xu but still had no good news.
Occasionally, people in Jiangning recalled rumors that Cao Yin had kept a rabbit lord, privately suspecting he was incapable—though no one dared say it openly.
Cao Yin wiped his face, nearly in tears from the harsh words his one question had stirred.
‘Was it really necessary? He had only asked a question!’Â Â
No matter what Noble Consort Zhaoyuan stirred up, she was magnanimous enough to let everyone know openly, never hiding anything.
Sure enough, the Aisin Gioro family’s scheming was… well, petty.
Cao Yin naturally understood Kangxi’s meaning: he was being told to find out what Noble Consort Zhaoyuan was up to, but without using imperial authority, instead under the guise of looking into “hidden illnesses.”
He wanted to curse Master’s ancestors disrespectfully, but really, he had no choice!
Previously, Madam Gu had difficulty conceiving; now, it was just a matter of fate that there were no offspring yet—not his fault… he was truly exceptional!
Cao Yin left Kangxi’s study with a grim face, cursing for a while in his heart before gritting his teeth and going about his duties.
But to the accompanying princes and ministers, it just looked like Cao Yin had failed and been scolded by the Emperor.
Mingzhu privately told Yinzhi, “Now is the best time to win over Cao Yin. If he has difficulties, we can help him bear the burden.”
“He’s in Jiangnan, we’re in the capital. It’s good to watch each other’s backs.”
Yinzhi agreed, soon finding an opportunity to have a big drinking session with Cao Yin to probe him.
Suo’etu, having heard the news, couldn’t sit still and went to the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, if Eldest Prince wins over Cao Yin, the silver from Jiangnan will likely fall under Mingzhu’s control.”
“That old fox will surely win the hearts of the people for Eldest Prince!”
Yinreng was already frustrated by the letters arriving from the capital; hearing this, his face darkened even more.
“The prior salt smuggling incident has drawn the attention of Father. Now that Cao Yin is close to Eldest Prince, Father will inevitably be displeased.”
He said each word carefully:
“Don’t forget, I am the Crown Prince!
“There are things Eldest Prince can do that I, as Crown Prince, cannot—especially private relations with local officials. That is obviously poking Father in the eye.”
Suo’etu understood but couldn’t just watch Mingzhu win Cao Yin over.
He pondered briefly and sneered, “Then let Eldest Prince try. Cao Yin is the Emperor’s servant; if he dares pick sides, I’ll make him regret his foolishness!”
“But Your Highness cannot ignore this either, letting Eldest Prince show off. He holds a position in the Ministry of War, and you are the legitimate heir. Naturally, you must win over the scholars’ hearts.”
Yinreng was tempted.
Scholars from the Southland excelled in imperial examinations compared to those from the Northland.
Many officials came from the Southland, which valued heritage and legitimacy most. Â
If his prestige among scholars rose, even if Eldest Prince had Father’s favor, he wouldn’t need to fear that brute.
He mused, “This isn’t difficult, but Father must not know.”
“In a few days, Father will take me and Yinzhi to attend a literary gathering. You first investigate which outstanding scholars are currently in Jiangnan. At that time, I will express my praise for them. A poetry collection circulated in the capital will be enough.” Â
“Once Father set off, leave some men behind to collect poems praising Father and the Qing Empire from the scholars and send them to the capital. Later, present them.” Â
Although somewhat convoluted, this approach was discreet enough.
Scholars cared little for money but prized reputation.
Once they realized the Crown Prince was raising their fame, news would spread, and he would become a patron in their eyes.
When they passed the imperial exams, they would naturally become his followers.
Suo’etu was pleased, thinking the prior Imperial Garden incident wasn’t all bad; the Crown Prince was becoming more like a competent heir apparent.
He smiled brightly and arranged everything quickly.
However, though Mingzhu and Suo’etu knew Kangxi disliked people acting on their own, they were unaware that he always had Shadow Guards nearby.
With Kangxi’s control obsession, these two were just tools for balancing the court…
How to say, the sword he had once sharpened had become a boomerang, stabbing him in the chest.
Though he endured it willingly, Kangxi wouldn’t repeat the mistake. Â
He wouldn’t let these two swords turn and wound him, nor let them corrupt his sons.
So Kangxi knew all their plans, including those of Yinzhi and Yinreng.
Cao Yin quickly reported everything to Kangxi.
“I haven’t spoken to Eldest Prince, but his meaning is clear: whether returning to the capital for duties, handling affairs in the capital, or dealing with Jiangnan’s three provincial governors, if they don’t obey, he can help me resolve the problems.”
“Is that so?”
Anyone with sense could understand this.
Though recently restored, Nalan Mingzhu had long held influence in the court, with power in the Censorate and the Six Ministries, especially Personnel and War.
Cao Yin cautiously tested, “I pretend not to understand. If Eldest Prince… or others approach me again, I don’t know how to respond.”
Kangxi’s expression was especially indifferent.
“Just agree for now. I want to see how capable they really are.”
Kangxi didn’t yet fear the crisis of a strong son overpowering a weak father, but imperial power was never open to interference—not even by sons.
If Yinzhi and Yinreng wanted to rise, Kangxi wouldn’t stop them; when they came before him, he’d reprimand them then.
Cao Yin was now clear, his expression relaxing, and he joked,  “In terms of managing people, it still comes down to Your Majesty. There are a few new servants in my household who look promising. I could send them to you; it would be their fortune.” Â
This time Kangxi went south without any consorts, and even after watching carefully, Cao Yin noticed not a single sleeping maid had been brought.
This was serious.
The southern tour would take months; if the Emperor’s health faltered, no one could bear the responsibility. Â
He mentioned this to his mother, Madam Sun, who immediately ordered her daughter-in-law Li to find several virtuous girls from Suzhou and Yangzhou to enter the household.
The maternal uncle personally sought them, ensuring their background and character were clean.
Kangxi didn’t catch Cao Yin’s hint and said simply, “Don’t send all kinds of fragrant and stinky things to me. Where would I find time to train your servants?” Â
Cao Yin chuckled twice without replying further.
By evening, the palace maids serving in the study were replaced by two beauties, stunning enough to make even Liang Jiugong’s old bones soften.
When Kangxi, the Crown Prince, and several princes returned from a disguised visit, a palace maid with a delicate, elegant scent came forward to offer tea.
“I am your humble servant Kong Rao, greeting Your Majesty. Please enjoy this tea.”
Her soft and charming voice made Liang Jiugong secretly shiver.
Kangxi paused on his way to the soft couch, his expression unreadable as he glanced lightly at the maid.
He smiled faintly at Liang Jiugong but neither took the tea nor spoke, instead heading further inside.
Liang Jiugong laughed inwardly, ‘No matter how much the Emperor doted on Noble Consort, he was still a man.’
Because of the campaign and the consort’s pregnancy, the Emperor had been practically absent for a year.
Such beauties were hard to resist. Â
Knowing the two maids were left by his order, Liang Jiugong didn’t dismiss them.
He stood meaningfully to the side as another maid, face like a silver plate, moonlight shaming flowers, stepped forward and stretched out soft hands.
“I am your humble servant Furong, greeting Your Majesty. I am here to assist Your Majesty in changing clothes.”
Kangxi stepped back, avoiding the jade-white fingers, and smiled, asking Liang Jiugong,
“Where did you find them?”
Liang Jiugong hurriedly bowed, “Your Majesty, I lack such ability. They were sent by Minister Cao Yin.”
Kangxi raised an eyebrow, asking enigmatically,  “He sent them, and you just kept them?” Â
The two palace maids sensed something wrong; their faces turned uneasy as they quietly and obediently knelt.
Liang Jiugong suddenly felt a subtle shift and his heart sank; he quickly knelt down too.
“Your humble servant… Your humble servant heard Minister Cao say he informed Your Majesty beforehand. I dared not act on my own, so I temporarily kept them here.”
Kangxi nodded with a faint smile, “Very well, take them out and hand them over to Qiao Cheng. Your esteemed Mistress anticipated your and Cao Yin’s intentions and asked Qiao Cheng to prepare a gift for you.” Â
Liang Jiugong was stunned.
Qiao Cheng actually dared to act for the esteemed Mistress? Â
If he had known, he wouldn’t have accepted Cao Yin’s silver coin even if it meant bumping into a block of tofu and dying.
“Your Majesty, I know my mistake…”
Kangxi cut him off calmly, “Go. Leave Li Dequan here to serve. You and Cao Yin both go collect the gift.”
Liang Jiugong wanted to cry but had no tears.
‘That gift… was it long and hard?’