Yongzhao's Grand Wedding

  On the other side, Yong Yu and Yong Bi were having a great time sneaking food, but on this side, Long Huan Tian, who was still in the grand hall, didn't have such a good mood. He had never liked these kinds of political banquets, but as the emperor, he couldn't avoid attending them, often feeling like he was going through the motions.

  As for Yong Yao and Yong Bi's sneaky departure, he sat on the surface and saw it clearly, but he pretended not to see it and didn't plan to investigate. After all, he also knew the temperaments of those two children, and with Yong Bi accompanying him, he was more at ease with Yong Yao.

  Magnificent songs and dances, exquisite dishes, but nothing can arouse Longyintian's interest. He just held the wine cup and sipped it lightly from time to time. Except for moving his chopsticks at the beginning of the banquet, he didn't move them again, leaving them still on the table.

  There was another person whose heart wasn't in it, and that was Third Brother Yongzhang. From start to finish, he hadn't even moved his chopsticks, except for occasionally raising his head to gaze afar at his Imperial Mother. He just sat there quietly, lost in thought. The faint sense of melancholy on him was covered up by the atmosphere of the banquet, but it still didn't escape Long Yitian's observation and Yongying's keen eyes.

  As the banquet was almost over, Long Yitian finally stood up and left his seat. The remaining time would allow those officials to relax properly. After all, if he, the emperor, were present, everyone would inevitably have some reservations and wouldn't be able to fully enjoy themselves.

  Out of the temple gate, Long Yitian originally planned to take a walk and think about Yongzhang's problem, but before he had walked far, he was pulled back into the Nourishing Heart Palace by a secret report.

  This intelligence report was compiled by Irachi, in which the recent movements of Junggar were written in great detail, showing that his intelligence work was still quite good.

  After reading the confidential report, Long Yintian couldn't help but frown. The war in Tibet is not over yet, and this matter absolutely cannot lead to another conflict. However, judging from the current situation, a war with Dzungar is already unavoidable. Therefore, the only thing that can be done now is to try to delay it as much as possible.

  After closing his eyes and thinking for a long time, Long Yitian finally picked up his pen and wrote a secret letter to Irachi, stating that this matter must be successful, because what he wanted Irachi to do was not something simple, but the most dangerous assassination.

  Watching the guard with the imperial edict leave, Long Hanyan secretly let out a sigh, and his heart couldn't help but feel some melancholy, because he was very clear about the fate of those dead soldiers, and it was precisely the thin piece of paper he had written that determined their fate.

  But that's politics, that's war. From the moment he took this supreme position, intrigue, blood and death were destined to follow him for life.

  On the second day, Long Yitian issued a decree promoting some of the concubines in the harem to higher ranks, although not entirely according to the Empress's opinion.

  Pure Consort was promoted to Pure Noble Consort; Rong Concubine was promoted to Rong Consort and moved into the main hall of Yude Palace; Shun Guiren was promoted to Shun Pin, and entered Yongning Palace's side palace.

  Looking at this edict, it was naturally a joy for some families and a worry for others. However, what the Empress couldn't understand was why the Emperor hadn't mentioned Yu Pin's rank this time. After all, Yu Pin wasn't in good health either, having been ill on and off over the past year or so. Moreover, Yu Pin was also the birth mother of the Fifth Prince, which was why she had written her name down on the list that was submitted.

  I don't know if Empress Yu was really out of favor or implicated because of the Fifth Prince, but since she couldn't figure it out, the Empress simply stopped worrying about it alone. After all, the promotion and demotion of this position were all up to the Emperor's word.

  In May, Yongzhao got married. Since his mansion had also been completed, the wedding was naturally held in his own mansion. Of course, since he was a relatively favored brother, there were indeed many people who came to congratulate and build relationships through this marriage.

  And Long Yinh Tian also issued an edict on the day of Yongzhao's grand wedding, conferring upon him the title of Prince of Xun Prefecture, bestowing upon him a mansion for the prince's residence, and granting various rewards that nearly filled up the treasury of the prince's mansion.

  He knelt down to receive the imperial edict, but Yongzhang did not feel any joy, instead he felt extremely exhausted. The sea of red and the congratulatory voices of the crowd made him feel suffocated and unable to breathe.

  At this moment, he is so eager to escape, so eager to break free from these shackles, but he also knows that he cannot, because he is a prince, and such fate he cannot escape.

  In the midst of chaos, the wedding finally came to an end. It wasn't until they walked into the bridal chamber that Yongzhang gradually regained his consciousness, and at the same time, a surge of indescribable heartache, helplessness, faint disappointment, and relief rose up in his heart.

  Looking at the bride sitting on the bed with a red veil, Yongzhang understood that he was ultimately unable to resist fate. So he decided to accept his fate. As long as he could still see Huang Ama and there was still himself in Huang Ama's eyes, then marrying a woman he didn't love wouldn't matter. As for the pain in his heart, perhaps with time it would become habitual.

  However, the only thing that made him feel a little better today was that his Imperial Mother did not come to attend the ceremony, but instead had Gao Wuyong send over an imperial edict. Otherwise, he really didn't know how he would have faced that person, and the wedding wouldn't have gone so smoothly either.

  On the other hand, Long Yitian was revising the memorial in the cool pavilion of Yangxin Hall. Seeing that Gao Wuyong had already transmitted the imperial edict and returned, he put down the brush in his hand and asked with an ambiguous tone: "Did Yongzhang say anything after receiving the imperial edict?"

  Gao Yu didn't understand why the Emperor would ask this, but still replied truthfully: "I report to Your Majesty, the Third Prince didn't give any special instructions. After receiving the decree, he let me return."

  "Is that so...", Long Yitian slightly furrowed his brow, he always felt that there was something he hadn't thought of before, but no matter what, he couldn't figure out where the problem lay. "Could it be that I'm just being too cautious?"

  After a long silence, Long Yitian let out a slight sigh and gave up on the question that had no answer. He then ordered: "You go down first, without my order, no one is allowed to come in."

  Gao Yu obeyed and left, even the palace maids and eunuchs who were waiting on him followed behind him and also left.

  Actually, Gao felt that the emperor's trust in him was far from what it used to be, which made him somewhat apprehensive, but he had no way to deal with it.

  But as he looked at his own age getting older and older, this manager's position would not be kept for long. He thought that he should just spend the next few years in peace and quiet, so during this period of time, he became more and more conservative.

  After there were no more outsiders around, Long Yitian finally stood up and said: "Wu Er, come out."

  A gentle breeze blew by, and in the pavilion, a figure wearing a guard uniform suddenly appeared, but he was completely unlike other guards who would greet people in front of him. Instead, he knelt on one knee, respectfully and silently bowing his head, waiting quietly for Long Hiding Heaven's command.

  As for Wu Er's seemingly rude behavior, Long Yintian didn't mind at all and calmly asked, "How is the situation with Zhao Hui?"

  He slightly raised his head, revealing an ordinary Han face. His eyes fixed on the back of Long Yitian as he replied in a deep voice, "Reporting to Master, General Zhao Hui has led the army to clear up more than half of the Da and Xiao Jin River areas. All captured remnants of the previous dynasty were beheaded on the spot. Additionally, the intelligence provided by Xiao Jing has been verified to be mostly true. Part of it has been revealed to General Zhao Hui as per your instructions."

  "Hmm." Long Yitian nodded in satisfaction, after all, this move had been set up for more than a year, and now he could finally see the results. Although the means were bloody, the outcome would benefit future generations. He continued to ask, "Is there any problem with the arrangement?"

  "Due to the strong resistance from the Tibetans, progress was relatively slow in the early stages. However, under the high-pressure tactics of Deputy General Fu Ling'an, the plan has basically gotten back on track." The completely formulaic response gave people a feeling that there wasn't even a hint of personal emotion.

  "Fuling An... indeed did not disappoint me...", having resolved a potential hidden danger, Long Yintian's mood naturally improved a lot. Of course, this move was still not very good, and Fuling An's reputation might be affected by it.

  But all these are for later, he changed the subject and asked: "Is there still no news from Irachi?"

  "Return to the master, there is no news for now." Although he replied so in his mouth, Wu Er was clear in his heart that if there was still no news after such a long time, it meant that no one had survived.

  He let out a slight sigh and turned around, saying with some regret: "Alright, if there's still no news after a month, then send someone over."

  "Yes." The answer was quite crisp, and there was no questioning of Long Yintian's arrangement, because this was the education he had received since childhood. The master's words were orders, and the master's orders were absolute, not to be questioned or disobeyed.

  "Go down." As soon as Long Yitian's voice fell, Wuer's figure disappeared into the pavilion, as if he had never appeared at all.

  He looked up and gazed out of the palace, his eyes flickering slightly before he sat down at the table, picked up his brush and continued to review the memorials.

  In June, the Ministry of War received news that Dawaachi Khan of the Zunghar Khanate was stabbed and seriously injured. Amursana took advantage of the situation to launch a military campaign to seize the khan's position, but his attempt failed due to Dawaachi's thorough preparations.

  At the same time, news was also sent back from the sticky post that Ilyachi led 20 dead soldiers to assassinate and failed. All 21 people, including Ilyachi, died on the spot without a single survivor.

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