First appearance in Chapter 3

"The Old Summer Palace for escaping the summer heat?"

"Yeah yeah."

Hongzhou looked at Hongli with bright, expectant eyes. After all, he was only a ten-year-old boy who had lived in the Yuanmingyuan Garden since birth. Even with his mother's company, he still craved his father's attention.

Last year, when Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he was busy with the mourning period and the selection of concubines for the sake of "offspring," and he didn't even think about bringing his two sons from the Yuanmingyuan back. Little Hongzhou was already saddened once.

But upon hearing that Emperor Yongzheng and others were coming to the Yuanmingyuan to escape the summer heat, and that there would be a chance to get up close and personal with them, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

Hongli thought for a moment. This should be the first time Zhen Huan came to Yuanmingyuan in the plot of "Empresses in the Palace". This time, the original owner of the house and the Fifth Prince Hongzhou who lived in the garden had no presence and were not valued by everyone. Obviously, Hongzhou would be disappointed.

Although his arrival meant the story could no longer proceed as planned and he could no longer be a universally disliked figure, Hongli still feigned disappointment. "When the time comes, Consort Geng will take you to pay your respects to Father Emperor. You should also go back to your studies. As for me, Father Emperor ultimately dislikes my background..."

Hongli lowered his eyes, his figure appearing pitifully thin in Hongzhou's eyes. Hongzhou immediately became anxious and cried out, "Father doesn't like me either, and I don't want to go back. Fourth Brother, don't be sad, I will always stay with you."

He would rather reopen his wounds than not comfort Hongli.

Hongli was deeply moved, as if comforted by Hongzhou's actions. He smiled again, looked at him, and said gently, "Alright, Hongzhou, stay with me. We brothers will depend on each other for survival."

"Mmm," Hongzhou nodded vigorously, patting his chest to assure his brother, once again charmed by his beloved fourth brother's smile. "Fourth brother, don't worry, Hongzhou will always be here for you."

...

"Seventeenth Brother, your horsemanship and archery skills are still as good as ever."

When Emperor Yongzheng went to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat, he made sure to bring Prince Guo, Yunli, along to show his high regard for him. During their leisure time, they practiced archery, and Emperor Yongzheng sighed with admiration as he watched Yunli shoot two pigeons with a single arrow.

"Your Majesty, I have not practiced for a long time and my skills have become rusty. I hope you will forgive my lack of skill."

Yunli bowed respectfully and humbly, afraid of once again touching Yongzheng's suspicious heart.

Emperor Yongzheng's expression was somewhat complicated, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Your archery skills have become increasingly refined. I remember when I was a child, your archery skills were already superior to mine."

Yunli quickly flattered him, saying, "Your Majesty, I only practice in my spare time. You are busy with state affairs, so naturally you are not as good as me."

Emperor Yongzheng's expression remained unchanged. He simply gave him a deep look and said casually, "I remember that when Father Emperor was alive, he loved your archery skills the most and often praised you."

Yunli's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt down, thinking to himself that father and son were truly different. But he hurriedly pleaded guilty, saying, "Your Majesty, I am terrified. My archery skills are but a trivial skill, how can they compare to Your Majesty's? I am willing to serve Your Majesty, even unto death."

Yongzheng smiled, flicked the eighteen-bead string in his hand, reached out to help Yunli up, and looked at him meaningfully, "We are brothers, there's no need for this. I know you have no interest in politics, and I hope you can always be like this, a carefree prince."

“Your Majesty is right. I have always been fond of nature, and I rely on Your Majesty’s kindness.”

Looking at the humble Yunli, Yongzheng nodded in satisfaction, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing more.

...

Yixianzhai, where Hongzhou had promised to stay with his fourth brother at the Yuanmingyuan. But being restricted from coming and going and not allowed to visit his father, the Emperor, he was still somewhat saddened. So he lay on Hongli's desk, idly grinding ink.

"Alright, keep grinding, or you'll wear the ink stick down completely."

Hongli reluctantly put down his pen and looked at Hongzhou with amusement.

“It’s not that exaggerated,” Hongzhou couldn’t help but mutter, “Fourth Brother, how can you write so calmly at a time like this?”

"What time is it now? Is it any different from usual?"

"Well, there really is no difference." Hongzhou sighed, but had to admit this painful fact: whether the Emperor came or not, they were practically invisible.

Oh, there is a difference; he can no longer wander around the garden.

Thinking of this, Hongzhou became even more frustrated.

"Bangbang"

There was a knock on the wooden window of the study, and soon a tall, slender figure opened the window and appeared.

"Little Hongzhou, why are you here with Hongli every day?"

Hongzhou rolled his eyes speechlessly. He had almost forgotten that there was one difference between the Emperor's visit to the Yuanmingyuan and the Seventeenth Uncle's visit. The Seventeenth Uncle could now appear openly and legitimately at the Yuanmingyuan.

Damn it, that guy who's been trying to steal my fourth brother has shown up again!

"Aren't you welcoming me?"

Yunli nimbly climbed in through the window, smiling at the two of them, full of vigor, showing no trace of the apprehension he had just felt in front of Yongzheng.

"Seventeenth Uncle," Hongli sighed helplessly, "why are you climbing out the window again? The door is open."

"Is it convenient?" Yunli met Hongli's gentle, affectionate eyes, his ears suddenly turned red, and he touched his nose embarrassedly, "I won't do it again next time."

"Seventeenth Uncle, you always say that." Hongzhou interrupted him, sneaking closer to Hongli to prevent him from getting any closer.

"Xiao Hongzhou, have you finished your homework?"

Yunli was no pushover either, and with a smile, he poked at his nephew's sore spot. Hongzhou choked up, feeling a little guilty. He was already so upset, couldn't he take a day off?

"Anyway, Fourth Brother will teach me."

Hongzhou looked up smugly, but Yunli wasn't angry. He delivered a fatal blow: "You can't slack off on your studies. Your Seventeenth Uncle was thinking of you and had Ajin send you a lot of books by great Confucian scholars. Who would have thought you'd be at Yixianzhai? I guess Ajin will be delivering them to your mother soon. I wonder how much homework he'll assign you then?"

"you……"

Hongzhou gritted his teeth, jumped to his feet, glared angrily at Yunli, then looked at Hongli with a pitiful expression, "Fourth Brother..."

"Go back quickly, bring the books, and tell Lady Geng that we will study together."

"I knew it, Fourth Brother is still the best to me."

Hongzhou flashed a big smile at Hongli, then glared at Yunli before angrily shoving him aside and hurrying out. He hoped Ajin would slow down and not fall into his mother's hands so soon.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a temper."

Yunli smoothed his clothes and teased him with a smile.

“If Uncle Seventeen hadn’t deliberately provoked him, Hongzhou wouldn’t be so angry.”

Hongli watched his performance with amusement. When Yunli met his eyes, he couldn't hide his smile, but he still stubbornly insisted, "I'm doing this for his own good."

"Yes, yes, Uncle Seventeen, you're so thoughtful." Hongli nodded in agreement, then extended his hand. "Uncle Seventeen, you brought me some great Confucian books for Hongzhou, what gift did you bring me?"