Tong Wanyan genuinely didn't feel it was hard work.

I guess because I went through a lot of trouble during my pregnancy, the delivery was much easier than my first one.

The pain of childbirth is unavoidable, but looking at that tiny bundle, my heart is filled with happiness.

Tong Wanyan was speaking the truth, but Yinreng took it as her being afraid that he would worry.

Yinreng was deeply moved, and his eyes quickly filled with tears.

"We won't have any more children from now on! Three children are enough!" Yinreng hugged Tong Wanyan, sobbing as he wiped her face with a handkerchief.

Xia Zhu, who was guarding outside, suddenly heard Yinreng crying and thought something had happened to Tong Wanyan.

If Chunque hadn't stopped her, she would have run into the house immediately.

As it turned out, Chunque's approach was correct.

A moment later, Tong Wanyan's clear laughter echoed from inside the room.

“This matter will naturally fall into place; it can’t be decided arbitrarily. I know you’re worried about me, and that’s enough,” Tong Wanyan said.

Yinreng cried for a while, and after calming down, he looked at Tong Wanyan with some embarrassment.

Tong Wanyan scrutinized him intently, making Yinreng feel extremely uncomfortable: "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Your Majesty, have you gained weight?" Tong Wanyan asked earnestly, looking at Yinreng's face.

Yinreng fell silent, embarrassed, and didn't want to speak.

His recent clothes are all newly made, and De Shun said that his waist is more than two fingers wider.

“Every time you couldn’t finish your food, I ate it all for you,” Yinreng said honestly.

Tong Wanyan reached out and poked his face. Compared to when he was so tired that he was just skin and bones, he looked more down-to-earth now that his face had a bit more flesh on it.

"Then I must thank you very much, sir," Tong Wanyan said.

Yinreng said dejectedly, "Does that mean I'm not handsome enough now that I'm fat?"

In the future, when the family of five goes out, he will be the ugliest standing on the side. Just thinking about it is terrifying.

Tong Wanyan blinked, wondering why Yinreng would think that way.

She said sincerely, "Even if you've gained a little weight, you're still just as handsome. In my heart, you're the most handsome man, no one can compare to you. Besides, if you've gained weight, I've gained weight too. A whole family of fat people, how prosperous!"

Yinreng imagined that scene, and now it was indeed a whole family of fat men.

He chuckled, his eyes reddening, his skin thin and delicate; he was clearly a handsome man with a face as beautiful as the autumn moon.

"Seeing that you can talk and make a fuss, I'm relieved. Tomorrow, Consort Tong will come to the palace for a short stay, and she should be able to stay with me for about ten days." Yinreng held her hand affectionately.

There were several crescent-shaped marks on her palms, from scratching during the pain of childbirth.

Yinreng touched the wound, and his heart ached.

Just then, Chunque brought a bowl of chicken porridge into the room: "After thinking it over, I decided to cook some chicken porridge for Master, as it's easier to digest."

Yinreng took the bowl, scooped up a spoonful to taste it, and found the temperature just right, though the flavor was a bit bland.

“I will feed you,” Yinreng said.

Tong Wanyan took a bite and said, "If I had to say what I'm most unaccustomed to during my postpartum period, it would be the food. Even with a room full of chefs, if they use less seasoning, it still won't taste as good as before."

Yinreng coaxed her, "If you can get through this month, I'll get you whatever you want to eat."

"I'm just complaining, but I know in my heart I can't do things recklessly." Tong Wanyan took another sip of porridge.

Yinreng smiled, his eyes crinkling, and said in a coaxing tone, "I know Xiaoyan is the best girl."

After finishing the porridge, Yinreng was kicked out of the delivery room.

Chunque and Xiazhu brought hot water into the room, wet the towels, wrung them out, and wiped Tong Wanyan's body again.

After a flurry of activity, Tong Wanyan quickly fell asleep again.

The good news of the Crown Prince's second son spread quickly with great fanfare, and everyone knew that the Crown Prince had gained another son.

The Empress Dowager, Emperor Kangxi, and the imperial concubines all presented the congratulatory gifts they had prepared in advance.

The imperial physician had diagnosed it in advance as a prince, and their gifts were already prepared very well, so there was no need to prepare double.

Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily, and as he laughed, he murmured, "Empress, Baocheng has had another son. Are you happy? I am very happy. Baocheng is doing very well. I have not let you down."

During the third-day celebration, Emperor Kangxi eagerly bestowed the name "Sheng" upon his second grandson.

The character "晟" (Shèng) represents the sun at noon, signifying brightness, vigor, and prosperity. This perfectly aligns with the time of Hongsheng's birth and carries the best wishes of his elders.

When Yinreng received the imperial decree, he was overjoyed to learn that his second son's given name was this.

Hongsheng was in better health than Hongzhao had been; everyone who saw him knew he was a healthy and clever chubby baby.

When Tana and Hongzhao saw their little brother, they were overjoyed and quickly dragged all the toys out of the house to give to him.

Hongzhao's appearance combined the best features of both Yinreng and Tong Wanyan, making him so handsome that it made people envious of Yinreng's good fortune. He had a virtuous wife, beautiful concubines, and both sons and daughters—he had it all.

When Consort Gui and Consort Yi celebrated Hongsheng's third-day birthday, they each held him for a while. Afterwards, they told the Empress Dowager that Prince Hongsheng was the most handsome child they had seen in years. This shows that when Hongsheng grows up, his good looks alone will be enough to make countless young ladies want to marry him.

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing this, remarked that they were being mischievous, making fun of a child.

However, she generously rewarded each of them with a jeweled headdress, showing that she was pleased to hear it and that the Imperial Concubine and Consort Yi had pleased her.

Because Tong Wanyan was still in her postpartum period, Dong E Hailan and Ulanara Fanghui sent gifts but did not go to Yuqing Palace to offer their congratulations.

They had a slight aversion to Shi Xiuzhu and didn't know how to get along with him, so they tried to avoid him.

Seeing that her sisters-in-law had paid their respects but not actually attended, the First Princess Consort followed suit.

Honestly, she felt a tiny bit jealous of Tong Wanyan for being able to give birth to a son. Especially since their two pregnancies were born around the same time.

Tong Fujin, who entered the palace the day after Tong Wanyan gave birth, was arranged to live in the South Courtyard, where she inevitably ran into Shi Xiuzhu, who often came to visit.

In front of Consort Tong, Shi Xiuzhu was not the same unruly person she was in front of Yinreng and Tong Wanyan. She was well-behaved, and her words and actions were gentle, virtuous, and extremely appropriate.

In Tong Fujin's words, Shi Xiuzhu's eyes held a compassionate gentleness.

Heaven knows that before Shi Xiuzhu got married, she stayed at a Buddhist temple for nearly three months to practice her magnanimous and noble expression. During those three months, she copied Buddhist scriptures, practiced the image of Guanyin, and sincerely worshipped Buddha, only to learn a little bit of Guanyin's compassionate and merciful expression.

Seeing with her own eyes that Shi Xiuzhu did not make things difficult for Tong Wanyan, and that Yinreng and the royal family treated Tong Wanyan as well as always, and that the young princes got along very well and were in good health, Tong Fujin's maternal heart was slightly relieved.

A mother worries when her son travels far away. How could Consort Tong not worry about her daughter living alone in the palace?

This time, while staying in the palace for a short time, she took out a large sum of money from her private savings to subsidize Tong Wanyan.

When the men of the Tong family found out, they all took out their own money, treating banknotes like waste paper, and generously gave a large stack of them, asking Tong Fujin to help take them into the palace.

As a result, Tong Wanyan became the richest person in Yuqing Palace for a time.