Shi Xiuzhu and Tong Wanyan sat in the garden, with a pear tree behind them. When the wind blew, the pears fell, creating an extremely romantic scene.

The dishes on the exquisite plates on the stone table are both beautiful and elegant.

Plum blossom soup dumplings, crispy fried magnolia blossoms, sweet fermented rice with yam and peach blossom dumplings, peach blossom porridge, and pear blossom egg rolls. Every dish on the table is cooked with flowers in mind.

Using flowers in cooking is a proper way to eat.

"Your Highness has such refined tastes," said Yinreng.

"If you're just here to freeload, then don't say a word." Shi Xiuzhu glanced at him sideways, showing him no respect whatsoever.

We're all acquaintances; there's no need to put on airs like we're putting on a show for outsiders.

Yinzhen had grown accustomed to the way this fake couple interacted. He found a seat and sat down, and soon the dishes were brought to him.

"Fourth brother doesn't seem very interested?" Tong Wanyan asked.

She had cared for Yinzhen from a thin young boy until he grew up, watching him marry and have children, and he was almost like her eldest son.

Yinzhen was the same, so he didn't hide anything and spoke out about his grievances.

“I suspect Father Emperor did it on purpose. The capital is so big, yet he chose to have his residence next to mine. With that smiling face, he might just be able to trick my son away from me through the wall one day.” Yinzhen spoke the truth.

Tong Wanyan silently put down her chopsticks, so as not to choke on her food later.

"That can't be that bad," Shi Xiuzhu said.

Tong Wanyan wanted to say, and it really did happen.

Historical records indicate that Aisin-Gioro Hongshi was the third son of the Yongzheng Emperor. He was born on the 13th day of the second month of the 43rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1614), at midnight. His mother was Consort Qi, née Li. On the 18th day of the second month of the 4th year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign (1725), he was designated as the son of Yinzhi.

If we calculate the time, it will be about a year from now, which is when Hongshi will be born.

Of course, many things have now been changed beyond recognition.

"Fourth brother is a good father, you must have confidence in yourself." Tong Wanyan's words of comfort were very weak.

Yinzhen keenly sensed this, and he looked at Tong Wanyan with a wronged expression, making her avoid his gaze.

"Fourth brother is just a bit strict sometimes. But strict discipline is a good thing," Tong Wanyan added awkwardly, which only made her seem like she was trying to cover something up.

The image of Honghui's gaze, a mixture of admiration and fear, immediately came to mind for Yinzhen.

Even his eldest son, who was the one he loved the most, was like this, and his other children dared not approach him as a simple father.

Just like their sons towards Kangxi, they respected their emperor and father, but also feared him.

After saying that, Tong Wanyan opened up: "Look how good your relationship is with Tana. She can talk to you about anything and never cares if you give her a cold shoulder. But you've never given Tana a cold shoulder either."

Yinzhen listened attentively, and after a long silence, said, "It's different."

“What’s different?” Tong Wanyan asked.

“She is my eldest niece,” Yinzhen said.

Yinreng said smugly, "Don't you have enough nephews and nieces?"

"Anyway, Tana is different to me. No one can compare to her. I love her the most. And she loves me the most too." The more Yinzhen spoke, the gentler his expression became.

“Once I caught a cold and endured it without anyone else noticing, but she noticed that something was wrong with me. She made ginger soup for me and even prepared candied fruit, afraid that my mouth would feel uncomfortable from the spiciness after drinking the ginger soup.”

“I made her wooden toys, and she carefully put them away one by one. She wouldn’t even give them to Hongzhao if he wanted them. She cherishes my feelings, so it’s all worth it for me to be good to her.”

“Tana treats me like her fourth uncle, not someone she needs to please. I treat her like my own child, and as long as she's happy, I'll take care of everything else.”

When Yinzhen mentioned Tana, he talked so much that it was impossible to interrupt him.

After listening quietly to him speak and seeing the satisfied look on his face, Shi Xiuzhu sighed and said, "This is fate."