After paying her respects, Wu Kuzha did not leave but stood beside Hongzhou, listening to their conversation. This was not against etiquette, but Hongzhou did not want her to stay today.

Hongzhou casually made up an excuse to ask Wukuzha to leave. After Wukuzha curtsied, she showed Hongli a worried look on her face before leaving.

Hongli sighed inwardly. The situation had spiraled out of control, and Hongzhou was in a bad mood, as were all those who loved him. He nodded to Wukuzha, reassuring her that he would take care of everything.

After Wu Kuzha returned, Hongli began drinking and chatting with Hongzhou.

Hongzhou drank cup after cup of wine, but didn't utter a single word.

Hongli finished his wine and pressed the wine pot to pour wine for the two of them, saying, "After Father and Mother went to the Yuanmingyuan, they both recovered their health. This is a great thing. Come, let's drink to them!"

"Good! I'm happy that they're healthy." Hongzhou's face was flushed from the alcohol, and his words were halting, but still coherent.

After clinking glasses, Hongli poured wine for each other again, saying, "With you and me supporting each other in the court, the court is peaceful and the national treasury is full. This is all thanks to you, Hongzhou. This cup is a toast to you from your fourth brother!"

This time, Hongli drank it all in one gulp. He knew that Hongzhou had something on his mind, and that Hongzhou was unwilling to share it with him, so he only drank with Hongzhou, not expecting him to open up.

After a few rounds of drinks, Hongzhou leaned on the table and counted the glass bottles on the wall cabinet. "One, two... seven, Fourth Brother, do you think there are seven?"

Hongli nodded, while Hongzhou clutched his head in anguish and cried out, "Why can't I get drunk! Why can't I get drunk!"

"Hongzhou, you must always remember that as the sons of the Emperor, we cannot act recklessly." As princes of the Qing Dynasty, for the sake of the greater good, their indulgence tonight should not exist, but Hongli could not bear to see Hongzhou suppress himself, so he indulged him this once.

Now that things had gone too far, Hongli gave Hongzhou a treat, but then threw out a big stick, talking to Hongzhou about his responsibilities as a prince.

"I want to deepen some policies so that people can live and work in peace and contentment. This cannot be accomplished by the efforts of one person alone," Hongli said meaningfully at the end.

Although Hongli didn't say it outright, Hongzhou knew in his heart that Hongli was encouraging him and hoping that he would go back to help him.

He also wanted to do something for the people of the Qing Dynasty, but whenever he thought about his suspicious background, Hongzhou couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

As he swallowed the last drop of wine, Hongzhou felt the burning sensation in his throat and slowly nodded.

“I will enter the palace tomorrow,” Hongzhou said.

When Hongli saw that he had finally agreed, he showed a genuine smile. He ordered wine to be brought over and drank a few more cups with Hongzhou.

When both of them had drunk quite a bit, Hongli decided to return to his residence.

"Fourth Brother, I'll send someone to take you back." The children of the Aisin Gioro family were destined to be different. Although their bellies were full of alcohol, the two of them stood sober in the night wind.

Their identities forced them to stay clear-headed.

"No need, you should go back and rest. Don't catch a cold. I definitely want to see you in the palace tomorrow." Hongli waved his hand and was helped into the carriage by the servants. He leaned against the carriage wall and let out a long breath.

The carriage started moving and headed towards the Prince's Mansion.