Although he and Su Yushan had some minor conflicts during this period, they resolved them one by one and got along very well. He really enjoyed being with her. He felt very comfortable during the day and went crazy for her at night. He had gotten used to having only her by his side and didn't want anyone else to join him.

However, this is the rule, and he will have a wife sooner or later. After a moment of surprise, Hongli smiled and replied, "Everything is up to Father and Mother."

Consort Xi had always been concerned about her son's marriage, because it was rumored that Emperor Yongzheng had passed the throne to Hongli as early as the year he ascended the throne. However, Consort Xi was not sure, after all, the emperor had two other sons!

Therefore, she was eager to see which family's daughter Emperor Yongzheng would betroth to Hongli, in order to judge the Emperor's will. "I would like to make the decision for you, but unfortunately your marriage is of great importance. It depends on how your father arranges it."

Hongli didn't care who his father would choose for him; it was just a title, after all. He would be content as long as Su Yushan was still by his side.

However, she once said that she was actually quite petty, and she didn't know how Su Yushan would react when he married his wife next year.

Hopefully, she can understand him and won't hold a grudge against him.

After chatting with his mother for a few more minutes, Hongli left the palace and returned home. On the way, he ran into Hongzhou and casually asked, "I heard that you recently took in a new concubine?"

"That's right!" Hongzhou beamed with joy as he spoke of his new favorite, his eyes brimming with laughter. "She's so sweet and soft, she's captured my heart perfectly!"

After saying that, he asked again, "Fourth Brother, have you not added any people to your household?"

"What people should we add?" Hongli had never considered it. "I think there are too many people!"

There are actually people who complain about having too many women? Hongzhou really couldn't understand his fourth brother's thoughts. "It's been so long, and you're still spoiling that Su Gege? Fourth brother, don't you get tired of it?"

In the past, Hongli believed that a man's harem should have different women, and that frequent changes would keep things fresh. However, unknowingly, he had been with Su Yushan for three months and still hadn't gotten tired of her.

"When you truly like someone, how can you feel tired of them? If you feel tired of them, it's probably not true love."

Hongzhou said very seriously, "I am sincere to every woman!"

Hongli was speechless, then chuckled and said, "That's called being sentimental."

"Men are inherently passionate. Where in this world is there a man who is devoted to one woman? I don't believe you won't sleep with other women. You can ignore the other maids, but when the imperial concubine selection comes next year, Father will arrange a wife for you. Will you still neglect your wife then?"

That's definitely not possible. Mentioning this matter, Hongli suddenly felt a headache and didn't want to discuss it anymore. He thought that things would work themselves out and that tomorrow's worries would come tomorrow.

After exchanging a few casual words, the two brothers went back to their respective residences.

That noon, Su Yushan, having nothing else to do, cooked for herself.

Her original private kitchen was now obsolete. Ever since that incident, Hongli had forbidden her from cooking for herself, lest someone with ulterior motives sabotage her cooking again.

But she couldn't stay idle and always wanted to cook some delicious food herself, so she would coax and flatter Hongli.

Unable to resist her repeated pleas, Hongli had no choice but to agree to set up a small kitchen for her in Huatang Pavilion. This time, there were dedicated cooks and nannies to help her prepare the ingredients, and no one else was allowed to enter or leave at will, so Su Yushan could cook the food with peace of mind.

As soon as he entered Huatang Pavilion, a fragrant aroma wafted from the small kitchen, which he guessed was because Su Yushan was up to her old tricks again.

Curious, Hongli turned towards the small kitchen. "It smells so good! What are they making?"

As he walked up to her side, Hongli turned his head and saw that she was holding a kitchen knife, chopping scallions, ginger and garlic. "You can leave such small things to the cook. You don't need to do it yourself."

Su Yushan said it was fine, "The joy of cooking lies in doing it yourself. If I always ask others for help, what's the point of setting up a special kitchen? I might as well wash my hands and sit there and wait to eat!"

After each of Hongli's departures, she would have nothing to do after breakfast and would feel very lonely. Cooking was a good way to pass the time, so she never found these little things tedious; on the contrary, she enjoyed them.

Steam was still rising from the pot. Hongli asked her what she was cooking, but she didn't say, saying that he would know when it was done.

"Then let me lend you a hand. Is there anything I can do? Is there anything else I need to cut?"

Su Yushan, who was chopping ginger and garlic, smiled and shook her head, saying, "Your hands are for reading, writing, and handling government affairs. I wouldn't dare use them."

Leaning his head closer to her ear, Hongli whispered, "I use these hands for reading and writing during the day, but you should know better what I can do with them at night..."

His hands truly possessed magic, always transporting her to the heavens. The thought of those unspeakable scenes made Su Yushan blush instantly, and she glared at him reproachfully.

"There are still people inside! What nonsense are you talking about? It's so embarrassing!"

With a smile, Hongli pinched her earlobe with his finger, his eyes full of doting affection, "If you won't let me talk, then let me do some work for you."

It seemed he wouldn't give up unless she gave him something to do, so Su Yushan assigned him to help wash some chili peppers, saying she was going to make shredded pork with green peppers.

The task was simple, so Hongli immediately took care of it, washing two chilies in a basin and handing them to her quickly.

Su Yushan took it and was immediately dumbfounded. "These are the chili peppers you washed?"

"It's very clean! What's wrong?" Hongli thought he had washed it very carefully, but Su Yushan was both amused and exasperated. "You can't just rinse a chili pepper with water; you have to pluck off this little tail."

Why go through all that trouble? Wouldn't it be easier to just chop it off?

"There's still a core inside. Chopping it all at once would waste a lot of chilies. You can push it in first, then pull it out, and the little tail will come out! See? Isn't it simple?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!