"You don't need to care what Hongchang said. You need to know that you are brothers. What can't you resolve? Is it necessary to escalate to the point of hiding?"

Hongtun quickly shook his head: "No, son didn't mean to hide from elder brother!"

Seeing his serious expression, which didn't seem like he was lying, He Yue couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Then why are you doing this?"

Hongtun looked embarrassed: "Actually, I know that my elder brother is just tough on the outside but soft on the inside. He may say harsh things, but he still cares about me. Mother doesn't know that I was originally going to teach Hongshi a lesson, but my elder brother stopped me and rushed forward himself."

If my elder brother hadn't stopped me, I would have been the one to hit Hongshi, and I would have been the one punished. So, this is something I owe my elder brother, and I can't let him suffer for me.

He Yue was stunned.

Did Hongchang really do that?

"What does this have to do with your trip to Jiangnan to raise funds for disaster relief?" He Yue asked, surprised and puzzled.

"As long as I help Hongli get the disaster relief funds, I will have done a good job. Then I can ask the emperor to restore my elder brother's position as heir apparent, and my elder brother will no longer be depressed."

Hongtun's words made Heyue feel both gratified and heartbroken.

It's heartening that Hongtun is able to put aside past grievances and think so much about Hongchang, making efforts to repair the brothers' relationship. He is indeed a good kid.

It's heartbreaking that Hongtun is so sensible at such a young age; it's clear that his mother, Heyue, hasn't done a good enough job.

"Alright, Mother won't stop you anymore. Just take good care of yourself when you get there, and be careful, okay?" Knowing the whole story, what reason did Heyue have to stop him?

Hongtun breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thank you, Mother. I will be careful."

Three days later, Hongtun and Hongli set off for Jiangnan. Before leaving, Heyue prepared many clothes and food for Hongtun for the journey.

After Hongtun left, Heyue was constantly worried. Although it was just about raising money, there was still danger in it.

What if some people, in a desperate situation, resort to desperate measures that could harm Hong Tun?

With such anxiety on my mind day and night, the days slowly passed.

The day for Hongchang to welcome his bride has finally arrived.

Although Hongchang had been stripped of his title as heir apparent and was now only a prince, his wedding was still a grand and lively affair.

When the bride's sedan chair arrived, Hongchang shot three arrows, kicked the sedan chair door, welcomed the bride across the fire basin, and then entered the mansion for the wedding ceremony in the flower hall.

Heyue and Shisan sat on the high platform, watching the newlyweds perform their wedding ceremony, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

In the blink of an eye, her son was already married, and she was about to become a mother-in-law. This was something she would never have imagined in her previous life.

Hongchang led the bride into the bridal chamber and sat her on the wedding bed. The nannies stood in front of the bed and scattered dried fruits such as red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds on it, symbolizing "early birth of a son".

The groom lifted the veil and, upon seeing the gentle and beautiful bride, grinned from ear to ear.

Guarjia Wenyu's face was flushed, and she smiled with her eyes lowered.

The newlyweds ate the "descendant buns" (a traditional Chinese gift of food for fertility) and drank the nuptial wine, thus concluding the ceremony.

The atmosphere was just right when suddenly someone came from the front and said that the Emperor had arrived. Hongchang hurriedly led his bride to the front to greet the imperial procession.

In the flower hall, Heyue and Shisan had just welcomed the suddenly arriving emperor, and then knelt on the ground to receive the rewards sent by the emperor.

The emperor not only attended his nephew's wedding in person, but also brought generous rewards. This made those who were originally either going to laugh at him or taking a wait-and-see attitude clearly understand the emperor's high regard for Prince Yi and his affection for his nephew.

The Prince Yi's mansion remains highly sought after; we'll have to keep currying favor with them from now on.

Yongzheng said, "No need for formalities," and only then did Thirteen and Heyue get up.

Hongchang led Guarjia Wenyu to the flower hall to pay their respects.

At the head of the table, Yongzheng gestured for the two to dispense with formalities. Looking at the couple, he said gently, "Hongchang, from now on you are an adult. I should assign you some tasks. You must not cause trouble like a child anymore and give your father and mother trouble."

Such intimate words warmed Hongchang's heart, and he quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Hongchang will certainly live up to Your Majesty's grace."

Yongzheng then looked at his new bride, Guarjia Wenyu: "Guarjia, from now on you must assist Hongchang well, be careful in your words and deeds, and also give birth to an heir for Prince Yi's mansion as soon as possible."

Lady Guarjia kowtowed, her tone gentle yet firm: "Lady Guarjia will obey His Majesty's decree and will certainly assist my husband and be dutiful to my parents-in-law."

Emperor Yongzheng nodded in satisfaction, then rose and left.

He Yue and the Thirteenth Prince respectfully saw off the Emperor.

After the emperor's procession had departed, the group returned to their residence. He Yue gestured to Hong Chang and Wen Yu, "You two, hurry back."

Hongchang and Wenyu returned to their new house. As soon as they arrived, Wenyu felt so nervous that her whole body went limp.

Noticing his wife's nervousness, Hongchang smiled and helped her up: "Ayu looks calm and composed in the face of danger, but it turns out it's just an empty shell inside."

Being addressed so affectionately and teased like that, Guarjia blushed and glared at him reproachfully: "My lord, you always tease me."

Hongchang felt a surge of heat throughout his body. The young princess was truly a delight to behold; she was beautiful, had a good temper, and was so charming and shy—she was perfect in every way.

Before the marriage, Hongchang had been with several women and had experienced the pleasures of sex, so he was not unfamiliar with it at all. He immediately put his arm around the young lady's waist and said with a wicked smile, "A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Let's get settled."

Guarjia's cheeks were flushed, making her even more beautiful and charming, like a crabapple blossom.

...

The next morning, Heyue and Thirteen sat upright in the armchairs in the main room. Thirteen calmly drank his tea, while Heyue was extremely nervous, holding her teacup and glancing towards the door from time to time.

Thirteen saw this and couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you in such a hurry? It's the first day of your marriage, it's inevitable that it will be a little late, we've been through it before."

He Yue blushed, glaring at him angrily, "Where did I get the hurry?"

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