Consort Yi was the host of the banquet, and she was dressed in dazzling jewelry, making her the most glamorous person around.
She was naturally cheerful, and seeing how well the First Princess and Tong Wanyan got along, she smiled and said, "Since the First Princess likes the Second Princess so much, why don't you go home with her?"
The eldest princess was young and took Consort Yi's words seriously.
She happily hugged Tong Wanyan's neck and said in a clear voice, "Okay!"
Consort Hui teased, "When Grandma asked you to stay in the palace the other day, you insisted on going home with your father and mother. Now you're happy because you think Consort Tong is pretty?"
Consort Hui deliberately made a gesture of wiping away tears, which made the eldest princess hurriedly try to get out of Tong Wanyan's arms.
"Grandma looks good too, let's keep Grandma company!" the eldest princess said urgently.
"Good child, don't rush, I'll carry you there." Tong Wanyan said, and was about to get up.
The eldest princess looked at her longingly and said, "I can't bear to part with you."
Her pitiful little face kept her busy, glancing at Tong Wanyan one moment and then at Consort Hui the next, trying to comfort her.
Consort Hui laughed until her stomach hurt: "Grandma's little darling, you should keep Consort Tong company."
The eldest princess happily snuggled close to Tong Wanyan's arms, saying, "Grandma, you are so beautiful!"
Consort Yi raised her wine cup to Emperor Kangxi and said, "Your Majesty, listen to what the eldest princess is saying, how sweet her words are! Why don't you praise Consort Hui as well?"
Consort Hui never expected that Consort Yi would push her towards Emperor Kangxi. She was an old hand in the palace, past her prime, and had long lost the emperor's favor.
"My sister Yifei is just acting like a child. I already have two granddaughters, it's really embarrassing," Consort Hui scolded playfully.
She said she was extremely embarrassed, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at Kangxi.
Even the Empress Dowager, whose eyesight was gradually deteriorating, noticed it.
"I remember when Consort Hui first entered the palace, she was wearing a maroon qipao, and her eyes were as round and dark as the eldest princess's. She had a very good spirit," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, looking at Kangxi.
Kangxi, who had suddenly become the focus of everyone's attention, stared directly at Consort Hui without any hesitation.
He examined you carefully, and said slowly but firmly, "It's really nice, the emerald green color makes you look very good."
Emperor Kangxi's praise made Consort Hui blush.
Consort Hui felt a mix of bittersweet emotions. She lowered her head shyly and glanced quickly at Emperor Kangxi: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty."
The Crown Prince was the first to laugh out loud: "Father Emperor, you are truly amazing! Your son toasts you!"
A group of people joined in the laughter and commotion, saying that the Emperor was still as sharp as ever and that his sweet words were very eloquent.
After each glass of wine, everyone became less reserved and stiff than before.
Everyone was chatting and laughing, having a great time.
Tong Wanyan spoke a few words to Consort Hui at the beginning, then coaxed the eldest princess and chatted with the eldest princess's wife, and didn't say anything more.
Since she's not a proper daughter-in-law, it's best to leave the spotlight at family banquets to the concubines, princes, and princesses of the imperial harem.
Under the guidance of Consort Yi, Consort Wang spoke wittily, her pretty face full of pride.
Yinreng quietly said to Tong Wanyan, "Aren't you tired of carrying the little chubby one? Let her go to her mother! You're usually so tired taking care of Hongzhao and Tana, it would be nice to relax a bit today."
The eldest princess may be young, but she's not stupid.
Her handsome second uncle is obviously trying to trick her.
“I’m not a little fatso,” the eldest princess retorted.
Yin still glanced at her sideways, showing no affection whatsoever for his niece.
Although both were uncles, Yinreng was far inferior to Yinzhen.
"You're just fat. Look at you, you have three layers of wrinkles on your chin, and you look like a ball when you're not wearing clothes," Yin said sarcastically.
Yin was so angry he wanted to slam his fist on the table. If it weren't for the special occasion, he could have picked Yin up and slapped him in the face.
Yin still looked at him defiantly, relying on Kangxi's support.
"Big brother, do you think I'm right?" Yin asked with a sly smile, looking incredibly irritating.
Yin Ti took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and telling himself that he couldn't hit anyone, and he couldn't lose his temper.
Tong Wanyan secretly pinched Yinreng's waist: "You look so beautiful like this, Princess. Isn't our Tana chubby too?"
Although the eldest princess wasn't as strikingly beautiful as Tana, she was fair-skinned and tender like a little steamed bun, just as adorable.
The clever princess chimed in, "I'm beautiful!"
The First Consort accidentally choked on her own food. It wasn't that she was trying to discredit her own daughter; she simply wasn't particularly beautiful.
The eldest princess turned to look at the eldest princess with concern. She had been so busy all night, having to look after this and that.
The First Princess wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and looked at the Eldest Princess with affection: "Yes, you are beautiful."
The eldest princess smiled contentedly, revealing her tiny teeth: "You're prettier."
She spoke vaguely and didn't name names. However, everyone knew she was referring to Tong Wanyan.
Tong Wanyan happily picked her up and kissed her on the cheek.
The eldest princess shrewdly turned her face to the other side: "And this side too."
Yin's face was still ashen: "Xiao Yan, eat a mooncake. Mooncakes are delicious!"
“I like it too.” The eldest princess was completely at odds with Yinreng.
Yinti walked past the First Princess and patted the eldest princess's head with satisfaction.
Like father, like daughter; his daughter is just like him, capable of bullying Yinreng.
"Second brother, the imperial chefs' skills are about the same every year. Apart from the different shapes, the taste is indistinguishable. They just want to be mediocre. They're not as good as the chefs in my household. Tell Consort Tong to have some fun with the eldest princess. I'll send a box of mooncakes over tomorrow."
"The chef I found is from the south. His cooking is delicate and not too strong in flavor. I guarantee you'll like it," Yin Ti said, showing off as he spoke.
Yin's eyes were still slightly dark, and he lowered his gaze, seemingly lost in thought.
When Yin asked why he didn't compete with him, Yin still got up.
"Father, my elder brother and I were just talking about food. He said he specially found a chef for you who is skilled in cooking Jiangnan cuisine. You always love to go to Jiangnan, but now the court is so busy that you can't get away. Occasionally tasting the flavors of Jiangnan can always ease your longing." Yinreng stood up and said loudly to Kangxi.
He spoke words of concern for Emperor Kangxi, which moved Kangxi deeply.
"Is what Baoqing and Baocheng said true?" Kangxi asked.
Yinti forced himself to stand up: "Second brother, you spoke too quickly. I was going to tell you later. The banquet has only just begun. If I tell you about the surprise now, what will we do later?"
Yin Ti smiled outwardly, but felt bitter inside.
The First Princess Consort, pregnant with her third child, developed a change of taste and suddenly craved Jiangnan cuisine. He had gone to great lengths to find such a person through Mingzhu, only to have him boast about it once and then disappear.
The hatred for stealing the cook is irreconcilable.
Yin ignored the raging fire in Yin Ti's eyes.
He instigated his daughter to steal his wife; if he didn't ruin him, he'd be letting down the petty impression the man had of him.
"Father, my elder brother is always thinking about being filial to you, you must reward him!" Yinreng added fuel to the fire.
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