Everyone laughed at how much Yinzhen adored Tana.
Year after year of loving care must be true love.
Yinzhen was used to being teased and stood calmly next to Yinreng.
Yinreng looked at the boy who was a head shorter than him and took off the purse tied around his waist.
"Your New Year's money." Yinreng only prepared his own.
In previous years, the New Year's money was given by the Imperial Noble Consort, but this year it was given by Yinreng, and Yinzhen's eyes reddened.
"Second brother, I've grown up now." He couldn't cry on such a joyous day as the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Yinreng rubbed his half-moon-shaped bald head; the head was cold from the wind.
“Even if you grow to seventy years old, you will still be my younger brother,” Yinreng said domineeringly.
Yinzhen chuckled and nodded with a look of reliance.
Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager were extremely pleased, for brotherly affection and mutual assistance were the right path.
"Baocheng is right. I have also prepared New Year's money for you. I only hope that you will be safe and healthy." Kangxi's blessing was simple.
Emperor Kangxi gave it, and as the matriarch, the Empress Dowager naturally had to give the younger generation New Year's money as well.
Tong Wanyan was surprised to receive two more portions, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Yinreng secretly called her "little money-grubber," but Tong Wanyan ignored him completely.
Once they were warmed up, Tana and Hongzhao unwrapped their small cotton blankets and put them aside.
The Empress Dowager was sensitive to the cold, so the underground heating in the Ning Shou Palace was kept exceptionally strong.
Tana and Hongzhao crawled happily on the carpet, and the four generations of the family gathered together in a joyful atmosphere.
Just then, Consort Yi and Consort Gui arrived together.
The Empress Dowager raised the Fifth Prince, Yinqi, for several years, and the bond between them was very strong. The Consort only had one son, Yin'e, and the two of them spent the New Year alone, which wasn't very lively.
After discussing it, the two empresses decided to come and accompany the Empress Dowager.
Yinqi is eleven years old this year. He has been raised by the Empress Dowager since childhood and has developed a somewhat Buddhist nature, with a gentle and kind temperament.
Despite being his own son, Yinzhi was arrogant and spoiled, making him seem more like a brother to Yin'e when they were together.
Both Yin'e and Yin'tang were rather chubby and robust, and they pounced on Kangxi one after the other, a weight that was truly unbearable for their lives.
The two small cannonballs crashed straight into him, and Kangxi felt as if he had suffered internal injuries and was about to cough up blood.
"Your sons pay their respects to Father Emperor and Mother Emperor. We wish Father Emperor all the best and Mother Emperor a long and healthy life," said Yin Tang and Yin E in unison.
They were full of vigor, eagerly waiting to receive their New Year's money.
Emperor Kangxi joked, "Two little devils who have come to collect debts."
That being said, the purse containing the gold ingots was quite heavy.
Yintang and Yin'e chuckled, handed the purses to Consort Yi and Consort Gui, and then each of them turned around and hugged the legs of Yinreng and Yinzhen.
"Wishing you prosperity, brother!" They were much more direct with their older brothers.
Yinreng glanced thankfully at Tong Wanyan beside him, relieved that the two boys hadn't hurt his sweetheart.
“You’re all seven years old now, so your studies in the Imperial Academy should be a bit more demanding next year.” Yinreng didn’t hide his desire to settle a personal score: “You fatties can no longer slack off on riding and archery.”
Yinzhen stared in horror at the person clinging to his leg: "Crown Prince, how could you do this?"
Yin'e didn't mind: "Your Highness is a good person, and I'm willing to follow my riding and archery master every day."
The two brothers, who disagreed, stared at each other, sparks flying.
Consort Yi looked at Yinreng with gratitude: "Your Highness's consideration is very wise. Yintang is lazy and greedy all day long. He cries and throws a tantrum as soon as you ask him to walk a few steps. If you hand him over to a riding and archery instructor, he will definitely lose all his laziness."
"Mother, my dear mother, how could you do this? You always said I was chubby and very handsome, like a page under Guanyin. Now, you've changed." Yinzhen said, looking aggrieved.
He's a prince, so what if he's a little chubby and likes to eat?
Yin'e remembered that he had just teased his ninth brother: "Ninth brother is handsome, and his plumpness means he is blessed."
As he spoke, he patted his little belly.
The imperial concubine sighed and remained silent. Her son was so honest and straightforward; he would surely offend many people when he grew up.
Yinreng looked down with a smile at Yintang, who was clinging to his leg and refusing to let go: "Ten taels of gold for half a year of riding and archery lessons, Ninth Brother, would you like that?"
Yin Tang nodded quickly: "Second Brother Crown Prince is the best. I especially like riding horses, shooting arrows and practicing martial arts."
Yinreng's bait was so clever that Consort Yi was speechless with astonishment.
No one knows a son better than his mother, but she didn't know that Yinzhen loved money to this extent.
"Your Majesty, how about I play a game of cards with you?" Consort Yi didn't want to deal with her troublesome son.
The Imperial Concubine's heart was the same as Consort Yi's; she looked expectantly at the Empress Dowager.
Tong Wanyan stood obediently to the side, waiting for the Empress Dowager's words.
What else can four women do together besides play cards?
The Empress Dowager led Tong Wanyan and others to another place to play cards, leaving Kangxi and his mischievous sons behind.
From Yinreng to Yin'e, the brothers lined up in a row, from tallest to shortest.
"Baocheng, come play chess with me. Yinzhen, go play with Hongzhao and Tana. Yinqi, watch over Yintang and Yin'e." Kangxi made the arrangements swiftly and decisively.
Yinreng and the others had no objections to this arrangement and obediently followed Kangxi's orders.
Yinqi was not good at chess, and Yinzhen only had his eldest niece in his heart. The two little princes could play together anywhere, which was the best thing.
The servant quickly set up the Go table and placed the Go board on it.
The black and white jade pieces are warm to the touch, making them a pleasure to hold in winter.
Emperor Kangxi and Prince Yinreng sat facing each other, playing chess and chatting.
"I heard that the eldest prince's wife has approached your concubine to discuss Tong Ruita's marriage?" Kangxi asked.
Yinreng's expression softened, and he placed a chess piece decisively without hesitation: "Her cousin is the daughter of a second wife. She was born at the wrong time, and there were no suitable good families for her, so she set her sights on the promising Tong Ruita."
"That kid is dark-skinned and strong, and as tall as a bear. Isn't he afraid of scaring the girl to tears?" Kangxi said with amusement.
Yinreng chuckled, “Father, there aren’t many people like your son, with his handsome face, elegant demeanor, and talent in both literature and martial arts. Tong Ruita has the title you bestowed upon him, so he can live separately after marriage. His birth mother is a concubine and cannot go with him, so the girl will immediately be in charge after marriage. With how much he dotes on his sister, he doesn’t have any concubines in the harem, making him a highly sought-after woman.”
"Is there anyone who would boast like that? However, my Crown Prince, the Qing Dynasty truly cannot find a better fiancé than you," Kangxi said proudly.
"That's not necessarily true. Families who dote on their daughters are unlikely to marry them off to the palace." Yinreng was aware of this much.
Kangxi glared at him angrily: "You are being unworthy of your station."
"Didn't you already choose the Crown Princess? I don't want any more trouble in the inner court. One or two of them, not very old, but with such vicious hearts, it's upsetting to see them." Yinreng quickly stopped the topic.
Upon hearing this, Kangxi stopped mentioning the matter and thought of Tong Wanyan, who was revered as a lucky star by the master.
From now on, let the Crown Princess deal with Fuxing; he won't interfere in the Crown Prince's affairs anymore.
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