The Empress Dowager was referring to Tana, Hongzhao, Yintang, and Yin'e.
Consort Yi chuckled, "The four of them actually get along so well. Look at Xiao Jiu and Xiao Shi, they're even lying on the ground talking to Hong Zhao and Tana. I wonder if they can understand what the other is saying."
Looking at Tana, the Empress Dowager was overjoyed.
The Empress Dowager, forgetting about Yinzhi, said to the servants, "Go and pick up Prince Hongzhao and Princess Tana. They've been rolling around on the ground all morning. Even with the carpet in between, they'll still catch a cold."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, Hongzhao and Tana are in excellent health. Every month when the imperial physicians examine their sons, they ask how he takes care of himself, as they want to learn from him," Tong Wanyan said.
The Empress Dowager glared at her, feigning anger: "You are their own mother, why don't you take better care of them? It's good that the children are healthy, but we can't be careless."
"Oh, Your Majesty is right. I'm only relying on you because you dote on these younger ones. You're so kind to them, how could you let them catch a cold? The underfloor heating in this room is specially heated for them." Tong Wanyan shamelessly moved closer to the Empress Dowager, not intimidated at all.
The Empress Dowager tapped her head: "You little monkey, you know best how to cling to me."
"Your Majesty, it's not just Consort Tong, I'll also rely on you," Consort Yi said crisply.
The momentary embarrassment caused by Yin Zhi was quickly dispelled by some playful antics, and Ning Shou Palace returned to its lively and relaxed state.
Knowing he was not familiar with the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine, and the Consort Yi, Yinzhi dutifully greeted the Empress Dowager and then moved to Kangxi's side.
Seeing the expectant look in Yin Zhi's eyes, Kangxi softened a little.
Perhaps because he lacked paternal love as a child, Kangxi did his utmost to care for his children. Although there was some favoritism, it was truly rare for an emperor.
After testing Yinzhi's studies, Kangxi praised him with satisfaction and rewarded him with a fine Duan inkstone.
Yin Zhi's sharp and rebellious heart was easily smoothed out.
He secretly boasted to Yinreng, Yinzhen, and Yinqi about the rewards Kangxi had given him, revealing his pitiful little thoughts. Yinreng and the others indulged him, letting him be smug.
Fortunately, Yin'e, being straightforward since childhood, suddenly had the idea to run out and pick plum blossoms for the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, he would have unwittingly embarrassed Yin Zhi on the spot and said that they deserved to be rewarded with more.
Being surrounded by children and grandchildren is a source of happiness for the elderly.
The Empress Dowager was in a good mood for most of the day, and then she became somewhat drowsy.
Except for Tana, who was left in Ning Shou Palace, the others obediently offered to go back.
Emperor Kangxi, quick-witted and agile, snatched Hongzhao from his grasp and took him to the Qianqing Palace.
They came with their whole family, but left as a couple.
Tong Wanyan and Yinreng were relaxed and happy as they walked back.
The sun is at its best at this time, shining warmly on people. Holding a hand warmer in your arms, you don't feel cold at all.
Therefore, the two of them did not take a sedan chair back.
The Forbidden City is full of unique scenery. Strolling around and stopping to admire the flowers and trees is a unique experience.
Yin Zhi struggled with his feelings for a long time, secretly following them halfway before finally giving in and leaving.
"Second Brother Crown Prince, Consort Tong." Yin Zhi mustered his courage and called out to the two of them.
Tong Wanyan turned around in confusion, and Yinreng noticed a small crater on the side and hugged her tightly.
"Be careful," Yinreng said nervously.
Tong Wanyan looked up and smiled warmly, her eyes filled with love: "Thank you, Master."
"I wonder what brings you here, Third Prince?" Tong Wanyan and Yinreng stood arm in arm, looking very close.
Yin Zhi blushed, his mouth opened and closed for a long time, but he couldn't say what was on his mind.
Yinreng and Tong Wanyan waited patiently for him, without urging him, and stood quietly.
"Yinzhi apologizes to the Crown Prince and Consort Tong. I was young and ignorant and did something foolish before. I am very grateful to the Crown Prince for being so magnanimous and not holding it against me." Once he said what he had been holding back, the rest of his words flowed more smoothly.
Yinzhi grew the fastest and was about the same height as Yinreng when they stood together.
Yinreng could tell the difference between genuine and feigned feelings.
Unlike his previous reluctant apologies, this time Yin Zhi genuinely recognized his mistake and offered his remorse.
Yinreng was vengeful, yet also broad-minded.
This is a contradiction, yet it is his unique personal charm.
“Third brother is still young, so those things are in the past. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. It’s enough that you’ve admitted your mistakes and corrected them. I heard you’ve been looking for a book of unofficial history recently. Unfortunately, I just got my hands on one, and I’ll have someone send it to you later,” Yinreng said.
Yinzhi felt a lump in his throat; he hadn't expected Yinreng to actually accept his apology.
He came specifically to apologize, and it's impossible to say he had no ulterior motives. He was genuinely apologizing, and he was also surrendering and admitting defeat, asking the Crown Prince not to make things difficult for his maternal and future wife's families.
Unexpectedly, after he spoke, the Crown Prince generously stated that he would no longer hold it against him.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have been so stubborn.
"My brother also has a few little toys that are suitable for my nephews and nieces to play with. I'll pack them up and send them to Hongzhao and Tana in a bit," Yinzhi said, returning the favor.
A smile at their reunion dispelled all past grievances, and the minor feud between Yinzhi and Yinreng was thus resolved.
Yinzhi, who often entertained beautiful women, was well aware of the relationship between Yinreng and Tong Wanyan.
Having resolved his inner conflict, he cleverly left, no longer wanting to get in their way.
There was still a long way to go, so Yinreng helped Tong Wanyan walk slowly and stroll around.
Upon returning to Yuqing Palace, the beauty carried several sprigs of plum blossoms in the arms of the palace maids following behind her. Red, yellow, green, all sorts of colors, as if the plum grove had been ransacked.
Yin Zhi kept his word. After discussing it with Consort Rong, he sent her a box of valuable and practical toys, which showed his sincerity.
After glancing at them a few times, Yinreng picked out two that were indeed quite good: "Seal the box and put it in the storeroom. You two should dispose of these two toys and then put them in Hongzhao and Tana's rooms."
He generously forgave Yin Zhi for his past mistakes, but that doesn't mean he still considers him a brother.
If this box of things were a gift from Yinzhen, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
Distance and closeness, intimacy and unfamiliarity, are so clearly distinguished.
Yinreng's actions were exactly what Tong Wanyan wanted.
She was a woman, openly petty and vengeful.
She remembered every bit of the disdain that Yinzhi, Consort Rong, and Lady Dong'e had shown her.
You think you can make up with just an apology and a few gifts? That's wishful thinking.
As the saying goes, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Yinreng and Tong Wanyan had been thinking about Yinzhen, and sure enough, Yinzhen arrived not long after.
He was all alone, and apart from coming to Yuqing Palace to join in the fun, he really didn't know what else to do.
Yinzhen treated Yinreng as a close and dependent father, and Yinreng, in turn, treated him much like his eldest son.
"Fourth brother is here? Your second sister-in-law suddenly had a whim to make dumplings by herself. Would you like to come and try?" Yinreng greeted Yinzhen warmly.
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