To keep a low profile, Tong Wanyan stayed in the South Courtyard and never went out.
The Empress Dowager, mindful that too many people were asking about it, did not summon her to Ning Shou Palace to accompany her.
After not seeing the main character for more than half a month, the concubines' curiosity gradually subsided.
Yinzhen hid for a while before coming to Yuqing Palace as a guest, carrying his newly made toys.
Yinreng looked at Yinzhen with a gloating smile: "My injuries have all healed before you come. What are you looking around for? Your aunt will be here in a while, but since I'm your uncle here, you can look around first."
Yinzhen glared angrily at Yinreng: "Second Brother Crown Prince, I'm going to complain to Second Sister-in-law!"
“I didn’t say anything wrong. Look, your cousin calls Father Emperor ‘cousin,’ so it’s much better if you follow Father Emperor’s way of addressing him.” Yinreng was very happy to tease Yinzhen.
Yinzhen's face turned red with anger. He wanted to hit Yinreng, but he didn't dare.
"Hahaha, Fourth Brother is so adorable. Alright, I'm just letting you experience the suffering I endured at your Second Sister-in-law's place. Let you feel how frustrated I was before." Yinreng laughed heartily.
With a stern face, Yinzhen pursed his thin lips and said, "Second Brother is becoming more and more unreliable. It's time to let Father Emperor take a look."
"No way. Father Emperor has no desire to come to Yuqing Palace right now. It would be so awkward if he saw your second sister-in-law," Yinreng said gloatingly.
He even dared to tease Emperor Kangxi; during this period, Yinreng was not only recuperating from his injuries, but also growing bolder.
Yinzhen, being magnanimous, decided not to hold a grudge against Yinreng: "This is for Tana."
Yinreng looked at the pile of toys in his arms and said, "I was injured, and you didn't even bring me anything. Being an older brother is really tough."
"Second Brother, if Second Sister-in-law sees you like this, she'll laugh at you," Yinzhen said, his whole body radiating coldness.
Yinreng disagreed: "My word is law in Yuqing Palace."
"Hmm? What are Master and Fourth Brother talking about?" Tong Wanyan walked out from behind the screen, her eyes searching.
Yinreng immediately sat up straight and glared at Yinzhen warningly, telling him not to talk nonsense.
"He said that Fourth Brother dotes on Tana too much and is always thinking about that chubby girl," Yinreng said.
Yinzhen nodded in agreement to give Yinreng face.
He picked up the toy he was holding and said proudly, "Tana must be tired of the previous batch of toys, so I made some new ones."
Tong Wanyan had Chunque place the prepared fruit platter next to Yinzhen: "She hasn't gotten tired of playing with them. It's just that the toys are either missing arms or legs, or they're covered in her saliva from chewing on them. I reckon that in a few years, when all her teeth have grown in, there will be rows of teeth marks on them."
"I'm glad Tana likes it." Yinzhen smiled happily, his radiant smile completely different from the stern expression on Yinreng's face when they first met.
Yinreng was used to Yinzhen's differential treatment; he was a pitiful older brother who had no younger brother to love him.
"Xiao Yan, Fourth Brother came not only to see Tana, but also to meet your cousin." Yinreng tricked Yinzhen in a malicious way.
Yinzhen never imagined that his virtuous and upright second elder brother, the Crown Prince, would become so treacherous.
"Second Sister-in-law!" Yinzhen said angrily, puffing out his cheeks.
Tong Wanyan smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Oh dear, fourth brother, would you like to call me 'Auntie'?"
Yinzhen shut his mouth and turned his face away: "Your whole family is bullying me."
“Fourth brother is also a member of our family,” Tong Wanyan said.
Yinzhen couldn't hold back his anger any longer. He couldn't help but smirk, close his eyes, and whisper, "Auntie."
Tong Wanyan happily replied, "Yes, my dear nephew. Auntie will have the kitchen prepare something delicious for you. I specially had someone learn to cook vegetarian dishes; it's sure to suit your taste."
"Cousin, please have your second brother call you that too." Once he said it, Yinzhen felt relieved and spoke it smoothly.
Yinreng got up and tried to run out the door, but Tong Wanyan watched his retreating figure with a smile: "Master, slow down. We have a long life ahead of us."
Yinzhen chuckled and stood up as well: "Second Sister-in-law, I'm going to see Tana."
"Go ahead, go ahead, your second brother is probably going to Tana's too," Tong Wanyan said.
Yinzhen followed Yinreng's retreating figure, determined to persuade his second brother to also call her "cousin aunt," just so he could hear it and feel happy.
Tong Wanyan sat in a chair, holding a fruit plate, happily munching on the crunchy fruit.
She'll be able to coax Yinreng into calling her "Auntie" all the time someday. Just imagining that scene makes me smile in my sleep.
Vegetarian dishes don't produce much oil or smoke when cooked.
Tong Wanyan rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen to help the cooks prepare lunch.
After Yinzhen followed Yinreng to Tana and Hongzhao's room, he washed his hands first, and then each of them held a chubby little dumpling and played with them for a while.
Tana nestled in Yinzhen's arms, clutching the new wooden carving in one hand and supporting herself on Yinzhen's chest with the other, calling out "Fourth Uncle" clearly.
Her sweet, childlike voice made Yinzhen so happy that he wanted to pluck the stars and the moon from the sky for her.
Yinreng was rather cold towards Hongzhao. He was a strict father and a kind mother.
Fortunately, Hongzhao was broad-minded and loved, and he could find joy even when he was alone.
Only after watching the two chubby little ones get tired of playing with their toys and start saying they wanted to go to sleep did the two of them leave the room together.
With a broad smile, Yinzhen led Yinreng to sit down on a stone bench outside.
"In a little over a month, you'll be marrying your wife. Time flies; almost two years have passed in the blink of an eye. I heard that the Imperial Concubine recently selected two palace maids for you. What do you think of their character?" Yinreng asked in a low voice.
These questions were asked by Tong Wanyan to Yinreng, who was also the Consort's messenger.
Yinzhen scratched his neck, feeling embarrassed and unsure of what to do when suddenly asked such a private question.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "The people the Imperial Concubine chose are all quite good, obedient and well-behaved. I only kept one, Lady Song, who looks dignified and gentle, without too many ulterior motives."
"And what about his appearance?" Yinreng asked with concern.
Yinzhen's eyes darted around, unwilling to answer.
“If you are willing to keep her, she will be your princess and will bear you children in the future. Her appearance may not be stunning, but it is not mediocre either,” Yinreng said.
Having said that, Yinzhen had no choice but to whisper to Yinreng, "Song is plump and pretty, quite good-looking."
"Then I am relieved. Don't think I'm just curious about your harem. This task was entrusted to your second sister-in-law by the Consort, and then to me. The Consort has a shallow foundation in the harem and is cautious in her actions, so there's no need to worry about her causing you trouble with the women in the harem," Yinreng explained.
Yinzhen looked at Yinreng with trust: "I understand my second brother's feelings for me."
"Don't be so mushy. Second brother only likes your second sister-in-law." Yinreng was touched, but he pretended to be disgusted.
Yinzhen was not angry with him; he knew that his second brother, the Crown Prince, was stubborn but soft-hearted.
"Second brother, don't overthink it. I only love my eldest niece," Yinzhen retorted.
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