Yinzhen, who wholeheartedly worshipped Yinreng, was nowhere near the cold-blooded and ruthless Fourth Prince he was in court.
Tong Wanyan listened to the two brothers chatting away, her expression gentle. It was as if they weren't discussing important matters of the court, but rather the trivialities of daily life.
Tong Wanyan always enjoyed brewing tea to calm her mind, and Yinreng even specially collected many tea sets for her. The best tea sets from the Imperial Household Department were also divided in two, with half sent to Emperor Kangxi and the other half given to Yuqing Palace.
As they talked, Yinreng mischievously led Yinzhen out to stroll around the vegetable garden and rice paddies.
"Fourth brother, do you see? You'll have a tough month ahead," Yinreng said, pointing to the people still working in the fields.
Yinzhen's lips twitched slightly; he suspected this was revenge.
"A vegetable garden of several dozen acres, rice paddies of several hectares, and three mischievous children. Fourth brother, this is no light burden," Yinreng said with schadenfreude.
Yinzhen, with a mature and stern face, said, "Second Brother, why don't you set an example and personally teach Hongzhao and the others? You are more familiar with Wuyizhai than I am with them."
"Do you think I'm the kind of person who knows how to farm? I'm not asking you to actually work in the fields, just show them. Knowing the hardships of the common people doesn't necessarily mean you have to try it yourself." Yinreng shrugged, his fine clothes making him clearly not someone who knew how to farm.
He specifically explained that he was worried that Yinzhen was too stubborn and would actually go and carry a hoe to do the work himself.
Yinzhen's brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Since it's not hard work, why did you push it onto me, Second Brother? It's a rare opportunity to spend more time with Hongzhao and the others, Second Brother is willing to let me do it?" Yinzhen occasionally took Honghui out of the palace for a stroll, precisely to educate and entertain, and to deepen the father-son relationship.
Yinreng raised his face smugly, handsome and dashing: "This isn't the first time you've met your second sister-in-law, how could you not know her temper?"
Yinzhen was puzzled. He looked at Yinreng with reproach, thinking that he was making Tong Wanyan take the blame for him.
"Second Sister-in-law is gentle and virtuous, the most virtuous woman imaginable," Yinzhen said decisively.
“You’re right. But there’s one thing you don’t know. She’s a woman who judges by looks and is attracted to beauty. I won her heart because of my looks.” Yinreng was both proud and worried.
If he gets old and loses his looks one day, life will be difficult.
Yinzhen had heard a little about this, but having lived in the Forbidden City with Yinreng since childhood, he obviously knew more about Yinreng's affairs.
“Second Brother, you’ve always wanted your wet nurse to be good-looking. In my opinion, Second Sister-in-law is much better than you,” Yinzhen said bluntly.
"I am your second brother!" Yinreng also had his pride.
Yinzhen said slowly, "Second brother, I owe my second sister-in-law a life."
“Back then, my second sister-in-law gave my mother a ginseng root and took care of her when she was ill, which allowed her to live a few more years. I can never repay such kindness in my lifetime,” Yinzhen said.
Yinreng's lips curled up, in a very good mood: "Outsiders always say that you are cold-hearted, decisive, and ruthless. In my opinion, my fourth brother is the most sentimental person!"
Yinreng and Yinzhen strolled around the outer perimeter of Wuyizhai, while Tong Wanyan was invited over by her aunt who served the Empress Dowager.
It is said that not long after the Empress Dowager had rested, Consort Liang came to pay her respects, which made the old lady very angry.
"Consort Liang has always been someone who doesn't like to go out and is quiet and reserved. How could she have offended the Empress Dowager?" Tong Wanyan asked her aunt, who had come to invite her, with a puzzled look.
The aunt smiled wryly: "The Empress Dowager is not fluent in Manchu or Chinese, as you know, Consort Liang. Consort Liang doesn't speak Mongolian, but she speaks Manchu quickly, so the Empress Dowager misunderstood her and got angry."
"The Empress Dowager is so majestic that when Consort Liang saw her anger, she was so frightened that her eyes welled up with tears. The Empress Dowager couldn't bear to see this and became even angrier," Auntie said.
Tong Wanyan listened thoughtfully, then smiled gently and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
