There are too many old foxes in the court who favor Hongzhao, so there's really no need for Yinreng to worry about him.
Sometimes, even Emperor Kangxi envied Yinreng for marrying such a good wife.
Throughout history, it has been not uncommon for members of the same family to hold differing political views. Hongzhao's ability to receive dedicated guidance from the Tong family and his uncles was not so much due to Yinreng, but rather to the personal connections and charisma of Tong Wanyan.
In any case, it was his own grandson who benefited. Kangxi was a little jealous of his beloved crown prince for a while, but then he put it out of his mind and joined the group that carefully nurtured Hongzhao's growth.
With nothing better to do, Yinreng had no rivals in the court.
Feeling lonely, he somehow found a new source of amusement: he was going to write letters and argue with Prince Zhi!
After so many years of constantly setting traps and provoking each other, Yinreng still misses his good older brother who used to make him roll his eyes in frustration, but who never gave up despite repeated defeats.
Prince Zhi could not win an argument with Yinreng, and he could not win a letter exchange either.
He was just a military man; how could he compare to the Crown Prince, who had been taught and favored by great Confucian scholars since childhood?
"If you weren't the Crown Prince, I guarantee I'd tie you up and drag you into the army camp, where I'd gang up on you and beat you up."
This was the last letter that Prince Zhi wrote to Yinreng before returning to the capital to report on his duties.
After reading it, Yinreng couldn't stop laughing to himself.
Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone, so he showed the letter to Tong Wanyan and, with dramatic intonation, perfectly mimicked the Prince Zhi's furious reaction.
Tong Wanyan looked at him with a complicated expression. To be honest, if this man weren't her husband, she would have smeared the pastries in her hand on his face.
That's outrageous! If this happened outside, he'd get a beating and a sack over his head.
Yinreng pinched Tong Wanyan's cheek: "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look more handsome now?"
Tong Wanyan slapped his hand away: "I used to think that Prince Zhi was short-tempered, but now I see that's not necessarily true."
"What do you mean? Could it be that the eldest prince did it on purpose?" Yinreng started speculating, even though he didn't think the Prince Zhi was that smart.
Tong Wanyan said, "Doesn't the master have any self-awareness?"
"What number do I need?" Yinreng asked, puzzled.
"Those words in your letter were like daggers to the heart. Even a saint would be furious if he read them. Prince Zhi has a violent temper, and you were the one who provoked him, weren't you?" Tong Wanyan said reproachfully.
Yinreng was displeased. He raised an eyebrow, moved his stool to sit opposite Tong Wanyan, and sat face to face with her.
"Xiao Yan, keep a close eye on me." Yinreng stared into Tong Wanyan's eyes.
Tong Wanyan looked at him blankly, wondering what kind of trouble he was going to cause this time.
"Do you feel old and lonely, and no longer attractive?" Yinreng asked anxiously.
His handsome and dashing face now bears only the marks of time, a maturity and composure that have been etched upon it.
"Are you talking nonsense, Master? If I think I'm not good-looking, is there anyone in the world who is good-looking?" Tong Wanyan retorted.
"I think so too. But if my charm hadn't diminished so much, why would Xiao Yan have spoken up for Prince Zhi? He used to act so arrogantly and rudely towards me, he was so excessive, and Xiao Yan actually thinks I provoked him." Yinreng felt very wronged.
At this moment, he felt as if he were soaking in bitter water, his heart and body filled with bitterness.
Tong Wanyan sighed: "One thing at a time."
"I will not listen," Yinreng interrupted Tong Wanyan unhappily.
Tong Wanyan stared intently at him, making Yinreng feel uneasy.
Actually, he knew he was being unreasonable. But when he was with the person he loved, did he really need to argue about right and wrong?
“My lord, have you forgotten that our family has three sons? The dowry we’re offering is no less than that for the princesses of the Prince of Zhi’s family. Especially since you are the Crown Prince!” Tong Wanyan said.
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