Tong Wanyan and Yinreng, as parents, regarded Hongyan as a little devil to be avoided at all costs.
Those who served Hongyan received half again as much a monthly allowance as their peers of the same rank. Even so, no one envied them or wanted to take their place.
Living in Hongyan's courtyard meant they couldn't get a good rest, day or night. They were allowed to rest ostensibly, but with the little prince crying so loudly, how could they possibly sleep?
In less than a year, apart from those who were transferred, everyone has lost weight.
“When I was pregnant with Hongyan, he was more well-behaved than his older brothers and sisters. But after he was born, he’s become the most troublesome child I’ve ever seen. In a few years, when he can run and jump, will he turn the entire Yuqing Palace upside down?” Tong Wanyan said worriedly.
Yinreng, however, was quite philosophical about it: "It's better to torment others than torment you. Thinking about it this way, Hongyan is a thoughtful and good child. The servants in the palace are only there to serve others, so giving more rewards to the people in Hongyan's courtyard will make everyone happy."
"As for whether that kid will be able to wreak havoc on Yuqing Palace when he grows up," Yinreng said with a sinister smile, "he'll have to have the time."
We had to get up before dawn to study, and if we got hungry, we had to sneak around to eat. After studying until the afternoon, we had to go to the training ground to learn riding and archery. In the evening, we had to do the homework assigned by our teacher.
With so much free time, even the most energetic person will be worn out. If you still want to have fun, you'll have to wait until the Lunar New Year holiday to get a good night's sleep.
Tong Wanyan recalled the difficult days of sending Hongzhao to school a few years ago, and Hongsheng's rapidly growing figure. She felt relieved.
In the autumn, Prince Zhi finally returned from Tianjin.
When the Empress Dowager saw her eldest grandson, she did not recognize him at first glance.
He had gained weight and gotten darker, and his skin was no longer as well-maintained as it had been in the capital, visibly rougher. With his thick beard, he bowed to the Empress Dowager, who didn't even recognize him.
Just then, Yinreng came to pick up his daughter. The two brothers stood together, and they didn't look like they were two years apart, but rather like they were from two different generations.
“Even though you are a man, you shouldn’t be so unkempt,” Yinreng said, speaking the Empress Dowager’s mind.
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement: "In the military camp, there are no maids to serve you, and the sun is scorching by the sea, so life is inevitably a bit rough. But, Baoqing, now that you're back in the capital, let your wife take good care of you. Consort Hui will be heartbroken to see you like this."
Prince Zhi glared at Yinreng, then stroked his beard with self-doubt: "I was eager to return home and neglected to prepare for the journey. It will be fine in a few days. It's my fault for making you worry."
The Empress Dowager said kindly, "You've worked so hard, there's nothing wrong with it. Last New Year, you and Consort Hui only had a brief meeting, she misses you terribly. Go see your mother!"
The Empress Dowager and her eldest grandson, who was in his thirties, didn't really have much to say to each other. She still preferred playing with her great-grandchildren, who were all chubby and round like dumplings, white and adorable.
Prince Zhi went to pay his respects to Consort Hui without stopping. Yinreng received Tana, chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while, and then returned to Yuqing Palace.
The Empress Dowager watched her two grandsons walk away, one after the other, and said with satisfaction, "The eldest son and the Crown Prince's relationship is much better than before. That's good. Why should brothers quarrel like before? Outsiders are happy, but the Emperor is the one who suffers. A family should live in harmony."
The Empress Dowager's idea was too optimistic. In reality, as soon as they stepped outside, Prince Zhi and Yinreng started arguing fiercely.
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