When the Empress Dowager praised Tong Wanyan, Yinreng smiled like a flower, feeling honored.
The Empress Dowager was happy to see her younger generation living happily together, unlike Emperor Kangxi who had nothing better to do than stuff concubines into his son's room.
"My brother sent me two bottles of strong liquor the other day, saying it tastes very good and can warm you up in the cold weather. I used to love drinking it when I was young, but now I can't even stand the smell. You two take these back and have a few sips now and then to ward off the cold," the Empress Dowager said.
Tong Wanyan's eyes sparkled as she spoke before Yinreng could, "Thank you for the Empress Dowager's reward."
Yinreng secretly rubbed his forehead, the memory of her drunken state last time was still vivid in his mind, and just thinking about it gave him a headache.
With fine wine before her, Tong Wanyan paid no heed to Yinreng's ulterior motives.
She has excellent drinking manners; she never cries or makes a fuss.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Yan will cause trouble when he drinks. You really know how to trick your grandson," Yinreng muttered to the Empress Dowager, acting coquettishly.
The Empress Dowager remarked as if watching a play: "It's so boring for the young couple to be so respectful to each other all the time. They should bicker occasionally to make things more fun."
Yinreng had nothing to say. The Empress Dowager was clearly bullying him, so he could only go along with it.
The old lady has really gone astray; she's nothing like the kind and doting mother she used to be.
"What the Empress Dowager says is true." Tong Wanyan echoed the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had no children, and her family was already doing quite well thanks to her influence.
The pile of good things she had stored away were locked away in the warehouse, gathering dust.
After having lunch with the Empress Dowager, Yinreng and his wife strolled back to Yuqing Palace, carrying a large handful of enviable antique jewelry.
Unsurprisingly, when the concubines in the harem found out, they were consumed by jealousy and indignation once again.
The Crown Prince and his concubine are truly greedy; they never miss out on anything good. They're already wealthy, yet they still go around flattering the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, stuffing them with all sorts of nice things. Their methods of vying for favor are even more sophisticated than the Empress Dowager's.
The jealousy of the concubines in the harem was like throwing out tiny knives.
Yinreng and Tong Wanyan, on the other hand, were like an impregnable fortress, neither of them showing any fear.
Carrying the fine wine, she decided to seize the day and opened the bottle herself at dinner time.
The strong aroma of alcohol abruptly assaulted one's nose.
Tong Wanyan took a deep breath, her fair cheeks flushing red.
"It really tastes like the grasslands!" Tong Wanyan exclaimed.
Yinreng exchanged a glance with Chunque and Xiazhu, realizing that they wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully tonight.
The little drunkard who can't drink alcohol got drunk just from smelling a little bit of the aroma.
Strong liquor goes well with good meat. The venison from last time is all gone, but there's plenty of lamb, pork, rabbit, and chicken.
Tong Wanyan loves barbecue, so the chefs at Yuqing Palace have mastered excellent barbecue skills, even their seasonings are so delicious that people can't help but praise them.
Following the usual practice, Yinreng did not have a cook slice the meat. Instead, he used a small dagger with an exquisite handle inlaid with gemstones to skillfully slice the meat into thin, even pieces.
Adding a spicy seasoning makes it exactly Tong Wanyan's favorite flavor.
"Ah, open your mouth," Yinreng said, as if coaxing a child.
Tong Wanyan opened her mouth in agreement: "The taste is just right, Master's cooking skills are getting better and better."
"As long as you enjoy your meal. Drink less alcohol, hey, don't sneak a drink, or there won't be any meat left to eat," Yinreng said anxiously.
Unsurprisingly, after two small glasses of wine, Tong Wanyan was so drunk that she was limp and weak, like a drunken shrimp.
Yinreng poked her cheek with his finger, and as he poked, he started to laugh.
"Well, you're lucky to have fallen into my hands. Or rather, I'm lucky to have fallen into your hands." Yinreng picked up the little beauty and prepared to bathe her himself.
Given Tong Wanyan's fastidious nature, she would definitely cause a scene the next day if she woke up smelling of alcohol.
Chunque and Xiazhu followed at a distance, whispering, "Master is so good to his master."
"The master treats the master well."
"Yes, it's fortunate that the two masters were able to meet."
Their voices were so soft they were barely audible, and Yinreng was completely unaware of it.
He happily served as Tong Wanyan's servant, occasionally doing things in a clumsy and inappropriate manner, without anyone noticing.
De Shun stood guard at the door for nearly half an hour before finally unable to resist reminding her, "It's cold, don't let the concubine catch a chill. Even with all the hot water I've brought in, she'll still get cold."
Finally, Yinreng carried Tong Wanyan, who was wrapped in a blanket like a seaweed roll, back to the inner room of the south courtyard, where he slept soundly through the night.
When Tong Wanyan woke up, she sniffed the fragrance of osmanthus in her hair.
"Did you wash my hair for me yesterday, Master?" Tong Wanyan rolled into Yinreng's arms, her hands resting on his chest.
Its firm texture makes it so comfortable to hold and reluctant to let go.
Yinreng let her little hands run wild, even wishing she would be more unrestrained so that he could fulfill his little scheme.
He could take advantage of Tong Wanyan when she was still half asleep and in a daze to bully her.
Emperor Kangxi, who was accustomed to rising early for court, would not let this son off the hook.
When Emperor Kangxi learned that Yinreng had visited the Empress Dowager the day before and had even thoughtfully sent her paper-cut window decorations, he was filled with jealousy.
He was unhappy, so Emperor Kangxi sent someone to summon him.
Yinreng's treacherous scheme was thwarted by Deshun's shrill voice before it could succeed.
He resignedly got out of bed and went to coax his easily jealous father.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Yinti on the way.
"Your Highness is so filial; you even remember something as mundane as window decorations that a lowly servant would do," Yinqi said sarcastically.
Yinreng retorted, "I remember two years ago, Consort Hui presented a new pattern to Father Emperor, and received his reward, being praised for her intelligence and wisdom. My elder brother means that Consort Hui..."
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand me," Yinti raised his voice, interrupting Yinreng.
His mother couldn't stand anyone talking about her.
Yinreng smiled indifferently; he had no intention of speaking ill of Consort Hui. It was Yinti who came to her, making it impossible for anyone not to say a few words about her.
He glanced at the box in Yinti's hands.
"Brother, is that something made by that servant Yangzi you just mentioned?" Yinreng pressed on with Yinti's words.
Yinti's face flushed red and then turned pale, his eyes flickering.
His guilty look clearly indicated that he was trying to cover something up.
"It's windy outside, I'll be going now." Yinreng smiled, not intending to provoke Yinti into getting angry.
Emperor Kangxi was waiting for Yinreng to arrive, but unexpectedly, his eldest son also arrived shortly afterward.
He suppressed the paternal jealousy welling up inside him, unable to voice it.
Both sons are equally loved; the eldest son is also a beloved son.
Kangxi said to Yinreng, "I will reprimand you later. You are only thinking about the Empress Dowager and have forgotten about your father, the Emperor."
Yinreng cupped his hands and smiled ingratiatingly, "Father is right. Your son is a scoundrel and has made you angry."
The father and son were very affectionate. When Yinti was summoned in, he keenly felt like a third party, interfering in the harmonious relationship between the two.
Despite feeling wronged, he still presented the box he was holding.
"My son's wife cut some novel paper-cut window decorations and also made some refreshing sachets, which she specially wanted to give to Father Emperor as a token of her filial piety," Yinti said.
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