Suddenly, as if remembering something, Kangxi said to Yinzhen, "This afternoon, the wife of Grand Minister Feiyanggu will bring her eldest daughter to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. If you have nothing else to do, you can go and see her."
Yinzhen stared blankly at Kangxi, not immediately realizing what this had to do with him.
It's inappropriate for a prince like him to go to the palace when other people's daughters are going there.
Yinreng understood best. He said, "The Ulanara clan is related to us in some way. Since Fourth Brother has no homework today, he can take Tana to the Empress Dowager's place to show his filial piety."
Kangxi patted Yinreng on the shoulder with satisfaction and said to Yinzhen, "You should be more sensible by now. I know about Consort Wuya. You don't have a mother to teach you now, but you still have the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask them."
Upon realizing he was about to meet his future wife, Yinzhen blushed instantly.
"Father, your son is still young." Yinzhen's ears turned bright red.
Yinreng joked, "When you were in the Ministry of Revenue with a fierce face, bullying those ministers, I never heard you say that you were young."
"Second Brother, you can't say that! How can politics and that kind of thing be the same?" Yinzhen said anxiously.
“Since ancient times, marriage has been a major event that should be taken very seriously. It just so happens that Father Emperor is willing to let you meet him, which is better than an arranged marriage.” Yinreng revealed the Emperor’s love for his son.
Kangxi lowered his head, feigning majesty, and teased Hongzhao, who was fast asleep in his arms, ignoring the moved look in Yinzhen's eyes.
A father shouldn't spoil his son too much, otherwise, where is his authority as a father? Of course, he can be very loving towards his eldest grandson.
Yinzhen was naturally reserved. He pursed his lips and said, "Your son thanks Father. Your father has excellent judgment. I believe you will choose the most suitable consort for me."
“That’s natural,” Kangxi said.
As they talked, they went to the small study next door and discussed important national affairs. The bond between father and son is never weak.
With Kangxi gone, the atmosphere inside the room became much more relaxed.
The Empress Dowager was like an ordinary old lady, and she was incredibly kind to Tong Wanyan.
She touched Tana's forehead: "It's only been a few days, but your chin seems to have gotten rounder."
Tong Wanyan nodded: "That's right. Last time she had a double chin, but when I changed her clothes this morning, she had a triple chin. I was thinking of letting her eat less, but the Fourth Prince always sneaks her some supplementary food, so there's really no way around it. She's good at playing the victim and getting the Fourth Prince to do whatever she wants."
The Empress Dowager laughed heartily: "Isn't that good? Even a princess of the royal family needs the love and care of her elders and brothers to live a better life. I prefer that Tana be loved by many people so that she can live a happy life."
Tong Wanyan looked at Tana, who was smiling carefree, and nodded repeatedly in agreement with the Empress Dowager's words.
"Your Majesty is right," Tong Wanyan said. "I'm just afraid she'll develop a domineering temper and be afraid of no one in the future."
"No, I think she's still afraid of you. You're so gentle and quiet around me, and you're usually so sweet and gentle, yet you're the one who can keep the bad tempers of the Aisin Gioro family in check. Yinreng is one, and this little devil is another." The Empress Dowager said this with a hint of schadenfreude.
Tong Wanyan covered her mouth and chuckled, "That's because the master dotes on his concubine."
After having lunch at Yuqing Palace, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi returned to Qianqing Palace and Ningshou Palace respectively.
Yinzhen lingered, carrying Tana in his arms, and followed the Empress Dowager.
Fortunately, Hongzhao was amused by Kangxi today and fell asleep after playing until he was tired. He wouldn't wake up for several hours and wouldn't bother Tana.
Not long after, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall.
Tong Wanyan sat comfortably in the pavilion, watching the koi in the small pond gurgling and blowing bubbles.
The rain intensified, washing the lotus leaves in the pond until they were a vibrant, glistening green.
Yinreng stayed by her side and casually asked Deshun to pick a twin lotus flower.
"Flowers are a perfect gift for a beautiful woman," Yinreng said, using the flowers as a metaphor for Buddhist teachings.
He had a handsome smile and wore a moon-white robe, which looked even better than his usual apricot-yellow prince's everyday clothes.
Tong Wanyan tilted her head and took it; the sapphire blue tassel hairpin in her hair was the same color as the purse she wore at her waist.
"This rain is wonderful," Tong Wanyan exclaimed.
Yinreng peeled the lotus pods that Deshun had picked and peeled the lotus seeds for her by hand: "The past few days have been unbearably hot and humid. This rain has relieved the drought and made people feel more comfortable."
Tong Wanyan shook her head and smiled mysteriously: "That's not it. This heavy rain won't stop anytime soon. The Grand Minister's wife is a noblewoman, and she can't ride in a sedan chair like we do in the palace. Fourth Prince, you'll probably have to escort Princess Ulanara for a while."
"Walking together in the heavy rain, young and innocent, how wonderful." Tong Wanyan took the lotus seeds that Yinreng handed over and stuffed a few into her mouth haphazardly.
The lotus seeds are sweet and delicious, and now is the perfect time to enjoy them. Yinreng thoughtfully removed the lotus hearts, ensuring she wouldn't experience any bitterness.
Yinreng found it amusing: "Is Xiaoyan reminding me to accompany you for a walk in the rain?"
"No need for that. I'm getting old. If I get caught in the rain, I'll be sick for a long time." Tong Wanyan pouted, not wanting to get involved in that kind of romance.
Yinreng felt as if an arrow had struck his heart: "I'm only eighteen this year, I'm not that old, am I?"
Having grown accustomed to Yinreng's mature beyond his years, Tong Wanyan looked at his spirited features and clicked her tongue in amazement.
“But you do have two children. Having children means you’re getting old,” Tong Wanyan said, spouting a fallacy.
Yinreng sighed helplessly, "Fine, whatever you say."
How wonderful it feels to be pampered by the one you love! Tong Wanyan touched her pounding chest and secretly reached out to take Yinreng's hand.
It's because she's been spoiled by Yinreng for so long that she momentarily forgot that they're not that old yet.
Tong Wanyan and Yinreng, one is a fake young girl, the other is truly mature beyond his years. However, Yinzhen and Ulanara in Ningshou Palace are genuinely childlike.
Ulanara had an apple-shaped face, fair and delicate skin, and big, round eyes, giving her a very childlike appearance.
However, she kept in mind her mother's lesson before entering the palace and was required to act dignifiedly, so her every move was extremely rigid, which made her seem even more lovable.
Yinzhen hid in the small tea room, secretly peeking outside and listening to the conversation between the Empress Dowager and them.
He stared at Ulanara's fingers, plump and unlike Tong Wanyan's slender fingers. In fact, they were unlike any other woman he had ever seen in the palace.
The Empress Dowager was seated in a position from which she could see Yinzhen.
After the Grand Minister's wife answered another question, the Empress Dowager asked, "What is your princess's name?"
The Grand Minister's wife understood that the Empress Dowager was asking this question on behalf of the Fourth Prince.
Knowing the purpose of her trip, Ulanara lowered her head shyly, her small hands clasped together in bashful embarrassment.
"Your Majesty, my daughter's name is Fanghui," said the Grand Minister's wife.
Yinzhen silently closed the door a crack, sat back in his chair, and hurriedly gulped down two mouthfuls of tea.
"Ulanara Fanghui, this name is dignified and elegant, very suitable for me, the prince." After swallowing two mouthfuls of tea, Yinzhen finally felt calm.
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