No matter what, it was difficult for Eighth Prince to discern any subtle changes in Fourth Prince's expression.
He stood there waiting for the Fourth Prince to walk away, when the eunuch following the Eighth Prince couldn't help but say, "I'm afraid Consort Hui will be displeased if she finds out about this..."
The Eighth Prince waved his hand: "Those who understand the times are wise. Don't you understand the current situation? Consort Hui? She's nothing more than a grasshopper in autumn..."
If it weren't for the need to maintain a reputation for filial piety in front of the Emperor, the Eighth Prince wouldn't have been so eager to fawn over Consort Hui. With Yinqi out of favor and Consort Hui's temper now so bad, the Eighth Prince has heard quite a few unpleasant things lately.
After bidding farewell to the Eighth Prince, the Fourth Prince headed straight for the Fourth Palace in Ganxi. He had never become arrogant because of his role as regent, and his attitude towards the Eighth Prince had never changed.
The Eighth Prince is indeed talented and capable, but he is too cunning and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He can even use those around him. The Fourth Prince never leaves such a threat around him.
However, the people are still usable.
But it depends on the time.
Fourteen is now married, but he still looks like a clueless young man. Since there were no outsiders, there was no separate banquet. However, Li Chenjiao said that it was a bit strange for her to come. But Wanyan is indeed a good-tempered woman, and she always smiles kindly at everyone.
Even when Shi Si looked at Wanyan Shi, he would always smile foolishly.
After lunch, everyone shared zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). The Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince were talking on the other side. Li Chenjiao didn't join in on Wanyan Shi and the Fujin's conversation. She quietly ate zongzi with the two children on the side.
It was quite sunny, so they soon moved to the corridor to talk. Li Chenjiao enjoyed the breeze and ate the red beans from the zongzi, her mouth full of sweetness.
The Fourteenth Prince was whispering to the Fourth Prince over there.
"Fourth Brother, I heard there's trouble in Qinghai, and the Ministry of War says they're sending troops. I'd like to give it a try..." he said, his face full of eagerness.
Fourth Master countered, "Where did you get that information from?"
The Fourteenth Prince answered confidently, "I found out from the Ministry of War... I heard it from someone, I heard it from someone else..."
In the past, when Yinti was working in the Ministry of War, news always spread much slower. Now that Yinti is under house arrest, the Fourteenth Prince is married and no longer has a post, but he doesn't have to go to the Imperial Study to study. So he runs around whenever he's free, taking advantage of the fact that Consort De is not in the palace and the Fourth Prince is too busy to take care of him.
The Fourth Prince glared at him and said, "Stop running around to the Ministry of War. It's no use begging me about this."
The Fourth Prince had no right to comment on the unrest in Qinghai, as matters involving military power were always the most sensitive.
The Fourteenth Prince reluctantly shut his mouth, but then turned his head as if he understood something: "Fourth Brother... should I go and ask Father?"
Fourth Brother said it was useless to ask him for help, which meant he should ask Father Emperor instead.
The Fourth Prince glanced at him with his hands behind his back and said, "Do you think I can stop you? Go if you want, but don't worry Mother and Wenxian."
Fourth Master had fought on the battlefield and knew that swords and spears were merciless, but a true man's ambition lay in all directions, and he was well aware of his younger brother's martial arts skills.
Upon hearing this, Fourteen jumped three feet high: "Good, good, Fourth Brother!"
After celebrating, Fourteenth Prince hugged Fourth Prince tightly.
Fourth Master was the first to notice Li Chenjiao snickering beside him: "How old are you? Let go." He pushed Fourteenth Master.
Fourteenth Brother grumbled and whimpered for a long time before finally letting go. He turned his head and saw Wanyan standing next to Fourth Sister-in-law, smiling gently. He felt inexplicably hot-faced and put his hands on his hips, pointing at Fulu beside him: "What are you looking at!"
Fu Lu: Huh? Him??
Wanwan laughed out loud, showing no mercy. Shisi immediately pulled Wanwan close and asked, "Uncle Shisi, are the zongzi here delicious?"
The princess looked at Honghui and said, "Go and talk to your father..."
Honghui glanced at his mother, then at Lady Wanyan, and obediently went to pay his respects.
The princess smiled at Wanyan and said, "It's a good opportunity for us sisters-in-law to have a chat."
Wanyan smiled gently and nodded slightly.
...
On the same Dragon Boat Festival, the imperial procession had already arrived in Hangzhou. The Emperor and Yinreng toured West Lake. In fact, Yinreng felt it was a bit too sunny and preferred not to take a boat tour.
During this trip, His Majesty mostly had Yinreng accompany him, and sometimes he would talk with Consort Yi and Consort Rong, as if he had returned to his younger days, always full of energy and spirit.
"This time I didn't ask you to stay and oversee the country, Bao Cheng. Do you have any complaints against Father Emperor?" His Majesty asked abruptly.
Yinreng thought to himself, "See, here we go again. We're just having a boat trip, why do he have to ask all these questions? We're having a great time, but I need to figure out how to appease this old man."
“When my son was regent, he had much less time to show filial piety to Father Emperor. Now he cherishes every moment, so how could he have any complaints?”
The Emperor smiled gently, whether out of satisfaction or something else, and said, "That's good, that's good. Baocheng, the lotus flowers are blooming beautifully, have someone pick some to take back with you."
He didn't continue the previous topic, as if he had just mentioned it casually.
Yinreng said yes, but he hadn't even had a bite of zongzi (sticky rice dumpling) since it was supposed to be Dragon Boat Festival. His father was now thinking about their past father-son relationship, but he didn't really want it anymore.
In May, the imperial procession continued its journey from Hangzhou, and by the time it was nearly June, the procession was preparing to return to the capital.
The Fourth Prince served as regent for three months without making any mistakes. By the end of May, Ma Qi had to consult the Fourth Prince on many matters.
Meanwhile, at the end of May, His Majesty sent a secret report from 800 li away, appointing Nian Gengyao and the Fourteenth Prince to quell the unrest in Qinghai. The Thirteenth Prince had already been assigned a post as well.
Anyone with eyes can see that once the Fourteenth Prince returns from pacifying the country, he will no longer be just a bald prince.
When the Emperor's procession reached the middle of its journey at the end of June, His Majesty suddenly fell ill and could not get out of bed. Upon hearing the urgent report, the Fourth Prince immediately abandoned his duties as regent and entrusted them to Grand Secretary Ma Qiming and others, and went with the Fifth Prince to the Emperor's procession.
On the third day of the seventh lunar month, the imperial carriage finally returned to the capital and stopped at Changchun Garden.
Changchun Garden has long been repaired by the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Household Department, and is just as it was before.
His Majesty stopped at Wuyizhai.
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