“Mother, this is the nickname that Fourteenth Prince and I gave our little prince,” said Fourteenth Prince’s wife.
Lady Nian glanced at the arrogant look on the Fourteenth Princess's face and thought to herself: "She just named him whatever she wanted. Does she not care about Father Emperor?"
"Jinzhi, you can give the little prince a nickname, but his formal name still has to be bestowed by the Emperor," Consort De said with a hint of reproach.
"Mother, I know." Fourteenth Prince, no longer the impetuous boy he used to be in his mid-adolescent years, smiled calmly. Lanqin looked at Fourteenth Prince, wondering what this boy had gone through. Did men really mature so quickly after becoming fathers?
"Hongshi, you're nine years old this year. Now that you're the eldest son of your fourth brother, you should lead your younger brothers in their studies." Consort De said to Hongshi, who was sitting next to the Fourth Prince's wife.
“Yes, I will remember Huang Zuma’s teachings. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope to learn from our master together with my two younger brothers,” Hongshi replied respectfully.
Three years had passed, and this was the first time Lanqin had seen Hongshi so closely. In the past, when she was in the Fourth Prince's residence, she had only seen Hongshi a few times from afar. After Hongshi was taken in by the Fourth Prince's wife, she saw him even less often.
Now that Hongshi is nine years old, Lanqin has realized that the child looks remarkably like the former Li Shi. Moreover, he has grown much taller and looks more like he is over ten years old.
"Good, Fourth Princess Consort has taken good care of you. You are now your father's eldest son, so you should act like the eldest son," said Consort De.
"Yes, grandson will remember the teachings of the Imperial Grandmother." Hongshi stood up and said to Consort De.
"Fourth Prince, you now have three sons, and you must teach them well. It would be best to have a few more," said Consort De.
"Mother, you're mistaken. Your son has four sons." The Fourth Prince, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Lanqin had just wanted to correct Consort De, but the Fourth Prince beat her to it, so she remained silent.
"Oh, I forgot, there's also the Seventh Prince, but that child never comes to the palace, I almost forgot about him," said Consort De.
"Fourth Brother, I heard that the Sixth Prince and the Seventh Prince are destined to clash and cannot meet before they come of age?" Fourteenth Brother asked.
"There's no such thing. It's just that the Seventh Prince has been frail and sickly since childhood," the Fourth Prince immediately interrupted the Fourteenth Prince. He didn't want Hongli to know about his connection with Hongzhou.
However, all three children remembered what Fourteenth Brother said. They did not know that Hongli and Hongzhou were originally the reincarnations of the stars Wenwu Quxing. Upon hearing what Fourteenth Brother said, they each harbored their own thoughts.
After the palace banquet at Consort De's residence, it was already late. The Fourth Prince wanted to return home with his wife and others, but Consort De asked the Fourteenth Prince and his wife to stay behind. The Fourth Prince left the palace with his family.
Lanqin and Hongli rode in the same carriage. After they got in, Hongli asked Lanqin, "Mother, do I have a seventh brother?"
Lanqin had actually forgotten what Fourteen had said, but now that Hongli had suddenly brought it up, she was somewhat speechless. However, the child had heard everything, and if she continued to pretend to be ignorant, she feared she wouldn't be able to keep up the act any longer, especially since Hongli was particularly clever.
“Yes, he’s with Lady Geng. You haven’t seen him. The Seventh Prince has been frail and sickly since childhood, and the doctor says he shouldn’t be out too much. So, Hongli, you shouldn’t disturb him,” Lanqin said.
"How old is the Seventh Prince?" Hongli asked curiously.
"About the same age as you, just a little younger," Lanqin could only say.
"Did Aunt Geng give birth to the Seventh Prince around the same time as Mother?" Hongli asked again.
"Well, right? Hongli, that's enough about the Seventh Prince. Let's talk about something else?" Lanqin felt she was finding it increasingly difficult to deal with this little guy.
"Mother, what is the Seventh Prince's name?" Hongli persisted, determined to get to the bottom of things.
“Hongzhou,” Lanqin said helplessly.
"Mother, can I go play with my seventh brother?" Hongli finally realized that there was someone in the manor who was even younger than him, so he wanted to go and visit him.
“No, you mustn’t go see your seventh brother!” Lanqin said immediately.
"Why, why can't I go see my seventh brother?" Hongli asked, puzzled.
“Because your seventh brother is unwell and cannot see anyone, you absolutely cannot go to see him. Do you understand?” Lanqin said.
"When can I go see my seventh brother?" Hongli still refused to give up.
“Wait until you grow up, Hongli. Let’s not think about this for now. You will see him at the right time,” Lanqin said.
Meanwhile, the Fujin and Hongshi sat in the Fujin's carriage, while the Fourth Prince rode a horse outside.
"Mother, may I begin my studies in the Imperial Study?" Hongshi asked his wife.
"You want to enter the palace and study in the Imperial Study?" the Princess Consort asked, looking at Hongshi. She was very satisfied with Hongshi's performance today; she had spent four or five years cultivating him to be the person he was today.
“That’s right. Hongshi is already nine years old. Before, Father thought his son was too young, but now he’s nine.” Hongshi said.
"Yes. Then your mother will tell your father, Hongshi, you are your father's eldest son. When you go to the palace to study, you must concentrate and not embarrass your father," said the Fujin.
"Yes. Hongshi will do his best. Mother, I don't like Nian Shi or Niohuru Shi." Hongshi said.
“Hongshi, they are all your father’s concubines. Their sons are also your father’s sons, but their status is not as high as yours. You are your mother’s adopted son, so you can also be considered the eldest son of the legitimate wife,” the consort said meaningfully.
A glint flashed in Hongshi's eyes; his young age belied his maturity.
“I know, son. It’s just that Hongsheng is the son of Lady Nian, and now she is quite favored by Father, so Hongsheng has also received special treatment,” Hongshi said.
“Your father’s future is still uncertain, and the Nian family holds military power in the region. Your father’s protection of the Nian family is not without its difficulties. Hongshi, you must be a good elder brother and take good care of your younger brothers. Do you understand?” the Fujin said.
Hongshi looked at his wife's face as if he understood, and nodded as if he did not. He now regarded his wife as his mother and had no memory of his own origins.
Inside the carriage, Nian Shi and Hong Sheng were also talking.
“What happened to you this morning? When Her Majesty asked, you couldn’t answer.” Lady Nian said to Hongsheng, who was standing in front of her.
"Mother, I'm nervous. When I'm nervous, I can't do anything right," Hongsheng said hesitantly, bowing his head.
"Why are you so nervous?" Ms. Nian asked.
“I don’t know, but my son got more and more nervous after hearing Hongli’s voice,” Hongsheng said.
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