On this day, Emperor Yongzheng held his two-year-old son, Hongyao, as he went to court in the Qianqing Palace.
The little boy, dressed in an indigo blue riding jacket, sat obediently on his father's lap, his big, dark eyes curiously observing the ministers in the hall.
The ministers were all shocked by what they saw!
The Emperor has always been dignified and aloof; when has he ever acted so intimately?
Minister of War Li Xianfu stepped forward first, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, the great victory in the Northwest has annihilated the main force of the Dzungars. This is a blessing from Heaven for the Great Qing! We, your subjects, congratulate Your Majesty!”
The other ministers echoed their sentiments, and the hall erupted in jubilation.
Emperor Yongzheng looked pleased and gently stroked Hongyao's little head, saying softly, "This battle was entirely due to the soldiers' bravery, and I am very pleased."
Hongyao seemed to understand but not quite, yet he followed his father's expression, nodding with a serious face, which made Yongzheng's eyes flash with a smile.
A glint flashed in Zhang Tingyu's eyes, and he stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. The young prince is exceptionally intelligent. If he can be involved in court affairs earlier, he will surely achieve great things in the future."
The other ministers echoed his sentiments, but each harbored their own thoughts.
The Emperor currently has only three sons: Hongshi, Hongzhou, and Hongyao. His lack of offspring is a cause for concern.
The Minister of Rites hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered his courage and stepped forward to speak: "Your Majesty, now that the war in the Northwest has been quelled and the world is at peace, for the long-term benefit of the nation, I earnestly request Your Majesty to select many concubines to enrich the harem and ensure the continuation of the imperial line..."
Emperor Yongzheng frowned and said coldly, "This matter need not be mentioned again."
The Minister of Rites was speechless and retreated in embarrassment.
Seeing this, the other ministers dared not say anything more.
After the court session, Emperor Yongzheng took Hongyao's little hand and walked slowly toward Yanxi Palace.
Hongyao looked up and asked in a childish voice, "Father, why did those ministers ask you to select concubines?"
Yongzheng glanced down at him, a rare smile appearing on his face: "Because they worry too much."
Hongyao nodded as if he understood, then said excitedly, "Father, how did I behave today? Mother said that I should be composed in court, and I held back and didn't make any rash moves!"
Yongzheng rubbed his little head, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Well done."
Yongzheng escorted Hongyao back to Yanxi Palace, where he saw Lin Yun and Zhaohua admiring flowers in the courtyard.
As soon as Zhaohua saw her father, she rushed over and hugged his leg, looking up at him with her little face and asking, "Father, was brother good today?"
Yongzheng bent down and picked her up, saying gently, "Zhaohua is the best girl."
Lin Yun stepped forward, took Hong Yao's hand, and asked with a smile, "Was the court proceedings smooth today?"
Emperor Yongzheng's gaze softened, and he said in a low voice, "The frequent reports of victories from the Northwest fill me with joy."
Yongzheng gazed at her profile and suddenly said, "Yun'er, I have been busy with the war and have neglected you. Now that the Northwest is pacified, I think..."
His voice lowered, his gaze fixed intently on her.
Lin Yun blushed slightly under his gaze and whispered, "What is Your Majesty thinking?"
Yongzheng leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I want another child."
Lin Yun's ears turned bright red instantly, and she nodded shyly.
The smile in Yongzheng's eyes deepened, and he took her hand and said, "Then I will stay in Yanxi Palace for the time being and keep you company."
Lin Yun's ears turned red, and she nodded gently.
The smile in Yongzheng's eyes deepened, and he stayed overnight at Yanxi Palace.
For the next month, he spent almost every day with her, even reviewing secret reports from the Sticky Rod Office in Yanxi Palace.
Lin Yun was shy, but also filled with sweetness.
Early that morning, Lin Yun suddenly felt chest tightness and nausea while having her meal, and Chunlan immediately summoned the imperial physician.
After taking her pulse, the imperial physician was overjoyed and knelt down to congratulate her, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a pregnancy pulse!" The entire Yanxi Palace erupted in cheers.
When Hongyao and Zhaohua learned that their mother was pregnant, they were overjoyed and danced with excitement.
Zhaohua knelt on Lin Yun's lap, carefully touching her belly, and innocently asked, "Mother, is it a little brother or a little sister?"
Lin Yun said softly, "Whether it's a younger brother or a younger sister, Zhao Hua will love him, right?"
Zhao Hua nodded vigorously: "Yes! I will give him my favorite sugar figurine!"
Not to be outdone, Hongyao puffed out his little chest and said, "I'll teach him to ride a horse and shoot arrows!" His childish words made everyone burst into laughter.
Daiyu stood to the side, her eyes full of tenderness.
She stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty is currently pregnant and needs to rest more. How about I teach Zhaohua and Hongyao their lessons?"
Lin Yun held her hand with satisfaction: "Yu'er is so thoughtful. They are learning the Three Character Classic, would you like to join them?"
Daiyu nodded with a smile: "I have already studied the Four Books with my teacher at home, so teaching them to read should not be a problem."
From then on, Daiyu would go to the side hall of Yanxi Palace every morning to teach Zhaohua and Hongyao.
She is sensitive and teaches with great patience.
Zhaohua is intelligent and quick to learn; although Hongyao is mischievous, he can sit down and learn to read obediently under Daiyu's gentle guidance.
Daiyu even specially compiled the poems into nursery rhymes, which the two children learned with great interest.
On this day, after finishing his official duties, Emperor Yongzheng strolled to a side hall and saw Daiyu teaching Zhaohua to write.
Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the three of them in a warm and peaceful scene. He watched quietly for a while before clearing his throat and entering.
Upon seeing her father, Zhaohua immediately held up a sheet of Xuan paper covered in writing and proudly exclaimed, "Father, look! I can write my own name now!"
When Yongzheng took it and looked at it, although the strokes were immature, the structure was correct, and it was clear that he had put in a lot of effort.
He patted his daughter's head and praised, "Zhaohua is so smart."
Hongyao was also eager to show off, so he grabbed a brush and drew a few crooked lines on the paper, shouting, "Father, I wrote 'horse'!"
Daiyu covered her mouth and chuckled, explaining, "The Sixth Prince wants to learn to write 'steed,' but his writing skills are still lacking."
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