With nothing else to do, Tong Cheng'er put her mind to choosing a nickname for her son, and finally came up with the nickname "Yuanbao" (meaning "treasure").
Upon first hearing this nickname, Yinzhen was unusually silent for a moment before saying, "It's a good choice."
Then for a fleeting moment, I felt sorry for my son.
So he added, "The name is a good name. After all, the name Hongzhao was bestowed by Father Emperor. We can just call him Yuanbao in private."
Tong Cheng'er had no objection: "That's fine, I'll just see Zhao'er in front of outsiders."
Yinzhen felt less guilty towards his son, which somewhat redeemed him.
The name Yuanbao isn't bad, but it sounds a bit too extravagant. If the child grows up and his peers find out, they'll inevitably make fun of him.
Tong Cheng'er obediently observed her postpartum confinement period. Apart from not being able to leave the room, Yinzhen would come to keep her company whenever he had free time. Even when he was not around, he would have a female storyteller tell her interesting stories, so it wasn't boring.
On the other side, when Shumulu returned to the Tong family, she was inevitably asked a lot of questions. She talked about everything concerning her daughter, and that very night she couldn't help but sigh to her husband, "Our daughter has finally gotten married."
Al-Hatu was puzzled: "Is it worth repeating something that everyone in the capital already knows?"
Shumulu gave him a reproachful look: "You don't understand. I used to think that Prince Yong was good, but that was mostly hearsay. After staying at Prince Yong's residence for a while, I can see for myself that Prince Yong really cherishes and protects his daughter!"
Then Shumulu continued, "You probably don't know, but Prince Yong ate and slept with Cheng'er during her postpartum period!"
Al-Hatu: "What's the big deal? I could do it too."
Shumulu couldn't help but glare at him: "Did you do it? Pregnant women can't touch water or be exposed to wind during their postpartum period. Although the weather isn't hot now, you still can't touch water every day. No one would want to get close to you. Also, do you think the food women eat during their postpartum period is delicious? It's bland and tasteless. No one could eat that. That's why I said my daughter really married well."
When Al-Hatu heard her praising her son-in-law, although he was happy for his daughter, he felt something was off. What was with the envy in her words?
So Al-Hatu said before going to sleep, "That's a bit of an exaggeration."
No matter how good a son-in-law is, he can't be as good as her.
After saying that, he went to sleep.
Upon hearing this, Shumulu couldn't help but smile, and then decided to have the kitchen prepare a meal for him to try the next day.
Let's see what he says then.
The next day, after Alhatu returned from his mission, Shumulu specially prepared a meal for him.
Shumulu: "Your Majesty works very hard every day, and I feel sorry for you. I heard that the food during postpartum confinement is nourishing, so I had a portion prepared. Would Your Majesty like to try it?"
Upon hearing this, Alhatu recalled the conversation between the two of them the previous night. He paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, I often do."
He refused to believe that the food he ate during his postpartum period was truly inedible.
Al-Hatu thought it through with conviction, then took the first bite with a normal expression. As soon as he swallowed it, he didn't want to take a second bite. But since he had already said it, he took a second and a third bite, and then he couldn't eat anymore.
Seeing this, Shumulu decided to let him go: "Alright, I'll have someone remove him."
Al-Hatu didn't force himself anymore, and only felt at ease after watching the food being taken away.
Shumulu: "Now you believe me, right, Master?"
Al-Hatu: "I believe it, I believe it."
If you don't believe me, and you really make him eat boiled food every day, he really can't stand it.
Shumulu smiled upon hearing this and said, "Let's eat!"
The food was all prepared, but I didn't really intend for him to eat the food he was supposed to eat during his postpartum period.
Yinzhen could ask for leave temporarily. The reason why Kangxi allowed him to ask for leave in the first place was because he was distracted when he was on duty. Now that the child has been born, Kangxi naturally cannot tolerate him being idle all day long.
So, just two days after his son's third-day celebration, Yinzhen resumed his work, leaving early and returning late.
Yinzhen worked in the Ministry of Justice, where there were many intricacies. Yinzhen was known for spoiling his wife, and now that Tong Cheng'er was in postpartum confinement, some people naturally wanted to take shortcuts.
So Yinzhen was "bumped into" by someone on his way to his post.
Yinzhen's carriage was stuck on a narrow road. He was in a hurry to get to his post and asked Su Peisheng, "Why are we not moving?"
Su Peisheng: "Reporting to my master, there is a carriage that has broken down on the way ahead."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen frowned. The road he usually traveled was just a small section, barely wide enough for one and a half carriages. Apart from his own household, almost no one used this narrow path. It was the first time he had ever been stuck in it.
"Go and ask when you can move in."
Su Peisheng: Yes
Su Peisheng asked quickly and came over in a short while: "Reporting to Master, that carriage is completely broken for some reason and cannot be repaired for a while."
Yinzhen pondered that turning back now would be a long detour, so it would be faster to get off the carriage and walk.
After thinking for a moment, Yinzhen had a master: "Get off the carriage and go."
Yinzhen got off the carriage and then told the driver to exit through the alley and go around to get out.
He led Su Peisheng forward.
As Yinzhen walked, when he reached the broken carriage, a woman's clear voice suddenly came from inside: "I wonder if you could help me, young master? The carriage is broken and can't be repaired."
The voice was unmistakably that of a beautiful woman, but Yinzhen frowned deeply upon hearing it, finding the arrangement far too agreeable.
Yinzhen glanced at Su Peisheng, who immediately replied, "My young master doesn't know how to repair carriages either. You've probably asked the wrong person."
After saying that, Yinzhen left directly.
After the two left, the person in the carriage looked furious; things weren't quite as he had imagined.
This wasn't the first time Yinzhen had encountered such "accident-for-hire" tactics. This time it was relatively tactful, at least it was caused by a carriage. He had also encountered cases where someone directly bumped into him with their own body.
Without exception, those who stage accidents to extort money all come with great confidence, only to leave disappointed.
This left those who had put in the effort wondering how Prince Yong could be so different from other men! He was truly so averse to women.
...
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it has been a month since Tong Cheng'er gave birth.
Tong Cheng'er had hot water prepared early in the morning and took a thorough bath three times before stopping. After the bath, she felt much more relaxed.
After taking a bath and getting dressed, Tong Cheng'er asked, "Granny, are all the preparations for the banquet complete?"
"Reporting to the Lady, everything is ready."
"Okay, that's about enough. Time to go out."
Holding her child, Tong Cheng'er began her day of welcoming and seeing off guests.
When almost all the guests had arrived, Emperor Kangxi sent over a large number of gifts, a truly generous gesture that aroused the envy of many.
Looking at her son in her arms, Tong Cheng'er couldn't help but think that if such rewards came a few more times, she could probably save up enough for a betrothal gift.
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