Lady Guarjia understood the consolation in Consort Yi's words and naturally didn't say anything more.
The two chatted and laughed all the way until they parted ways at a fork in the road.
The group had just returned to Yuqing Palace when He Yuzhu came in to report that Prince Yong had arrived.
Yinreng was surprised that Yinzhen was still going to the palace so late, but he got up and walked outside without delay. When he reached the palace gate, he turned around and hugged Hongxi in his arms.
Looking at Yinreng's series of actions, Guarjia felt that this child was so favored, and not only would he have a bright future, but he would also likely face many dangers in the future.
"Wenying, give the order that we should pay extra attention to Hongxi's clothing, food, housing and transportation from now on, especially his diet, and make sure his safety is guaranteed."
Wenying was puzzled as to why such an arrangement was made so soon after returning from Cining Palace, but she still agreed.
Immediately afterwards, Guarjia instructed: "Hongyu will be living in the palace for a short period of time, even for the next few years. Send a message to the Imperial Household Department, instructing them to provide Hongyu with the same food, clothing, and lodging as Hongxi. If they dare to slack off, report back directly to the Qianqing Palace."
Hongyu, who was waiting for arrangements, immediately looked up at Guarjia, a look of surprise flashing across his face, followed by gratitude.
"Nephew thanks the Crown Princess."
Lady Guarjia rubbed his head. "Since you're my nephew now, why are you still calling me Crown Princess? You should call me Second Aunt."
If it were any other consort, Hongyu would naturally call her Second Aunt, but since Guarjia was the Crown Princess, he dared not act rashly.
"Nephew, I'll remember this."
Seeing that he was also somewhat tired, Guarjia arranged for someone to take him to the side hall in the front courtyard.
Wenxi and Hongxi currently live in the backyard, but Hongyu is a bit older and it is not suitable for him to live in the backyard, so he was arranged to live in Yinreng's front yard.
This also demonstrates the importance that Yuqing Palace attaches to him.
In the study in the front courtyard, He Yuzhu informed Yinreng of the Crown Princess's arrangements for Hongyu.
Yinreng said that he thought the same way, "First settle him in the side hall, and later prepare a courtyard for him to live in."
He Yuzhu accepted the order and withdrew.
Yinzhen then said, "The fact that you, elder brother, are keeping Hongyu in Yuqing Palace suggests that you have completely given up on the idea of vying for the throne."
Yinreng nodded and said, "During the trip to Mongolia, he lost all interest in vying for the throne, otherwise he wouldn't have been so quiet."
Yinzhen nodded, glanced at Hongxi playing nearby, and a slight smile immediately appeared on his irritated face.
"I wonder when I'll have such a cute child."
Hongxi looked up at Yinzhen, puzzled.
[Judging by the timeline, Li, from my fourth uncle's family, should be pregnant with Hongshi by now. Could it be that they don't know?]
Yinreng glanced at Yinzhen subconsciously and saw him looking at Hongxi with great eagerness. It seemed that he really didn't know that someone in his harem was pregnant.
[It's a pity that Hongshi is so stupid; he's caused his fourth uncle so much trouble. It would have been better if he hadn't come out at all. Oh dear, when will Hongli and Hongzhou finally come out? I really want to play with them.]
Hongli and Hongzhou?
The fourth son's family has quite a few sons, but judging from Hongxi's words, although there are many children, their quality is average.
Yinreng felt slightly better. Thinking of Li Jia, who was pregnant in the backyard, and knowing that the child she gave birth to was excellent, he felt extremely relieved.
"Fourth Prince, although Consort De has been released from confinement, I advise you to try to see her as little as possible." Yinreng thought of the disgusting things she had done, and then recalled Kangxi's attitude when mentioning Consort De, so he couldn't help but advise, "Although Consort De is your birth mother, she has really done something unethical. Moreover, she is wholeheartedly plotting for Fourteenth Prince. I am really afraid that one day she will do something that will implicate you."
Hongxi sighed from the side.
[Consort De has done her fair share of framing Fourth Uncle. Take the matter of bestowing wives, for example. The wives bestowed upon Fourteenth Prince were all from prominent Manchu families, while those bestowed upon Fourth Uncle were all from humble backgrounds. And when she finally did bestow a wife from her own clan, she was the one who wasn't favored in the family.]
Yinreng was also very angry when he heard this.
Yinzhen, however, sat silently to the side.
He understood that Yinreng was doing it for his own good, and he also understood that Consort De was truly capable of anything. However, she was his birth mother, and if he was not filial, Consort De would definitely use it against him.
He's caught in the middle now.
[Fourth Uncle can visit Consort De at Yonghe Palace. If she makes any requests, simply refuse them.]
Yinreng thought this was a good idea, and turned around to describe it to Yinzhen, "Just do as I just said. No matter what she says, just listen to her and politely refuse whatever she asks you to do."
Yinzhen really didn't think this was a good idea, but it was the only option for the time being.
So, when they went to Yonghe Palace to pay their respects to Consort De the next day, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold before the mother and son could exchange even a few heartfelt words.
Consort De felt that her demotion was because Emperor Kangxi wanted to avenge Yinzhen. However, during her confinement, she had not heard of Yinzhen pleading for her. So, as soon as she was released from confinement, she couldn't help but call Yinzhen into the palace and vent her frustrations.
Yinzhen listened quietly with his head down, but his heart was filled with bitterness.
If Consort De hadn't wanted to use him, why would she have been demoted and confined to her quarters?
Now she's using her status as his biological mother to suppress him. Even if she doesn't care about him as her son, she doesn't need to make it so obvious.
"Although my son did not plead for mercy, neither did the Fourteenth Prince. Why doesn't Mother go and question the Fourteenth Prince?"
Consort De was stunned by the impact, and after a moment she grabbed the teacup beside her and smashed it towards Yinzhen's forehead.
Yinzhen didn't dodge and took the blow head-on.
Consort De was both ashamed and angry, and she cursed loudly.
"You're a complete scoundrel! You're just here to collect a debt. What makes you think you can compare to your brother? What makes you think you can?"
Consort De was still not satisfied after scolding him, so she got up, walked up to Yinzhen, and slapped him twice without hesitation. They looked at each other and cursed, "You are a mean and ungrateful person."
"Insolence!" A deep, angry voice rang out at the palace gate. Kangxi glared at Consort De, whose face was contorted with rage, and cursed, "You vile woman, you are the one who is cruel and ungrateful. You were the one who sent Yinzhen away to be raised, and now that you've brought him back, you treat him badly. First you schemed against him, and now you've laid a hand on him. Do you even consider him your son?"
Consort De was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I... I didn't lay a hand on you, I merely..."
Kangxi stepped forward and kicked her far away. "I've been here for a while now. I wanted to come in the moment you threw the teacup at Yinzhen, but I was thinking of you and that you would be done after you vented. I didn't expect that slap and that call of being mean and ungrateful."
Kangxi grew angrier the more he spoke.
Of all his sons, Kangxi liked Yinreng the most, but since Yinreng was good to the fourth prince, he naturally extended his affection to him as well.
He glanced sideways at Yinreng, who stood silently beside him, and sure enough, Yinreng's face was flushed with anger.
Emperor Kangxi felt sorry for Consort De and kicked her again.
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