Hongli returned to his study with a bitter face.
He didn't get to see the excitement, and he even lost an hour of his daily reading time. He felt it wasn't worth it! Fortunately, his mother said that starting tomorrow, he wouldn't move today and would read more books to make up for the time he wasted in the future!
Seeing her son rushing back to his book as if his bottom was on fire, Qian Shengyan was furious!
This little kid, who's not even three years old, wouldn't even qualify for kindergarten in modern times. Yet, he's learned to read quite a few characters here in Prince Yong's mansion. Now, just like his father, he habitually holds a book in his hand wherever he sits!
Qian Shengyan really wanted to ask Li how she raised her child. She wanted to learn how to make her child less diligent and how to get him to spin the top on his own initiative.
Oh, what a worry...
That night, Yinzhen did not return. The next morning, Qian Shengyan woke up to hear something—Hongshi had been thrown directly into the water by Yinzhen the previous day, then pulled out by the guards, and then thrown back into the water…
After this happened three times, Hongshi cried and admitted that he was wrong and that he dared not bully his younger brother. Meanwhile, Li Shi was pinned to the side by two strong nannies and had already fainted from crying.
Even so, Yinzhen did not allow Hongli to return. He simply left him at Xifeng Xiuse in the northwest corner of the garden, and replaced all the servants around Hongshi, not even allowing the wet nurse to go with him.
Yinzhen, though not without some fatherly affection, stayed at Xifeng Xiuse with Hongshi last night, and the father and son had breakfast together this morning. Yinzhen also took Hongli to see Hongzhou, who was still suffering from a high fever.
Hongzhou's small body was burning hot. Gengshi, who hadn't slept all night, looked at Hongshi with a pale face and resentment, but dared not say anything because Yinzhen was standing by.
Lady Li also rushed over upon hearing the news, but before she could utter a single word, Yinzhen silenced her with a kiss.
He said, "Before the New Year, we will move all the brothers to Xifeng Xiuse, so they can visit us in the backyard once every ten days."
Geng fainted on the spot. Li, on the other hand, had some experience before, and Hongshi was nearly ten years old. Although she was heartbroken, there was nothing she could do.
When the news reached Peach Blossom Village, Qian Shengyan felt a pang of reluctance to part with Hongli.
Seeing Hongli's tense face and lack of happiness, yet earnestly spinning the top around and around, Qian Shengyan couldn't help but feel a little teasing. She sighed softly, "Sigh, I wonder if anyone was watching you spin the top when you went to Xifeng Xiuse."
Immediately, Qian Shengyan saw a happy smile bloom on Hongli's face, and then, as if afraid that she would see it, he deliberately turned his head to the side.
...That brat.
After laughing, Qian Shengyan started to worry again. No matter how smart Hongli is, he is still just a child. Hongshi is almost ten years old and is a big boy. He almost killed Hongzhou with a casual push. Is it really okay for Hongli to live with Hongshi?
She was conflicted, unsure whether she should teach Hongli to be wary of others, especially his own brother from the same father, when he was so young; but what if he went there innocently and naively, only to come back battered and bruised?
"Your Highness, the Prince has arrived," Green Willow said from the side. Qian Shengyan looked up and saw Yinzhen striding towards them.
She curtsied, and Hongli stopped what he was doing and bowed in return: "Father."
"Get up. Want to spin the top again?" Yinzhen glanced at Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "I was just thinking that it's not good for Hongli to just stay in his room reading all day. He needs to come out and move around so he can stay healthy enough to continue studying..."
"You're right." Yinzhen hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Regarding moving to Xifeng Xiuse, are you... are you all willing?"
Qian Shengyan was startled, not understanding why Yinzhen asked such a question, and his manner seemed to suggest that if she really said she was unwilling, Hongli would really not have to go.
But that's almost impossible.
Hongzhou was younger than Hongli, and he had already settled down at Xifeng Xiuse. What did Hongli have to rely on?
She could only kneel and say, "Of course I'm willing."
“Father, Hongli wants to go to Xifeng Xiuse! He wants to go right now!” Hongli said.
Qian Shengyan: ...
Qian Shengyan had to add, "But Hongli is still young, and I'm just worried..."
“The people who take care of him can go with him. If you are worried, you can have him come back for dinner, and you and your son can chat,” Yinzhen said. Then he added that he had something to do and needed to go out for a while. He might be back late today and would not come to Peach Blossom Village.
Watching Yinzhen's hurried departure, Qian Shengyan was even more puzzled.
Did you come here specifically to explain the beauty of Xifeng Peak to the mother and son?
And... how often does he come back for dinner? Does he come back every day? Or is it like what Yinzhen said before, coming back once every ten days? But that would mean resting for a whole day, not just having a meal, right?
Qian Shengyan was puzzled, but fortunately, going to Xifeng Xiuse wasn't something that could be done today. There was still more than a month until the New Year, so she could wait and see.
After pondering the matter of the child, Qian Shengyan thought of Yinzhen again. Yesterday, he went to discipline the child with dark circles under his eyes. Fortunately, everyone's attention was drawn to Hongshi at that time, and few people dared to stare at the prince. Today, when she saw Yinzhen again, his dark circles looked normal. If you didn't look closely, you couldn't see that dark circle.
Well, that matter should be considered over now, right?
Qian Shengyan felt a little guilty, but fortunately she hadn't seen him in the past two days because she was in a hurry. She would be home late tonight and probably wouldn't see him tomorrow either. She would probably forget about him when they met again.
whee.
Qian Shengyan's plan was good, but she didn't expect to hear the next morning that Yinzhen had arrived and was with Hongli.
Qian Shengyan blurted out, "What's he doing here?"
Qingxue: ...
Before Qingxue could answer, Lüliu lifted the curtain and came in, smiling, "Master, the Prince has put on his breakfast and sent someone to ask if you are up yet."
Qian Shengyan: ...
I'm not up yet. Don't ask. I'm not seeing you today.
—But it's just a thought.
Qian Shengyan, belatedly realizing her predicament, felt increasingly guilty. She dressed and washed up slowly, but when she arrived at the front hall, she found food on the table, but neither Yinzhen nor Hongli had touched it, clearly waiting for her.
Qian Shengyan hurriedly went over to pay her respects and then sat down, somewhat embarrassed: "I'm late, Your Highness and Hongli, why didn't you start first?"
"It doesn't matter whether it's early or late, I'll wait for you to come along." Yinzhen said with a smile, and then added, "I have nothing to do today, so I'll take you to see the beautiful scenery of Xifeng. We can also start decorating the house first."
Qian Shengyan felt something was off. It seemed that... she had punched Yinzhen twice, but Yinzhen was treating her even better?
She didn't understand. Could it be that Emperor Yongzheng was a hidden, um, masochist?
So, does that mean she can just punch him a few more times when she's bored, hoping to win his favor?
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