When he was in his early thirties, Yinzhen was granted the title of Prince, and now when they meet, he should be addressed as "Prince Yong".
In a daze, Yi Hua seemed to see time rewind to the year he was granted the title of Beile, when she could see the youthful spirit and ambition for the title in Yinzhen's eyes.
As time goes by, Prince Yong's eyes are now deep and unfathomable, and it is difficult to tell what he is thinking from his expression.
According to custom, Yihua chose an auspicious day to set up a table in the backyard to celebrate Yinzhen's "promotion".
This was also a rare opportunity for the women in the backyard, since they rarely saw each other once a year, and they were all eager to show off.
Consort Li, having been persuaded by someone, came to Yihua herself: "Consort, we sisters can't really help the master much in the mansion, but as long as we can make him happy, that's good enough. Why don't we let the younger sisters in the back courtyard use their talents and have some fun together?"
Yi Hua agreed. It's better to guide than to suppress. Suppression only breeds discontent. Giving everyone something to look forward to is the only way to live in peace.
That evening, Yihua enjoyed a high-quality gala, and Yinzhen also had a rare moment of relaxation. He had been feeling too repressed lately, and he wanted to use the honor of being granted the title of prince to give everyone some fun.
The little wolf ran around wildly at the table. He was very mischievous. It was the first time he had seen so many "pretty" older sisters, and he wanted to get close to each of them and kiss them.
The banquet had just begun when his little face was covered in lipstick stains, making him look quite comical.
Yinzhen couldn't bear to watch. If this child were to be beaten for another ten years or so, he would definitely become a spoiled brat. He would have to teach him a lesson and not let his nature run wild.
After several rounds of drinks, Yinzhen and Yihua went to the main courtyard once again.
Even Consort Li remained calm. These days, their master either stays in the main courtyard or the front courtyard. Over the years, they had long since gotten used to it. Moreover, since their master had been granted the title of Prince, there was still an empty position for Consort in the mansion. She wanted to see who was more formidable, the new lover or the old flame.
The princesses were practically invisible. To be honest, the Fujin (principal wife) never mistreated their food, drink, or clothing; it was just that they lacked favor. Life was tough at first, but over time they resigned themselves to it. Those who refused to accept their fate were personally punished by their masters. You see, even Niohuru and Song are still unable to leave their homes.
Back in the main courtyard, Yi Hua helped Yin Zhen change into comfortable nightgowns, then stepped back to create some distance and performed a proper courtesy: "This concubine wishes Your Highness all your dreams come true and everything goes smoothly."
"Your Highness is so polite. Fortunately, I was prepared today." Yinzhen helped Yihua up and took a box from his pocket and handed it to her.
Unexpectedly, Yi Hua received a gift. When she opened it, she found a bracelet made of purple jade in the shape of Buddhist prayer beads.
“I’ve noticed you always have Honghui go to the small Buddhist shrine. I had a high-ranking monk perform a ritual to bless this string of prayer beads. In recent years, the health of our children has deteriorated. Prayer beads and purple jade are both good for health. I feel at ease knowing you wear them close to your body.”
"I hope that no matter what happens in the future, you will always be by my side."
Holding the bracelet, Yi Hua felt her heart pounding for the first time. It was so intense, as if it was about to burst out of her chest. She had never felt such a vivid emotional fluctuation before.
Yinzhen looked into Yihua's eyes, lowered his head and smiled gently. This was truly rare; in more than ten years, this was the first time he had seen such infatuation in his wife's eyes.
Such an opportunity was rare, and Yinzhen seized the moment, and the two became inseparable.
******
The next morning, Yi Hua cleared her throat and, feeling a burning pain, cursed him as a beast in her heart.
"Your Highness, you're awake. The Fourth Prince refuses to eat and insists on waiting for you. The wet nurse is extremely worried." Yu Xue came over to report and helped Yi Hua get dressed.
"Why is he throwing a tantrum again?" Little Wolf is an easy child to take care of. He has a good appetite and sleeps well. Whenever he refuses to eat, it's definitely because he's sulking with someone.
"The Fourth Prince wanted to come in this morning, and I dared to stop him, which made the young master unhappy." Yu Xue suppressed a laugh.
Yi Hua's face flushed again. In the morning, Yin Zhen had dragged her into a silly game. Thinking that her youngest son was outside at that time, Yi Hua felt a little ashamed.
"Let's go. By the way, don't call her 'Princess Consort' yet. We should wait for the palace to issue an official decree." Yesterday, when Yinzhen called her that, it was just for fun. If they call her that themselves, it would be outrageous.
According to Qing Dynasty custom, a princess's wife had to request a title from the prince, and only after the emperor's approval could the title be bestowed. There were also some eccentric princes who never requested a title their entire lives, clearly expressing their dislike for it.
Yinzhen's attitude did not worry Yihua, but being always cautious, she still had to give the servants a warning not to get carried away.
Little Wolf sat alone at the dining table. Yi Hua hid behind the screen and saw him staring longingly at the crystal bag on the table. After looking around and seeing that no one was watching him, he secretly took one and stuffed it into his mouth.
The little guy even knew how to clean up the mess, changing the arrangement of four steamed buns on a plate into an equilateral triangle in an attempt to get away with it.
Oh dear, her son who stole the food was just too adorable. Yi Hua waited until the little wolf swallowed the bun before making her footsteps louder: "Little wolf, what do you want with your mother?"
"Swing, swing!" Recently, the little guy has become fond of the feeling of flying. The palace maids and eunuchs who play with him dare not swing too high. It's only exciting when Yihua takes him to play. That's why he wants to sit on the swing first thing in the morning.
"Okay, let's eat first, then take a half-hour walk to aid digestion, and then Mommy will take you to play on the swings, okay?" Yihua was very hungry, so she sat down and drank half a bowl of porridge first.
The little wolf was somewhat reluctant, but he still obediently agreed.
"Look, little wolf, if you ate at your usual time, you could be playing by now, right? Eating on time is what makes a good child." Yi Hua picked up a crystal bun for him, which was what she was most proud of when she saw the child.
The little wolf, his cheeks bulging from eating, exclaimed, "Mommy's staying in bed too long, the sun's already high in the sky!"
Yi Hua glanced at him sideways. Kids are so quick to learn how to speak. She had told him this once before, and the little wolf remembered it.
“Your mother is an adult. When you grow up to be as big as your mother, you can stay in bed too.”
The little wolf counted on his fingers for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "Then the little wolf must grow up quickly."
Watching her son eat with relish, Yi Hua smiled to herself, thinking, "You won't think like that when you grow up."
Just look at Honghui; he sleeps later than a dog and gets up earlier than a rooster every day, and he still has to fight on the battlefield of the palace every day. Then look at Hongyun; because of his studies, the teachers in the mansion have all been punished, and his days are no easier than Honghui's.
The concept of "lying in bed late" doesn't exist in the Aisin-Gioro family's dictionary. Enjoy your childhood, kid.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com