When Yi Hua saw that Yin Zhen had returned, she immediately came to her senses and looked at him eagerly.
"Don't worry, Honghui is fine. He drank the ginseng soup and is asleep now," Yinzhen reassured him.
"That's good." Yi Hua helped Yin Zhen change his clothes. "Does Your Highness also feel that I shouldn't have hit him?"
“No, good for him.” Yinzhen squeezed Yihua’s hand back. The two leaned against the headboard, the lights were off, and they talked by the moonlight. “This kid is so audacious. If we don’t restrain him, he’ll really tear the sky apart.”
"Don't worry, Madam. Once he's recovered, I'll assign a servant to accompany him. The master was too trusting of him before." This meant finding someone to follow Honghui and report back to him in detail about everything that happened that day.
“This… isn’t a good idea? The child is getting older.” Yi Hua hesitated. In her previous life, parents would have considered it an invasion of their privacy to install cameras in their children’s rooms. Hong Hui is ten years old and being controlled like this might cause him to rebel.
"What's the big deal? Do you think I don't have Father Emperor's people around me? At least two of my retainers have been confirmed to be Father Emperor's men. Sometimes I can even intentionally send some information to Father Emperor through these spies." Yinzhen seemed quite used to it; this was life in the royal family.
Yi Hua was speechless. This was an awareness that every prince and grandson of the emperor must have, and she was powerless to interfere or stop it.
Yinzhen noticed that Yihua was in low spirits: "Why don't we let Guard Anba go with Honghui? You can rest assured then."
This means that Yihua is allowed to know everything happening in Honghui Palace.
The next day, Yi Hua woke up early and didn't leave the house until the sun was high in the sky before heading straight to Hong Hui's residence.
His courtyard was bustling with activity at the moment, with both the eldest princess and Hongyun present.
Before Yihua even entered the room, she heard Hongyun's excited voice: "Big brother, how could your younger brother be skipping class? This is a heartfelt act of loving, caring for, and protecting his older brother. If the teacher and father ask, you must testify for your younger brother."
"What proof? To say you've been staying here since this morning, eating half a watermelon, a plate of grapes, and a dish of snacks?" It was Honghui's somewhat hoarse voice, and Yihua could tell from it that he was still injured yesterday.
"Brother, I'm risking my life to accompany you." Hongyun's words were not very clear, probably because he had stuffed something into his mouth.
"Eat less, this is all for your elder brother to nourish his body." The eldest princess's voice rang out, "Go back to your studies, or the teacher will complain to Father, and you might get a few lashes too."
"Okay, okay," Hongyun said dejectedly, as he lifted the curtain and unexpectedly met Yihua.
"Greetings to my stepmother." Hongyun immediately bowed.
Yi Hua nodded, signaling him to leave. Upon entering, she saw Hong Hui lying on the bed, with the eldest princess gently fanning him.
The eldest princess glanced at the two of them, then made an excuse to leave.
Yi Hua took the fan that the eldest princess had put down and gently fanned Hong Hui: "Does your bottom still hurt?"
After saying that, he was about to lift the quilt to look, but Honghui pressed the corner of the quilt down forcefully. His face was flushed, as if he was holding it in or ashamed: "Mother, your son is fine. Father checked on him yesterday, so please don't worry."
Yi Hua understood; the child was old enough to know the difference between boys and girls: "Yesterday was my fault; I shouldn't have yelled at you so much. Are you still angry with me?"
Honghui shook his head vigorously, burying his face in Yihua's legs: "If your son angers you, it's all your fault. I will never be angry with you."
"I know you have to be careful in the palace, which has made you very perceptive." Yi Hua touched Hong Hui's forehead and found it wasn't hot, so she felt relieved. "I'm very happy that you want to help your mother."
“But your mother doesn’t want you to use this method.” This was the first time Yihua had discussed this topic with Honghui.
"Mother?" Honghui didn't quite understand what Yihua meant.
"The Eighth Prince's wife wanted to disfigure her mother; this is a despicable act and shows her bad character."
"Is it a clever tactic to give the Eighth Prince a concubine? If people associate this with you, a nephew interfering in the inner quarters of his uncles, it's practically a stain on your reputation for eternity."
"Mother hopes that next time you encounter someone you hate, you can judge her openly and honestly, instead of secretly stomping her to death."
"Besides, what if the Eighth Prince wants to retaliate against you? Have you thought about that? Your Eighth Uncle is in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Everything you eat, use, and play with in the palace comes from the Imperial Household Department. It's impossible to guard against him, Honghui."
"Don't make a move unless you're confident you can kill him with one blow." Yi Hua was genuinely worried about Hong Hui's safety. Everyone knew that Lao Ba was a smiling tiger; if he really made a move, there wouldn't be a trace left.
"Besides, you have to believe that your mother and father are capable of handling these things, right?"
"I understand, Mother. Don't worry, I swear it won't happen again." Honghui forced a smile for Yihua; he truly hadn't considered the consequences.
"Alright, you should rest well. Your mother will come to change your dressing this afternoon." Yi Hua got up to leave.
Honghui immediately said, "Mother, the physician is here to change the dressing, so you don't need to trouble yourself. I can do it myself."
Sigh, Honghui, who used to run around the yard with his little bottom showing, has grown up to the point that he won't let her touch him anymore. Yihua felt a little sad.
******
Back in the main courtyard, Yuling directed the eunuchs to bring in boxes of things one by one.
Looking at all these account books, Yu Xue asked, "Madam, do you want to see all of these?"
"Everyone has their own expertise. Register these, and once they're all verified, take them to Ninth Prince's residence." Yi Hua wrote a short letter to Ninth Prince's wife and sent it over.
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