"Mother, I want a younger brother. Give me a younger brother."
"Why do you suddenly want a younger brother?"
The little guy shook his head, "I won't tell you." But in his heart, he was having a wonderful fantasy: after he told his younger brother about his fourth brother and his mischievous deeds, his younger brother would also admire them. Then, hehe, his father would get tricked, and his younger brother would get beaten up. Haha, that would be great!
Two months later, Taoyuan
"Oh, isn't today your father's designated day off? Why are you all back?" Jiaming asked as she directed the servants to pour tea and serve snacks to the two princes.
"Fourth Brother is going to the palace to study!" Hongjing said with a pout and a dejected expression.
Hongxuan nodded in agreement with Hongjing's words, then reached out and patted Hongjing's head, comforting him, "Don't be upset, Fourth Brother will play with you when he comes back."
Hongjing pouted, still very unhappy.
"But I can only come back once a month, and for only two days."
Now, Hongxuan was also helpless.
"This is stipulated by the Emperor, and Fourth Brother is powerless to change it."
Jiaming listened quietly to the two brothers talking. Although she felt surprised by what happened, she also thought it was something she had expected.
She could understand it immediately, but Hongjing was still young and didn't understand.
"Fourth Brother, Eldest Brother is older than you, can't he go?"
Hongxuan paused, his hand stroking Hongjing's head, and said with a hint of sadness, "Big brother's health isn't good, it's inconvenient for him to go to the palace." He's only studying in the front courtyard, and he's often sick and absent; if he went to the palace, I'm afraid...
Upon hearing this, Hongjing thought of his elder brother's pale face and hands, as well as his thin frame.
Hongjing frowned. "Can't it be cured?" he asked, looking at Hongxuan with pleading eyes.
Hongxuan pursed his lips, then shook his head.
Hongjing immediately deflated again.
Hongxuan continued to stroke Hongjing's head, comforting him.
Hongjing lowered his head and murmured, "My elder brother has been very good to me. I... I also hope that my elder brother will be well."
I hope he's doing well too!
Hongxuan paused, his hand stroking Hongjing's head, and then he thought to himself.
Seeing the somber atmosphere, Jiaming quickly interjected, saying, "Xuan'er, the palace is not like the outside world. You must be careful in everything you do."
Hongxuan nodded, "Mother, don't worry, I understand. Besides, there's a mama in the palace."
Jiaming thought of Consort De, and then of how the relationship between the master and Consort De had become increasingly harmonious in recent years, so she nodded in relief and said, "That's true."
“Exactly!” Hongjing chimed in, “And,” the little guy looked at Hongxuan with admiration, “Fourth Brother is so amazing, he can solve anything, so nothing will happen to him!”
"Oh!" Jiaming raised an eyebrow, teasing Hongjing, "You have that much confidence in your fourth brother?"
Hongjing nodded emphatically without hesitation, "Yes!"
Hongxuan blushed slightly at his younger brother's admiration.
How could this escape Jiaming's eyes? Her intrigued gaze lingered on Hongxuan's ear.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, Hongxuan immediately grabbed a pastry and used it to shut Hongjing up, saying, "Eat some pastry!"
"Thank you, Fourth Brother!" Hongjing happily accepted the snacks and ate them with relish.
"By the way, when are you going to the palace to study?" Jiaming suddenly asked.
"The day after tomorrow." After answering, Hongxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, put the teacup down, picked up a pastry, but didn't eat it. Instead, he said, "By the way, Father, come over for dinner later too."
As he said this, he stared longingly at Jiaming, and Hongjing followed suit, staring longingly as well.
Jiaming immediately understood what they meant and said with a smile, "Mother will cook for you herself later."
"Great!" Hongjing cheered.
Hongxuan smiled brightly for a moment, and then immediately seized the opportunity, "Mother, then I want to eat twice-cooked pork and cumin lamb." Then, he paused, and then ordered two more dishes: "Beef stew with potatoes and fish with tofu."
Jiaming glanced at Hongxuan, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
"Then I want sweet and sour pork, lion's head meatballs, candied sweet potatoes, and stir-fried vegetarian crab meat." Hongjing also ordered four dishes.
“No.” Jiaming squinted at Hongjing and said, “Same as always, only two dishes.”
“But Fourth Brother ordered four dishes,” Hongjing said unwillingly.
Jiaming said irritably, "I didn't notice the last two dishes. They're not what your fourth brother likes to eat. They're what your father likes to eat."
The little guy suddenly realized what was going on and immediately compromised, saying, "Okay then, sweet and sour pork and stir-fried vegetarian crab meat will do."
"Don't be so resentful. It's already good enough that your mother cooks for you." Jiaming tapped Hongjing's forehead and said speechlessly.
“Yes!” Hongxuan immediately nodded in agreement, trying to please Jiaming.
Jiaming gave Hongxuan an approving look, then said to Hongjing, "Look how sensible your fourth brother is!"
Hongjing buried his head in Hongxuan's arms, feeling embarrassed.
Hongxuan hugged Hongjing and smiled, "Mother, Father said that I can stay with you before I enter the palace. So, until I enter the palace, please take good care of me and cook all three meals a day."
Jiaming's smile froze, and then she glared at Hongxuan.
Don't push your luck!
Hongxuan looked dejected, lowered his eyes to avoid Jiaming's glare, and said, "After entering the palace, I won't be able to eat the food you make anymore. Just thinking about this makes me feel tormented and sad."
"Mother, please grant Fourth Brother's request!" Hongjing pleaded from the side, "If I go to the front yard, I won't be able to eat what Mother cooks. I miss it so much. Sometimes, I have no appetite, I don't want to eat, and I don't even want to go to class."
Jiaming said with ill intent, "If that's the case, then shouldn't it be that if your mother doesn't cook for you more often, you won't eat so much of the food your mother makes, and you'll get used to what others cook, wouldn't that make your suffering less?"
Hongxuan and Hongjing: "..."
"Hehe, I was just joking with you!" Jiaming said with a smile.
Hongxuan and Hongjing breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then Mother, will you cook for us again tomorrow?" Hongxuan asked, while secretly glancing at Jiaming's expression.
When Hongjing heard his brother ask this question, he looked at Jiaming expectantly, hoping that his mother would see his longing in her eyes and know his inner desire so that she would agree.
Jiaming deliberately hesitated for a long time, just to see their anxious expressions while they waited.
Hongxuan was well aware of his mother Jiaming's wicked sense of humor, but he didn't expose her. Instead, he cooperated by acting anxiously and nervously.
Hongjing, completely unaware that he had been deliberately teased, genuinely displayed feelings of trepidation and anticipation.
Hongxuan glanced at his younger brother Hongjing. This silly little brother of his hadn't even noticed. Then, he pondered how to guide his brother to be smarter and not be easily fooled.
Having satisfied her wicked sense of humor, Jiaming was in a very good mood, so she smiled and said, "Before you enter the palace, your mother will take care of all your food."
"All booked! Very good. Then, Master, please come over for a meal tomorrow as well." The Fourth Master, who had just entered, said in a very good mood upon hearing Jiaming's words.
Jiaming: "..."
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