Changning's lips twitched, and even Yinzhen was shocked.
Hongchen was still wiping away tears, but seeing that his father and mother's expressions had changed, he gradually stopped crying.
Hongmin felt his head was spinning, but he still told the whole story: "After Xu Anda woke up, he saw that his hair was bald... and he was furious, so he grabbed his younger brother and hit him three times with a bamboo stick. Now, Xu Anda has woken up and is kneeling outside begging for forgiveness."
Changning is really... really driven crazy by Hongchen.
The importance that the ancients placed on hair goes without saying; our bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents.
Back then, the Third Prince shaved his head within 100 days of the Imperial Noble Consort Jingmin's death and lost his title of Prince.
Hongchen's move shaved the man's head bald...
Changning recalled that Xu Anda seemed to be over sixty years old. Although he was old, he had always been quite healthy. However, after being angered and shocked, he was now extremely fearful, and he was afraid that his health was not good.
So she started twisting Hongchen's ear, making him cry out in pain. Hongmin was startled but didn't dare stop his mother.
Hongchen cried out, "Mother! Mother, why are you hitting me?"
"Hit you? Hitting you would be too lenient! You brat, if you're not disciplined for three days, you'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles. I've really spoiled you rotten. Someone come here! Bring me the broom!"
Hongchen screamed in terror.
Enraged, Changning grabbed the memorials from Yinzhen's desk and began to "hunt down" Hongchen everywhere.
This time, Hongchen couldn't care less about crying; his short legs were like wheels of fire as he ran everywhere. Changning couldn't catch up with him.
"You dare run away? You brat!"
Such a huge mess!
"That Xu Anda is so old, and you dared to bully him, even shaving your head! I'll skin you alive today!"
Both Yinzhen and Hongmin were stunned.
It's worth noting that Changning usually educates her children with gentle and understanding methods, focusing on using love and words to influence them and resolve their inner conflicts.
But I've never seen her so furious before, jumping up and down in anger, really wanting to give Hongchen a good beating to vent her anger. This brat really deserves a beating.
Changning truly felt that he was her celestial star, just like the Fourteenth Prince felt for the Empress Dowager.
"Alright, alright, I'll punish him. Don't get upset. Hongchen really misbehaved this time, he should be punished properly." Yinzhen couldn't bear to watch any longer. He felt that Changning was tired from running around, so he quickly went over and hugged her, gently patting her back.
Hongchen pouted, "Mother, I know I was wrong... I just wanted to joke with Anda, who knew he would be so angry..."
"Are you kidding me? Hongchen, this is no excuse for your reckless behavior." Changning felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, almost fainting from anger. "Look at yourself now, how are you any different from Hongqing?"
Changning was so angry because she was afraid that Hongchen would become the second Hongqing. Wasn't it Hongqing who secretly shaved Third Master's head, causing him to be demoted?
Now, because he shaved Xu Shida's head, Xu Shida is also being punished.
Changning was furious.
How could she have given birth to such a piece of char siu!
Seeing his mother so angry, Hongchen behaved himself and dared not make a fuss anymore.
Yinzhen coaxed Changning for a while before she calmed down. As a result, his anger towards Xu Shida subsided. He summoned Su Peisheng, waved him off, and told him to go back to his residence. He was too old for him, so he only punished him by deducting two months' salary as a warning.
As for Hongchen...
Yinzhen forbade him from eating snacks, punished him by making him copy history books for two hours every day, and also made him report to Xu Shida's residence every day.
Hongchen was stunned.
What is that?
Xu Anda must be wishing he could punish himself every day now, right? Is he still making him go to his residence every day?
Hongchen wore a bitter expression; he had really messed up this time...
Hongmin wanted to say something to plead for his younger brother, but seeing his mother's pale face, he swallowed his words.
Mother has worked so hard...
Wow, that's pretty fierce...
In the afternoon, the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet at Chengqian Palace ended.
Hu Tuli brought Yu Yi's pastries and chrysanthemum dew and made a special trip to Hong Yan's place.
"Try this pastry, how is it?"
Hutu teased him by letting him try it, but didn't say who made it.
Hongyan assumed that his mother had sent him to deliver it, and without suspicion, he ate with relish, even praising it: "This is well made, not greasy, and has a natural chrysanthemum fragrance. Quite ingenious."
"How about this chrysanthemum dew? It's great for scenting clothes."
After having the snacks, Hongyan smelled the chrysanthemum dew and quite liked it. The fragrance was light and retained the noble and aloof feeling of the chrysanthemum.
He nodded: "This one is fine too."
Hearing this, Hutuli said with a grin, "You don't know, do you? All of these were made by Yuyi."
"Yu Yi?" Hong Yan was taken aback. "Lord Tu Lichen's daughter?"
Hutu nodded: "Yes, you forgot? It's the girl who stared at you like a daze last time at Mother's place in Chengqian Palace."
Upon hearing this, Hongyan remembered. Oh, it was her. She really was a skillful and clever girl.
but……
He glanced at Hutuli sideways: "What are you holding back?"
Hutu gave him a flick on the forehead: "You brat, you have no manners! I'm your older sister, would I hurt you? I just think Yuyi is a pretty good girl, and I think the two of you together would be quite interesting."
"Why did you switch careers to become a matchmaker?"
Hongyan was not interested in this at all.
Hutu exclaimed, "Oh dear! You really don't know? There will be another imperial concubine selection next year. Not only will Mother choose female officials, but she will also choose a primary wife and a secondary wife for you and Honghui!"
Hongyan frowned: "I'm only thirteen. Why would I need to find a wife?"
"Thirteenth Prince doesn't need to find a primary wife, but he can have a secondary wife. I overheard Granny Guo saying that they'll decide on a candidate first, and then she'll enter the household in two years!"
So that's how it is... Hongyan understood. It turned out that his sister had overheard the conversation between Granny Guoluoma and Mother, which was why she wanted to bring him and Yuyi together.
However, Hongyan said nonchalantly, "Neither of us needs to concern ourselves with this matter; Father and Mother will naturally take care of it."
Hutuli asked in surprise, "What? Don't you want to choose one you like?"
Hongyan then picked up another book at random: "I don't have any that I like."
"Just because you don't have it now doesn't mean you won't have it later, right? Besides..."
Before Hutuli could finish speaking, Hongyan's expression made her shut up.
"Sister, you know what responsibilities I have to shoulder. Who I marry is not up to me."
Hutuli shut her mouth and nodded; she naturally understood Hongyan's unspoken meaning.
Sigh... What a pity, she really hoped that Hongyan could marry a wife who would make him happy.
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