The seventh year of Yongzheng's reign
Hongyan's eldest son was born.
"Oh dear, you should choose a good name. This is Hongyan's eldest son." Yinzhen looked at Changning with a hint of helplessness.
"If you don't like what I chose, then you can choose it yourself."
Changning rolled her eyes.
Yinzhen smiled helplessly, then coaxed her softly, "We'll set off for the Yuanmingyuan Garden in a couple of days to escape the summer heat. We'll clean out a pond for you then so you can swim in it, okay?"
Changning was somewhat tempted, but also a little embarrassed: "Will this work? I'm already an imperial madam, why would I swim?"
"What's the big deal?" Yinzhen said dismissively. "Swimming is good for your health, much better than the square dancing you do every day. Besides, Yartan and Unaxi are getting older, we can't let them still be landlubbers, they have to learn something."
"Alright then." Changning nodded, then patted Yinzhen on the shoulder. "Oh dear, it's all your fault for changing the subject. We haven't even decided on a name for the baby yet!"
Yinzhen pinched her cheek. Yaoxian was almost thirty-five years old, but she was still very beautiful, as if time had not left any marks on her.
"I've decided. The eldest prince will be named Yongheng. The eldest princess will also be named Yuanying."
“This is good, it sounds grand.” Changning nodded in agreement. “The eldest princess is two years old now. She was born prematurely and is weak. Hongyan loves his daughter and was always afraid that naming her too early would suppress her good fortune, so he kept putting it off. Now it’s all good. She’s fair-skinned and chubby, and the name Yuan Ying suits her perfectly.”
Yinzhen also quite liked this chubby granddaughter: "Wasn't the concubine who gave birth to Yuan Ying the daughter of Tulichen?"
"Yes, it's Ayan Gioro, her name is Yuyi. Hongyan likes her quite a bit, and just the other day we heard that she's pregnant again."
Yinzhen didn't say much: "As long as he knows it. His wife has given him such a good son, he can't just abandon him."
Changning also felt sorry for his daughter-in-law, not to mention that he had personally watched the child grow up.
"Wanji is a good girl. She and Hongyan are a perfect couple. After their wedding last year, she gained a reputation for being virtuous. Not to mention, she is now my good assistant. Under her guidance, the system for female officials has become more perfect."
"Ortai was a loyal minister, and his daughter was naturally no less capable, possessing the qualities to become a virtuous empress of the Qing Dynasty."
Yinzhen was particularly satisfied with Hongyan's wife.
"Speaking of the children's marriages, they are all good. Yierha is already having three children, and has two princesses who are very sweet."
Honghui also had two sons and two daughters, and he and his wife were very close.
I don't need to worry about Hongyan at all.
Hongzhao has also set a wedding date with Naritai this year.
My only concern is for Hutuli. I wonder how she is now. Is she doing well?
Changning couldn't help but miss her daughter. Yartan and Unaxi were both well-behaved and adorable, but to be honest, the one she couldn't let go of the most was the free-spirited, unrestrained, and quirky Hutuli.
Yinzhen held her close and gently comforted her, "It's alright. Didn't we hear news of a victory a few days ago? Now, Japan and Goguryeo in the east, as well as Annam, Funan, Luzon and other places in the south, all belong to the Qing Dynasty. The territory of the Qing Dynasty has nearly doubled. This is all thanks to her."
"Fighting is hard and tiring. What we see is her glamorous side, but who knows how much suffering, hardship, and injury she endured behind the scenes!"
Changning sighed, her tone wistful: "I wonder if Chen Zhihuai can take good care of her."
A month later, Yinzhen and Changning went to the Yuanmingyuan.
Princes and princesses, including Hongyan, accompanied the group.
Yu Yi, heavily pregnant, was arranging luggage for Hong Yan, but he stopped her, saying, "Alright, you don't need to bother. Just rest. Aunt Yu Qiu is here."
Yu Yi blinked and smiled sweetly, "How can that be? I'll only feel at ease if I take care of the prince myself. The princess consort has just given birth to the eldest prince and is still weak. She told me to take care of myself and take good care of the prince. I dare not disobey the princess consort."
Hong Yan pursed his lips: "Then it's up to you. Don't force yourself if you're not feeling well."
"Thank you for your concern, sir."
Hongyan saw that her eyes were squinting from smiling, and his expression softened considerably.
On the other side
"Your Highness, now that you've given birth to the First Prince, you must take good care of yourself. Although you can't accompany us to the Yuanmingyuan, since you are pregnant, you won't cause any trouble. There's no need to worry."
Wanji lay on the bed, and the nanny beside her tried to comfort her. But Wanji snorted coldly. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure.
"Granny Wu, don't underestimate me. I am the Third Prince's wife, his principal wife. Would I compete with a concubine for his favor?"
Don't have such a narrow perspective.
Besides... the prince is truly sincere towards me.
Unconsciously, Wanji touched the jade ruyi beside her pillow. Hongyan had specially brought it to her after she gave birth, saying that he had offered it to the Buddha for several months in the hope that she would be healthy and safe.
These words almost brought tears to Wanji's eyes, but she held back her tears, feeling especially touched.
Wanji was particularly clear that for the Third Prince, the most important thing was the national affairs of the Qing Dynasty and matters concerning the country.
The Qing Dynasty is now thriving, and the whole country is working to develop its national strength. Domestically, it is developing the economy and ensuring logistics; externally, it is expanding its territory and acquiring resources.
He basically pulled out all the princes of the late emperor and all the emperor's brothers to do things; none of them were idle.
This was a crucial period in the development of the Qing Dynasty.
Hongyan wouldn't spend too much time on the backyard, especially since he wasn't a womanizer.
Now, the Third Prince has been married and has a harem for four or five years, but he only has a son and a daughter. He can only see women a few times a month.
Only his primary wife, Wanji, received two days a month; the other wives received one day each. Aside from that, he spent all his time in his study reading and writing memorials.
To be honest, Wanji felt that this was more like the Third Prince completing a task, simply summoning a woman every ten days.
For a crown prince with such a broad vision, it is even more important to be his right-hand man.
Dodder vines, concubines, vying for favor and bearing children—none of that matters.
She didn't care, and neither did he.
She still remembers the flower she drew when she played the flower-naming game with Hutu and the others. The flower she drew was "Why need it be light green or deep red? It is naturally the first-class flower."
In order to reach a higher position, to have more power, and to be able to influence the future and prospects of women all over the world through my actions, just like the Empress.
Wanji thought that only by becoming the Crown Princess and the future Empress could she truly let go and do what she wanted.
That's why she married Hongyan.
Of course, she also had feelings for Hongyan, but she also knew that Hongyan was definitely not a man of romantic love. He chose her to be his wife because he shared the same goal as her: to rule the world.
Perhaps, this is the true meaning of a harmonious and respectful marriage.
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