Changning had heard about the Third Prince's affairs, but she never expected it to involve her own husband's business trip.
"Who knows how long you'll be gone? What will happen to the estate?"
Changning held her belly; this time, she didn't personally pack his luggage, nor would Yinzhen allow it.
"It's alright, I'll be back in just two or three months. I'm just worried about you. There are rumors going around everywhere, and who knows what that Dong E clan might do in a corner. You should be careful."
Changning chuckled: "How could you say that Third Sister-in-law is desperate? Besides, even if they make a scene, it's their Third Prince's business, what does it have to do with me?"
"Dong Eshi has always treated you badly, which shows she is an ignorant woman. You don't need to pay attention to her. It's still freezing outside, so try to stay home as much as possible. If you get bored, you can ask Lady Fucha to come and visit you. She can stay for a while."
Changning took his hand and gently pressed it against hers, her voice tender: "I know, you don't need to worry about me."
Yinzhen held her close, as if she were a precious treasure, and let out a long sigh: "I'll finish as soon as possible and come back as soon as possible. If you have any worries, just wait for me to come back and deal with them. If you need any errands run, just leave them to Hongyan and Hongzhao."
Changning nodded. Now the children are at the age where they especially love to show off their abilities. If you give them something, they feel it is a recognition of themselves and they do it with great enthusiasm.
So both Yinzhen and Changning were willing to let them gain more experience, which was a win-win situation.
So when Yinzhen was about to go out, Hongyan and Hongzhao patted their chests and told their father not to worry, they would definitely take good care of their mother.
With the children's assurances, Yinzhen patted their little heads, then reluctantly tugged at Changning's hand before leaving.
The establishment of the Confucius Temple this time has great cultural and political significance. The fact that this task was entrusted to him is also a test of his abilities and a sign of his father’s high regard for him. Yinzhen decided that he absolutely could not let his father down.
After Yinzhen left, the mansion was peaceful for a while. Hongyan and Hongzhao would come back every day for meals and rest, and would ask about Changning's situation when they chatted in the evening.
Hutuli also took on the important task entrusted to her by her father and brothers, and would come to keep her mother company whenever she had free time.
They had heard about what happened at the Third Prince's residence, but they only had a vague understanding of it.
Although Hongzhao and Hongqing had always had some disagreements, he showed no sign of gloating or making sarcastic remarks.
On the contrary, he also felt a bit of sympathy for the pitiful.
"Mother, I heard that Hongqing was kicked out of the manor by Third Uncle. Does that mean he won't have a father anymore? Can he go back?"
Changning patted his head, still surprised by her son's magnanimity, and said leisurely, "Yes, your third uncle will not give up on Hongqing as his son. He will go to pick Hongqing up and bring him back to the manor in a while."
Hongzhao breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. Although Hongqing is indeed a bit of a jerk, it would be too pitiful if Father didn't want him. Classes will start in the palace in a couple of days, and I don't know if he'll have the face to see his brothers."
Speaking of this, Hongzhao suddenly remembered Honghui: "My elder brother and he have a very good relationship. I heard that he has been trying to go to Dong'e Mansion to find Hongqing these past two days, but his stepmother has stopped him."
Hongzhao looked distressed: "My stepmother is really strict."
The children's attitude towards the princess was also somewhat subtle.
Perhaps because he often interacted with the young princes and princesses of various households, he also knew the relationship between the primary consort and the secondary consort. For example, in the Third Uncle's household, they were like fire and water.
The other uncles are all doing pretty well. Uncle Thirteen and Uncle Fourteen seem to be doing quite well, and Hongchang and Hongchun don't have many worries either.
Hongchang often couldn't see his birth mother and felt somewhat sorry for himself, but his thirteenth wife treated him very well, and no one in the mansion gave him a hard time, so his upbringing was relatively clean.
Hongchun is the same; his personality is just like the Fourteenth Prince's. He loves to be mischievous and has a fiery temper. He is also the Fourteenth Prince's eldest son. Although the Princess Consort also has legitimate sons, they are all still young, so her attitude towards him is not bad.
The other cousins were different.
Either the birth mother is favored and therefore looks down on the legal mother, or the birth mother is constantly suppressed by the legal mother and has to be mindful of the feelings of her legitimate brothers and sisters.
Although everything appears harmonious on the surface, one's true thoughts are not something to be revealed to outsiders.
Although Hongzhao was young, he was very intelligent and had a strong ability to perceive these emotional changes. In addition, with a half-sibling in the household, he could empathize with them to some extent.
Changning has always been quite tolerant of the children and advocates for happy learning and growth, so the children often confide in her about their worries.
But now that they see how hard their mother is working, taking care of her two younger brothers while she is pregnant, Hutuli, Hongyan, and Hongzhao rarely bother her with such matters anymore.
If any of them has something on their mind, the three of them will often get together to discuss it and see if they can help resolve it.
That day, the three of them huddled together in a side room in Hutu.
"Tell me, Hongyan, what's going on over there?" Hutu raised an eyebrow, looking all ears.
These past few days, classes have resumed at the palace, and the two boys in the household have also returned to their previous lives of studying at the palace and returning home every five days.
Hongyan's mood was noticeably off when he returned this time. Although he maintained a calm and humble demeanor in front of his mother, they could tell at a glance that something was on his mind.
So as not to disturb their mother, they quietly huddled together.
Hongzhao felt sorry for his brother and stood up for him: "What's wrong? Brother, did Hongqing provoke you again? Or did Hongxi and Hongyu act tough again?"
Hongxi and Hongyu are currently in the Imperial Study, and are considered the leaders of this group of young princes. The two occasionally clash, causing factions to begin to emerge within the Imperial Study.
Hongyan shook his head: "It's not their business, it's my elder brother's business."
He seemed hesitant to speak, unsure of where to begin.
Now both Hutuli and Hongzhao were quite curious.
Hongzhao kept shaking his brother's arm, urging him to speak quickly.
Hongyan sighed and said in a low voice, "The people around me heard my elder brother say to Hongqing that he was grateful that Hongqing always thought of him and understood him better than his own brothers in the manor."
Hutuli pouted: "He's quite good at winning people over. His own brothers in the manor don't understand him, but outsiders do? No wonder Hongqing can get along with him. It's just a matter of being influenced by one's company."
Hongyan felt that Honghui shouldn't be that kind of person.
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