Hongmin tried to count the fireflies countless times but still couldn't get a count, which made Hongyang stop looking at the window and keep looking at his brother.
This amused Changning, who burst into laughter. She truly admired her son; his focus was just like Hongyan's, as if once he had made up his mind about something, nothing could stop him.
But how to put it, this personality is good, but it also has its downsides. Changning started to worry again, what if this stubborn personality turns into a bookworm in the future?
Hongzhao's temperament was impetuous and restless, which worried her. If only her sons could moderate their temperaments.
Hongyang is still young, and all he does is eat and sleep, so we can't tell his personality yet, but his face is definitely getting prettier and prettier.
Today, Wanhe also said that Hongyang is even more handsome than her princess.
Just then, Yinzhen walked in and said with a smile, "What are the children doing in the yard? They're shouting and laughing. I could hear them from far away."
"Look!" Changning pointed to the green light on the window and laughed, "Catching fireflies."
"Oh, right, there's a lake on both sides, and quite a few fireflies." Yinzhen sat down next to her, picked up Hongmin who was counting insects, put him on his lap, and ate a banana.
"The Prince Zhi has left?" Changning placed Hongyang on the couch and gently fanned him. It was already late for the child to stay up this late, so she quickly made him go to sleep.
While eating a banana and coaxing his son, Yinzhen replied, "I'm leaving. My elder brother is only doing this out of love for his son, and he's bowing down to me for Hongyu's sake. Why bother? I've watched these nephews grow up; how could I not help them if they're in trouble?"
Changning nodded and stopped talking about these things outside. "I wonder how their catching is going. There are so many mosquitoes outside. I hope they don't get bitten all over."
Chuixue smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master. Zhuiyu and Yuxia have made mosquito-repelling sachets for the young masters. They wear them with them and they are the most effective at repelling mosquitoes."
"Yu Xia's skills are superb, and she has become more and more refined over the years," Chang Ning praised.
"You must be tired today? Why don't you rest early?" Yinzhen felt sorry for her, having to work so hard while pregnant. He hadn't originally planned for Changning to attend today's banquet, but in order to formally request her to be granted the title of Prince's Consort, he hoped that his brothers and sisters-in-law would understand his intentions. Changning herself said it was no problem; she hadn't seen guests for a long time while pregnant, so a lively atmosphere would be nice.
He specifically instructed his maid, Granny Ma, to take good care of Changning and to report to him if Changning felt even the slightest bit unwell.
Fortunately, nothing bad happened throughout the day. I heard that she had a lot of fun, and later she even played cards with her sisters-in-law.
Speaking of playing cards, Changning has already instructed Zhao Fuhai to have a set of mahjong tiles made.
When it comes to entertainment and leisure, how can we forget mahjong!
Before long, Hongmin became more and more sleepy as he counted the fireflies. He yawned in Yinzhen's arms, his eyes almost closing.
Changning was delighted and quickly had the wet nurse take him back to sleep. Hongyang was the same; he fell asleep after being patted a few times by Changning.
The children were playing wildly all day and also received guests, so they're exhausted.
After taking the two sleeping children back, the children who had been catching fireflies also ran back.
Chuixue brought them glass bottles that are relatively rare even in Changning. She had specially brought them back for her when Changxing was doing trade.
Yinzhen had previously said he would find her some glassware, and now there is already a glass display case and several glass vases.
However, Yinzhen preferred glass. A glass cup with shimmering colors, filled with brightly colored wine or tender green tea leaves, and accompanied by boiling water, would have a clear reflection, which would have a more charming effect.
However, it is still more suitable to keep fireflies in glass bottles.
Hongzhao carefully handed it to Changning. Inside the transparent glass bottle, about a dozen fireflies were floating, a cluster of shimmering green, which was quite beautiful.
Hutuli grinned and said, "Father, Mother, look, we've caught quite a lot!"
"Wow, so beautiful! You guys are so capable!" Changning quickly praised them one after another. Hongzhao, Hongyan, and Hutu all had smiles on their faces. Changning's emotional appeal was spot on.
Hongchen jumped up and down, tugging at Changning's sleeve: "Mother! Mother! I! I caught it!"
Looking at his chubby little face, Changning gave him a kiss, making him very happy.
"Alright, it's getting late, you should all go back to sleep." Changning immediately had them all sent back.
After Hutuli and Hongyan and Hongzhao bowed, they withdrew. Hongchen cried and clung to Changning's sleeve, refusing to let go, insisting on sleeping with his mother. However, after being glared at by Yinzhen, he had no choice but to let go, looking aggrieved, and was taken back by his wet nurse.
The two were exhausted after a long day and went to bed early.
Ever since they caught fireflies that day, the children have become addicted. Every night they would squat by the window of the Natural Picture Book, catching a whole bottleful at a time, and saying they would give them to their best friends.
A month or two later, it would be Yinzhen's birthday.
Changning was heavily pregnant and unable to sew, so she could only provide the pattern and verbal instructions. Hutuli and Yierha made a garment for Yinzhen together. Not to mention how ingenious the design was, the stitches were so fine that it was the result of the two girls' painstaking efforts.
Changning praised the two of them again and again, exaggerating the beauty of their clothes to the point that even the shameless Hutu blushed with embarrassment, and Yierha was even more so.
Yinzhen was very pleased to receive the gift; he put it on immediately and even made a special trip to the palace.
Before long, the entire Forbidden City knew that Prince Yong was wearing clothes made by the hands of the eldest and second princesses.
Yinzhen returned to the capital this time to inspect the progress of the smallpox vaccination program implemented by Changhua, as well as the Ministry of Revenue's revenue situation, and finally to check on the renovation of the Prince's Mansion.
Converting a prince's mansion into a royal residence was no small project. The Imperial Household Department worked for over two months to get it to a rough outline. Yinzhen then offered some suggestions on the details before preparing to return to the Yuanmingyuan. He also brought Tuantuan's family along.
The park here is big and there's a lot of water. Changning is especially afraid that these fearless cats will run around and fall into the water again. She doesn't bother anyone else, but only tells Tuantuan, who grabs her and nags her to keep an eye on her husband's three little kittens so they don't fall into the lake and get eaten by the fish, and so on.
Tuan Tuan simply licks her fur gracefully; her favorite thing to do is lie on the lawn by the door and sunbathe.
The three cats were also taken away by Hong Yan, Hong Zhaohu, and Tu Li; they'll be sleeping with them every night.
Changning noticed that Tuantuan had become increasingly lazy lately, just like her. A chill ran down her spine – could Tuantuan be pregnant again?
She urged Bai Zhu to come and take a look. Although Bai Zhu was originally a healer, over the years she had also developed some veterinary skills. Sure enough, Tuan Tuan was pregnant with her second child.
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