The news that Tong Guiren and Cheng Guiren were pregnant at the same time was like a gust of wind blowing through the Forbidden City very quickly without leaving a trace. It did not attract much attention. After all, the two people were not only of low status, but they were not favored concubines.
, the competitiveness and threat are not that strong, and only the concubines of nobles and below are jealous and envious of the two of them.
Even though Tong Guiren, who lives in the backyard of Chengqian Palace, also comes from the imperial family and has a prominent family, everyone knows that there is an eldest sister who is directly above her and is suppressing her. As long as Concubine Tong does not fall, this Tong Guiren will never get ahead.
day...
Three days have passed in a flash, and it has just entered May, and the scorching heat has begun to surge wantonly in the air, highlighting the presence of summer.
On the second day of May, the little prince celebrated his birthday in Chuxiu Palace one day early as usual.
However, this time his fifth birthday was not only not celebrated in a big way, but also the guests at the banquet were very special.
At the beginning of the day, the golden-red sun hung high and slanted in the east. A young boy wearing a light brown short jacket had just parked a carriage outside the Zhang Mansion, and hurriedly walked up the steps, crossed the threshold and went to
Run to the house.
He had just walked around an arched moon gate when he saw a young man in green clothes, about seven or eight years old, with a well-mannered manner and an elegant temperament, walking slowly towards him.
The boy's eyes lit up and he immediately quickened his pace and ran to him, bowed his hands to him respectfully and said:
"Second Young Master, the eldest Young Master is already sitting on the carriage outside the mansion waiting for you. He specially ordered his servants to call you."
"Okay, I get it."
Zhang Tingyu nodded slightly when he heard what he said, and then consciously increased the frequency of his legs. After a while, he led the boy to the carriage.
"Second Young Master, come here, I will help you up." The young man said with a smile.
"No need, I can do it myself."
As soon as Zhang Tingyu finished speaking, she stepped on the pedal, lifted the curtain and bent down to enter the carriage.
As soon as he saw it, he saw his eldest brother Zhang Tingzhan holding a blue-sealed thread-bound book in his hand, leaning against the wall of the carriage and reading leisurely.
"Hengchen is here."
Zhang Tingzhan raised his head and saw his handsome second brother, and immediately smiled loudly and said, and moved his body to the side to make way for him to have a larger seat.
Zhang Tingyu said nothing, nodded expressionlessly and sat down next to his elder brother.
"Master, can we leave?"
"Let's go."
"Okay, let's drive!"
After the boy sitting on the carriage heard the affirmative reply from inside, he immediately raised his hand and shook the whip in his hand. Then the horse spread its four hooves and ran, and the wooden round wheels also creaked.
He drove along the road in the direction of the palace.
"Why, Hengchen, are you nervous?"
Zhang Tingzhan caught a glimpse of his younger brother, who had always been relaxed and calm in doing things, mature and steady like a little adult. At this time, he unconsciously unclenched and clenched his two small fists, and his breath became colder and colder. He couldn't help but hold the book in his hand.
He poked his left elbow and asked in a funny way.
Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but rolled his eyes when he heard the obvious teasing in his eldest brother's tone. Now he seemed to be as lively as a child of this age should be.
"Brother, this is my first time entering the palace, and I am going to attend His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's birthday banquet. It is reasonable for me to be nervous, right?"
Zhang Tingyu turned around, straightened her chest, looked at him confidently and said.
"Hahahahahahaha."
When Zhang Tingzhan saw his second brother's appearance, he originally wanted to hold back his laughter, but he couldn't control his lips. He immediately laughed out loud and said while laughing:
"Hengchen, you'd better say less and act cold and indifferent. As soon as you open your mouth, my brother can clearly see the sparse deciduous teeth and black tooth holes in your mouth. It's really a bit...
It’s funny.”
Hearing what the wronged elder brother said, Zhang Tingyu, who was in the period of changing his teeth, became even more autistic, and his face darkened suddenly, but his whole body relaxed obviously, like a tightly stretched bow general.
After the arrow was shot, the string could not help but relax.
Zhang Tingzhan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his brother's condition had improved, and his tone began to become more serious:
"Tingyu, don't be afraid, and don't have any psychological burden just because you are the prince's companion."
"Didn't Dad tell us yesterday that His Highness the Crown Prince is smart and kind to others, and Concubine Jing's reputation is also very good to the outside world. You don't need to worry too much about today's trip to the palace."
Zhang Tingzhan patted his brother's thin shoulder and comforted him.
But such words obviously could not appease Zhang Tingyu. At the age of seven and a half, he was far from the demeanor he would later become as an important minister of the imperial court.
The little boy, who was expressionless because of his anxiety, was only praying secretly in his heart: I hope that His Highness the Crown Prince can be better served, that the other three companions can be easier to get along with, and that his future study career can also be easier...
More than two-quarters of an hour later, the carriage heading east suddenly stopped.
The Zhang brothers leaned forward slightly due to inertia, and then they heard the boy outside the car shout loudly:
"You two gentlemen, we have arrived at Xihua Gate."
Hearing this, Zhang Tingyu's hands on his legs immediately curled up together and clenched tightly into fists reflexively.
"Brother!"
"As for you, just take it easy, take it easy."
Zhang Tingzhan looked at his second brother, who was wearing a melon-skin hat, and looked at him pitifully. He immediately stretched out his hand and rubbed his fair cheeks, and then forcefully pulled the somewhat introverted young man out of the carriage who still wanted to shrink down.
.
"Don't be afraid. I think dad is right. Your biggest problem is that you don't like to talk to others. This kind of temper is unacceptable in official circles. Now that you are young, you have to work hard to make up for it.
Weak points."
As Zhang Tingzhan said this, he dragged the young boy to the shade of a big tree, and immediately behind them there was another emergency stop sound.
The brothers couldn't help but look around, and immediately they saw a young boy who was about the same height as Zhang Tingyu, but much fatter than him. He was wearing a big red robe. Before the carriage even stopped, he stood up.
Like a little elastic bun, he couldn't wait to lift the curtains and jump out, shouting loudly:
"Oh, it's finally here. My butt hurts from sitting down." The little fat man covered his butt and jumped twice on the ground, shouting loudly.
Zhang Tingzhan caught a glimpse of the family emblem on the carriage, which belonged to the Hesheli family. He had not yet guessed who this young boy was. The next moment, he saw a familiar young man jumping out of the carriage.
As soon as it touched the ground, like an eagle catching a chicken, it grabbed the back collar of the little fat man who was trying to escape in front, twisted his little ears and cursed angrily:
"Hershey Lunbu, you are quite capable. I asked you to jump out of the car without your life!"
"Jump! How many times have I told you to wait until the carriage stops before jumping down? You never remember. Is it possible that you will have to wait until your butt is smashed to pieces one day before you can say this?
Keep it firmly in your mind!"
"Ah ah ah, Ama, you are about to twist my ears off. I really don't dare to do that next time. Just let me go this time." The flexible little white fat man felt the root of his ears.
After feeling the pain, he immediately bowed his hands and begged pitifully for mercy.
"I'm not trying hard at all. What are you whining about?" The young man laughed angrily at him and reached out to slap the little fat man on the back.
"Hmph, Ama, if you beat me again, I will definitely file a lawsuit against you when I get to Aunt Qing."
The little fat man finished these words with great momentum. Then he turned his eyes and saw Zhang Tingyu, who was standing upright like a small bamboo. Then he patted the young man next to him on the arm and said:
"Ama, Ama, stop hitting me. Someone is watching. Don't you think it's embarrassing?"
When the young man heard what the fat son said, he raised his hands high and then looked towards the big tree diagonally in front of him. The sunlight above his head was a bit dazzling. After he squinted his eyes slightly for a while, he finally recognized it.
The tall man was the eldest son of Zhang Ying, who worked with him in Zhan Shifu. When he thought that the other man must have seen the scene of their "father being kind and son being filial", he immediately put his hand down in embarrassment and said with a bow: "Ting.
Brother Zan."
"Brother Chang Tai!"
Zhang Tingzhan also hurriedly brought his second brother over and asked with some surprise: "Is it possible that brother Chang Tai is also on vacation today?"
"Yes, this brat of mine is lucky enough to be chosen by the emperor to be the crown prince's companion. I am here today to send him to the palace on the orders of the elders of the family."
Although Hesheli Changtai sounded a little disgusted when talking about his fat son, his eyes revealed full of love.
"Hey, what a coincidence. Tingyu, you have met your companion!"
After hearing his words, Chang Tai and his son also turned their attention to Zhang Tingyu who was following Zhang Tingzhan.
"Wow! You are so good-looking. You are only a little more handsome than me. You are just like me who has lost weight!"
Hesheli Lunbu immediately praised Zhang Tingyu.
"Shut up, please!"
When Chang Tai heard his son's familiar tone, he wanted to reach out and cover his mouth.
Obviously he, Fujin, and Amagabula are not talkative people, but his son is a different kind of person. He keeps talking with his little mouth all day long, and does not see anyone outside. He is buzzing around the house.
He talked loudly and loudly, making him so noisy that his ears started to ring at a young age.
This was the first time Zhang Tingyu saw someone who spoke so directly. She pursed her lips and didn't know what to say.
Zhang Tingzhan's eyes were full of smiles and he thought this was right!
Children aged seven or eight should be lively and active, like a little sun, but a little scholar like my second brother is not as lovable as others.
Before the two families could continue talking, two more carriages stopped behind them.
The two adults and two children looked back together and saw the familiar emblems of the Yehenala clan and the Fucha clan. When the carriage stopped, they saw Nalan Rongruo and Fucha Maqi holding hands.
A little child walked down.
The four grown men were a little confused when they bumped into each other, and the four children couldn't help but look at each other when they bumped into each other.
When Nalan Rongruo saw the two young boys standing in front of him who were obviously older than his second brother, a thought flashed through his mind in an instant, before he could say the words.
At this time, a little eunuch wearing a blue robe ran out of the Xihua Gate with a smile on his face. He quickly glanced at the four big and four small ones before leaning down and saluting:
"Everyone is polite. My servant Zhang Tianxi came here specifically to pick up His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's companions as they went to Chuxiu Palace for the birthday banquet. I wonder if the four young gentlemen are the ones I'm waiting for."
"Yes, I am!"
When the four children who were extremely sensitive to the words "Prince read with me" heard Zhang Tianxi's words, they immediately shouted out in unison, and then looked at each other in tacit understanding.
The adults who came to see off their younger brother and son couldn't help but look at each other.
"That's great. Please invite the four young masters to come with the servants. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Imperial Concubine are already waiting for you in the Chuxiu Palace." Zhang Tianxi said with a warmer smile.
"Brother!" Nalan Kuixu, the shortest of the four children, couldn't help but grab Nalan Rongruo's hand at his side and shouted a little shyly.
"Kai Gong, come in quickly. His Highness is a very good boy and is not difficult to get along with."
Nalan Rongruo gently rubbed the head of Nalan Kuexu, who he said was his younger brother but was actually almost adopted as his son.
Zhang Tingyu also glanced at his eldest brother, and when he saw Zhang Tingzhan leaning against the big tree and winking at him, he turned his head to one side.
"Amma! Don't worry, when I see Aunt Qing and my two little cousins, I will definitely tell them that you spanked me in broad daylight at this gate!"
After the nimble little fat man Lun Bu knew Zhang Tianxi's identity, he ran to his side without even leaving the place, as if he had found someone to support him, and even said this "threateningly" to his mother.
As soon as he said that, Hesheli Changtai's big hands hanging by his legs felt itchy again.
"Second brother, I'm going too." Fucha Li Rongbao also raised his head and smiled at Fucha Maqi, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young gentlemen he carefully selected and are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall:
"Aunt Qing, here I come!" Fucha Maqi smiled, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young masters who are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall:
"Aunt Qing, here I come!" Fucha Maqi smiled, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young masters who are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall:
"Aunt Qing, here I come!" Fucha Maqi smiled, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young masters who are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall:
"Aunt Qing, here I come!" Fucha Maqi smiled, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young masters who are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall:
"Aunt Qing, here I come!" Fucha Maqi smiled, and then ran to Zhang Tianxi's side.
Zhang Tianxi also had a rough idea. It seemed that the four companions of His Highness the Crown Prince had hot tempers and cold tempers.
On the other side, Qingyan and the little prince were sitting peacefully in the hall, waiting for the guests to arrive. Yin Xiaozhen couldn't sit still and walked towards the door several times but couldn't see anyone, so he drooped his little head in disappointment.
, but the little white-haired Jingba who followed him was shouting "woof, woof, woof" happily.
"Mother, when will the prince brother's companions come?" Xiaosi, who had returned home in vain again, threw herself into the concubine's arms and asked with a sweet voice.
"Why are you more anxious than Baocheng?" Qingyan said in a funny way, patting her son's elastic little butt.
"Si Si wants to help Brother Prince to see if they are good children. Only good children can study with Brother Prince!"
Yin Xiaozhen widened his slender red phoenix eyes, shook his head and said.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Si. Then you must keep your eyes open and help me take a good look!" After hearing Yin Xiaozheng'er's explanation of the Eight Classics, the little prince said with a bit of laughter and tears.
"Yeah!" Xiaosi immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Baocheng, did you, Khan, really not reveal any information about the companion reading to you?" Qingyan picked up the scented tea on the table, blew it twice, and said with some curiosity.
"No, Khan Ama just said that Gu's companions need to be taken care of by Manhan. They are all young masters who are about the same age as Gu."
When Qingyan heard this, which was like guessing the answer to a riddle, she became even more curious.
Everything today was actually arranged by Kangxi. She and the young prince only knew that there would be four people accompanying them, but they didn't know anything else.
Just at this moment, a loud child's voice suddenly sounded from the door of the hall: