Chapter 123: Chapter 123

The princess's grand wedding, personally decreed by the current Emperor, was nothing short of extraordinary for the Commandery Prince's only cherished daughter, Yu Ludai. The wedding preparations alone took over a year. On the big day, not only did the Emperor personally send additional dowry gifts—including a whole case of newly-tributed pearls from the south—but her doting father Yin Tang nearly stopped the bridal sedan chair that had just begun its procession.

In short, that day, nearly the entire capital witnessed the prestige of the Emperor's personally enfeoffed Princess Heyi.

Yet even so, Yin Tang's eyes remained red until his daughter's figure completely disappeared from view. The scene resembled nothing less than a life-or-death parting.

An Ning beside him: "......"

Though... wasn't the princess's residence just next door?

In fact, An Ning wasn't the only one rendered speechless—the gathered brothers shared her sentiment.

"Ninth Brother really... tsk, becoming more and more undignified!" The Third Prince couldn't help clicking his tongue.

To think he'd refused a perfectly good princely title just to obtain an unnecessary princess title for his daughter. Of course, the Third Prince would never admit his envy—he'd gladly take that princely title Ninth Brother so carelessly discarded! How could an elder brother's rank nearly fall below his younger brother's?

Similarly bitter was Yin Zhen nearby. That Ninth Brother's behavior had even made the Emperor consider rewarding him with a princely title. While he himself all these years...

The thought of having to work daily with that detestable Ninth Brother made Fourth Prince's expression grow even darker.

Coincidentally, Yin Tang—whose face mirrored that very expression—was already furious enough watching his precious daughter marry. Now he had to endure Fourth Brother's utterly loathsome cold demeanor at work every day...

"What cursed days these are!"

In his study, staring at the thick stack of account books, Yin Tang nearly threw them across the room—were it not for his princess consort sitting nearby. Even so, his expression remained thunderous:

"Princess Consort, tell me—what could Imperial Nephew Hongxi possibly be thinking? I was perfectly fine at the Imperial Household Department, but he had to transfer me to the Ministry of Revenue!"

The Ministry would've been tolerable, but that Fourth Brother—his temper was like a stubborn mule. The man practically lived at the office, and insisted on dragging the entire ministry into his work frenzy. After just half a month, several elder ministers had visibly more white hairs.

All Yin Tang did was take one extra day off to visit his daughter, and Fourth Brother acted like he'd committed some crime. What kind of person was that? Yin Tang fumed.

Unlike these others killing themselves for titles, he had no such ambitions. In his view, Fourth Brother simply couldn't stand seeing others happy—sheer malice!

The small study echoed with his endless complaints until An Ning could take no more and cut him off. Not hiding her amusement at his darkening expression, her usually elegant voice now dripped with schadenfreude:

"Has His Highness noticed? Recently, you've been getting angry much more frequently, your emotions more volatile and unstable..."

Playing idly with an incense box, An Ning clearly enjoyed the drama. Not that she was entirely wrong—her husband lately did exhibit symptoms reminiscent of a certain... phase.

Though being forced to work daily with his nemesis might also explain it.

Strangely, despite having almost no interaction these years—no political conflicts either, given her husband's homebody tendencies (aside from official duties, any outings were exclusively with her and Yu Ludai)—these two had maintained their mutual loathing undiminished for years.

Kept apart, they were manageable. Put together? More disastrous than Mars colliding with Earth.

Truly, as the late Emperor's handpicked successor, Hongxi had indeed mastered the art of manipulating people. An Ning mused with interest.

With her husband around, the Commandery Prince of Yong would only become sharper. To avoid being overshadowed by his nemesis, this Fourth Lord would push himself even harder.

The ultimate workhorse, indeed.

Like how the "Ding Tax and Land Tax Merger" policy originally implemented in Yongzheng's first year had already reached the Emperor's desk. The Ministry's recent busyness stemmed from this.

Unlike its heavily opposed implementation in her past life, this time Hongxi had full support from both his father and grandfather. A master at controlling ministers and understanding human nature, he let the Commandery Prince of Yong bear most of the officials' backlash while emerging spotless himself...

Tsk. Politicians—their hearts were all filthy!

Watching her husband lose clumps of hair in mere days, An Ning leisurely sipped the scented tea her daughter recently sent, openly flipping through a new storybook with relaxed ease.

Yin Tang, currently balding over account books: "......"

Meanwhile, the Commandery Prince of Yong's residence was no better off.

Hearing the neighboring couple had packed up to visit their daughter again, Yin Zhen frowned at the dining table, his stern face filled with disapproval: "Utterly lacking in propriety!"

After weeks of similar complaints, the Fourth Princess Consort—who could guess his meaning from tone alone—also twitched her mouth: "Why must Your Highness be ? Ninth Brother's family has only this one child—no amount of doting is excessive."

Improper? Remembering her young niece, the Fourth Princess Consort's gaze darkened. At least Princess Heyi's current life was the envy of every noble lady in the capital.

Improper? She'd been too proper back then. Had Honghui survived, what would a few criticisms matter...

Noticing her husband's distraction, the Fourth Princess Consort pursed her lips.

Unaware of others' thoughts, at the princess's residence, An Ning's hand instinctively reached for her vomiting daughter's wrist as she spoke.