Prince Yan placed the rattle-drum in front of the child and gave it a gentle shake. The little one waved his tiny hands excitedly, growing even more animated.
After playing with the child for a while, Shen Wei had the wet nurse take him away to be fed. A maid served Prince Yan a cup of hot tea, which he sipped leisurely. Shen Wei, meanwhile, sorted through a pile of fresh fabric, holding it up against Prince Yan's frame to measure.
"Your Highness has lost some weight—the waistline of this robe will need to be taken in," Shen Wei remarked, pinpointing the exact adjustments needed.
A warmth spread through Prince Yan's heart as he smiled. "No one else but Weiwei would notice that I've grown thinner."
The early spring had been busy, with matters of waterworks, military affairs, agriculture, and countless documents requiring discussions between Prince Yan and the Crown Prince. The workload had indeed worn him down.
