vstars Chapter 297 You have powerful backers in this palace, but it's not like I don't.
Chapter 297 You have powerful backers in this palace, but it's not like I don't.
If Yinzhuo were to write a comment on the last month of the 45th year of Kangxi's reign, he would surely write eight large characters: "A time of many troubles and disasters." But fortunately, these difficult days are coming to an end, and the 46th year of Kangxi's reign is just around the corner.
As the saying goes, a timely snow promises a bumper harvest. On the last day of the 45th year of Kangxi's reign, snowflakes began to fall outside before dawn, and soon the ground was covered in white. Even on such an important day as New Year's Eve, Yinzhuo would not get up on time. If Dexi hadn't dug him out of bed at the last minute, he would have definitely missed the time to enter the palace.
"Hongxu, I'm telling you, that's enough. We're only staying at your grandma's for one day. We don't need to bring all this stuff. One set of clothes is enough. Are you afraid you'll wet your pants by bringing so much?"
"Look at this, you've never seen a father belittle his son like this before, have you? Well, you've seen it for yourself today." Hongxu, holding the small bundle that Chunxiang had packed for him, glanced at his irresponsible father with a stern face and sighed helplessly.
“Father, you forgot? Grandma said that Hongxu will stay with her for a few days when he goes to the palace, so I brought extra clothes. I'm already three and a half years old, and I don't wet my pants anymore. Father, you can't falsely accuse me…”
Yinzhuo had originally intended to tease Hongxu, but when he saw Hongxu's deliberately stern face, which resembled his fourth brother's, he completely lost the desire to tease him. After all, even if he had nothing better to do, he wouldn't think of teasing his fourth brother.
“Hongxu, you brat, come here. Let me ask you, are you deliberately putting on a cold face like your fourth uncle to scare me because you're afraid I'll pinch your cheek? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of him. I dare to pinch his cheek, let alone yours. Come here, stand here and let your father pinch your little cheeks properly…”
Hongxu, being such a small child, couldn't possibly outrun his father, no matter how fast he ran. In no time, he was like a lamb entering a tiger's den, falling into Yinzuo's hands. Yinzuo was truly shameless, pinching his son mercilessly. In no time at all, Hongxu's little face was already bright red from being pinched. There's a saying that goes, "People learn their lesson the moment they cause trouble," and that's absolutely true. Look at Yinzuo, looking at his son's red face that he had ravaged, he was filled with regret.
“Son, how about we make a deal? When we get to Yonghe Palace, if your grandma asks how you got this face, just say it was too cold on the way and you got frostbite. Remember, you absolutely can't say your dad pinched you, or your dad will be in big trouble today…”
Hongxu was easy to talk to. Upon hearing Yinzuo's words, he immediately nodded obediently to his father. Seeing that the matter was settled, Yinzuo picked up his son from the ground and held him in his arms. He then gestured for Dexi to take the cloak from the side and put it on him. He wrapped the little guy in his arms tightly with both hands.
"It's still snowing outside. Hongxu, you'd better hide your little head well when we go out. Come on, let's get ready, we're off now..."
After Yinzhuo brought Hongxu to the main courtyard to meet Urentuya, the family of three dressed neatly and boarded a carriage heading towards the palace. Upon reaching the palace gate, they switched from the carriage to a palanquin, and after a bumpy ride, they arrived at Yonghe Palace, where Consort De resided. Just as Yinzhuo had expected, the first thing Consort De asked upon seeing Hongxu was…
"My dear grandson, what happened to your face?"
Hongxu first looked up at his father, then quickly ran to his grandmother's side, and lay on Consort De's lap for a while before saying in a pitiful voice.
“Father said that when we get to Yonghe Temple, your grandmother will still ask how your face got like this. Just say it's too cold outside and you got chilled. You absolutely mustn't say that Father pinched you…”
Hongxu's trolling came so suddenly that not only was Yinzhuo, who was being complained about, but even Consort De, whose grandson was dragging her hand to complain, was caught off guard. If it weren't for the Fourteenth Prince's quick thinking in picking up Hongxu from her lap and holding him in his arms, the boy would probably have been dragged away and disciplined by Yinzhuo, who was the first to come to his senses.
"Yinzuo, you've really made something of yourself! So this is how you always bully my grandson, putting on a show of compliance while secretly disobeying him? You even dare to discipline my precious grandson in front of me! I think you've forgotten what it feels like to be hit by a feather duster. Fourth brother, hand me that feather duster in that vase over there. I'm going to teach him a lesson today..."
Yinzhuo glanced at his fourth brother, who was already handing his mother a feather duster, unable to disobey her orders, and then at his foolish younger brother, who was standing by watching the commotion with his son in his arms. He felt utterly exasperated. He wanted to turn to see if his wife could put in a good word for him, but when he turned around, he saw his wife staring at his mother with adoring eyes, like a fan meeting an idol. Well, he could obviously not count on her either. In the current situation, the enemy outnumbered him, and staying here would only result in him getting a beating. If he didn't run now, when would he? The moment the Feather Duster swung over, Yinzhuo's feet seemed to have springs in them. He leaped a long way and, without saying a word, turned and ran outside. He didn't stop until he was quite a distance away, then called out to the house.
“Mother, Fourth Brother, you are being so unfair! Even in a court trial, you have to hear both sides’ testimonies. But you all side with that brat and beat me up. It seems this family can’t tolerate me anymore. Fine, he has a backer in the palace, and so do I. Since Mother can’t be relied on, I’ll go to Father. I’m sure he won’t drag me out with a feather duster.”
When Consort De saw Yinzhuo turn to leave, she didn't stop him. She casually tossed the feather duster in her hand to a maid beside her, took little Hongxu from Fourteenth Prince's hands, and hugged him and Honghui together in her arms. She cherished the little darlings for a while before letting go.
“My dears, it’s cold in this flower hall. Why don’t you two go play in the warm pavilion in the back with Aunt Qiuju? Hongxu, don’t worry, you just stay here with Grandma. If your scoundrel father dares to come here and cause you trouble, Grandma will beat him out for you. Fourth brother, fourteenth brother, you two go do what you need to do. It’s enough that your wives are here to keep me company…”
Two flowers bloom, each telling its own story. Leaving aside the situation inside Yonghe Palace, let's just say that Yinzhu went straight to Qianqing Palace after leaving Yonghe Palace. When he arrived, Kangxi had just returned from the banquet and was playing chess with Yinreng on either side of the couch. He was quite surprised to see Yinzhu come in covered in snow.
“You just entered the palace, why didn’t you stay with your mother and came here to me? It’s snowing so hard outside, why didn’t you bring an umbrella and a hat? Look at your face, it’s frozen. Liang Jiugong, go to the side hall and get him a pair of shoes to change into. Wan Quan, go and get a hot water bottle.”