vstars Chapter 198 I would eat three lychees a day and gladly remain a Lingnan native forever.
Chapter 198 I would eat three lychees a day and gladly remain a Lingnan native forever.
When the Southern Tour came back, Yinzhuo's life returned to its usual tranquility. Apart from occasionally remembering to go to the Ministry of Works to check in, he was more likely to visit his father's Qianqing Palace. After the weather got really hot, he simply stopped going to the Ministry of Works altogether. Every day, after waking up naturally, he would go to his father's place on time to freeload on food, drinks, and air conditioning.
"No wonder Su Dongpo said, 'I would eat three hundred lychees a day and not mind being a Lingnan native forever.' Lychees are delicious, but the quantity is a bit limited. I wonder if I will ever have the chance to achieve lychee freedom in this lifetime..."
Upon hearing Yinzuo's words, not only Yinti and Yinzhen, who were sitting to the side, but even Yinreng couldn't help but look at him. Yinzuo was happily showing off his plate when, under their intense gazes, he felt a little uneasy and his movements of peeling lychees slowed down considerably.
"Big brother, second brother, fourth brother, why are you all staring at me like that? It's creepy. I was just making a comment, why can't people make comments anymore?"
It's not surprising that Yinti, Yinreng, and Yinzhen viewed him that way. It's just that Yinzuo's words were too infuriating. You see, after the lychees were presented as tribute this year, their biased father, apart from the usual reward of giving them a plate to try, saved the rest for his precious son. Good heavens, not to mention the whole capital, even the entire imperial city, probably only their master eats lychees like that.
"Yinzuo, if you don't speak, no one will sell you off as if you're mute. But if you keep eating plate after plate, what kind of freedom do you want? Do you want your brother to send you to Lingnan, tie you to a tree, and let you eat while hugging a tree?"
Look, look, why are you getting so worked up when you're just talking? Fine, if he's mute, he's mute. At this moment, Yinzhuo didn't dare to say a word, for fear that he would really anger his elder brother and have him dragged outside and tied to a tree.
Kangxi looked up at the disgruntled Yinzhuo, and the smile on his lips widened. Indeed, there is always someone who can subdue someone else. It doesn't matter that he has no way to deal with Yinzhuo, because there is still this kid Yintizhi.
After Yinzhuo's antics subsided, the atmosphere in the flower hall of Qianqing Palace was truly quiet and harmonious. Kangxi and Yinreng sat on the couch playing chess, while Yinzhen sat not far from the bed, quietly drinking tea. Yinti got up and went to Yinzhuo's side to snatch the few remaining lychees from him. As for Yinzhuo, his feelings at this moment could only be described in four words—bitter and unspeakable. His elder brother really didn't hold back, devouring his few remaining lychees in no time.
"Big brother...big brother, that's enough. Please leave two for your younger brother. Father only gives me this small plate every day, and if we finish this, there really won't be any left today..."
If Yinzhuo hadn't mentioned his biased father, Yinti might have actually left him two. Listen to that, giving him a plate every day, so what if he runs out today? Anyway, your father will give you more tomorrow, won't he? So, here you go, with a slight pull, the plate and fruit from Yinzhuo's hand were all in Yinti's hands.
As the saying goes, in the face of absolute strength, all fancy tricks are futile. Yinzhuo dared not speak out against his unreasonable and domineering elder brother. He glanced at his father and saw that the man was playing chess with a serious expression, as if he had not heard anything about their commotion. Well, it seems there is no need to complain today. His father has probably been annoyed by him enough these past few days and is looking for someone to teach him a lesson.
The sweltering summer might be unbearable for others, but for Yinzhuo it was nothing out of the ordinary. During the day, he would almost always stay in the Qianqing Palace to enjoy his father's air conditioning, and at night when he returned to the South Third Palace, he would use the ice there openly. In this season when others were suffering from heatstroke, our Prince Zhao successfully froze himself.
“I say, Yinzhuo, your illness is quite unusual. I’ve never heard of anyone freezing themselves in the middle of summer before. Since you’ve gotten sick from the cold, I suppose you don’t need the ice anymore. So I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Changlu, take some people and Dexi and make a trip to bring some ice back to our mansion.”
Yinzhuo leaned back on the couch, took the handkerchief from Dexi's hand, poked his nose, threw the handkerchief into the basket beside him, and then waved to Dexi.
"Didn't you hear what your Third Uncle said? Hurry up and take Changlu to the ice cellar to get ice. Third Brother, you don't need to be polite with your younger brother. Anyway, this ice is all from Father Zouhan's allowance, so it can be said to be inexhaustible."
What an inexhaustible source of wealth! Yin Zhi was so envious that tears were about to stream down his face. Faced with Yin Zuo's extremely Versailles-like words, Yin Zhi could now remain completely calm. As the saying goes, comparisons are odious. His father's heart was practically in his throat. If he felt sour every time, his stomach wouldn't be able to take it.
"That's great! Third brother will thank your sixth uncle on behalf of your nephew and niece. Sixth brother, you don't know how poor I am these days. My meager annual salary is barely enough to support this whole family, let alone afford extra ice. Ever since summer started, your little nephew's prickly heat rash on his back hasn't gone away..."
Yinzhi didn't believe a word Yinzuo said. "You can afford to spend three thousand taels on a thumb ring, and you're telling me you don't have money to buy ice? Besides, didn't you just swindle ten thousand taels from me two months ago? The Fourteenth Prince always says I'm stingy. He should really come and see for himself. Here comes a real miser who doesn't spend a penny."
"Third Brother, you're poor in a very stylish way. This autumn fan you're holding is quite nice. Putting aside the inscription on the fan surface, the material for the fan ribs must have been hard to find. It's top-grade sika deer. Come on, Third Brother, why don't you tell your brother how much ice you can get for this fan?"
Upon hearing Yinzuo's words, Yinzhi's smile faltered. He raised his hand, tucked the fan into his sleeve, and took a few steps back, as if afraid that Yinzuo would suddenly get up and snatch the fan from him.
"Well... Sixth Brother, since you're still sick, I won't bother you any longer. I heard that a new storyteller has recently joined the Yaji Pavilion. I'll take you there when you're better. I'll be leaving now."
To be honest, Yinzhi really coveted his fan. Look how fast he was moving! Before he even finished speaking, he was already almost outside the house. Yinzuo naturally didn't want to snatch his third brother's precious fan, but seeing him like this, he still found it quite amusing and couldn't help but want to tease his third brother.
"That's great, Third Brother. It's settled then. Don't forget to bring your fan with you. I was in such a hurry today that I didn't get a good look at it. You'll have to take a good look at it when the time comes."