vstars Chapter 124 This sincere heart was ultimately misplaced.
Chapter 124 This sincere heart was ultimately misplaced.
Having gained an advantage, Yinzhuo didn't care what his father said. Holding the brocade box, he turned around, bowed to his second brother, and said with a slight apology.
"Second brother, I'm sorry for letting you down this time. I've been pestering Father for ages to give me this calligraphy, but he always refused. He finally agreed this time, so I can't let this opportunity slip by. How about this, second brother, think carefully about whether there's anything else in Father's private treasury that you might like. I'll go and steal it for you... Oh dear, Father, why are you hitting your son? And even if you're going to hit him, can you please stop hitting his head? What if he gets stupid? Are you going to raise him for the rest of your life?"
Looking at his son, who was clutching his head and looking at him with a accusing expression, Kangxi suddenly felt that Yinzhuo's suggestion was not bad. As it stands, it is certain that he will support him for life, so why not just beat this brat into a stupor?
"Hmph, it would be better if this beat you silly. You good-for-nothing, not only do you covet the things in my private treasury all day long, but now you even want to corrupt your second brother. Do you think he is as shameless as you? Your second brother is not as shallow as you."
Yinreng glanced at the brocade box in Yinzuo's arms, then at Kangxi, who was praising himself and criticizing Yinzuo. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly. "Alas, Father, I have truly failed to live up to your expectations. If my sixth brother could really steal a painting similar to his 'Ode to the Heavenly Horse' from your private treasury, then I would be very lenient."
Kangxi had just returned, and what he wanted to know most was everything that had happened in the court during the months he had been away. So after appeasing Yinzhuo with a poem about a heavenly horse, he told him and Yinzhen to go back and rest first, leaving Yinreng to talk alone.
Yinzhuo was exhausted from the long journey and just wanted to get back to his own little corner of the world. Seeing that Kangxi was busy again, he quickly pulled Yinzhen out of the Qianqing Palace. Although Yinzhuo had been protecting the brocade box in his arms like a precious treasure while in the Qianqing Palace, he had only taken a few steps outside the palace before stuffing the box into Yinzhen's hands.
"When I visited Fourth Brother's residence before, I saw a calligraphy work on the wall of your study, a copy of Mr. Dong Qichang's 'Ode to the Heavenly Horse.' I figured Fourth Brother would like it. Well, now, I've somehow managed to get my hands on the original for you. So, when we go to Mother's place later, you absolutely have to help me..."
Yinzhen stood there, holding the brocade box, stunned for a long while before he came to his senses. Seeing Yinzuo already walking away, he quickly caught up. The slight sadness he had felt earlier in the Qianqing Palace, watching the interaction between the father and his two sons as if he were invisible, vanished without a trace. So, it was because he liked it that his sixth brother had gone to their father for this calligraphy? It turned out that his preferences were remembered…
Just as Yinzhuo had expected, Yonghe Palace was the most difficult hurdle for him today. As soon as the two brothers entered, Yinzhuo was immediately embraced by his mother. Consort De first hugged Yinzhuo and cried for a while, then pulled him over to examine him carefully from head to toe. Even then, she was still not at ease and insisted that Yinzhuo take off his clothes so she could see how well his wounds were healing.
While holding his arms and stubbornly resisting his mother, Yinzhuo looked pleadingly at Yinzhen, who had been standing there watching the show since he entered the room. Seeing that Yinzhen had received his distress signal but had not come to help, he became displeased.
"Fourth brother, I went to great lengths to get you the calligraphy and painting of the Heavenly Horse Ode, and now you just stand there watching your brother get stripped naked by Mother. Fine, all my sincerity has been wasted..."
Despite complaining about his fourth brother, Yinzhuo ran towards him without delay. Once he reached his fourth brother's side, he immediately dodged behind him and grabbed his arm to prevent him from escaping.
“Mother, the Imperial Physician Wang examined my sixth brother’s injuries yesterday, and he’s much better now. He’s not a child anymore, so it’s really inappropriate for you to have him take off his clothes for you to examine in public.”
Yinzhen was being held by Yinzuo, and considering that his injuries had not yet fully healed, he dared not struggle. He could only try to smooth things over between his mother and Yinzuo. Consort De had been too concerned to think clearly, but now, hearing Yinzhen's words, she realized that her actions had indeed been somewhat inappropriate.
"Alright, since the imperial physician has examined you and said there's nothing seriously wrong, your mother won't see you anymore. You two have had a long and tiring journey, so your mother won't keep you any longer. Yinzhuo's injuries haven't healed yet, so hurry back and rest. Yinzhen, you should also hurry back to the manor to see your son. He's almost a hundred days old now, and you haven't seen him yet."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhuo felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly crawled out from behind Yinzhen.
"Mother, I am indeed very tired and sleepy right now. I just want to go back to the South Third Palace and get a good night's sleep. Since you have nothing else to say, my fourth brother and I will take our leave now. I will come to see you again in a couple of days after I have rested."
Just as Yinzhuo wanted to go back to sleep as soon as possible, Yinzhen was also eager to return home. As Consort De said, his son was almost 100 days old, and he, as the father, had never seen him even once.
Yinzhen was dragged out of Yonghe Palace by Yinzuo as if they were fleeing. After walking a long way, Yinzuo released his fourth brother's wrist, patted his chest, and let out a heavy sigh.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness! Fourth Brother, you have no idea how terrified I was when Mother insisted on checking my wound. If she had really ripped my clothes off in front of everyone in the room, I would have lost all face..."
Yinzhen had no interest in watching him fool around. He reached out and smoothed the wrinkles on Yinzuo's clothes that had been made during the chase, then took the brocade box from his hand.
"Alright, Mother was just worried about your injuries. Didn't you say you were tired and wanted to go back to sleep? Then hurry up and go now."
When Yinzhu saw his fourth brother's attitude, he couldn't help but curl his lips and humph. He urged me to go back and rest, but I think it was you who wanted to go back and see your son.
"Hmph, it's clearly Fourth Brother who's anxious to go back and see his nephew, but he insists on saying it's me who's anxious to go back to sleep. Fine, I know Fourth Brother is eager to go home and doesn't want to waste time with me. So let's say goodbye here. I'll visit your house when my nephew is 100 days old."
Dexi had been worried ever since he learned that his master was injured. Knowing that Yinzhuo was returning today, he sent people to guard the entrance of the South Third Palace early in the morning. Now that he heard that his master had returned, he hurriedly put down what he was holding and went out to greet him.
"My lord, you're finally back! I've been worried sick ever since I heard you were injured. I'm relieved to see you're alright. Sister Chunxiang prepared water for you this morning, and the kitchen has also prepared your favorite dishes. Would you like to eat first, or take a bath and change your clothes?"