sbdcsierra Chapter 32 Yinzhuo, you'd better tell the truth.
Chapter 32 Yinzhuo, you'd better tell the truth.
As for other aspects, people would probably only take Yinzhuo's words with a grain of salt, since he wasn't a particularly reliable person. However, when it comes to food, everyone felt that he was completely trustworthy. He didn't have many hobbies, but eating was his most outstanding one.
"That's right, this method is good. It's much more refreshing than eating from an ice bowl. The goat milk is also well processed, with no goaty smell at all. As expected of someone who aspired to be a spoiled brat since childhood, when it comes to eating, drinking and having fun, my sixth brother is second to none."
Yinzhen was like a child who forgot the pain once the wound healed, only remembering the good and not the bad. He had just been punished by his sixth brother, and now, after a short while, he thought he was invincible again, completely forgetting that the last time he was punished was also because of his foul mouth.
Fortunately, Yinzhuo knew that this guy was very sarcastic and was too lazy to argue with him. Seeing that Yinzhen seemed to like the ice bowl, he simply pushed his own portion to him as well.
"It's rare to see something that Fourth Brother likes. Since you like it, eat more. From now on, you don't need to be stingy with the ice in your yard. If you don't have enough, just have someone come and get some from me. Don't worry about me not having enough. Didn't Third Brother say that I'm the best at scooping ice? If I don't have enough here, I'll go to Father's place to get some myself."
Looking at the extra bowl of shaved ice in front of him compared to his brothers, and listening to Yinzhuo's nonsensical words, Yinzhen felt both touched and troubled. He was touched that his younger brother still cared about him, and that all his previous kindness towards him hadn't been in vain. But he was troubled because his brother was truly incorrigible; was it something to be said so casually as to "go to the Qianqing Palace to steal"? It seemed he would have to be stricter with him in the future…
At the end of June, Galdan, with the support of Tsarist Russia, invaded Ujumchin and launched a rebellion. Clear news also came from the court that war was really coming. In early July, Kangxi appointed Prince Yu Fuquan as the General of Pacification, Prince Yinzhi as the deputy general, and Prince Gong Changning as the General of Pacification, to lead the expedition from Xifengkou. At the same time, Kangxi also planned to personally oversee the central army and lead the expedition.
With the expedition imminent, besides Yinreng, the crown prince who was overseeing the country for the first time, the people Kangxi was most worried about were his sons. So, on the day before his departure, he specially made time to summon all his sons from the study to the Qianqing Palace for a pre-departure family activity.
"Hey, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, the Qianqing Palace isn't going to eat you up, so don't be so nervous. Look at the Ninth and Tenth Brothers, and look at my Fifth Brother, they're eating and drinking as usual. And look at you two, aren't you uncomfortable sitting on half a stool like this?"
If they weren't in the Qianqing Palace and didn't know when their father was coming, both Yinzhi and Yinzhen, who had been called out, would have loved to get up and slap Yinzuo.
“Yinzuo, shut up! Do you think everyone is like you, treating this Qianqing Palace like your little courtyard in the Southern Third Palace? Didn’t you see that the Seventh and Eighth Princes are nervous too? The Ninth and Tenth Princes don’t seem nervous right now, eating and drinking as usual, because they are young and don’t know any better. As for your Fifth Brother, he’s just as carefree as you, having a powerful family backing him up.”
"Your good intentions have been taken for granted. Fine, if you think it's comfortable to sit like that, then sit like that. But the Khan is probably still busy right now, and we don't know how long it will take for him to arrive. If your legs go numb from sitting like that, and you behave poorly in front of the Khan when he comes, then..."
Although Yinzhuo didn't finish his sentence, Yinzhi and Yinzhen could easily guess that the outcome wouldn't be good. They certainly wouldn't dare to get up and wander around the room like Yinzhuo did, so they both shifted their positions and sat back a bit. It wasn't necessarily comfortable, but at least they were making sure that when Kangxi arrived, they wouldn't embarrass themselves in front of the emperor because their legs were numb.
Yinyou and Yinsi naturally heard what Yinzuo had just said. They followed suit, and sure enough, after they were comfortable sitting down, their expressions relaxed a bit.
“That’s right. Come on, have some fruit and snacks. Father is so busy right now, who knows when he’ll remember us? You guys should eat something to fill your stomachs first. After all, you’re not as shameless as me. I bet you won’t have enough to eat when you’re having dinner with Father later.”
In fact, Yinzhuo didn't enjoy his meals with Kangxi either. However, it wasn't because he felt uncomfortable or awkward dining with Kangxi like the other princes. Rather, Yinzhuo found dining with Kangxi to be too much of a hassle. In the summer, it was alright; after going through Kangxi's whole process, he could manage to eat even if the food got cold. But in the winter, it was a real ordeal. By the time the whole process was over, the food was ice-cold. Even if you were presented with a feast of delicacies, you still couldn't eat it. This was one of the reasons why Yinzhuo disliked the annual family banquet the most.
"Yinzhuo, you've grown increasingly audacious. A while ago, I only asked you to handle a few memorials, and you dared to avoid me and not come to the Qianqing Palace. Today, you even dare to insult me. But at least you have some self-awareness and know that you're shameless."
Caught red-handed by the person in question, even the usually thick-skinned Yinzhuo felt a little embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly, touched his nose, cleared his throat, and then smiled ingratiatingly at Kangxi.
"Father, you must have misheard me. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would never dare to speak ill of you. I just saw that the brothers were a little nervous, so I wanted to lighten the mood and help them relax."
Kangxi didn't know him well enough; there was nothing he wouldn't say. He didn't want to argue with him at the moment, so he raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head. Then, with Yinti behind him, Yinreng turned around and walked towards the main hall where they would dine.
Everyone had already stood up when Kangxi came in, and now that they saw him leave, they naturally wouldn't stay any longer and followed him out.
Although they were dining with Emperor Kangxi, they did not sit together. Just like during the Lunar New Year, they ate separately. The only difference was that their table was much closer to Emperor Kangxi.
Although the princes' meals didn't require the same rigorous inspection as those of Emperor Kangxi, they still dared not eat before he did. So, while waiting, Yinzhuo watched helplessly as the food on the table went from steaming hot to slowly fading until it was completely gone. Realizing he would have to eat cold dishes again, Yinzhuo couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking, "Being an emperor is truly unbearable; it's too much of a torment."
"Yinzhuo, what are you thinking about? Why aren't you eating? Are you feeling unwell, or is the food not to your liking?"
It wasn't that Kangxi paid much attention to Yinzhi, but rather that the boy's behavior today was too unusual. Usually, as soon as Kangxi picked up his chopsticks, Yinzhi would follow suit, but today everyone had already started eating, yet he hadn't touched his food, which naturally attracted Kangxi's attention.
"It's okay, my son is fine, and the food is good. I was just lost in thought. Let's start eating now."
"Oh, tell me what you were thinking just now?"
Not to mention Emperor Kangxi, even the princes were very interested in what Yinzhi was thinking. If something could make Yinzhi so engrossed in thought during a meal, it must be something extraordinary.
"Forehead……"
This was awkward. Yinzhu couldn't very well say, "I'm thinking about how miserable it is to be emperor," could he? Saying that would be courting death. Just as he was trying to come up with a topic to gloss over the situation, Kangxi spoke up again.
"Yinzhuo, you'd better tell the truth. If I find out you dare to lie, I will never forgive you."