in2ebook Chapter 383, Part 4: Where did you get the courage from?
Chapter 383, Part 4: Where did you get the courage from?
The importance of spring plowing is beyond doubt, so by the time Yinti and the others were able to find time to play with Yinzuo, the weather outside was already warm and flowers were in bloom, with birds singing everywhere.
"Hey, Xiao Shi, where have you been running around lately? Look at how dark your face is. If you don't say anything at night, Sixth Brother will have to go through a lot of trouble to find you. And Third Brother, why do you look so pale? Look at those dark circles under your eyes. How long have you been staying up to look like this?"
He wasn't angry when Yinzhuo called him a "black-hearted Yin?" He casually picked up a pear from the fruit plate on the table, took a few bites, and then spoke.
"Sixth Brother, you're absolutely right. My face is so beautiful it could stop a baby from crying at night. You wouldn't believe how much trouble Hongxuan was causing the other day. He had a stomachache and refused to take his medicine. His wet nurse had no choice but to come and report it. I just stood there, and guess what? The little guy immediately stopped crying, and then the medicine came out so easily..."
Good heavens, look how proud you've become. Yinzhu couldn't help but roll his eyes at the smug Yinqi, then ignored him and turned to chat with Yinti and the others.
The brothers had finally managed to get together, so naturally they couldn't just sit there chatting. Seeing that everyone was present, Yinzhuo immediately sent someone to the estate to fetch two sheep. Of course, they couldn't be the lively, jumping ones.
"Big brother, second brother, third brother, fourth brother... it's been a long time since we brothers have gathered together like this. It's a good thing everyone is here today. Don't go back tonight. I just sent Hatu with some men to the estate to catch sheep. We'll have a whole sheep feast tonight..."
Since Yinzhuo said he wanted to have a whole lamb feast that night, it would definitely be a whole lamb feast: roasted lamb leg, hand-pulled lamb chops, spicy lamb trotters, steamed lamb with rice flour, lamb liver with soy sauce, lamb offal with pepper, lamb soup... In short, everything you can think of and everything you can't think of is on this table.
"Oh, what a pity. Without Little Thirteen and Little Fourteen, those two rascals, it's a bit less lively. I wonder how those two boys are doing in Fujian? Little Ten, you said they're exposed to the wind and sun all day long, are they even darker than you now?"
To be fair, Yinzhi and Yinzhen, these two little tyrants, were well-trained by Yinzuo. Although Yinzhen's temper wasn't as explosive as his ninth brother's when he was out, he was definitely not someone to be trifled with. If anyone dared to mention his dark side in front of him repeatedly like Yinzuo did, they would probably have punched him long ago.
But look at him now. He doesn't even dare to raise his voice in front of his sixth brother, let alone lose his temper. If you think that's the end of it, then you're underestimating Yinzhuo. Yintang and Yinzhi have childhood traumas left in their hearts. Look, Yinzhi still has to respond to everything.
"Sixth Brother, I remember you told us a joke before, about a little black fat guy who was so dark you couldn't find him in a coal pile without poking him with a stick. I think those two lads, Thirteen and Fourteen, are about the same as that little black fat guy now. Sixth Brother, I heard that Father Khan intends to bring them back this year. Do you think I should prepare a stick for you in advance?"
Kangxi's intention in bringing back the thirteenth and fourteenth princes was far more than just a decree; he had already issued it. Although Yinzhuo hadn't been going to Qingxi Study every day, he had been going there every few days, so it was impossible for Kangxi not to know about this.
"There's no need to prepare sticks. They're two living, breathing people. Even if it's so dark you can't find them, I can still use voice control. Judging from the time Father Khan issued the decree, they're probably already on their way back to the capital. Does Fujian produce lychees? I just wonder if they can bring me some when they come back."
Since the 13th and 14th years of the 45th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when they went to Fujian, more than three years have passed. During this time, because the two places are thousands of miles apart, they have not returned even once.
It's no wonder that Yinzhuo was so popular among his brothers. Knowing that he loved lychees, whether it was the thirteenth or fourteenth year of his life, they would specially send people to buy some and deliver them to the capital by fast horse. With his younger brothers being so thoughtful, it would be a bit unreasonable for Yinzhuo to still have to poke people with a stick to find them.
However, Yinzhuo's expectations were destined to be dashed, since it was only April and even the early-ripening lychee varieties were not yet ready for harvesting. Fortunately, Yinzhuo himself was well aware of this, so he was just saying it casually.
The journey from Fujian to the capital was long. The imperial edict was issued from the capital in February, but the thirteenth and fourteenth ceremonies did not receive it until mid-March. By the time they finished handing over their duties and set off from Fujian, it was already early April. They traveled and stopped along the way, and by the time they returned to the capital, the weather had become extremely hot.
"Hahahaha~ Thirteen, Fourteen, it's been several years since we brothers last met. Sixth Brother has missed you all very much. Now that we've finally met, I have to take a good look at you. Come, stand closer to me."
So you miss us? Haha, brother, if you had just toned down that look on your face when you said that, it would have been much more believable. And why did you have to touch me? My little brother may be tough and resilient, but this is still my face, isn't it? Be a little gentler when you pinch me.
Having spent the last few years in Fujian, the thirteenth and fourteenth brothers had become tanned and stronger. Yinzhuo even felt they had grown taller. Looking at his two younger brothers, standing before him like black towers, Yinzhuo first curiously circled them, then pulled them close and showered them with affection. Of course, his way of expressing affection was very simple and unpretentious, just like with children: pinching their cheeks, patting their heads, pulling their arms, and spinning them around.
"Father, look at them! Don't they look like two miniature black bear spirits?"
Thirteen and Fourteen stood there obediently, letting Sixth Brother Rao manipulate them for a long time, only to be called a "Black Bear Spirit" in return. Who could tolerate this? But what could they do? Not to mention that Kangxi was right in front of them, Yinzhuo was their elder brother, and Thirteen and Fourteen couldn't do anything about him at this moment.
"Sixth Brother, how can you insult me like that? I'm your own brother! Humph, I'll tell Mother about you later, and you'll be in for a beating."
Yinzhuo was not afraid of the Fourteenth Prince's insignificant threat. After the Fourteenth Prince said he would go to Consort De to complain to him, the Fourteenth Prince even reached out and pinched Yinzhuo's face a few times.
"You want to teach me a lesson? Fine, I'll wait. But before you succeed in going to Mother, Sixth Brother will teach you a lesson first... But Fourteenth, let me ask you one more question: where did you get the courage? Did you ask Liang Jingru for it?"