Since taking over the Imperial Household Department, the Eighth Prince has deeply felt the importance of having capable assistants.

The Imperial Household Department is rife with factions, and these bondservants, though seemingly respectful, don't actually take you seriously. If the Tenth Prince could step forward and cause a scene at this time, your process of seizing power would be much smoother.

Therefore, taking advantage of the holiday, the Eighth Prince formally sent out invitations a few days in advance, inviting the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince to his residence for a chat.

After all, they had been intimate in the past. After thinking it over, the Ninth Prince sent a trusted confidant to the Fourth Prince's residence to report the matter before going to meet the Tenth Prince.

The Eighth Prince prepared a family banquet, with his wife personally in charge of the arrangements. The table was full of dishes: "Ninth and Tenth Brothers haven't been here for a long time, so your sister-in-law has prepared the dishes according to your previous tastes. Ninth Brother's favorite West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce and Tenth Brother's favorite Braised Pork. Try them and see if they still taste the same as before."

"Thank you, Eighth Brother and Eighth Sister-in-law." Yin Tang bowed and greeted them. Yin Yin lifted his robe and sat down directly, took a sip from the wine pot, and his eyes lit up.

"This is the finest Yuquan wine, it's priceless and unavailable."

Yinzhen took a bite of the side dish: "Tenth Prince, you have no experience. Eighth Prince is now in charge of the Imperial Household Department, so these are just ordinary things."

Yinzhi picked up his wine cup and said in a very sincere tone, "The way Ninth Brother is saying this shows that he still harbors resentment towards his elder brother."

"Today, let's drink to our hearts' content. If Eighth Brother has done anything wrong in the past, Ninth and Tenth Brothers, please forgive me." As Yinzhi spoke, his eyes filled with tears. "My mother came from a poor background, and no one respected me since I was a child. Only Ninth and Tenth Brothers have been kind to me from the bottom of their hearts. I will remember the kindness you have shown me over the years, and I will never forget it for a moment."

When talking about growing up together, Yinzhen became somewhat emotional, pursing his lips and drinking without saying a word.

Seeing this, Yinzhi pressed on: "Before, I had no job and no ability. It was rare for my younger brothers to ask for help, but I, as their elder brother, couldn't help them. Ninth Brother, I know you are sad, and I, your Eighth Brother, am just as sad. During those days, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep day and night. So I told myself that I must stand up and ask Father Emperor for a job."

"I've finally done it. The Imperial Household Department is full of troublesome people, but now I've finally sorted things out about 80-90%. I'm here today to apologize to my two younger brothers."

"Isn't it a pity that the bond we formed growing up together is now estranged?"

Yinzhi spoke with tears streaming down his face, his words deeply moving and touching, making it difficult for anyone who heard him not to be moved.

Is it a matter of personal feelings? Yinzhen suddenly recalled a conversation he had with his fourth brother after his business started to improve.

"Fourth brother, aren't you afraid that I'll lose all 200,000 taels of silver?"

“Investing always involves risk, and the greater the return, the greater the risk.” He remembered his fourth brother replying like this: “If you make a profit, I will not only get my principal back but also receive a lot of dividends, enough to cover the dowries and betrothal gifts for Honghui and the others.”

"For me, the returns are just okay."

“If you lose money, then you, Ninth Brother, will have to pay off the debt with your body, and you'll also get Tenth Brother as a bonus. That would be a huge profit.”

"Perhaps, Fourth Brother, I should pray that you lose everything?"

Yinzhen remembered that his fourth brother was expressionless when he said these words, which was no different from his speech to the emperor. His words made it clear that he intended to use the 200,000 taels of silver to buy his loyalty.

The fourth brother didn't mention brotherhood at all, but Yinzhen felt even more at ease.

The tenth prince was a good-for-nothing who had already started eating to his heart's content. He listened to the eighth prince's words with one ear and let them go out the other, without taking a single word to heart.

Unlike Ninth Brother, he lost his mother early and grew up alone in the palace. He had long understood that one should judge a person by their actions, not their intentions. If everyone only looked at what they said, it would be more exciting than a theatrical performance.

Therefore, the words of the eighth brother did not move him, but the ninth brother, who was born with a chivalrous heart, was the most easily bewitched.

Thinking of this, Yinzhen wiped the oil from the corner of his mouth: "Since you say so, Eighth Brother, I really have something I need your help with."

“Now I’ve been assigned by Father Emperor to work under my eldest brother. He thinks I’m a good-for-nothing and doesn’t want to talk to me. The bunch of lackeys in the Ministry of War also look down on me. My eighth brother and my eldest brother have been friends since childhood. Why don’t you talk to my eldest brother and ask him to take me under his wing? I also want to experience being a general.”

Yinzhi hesitated upon hearing this. Because of Consort Hui's demotion to Consort Hui, Prince Zhi had become much more distant from him. In short, he could no longer speak to Prince Zhi.

Despite these thoughts, Yinzhi readily agreed: "This is what Eighth Brother should do. But as Tenth Brother knows, Eighth Brother has always only been good at running errands for Eldest Brother. I can't guarantee how much Eldest Brother will listen to me."

Yinzhi smiled inwardly and raised a cup of wine to Yinzhi: "I am very grateful that my eighth brother was willing to speak up for me. Come, drink this cup, and let's have another one!"

Yinzhi drank one pot of wine after another with his two younger brothers without changing his expression. The table was almost empty, with only scraps left.

Yinzhen was already too drunk and fell asleep on the table.

Yinzhi held Yintang's hand: "Ninth brother, I sincerely want to apologize to you. Please forgive me, okay?"

Yinzhen gripped the handcuff back: "Eighth Brother, even brothers should keep clear accounts. I understand. We had a good time drinking today. Another day, I'll invite Fourth Brother over, and we'll all get drunk again."

Upon hearing this, Yinzhi's smile paused slightly, and after a long while, he nodded: "That's for sure."

Yinzhen, supporting Yinzhen, waved his hand, refusing the support of those around him. He walked unsteadily and stumbled into the carriage. Yinsi watched the two brothers leave, then turned around to see the Eighth Prince's wife tenderly bringing him a cup of hangover soup.

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