Chapter 23 (Combined)
There was also a palace banquet on New Year's Eve in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the concubines and nobles of the harem would gather to celebrate the New Year, but they would disperse before midnight and then return to their respective palaces to stay up all night.
Starting from the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, Wen Shan was busy preparing the menu for the New Year's Eve dinner. The banquet at the palace was more for show than for practical use. Yin Zhen and Yin Si were sure they wouldn't eat much; they would just take a few bites as a formality. They would have to eat the reunion dinner after returning to Xianfu Palace.
Wenshan planned to invite Wei Shi, who had been successfully promoted to a noblewoman, to join them for the New Year's Eve celebration. They planned to have the whole family chat and laugh together, and then make dumplings, making the New Year a happy and fulfilling one.
Wen Shan, along with Zhenzhu, Baoquan, and others, were busy decorating Xianfu Palace, preparing ingredients, and testing the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. Yinzhen and Yinsi, the two children, were the most relaxed. Wen Shan's only requirement for them was not to cause trouble and to help test the dishes.
Yinzhen prefers vegetarian food while Yinsi prefers meat. Fortunately, Yinsi is still eating solid food, otherwise the two brothers would definitely fight again when it comes to deciding on the menu.
By the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the princes who were still in their early studies no longer needed to go to the Imperial Study and could officially take a break. However, the Crown Prince and the First Prince still had to study day and night until New Year's Eve, and they could only rest on New Year's Eve.
Ever since the Fifth Prince was given a holiday and learned about Fuqi and Heidou, he has been going to Xianfu Palace three times a day. At first, he tried to bring Heidou with him, but he was so frightened by the kind smiles of Yinzhen and Yinsi that he decisively abandoned his own silly son.
Yinzhen took meticulous care of Fuqi. Fuqi was reluctant to move around, and the veterinarian said that this was not good and that it should be taken out for walks more often. So Yinzhen would take Fuqi out and let it run around the Imperial Garden a couple of times. Yinsi's legs became more and more agile, and he couldn't stay in Xianfu Palace. He often went out to walk the dog with Yinzhen.
Recently, the two brothers have gained a little follower, namely the Fifth Prince Yinqi.
On the day of Laba Festival, Wen Shan prepared Laba porridge and lunch in the small kitchen early in the morning. Yinzhen and Yinsi took Fuqi out for a walk. Fuqi now walks slowly and is not as reckless as before, so Yinsi finally got the chance to walk the dog on a leash. Yinsi led it slowly and leisurely, while Yinzhen watched from the side, worried that Fuqi and his younger brother might get hurt in any accident. The Fifth Prince followed behind, looking longingly at his daughter-in-law whose belly was getting bigger and bigger, thinking that when the puppies were born, he would definitely take two back to raise.
The group had been strolling around for a short while when they happened to run into the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, who were sitting and talking in the pavilion in front of them.
The crown prince saw his three younger brothers swaying over and waved to them.
Since his rebirth, Yinzhi had not seen the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince did not come to the palace banquet a few days ago because he was ill. After so many years, he felt a little emotional to see the Crown Prince in his youth again.
The two had been locked in a fierce battle, with the Crown Prince's faction and the Eighth Prince's faction arguing endlessly in the court. At one point, his momentum even surpassed that of the Crown Prince. Even after the first Crown Prince was deposed, Yinzhi was supported by the court to be the new Crown Prince, which can be described as the pinnacle of his life.
Although both of them ended up in dire straits, and the throne fell into the hands of the fourth brother, Yinzhi was somewhat dazed when he saw his nemesis, whom he had fought for half his life, looking so young and innocent. He began to recall that when they studied together as brothers in his previous life, the crown prince seemed to look just like that.
A spirited and ambitious young man, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.
Although he was somewhat arrogant and bossy towards his brothers, it was just childish play at the time, and now that I think about it, it was nothing compared to the brutal struggle for the throne.
His last impression of the Crown Prince was of him when the Emperor deposed him twice and the Crown Prince was imprisoned. Compared to the eight-year-old Crown Prince before him, the world had changed so much.
The Crown Prince was in a good mood looking at his three younger brothers. In recent years, many children had been born in the palace, and the number of brothers and sisters had made the palace much more lively. Kangxi's unique affection for the Crown Prince meant that the young Crown Prince did not feel any pressure from his brothers.
"This is my first time meeting Eighth Brother. I didn't expect him to already be able to walk." The Crown Prince looked Yinzhi up and down, and his first impression of his youngest brother was quite good.
Wen Shan liked to dress Yin Si in red. He had fair skin, wore a red padded jacket, and a tiger-head hat, making him look incredibly delicate and cute.
The Crown Prince thought that his eighth brother did indeed seem intelligent and well-behaved, no wonder his father often visited him.
The Third Prince was seeing Yinzhi for the first time. He couldn't help but want to touch and hug the adorable child, but Yinzhen stepped in first and blocked Yinzhi behind him, protecting him like a mother hen.
"Third Brother, Yinzhi rarely goes out; he's shy."
Yinzhi peeked out from behind his fourth brother. He naturally didn't like being hugged and cuddled all the time. It was fine with his mother and fourth brother, and maybe his father, the Emperor. But no one else could even dream of it.
The Third Prince awkwardly withdrew his hand. In his memory, among the younger brothers of this age, the Sixth Prince, Yinzhuo, was the best-looking. Although he hadn't been able to touch the Eighth Prince's fair and tender face, he still didn't hold back his praise, saying that he thought the Eighth Prince was even cuter and better-looking than the Sixth Prince.
Yinzhi sighed inwardly, speechless. What was his third brother saying? Comparing him to his sixth brother was like stabbing his fourth brother in the heart.
"Third brother, what you're saying is hard to hear." Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince stood up first and said, "One is your own brother from the same mother, and the other is a brother raised under the same roof. How can you expect your fourth brother to say anything when you compare them?"
The Crown Prince spoke up for justice, and the Third Prince quickly apologized to Yinzhen. Yinzhen didn't mind and took the dog leash from Yinsi's hand: "Sixth Brother and Eighth Brother are both our brothers, so they are naturally the same."
The Fifth Prince also chimed in, speaking up for his "in-law," and made a face at the Third Prince.
The Third Prince was both amused and exasperated, repeatedly saying that he had misspoke and that he should invite them to Zhongcui Palace for lunch as an apology.
Who cares about eating at Zhongcui Palace? Yinzhen thought to himself that his mother had cooked sweet Laba porridge and a sumptuous meal, waiting for him and his younger brother to come back for dinner.
“Speaking of food, Xianfu Palace is still the best.” The Crown Prince looked at Yinzhen and Yinsi and said with a smile, “Today is Laba Festival. Since you and I brothers are here by chance, I wonder if we could go to Xianfu Palace to try the cooking of Consort Xuan?”
The Fifth Prince's eyes were shining as well, just like the black beans he raised, he was almost ready to come up and nibble at Yinzhen and Yinsi, he also wanted to eat the dishes made by Consort Xuan!
Yinzhen and Yinsi's first reaction was that they didn't want to bring this group of people to freeload a meal, but since the Crown Prince had spoken, they had no reason to refuse, so they could only lead the large group of people to Xianfu Palace.
They happened to run into Pearl on the way. When Pearl saw the group of princes, she thought they were brothers strolling in the Imperial Garden. She bowed and said, "Fourth Prince, Eighth Prince, the Imperial Concubine said that the meal is ready and she wants you two to hurry back for your meal."
The Fifth Prince was even more excited when he heard that it was Wen Shan who had come to call Yinzhen and Yinsi home for dinner.
"Sister Pearl, can His Highness the Crown Prince, my third brother, and I have dinner together at Xianfu Palace today?"
Pearl: "Huh?"
Pearl subconsciously looked at Yinzhen and Yinsi. Although these two young masters were still young, since Yinsi could speak and run, they had been in charge of almost everything in Xianfu Palace. The Consort was happy to let them do as they pleased.
Yinzhen nodded: "Sister Pearl, go back and inform Mother first. We'll be there soon."
The Crown Prince said, "There's no need to go to the trouble of summoning the Imperial Concubine. Just add a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks. We brothers can just have a simple home-cooked meal."
Yinzhi smiled and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince and all my brothers will surely be very happy to have graced Mother with your presence. She will definitely add a few more dishes to treat you well."
The Crown Prince has been carefully taught by Kangxi, and his etiquette is impeccable on the surface. He appears humble and polite, but Yinzhi, who has been fighting with him for half his life, knows his true nature better than anyone. He is arrogant and considers himself superior to the other princes as the heir apparent. He loves being the center of attention and respected by everyone. If he is treated normally, he will become dissatisfied.
Fortunately, Pearl was quite clever. After a little guidance from Yinzhi, she understood and hurriedly returned to Xianfu Palace to tell Wenshan that the Crown Prince and the other princes were coming to visit. Wenshan was eating Laba porridge and almost choked when she heard this. Pearl quickly brought her some water.
"I'm fine. Yinzhi said we should make the preparations more grand, is that what he meant?" Wen Shan asked, rinsing her mouth.
Pearl nodded.
Wenshan thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I understand."
On the way back to Xianfu Palace, Yinzhen held Yinsi's hand in one hand and Fuqi's hand in the other, walking behind the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince talked in front, while the Fifth Prince circled around Fuqi, asking about her well-being.
Yinzhen noticed that Yinsi was pursing his lips, clearly in a bad mood, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Don't you like the Crown Prince and the others going to Xianfu Palace?"
Yinzhi kicked a pebble at his feet without saying a word.
Partly because of this, but more so because his fourth brother had just said that he and his sixth brother were the same. Although he knew that this was just a polite remark in front of the Crown Prince, Yinzhi still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Yinzhi really knows how to rub salt in the wound. Why bring up his sixth brother? He's deliberately trying to upset him.
His brothers are just as annoying as they were when they were kids.
Yinzhen was unaware that Yinsi was upset because of what he had just said, so he could only comfort him and make sure that they would scout ahead before going out again, find a secluded place to play with Fuqi, and only the two brothers and Fuqi would be there to play together.
After hearing this, Yinzhi hummed in agreement and felt much better.
The Imperial Garden was not far from Xianfu Palace, and the group arrived in no time. As soon as the Crown Prince and his entourage entered Xianfu Palace, they were attracted by the decorations in the palace courtyard.
Red palace lanterns and paper-cut tassels were hung in a staggered pattern on the trees and under the pavilions in the courtyard. Red lanterns and auspicious knots were hung under the corridor. Wen Shan also specially made a few beautiful flower wreaths and door flowers to hang on the door. Even in the corner where Fuqi often played, there were a few festive decorations and dog toys dressed in red clothes. The festive atmosphere of celebrating the New Year filled the entire Xianfu Palace.
Other palaces also made some preparations for the New Year, but most of them simply cleaned the rooms and hung up a few lanterns with the character "福" (good fortune). Compared to the Xianfu Palace, which was decorated with care and full of heartfelt New Year's spirit, it was far inferior.
Wen Shan came out of the house upon hearing the announcement. The Crown Prince led several princes to greet Wen Shan. Wen Shan smiled and picked up Yin Si, letting them into the house. As soon as they entered the inner hall, a warm and fragrant floral scent wafted towards them. The preparations were more meticulous than those in the courtyard and the hall. The carpet had been replaced with red "Fu" characters, and there was even a half-person-high rocking chair covered with "Fu" character tassels. Wen Shan had specially commissioned craftsmen to make this, and it had become Yin Si's favorite place to stay ever since he could walk.
Wen Shan placed Yin Si on a rocking chair and invited the princes to sit down.
Yinzhen carefully wiped Fuqi's mouth and feet with a handkerchief, and let Fuqi into the house. As soon as Fuqi landed, it darted into the corner and lay down in the bright red doghouse without moving.
"Wow, Consort Xuan, Yinqi, has only been gone for a few days, and Xianfu Palace has changed so much!" The Fifth Prince looked around in amazement. It wasn't this beautiful when he came a few days ago.
The Laba porridge had been prepared in advance and placed on the table. Wenshan opened the lid and served each of them a bowl. The sweet aroma immediately whetted their appetites.
Wen Shan's Laba porridge was made with plenty of ingredients and was thick and smooth. Even the Crown Prince, who usually didn't have a big appetite, drank three bowls. Fortunately, Wen Shan served them in small bowls, so three bowls was only the amount of a normal bowl. Otherwise, Wen Shan was worried that the Crown Prince would eat too much and have indigestion, and that Kangxi would come to settle accounts with her later.
The princes were still not satisfied, but Wen Shan stopped them, saying that she had prepared quite a few more dishes, before they put down their spoons.
The Crown Prince sent a eunuch to inform Emperor Kangxi that he was having lunch at Xianfu Palace that day. The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince followed suit and sent people to inform Consort Rong and the Empress Dowager.
Wen Shan specially prepared several dishes that looked exquisite and painstaking, and together with the lunch she had prepared, the table was filled with food. After the meal, she also served a baked cake that she had just figured out a few days ago as a dessert, showing that she was being treated to a grand feast.
"Empress Xuan's cooking skills are indeed unique. No wonder Father Emperor and Mother Emperor Wuku often mention it."
The Crown Prince elegantly wiped his mouth with a clean handkerchief from a palace maid. He had always heard how excellent Consort Xuan's cooking skills were. He had only tasted the pastries that his fourth brother had brought to the Imperial Study before. Today was the first time he had tasted Consort Xuan's cooking. Indeed, the rumors were true.
The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince were not to be outdone, praising Wen Shan's cooking effusively, and they ate with gusto, their mouths greasy with oil.
Yinzhi was being fed baby food in Wenshan's arms. He looked at the large table of food in front of him but couldn't eat any of it and had to listen to these people praising how delicious it was. He was extremely annoyed and looked gloomy.
They're all coming to freeload, are they starving to death in their own palace?
I equally despise everyone who comes to Xianfu Palace to freeload.
"It's a pity that my elder brother isn't here today. He loves to eat this the most. If he were here, he would rather stay in Xianfu Palace for the rest of his life and never leave," the Fifth Prince joked while eating.
The Fifth Prince and the First Prince had a good relationship. The First Prince was advised by Consort Hui to get closer to the Fifth Prince, who was raised by the Empress Dowager. Therefore, among all his brothers, besides Yinzhen, the Fifth Prince liked the First Prince the most, who often took care of him.
As Yinzhi ate the yam and beef puree that Wenshan had specially made for him, he muttered to himself, "There will be plenty of places in the future where he can be locked up for the rest of his life. What's the rush?"
Wen Shan, who was about to bend down and feed Yin Si a bite of pumpkin rice, paused.
Wait, what did Yinzhi just say?
When the Crown Prince was deposed, the eldest prince was stripped of his title and imprisoned by Emperor Kangxi for the "cursing the Crown Prince" incident. He was not released from imprisonment until his death in the twelfth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign.
In a sense, he was indeed locked up for his entire life and could never get out.
But how did Yinzhi find out?
While obediently eating his complementary food, Yinzhi was completely unaware that his disguise was about to be exposed.
He had no goodwill towards the First Prince, and even loathed him to the extreme. Before the First Prince's classic line, "If Yinreng is to be executed, there is no need for the Emperor's father to do it," there was another sentence, which reads in full: "The sorcerer Zhang Mingde once predicted that Yinsi would be very noble, and if Yinreng is to be executed, there is no need for the Emperor's father to do it."
At that time, Yinzhi was hiding his talents and quietly waiting for his opportunity during the period when he was deposed as crown prince: ?
Someone wants to harm him!
Yinzhi was furious, feeling utterly and inexplicably dragged into this mess. The eldest prince had been vying for the position of crown prince, but his ambitions were too high and he lacked any brotherly affection. As a result, the emperor publicly declared that the eldest prince was arrogant and would not be made crown prince. However, for some reason, the eldest prince, realizing that he had no hope, turned around and supported the emperor, even uttering the famous line mentioned above.
This dragged Yinzhi down with him as well.
In his later years, Emperor Kangxi was already suspicious, so he would inevitably suspect that the eldest prince and the eighth prince had conspired to frame the crown prince.
If Yinzhi knew about the later saying, "I'm not afraid of god-like opponents, but I'm afraid of pig-like teammates," he would definitely give it a hundred or eighty likes with tears in his eyes.
So, whether in his previous life or this one, Yinzhi was utterly disgusted with the eldest prince. So when the fifth prince mentioned the eldest prince, Yinzhi, who was already in a bad mood, muttered something under his breath, but Wenshan overheard it.
Of course, part of the reason was that he had been living too comfortably since his rebirth, and being in his own territory in Xianfu Palace, he hadn't been as cautious.
Wen Shan was deeply shocked. After recalling the differences between Yinzhi and other children since childhood and the many novels she had read, she came to the conclusion that the youngest son in her arms was very likely the reincarnation of the historical Yinzhi.
She never cried or fussed from a young age, was quick-witted, acted steadily and methodically, and was also a great artist—none of these things seem like something a normal one-year-old child could do.
Looking back now, I realize she was just too biased towards her mother; she didn't take it to heart at all.
However, since the Crown Prince and the others were still around, Wen Shan couldn't just expose Yin Si's true identity in public and pretend she knew nothing, and continue feeding Yin Si.
After feeding him a spoonful, Wen Shan hesitated. If Yin Si really had the soul of an adult, he probably wouldn't be used to being fed. Should she let him eat by himself?
"Mother, I want to eat this." Yinzhi looked up in confusion at Wenshan, who hadn't moved for a long time, and kindly pointed to the steamed yam and shrimp in front of him, adding a big smiley face to indicate that he wanted to eat it.
...He seems to be enjoying it quite a bit.
No matter how you look at it, it's her well-behaved and obedient youngest son whom she raised from childhood. Wen Shan's maternal love overflowed again. Whether she was reborn or not, it didn't matter at all. Now, she just needed to feed her son first.
Wen Shan's cooking was indeed delicious. The princes ate with rosy cheeks and full of satisfaction. When they left, Wen Shan even packed some snacks and pastries for them. The princes thanked Wen Shan repeatedly, and the prince even subtly asked if they could come to eat again in the future.
The Crown Prince was a few years older than his younger brothers, and he was noticeably more considerate in his dealings with others. After eating and drinking his fill at Wen Shan's place and returning to the palace, he even sent someone to deliver some gifts.
Not long after, Consort Rong also sent some gifts.
After the pearls were counted, they were all put into the storeroom. Wen Shan flipped through the storeroom register, which had recently become noticeably thicker, and said happily that when Yinzhen and Yinsi grew up, they would divide these things among them, and each of them would take half to spend.
Yinzhen and Yinsi clearly didn't covet Wenshan's treasures. Yinsi, seeing Wenshan hoarding things like a little hamster, was thinking of stuffing some more into her mother's things later to make her happy. These gold, silver, and jade items were the easiest to obtain.
After lunch, Yinzhen would review his lessons for a while, while Yinsi would usually take a nap. When Yinsi woke up, Yinzhen would come over, and the two brothers would play together.
Today was no exception. After Yinzhen left, Yinsi ran to his little bed, climbed up with both hands and feet, grabbed his little pillow, and prepared to take a nice afternoon nap.
Wen Shan strolled over, moved an embroidered stool and sat down next to Yin Si, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him.
Wen Shan had already sent the palace servants out of the room.
Yinzhi closed his eyes and squinted for a while, but he felt uneasy, as if he had a thorn in his back. When he opened his eyes, he saw his mother watching him from the side.
"What's wrong, Mother?" Yinzhi sat up and leaned against the bed railing.
He felt that his mother's gaze towards him was a little strange.
"Yin Si, your mother has something to ask you." Wen Shan sat up straight and spoke to Yin Si so seriously for the first time.
Yinzhi had a bad feeling, and his heart immediately panicked. He nodded with a tense expression.
Wen Shan took a deep breath: "Yin Si, are you...?"
Wen Shan hesitated halfway through her question, finding it difficult to continue. She couldn't bring herself to use such an accusatory tone with this tiny child, and just moments before, she had suddenly realized something.
If Yinzhi has truly been reborn, then his mind is more mature than hers. Since he has chosen not to speak, there seems to be no need for her to expose him. If Yinzhi is simply precocious, then there is even less need to tell him these things.
Although Wen Shan is now 99% certain that her youngest son has an adult living inside him.
Thinking of this, she felt a sense of relief and patted Yinzhi's head with a smile, saying, "It's nothing. Mother just came to see if you were asleep. Go back to sleep."
Wen Shan's lying skills have never been very good, and Yin Si saw through her thoughts at a glance. Her mother clearly had something important to ask but changed her mind at the last minute.
He also sensed that his mother had probably noticed something was wrong with him.
Even though she had already sensed it, she ultimately chose not to expose him...
Wen Shan was about to get up and go out when Yin Si called her back.
"Mother."
Wen Shan turned around and saw Yin Si sitting upright on the ground, looking at her.
"Mother, are you trying to ask me if I'm someone who has been reborn?"
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