Chapter 27 Emperor Kangxi personally attended today…
Emperor Kangxi personally attended the Tenth Prince's one-month celebration banquet today. In terms of maternal family background alone, among the princes today, only the Tenth Prince can rival the Crown Prince. He was born into an extremely noble family.
Compared to before her pregnancy, Consort Niohuru had become more plump and graceful, and compared to the charming young girl she was when she first entered the palace, she had become more gentle and beautiful, with more charm and less sharpness.
She held the Tenth Prince and stood with Emperor Kangxi, giving off a somewhat imperial and empress-like aura.
Today, it wasn't just Wen Shan who brought her child; the Crown Prince, the First Prince, and the Third Prince also came. The First Prince and the Third Prince came with their respective mothers to offer their congratulations, while the Crown Prince came with Emperor Kangxi.
"Yinreng, come and see your tenth brother." Kangxi waved to the Crown Prince and said with a smile, "Although your tenth brother is young, he will definitely be your right-hand man when he grows up. You should take good care of him in the future."
Upon hearing Kangxi's words, a crack appeared in Consort Niohuru's perfect expression.
The concubines sitting below exchanged glances, but Consort Ping couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
This is supporting the Crown Prince in front of everyone.
As long as the Crown Prince is alive, the remaining princes will all be his right-hand men and his assistants.
The Crown Prince lost his biological mother at birth, and Emperor Kangxi already doted on this legitimate son. Now that he has a younger brother whose background is no less than his own, and his mother's family is looking after him, Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but come to consolidate the position of his beloved Crown Prince.
As Wen Shan drank the plum wine that Consort Niohuru had specially brought out, she thought to herself that the children were growing up and no longer listened to their father, the Emperor. In the end, the Tenth Prince was still a staunch member of the Eighth Prince's faction.
Although Emperor Kangxi is currently deeply in love with the Crown Prince and dotes on this son, the future is unpredictable and subject to countless changes.
The eldest prince pouted, and Consort Hui tugged at his arm, indicating that even if he was unhappy, he had to put on an act in front of his imperial father.
"Father is right. Your subjects will certainly do their best to assist the Crown Prince and contribute to the Qing Dynasty." Unexpectedly, the Third Prince stepped forward first and picked up where Kangxi left off.
Emperor Kangxi clapped his hands and laughed: "Good, Yinzhi has grown up and is becoming more and more sensible."
The eldest prince also realized what was happening and said a few words to express his loyalty. Yinzhen and Yinsi, being young, took advantage of the situation and kowtowed to the eldest and third princes, thus getting away with it.
Emperor Kangxi was very satisfied with his sons' pragmatism. He devoted himself to cultivating each of his sons so that they could work together to assist the crown prince when he ascended the throne. In this way, how could the Qing Dynasty not prosper?
This naturally stemmed from his confidence that he could control these outstanding sons.
Before noon, the Tenth Prince's full moon banquet ended. Emperor Kangxi stayed at Chuxiu Palace with Consort Niohuru to accompany the Tenth Prince as a sign of his favor. Wen Shan took Yinzhen and Yinsi back to Xianfu Palace, asking them on the way if they hadn't eaten enough, and said she would give them extra food when they got back.
It was rare for Yinzhen to show his emotions like this. He looked very happy and said that he was delighted to see his tenth brother, who had just turned one month old, and that he would also attend the birth ceremonies of the children of the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort De in the future.
Wen Shan and Yin Si were stunned.
Wen Shan winked at Yin Si, "Could your fourth brother be possessed by some evil spirit?"
This is something that Yinzhen, who has always disliked crowds, could say.
They even went to join in the fun with the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort De...
Back at Xianfu Palace, Wen Shan found an opportunity to ask Yin Si and Yin Zhen alone what had happened recently and what had occurred in the Imperial Study.
Yinzhi thought about it carefully and then shook his head. Everything had been normal recently and nothing had happened.
Yinzhi said that perhaps it was because there were many newborns in the palace recently that his fourth brother had more fun being an older brother. After all, in this life, Yinzhen was much more sunny and cheerful than in the previous life because he had Wenshan and Yinzhi by his side.
Wen Shan was still a little worried, so Yin Si sent someone to check if Yin Zhen had encountered anything recently.
After nightfall, when someone came to report, there was a sudden knock on Yinzhi's door.
"Little brother, may I come in?"
There was only one concubine, Wen Shan, in Xianfu Palace, so the east and west side halls were where Yinzhen and Yinsi lived. Yinzhen suddenly attacked, and Yinsi gave the eunuch a wink. The man went straight forward and opened the door.
"May the Fourth Prince be blessed."
Yinzhen came in alone with a bowl of noodles, looked the man up and down, and said, "Who are you? I've never seen you here before."
"This servant was just assigned to the Eighth Prince's household. My name is Xiao Shunzi," Xiao Shunzi said respectfully, bowing his head.
When Yinzhen entered the room, he saw Yinsi arranging books at the table. Yinsi smiled obediently when he saw him come in: "Brother, what brings you here?"
"I came to see you. You didn't eat much for dinner, so I cooked you a bowl of noodles."
Yinzhen put down the noodles in his hand, and Yinsi could tell at a glance that Yinzhen had made them himself.
Wen Shan enjoys cooking. Yin Zhen and Yin Si would occasionally learn a few tricks from her when they were in the mood. Yin Zhen was more talented in cooking than Yin Si. Most importantly, Yin Si was still young, and Wen Shan didn't trust him to touch the stove. At most, she would let him make a few pastries to play with. Wen Shan also didn't let Yin Zhen touch the kitchen knife or anything like that. The palace maids would help him, and Yin Zhen would just season the ingredients.
Wen Shan was surprised to find that Yinzhen was so talented in cooking that she insisted on teaching him everything so that he could inherit her mantle.
The ancients said that a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen. Other concubines did not allow their sons to enter the small kitchen. Wen Shan did not care about such things. As long as Yinzhen and Yinsi liked it and it was not a bad thing, she was happy to indulge them. Xianfu Palace was well managed by Yinzhen and Yinsi, so the news would not spread.
Yinzhen cooked noodles with gravy, which Yinsi really liked. However, Yinzhen didn't cook often, and sometimes when Yinsi wanted to eat it, he couldn't beg him to make a bowl. Yinsi would bring the noodles over and take a bite without any hesitation.
"tasty!"
Yinzhen smiled as he watched Yinsi eating with his head down: "Eat slowly."
In the three years since Yinzhi came to the capital, he has seen more smiles from his fourth brother than in the previous forty-odd years combined. Even Emperor Kangxi has stopped saying that Yinzhen is cold and hard-hearted in the last two years and instead says that he has become much more sensible.
Xiao Shunzi stood behind Yinzhi, his eyes lowered, looking no different from any other eunuch.
When Wen Shan was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, Xianfu Palace did indeed receive several more servants, and Yinzhen was also assigned a palace maid and a eunuch.
Yinzhi finished his meal in a few bites, waved for Xiaoshunzi to leave, and then looked at Yinzhen with a smile, resting his chin on his hand, saying, "Brother, is there something you want to ask me?"
"Still resorting to surprise attacks? What did you find out after coming all this way?"
Aside from the fact that Yinzhen was a reincarnated person, there were basically no secrets between Yinzhen and Yinsi. The two brothers always got along directly, so Yinsi didn't beat around the bush with Yinzhen either.
Looking back now, Fourth Brother really is just like when he grew up. He likes to wait and see. Even though he didn't do anything, he tricked Yinzhi into taking the initiative to investigate. As soon as Yinzhi made a move, there would be a flaw, so Yinzhen took advantage of the quiet of the night when it was easiest to make small moves to catch him.
Yinzhi couldn't help but sigh that his fourth brother was indeed exceptionally intelligent from a young age, and he was incredibly adept at restraint and patience. However, if he still couldn't outmaneuver his current fourth brother, then he had wasted the decades of his previous life.
Fourth Brother should let him see if he wants to. Xiao Shunzi was originally someone from his palace, but his usual task was to help him collect information and monitor the various palaces.
Yinzhen slowly cleared away the bowls and chopsticks: "I'll find out your little tail sooner or later."
Yinzhi waved goodbye and said goodnight to Yinzhen in a good mood.
"By the way, tomorrow is the official start of my sixth and seventh brother's school year. Let's go early tomorrow and move your desk and chair next to mine," Yinzhen said before leaving.
Although Yinzhi went to the Imperial Study early, he is the youngest among the princes who have enrolled. According to age, his seat should be at the very back. However, the Imperial Study is not strictly managed now, so they move the desks and chairs there in advance. When the time comes, Yinzhen can just tell his tutors that Yinzhi is still young and needs their care, and that will get by.
The next day, Yinzhi secretly told Wenshan about it. Wenshan looked at Yinzhi's leisurely appearance and rubbed his head: "Why are you and your fourth brother scheming against each other?"
“Mother, you don’t understand,” Yinzhi said seriously. “I’ll never have another chance to seriously compete with Fourth Brother in this lifetime, so of course I have to seize this opportunity.”
In his previous life, he was defeated by his fourth brother. Now, he should take advantage of the fact that his fourth brother is still young to bully him, satisfy his competitive spirit, and make up for his regret.
Yinzhi specifically told Wenshan not to get involved in this matter and to let him play with his fourth brother for a while. Wenshan shook her head helplessly and let them go.
Watching Yinzhen and Yinsi chase each other, seemingly unable to escape, Wenshan couldn't help but sigh that the two were truly natural rivals, and the two brothers were getting more and more into it.
However, Yinzhi had been in power for decades in the previous dynasty, and Yinzhen couldn't get anything good out of him for the time being. Yinzhen was stubborn and would never give up once he made up his mind. Now, he felt that his younger brother was hiding something from him and was deliberately competing with him in secret, which also stirred up Yinzhen's competitive spirit.
One afternoon at the end of the month, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince came to Xianfu Palace for a free meal again. Although Emperor Kangxi did not allow the Crown Prince to come to Wenshan often, the Crown Prince still couldn't give up the food at Xianfu Palace. Even if he was not allowed to come often, he would come occasionally. Whenever his afternoon classes were not heavy, the Crown Prince would come over, and the Third Prince would often come along as well. The relationship between the two brothers, Yinzhen and Yinsi, became much closer.
According to Yinzhi, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were not this close to Yinzhen in the previous life. It was Wenshan's arrival that changed many things.
"Your Highness's cooking skills are getting better and better; I think they're practically divine." The Crown Prince's praise was sincere, his eyes sparkling.
The Third Prince nodded in agreement, his legs swaying from the delicious food.
"Eat as much as you like. I'll have someone bring some back for you all later," Wen Shan said with a smile.
Every time the Crown Prince and the Third Prince came to Xianfu Palace, Wen Shan couldn't quite imagine the fierce battles they would face when they grew up. At least for now, they all seemed clever and adorable, with no ill intentions.
“Your Highness, I feel bad about always having to dine here, so I brought a gift today.” The Crown Prince beckoned, and a young eunuch brought up a mahogany box.
The prince took it, and when Wen Shan opened it, she saw a bright green jade hairpin inside, of excellent quality and crystal clear.
"This was left to me by my mother, the Empress Dowager. I think it suits you very well, and I hope you will accept it."
Relics of Empress Hesheri?
Wen Shan was taken aback. Could she accept this?
The Crown Prince noticed Wen Shan's concerns and quickly said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. My mother left me many things, and my father said that I should keep them all and give them to whomever I wish in the future."
The Crown Prince genuinely wanted to give a gift, so Wen Shan couldn't refuse. She had Pearl accept it and quickly put it away. The hairpin was beautiful, but she really didn't dare to wear it.
Yinzhen and Yinsi exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised that the Crown Prince would give something of Empress Hesheli to his mother. Although Empress Hesheli died in childbirth and never raised the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's deep affection for her was known throughout the palace. The fact that the Crown Prince would give her this gift shows that he already held Wenshan in high esteem.
After lunch, the group gathered for a snack. Soon, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince would return to the Imperial Study. The Third Prince had turned six this year and was starting his formal schooling, so he joined the Crown Prince and the First Prince in their day and night study.
Looking at the dark circles under the eyes of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, Wen Shan thought to herself, "This isn't how you raise children." In her eyes, Kangxi's method of raising princes was truly insane.
She counted on her fingers and realized that Yinzhen would be living such a life next year, and then everything went black before her eyes.
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