Chapter 395 Yinzhi
The eldest prince, Yinzhi, born in the eleventh year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, is now eleven years old. In two more years, he could be a father.
However, the only thought in the mind of eleven-year-old Yinzhi was to surpass Yinreng, to surpass that pretentious second son!
So when he heard that the second son's "little brother" had moved to Yanxi Palace, he was eager to make his move.
Of course, his skill in martial arts doesn't mean he's a brute. He wouldn't just rush up and hit someone; he was simply curious about what kind of person Yinreng's "little brother" was.
Upon seeing the frail Yinzhi, Yinzhi looked surprised and asked, "This is it?"
Does the second brother not feed his younger brother? This kid is so small, he could knock him over with a single finger.
"Plop"
"Yin Zhi!"
When his mother grabbed his ear, Yinzhi was still in a daze. No, he was just saying it, okay, he did reach out. But, only one finger, he didn't use any force! How did this child fall? He really didn't use any force!
"I saw it all!"
Consort Hui was seething with hatred. She knew that Yinzhi wouldn't be happy unless he caused her trouble!
"Xiao Ba, are you alright?"
Consort Hui looked at Yinzhi, who was being helped up by a palace maid, with a worried expression. Whether she was worried about him or Yinzhi was a matter of opinion.
Yinzhi shook his head, "I'm fine, Mother Hui, don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhi spoke up nonchalantly: "I already said I didn't use any strength. Mother, you don't listen to me at all."
Consort Hui glared at her troublesome son, then turned to speak gently to Yinzhi: "Eighth Prince, your mother apologizes on behalf of your elder brother. He's usually impulsive and doesn't know his own limitations. But he doesn't mean any harm, and he really likes you as his younger brother..."
"Who likes..." Yinzhi's rebuttal was cut off by Consort Hui's warning look.
"Xiao Ba, you'll forgive your older brother, right?"
Upon hearing Consort Hui's question, Yinzhi pursed his lips and nodded: "Of course I won't hold it against my elder brother."
Consort Hui smiled and patted his head. "I knew it. Little Eight is well-behaved and sensible. He's a good child, much better than your eldest brother."
Yinzhi was displeased. How was this little brat, who could be knocked down with just a poke, any better than him?
Her eyes lit up with a sudden idea. Taking advantage of the others' inattention, Yinzhi snatched Yinsi away, scooped him up, and rushed out: "Mother, I'm taking Eighth Brother out to play—"
"Your Majesty..."
Seeing the eldest prince running away like the wind, the palace servants present were in a panic.
"What's the panic!" Consort Hui snapped. "The eldest prince likes his younger brother and is taking him out to play. What's wrong with that?"
Her stern gaze swept over everyone, and they all lowered their heads and echoed her words. Only then did Consort Hui's expression slowly improve, and she leisurely instructed, "Take a few people with you, but don't cause any trouble."
...
"The Imperial Noble Consort is pregnant. What should we do about the Fourth Prince?"
"The Fourth Prince is the Imperial Noble Consort's own son, what could possibly happen to him?"
“You entered the palace late, so you don’t know. This Fourth Prince is actually Consort De’s biological son. But as soon as he was born, he was taken to the Imperial Noble Consort’s side, and Consort De couldn’t even see him. Poor Fourth Prince still thinks he is the Imperial Noble Consort’s biological son.”
Outside the artificial hill, Yinzhen, who heard this, pursed his lips and clenched his fists tightly behind his back. This was not the first time, nor the first time he had heard such words.
Previously, things were only vague, but this time it's exceptionally clear. Is it because they can't wait any longer?
Yinzhen chuckled self-deprecatingly. He wasn't stupid. Regardless of his true background, how could he not see that it was intentional when people kept nagging about it in his ear?
I think we'll finally understand what the people behind this are up to today.
"Oh? Is that so! The Imperial Noble Consort is pregnant, but the Fourth Prince knows nothing about it. How distressed he must be. Hasn't Consort De tried to find a way to see the Fourth Prince?"
“How could we not have tried? But the Imperial Noble Consort is now very powerful and is determined not to let the mother and son meet. What can Consort De do?”
Oh, it was the biological mother's idea.
Having understood, Yinzhen's feelings were complicated. He was unsure whether Consort De was taking this opportunity to regain his custody or to frighten his mother's unborn child.
Was this all for him or for his mother? Or was it for both?
Before Yinzhen could figure it out, he heard the boy's reprimand coming from the other side.
"Which palace are you from? What are you doing hiding here?"
"Your Highness... I have met the First Prince."
Hearing the two palace maids hurriedly bowing, Yinzhen realized what was happening. Oh, they'd run into his elder brother. Hadn't he considered encountering others before plotting against him?
My older brother's personality... will probably be quite difficult to deal with.
"Tell me, which palace are you from? What are you hiding for?"
"This servant...this servant..."
"Why are you stammering? Are you up to something bad?"
Yinzhen had no intention of stepping forward. He'd already heard what he wanted to hear, so he could clean up the mess himself. As he turned to leave, Yinzhen suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Big brother, put me down first...cough cough..."
"Eighth Brother!"
Yinzhen rushed out in a flash, and before Yinzhi could react, his arms were empty as the little one was snatched away by another, slightly older little one.
"Yinzhen?"
"Eighth Brother, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
Yinzhen completely ignored Yinzhi and the two pale-faced palace maids kneeling on the ground, his mind and eyes only focused on Yinsi in front of him.
Yinzhi shook his head. "I'm fine, Fourth Brother."
Yinzhi was still thinking about how the little ones were so different. One could fall over with a single poke, while the other could even snatch the person in his arms. Was the contrast really that big?
Then Yinzhen asked, "Did your elder brother bully you?"
"Ah!" Yinzhi immediately exclaimed, "How did I bully him? Don't talk nonsense!"
Yinzhen glanced at him indifferently, his mind only focused on Yinsi's answer.
Yinzhi frowned slightly, glanced cautiously at Yinzhi, and said in a low voice, "Brother didn't bully me. He just suddenly picked me up, which startled me. I accidentally caught a bit of wind on the way. It has nothing to do with you."
"Did you hear that? It has nothing to do with me!"
Yinzhi was so confident that even the kneeling palace maid couldn't help but glance at him. Was the eldest prince really this "down-to-earth"?
Yinzhen glared at Yinzhi and said, "Brother, you've gone too far! Eighth Brother is so young, how could you scare him and let him be exposed to the wind?"
"How did I scare him?" Yinzhi protested. "Okay, I did run a little too fast with him, but he's not that weak, is he?"
"It's all my fault. I'm not feeling well. Fourth Brother, please don't argue with Eldest Brother."
Yinsi gently tugged at Yinzhen's sleeve. In Yinzhen's eyes, his eighth brother was compromising for his sake.
But he disagreed!
"Big brother, it's all your fault! How could you treat your younger brother like this as an elder brother?"
Yinzhi was furious. "Yinsi already said it's because he's unwell!"
"Knowing he's not in good health, you should take better care of him. How could you do something like threatening him?"
"Me!" Yinzhi felt a moment of guilt, but quickly continued to be stubborn, "I never expected him to be so timid."
"You're not as good at taking care of people as your second brother!"
Yinzhen knew how to cut someone's heart, and upon hearing this, Yinzhi's expression changed: "You!"
"Big brother, don't hit fourth brother, hit me instead."
Yinzhi stood in front of Yinzhen, whose eyes reddened. Yinzhen hugged Yinzhi tightly, saying, "No need, Eighth Brother, Fourth Brother will protect you!"
"no?"
Seeing the two of them hugging each other, almost crying, Yinzhi was speechless. He hadn't even had a chance to get angry yet, and they were already acting like this? Besides, how many times had he said that he wasn't a brute and wouldn't hit people!
"Who said I was going to hit you? I was the one being talked about!"
Fearing that others would accuse him of bullying the weak, Yinzhi stomped his foot angrily, turned around, and left.
"Fourth Brother."
"Eighth brother, don't be afraid, I'll take you to find the Crown Prince."
Yinzhen was somewhat surprised by Yinzhi's departure, realizing he might have overreacted. However, to avoid Yinsi being punished upon returning to Yanxi Palace, he decided to take his younger brother to Yuqing Palace.
After the three left, the two palace maids who were still kneeling on the spot looked at each other, wondering if they had successfully completed their mission.
The process was a bit bumpy, but the result... well, I guess?
...
When Yinzhi was sent back to Yanxi Palace, they were surprised to find that Yinzhi had not yet returned to the Princes' Residence.
"Eighth Brother," Yinzhi forced a smile, "I've thought about it, and as your eldest brother, I really should take good care of you, so I think I'll sleep with you tonight!"
"..." Yinzhi took two steps back and turned his head to look at Consort Hui.
At this moment, feeling deeply ashamed, Consort Hui avoided Yinzhi's gaze and forced a smile, saying, "Your elder brother also wants to spend more time with you..."
To save her from being deafened by Yinzhi, I'm sorry, Xiao Ba, your mother Hui has no choice but to sacrifice you.
"Eighth brother, let's go."
Yinzhi rushed forward, scooped up Yinsi and held him in his arms, giving him a gentle bounce. "Eighth brother, you're a little light. Are you not eating properly? Don't worry, your elder brother will keep an eye on you from now on..."
Without giving Yinzhi a chance to refute, Yinzhi simply picked him up and headed towards his residence. Being the older brother was a piece of cake; how could he be inferior to the second brother?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
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