Chapter 119 Brothers and sisters respect each other
"Seventeen greets the Emperor and all his brothers."
At eleven years old, Yunli was already quite a young man, with a handsome face and refined manners. Even a simple bow appeared exceptionally elegant and graceful.
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yinzhen called out gently, and Yunli straightened up, as if he could only see his good fourth brother. His smiling face made some people feel particularly uncomfortable.
"Seventeen, didn't you come to ask for help with your studies? Why didn't you bring anything?"
No one expected that the first to speak would be the Ninth Prince, Yun Tang. Seeing his sarcastic expression, the silence from the crowd was understandable. After all, when the Ninth Prince got sharp-tongued, he often launched indiscriminate attacks; it seemed this time it was the Seventeenth Prince's turn.
This time, however, Fourteenth Brother thought Ninth Brother had done a good job and chimed in, "My brother has just ascended the throne and is very busy. How can Seventeenth Brother keep bothering him with trivial matters? If there's anything you don't know, your Fourteenth Brother can teach you."
Faced with the targeting of Yuntang and Yunzhen, Yunli opened his innocent big eyes, seemingly unable to hear anything. He played to his strengths, showing Yinzhen his handsome yet still childlike and lovable face, and said apologetically, "It's Yunli's fault. Yunli just heard that all the elder brothers are in Yangxin Hall. I haven't seen the Emperor for a long time, so Yunli mustered up the courage to come."
Seventeen's words were frank and pitiful, revealing all her little thoughts. It was as if she knew that Yinzhen would not be angry, and every sentence admitted her mistakes and showed her close relationship with Yinzhen.
The princes felt as if they had drunk another full cup of tea, and began to look at Yunli with a completely new perspective. The older brothers, especially Yunti and Yunreng, these former rivals, laughed without any attempt to hide their amusement.
Of course, Yinzhen wouldn't be angry. He was very tolerant of the little guy he had personally taught.
"It's alright, you've come at the perfect time. We're about to have lunch, let's go together, Seventeen."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yunli smiled happily and walked briskly to Yinzhen's side. "Fourteenth Brother is right. Your Majesty must be very busy after just ascending the throne. Seventeenth Brother and the Imperial Physician have been giving you massages. Why don't you give Your Majesty a massage?"
Regardless of Yinzhen's reaction, the elder brothers watching the scene were speechless after Yunli uttered those words. Even the usually silent Yunyou couldn't help but glance at him. Was his bias really that strong?
Looking at the teacups and snacks on the Emperor's table, and then at the thick stacks of memorials on his brothers' tables, how could Seventeen possibly say that he was busy?
Fine, fine, so you're lying through your teeth for the sake of your beloved imperial brother, huh? You think the fourth prince is the elder brother and the rest are just laborers?
"No need, there's no need for you to do such a thing. You just finished your archery lesson, sit down and rest."
Yinzhen smiled and refused, not wanting an eleven or twelve-year-old boy to serve him.
“Your Majesty is right, Seventeenth Brother. You are still young. Studying hard is how you can share your burdens with Your Majesty.” Yinzhi said gently. “You are still young. After you finish your classes, take a rest. We will finish reviewing these memorials for Your Majesty, and then we will have a meal together. There is no need to rush.”
"Hiss," Yunqi couldn't help but shiver. He didn't understand why his eighth brother spoke so gently, but he felt a little cold sitting next to him.
Yunreng seemed to be affected by the cold air as well. He lowered his head, took a sip of warm tea, and a smile appeared on his lips. It's true that the Eighth Prince knows how to talk.
Yunli was rendered speechless by Yunsi's words of comfort. In order to maintain his obedient and sensible image in front of Yinzhen, he could only sit quietly to the side and eat some snacks.
Upon receiving the news of the enfeoffment and inquiring further about the relationship between the Eighth Brother and the Fourth Brother, Yunli felt a sense of crisis and rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
After a brief exchange, looking at Yunsi's consistently gentle expression, Yunli's heart sank. The Eighth Prince was indeed not easy to deal with.
Thirteenth Brother is weak and pitiful, Fourteenth Brother is brainless and both are easy to manipulate, but then there's Eighth Brother. And Ninth Brother, isn't he at odds with Fourth Brother? Why was he the first to jump out?
Yunli's thoughts were in turmoil, and even the snacks his fourth brother offered him didn't taste good. Damn it, when will he finally become his fourth brother's most important younger brother?
After the brief moment of excitement, everyone had to face the heavy reality and return to reviewing the memorials. How annoying! Don't these ministers ever talk? Why do they write so much on their greeting memorials?
...
A group of young boys, some of whom were already struggling financially, had eaten their fathers out of house and home. A dozen or so strong men and a young prince had gathered together, still harboring resentment at having worked for free. This lunch had nearly emptied the imperial kitchen.
After finishing their meal, no one felt comfortable staying any longer, so they could only return home with full bellies and cheerful smiles.
On the carriage, Yun Ti rubbed his stomach, not understanding how he had become as childish as them, even fighting over food and stuffing himself to the point of bursting.
The smile in his eyes hadn't faded yet, and Yun Ti shook his head, muttering softly, "Fourth Prince... the new emperor is really... tsk..."
The new emperor values brotherly love and respect, for only with such qualities can he live a good life. Now that he's become a Prince Zhi, how bad can his future be? Hopefully, Yinzhen will maintain this quality.
It's better to be full than to have nothing to eat.
Yinreng was also on his way back to the palace. For the first thirty-odd years of his life, he had lived in the cramped Yuqing Palace. Now that he had a spacious residence where he could completely control himself, he was much more comfortable.
Yinreng didn't feel stuffed, but he ate more than usual. Now that he thinks about it, no matter how much Yinzhen has changed, and regardless of his relationship with the Eighth Prince, his recommendation of Yinzhen was still the right one.
Judging from Yinzhen's actions today, regardless of whether they are sincere or not, it seems that the brothers can live well.
Yinreng lifted the curtain, looked at the street outside, and couldn't help but smile. He laughed at himself for not caring about his brothers when he was the crown prince. Now, however, he was talking about "brothers." It was truly... truly something he didn't know what to say.
The lively scene inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation was probably only genuinely felt by a few people; most of the brothers, like Yinzhi and Yinreng, were just as genuinely happy as they were—three parts acting.
After all, Yinzhen was his brother, but now he was also the emperor.
Yunzhen didn't think that much about it. Having lost his father and mother, Yunzhen had already regarded Yinzhen as his last hope. So, the more he thought about Seventeenth Prince's behavior, the more aggrieved and unhappy he became, and he turned around and went back to Yinzhen.
Having already traveled halfway back to his residence, he rushed back to the palace and stormed into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Brother, how did you know that Seventeen had just finished his horse riding lesson?"
"You barged in just to ask this?" Yinzhen looked at Yunzhen, who rushed in front of him despite being stopped and whose face was full of displeasure, and was quite surprised.
"I just want to know." Yunzhen said, looking aggrieved, and stared at him.
Yinzhen chuckled and sighed, explaining, "I arranged all of Seventeen's courses, so of course I know."
Upon hearing this, Yunzhen became even more displeased and asked, "You've never arranged anything for me before?"
“I know, Fourteenth Uncle is jealous.” A small head suddenly peeked out from behind the screen.
"Honghui!" Yunzhen's vision went black as he looked at the young boy who slowly emerged from behind the screen, his face still bearing the marks of sleep. He was quite embarrassed. "Brother, why didn't you say Honghui was here too?"
"You didn't ask either." Yinzhen smiled and pulled his son, who had just woken up, to his side. "Was he woken up by your fourteenth uncle?"
"Actually, Honghui wasn't asleep yet when Uncle Fourteen arrived—"
Hearing Honghui's words, Yunzhen's last glimmer of hope vanished. It's over, all over. Doesn't this mean Honghui heard everything?
When questioning Yinzhen, Yunzhen didn't feel ashamed, but when it happened in front of Honghui, he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it.
Why can't he always maintain his tall and steady uncle image?
"I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to, so I'll head back to my residence now. See you next time, Honghui."
Watching Yunzhen's hurried departure, Honghui smiled slyly, "Now Uncle Fourteen will be avoiding me for a long time."
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