Chapter 138 Brotherhood
"Fifth Brother, here you go."
Wearing a bright and beautiful qipao, Garudai grabbed her sister Burhe's hand and rushed to Hongzhou, who had just finished school, and handed him a fiery red whip inlaid with gemstones.
"Isn't this your favorite whip? Why are you giving it to me?" Hongzhou looked at Garuda with some confusion. His eyes, which had been swollen from crying for a long time yesterday, were still swollen and looked like two small walnuts.
Garuda looked at Hongzhou with a "disappointed" look, sighed and patted Hongzhou's shoulder, "Fifth Brother, don't be afraid. If anyone bullies you, hit them. Don't just cry."
This mature-looking demeanor, performed by a 5-year-old girl, is especially adorable.
"I...you...who's crying?" Hongzhou blushed with embarrassment at being comforted by his younger sister, who was also his former "arch-enemy."
"Alright, alright, you didn't cry." Garuda had a "I can't do anything with you" expression, which made Hongzhou jump up and down in anger, while the other brothers next to him were laughing their heads off.
"You, you, you..." Hongzhou was speechless, regretting for the first time how weak he was. He should have held back his tears on the palace road. Now, everyone knew he had been crying the whole way.
"Alright, our little Hongzhou is so strong, he definitely won't cry anymore."
Bu'er, who was standing to the side, always acted like a gentle older sister. She pulled the two little ones back from arguing and handed the purse she had brought to Hongzhou.
"Little Hongzhou, haven't you always wanted a raccoon-shaped purse? Big sister embroidered one for you, see if you like it?"
Taking the purse from Bu'er, and touching the round, adorable tanuki on it—exactly as he had described—Hongzhou was touched. He knew his older sister had rushed out especially to comfort him.
Hongzhou carefully tied the purse around her waist, looking at Buerhe with her bright, sparkling eyes. "Thank you, big sister. Hongzhou likes it very much."
"I want one too! Big sister can't just favor Hongzhou because he cries all the time!" Hongshi, who was craning his neck and seeing the purse that Hongzhou got, immediately shouted out in envy.
Hongzhou's face instantly fell, and he looked at Hongshi with a pitiful expression: "I don't like to cry..."
With his elder brother absent, Hongyun felt it necessary to take on the responsibility of educating his younger brother. He quickly covered Hongshi's mouth, who was about to argue, and asked with a smile, "Have you remembered what the Grand Tutor taught? Have you finished practicing your calligraphy? Have you written your essays?"
Upon hearing the three questions, Hongshi instantly deflated. No matter how old he got, he was always defeated by his studies. Hongli, not content with that, added fuel to the fire: "Third brother, you should put some of the energy you used to grow taller into your studies."
"Waaaaah, I'm going to cry if you keep talking about it." Hongshi felt a pang of heartache and covered his face, pretending to cry. Even with his back hunched, he was still a head taller than Hongyun.
"Third brother, you're shameful." Garuda wrinkled her delicate little nose, stuffed the whip into Hongzhou's hand, and finally added, "Don't let anyone bully you anymore. If word gets out, you'll embarrass me. If you cry again, you won't be allowed to compete with me for the position of eldest brother."
After saying that, the energetic Galudai grabbed the hand of the indulgent Burhe and ran off into the distance.
"Sigh..." Before Hongzhou could even extend his hand to refuse, he looked at Garuda's retreating figure and couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "What? I'll let you off this time for the sake of the whip. You know, my brother likes me the most..."
"What are you muttering about?" Hongli approached, took Hongzhou's hand, and turned to look at Hongyun and Hongshi. "Second brother, third brother, Hongzhou and I are leaving first."
"Go ahead, I'll help the third brother practice his calligraphy." Hongyun nodded gently to his two younger brothers, holding onto Hongshi's arm tightly.
"No, I was wrong, Second Brother..."
Hongshi's wails were forgotten, and Hongzhou followed Hongli's footsteps, being dragged all the way to the Imperial Garden.
"Slow down, slow down, Fourth Brother, where are we going?" Hongzhou asked breathlessly, realizing for the first time that the palace being too big wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Hongli pulled Hongzhou to a corner of the Imperial Garden, waved away the servants who were following him, and looked serious and earnest, as if he had something important to say. This made Hongzhou careful and his voice became much softer.
"Fourth Brother, what's wrong? What serious incident has occurred?"
Hongli pursed his lips, looked at Hongzhou's curious and concerned expression, and then took a closer look at his still swollen eyes. He gritted his teeth and decided to reluctantly give up his love.
"Hongzhou, as your good brother, I've decided to give you my most beloved possession." Hongli placed his hands on Hongzhou's shoulders solemnly.
But after hearing this, Hongzhou couldn't help but show a deadpan expression. "Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Brother. Hongzhou will not take what belongs to others."
"It's okay, I said I'd give it to you, so I will."
“But I don’t like calligraphy and paintings covered in stamps…” Hongzhou was a little touched, but not much. Compared to Garuda’s whip, he was even less interested in the stamped calligraphy and paintings on the Red Calendar.
No one understands how Hongli developed this hobby, liking to stamp his seals on calligraphy and paintings. The more he liked a piece of calligraphy or painting, the more seals he would use, eventually covering up the original image.
"What? It's not calligraphy or painting."
Hongli revealed a condescending expression, which startled Hongzhou. When did his fourth brother change his hobbies? How come he didn't know?
"With so many calligraphy and paintings, how can any of them be my favorite?"
"What is that?" Hongzhou asked curiously, a hint of anticipation rising within him.
Seeing this, Hongli nodded in satisfaction. Then, he carefully took out a purse from his chest, and carefully opened it, while Hongzhou watched intently from the side.
Then, Hongli took out a warm and elegant white jade seal.
"Here you go, my favorite seal."
"..." Hongzhou looked at Hongli's reluctant expression and was somewhat speechless. But he was still a little touched, thinking that he couldn't refuse his fourth brother's kindness, so he reached out to take it, "Thank you, fourth brother... fourth brother?"
Hongzhou took it, but didn't actually get it; Hongli couldn't bear to let go.
"Ah...you can have it, treat it well."
"Alright," Hongzhou smiled, thinking, "Fourth Brother, just let go!" A rebellious streak arose within him. Hongzhou, who hadn't initially wanted it that much, was determined to get it. With a slight effort, he snatched the seal and pouch together. "Thank you, Fourth Brother! I will definitely use it well! Use it frequently! Use it often!"
Hongli nodded tearfully, his heart pounding with emotion. He truly was a good brother; to comfort Hongzhou, he had even given away his favorite seal. No, he had to go back and show off to his elder brother. He wanted his brother to let him carve ten more, this time in mutton-fat jade, golden silk jade, agate, jadeite, and Hetian jade…
"I'm glad you like it."
Seeing Hongli's forced smile, Hongzhou felt comforted and couldn't help but smile back, patting Hongli's shoulder.
"Thank you so much, Fourth Brother. You're the best."
In this scene, the two brothers each had their own happiness, but to those who didn't know the truth, it looked as if Hongzhou had bullied Hongli and stolen his things.
However, people in the palace normally don't meddle in other people's business, especially matters between two princes. But there are always some people who can't see the situation clearly and love to stand up for the weak.
"Fifth Prince, how can you steal the Fourth Prince's things?"
A woman's voice suddenly appeared, startling the two brothers. They turned around in unison and saw a mistress and servant standing by the flower bushes. Judging from their attire, they were probably concubines from the imperial harem.
The two looked at each other, confirming they didn't recognize each other. Hongzhou frowned and asked, "Who are you?"
"This concubine is Consort Zhong Cuigong Wan."
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