Chapter 118 Brothers' War
"Ahem... Su Peisheng, why aren't you serving tea to these gentlemen? Their mouths are getting dry from talking."
Even the most composed Emperor Yinzhen couldn't withstand being attacked by the same words from more than a dozen people at once, so he quickly changed the subject.
Everyone pursed their lips; indeed, they hadn't had a sip of water since the court session began, and tacitly chose to temporarily cease hostilities. The group sat down on either side and drank the specially prepared tea.
Because Emperor Kangxi loved Biluochun tea, the princes had always drunk Biluochun in the palace. This time, as was customary, most of the tea served was Biluochun.
Yunqi took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and happened to see the teacup that Yunsi had opened on his right.
"Hey, Eighth Brother, you're not drinking Biluochun tea?" The atmosphere in the hall was too relaxed, and Yunqi couldn't help but blurt it out, instantly attracting the attention of the other brothers.
"Let me see." Yunzhi, who was sitting opposite, and Yunzhi, who was sitting next to him, exchanged a glance and confirmed that they were both drinking Biluochun tea. Yunzhi then took a few steps and walked to Yunzhi.
"Well, Your Majesty is treating people differently even when it comes to tea."
After glancing at the Rizhu Xueya tea in Yunsi's teacup, Yunti gave Yinzhen a half-smile.
Upon hearing Yun Ti's words, Yun Si's right-hand man craned his neck to take a look, "Isn't this the Rizhu Xueya that Eighth Brother likes?"
Upon hearing this, Yinzhi smiled subtly, yet with a hint of pride, "Well, it's mainly because His Majesty is so thoughtful."
"Your Majesty is thoughtful; you can see Eighth Brother's true colors." Yinreng, sitting at the head of the table, leaned back, a teasing smile playing on his lips. He was utterly envious; it was just that his old rival, Eighth Brother, was smiling in his way.
"What? It's not like only myna birds get this treatment, and I'm not drinking Biluochun tea." Feeling his position was about to be shaken, Yunzhen immediately jumped out, exaggeratedly took another sip of his tea, and exclaimed loudly, "This Da Hong Pao is really good! My imperial brother really understands me—"
"Hahaha," the elder brothers were amused by Yunzhen's behavior and turned their heads to silently condemn Yinzhen.
Looking at the gazes of his many brothers, Yinzhen smiled demurely, "It's mainly because I have a good memory."
Unable to bear Yinzhen's self-praise, Yunzhi, as the eldest brother, spoke first: "Alright, then Your Majesty must remember what I like to drink next time. Don't serve Biluochun next time, serve Jingting Luxue instead."
"And me too, it's not too much to ask the Emperor for a cup of Sparrow Tongue Mengding, is it?" Yunzhi chimed in.
Seeing that Yinzhen smiled and acquiesced, the others were also eager to try and joined the tea-making team. They not only made tea, but also started reciting the names of the dishes.
The relationship between the brothers became more harmonious than ever before, and the estrangement and alienation caused by the struggle for the throne gradually disappeared.
At this moment, Yun Tang gripped the teacup tightly, becoming the most silent among his brothers. Holding the perfectly heated Imperial Longjing tea, he felt it was scalding hot, so hot that his ears turned red.
Damn it! How did the fourth prince know he liked Imperial Longjing tea? Was he trying to win him over? What a sweet-talking tactic! He, Yun Tang, wouldn't back down... At worst, he'd spare him a few insults out of respect for the emperor... He wasn't being bribed; he was just a polite person...
"What are you thinking about, Ninth Brother?" Yun suddenly reached out and patted Yun Tang's shoulder, startling him so much that he almost knocked over the teacup in his hand.
After a flurry of activity, he finally managed to hold the teacup steady, pressing the lid down tightly, afraid that Lao Shi would see the different tea leaves in his cup, a strange sense of guilt creeping in.
"Ninth Brother, what's wrong?" Seeing his appearance, Yun approached and comforted him softly, "Fourth Brother has already ascended the throne, so don't be so disrespectful."
"How am I being disrespectful?" Yun Tang rolled her eyes at him, annoyed. Seeing the distrust in Yun's eyes, she whispered angrily, "I was just startled by you. You know how scary it is to scare someone?"
"Hehe, sorry." Seeing Yun Tang's expression, Yun realized she had misunderstood and smiled apologetically.
"I forgive you. Go order your food."
Watching Yunle happily join the group of brothers "demanding benefits," Yuntang breathed a sigh of relief, carefully lifted the tea lid, and took a sip.
As expected of a tribute Longjing tea, the taste is really good. Yun Tang couldn't help but sigh, but he suddenly stopped halfway through his sigh.
That's not right. It was the fourth brother who was trying to please him, so why would he feel guilty?
...
Amidst a flurry of laughter and commotion in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, no one could have imagined that after the new emperor ascended the throne, the princes gathered together not to discuss important state affairs, but rather to decide which imperial dish was the most delicious.
After the menu was announced, everyone was hungry. Under the pretext of sharing the Emperor's burdens, they insisted on staying in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, waiting for the lunch.
Yinzhen felt it was a good deal to exchange such a large amount of labor for a single lunch. He smiled and brought over a stack of memorials, asking his brothers to help review them.
"No...where did all these memorials come from?" Yunreng stared wide-eyed at the pile of memorials that was almost as tall as a person.
This shouldn't be the case. Given Yinzhen's diligence, there shouldn't be so many memorials. The new emperor has just ascended the throne; where would he get so much work? Could it be that the old ministers in the court are trying to test Yinzhen's limits?
Yinreng's serious, thoughtful expression didn't last long before Yinzhen said lightly, "Oh, most of them are congratulatory memorials for my ascension to the throne, all fancy and frivolous, I can't be bothered to read them."
Yinzhen spoke with righteous indignation, completely unconcerned about the surprised looks on his brothers' faces.
"Your Majesty, you..." Yinzhi was speechless. Yinzhen had changed too quickly. He used to be so diligent and studious. How could he have become like this after ascending the throne? Is the power of the throne so strong?
The diligent Emperor Yinzhen of the past is a thing of the past - with so much labor available, why should he work so hard?
Yinzhen leaned back lazily without saying a word. But the meaning conveyed in his eyes was very clear, and everyone understood.
Regardless of what his other brothers thought, Yunreng felt a wave of dizziness. "Fine, fine, so you're in cahoots with the Eighth Prince, even your diligence is an act?" He suddenly felt a pang of regret for recommending the Fourth Prince. Could there be other aspects he was faking as well?
Congratulations, Yinreng, you guessed right. Yinzhen is a complete "original," entirely and utterly an act. It's a pity he can't know this.
Yinzhen smiled and said, "We're all brothers, and you wouldn't bear to see me so exhausted, would you? We promised to share the Emperor's burdens. Well then, I'll now entrust the important task of reviewing these documents to you."
"Well, it seems Your Majesty is conscripting men!" Yunxiang couldn't help but tease, but he obediently moved a small stack of memorials to his side. He was certainly willing to share his brother's burdens, but by stepping forward first, he could select fewer memorials—it wouldn't be a loss.
"I have prepared a fine lunch for you. Come, it's almost lunchtime, hurry up and review the memorials."
Yinzhen didn't give anyone a chance to refuse. He instructed the eunuchs serving him to quickly distribute a stack of documents to each person, ensuring everyone received a thick stack of memorials.
The new emperor is too shameless; at this point, everyone can only accept it helplessly. They wanted to blame Yunxiang, the "traitor" who was the first to step forward. But after looking at the memorials on Yunxiang's desk and then at their own, they immediately understood.
Well, Yunxiang knows how to "accept". As expected of the younger brother raised by the new emperor, he is just as cunning!
Enraged, everyone wrote with much heavier strokes, venting their resentment on their greetings, regardless of how bewildered and fearful the officials were when they received the memorials with replies such as "full of nonsense," "long-winded," "flattering," "read," "read," and "√."
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yinzhen leisurely sipped Taiping Houkui tea, while the princes on either side sat at their desks, writing furiously, gradually becoming more and more agitated.
Just then, a report came from outside the door from a young eunuch.
"Your Majesty, Prince Guo requests an audience, saying he has questions about his studies that he would like to ask Your Majesty."
Yinreng immediately put down his brush, rubbed his wrist, and glanced at the faces of the Eighth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Princes as if watching a spectacle. He said in a sarcastic tone, "Oh - Little Seventeen is here - the Emperor's own disciple is here. Why don't you let him in? This is the Emperor's favorite younger brother, isn't he?"
Yinzhen, suddenly stabbed in the back by Yinreng: ...
The eighth, thirteenth, and fourteenth brothers, suddenly struck by Yunreng's words, stared!
Suddenly puffed up with anger: Stare stare stare!
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