Chapter 281: I get annoyed when I see children (two chapters in one)
It’s a nice day today, a rare sunny day.
The Fourth Prince finally walked out of the house and basked in the sunshine. He breathed a sigh of relief. If he wasn't worried about the plague, who would stay in the house?
But his good mood was soon ruined by the foul stench that hit him. He felt so nauseous that he vomited. The two eunuchs serving him also covered their noses in disgust: "Oh, what is this smell?"
Another eunuch ran to fetch help. A moment later, the smell still hadn't faded. The eunuch returned, trembling with fear, "Your Highness, we've just fished out a few floating corpses. Don't worry, they've already been taken away for cremation."
The eunuchs hurriedly brought out a large incense burner, and the curling smoke finally covered up the unpleasant stench.
However, the Fourth Prince was no longer in the mood to bask in the sun. He returned to his room, took a shower, changed his clothes, and asked the eunuchs to close the doors and windows. He didn't want to stay in this damn place for another day.
"Your Highness, is it time for dinner?" The eunuchs brought in food boxes.
The Fourth Prince lazily leaned on the Arhat bed, without any appetite at all: "Take it off, the smell makes me sick."
"Your Highness, please use it more or less. Your health is more important." The eunuch advised earnestly.
"Go get some hawthorn and plums." The Fourth Prince covered his mouth and felt like vomiting the moment he opened his mouth.
Half an hour later, after eating a few pieces of hawthorn cake and a dozen plums, the Fourth Prince finally felt better.
"This hawthorn cake tastes good. Make some more tomorrow." said the Fourth Prince.
The eunuch hurriedly said, "This is a gift from Magistrate Qian to you. I'll ask him to bring some more tomorrow."
The Fourth Prince had an indifferent expression. He had almost forgotten about Prefect Qian.
He felt a little sleepy, so he asked the eunuch to help him wash up. He went back to bed early and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Outside the door, Prefect Qian cautiously asked a eunuch, "Eunuch, is Your Highness ready to eat the hawthorn cake I respectfully presented?"
The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Highness spent three pieces. Master Qian is very thoughtful."
"Of course, of course!" Qian Zhizhou wiped the sweat from his forehead. In order to let the Fourth Prince eat the hawthorn cake, he gave the eunuch a thick red envelope.
Alas, he had to go back and pray. He hoped that Master Xiao had not lied to him and that this hawthorn cake would not be fatal, otherwise his life would be over.
However, Qian Zhizhou still did not go back to pay his respects, because he stayed in the study all night. He did not receive any news of the Fourth Prince's death from poisoning until almost dawn, so he fell asleep.
Those hawthorn cakes did not take the Fourth Prince's life, but they gave him nightmares.
In his dream he went back to two years ago.
His father asked him to invite Xiao Zhen to go hunting in Shiji Mountain. He knew that he would be injured and become disabled this time, so he didn't want to go.
But he could not refuse his father. He first pretended to be sick, and then created an accident. But no matter what he did, he returned to Shiji Mountain again and again, was attacked by leopards again and again, and was in danger again and again. He could not break free, could not get rid of it. Shiji Mountain was his destiny, this was his fate.
Finally, he became disabled. He dragged his broken body to see his father, but saw his father with the third prince. The picture of deep love between father and son hurt him deeply.
He didn't understand why, even though he had done so much for his father, his father still loved the third brother the most.
He clenched his fists and swore secretly that he would inflict a thousand times more suffering on the third brother than he had endured.
In his dream, he tried to poison and assassinate the third brother again and again, but all failed.
An imperial edict was delivered to the Fourth Prince's residence, along with a cup of poisoned wine.
He died, and the person who killed him was not the third brother, but his father.
As the poisonous wine entered his throat, his internal organs seemed to be burning. The burning pain was too real. The Fourth Prince screamed and woke up from his dream.
He sat on the bed, sweating all over and breathing heavily. Fortunately, it was just a dream.
Fortunately, he did not continue to deal with the third brother, but chose to surrender to the Queen.
The fourth prince was glad for his choice. If he had treated the third prince like the fifth prince, his father would have given him a glass of poisoned wine, just like in his dream.
He thought of the second prince. His second brother died suddenly, but now he thinks that his second brother was most likely killed by his father.
Although the court blocked the news, he still found out that the old couple who beat the drum to complain in front of the Dali Temple was arranged by the second son. The second son wanted to deal with the third son, so his father killed the second son.
A surge of resentment welled up in the heart of the Fourth Prince. Why? They were all sons of the Emperor, and all born out of wedlock. Why was the Third Prince the treasure, and the others were just weeds?
Is it because the third child's biological mother is Concubine Qiao? Or is it because the third child's father-in-law is Feng Ke?
Father is too partial!
The fourth prince fell asleep again with heavy resentment. This time, the person sitting on the dragon throne was replaced by the third prince, and the third prince became the emperor!
How could he tolerate this?
He wants to rebel!
But the You family betrayed him at this time. In order to send their daughter to the palace, the You family turned to the third brother. Before he had the chance to rebel, the Jinyiwei surrounded his mansion and he was executed by slow slicing!
He became the first and only prince to be executed by lingchi since the founding of the Yong Dynasty!
Because of this, he was recorded in history books and is still a laughing stock among people thousands of years later.
The fourth prince woke up again and burst into tears, asking why his life was so miserable.
His father didn't like him, his biological mother couldn't help him, and his in-laws betrayed him. He had nothing.
After crying for a while, the Fourth Prince suddenly thought of Liu Wang. Who said he had nothing? At least he still had money.
It’s too little, five hundred thousand is too little. The Fourth Prince, who had experienced life and death in his dream, was no longer satisfied with five hundred thousand.
As long as he has enough money, he can recruit enough talented people. Since family ties are unreliable, he uses money to buy them. Even if he spends a lot of money on bones, he can always buy people who can truly help him achieve great things.
He wanted to rebel, he had to rebel, otherwise his fate would be either a cup of poisoned wine from his father or death by slow slicing at the hands of his third brother.
He had no choice.
On this ordinary night, the Fourth Prince had a dream that made him realize the truth. From that moment on, he wanted revenge, he wanted to rise up, and he wanted to fight back!
The next day, the Fourth Prince remembered the hawthorn cakes from yesterday, and he asked the eunuch to call Prefect Qian over.
The Fourth Prince was quite interested in this famous cuckolded prefect, but now, his interest was not on Prefect Qian.
"Master Qian, I heard that Madam Qian escaped early this morning. Is this true?"
Qian Zhizhou's face changed drastically. He had no idea that the bitch had escaped.
But he also learned from an official from the Ministry of Works that the bitch wanted to live in the official inn where the Fourth Prince was staying, and after being rejected, she made a big fuss, which completely embarrassed him.
If he doesn't take the opportunity to draw a clear line between himself and that bitch now, with so many people talking, this matter will sooner or later reach the ears of those imperial censors, who will then report him, and all his merits in protecting Tongzhou today will be in vain.
"Your Highness, I have long since severed all ties with that bitch. All that's missing is a divorce. I live in the government office, and she lives alone outside. I haven't seen her for a long time.
Ever since I heard the rumor about the flood, I have been busy arranging for the people to relocate and have not dared to slack off for a single day. I have no idea when that bitch left Tongzhou.
This matter is known to everyone in the government, Your Highness, please understand it."
The Fourth Prince nodded. "Lord Qian and his wife have a bad relationship, and this prince knows a thing or two about it. However, as long as Lord Qian and his wife remain together, they will remain husband and wife. Whatever his wife does will still be blamed on Lord Qian."
Qian Zhizhou was startled and knelt down hurriedly: "I am wronged. Your Highness, please help me."
The Fourth Prince gave a look, and the eunuchs hurried forward to help Qian Zhizhou up. The Fourth Prince said, "Alas, this prince is busy with his own affairs right now. Sir Qian wants me to help you, but you've found the wrong person."
Qian Zhizhou understood and said hurriedly, "Your Highness, please tell me what you want me to do. I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
The Fourth Prince's eyes were slightly red, and he was deeply moved. "With Lord Qian's words, this prince is relieved. Lord Qian, don't worry, I will take care of things for you in the capital and will never let such a meritorious official suffer injustice."
Qian Zhizhou was filled with gratitude. He lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times to the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince accepted it with a smile and said, "Master Qian, please step forward. This prince has something to say..."
On the mountain.
A guard ran up the mountain in surprise. Before he arrived, Zhao Shiqing heard a shout: "The flood has receded, the flood has receded!"
Zhao Shiqing went out to greet him: "What's going on?"
The guard raised the rope high in his hand and pointed to a knot on it: "The water level was at this position yesterday."
He pointed to another knot and said, "At this position today, it has retreated three inches. Three inches!"
Everyone was excited, the flood finally began to recede!
Zhao Xingzhou rushed over after hearing the news. He was holding a child in his arms and carrying another on his back. He said to Zhao Shiqing in surprise, "The flood has receded. When will we set off for Gaoping?"
Zhao Shiqing shook her head. "It's just that the water level today is lower than yesterday. Even if the floodwaters recede, the road won't be repaired in a day or two. You should just focus on taking care of the children."
An old man came over and patted Zhao Xingzhou on the shoulder. "Old Zhao, you're already old, but why don't you appreciate what you have? You have food and shelter in the mountains, so why are you still thinking of running away? And the second young lady takes good care of you and assigns you the easiest tasks, so why are you still not satisfied?"
"Old Zhao" Zhao Xingzhou was in tears. Everyone said that taking care of children was the easiest job, but why didn't he realize it?
Who can tell him where the relief is?
His old bones are about to be broken by these little bastards.
"Old Zhao, you're being lazy again! Little Zhuzi hasn't even finished feeding him his porridge, and you're running out! The porridge is already cold!"
Aunt Sun's voice rang out from behind Zhao Xingzhou, and he shuddered with fear: "Stop shouting, I'll go right away."
Aunt Sun continued to yell, "Don't eat secretly! You ate half a bowl of Chen Pingping's porridge this morning!"
Zhao Xingzhou tucked his tail between his legs and walked faster. The child on his back was unhappy and cried and pulled his hair with his little hands.
Behind him, several aunts and grandmothers could be heard scolding: "This old Zhao is so unkind, he even steals the children's porridge. I don't know where he comes from, but he lets the second young lady arrange such a good job for him as soon as he arrives."
"That's right. If you let me take care of the children, I will make sure they are fat and healthy."
"Hey, when will this damn old man go away? Once he goes away, we can take care of the kids."
Zhao Xingzhou gnashed his teeth. "If you don't leave, I won't leave. I will occupy this position and will never give it up even if I die. If I can't protect the throne, can't I protect my children's job? What a joke!"
Suddenly, a warm current came from behind. Zhao Xingzhou paused, and the little hand that was pulling his hair finally let go. He had finished peeing!
In the evening, Zhao Xingzhou didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the last child was picked up. He found a flat stone to sit on. The stone had been exposed to the sun all day and was warm and comfortable.
Today's dinner was porridge cooked with dried pumpkin, served with a piece of old pickled vegetable. Zhao Xingzhou took a sip of the porridge and it tasted sweet and delicious.
At this time, a little girl ran over and said, "Grandpa Zhao, this is for you."
Zhao Xingzhou recognized that this was Chen Pingping.
Chen Pingping stretched out her little hand and put something into Zhao Xingzhou's hand. Zhao Xingzhou looked down and found that it was an egg.
"Grandpa Zhao, I'll give you some eggs. Please stop stealing Pingping's porridge."
Zhao Xingzhou's old face turned slightly red. He saw a layer of rice oil on the rice porridge and couldn't help but drink a sip. Then the shrew Sun Daniang saw it and shouted it out to everyone. Did he still want to save his old face?
"Grandpa doesn't want to eat it, so I'll give it to you, dear!"
Zhao Xingzhou peeled the egg and fed it to the little girl, but the little girl put the egg to his mouth and said, "Grandpa eats first, Pingping will eat later."
Zhao Xingzhou was stunned. He knew that Kong Rong gave up his pears, but this was the first time someone gave him food even at such an old age.
He was born a prince, then an emperor, and later the emperor emeritus. No one gave way to him, and he never gave way to anyone else.
The little girl brought the egg to his mouth and he subconsciously took a small bite. He was still savoring the taste of the egg until the little girl ran away eating the egg.
It turns out that boiled eggs are so delicious. I didn’t know it before.
"This is for you. Next time, don't steal the food from the kids."
An egg appeared in front of him. Zhao Xingzhou raised his eyes and saw Zhao Shiqing.
Zhao Shiqing pushed the egg in her hand towards him and said, "Do you still want me to peel it for you? The eggs I peeled are bumpy, I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind." Zhao Xingzhou said.
Zhao Shiqing started peeling it, but she really didn't do it well. Zhao Xingzhou smiled and said, "It's okay. Girls should be pampered."
He thought of Wan Ruyi, the daughter he had never met but had never been pampered.
Zhao Shiqing, however, didn't seem to think too much about it. "You are quite knowledgeable about raising children. Many of your concubines live in Zizhu Monastery. Why don't you pick out a few young ones and let them give birth to a few more little princes for you?"
Off-screen, you don't have any sons, right? How about having a few more?
Do you want to assist your unborn younger son or your older grandson who is living away from home?
Having children in old age has been a tradition since ancient times, and there were many emperors who had children when they were sixty.
But Zhao Xingzhou was startled and quickly waved his hands: "Why give birth? I still want to live a few more years. Don't mention children to me. I get annoyed by the sight of children now!"
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