This was the first time Yinreng had ever seen Prince Zhi so passive.
In the past, Prince Zhi would argue with him all the time, even comparing who was taller or stronger.
Wherever there was a battlefield in the Qing Dynasty, he went there. Over the years, he accumulated a lot of military merits and became quite popular in the army.
It's truly terrifying that someone who loves to claim credit and fight for power would also have the idea of lying down, eating and waiting to die.
“Brother, haven’t you thought about Hongyu? A prince with real power and a prince who relies on the court for food are not the same in status.” Yinreng wanted Prince Zhi to do more work for him, so he couldn’t let him have any rest.
Prince Zhi thought of his precious son who had just learned to walk: "I only have one son, and I don't need his title."
“Brother, you are in your prime. Hongyu is your eldest son, and you will have many more children.” Yinreng knew what Prince Zhi valued.
Seeing Prince Zhi frown, Yinreng continued, "The news of the Jianhai Water Defense Camp has been circulating for a month. Just watch, before, it was Yinsi who couldn't go to Changchun Garden. Once the news of your refusal spreads, I guarantee he'll go to Father Emperor to recommend himself."
“With his frail body, how can he possibly train troops? He’ll be blown away by the sea winds for a few days and then he’ll be crying when he comes back. If he goes, he’ll only bring shame to Father Emperor,” Prince Zhi said anxiously.
“My elder brother is a military general, skilled in training troops, so naturally he has to lead from the front, and he’s even better at training than the soldiers. But Yinzhi is a civil official, so he can go over there to give instructions and use his princely title to put pressure on people just as well. Besides, Father has sent many capable officials over there, so he can just pick up the credit.” Yinreng said.
"He's dreaming!" Prince Zhi was provoked by Yinreng and flew into a rage.
Yinreng found it strange: "Elder brother used to take good care of Yinsi, so why are you now so distant from him?"
Prince Zhi sneered: "Do I need a reason to look down on him? When we were little, you called me 'Big Brother' every day, and you were as sweet and affectionate as your Hongsheng. You're still like that now."
"A word to the wise is enough." Yinreng never expected that his teasing of Prince Zhi would backfire and burn him.
His face was a mixture of pale and ashen: "Anyway, I was just saying it. As for the truth, brother, just wait and see. Take care, and don't bother seeing me off."
It was rare for Prince Zhi to be able to out-argue Yinreng, so he grinned and showed off his big white teeth.
“Little brother Crown Prince, be good. Your elder brother doesn’t need you to escort me.” Prince Zhi said, as if coaxing a child.
Indeed, he had once tried to coax Yinreng in the same way.
It's so cheesy for two grown men to say such things.
Yinreng couldn't stand it and left in a hurry. Prince Zhi stayed behind, watching his retreating figure, and smiled smugly.
"Even the Crown Prince has met his end! I'll go back and tell my wife, so she won't keep calling me a fool," Prince Zhi muttered to himself.
As Yinreng had said, Yinsi, upon receiving the news, immediately went to Emperor Kangxi and volunteered to go to Tianjin to contribute to his father's new initiatives.
Looking at his anxious and preoccupied manner, Emperor Kangxi didn't know whether to be happy or to reprimand him.
If Yinzhi were merely a subject, Kangxi would have appreciated his ambition and skill. However, as his son, and with the crown prince's position secure, Yinzhi's continued ambition made the biased Kangxi instinctively feel some aversion towards him.
But he was still his son, and even when he was just a little boy, he trusted and relied on him.
Emperor Kangxi always tried his best to be a good father, so he did not severely reprimand Yinzhi for the ambition hidden beneath his gentle exterior.
"You are too scholarly and not suited to training troops. The Tianjin Naval Camp is sufficient to protect the Qing Dynasty," Kangxi said, rejecting Yinzhi's request.
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