The Fourth Prince felt a sudden surge of anger. He was incredibly grateful to Lanqin for helping him come up with such a solution to the matter of handling the gifts over the years; otherwise, he probably wouldn't even be hearing Kangxi's words now. Even with this declaration of innocence, Kangxi was still furious, showing how much he didn't want to see his son being fawned over, even if he himself had first promoted him.
The Fourth Prince couldn't help but wonder whether this ancestral worship ceremony was a deliberate attempt by Emperor Kangxi to praise him, or a case of first praising and then criticizing.
"Your subject dares not! Your subject has a list of those who sent gifts here. Please punish me, Father Emperor!" the Fourth Prince said, bowing his head.
"Punish them? Punish them for what! They're just using their own money to give you gifts, what crime is that?" Kangxi's voice finally rose. He didn't know why he was angry. Normally, it was quite common for officials to give his sons New Year's gifts. The deposed crown prince used to receive direct bribes of hundreds of thousands, even millions of taels of silver, which he could tolerate. Why was he so angry about the fourth prince?
The Fourth Prince felt an inexplicable helplessness. He could sense Kangxi's unprovoked anger, but what could he do to dispel Kangxi's feelings?
Just then, a young eunuch came in, whispered a few words in Liang Jiugong's ear, and then bowed and withdrew.
Seeing the awkwardness on the father and son's faces, Liang Jiugong quickly said, "Your Majesty, the Fourteenth Prince has returned!"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi's angry expression immediately vanished like ice melting into warm water.
"Fourth Prince, you did well this time. Now that those things have entered the national treasury, they belong to the national treasury. Just now, I was just afraid that what happened in the fortieth year of Kangxi's reign would repeat itself. You must remember that! Do you understand?" Kangxi said in a gentle tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will remember your teachings," the Fourth Prince replied hastily.
"Alright, you've done a good job with this. Take your leave now!" Kangxi waved his hand and said, "Leave those gift lists behind."
The Fourth Prince quickly handed the item in his hand to Liang Jiugong, then patted his horse-hoof sleeves, bowed to Emperor Kangxi, and withdrew.
Fourteen was standing at the door. He was dressed in military uniform. He had grown taller in the past two years and looked dashing and extraordinary.
"Fourteenth Brother, you're back!" Fourth Master greeted his younger brother, who was born of the same mother, the moment he saw him.
"Hmm. Greetings, Fourth Brother." Fourteenth Brother looked at Fourth Master calmly, his eyes no longer filled with the anxiety and arrogance of the past. It was a calmness born from the trials of life and death, which made Fourth Master deeply feel that Fourteenth Brother had truly grown up.
"The Fourteenth Prince's wife has given birth to a legitimate son. Congratulations," said the Fourth Prince.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother. I heard that Hongli often enjoys the Emperor's company. Fourth Brother has done a good job raising his son!" Fourteenth Brother said.
"Go in quickly, Father Emperor is waiting for you!" the Fourth Prince said.
Watching the Fourteenth Prince's retreating figure, the Fourth Prince felt a pang of unease. He had clearly seen how the Fourteenth Prince had reacted upon his return, and although his son had done a good job, he was still being scolded.
The Fourth Prince felt a chill in his fingertips. He wanted to see Hongli, so instead of leaving Changchun Garden, he walked towards the row of houses behind Hanjing Hall.
With the help of Liang Jiugong and the palace maids, Fourteenth Prince had already removed his armor, revealing a moon-white cotton robe underneath. He looked at Kangxi squinting as he examined him and asked, "Father, have I grown taller again?"
"Yes, you've been on the battlefield for the past six months, eating and drinking with the soldiers, exposed to the wind and sun. You've grown a lot taller and look much stronger and more reliable," Kangxi said, looking at his son whom he had always doted on since childhood.
"Hmm. Father, in the past six months, I seem to have suddenly realized that what I did before was really too improper," said the Fourteenth Prince.
"Good, my fourteenth son has indeed grown up." Kangxi smiled like a loving father.
Meanwhile, a father and son were also having a conversation, but the Fourth Prince was somewhat stumped by Hongli's adorable expression. What was wrong with this child's thinking? Why was he so unlike a child?
"Father, Mother, why haven't you come to see me for so long?" Hongli's accusing gaze made one feel so guilty that they wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Hongli, since Grandfather didn't ask Father to come and pick you up, Father can't come and pick you up." Fourth Prince really didn't know how to answer Hongli's question, so he could only say it so awkwardly.
"Grandpa Emperor didn't say Father would come to pick me up, so does that mean Father won't come?" Hongli clearly didn't accept this reason. Although his Grandpa Emperor was very good to him, he was still a child and missed his mother and father very much.
Fourth Prince was taken aback, feeling a little guilty. He said, "Yes, actually, Father and Mother miss Hongli very much. It's just that Father and Mother just went on a long trip and only returned a few days ago. That's why we haven't come to pick you up yet. After the New Year, Father will come to pick you up, okay?"
Hongli said, clearly displeased, "Why do we have to wait until the New Year? Can't we do it now? Father, Hongli misses Mother very much."
Looking at Hongli's longing eyes, the Fourth Prince felt a pang of heartache. He hugged the two-and-a-half-year-old Hongli and said, "Then let's go and discuss it with your grandfather, okay?"
Hongli seemed to understand, but not quite, the relationship between Kangxi and his father. In any case, his fate was still up to his grandfather.
“Then Hongli should go and talk to him himself. Grandfather loves Hongli and will definitely agree. If Father goes and talks to him, Grandfather may not agree,” Hongli added.
Fourth Master looked at his son in surprise; his intelligence and keenness were truly unmatched by ordinary children.
"No need, Father, you can go and tell him yourself. Hongli, what does Grandfather teach you on a daily basis?" Fourth Prince said, putting his arm around Hongli.
"They taught me so many things. They taught me to read, to read ancient books, and even to draw!" Hongli said.
"What books did Grandfather teach you to read?" Fourth Prince asked with a hint of curiosity.
"He taught me the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Classic, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and Zhu Xi's Family Instructions," Hongli said. "I like Sun Tzu's Art of War the most."
The Fourth Prince felt a slight unease. Hongli was only two and a half years old, and his father was already teaching him Sun Tzu's Art of War? Could this child possibly understand it?
"Then tell your father, can you understand Sun Tzu's Art of War?" Fourth Master asked.
“Some I can understand, some I can’t,” Hongli said.
"Then tell your father which military strategy you've understood?" Fourth Master said with a smile.
"I understand the two principles of feinting to the east while attacking the west and attacking the enemy's weakness." Hongli's little face was flushed as he looked at the Fourth Prince with a proud expression.
Fourth Master looked at Hongli. The little boy spoke clearly and eloquently, and he could make sense of everything he said. Was he really a literary star descended to earth?
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