Chapter 92 The sensible tenth brother's downfall...
His eyes widened suddenly as he looked out the window at the Ninth Prince laughing wildly and Yin'e making sarcastic remarks. The Third Prince seemed to have suddenly suffered an epileptic seizure; his finger pointing at them twitched violently, and his lips trembled with anger, but he couldn't utter a single word.
After a while, the Third Prince finally calmed down a bit. His face darkened, and he angrily shouted in a shrill voice, "Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, you've gone too far!"
The Third Prince's face flushed red. In the Imperial Study, he dared not use overly harsh words to insult or question Yin'e and the Ninth Prince.
But with his back to the tutor in the Imperial Study, who was instructing the princes, the Third Prince stared wide-eyed at Yin'e and the Ninth Prince with a murderous gaze, so intense it seemed he could scald them.
"Disrespecting your elder brother and playing around in the Imperial Study, you're simply being ridiculous!" The Third Prince, suppressing his temper, listed out the faults of Yin'e and the Ninth Prince one by one, before finally adopting the demeanor of an elder brother and reprimanding them, "Ninth and Tenth Brothers, you're not children anymore, yet you're still so immature!"
“I think you’ve completely forgotten the ‘Standards for Being a Good Student and Child’ from your elementary education. Go back and copy it a hundred times to remember it. ‘Brothers should be friendly, and younger brothers should be respectful; when brothers are in harmony, filial piety is present.’ You don’t even understand such a simple principle. I think you are not only disrespectful to your elder brothers, but also unfilial and unbrotherly…”
Before the Third Prince could finish his increasingly exaggerated lecture, the Seventh Prince, who was some distance away from him on the other side of the school, stood up and interrupted, saying, "Third Brother, please be careful with your words."
Cutting off the Third Prince's words, the Seventh Prince first apologized to the Inner Attendant in charge of instructing him and the Eighth Prince, and then strode over with slightly unsteady steps: "Third Brother, Ninth and Tenth Brothers were just joking with you."
“Even if you are angry, you can punish them by making them copy books, but you cannot slander them.” The Seventh Prince stared intently at the Third Prince, his face serious and his expression earnest, emphasizing almost every word, “If the Ninth and Tenth Brothers have done anything wrong, I will apologize on their behalf.”
Disrespecting his elder brother was one thing—before the eldest prince graduated from the Imperial Study, the third prince had often argued with him in sarcastic and sarcastic ways. But the accusation of being unfilial and disrespectful to his brothers could not be so easily leveled by the third prince against Yin'e and the ninth prince.
The Seventh Prince had a cold expression, with little emotion on his face.
He glanced at Yin'e and the Ninth Prince with a hint of disapproval in his eyes. Although it wasn't a stern glare, it made them simultaneously suppress their playful expressions and awkwardly greet him through the window: "Seventh Brother."
The Seventh Prince has always been aloof and has been working alone in the Imperial Study for several years, rarely interacting with his classmates and brothers.
The Eighth Prince was close to him in age, entered the Imperial Study in the same year, and was taught by the same tutor as him. The Seventh Prince had a distant relationship with him.
The Seventh Prince had no relationship with the Third Prince, but he spoke up for Yin'e and the Ninth Prince and even showed a willingness to apologize. The Third Prince couldn't continue to pursue the matter, as it would make him seem too petty and narrow-minded.
The Imperial Study was located near the Rijing Gate, just a few steps away from the Qianqing Palace.
This place is too close to the palace where Kangxi handled his daily affairs. Any movement would be reported immediately. If the Third Prince wanted to maintain his image in Kangxi's eyes, he could not act too aggressively. He had to suppress any dissatisfaction or anger in his heart.
But the Third Prince was really startled just now. His heart was still pounding, his face was burning, and he couldn't calm down completely for a while.
The Third Prince was very unwilling to let the matter pass so easily. He gritted his teeth and said, "Are we just going to let it go like this? I don't think the Ninth or Tenth Brothers are joking with me."
The Third Prince was absolutely certain that his two unruly younger brothers were doing it on purpose, deliberately trying to frighten him when he loudly recited the text.
When Yin'e saw the Third Prince's expression—a mixture of reluctance and hesitation, as if he didn't want to make a big fuss—he knew exactly what the Third Prince was thinking.
This is the biggest difference between him and the other princes, such as the Third Prince, who wanted to leave a good impression on Emperor Kangxi.
Yin'e didn't care what Kangxi thought of him. Even if Kangxi deemed him unruly, insolent, and beyond redemption, Yin'e wouldn't care. Since he had no chance to improve himself anyway, he might as well just give up completely.
—If you're going to seek thrills, then go all the way. Unlike the princes who were ambitious in their official careers, Yin'e was truly invincible because he had no desires.
Yin'e would not let the Seventh Prince apologize to the Third Prince on his and the Ninth Prince's behalf. He would only say a few words to appease him, which would not hurt Yin'e at all. He was not a person who cared about face.
How much is face worth? Between face and substance, Yin'e would definitely choose substance!
Through the window, Yin'e, his smile fading, readily apologized to the Third Prince: "I'm sorry, Third Brother. Ninth Brother and I just wanted to say hello to you and make a joke. We didn't expect you to be so frightened and react so strongly."
Before the Third Prince could respond, whether he would choose to forgive or continue to pursue the matter, Yin'e continued in a strange tone, "Third Brother, I sincerely apologize to you. You will forgive me and Ninth Brother, right?"
"You!" The Third Prince's expression hadn't even had time to soften because of Yin'e's apology before it darkened again, filled with anger once more.
Yin'e continued, "Third Brother, you're right. Ninth Brother and I were indeed ignorant. So please be more sensible, Third Brother, and set a good example for your younger brothers. This time, please forgive us for our foolishness!"
Meeting the Third Prince's frustrated and angry expression, which also revealed a hint of disbelief, Yin'e raised his fair and cute little face and grinned at him, his face full of roguish languor: As long as I have no morals, no one can use morality to bind me!
The Ninth Prince, as expected of the little devil who joined forces with Yin'e to wreak havoc in the palace and acted recklessly, immediately understood Yin'e's meaning and echoed in perfect unison, "That's right, Third Brother, don't take it to heart."
Laughing, the Ninth Prince leaned on the windowsill, not ashamed but proud, and said, "Third Brother, I'm very mischievous. It's not like you just found out today, so don't hold it against your younger brother!"
Seeing the Third Prince's angry but speechless expression, Yin'e felt that he had found a way to deal with the Third Prince.
If one of them is destined to be a difficult and unpleasant brother, then let him be that troublesome brother!
Let him sacrifice his reputation to highlight the magnanimity, tolerance, and greatness of his brothers—no need to thank him too much, it's all he should do, he did it voluntarily and willingly.
Third Prince: ...
The Third Prince was trembling with anger. Just as he was about to unleash his fury, a stern-looking master stood up and walked over. The Third Prince immediately calmed down, suppressed his anger, and dared not utter a word.
The visitor glanced through the window at Yin'e and the Ninth Prince, who were leaning on the windowsill, recognized them as imperial princes, and bowed to them with clasped hands.
Yin'e and the Ninth Prince were no longer as presumptuous in front of their tutors in the Imperial Study, and quickly straightened up and returned the greeting.
After the formalities of meeting the princes were completed, the tutor, with a stern face and an unapproachable demeanor, swept his sharp eyes over Yin'e and the Ninth Prince and said sternly and mercilessly, "This is not a place for you to play recklessly. Leave immediately and do not disturb the other princes' studies!"
The Seventh Prince, being closer, first introduced the stern inner attendant, Gu Badai, to Yin'e and the Ninth Prince. Then, he introduced Yin'e and the Ninth Prince to Gu Badai and gave them a reason for coming to the Imperial Study: "These are the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince. They will soon be studying in the Imperial Study, so they came to observe in advance."
Upon hearing the Seventh Prince introduce this inner attendant as Gu Badai, Yin'e felt a chill run down his spine.
Thanks to the Fifth Prince's extensive publicity, Gu Badai became very famous among Yin'e and the Ninth Prince.
Gu Badai was a Manchu, a man of both literary and martial talents, and a learned and knowledgeable man. In the fourteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when the emperor held an imperial examination for bannermen, Gu Badai ranked first and was promoted to Hanlin Academy Reader. Shortly afterward, Gu Badai was appointed as an instructor in the Imperial Study, responsible for teaching the princes.
Gu Badai was closest to the Fourth Prince in the Imperial Study. From this, we can roughly know what kind of person Gu Badai was—he was upright, honest and incorruptible, and as strict with himself as the Fourth Prince, he was also strict with others.
After being appointed to the Imperial Study, Gu Badai, who was in charge of teaching the princes, was very strict even with princes of noble status.
He was extremely ruthless when the princes made mistakes or were negligent, punishing them without exception and showing no leniency, even if the princes were of high status.
It was precisely because Gu Badai was so upright that the Fifth Prince, who was lazing around in the Imperial Study, was so afraid of him.
After more than a year of the Fifth Prince's continued slacking off, with the Empress Dowager as his backer, the other officials in the Imperial Study had turned a blind eye to his slacking off and usually ignored it.
Only Gu Badai had not given up on disciplining the Fifth Prince. Every time the Fifth Prince slacked off in the Imperial Study, he would be questioned and lectured by Gu Badai, and would be punished by Gu Badai to copy books and recite them.
"Yes, yes, Seventh Brother is right, that's exactly it." Yin'e and Ninth Prince nodded repeatedly, climbing down the ladder that Seventh Prince had built for them. They dared not tell the truth and let Gu Badai know that they had actually come to find Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince to play.
The Fifth Prince, who was far from the Third Prince and was being taught by two inner attendants, was overjoyed to see Yin'e and the Ninth Prince coming to the Imperial Study. He couldn't contain himself any longer and, ignoring the helpless looks from his teachers, stood up and waved to Yin'e and the Ninth Prince repeatedly, saying, "Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, I'm here."
Shaking off the two tutors who were teaching him to read, the Fifth Prince walked to the window next to the Third Prince, glanced cautiously at Gu Badai, and then patted his chest and volunteered, saying, "It's the first time the Ninth and Tenth Princes have come to the Imperial Study. They're not familiar with the place. Let me show them around and familiarize them with the layout of the Imperial Study."
Gu Badai's lips twitched slightly, and he glanced at the Fifth Prince with a displeased expression.
The Imperial Study only has five rooms, which can be seen clearly at a glance. There is nothing to see, so the Fifth Prince has to personally guide them.
The Fifth Prince was simply trying to take the opportunity to be lazy and avoid studying. Gu Badai was determined not to let the Fifth Prince have his way, so he directly refused, saying, "No need. I will personally take the two princes on a tour of the Imperial Study."
With his gaze fixed on Yin'e and the Ninth Prince, Gu Badai smiled slightly and gave them a "friendly" smile: "Since the two princes are about to enter the Imperial Study, this old minister will take this opportunity to assess their abilities so that I can tailor a course for them after they enroll."
Yin'e: ...It's a disaster!
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 16:12:13 and 23:32:33 on March 30, 2023!
Thank you to the little angels who watered with nutrient solution: Qi (40 bottles); Mandihuanghua (5 bottles); Tongtong (3 bottles); 25964724 (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
