Chapter 29 Qi Buchen, who had folded it himself, didn't respond, so Yinzhen was a little unhappy...
Qi Buchen didn't respond, and Yinzhen was a little unhappy. He wrinkled his nose, imitating Qi Buchen's previous action, and stuffed the plum blossom into Qi Buchen's hand: "This is for you."
The cold touch of the plum branches made Qi Buchen shudder slightly. Seeing that Yinzhen was getting more and more unhappy, he hurriedly asked, "Where did it come from?" There were very few places with plum blossoms in this palace. At least Qi Buchen had not seen any yet.
After being corrected, Yinzhen became cheerful again, and said with a raised corner of his mouth, "I broke it." Then he added, "With my own hands!"
Qi Buchen turned his gaze to Yinzhen's clothes, and for some reason had a bad idea. He asked cautiously: "Where did you break it?"
"Hmm..." This question made Yinzhen frown slightly, and then he said honestly, "I forgot!"
Qi Buchen couldn't help but roll his eyes. Why did he act like he had done something great?
But after Yinzhen delivered the gift and received a response, he was satisfied and turned back to ask Yinzhi: "Where is he? Did he run away?"
Well, they are indeed brothers, even their lines are similar.
Qi Buchen replied helplessly: "Third brother went to toast."
"Well... yes, it's time to toast." Yinzhen stood up straight again.
Qi Buchen also hurriedly stood up and warned: "Drink less."
Yinzhen waved his hands behind his back at her, indicating that he understood. Qi Buchen looked at his back and knew that he was going to get drunk today. He called Baozhu over and ordered, "Send someone back to tell them to prepare some sobering things."
After giving her instructions, she sat down. Then a voice came from below: "Fourth sister-in-law really cares about fourth brother."
Qi Buchen turned around and saw that it was Yinyou. There was a hint of envy in his eyes.
Qi Buchen didn't know much about the Seventh Prince, whether in history or in the present. In the few times they had met him since crossing over, the child had always been silent, making it easy for people to ignore him.
Qi Buchen was a little surprised when he suddenly spoke, but he didn't show it. Instead, he said embarrassedly: "This is a common thing. You will know it when your seventh brother gets married."
Yinyou did not look happy when he heard this, but said somewhat depressedly: "I hope so." Then he ignored him.
Qi Buchen was not angry. Yinyou was born with a disability, and even an ordinary person would have felt uneasy, not to mention that he was a prince. He was born with a unique status, but who knew that he didn't even have a healthy body. He didn't suffer from depression, but his mental quality was good.
Yinzhi and Yinzhen came back after toasting, looked at each other, snorted coldly and turned away, which made Qi Buchen, who was worried that they would start drinking again, feel relieved.
The maid served a bowl of soup, and Qi Buchen poured a bowl for Yinzhen: "The wine is cold, drink some to warm your stomach."
Yinzhen didn't take it, frowning and saying, "I feel uncomfortable and don't want to drink."
Qi Buchen knew that he was really drunk. His stomach was full of alcohol and he definitely couldn't eat anything. He couldn't help but feel a little resentful and distressed.
However, the family dinner had just begun, and Qi Buchen was afraid that he would vomit, so he leaned in and whispered, "Do you want to change clothes again?"
Yinzhen shook his head and refused: "I don't want to."
"Do you want to vomit?"
He shook his head again: "I don't want to."
It’s okay if you don’t think about it. Qi Buchen breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that he hasn’t drunk the most, so he should be able to hold on.
Unfortunately, she relaxed her temper too early, as several groups of people arrived to toast Yinzhen. They were all junior members of the imperial clan, their families distant from the current Kangxi lineage. They held low titles and no real power, sometimes even worse off than the children of ministers. Their toasts to these princes were intended to curry favor and gain some benefits. They weren't just toasting Yinzhen, but Concubine De, with her high position and patriarchal power, naturally commanded more respect than Yinyou, whose mother was still a concubine.
With so many people around, even though Yinzhen was just drinking a little to show his appreciation, he gradually couldn't bear it anymore, and the clarity in his eyes became less and less.
Taking advantage of the gap, Qi Buchen quickly ordered Su Peisheng: "Help your grandfather change clothes." In fact, it was just an excuse to sober up, so she added quietly, "No need to rush back."
Su Peisheng also knew the seriousness of the matter, and quickly called a young eunuch to help him lift the man up. This time Yinzhen did not push him away, as he had not yet reacted.
When someone else came, Qi Buchen smiled and said, "I accidentally spilled some wine on my clothes just now, so I went to change clothes." Finally, he sent away several waves of people.
After several waves of people came, Yinzhen still hadn't returned, so no one came anymore. Qi Buchen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this banquet was really tiring.
Su Peisheng was a smart man and understood Qi Buchen's intention very well. He did not send Yinzhen back until the banquet was almost over.
Yinzhen looked much better, and it seemed that he had sobered up.
Qi Buchen sat down with him and asked, "Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"
Yinzhen was still a little dizzy, but he replied, "Much better."
Soon, the family dinner came to an end. After Kangxi gave a speech, he left the table first. The others then dispersed, and Qi Buchen and Yinzhen didn't have to see anyone off.
It was already dark outside, and the wind was howling. Qi Buchen wrapped himself and Yinzhen tightly, and walked back carefully surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids.
Seeing that Yinzhen was a little unsteady when he walked, Qi Buchen asked Su Peisheng to support him. Yinzhen still wanted to show off: "I'm not drunk, no need."
Qi Buchen was speechless and could only coax her: "I didn't say I was drunk, it's just that the dew is heavier. If there is ice somewhere, don't fall accidentally."
This was just an excuse he made up casually. After all, there were always people cleaning the palace paths, and there were several lines of people ahead exploring the way, so there was no way they could really fall. But Yinzhen didn't know what was wrong with him, and retorted, "I didn't fall!"
I didn’t say you fell! Qi Buchen thought the man was so dizzy that he couldn’t understand what he was saying, and he kept agreeing: “No, no, no.”
Su Peisheng, who was supporting Yinzhen, lowered his head unconsciously. The master did not fall down, he just staggered.
The team returned to the South Third House smoothly, and the two of them split up to wash up. Qi Buchen sat next to Yinzhen, and there was a lot of smell of alcohol on his body.
After soaking for about a quarter of an hour, Qi Buchen finally felt comfortable all over. "How is my master?"
"I just asked, and the master drank the sobering soup and fell asleep." Baozhu replied.
"Okay, then I'm going to sleep too." Qi Buchen didn't feel it before he said it, but as soon as he said it, he felt very sleepy. He yawned involuntarily and a few tears came out.
Meanwhile, Kangxi, who had just returned to his bedroom, was listening to Liang Jiugong's report: "Huh, picking plum blossoms? And you almost fell?"
Seeing that Kangxi was in a good mood, Liang Jiugong also smiled and said, "According to the guards, the Fourth Prince must have been a little drunk. He didn't want anyone to help him, but insisted on looking at each branch by himself, and finally picked the same one. However, when he was breaking it, he used too much force and almost fell down. Fortunately, someone caught him."
Kangxi said angrily, "He's really good at finding it. I've only had it for a few days? It's been lying there untouched. I'm afraid it's in a terrible state now, right?"
Liang Jiugong smiled but said nothing, because it was indeed a mess.
It was dark and Yinzhen was drunk again. Even with a lantern, he couldn't see clearly. He almost pushed the branch right in front of his eyes, and threw it away when he felt it didn't work. He didn't know how many petals he plucked off.
There aren't many trees in the Forbidden City, and even plum trees are rare in the Imperial Gardens, primarily to protect against assassins. When Kangxi was tired from work, he wanted to relax and enjoy the scenery, but he couldn't spend all day in the Imperial Gardens. Besides, in the dead of winter, there wasn't much there. So the Imperial Household Department found a way to cultivate potted plants and sent them to him to please him. The plum tree Yinzhen picked today was actually one of their latest creations. These plants are notoriously difficult to maintain, and the Imperial Household Department took a long time to grow. Furthermore, the plum trees were transplanted from Huangjue Temple.
Kangxi liked it, but he felt that the plum blossoms would lose their spirit of defying snow and frost if placed indoors, so he had them placed outside. Although this would certainly make the plum blossoms die faster, who told him to like it?
Who would have known that before the plum blossoms could freeze to death, they would be eaten up by Yinzhen.
"Hmph, giving him a concubine? And a playboy at that!" Kangxi cursed angrily, which would have been fine. After all, she was just a plaything. Could he really punish his son for this?
......
The next day, he got up at four o'clock again and went to Ningshou Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. Then there was another day of banquets and fun, but the clan members were missing, only Kangxi and his family were present.
The rest of the year was much the same. On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the government offices opened, and Yinzhen began his study. Qi Buchen, however, continued to linger in the harem, serving his mother-in-law and accompanying the other ladies in watching operas, playing cards, and chatting.
During this time, I did have a chance to chat with Zhang Jiashi alone, and I finally understood why she had come to see me last time. It turned out to be the same thing De Fei had instructed her to do, to see to Yinxiang's move to the prince's residence. After all, she was her mother, so when De Fei spoke, it was just an order. But Zhang Jiashi had sent quite a few gifts.
"How can I accept my mother's things?" Qi Buchen refused.
Zhang Jia smiled and said, "It's not a good thing, it's just a toy. It's used by people in the palace. What's the value of it?" As she said that, she stuffed the thing into Qi Buchen's hand.
Regardless of his past or present life, Qi Buchen hated being polite to others the most, especially when giving red envelopes or paying bills, he always felt ashamed.
Now that Zhang Jiashi had come up with this, she could only sigh, "What are you talking about, Mother? If there's no benefit, then I won't do anything?"
Zhang Jiashi hurriedly said, "That's not my intention. It's just that you don't understand those people in the Imperial Household Department. You meant well and wanted to help, but if you got upset because of Thirteen, isn't that his fault? You should give him a thank you gift."
Qi Buchen knew that Zhang Jiashi had a loving motherly heart. Although she was favored and had given birth to two daughters and a son, she held no official position, was merely a concubine, and was born into a bannerman family, leaving her family with little support. While the Imperial Household Department functioned as a sort of royal stewardship, its responsibilities were considerable and its benefits were plentiful. Therefore, even though most of the officials were bannermen, it was not certain who was behind them.
After understanding this, she no longer refused and accepted it, and Zhang Jia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After the Lantern Festival, the festive atmosphere gradually faded, and Yinxiang's relocation was put on the agenda. The Nansan Residence became bustling with activity, and the constant comings and goings of people from the Imperial Household Department made the servants there quite uncomfortable.
Xie Hanshan has now gained face in front of Qi Buchen, and has recruited a few people under his command who are willing to flatter him. Today, the eunuch under his command diligently brought back his portion of food and served him the meal.
During this time, the young eunuch named Ningde talked about some news he had heard, and then turned to the internal affairs department: "Eunuch, you don't know, the dogs in the internal affairs department are really bold."
The author has something to say:
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Yinzhen: I have done something great today! I have ruined the Emperor's plum blossoms!
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