"Hmm." Hongshi observed the visitor's attitude and saw that he was still as respectful as ever, so he relaxed a little. But soon he saw Yinzhen come out, so he quickly stood up and bowed more solemnly than before: "Your subject greets Father Emperor."
"Why are you here at this time?" Yinzhen asked in a gentle tone, as if nothing had happened.
Hongshi felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. He stood up and said, "It has been a long time since I paid my respects to Father Emperor. I have been thinking of him very much."
"Oh? I thought you came to plead for Consort Qi." Yinzhen didn't even look at him, only said indifferently.
Hongshi sensed something was wrong and quickly said, "Your Majesty has heard that Your Majesty has sealed Zhongcui Palace, but I believe Your Majesty must have your reasons. I am too inexperienced to question Your Majesty's decision."
His words were eloquent and respectable, but he didn't even plead for his birth mother, which immediately dampened Yinzhen's enthusiasm.
He had originally intended to bring up the news of Consort Hua's pregnancy to see Hongshi's reaction, but now he felt there was no need to do so.
He was about to wave Hongshi away, but Hongshi, who had been silently observing Yinzhen's expression, quickly said, "Actually... I have something to report to Father Emperor today."
"Hmm? What is it?" Yinzhen didn't bother to look up at him, and was only thinking about how to handle the matter in his mind.
Strip him of his title? Hongshi didn't have a title to begin with, and he hadn't even decided what to bestow upon him yet. So it was simple: there was no need to bestow another title, nor was there any need to separate him from the palace. He could just be kept under house arrest within the palace.
The place where Prince Li used to live has become available, so let Hongshi move in with his family. It will be a good opportunity for him to read more books and learn about human relations and the meaning of being an emperor.
"Father, I heard your decree today..." Hongshi swallowed hard, trying to portray himself as an advisor. He glanced at Yinzhen and mustered his courage to say, "I heard that you punished Ninth Uncle and also reprimanded Eighth Uncle?"
Yinzhen was taken aback, never expecting Hongshi to bring this up.
He frowned, not understanding what Hongshi meant, but already instinctively displeased. He said, "Hmm?"
Hongshi swallowed hard, thinking to himself that being an advisor was indeed difficult. He clenched his fist and said, "Actually, Uncle Ba has been quite diligent and conscientious over the years, and everyone praises him highly..."
"Hongshi?" Yinzhen couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You think the Eighth Prince is very good?"
"Actually, actually, I think that Ninth Uncle and Tenth Uncle are not entirely wicked, and there's also Fourteenth Uncle, who is your half-brother, Father..." Hongshi's voice trailed off as he spoke, and he subconsciously took a step back. Ultimately, he still thought of Hongwang's affection, and the topic turned to Yinzhi, "Father is not the kind of person who is harsh on his brothers. At the beginning of his reign, he conferred the title of Prince on Eighth Uncle..."
"Hongshi!" Yinzhen interrupted Hongshi, now almost doubting his own ears. "Are you pleading for your uncles? Do you think I'm cruel to my brothers?"
"No, it's not that I think so, it's that others are saying it... I don't want to hear others criticize Father Emperor like this..."
"I am the Emperor." Yinzhen found it unbelievable. "Anyone who dares to speak ill of me will be sent to the Imperial Prison!"
"Father!" Hongshi felt that his persona was about to be established, so he shouted and knelt on the ground, kowtowing, "Your subject begs Father, for the sake of your eternal reputation, to spare Ninth Uncle and to give Eighth Uncle even more important responsibilities... Ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, Yinzhen kicked him to the ground.
Hongshi scrambled to his feet in a panic, but before he could kneel down properly again, Yinzhen slapped him across the face.
He covered his face and screamed in surprise. The next moment, he was slapped on the other side!
"Father! Your son truly cares for you!" Hongshi exclaimed, his eyes wide, as if he were deeply aggrieved. "I can't bear to hear anyone speak ill of you, Father. I risked angering you by coming here to offer my advice. Why can't you listen... Ah!"
Hongshi was kicked to the ground again by Yinzhen. He tried to struggle and say something, but Yinzhen still angrily said, "I don't have a son like you!"
"Father!" Hongshi shouted, but Yinzhen suppressed him with an even louder voice: "Hongshi! You are my eldest son. You were already nineteen years old when I ascended the throne. Don't you have eyes and ears? Can't you see how your uncles treat me?"
“You’re the one who comes to the palace to receive banquets every year. Can’t you see how the Ninth Prince makes things difficult for me, or how the Fourteenth Prince disrespects me? How could you say such things, Hongshi?”
Yinzhen was both shocked and angry. Even though he had personally beaten Hongshi, he still felt like he couldn't breathe. He staggered a couple of steps, bracing himself on the armrest before sitting down, but he was still panting heavily, clutching his chest, unable to utter another word.
Hongshi was terrified. He stammered "Father Emperor" but couldn't utter a single word. After a long while, he finally said, "That...that Eighth Uncle has always been respectful to Father Emperor, even after Father Emperor ascended the throne..."
"Get out!" Yinzhen smashed a teacup on Hongshi's shoulder. Hongshi cried out in surprise and stopped talking. Yinzhen, enraged, pointed at the door and said, "Get out! Get out of here!"
"Yes." Hongshi felt wronged.
He was clearly thinking about his father's eternal reputation, but his father wouldn't listen to him at all!
Originally, Yinzhen intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with Hongshi, so he didn't call anyone to serve him, only having Su Peisheng wait outside the door. He really wanted to understand what was going on between Hongshi and Shanxiu, what Hongshi was thinking, and whether there was any possibility of reforming the child. He didn't even plan to do anything to Hongshi, only intending to teach him a lesson and then confine him for life, raising him well.
But Yinzhen never expected that Hongshi would not only be confused about matters of love and relationships and human ethics, but would actually plead for the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince?!
Has he gone mad?
Yinzhen couldn't understand it. He no longer doubted that he hadn't taught Hongshi well; instead, he felt that Hongshi was just an idiot.
If he weren't so stupid, why would he plead for Lao Ba? Even if he's crazy, he shouldn't be like this.
After seeing the Third Prince off, Su Peisheng entered the room and saw Yinzhen slumped in a round-backed chair, clutching his chest and panting heavily. Su Peisheng was so frightened that his face turned pale. He shouted "Call the imperial physician!" and rushed over, helplessly trying to help Yinzhen.
Yinzhen waved his hand: "Summon Consort Xi over."
He doesn't want to move right now; he just wants to hear her talk.
Qian Shengyan was also startled when she arrived, but fortunately, Yinzhen calmed down after a while and felt better. The imperial physician arrived quickly and, after taking his pulse, said that anger had affected his heart and mind, and advised Yinzhen to rest well for a few days.
Fortunately, I don't need to take any medication for now. My mood should be the priority, and I shouldn't get angry anymore.
Qian Shengyan didn't know why Yinzhen was so angry with Hongshi. Before Hongshi came, he was also angry, but he seemed to be mostly sad. Now he seemed to be in a fit of rage...
"Yanyan." After dismissing the others, Yinzhen was helped into the inner room by her. He lay down on the small couch, grabbed her hand, and began to curse, "I knew it! Those villains just wanted to see me do well!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
