Upon receiving the news, Prince Zhi immediately went to the palace and was deeply saddened to see that his mother looked more than ten years older.
"Mother, what exactly happened? Why did Father suddenly issue such a severe punishment?" Yinzhi, a filial son, was filled with worry.
Consort Hui, wrapped in a cloak, looked at the much more desolate Yanxi Palace and sneered: "It's just an excuse to make trouble."
"Did you really harm Empress Xiaochengren?" Yinzhi had roughly figured out what was going on on the way, and now asked cautiously.
Consort Hui looked at Prince Zhi and said, "The past cannot be undone. I ask you, did you harm the Crown Princess's child?"
Prince Zhi was silent for a while: "The idea given by my eighth brother is that if Yuqing Palace has a legitimate son, it will be like adding wings to a tiger. The current situation of mutual destruction is naturally excellent."
"Using people from my palace?"
"This... is an emergency measure, and we temporarily mobilized the people here from my mother's place."
"Now that you've been granted the title of Prince, you don't need me anymore." Consort Hui was furious and slammed her hand on the table. She continued, "You don't need to tell me what you've done anymore. Eighth Prince just said a few nice words and you were so easily fooled that you handed over your dirty secrets to him."
"Mother, could it be related to this matter today?" Prince Zhi asked, somewhat puzzled.
Consort Hui was somewhat disheartened: "With both old and new grudges combined, the Emperor is currently at his most displeased with me. You don't need to plead for me in front of the Emperor; just pretend you know nothing."
"As long as you're alright, I won't really fall down," Consort Hui said solemnly. "Stay away from the Eighth Prince; he's ruthless and heartless. Don't use him as a pawn."
“Mother, that’s all the Eighth Prince is good for. He’s born into such a family and doesn’t rely on you and your son. He’s not going to amount to anything. He wouldn’t dare!” Prince Zhi never took the Eighth Prince seriously. He was just his little follower. He would only flatter him when he was in a good mood.
"Yinzhi!" Consort Hui finally spoke sharply, "When will you change your arrogant and conceited nature! Everyone calls you His Highness, does that mean you can really be compared to the Crown Prince?"
"Don't underestimate anyone, especially a prince, an ambitious prince!"
Prince Zhi was scolded harshly, but out of consideration for his mother's punishment, he did not refute her, though his face showed some disapproval.
Consort Hui immediately understood what Yinzhi was thinking. She shook her head and waved her hand, saying, "Go away. Don't come to see me recently. Remember your mother's words at crucial moments and be wary of the Eighth Prince."
Prince Zhi saw with his own eyes that Consort Hui was unharmed, and was greatly relieved. On his way back to the palace, he encountered the Crown Prince standing against the wind.
Yinreng's eyes were still red, and his eyeballs were bloodshot. He was waiting for Prince Zhi.
"Brother, I admired you a lot when I was a child." The Crown Prince spoke softly, waving his hand to signal the eunuchs to disperse. He wanted to have some private words with Prince Zhi.
“You all have mothers. Even though the fourth prince is separated from his mother, I have personally witnessed several times that Consort De waited on the way to the Imperial Study to hand him the pastries she made herself.”
"Only I am not." The Crown Prince suddenly raised his voice. "I previously thought it might be due to a shallow bond between mother and son, but now I discover that someone deliberately did this. Elder brother, if you were me, what would you do?"
Prince Zhi replied curtly, "I'm just a rough man, I don't understand what the Crown Prince is saying."
"You can't be ignoring what happened to the Fourth Prince's wife, can you? That imperial physician surnamed Ma is still in the Censorate. The Fourth Prince's wife gave birth to a daughter two months ago, but it was a difficult labor!"
"Empress Dowager also had a difficult childbirth!"
"The sacred act of childbirth for women has been defiled by vile individuals!"
Seeing that the Crown Prince was becoming increasingly absurd, Prince Zhi interrupted him: "What exactly is the Crown Prince trying to say?"
"Brother, from now on, in my heart you will only be the Prince Zhi. Let's take care of ourselves." After saying this, the Crown Prince laughed and turned to leave.
Prince Zhi was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, a scene flashed through his mind: the two of them climbing trees to steal bird eggs when they were children and being punished by their father, the Emperor. It seemed like it happened yesterday, or it seemed like it was something from a past life.
"Your subject respectfully sees off His Highness the Crown Prince." It was all for the sake of their respective mothers. Prince Zhi looked up, a sense of relief settling in his heart. As the eldest son of a concubine, he had finally become completely opposed to the Crown Prince.
Upon hearing this story about the two brothers, Emperor Kangxi closed his eyes and stared at it for a long time before suddenly saying in a low voice, "Baocheng, this is dissatisfaction with my handling of the matter."
Liang Jiugong lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound.
"What time is it? Is it almost time for school to end?" Kangxi suddenly asked.
"Your Majesty, there is still half an hour left."
"I hereby announce that Hongxi and Hongjin will accompany me for dinner."
"yes."
"Oh, and bring Honghui's homework with you as well."
"Yes." Liang Jiugong understood; this was probably what the Emperor most wanted to do.
******
In the Imperial Study, a group of princes and grandsons watched with envy as the two brothers followed the eunuch.
Some people said sourly, "The last time I saw the Emperor was on his birthday. I wonder if he's gotten fatter or thinner."
Someone immediately chimed in: "That's easy, Honghui also frequently meets with the Emperor."
"That's not right either. Why hasn't Honghui been going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation lately?"
"I'm afraid I've angered Father Emperor."
Honghui tidied up his writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and books, and patted his small satchel, which his mother had sewn stitch by stitch herself. Honghui cherished it very much.
"Father is still waiting for his nephew at the door, so I'll take my leave now. I will convey your concern for Grandfather to Father without reservation. Don't worry, Father will make sure to fulfill your wishes." Honghui completely ignored his uncles' sarcastic remarks. Anyway, they only dared to talk. There was still Uncle Fourteen. Tomorrow, they would all be black and blue, all because of Uncle Fourteen's beating.
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