entrance to the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Liang Jiugong was puzzled when he saw Yinzhen walking quickly towards him. The emperor had not summoned the Fourth Prince today. He had said during breakfast that the food did not taste good without Honghui by his side.
Yinzhen walked to the door, lifted his robe, and knelt outside the door: "Please inform Your Majesty that I wish to see Father Emperor."
When Kangxi heard Liang Jiugong's reply, he was surprised. His fourth son was cautious and quiet by nature. He rarely showed his emotions like this except when he was doing his work in silence. What was wrong with him?
"pass!"
When Yinzhen heard the eunuch's voice, he got up and remembered the funny story Yihua had told him: how Honghui had won Kangxi's support and rewards through his superb skills.
He turned the ring on his thumb, thinking to himself, "It's not too outrageous for a father to learn from his son, is it?"
Yinzhen's emotions were building up quickly. When Kangxi heard footsteps and looked up, he saw Yinzhen with red eyes.
The last time I saw Yinzhen like this was when his son died young. Could it be...?
Kangxi's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "Something happened to Honghui?"
Yinzhen's emotions were abruptly interrupted, and he felt a pang of sadness. Honghui truly held a place in the old man's heart; perhaps he himself couldn't even compare.
Yinzhen knelt down with a thud, so fast that Liang Jiugong didn't even have time to prepare a cushion for him: "I beg Father Emperor to strip me of my position as a Beile and also remove my title as a prince."
"You insolent fool!" Kangxi grabbed a teacup and threw it at Yinzhen's feet. "What are you doing?"
Yinzhen kowtowed and replied, "Father, I have disgraced you."
Then he recounted the conflict with Longkodo's concubine, emphasizing that Honghui had just recovered from his injuries when he suffered this calamity, which would likely leave him with psychological trauma in the future.
Upon hearing that his beloved grandson was to be whipped, Kangxi was furious: "This is outrageous! A mere concubine dares to be disrespectful to the current prince in the street and even dares to whip him! Longkodo has trained such a good person!"
"Your Majesty, I was truly worried about Honghui, so I asked his mother to take him back. As for Li Si'er, I asked the Prefect of the Capital and the Imperial Clan Court to imprison him together." Yinzhen kowtowed again, "I acted on my own initiative, please punish me, Your Majesty."
"Well done." Kangxi slammed his hand on the table. "A virtuous wife brings less trouble to her husband. This Li woman is not good. I will have the Tong family apologize to you. We are all family, so let's not hurt our harmony."
When Yinzhen heard how much Kangxi protected the Tong family, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Although he knew that he was like an ant trying to shake a tree, he still felt deeply resentful at such a dismissive attitude.
"Your Majesty, I know that you have raised me with kindness, and I have always been very kind to the Tong family." Yinzhen expressed his suppressed displeasure perfectly. "Let's let today's matter pass for the sake of your mother."
When Kangxi saw his fourth son speaking in a sarcastic tone, he was not angry. He knew that the Tong family had indeed gone too far today. If Yinzhen could swallow his anger peacefully, then he would have to consider what his fourth son was after.
It's best not to want anything!
"How about this: tomorrow morning at court, Longkodo will apologize before the emperor, and Li Si will be executed at noon. Is that alright?"
Yinzhen knew this was the limit, so he stopped while he was ahead and gave a shy smile: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."
"Hmph, you still know you're my son!" Kangxi glared at Yinzhen. "If you say anything about not wanting to be a prince again, I will really issue an edict to strip you of your yellow sash and see if you cry then."
"Take this goat milk back to Honghui. He used to drink a bowl of it every day to help him grow taller. Even though he's off today, don't let him miss it."
Liang Jiugong had already prepared a light food box and handed it to Yinzhen.
******
After leaving the palace, Yinzhen specifically instructed Su Peisheng to visit the prison where Li Si was imprisoned, while he himself carried the food box home.
While his wife and Honghui were still at the Ulanara residence, Yinzhen didn't want to go to the backyard, so he practiced calligraphy by himself.
Su Peisheng returned first and reported, "Master, everything has been arranged as you instructed. We'll use Madam Li's own whip, and she won't be taken off the rack until she's had a hundred strokes."
"He won't die, will he?"
"They won't die. The jailers are very skilled. They know how to beat someone until it looks serious but doesn't actually damage them. They know how to beat someone until their internal organs are damaged but you can't tell from the outside. They have a way of beating people without killing them."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen's brows relaxed somewhat, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
No sooner had Yinzhen left than the Tong family father and son arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Tong Guowei pressed Longkodo down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this servant has failed in his duty to educate his son. He was disrespectful to the Fourth Prince and to Young Master Honghui in the street. I have no face to face Your Majesty. This unfilial son is at Your Majesty's disposal."
Seeing his elderly uncle kneeling at his feet, Kangxi felt a pang of sympathy and quickly helped him up. He then had Liang Jiugong bring him a stool, saying, "Uncle, what are you doing? Your legs aren't good, please sit down."
"Longkodo, do you know your mistake?" Kangxi turned his head, his gentle tone completely changed, and his gritted teeth revealed his disappointment and frustration.
Longkodo lowered his head in frustration: "I have failed in my duty to manage my household and have offended the Fourth Prince. I am guilty."
"What can I say? Not to mention the Fourth Prince and Honghui, I heard that the Fourth Prince's wife is also in the carriage. She is pregnant. If anything happens to her, the Fourth Prince will fight you to the death!" Kangxi pointed at him and cursed a few times. "Your concubine, order her to be executed."
Upon hearing this, Longkodo panicked and scrambled to grab Kangxi's shoes: "Your Majesty, cousin, I have only found one such pleasing person in all these years. I have locked her in the inner courtyard and she is not allowed to leave. I beg Your Majesty to spare her life."
Emperor Kangxi was furious upon hearing this: "She's just a woman! Do you want to die with this Li...?"
When he mentioned the word "death," a sinister tone crept into his voice, as if he were truly considering it.
Tong Guowei could no longer sit still and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Longkodo was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to do.
He didn't want Li Si'er to die, but he also didn't want to die with her. Was there really no way to have both?
Seeing that he had intimidated Longkodo, Kangxi continued, "Tomorrow morning at court, you will apologize to the Fourth Prince in front of all the civil and military officials, and this matter will be over."
Longkodo was completely stunned, his face filled with sorrow: "Your Majesty, you are forcing me to my death!"
"Shut up!" Tong Guowei wished he could turn back thirty years so he could shut this rebellious son's mouth. "Your Majesty, your handling of this matter is the most enlightened. This wicked son was blinded by that poisonous woman. This servant will take him back to sober him up. He will apologize with thorns on his back first thing tomorrow morning, and we will not tarnish the face of the royal family."
Seeing his uncle's resolute words, Kangxi couldn't bear to be too harsh on him. Looking at his stubborn cousin, he thought, "Let's give him another chance."
Seeing that Kangxi had nodded in agreement, Tong Guowei felt relieved and quickly helped Longkodo up before taking his leave.
It is said that courage is born from desperation. Tong Guowei felt that he had boundless strength and did not let go even though he pinched Longkodo's armpits until they were red.
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