Chapter 73 Clues to the Conflict Hong Jin looked at the flowers and trees, walking along the way…
Hong Jin looked at the flowers and trees, stopping frequently as he walked, and slowly arrived at Taoyuan Study. It was a two-courtyard house; the front courtyard had a library and storerooms on both sides, while the back courtyard was where the two brothers lived. As soon as he stepped through the second gate, he heard the sound of reading aloud coming from the east wing.
Hong Jin couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. His brother was incredibly diligent; even on his days off, he was always engrossed in his books. He shook his head, thinking to himself that he could never do that.
Hongxi was half-reading an article inside the room when he looked up and saw shadowy figures outside the window. Upon closer inspection, he saw Hongjin shaking his head with a sigh. Thinking that Hongjin had something to say to him, he cleared his throat and said, "Hongjin, what are you doing outside? Come in."
Hong Jin agreed and went inside. He had just sat down and hadn't even had a sip of tea when his brother asked him a question that stumped him.
"Have you looked at tomorrow's homework?" Hongxi asked.
Hongjin:......
Seeing his guilty look, Hongxi understood everything. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Grandpa Huang checks on your studies every now and then. The last time was ten days ago. You'd better work harder these next few days."
Hong Jin hurriedly replied, "I'll go back and check, isn't that enough?" As he spoke, he chuckled and muttered, "Even if Grandfather asks, he'll ask you first. I just need to elaborate on what you said, and that'll be fine, right?"
Hongxi was both amused and exasperated by his idea, and picked up a book and smacked him on the head.
Hong Jin covered his head, trying to steer the conversation away from the topic, and said softly, "Big brother is too hardworking. You finally get a day off, why don't you go out for a stroll? It's the perfect time for a spring outing."
Hongxi looked out the window and smiled faintly. He recalled the Emperor's last comment when he inquired about his studies, saying that he had the same spirit as his father back then. He gripped the book tightly in his hand and sighed softly, "Compared to the spring sunshine outside, studies are more important."
Hongjin sighed inwardly at his single-minded demeanor, for he truly couldn't understand this kind of thinking. Clearly, Hongxi was the most outstanding among all the princes in both academics and martial arts; why didn't he even give himself a day of rest? Besides, their father often taught them to balance work and rest.
But since his brother had already said so, Hong Jin didn't say anything more. He shrugged and chuckled softly, "Do you know who I ran into today?"
Hongxi didn't speak, but he raised an eyebrow at him.
Hongjin continued, "I ran into Mother Cheng and my third brother. They looked like they were flying kites outside." He thought of his third brother's little face and his eyes crinkled. "I saw him at the banquet on New Year's Eve, but only a few months later he's already forgotten me. But he's grown so fast, he's almost as tall as a desk now."
Hongxi's smile slowly faded. Hongjin finished speaking, picked up his teacup, and gulped down his tea. When he looked up again, he noticed that Hongxi seemed indifferent. He tilted his head, wondering if Hongxi disliked the Third Prince. He awkwardly pursed his lips and said, "Brother, please continue reading. I need to go back and memorize my lessons too."
Hong Jin turned back to the west and immediately ordered someone to bring the book over. He had only been reading for about half an incense stick's time when his personal attendant, the eunuch San Tang, quickly came over, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, Jing Shun just came to report that the Crown Prince has returned and requests that you go to the front courtyard to ask him questions."
"Father's back?" Hong Jin jumped up, startled. Luckily, he had studied a bit, otherwise, he might have been interrogated and his background exposed. He composed himself, his heart filled only with the joy of seeing his father, and quickly called for someone to bring him clothes. When he finished dressing and stepped outside, he saw Hong Xi also coming out from the opposite direction. Hong Jin smiled gently at him and followed behind Hong Xi.
At this moment, Yinreng was resting with his eyes closed in the front courtyard. He had returned to the capital these past few days to participate in the sacrificial ceremony at the Temple of Confucius with officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy. Afterward, he also inspected the Imperial Academy, inquiring about and encouraging the Chancellor and several Doctors. Once he had finished these tasks, he returned to his garden and promptly handed over his duties to the Emperor.
Upon returning to the West Garden, he changed his clothes and sat down to rest. Once he felt refreshed, he wanted to go to the back to clear his head. But before he could speak, Chen He said that his servants had just reported that Master Cheng had taken the Third Prince out to fly kites in the afternoon, and they weren't at the East Fence Study. Yinreng looked outside and nodded; the weather was indeed perfect for flying kites.
He wondered how long they had been playing outside, and whether it would be too late for him to come over. After thinking for a long time, Yinreng finally decided against it and sent someone to tell them to enjoy themselves outside. After sitting and resting for a while, he remembered that today was the fifteenth, and his two sons who were studying rarely had a day off. In addition, he hadn't seen them for several days, so he sent someone to summon them over to ask about their studies.
Before long, Hongxi and Hongjin walked in from outside, bowed, and stood at attention.
Yinreng looked at his two sons, who had grown up, with great satisfaction. Their posture was as straight as poplar trees. He cleared his throat and asked, "It's been a few days since I asked about your studies. What lessons have your tutors been teaching you lately?"
Hongxi smiled and said, "Master just finished explaining the poem 'Si Qi' from the Book of Songs."
Yinreng pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "What is your opinion on the saying, 'Set an example for your widow, then for your brothers, and thus govern your family and state'?"
Hongxi answered clearly: "It means that people should take themselves as the standard, become role models for their wives and brothers, and then govern their families and countries well."
Yinreng nodded. "That's right, but there's another meaning to this, which is to bestow favors and extend grace. Go back and find the Mencius and read the 'King Hui of Liang' chapter several times." Seeing Hongxi's disappointment, he smiled and said, "But it's already very good that you can understand the meaning of setting an example. You are still young. For now, you just need to study hard and thoroughly understand the famous texts. As for the true meaning, you will understand it later if you don't understand it now."
Hongxi nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Yinreng then looked at Hongjin and asked, "What does Hongjin think?"
Hongjin quickly replied, "I think you're right, brother. I will try my best to be a good son, as the book says, to be filial to my father and mother, and to respect my elder brother and love my younger brother." He scratched his head, "It's just that I was playful and went to the garden today on my day off. I know I was wrong."
"It's alright, it's a rare day off for you to relax." Yinreng chuckled, then sighed, "Hongjin has the heart of a child." He raised his hand and patted Hongxi and Hongjin on the shoulders in turn, and instructed them, "Father has high hopes for you. But I'm also afraid that you'll study to death and go astray."
Hongxi and Hongjin exchanged a glance and nodded, saying, "Your son understands."
Yinreng nodded and smiled, and talked with them for a long time before having someone see them out.
Jing Shun respectfully saw the two princes off at the courtyard gate, only turning back after they had disappeared into the distance. The eunuch guarding the gate finally seized the opportunity and hurriedly bowed and scraped, saying, "Brother Jing Shun, someone from Donglizhai just came to say that Master Cheng has returned."
"Oh my, that's wonderful! The Crown Prince was just thinking about it." Jing Shun turned around and immediately went inside to report.
Yinreng laughed and said, "I guess the mother and daughter had a great time." He stood up, stepped out the door, and Chen He and the others quickly followed.
At this moment, Hongxi and Hongjin were walking back to Taoyuan Study. Hongxi, unusually, slowed down and looked into the distance to relax his eyes. When he turned around, he saw a group of figures heading east. He pursed his lips, thinking that his father was going to Donglizhai to see the third son.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but he quickly regained his composure, remembering the words of encouragement Li Jia had once given him.
Li Jia said to him with a heavy heart, "You are older than the Third Prince, and you started studying and learning martial arts several years earlier than him, so you will definitely do better than him. Your mother can't help you now, so you can only rely on yourself."
Hongxi turned his head to look at the shimmering lake, thinking that he would definitely study hard and become the son that his father valued most.
When Yinreng stepped into Donglizhai, Cheng Qianyue was helping the Third Prince wash his hands. The Third Prince was talking incoherently, describing how high he had flown his kite.
Cheng Qianyue poked his forehead. "Did you fly that, huh?" He just kept running around like crazy with the kite in his hand. The kite trailed behind him, making him look like a big, fluttering moth. In the end, it was the eunuch who put the kite into the sky and handed the string to him.
The Third Prince only remembered that when he was holding the kite string, the kite flew very high. He pouted and said, "I flew it, it was me who flew it."
Cheng Qianyue hummed twice: "Alright, round it up and it'll be you who flew it, okay?" The Third Prince was happy then, shaking his head smugly. As soon as he saw Yinreng coming over, he immediately ran over and said loudly: "Father, I flew a kite today, and it flew really high."
Yinreng patted his head and said, "Okay, I understand."
Seeing that Yinreng's speech was somewhat strained, Cheng Qianyue guessed that he was tired after finishing his work outside. She turned to the people next to her and said, "Take the Third Prince back to change his clothes." The nanny and several eunuchs agreed and half-coaxed, half-forced, led the Third Prince out. Once the boy was gone, Cheng Qianyue sat down next to Yinreng and asked softly, "Your Highness is back. Did everything go smoothly outside?"
Yinreng said, "Everything's fine, no trouble at all." He let out a long sigh of relief, leaned back slightly, and smiled when he saw a vase of willow branches on the kang table. He gestured for Cheng Qianyue to sit closer to him. Cheng Qianyue turned slightly towards him, and he pulled her halfway into his embrace. Yinreng patted her on the back and asked softly, "Did you enjoy yourself outside?"
Cheng Qianyue agreed and began to leisurely recount what she had done over the past few days: spring outings, picking willow branches, brewing flower tea, and strolling through the garden. She spoke slowly and deliberately, describing the chickens, ducks, geese, flowers, and trees in the garden with great interest. Listening to her, Yinreng felt relaxed as well.
After Cheng Qianyue finished her rambling, she looked up and found that Yinreng had already closed his eyes. She quickly shut her mouth, thinking that he must be exhausted to be able to fall asleep listening to her chatter. Seeing that he didn't move, she slowly moved up and gently pressed her lips to his cheek. It had been quite a while since she had seen him, and she had missed him a little. But no sooner had she stolen a kiss than Yinreng opened his eyes.
Cheng Qianyue and he looked at each other in bewilderment: ......
Yinreng smiled gently and asked in a low voice, "Why did you stop talking?"
Cheng Qianyue was extremely embarrassed when she was caught stealing a kiss. She pursed her lips and replied softly, "I've said everything. There's nothing more to say."
Yinreng hummed in agreement, patted her back again, and then closed his eyes.
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