On the first day of June, Concubine De went into labor and successfully gave birth to a princess. Both mother and daughter were safe.
Although she was not a prince, Concubine De already had two sons, Yinzhen and Yinzuo. Now that she had a daughter by her side, she didn't have to worry about her being taken away to another palace to be raised. In her heart, she felt happier than if she had given birth to a prince.
On the day of delivery, Yinzuo and Yinzhen were unable to follow the Imperial Noble Consort to Yonghe Palace. Firstly, there were too many people coming in and out of Yonghe Palace that day, and the scene was rather chaotic, so they were afraid that they would not be able to be taken care of. Secondly, the delivery room was the place where collisions were most taboo, so they would not be allowed to get stained with blood easily.
They were only allowed to visit their mother and sister in Yonghe Palace on the second day.
Yinzuo ran into his mother's bedroom happily, but forced himself not to shout loudly. He was afraid of disturbing his newborn sister. Now that he also has a sister, he needs to be more stable.
Concubine De saw him at a glance, and waved at him with a gentle smile.
"Come in quickly, why are you still standing at the door?"
Yinzuo trotted to his mother's bed. He held her hand carefully and did not rush over rashly.
"Mom, are you okay now?" Yinzuo felt that his mother looked very pale and did not seem to be feeling well. There was still a faint smell of blood in the room.
"Mother is fine." Defei didn't want Xiaoliu to worry about her, and just then her eldest son walked in.
"Yinzhen pays respects to mother."
"You are too obedient, kid. Get up quickly." After Defei finished speaking, she coughed twice.
Yinzuo looked at her nervously and asked, "Mother, are you feeling unwell?"
However, Yinzhen, who was standing by, stood up immediately after seeing this and ordered: "Although it is already June, my mother has just given birth, and I am afraid she will feel cold. You should try to close the windows on weekdays."
"Yes." The palace maid guarding the hall immediately went to close the window.
"Where is my sister? My brother and I both want to see her." Yinzuo was a little impatient.
"Let the wet nurse take the baby to the side hall to feed him. She will be back soon. You two brothers, please sit and wait for a while. Would you like some snacks?"
"No need, my brother said everyone is busy taking care of mom and sister, so there is no need to make snacks specially for us. The two of us can just sit and chat with mom~" Yinzuo was still very considerate. His brother had told him before that Yonghe Palace was quite busy now and there might be a shortage of staff, so there was no need to make trouble specially. It would be the same if we ate snacks later.
"You are all mother's good children. I used to think that Yinzhen was steady, but now that Xiaoliu has become a big brother, he has become much more sensible." Concubine De smiled and praised her youngest son a little more.
"Xiaoliu, you must learn from your brother and become a competent brother in the future~" Yinzuo said shamelessly, patting his chest.
"How is Xiaoliu, who is about to become a competent brother, doing in his studies recently?"
Yinzuo instantly became like a frosted eggplant, wilted and his momentum suddenly became weak.
"Why did you suddenly ask about studying, mother? Aren't we talking about my sister?"
"Mother was about to give birth in the past month, and I didn't have time to care for you. Now that she has finally given birth, I will ask you. Since you don't want to answer, Yinzhen will speak."
Yinzhen ignored the little guy's pleading eyes and said matter-of-factly: "Xiaoliu has been going to Yuqing Palace frequently recently to ask the prince about what he saw and heard during his tour with the Emperor, and about his progress in studying."
Having said this, Yinzhen paused.
Because his clothes were grabbed by some little guy.
I saw Yinzuo looking at me eagerly, his bright eyes blinking continuously.
"How is your study going?" Defei asked.
"Your study progress has not been delayed." Yinzhen finally let it go.
Yinzuo, who was standing by, looked at it and let out a sigh.
"Really? Yinzhen, you can't help your brother to conceal the truth. If I find out, I will punish you as well." How could Concubine De not see that there was something fishy going on here? She just thought that this was Yinzuo's first mistake, so she gave him a warning first.
"Empress Defei, the little princess has finished her meal and is asking to see you." Aunt Qing came in and reported.
"Then ask the nurse to bring the baby in, so that he won't hurt his throat."
Yinzuo suddenly felt a little sad. Isn't it normal for a child to cry? Why did his mother look so worried? Yinzuo, who had been looking forward to his sister, was not so happy now.
"Don't cry, don't cry, mother is here." Concubine De was very patient with her daughter.
Later, Yinzuo hardly had a chance to talk to his mother because his sister was always crying and his mother was busy coaxing her.
When Yinzhen led him out of Yonghe Palace, he found that he was hanging his head and did not seem very happy, so he asked him, "What's wrong?"
The two brothers walked slowly and chatted in low voices.
"Brother, I feel that my sister is not well behaved at all. She cries too much and is ugly and not cute. Mother only loves my sister now. Does that mean she doesn't love Xiaoliu anymore?"
Yinzuo was used to telling his brother all his thoughts, so when he felt this way, he did not hide anything.
Thinking of Yinzhen in his previous life, he felt the same way, but he also knew that it was useless to rely on others' persuasion, and he needed to untie this knot himself.
"Yinzuo, she is my younger sister, just like you and me, she is our mother's biological child. She is still young now, so she can only cry and make a fuss. She will be fine when she grows up."
He wanted to say that, but he knew very well that this sister would never grow up.
Yinzhen watched Yinzuo fall into deep thought, and finally decided not to let him develop too many feelings for his sister.
"If you don't like her, we should go to Yonghe Palace less often."
Yinzuo thought about it and said nothing.
It was not appropriate for Concubine De to see people while she was in confinement, so Yinzuo went to see her again later. Again, after just a few words, his sister started crying and his mother was a little worried, so Yinzuo left on his own accord.
The flowers he planted with his brothers and sisters on his birthday in February had already bloomed, so he personally delivered them to his brothers and sisters' palaces one by one. He also visited his eldest brother and two sisters for the first time.
However, my eldest brother lived in the South Third Building, which was not only the farthest away but also had the strictest inspection. The guard at the door almost didn't let him in. Fortunately, my eldest brother heard his voice and came out to take him in.
Finally, Yinzuo went to Yuqing Palace holding the flowers that his brother had planted for his brother, the Crown Prince. It was really fun to be there for his brother, the Crown Prince, and no one restrained him. Yinzuo came to Yuqing Palace frequently in the past two months. Even Kangxi learned from Liang Jiugong that he had been to Yuqing Palace several times.
Just today, Kangxi came home from court and came to see the Crown Prince, and he met this little guy Yinzuo.
"Brother Prince~"
Yinreng carefully glanced at the emperor's face, a little worried that the emperor would be unhappy. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Xiao Liu is very interested in what happened on the Eastern Tour. Occasionally, he would come to Yuqing Palace to ask me about it. After a few visits, we became familiar with each other. In private, I don't pay much attention to the rules between me and Xiao Liu. Please don't blame Xiao Liu, my emperor."
Kangxi raised his eyebrows and said, "You are protecting him, but how can it be said that you like Yinzuo very much?"
Yinreng swallowed his saliva and finally nodded honestly.
"Tai" Yinzuo had just called out one word when he saw his father the emperor. He immediately became nervous, put on a smile, and kowtowed respectfully.
"Xiao Liu pays his respects to the Emperor."
"Get up." Kangxi saw the eunuch behind him holding a pot of flowers and asked curiously, "What are you doing with this pot of flowers?"
"To answer your Majesty, these are the flowers that I planted with my brothers and sisters on my birthday. This pot of flowers is a gift for my brother, the Crown Prince~" Yinzuo blinked and answered obediently.
Kangxi suddenly remembered that he had given something as a reward to the little fellow that day.
"I remember that day when you guys realized how difficult it is for farmers to grow crops. Now it has been nearly six months, and the flowers are blooming well. It shows that you take good care of them for your brothers and sisters."
"come over."
Yinzuo trotted up to his father and looked at him with his little head tilted.
Kangxi still remembered how tiny he was when he was born. Now he was two and a half years old. The child was kind-hearted and the best-looking among his brothers. He looked at him with admiration in his eyes. Kangxi didn't know why, but he suddenly reached out and picked him up.
Suddenly, he was picked up by the emperor father. Yinzuo, who was sitting on his lap, was afraid of falling, so he hugged the emperor father's neck.
"Haha~" Yinzuo laughed happily.
"Are you so happy?" Kangxi pinched his little face and asked him with a smile.
"Xiao Liu hasn't seen the Emperor for a long time. I missed him very much. I was very happy to see him today~
Also, the prince said that when the emperor was on the eastern tour, he was very heroic and hunted tigers, bears, and many other ferocious beasts. The emperor was so powerful that he just picked up Xiao Liu with one hand. Xiao Liu is naturally happier to have such a powerful father like the emperor~"
Yinzuo's admiring look and straightforward flattery immediately made Kangxi very happy.
"You are still young. When you grow up, I will definitely take you out with me in the future."
"Really? But, Father Emperor, how old does one have to be to be considered grown up?" Yinzuo asked puzzledly.
"You can enter the study room after you turn six and learn riding and archery for two years, so eight years old, for example. After you turn eight, you will be considered grown up."
"Then we have an agreement. Xiaoliu heard from my brother that our father shouldered the responsibilities of the world when he was eight years old. So, at the age of eight, Xiaoliu can travel around the world~" After Yinzuo finished speaking, he turned his head and looked at the prince.
"Did you hear that, Prince? If the Emperor forgets in the future, Prince will be Xiaoliu's witness~"
The prince smiled and nodded, saying, "I'll remember this for Xiaoliu."
"You two brothers have united. I will remember the agreement we made with you." Kangxi said unhappily.
However, looking at the relaxed smile on the prince's face, Kangxi couldn't help but feel a little soft-hearted. The prince was in a high position and had not been close to his brothers before, so it was rare for him to get along with Xiaoliu.
Kangxi smiled and said to Yinzuo: "Just now your prince brother told me that he likes you very much. From now on, you should come and accompany him often."
"Okay! As long as the prince doesn't mind Xiaoliu eating too much~"
"When have I ever disliked you? Just eat as much as you want. How can I miss your share of dessert?"
"Oh, from what Baocheng said, this guy seems to be a regular customer?"
"Xiao Liu admires the heroic spirit of Father Huang and Prince Brother, but I have no way of seeing it with my own eyes. I can only beg Prince Brother to tell Xiao Liu about it. Also, the snacks here are so delicious that Xiao Liu can't help but want to come here~" After saying this, Yinzuo hid in Father Huang's arms a little embarrassedly.
Kangxi, who had only been embraced by his concubines, had never been so close to his own children. The second princess was bolder and would occasionally act coquettishly towards him, but she had never hugged him so intimately. This experience was her first time.
However, Kangxi felt that this feeling was not bad. Of course, most of the reason was because Yinzuo was good-looking. If it were any other son, Kangxi would find it difficult to accept it.
"I suddenly want to know what kind of snack makes Xiaoliu so obsessed with it?"
When the prince heard this, he immediately said, "I will order them to bring it up right away."
The people in Yuqing Palace were all smart people. They started working quickly as soon as the prince made a move, and soon, five or six snacks were placed on the table.
"These are what Xiaoliu has been thinking about all the time. Father Huang, please try them."
Kangxi looked down and saw the little guy in his arms staring at the plates of snacks without blinking, and he couldn't help laughing.
"It's still exactly the same as when we were little. I still remember when we went to Yonghe Palace before and you could only eat porridge, you looked so greedy. I even fed you myself."
Yinzuo's eyebrows were curved and he smiled foolishly.
Recalling the times when he had interacted with the little guy in the past, Kangxi became interested.
"Come, I'll feed you, open your mouth."
One dared to feed and the other dared to eat, and they started to act in front of the prince.
"Your Majesty, can you give Xiaoliu that rose-chestnut flour cake?" Yinzuo not only enjoyed his father's service with peace of mind, but also put forward his request in a very natural way.
"Is this it?" Kangxi asked, pointing at one of them.
"Yes~ The Emperor is indeed the smartest, he guessed it right away~"
Kangxi was very happy to be coaxed, and the two of them cooperated very well, not caring at all about the prince's surprised expression at this moment.
"Crown Prince? Why aren't you eating?" Yinzuo found that the crown prince had been looking at him and the emperor. He put himself in his shoes and thought about it. He felt uncomfortable because his mother loved his newborn sister. He thought that the crown prince would also be unhappy to see that the emperor only fed himself.
"Xiaoliu knows!" Yinzuo tugged at the emperor's sleeve, motioning for him to come closer.
Kangxi raised his eyebrows and bent down obediently. He wanted to listen to what the little guy wanted to say to him.
"Father, the prince has been looking at us just now, looking unhappy. He must be jealous. Father, please feed the prince a piece of dessert too~"
Yinzuo thought he spoke very quietly, but the prince was so close to him, how could he not hear it? His face immediately turned red with embarrassment. He... he was not jealous!
But the prince really couldn't refute it. If he forced a refutation, wouldn't it be like he was trying to cover up his guilt? It would also further prove that he was jealous and unhappy.
Kangxi admired Baocheng's rare shy look with great interest. This was a scene he could only see when he was very young. It had been at least five years since he last saw it. He really missed it.
So he deliberately agreed with Yinzuo's words and nodded.
"What Xiaoliu said makes sense."
"Come on, Baocheng, don't envy your brother. I'll feed you a piece too."
This time, not only did the prince blush, but his ears and neck also turned red.
But he did not dare to disobey the emperor's order. Besides, he was not really resisting in his heart. He still had some secret expectations. The prince finally leaned forward half of his body and allowed his father to feed him a piece of dessert. After eating it, the prince felt that today's rose chestnut flour cake was particularly sweet.
"My prince was shy and turned into a cooked prawn, his whole body red~" Yinzuo also used his two little hands to gesture the shrimp's whiskers on his head.
Kangxi was amused by his description and couldn't help laughing heartily.
"Why are you shy? I changed your diapers when you were little."
This time, the prince really wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide in. How could the emperor say this in front of Xiaoliu!
"Emperor Father!"
After listening to this, Yinzuo covered his mouth and laughed secretly.
"What's the big deal? I haven't even mentioned the time when you wet the bed when you were three years old." Kangxi didn't think there was anything that couldn't be said.
Yinzuo looked at the bright and cheerful prince brother in shock. It turned out that the prince brother also wet the bed when he was a child. He has not wet the bed since he was two years old.
The prince suddenly made eye contact with Yinzuo, and instantly understood the meaning of his eyes. He was almost embarrassed to death.
"Your Majesty, please give me some face!" The prince rarely asked the emperor in a pleading tone.
Kangxi was very pleased with this. In this way, he knew that Baocheng still depended on him. Although Baocheng was now the crown prince praised by all the ministers in the court, he still needed his royal father.
"Okay, okay, I won't tell anyone. Yinzuo is not an outsider, he won't tell anyone."
Yinzuo immediately raised his little hand and said firmly: "Don't worry, Prince. I swear that I will never tell anyone that you wet the bed when you were three years old!"
The prince once again faced a wave of social disapproval. He covered his face helplessly and didn't want to talk anymore.
"Father Emperor, can you tell Xiaoliu more about the Crown Prince's childhood~" Yinzuo suddenly wanted to know more about the Crown Prince, of course only the part about the negative information.
"You want to hear it, I think about it... I got it! When Baocheng was little, the threshold was not high yet, so it was not very convenient for him to enter and exit the Palace of Heavenly Purity. But he was very proud and refused to let the eunuchs and maids hold him. One time, he got stuck on the threshold, unable to go up or down, and could only look at me with tears in his eyes..."
It was a rare opportunity for Kangxi to meet someone with whom he could talk freely about Baocheng's affairs without any worries. He was immediately very excited and could not stop. In the end, he told Yinzuo everything.
The Crown Prince on the side could neither stop the Emperor's father from speaking nor stop Xiaoliu from listening. He could only force himself to pretend that nothing had happened and try to maintain his dignity as the Crown Prince and an older brother. When the Emperor's father said something that was not true, he would refute him.
Yinzuo just watched the fun the whole time and kept asking questions.
"Then what?"
"What else?"
"And then?"
The father and his two sons not only ate up all the snacks served, but also had lunch together.
In the end, Yinzuo not only ate his fill, but also brought back a lot of things given by his brother the Crown Prince and his father the Emperor.
While having dinner, Yinzuo couldn't help laughing when he thought of the embarrassing stories his father had told him about his brother, the Crown Prince.
This confused the Imperial Concubine and his brother.
"What's wrong? You can't stop laughing. Tell me so that I and your brother can have some fun."
"Today, the Emperor talked about a lot of things about the Crown Prince's childhood. It was really funny~"
"What's the big deal? I thought it was something funny. Everyone made jokes when they were young. It's not just the prince. Your brother also did a lot of things that made people laugh when he was young."
"Really? Royal Madam, please tell me soon. I really want to know~" Yinzuo looked at the Royal Concubine expectantly.
The Imperial Concubine glanced at Yinzhen who was sitting seriously and said deliberately: "Okay, then I will tell you."
Hearing this, Yinzhen paused his chewing for a moment, but he quickly covered it up and continued to eat his dinner as if nothing had happened, as if it had nothing to do with him.
"When your brother just learned to walk, he was just over one year old. It was winter at that time, and he was going to attend a palace banquet. When he arrived at the palace gate, he refused to be carried and insisted on walking by himself."
"And then?" Yinzuo was a very qualified supporting actor.
"But it was winter, and it just started to snow. My Lord didn't think it was a big deal, so I just let him go."
"What else?"
"As a result, as soon as he landed on the ground, he slipped and fell." When they said this, both the Imperial Noble Consort and Yinzuo laughed.
"What happened next? Did my brother cry?"
"He was wearing thick clothes at the time, so he probably didn't get hurt. After Nanny helped him up, your eldest brother, your prince brother, and your third brother just happened to walk past him. Your third brother, in particular, ran in. He was so angry that he insisted on trying again and walked in by himself."
"So what happened again?"
"He did take a few steps, but it was snowing heavily and the soles of his shoes were covered with snow foam. After he entered the hall, the snow on the soles of his shoes slowly melted and became very slippery. He fell again in public and cried this time, not because he was hurt, but because he felt embarrassed for losing face in front of so many people."
After hearing this, Yinzuo laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back and tears came out of his eyes.
Yinzhen on the side really couldn't remember anything. He guessed that it happened before he was reborn, so he didn't feel embarrassed at all. He looked indifferent and even poured a cup of tea for the Imperial Concubine and Yinzuo and pushed it in front of them.
"Royal Mother, please tell Xiaoliu some more interesting things that happened to my brother when he was a child~" Yinzuo felt that Royal Mother knew much more about his brother than my mother did.
"Since Xiaoliu wants to hear it and your brother doesn't care, I will continue to tell you. Don't be fooled by your brother's calmness and maturity. He was not like this when he was little. He was like you and liked to laugh. When he was little, he had thick fat on his face. Everyone who saw him loved to pinch it, especially since he was the only prince in the palace at that time. The Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother couldn't help but touch him every time they saw him. Even I loved to pinch him for fun."
Yinzuo suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the royal mother was so skilled in pinching her, it turned out that she had practiced on her brother's face~
The author has something to say:
Thank you for the birthday wishes from my little cuties, muah~
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