Yinzuo stood in front of the emperor's bedroom, but did not step in rashly, even though it was not his first time here. He had slept here two or three years ago.
"Eunuch Liang, is the Emperor in there?"
"The Emperor is still in the Imperial Study, but he will be here soon. Sixth Prince, please go inside and wait."
"Yeah." Yinzuo walked into the hall and sat on the couch holding a hot water bottle. Although it was already February, it was still a bit cold.
"Then Sixth Prince, just sit and wait. I will go to the Imperial Study to take a look myself."
"Okay, Eunuch Liang, you can go ahead and don't worry about me."
It was really boring to just sit there, so Yinzuo started chatting with the palace maids serving in the palace.
"What time does the Emperor go to bed every day? Does he sleep well?"
"In reply to Sixth Prince, the Emperor goes to bed around midnight every day, and he doesn't ask us to turn off the lights. I don't know if the Emperor sleeps well."
Yinzuo nodded thoughtfully. He went to bed at midnight and was not asked to turn off the lights, which meant he was not asleep. Maybe he was missing Ukuma Ma alone in the middle of the night and kept his eyes open until dawn.
"Is the emperor's recent meal delicious?"
The palace maid shook her head gently.
"What else are you talking about?" The curtain at the entrance of the palace was lifted and Kangxi strode in.
Yinzuo stood up and saluted.
"Greetings to the Emperor Father, may the Emperor Father be blessed."
"Get up, sit down. I asked you to come here because today is your birthday. Among all the great-grandchildren of the Empress Dowager, you are the one she cares about the most. If she knew that I had neglected you, she would definitely be unhappy."
Yinzuo stood up and sat opposite the emperor's father. He could clearly see the haggardness and weakness on the emperor's father's face.
"My son was just asking on behalf of Ukuma whether the emperor slept well and slept soundly. I didn't believe the palace maid's answer just now, but now I see the emperor's face, I have to believe it. If Ukuma knew that the emperor didn't take care of himself, I'm afraid she would be even angrier, and not only angry but also heartbroken."
Kangxi's expression was like the moment when the storm had just stopped, with a hint of warmth emerging.
"Yes, every time I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, she would always ask me these two questions. I missed her so much that I couldn't sleep at night or eat. It was my fault that she was worried."
"Father Emperor, I know some very effective ways to help you sleep well. As for eating, everyone says that when they watch me eat, their appetite will also increase. Why not let me accompany you to eat and try it out?"
"Okay, then tell me what you have to say. What are the methods?"
"First of all, I would find some obscure books to read. I would feel dizzy after reading them, and then I would naturally feel sleepy!"
Kangxi chuckled and shook his head, thinking that Xiaoliu was indeed a child at heart. At his age, he could read any obscure book as long as he calmed down.
"But I have read thousands of books in the past thirty years. I am afraid this method will not work for me. Forget it, forget it."
"Father Emperor! How do you know it's useless if you haven't even tried it? Moreover, even if you are familiar with the works of various philosophers, there are still Western books. They are all in foreign languages. Father Emperor, can you understand them all?"
Kangxi was stunned. He really didn’t dare to be so arrogant.
"In that case, I will order someone to find some foreigners who can speak Chinese and bring some foreign books as tribute to give it a try."
He was already quite interested in the Western world. Apart from Tsarist Russia, which had been invading the northern border, he heard that there were dozens of other countries in the West, each with its own writing system and language, completely unlike the Qing Dynasty, which used Chinese characters and spoke Chinese.
"I heard from my prince brother that there are many foreigners from the southern coast who come here to serve as missionaries. What they write and what they say are very different from ours. If the emperor finds someone who can speak Chinese, please let me meet him. I have a lot of questions to ask them!"
"I will agree to your request, but you just said you were offering me a solution, why are you asking for my mercy?"
"Hehe~" Yinzuo laughed foolishly twice.
"There are other ways! Don't worry, Father Huang. We brothers practice martial arts and archery with Waian Da every afternoon. Compared to my brothers who are so comfortable, I am always very tired, but I always sleep very well at night!"
"So? You want me to go down with you guys to practice martial arts and archery every day?"
Yinzuo waved his hands again and again, and said anxiously: "No, no! That's not what I meant! Father Huang, look, you stay in the imperial study every day to review memorials, sitting there all day without taking a break.
Didn't the famous doctor Hua Tuo also say that people should "balance movement and stillness, and work and rest in moderation"? Father Huang, you can take some time to practice the Five Animals Exercises, or practice with the guards, or even better, give some advice to us brothers!"
After hearing these words, Kangxi was in a good mood. He felt that his youngest son said so much just because of this last sentence, that he wanted him, the emperor, to accompany him. In addition, when the little six looked at him, his eyes were full of admiration, which made him even more certain.
"You are so old, but you are still so clingy. I am busy with state affairs, so how can I find time to practice martial arts with you every day? The maximum time I can go is once every three days. Don't be greedy anymore." Kangxi finally warned the child not to push his luck.
Yinzuo, who had absolutely no such intention, opened his mouth, but didn't know how to defend himself. Well, as long as the emperor was willing to move his body more, it would be considered that he, as a son, had fulfilled his filial piety. It was just a misunderstanding, and it wasn't a big deal.
"Then it's settled. Father, once you say something, you can't go back on your word! You must remember this~" Yinzuo's expression was serious.
"Remember it. Can I still deceive you?" Kangxi said with a smile.
Gurgle, Yinzuo's stomach suddenly started singing the empty city plan, and Kangxi on the opposite side heard it clearly.
Yinzuo's face turned red and he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Kangxi laughed heartily and ordered, "Didn't you hear that Sixth Prince is hungry? Hurry up and serve the meal."
When the people in the imperial court went to the imperial kitchen to pass on the message, the steward of the imperial kitchen came forward tremblingly to inquire about the emperor's mood at the moment, fearing that the emperor would be unhappy and not enjoy his meal, and would punish the people in the imperial kitchen. Then they would have no place to appeal.
"How is it? The emperor is not angry today, right? Good brother! Give me the answer quickly!"
The eunuch in front of the emperor smiled and said, "You are lucky. The Sixth Prince is with the Emperor right now. The Emperor is very happy. Today is the Sixth Prince's birthday. I have already told you to prepare a few dishes to serve. But don't make this young master unhappy. The Emperor will probably be even angrier then."
"How could that be possible! Don't worry, we all know Sixth Prince's taste. In the past, the Imperial Concubine pampered Sixth Prince very much, so we dare not neglect him!"
"Hurry up, don't keep the Emperor and Sixth Prince waiting for too long."
Soon, the table was filled with nearly fifty dishes. This was because Kangxi did not eat meat during the mourning period, so the size was reduced by almost half. Even so, it was much larger than the one in Chengqian Palace.
"Eat. Didn't you say that watching you eat can whet one's appetite? Then I'll watch."
Although Kangxi said this, it was only to prevent Yinzuo from worrying about him and not daring to eat as much as he wanted. A child of this age is in the period of growing up, and he is an experienced person and knows that he cannot be hungry.
"Then I won't be polite!" Yinzuo was indeed hungry, and immediately ordered the eunuch to serve him some dishes.
Then he would lower his head and stuff the food into his mouth in big mouthfuls. Because he is good-looking, this behavior not only does not make people feel uncomfortable, but it also easily wins the favor of others, making people think that he is straightforward and cute.
"You should eat it too, my dear father. This watermelon bowl contains candied lotus seeds, candied water chestnuts, lychees, and snow pears. It has a refreshing taste and rich fruity aroma. It's delicious~"
Seeing how happy he was eating, Kangxi accepted the recommendation.
"Then I'll try it."
Liang Jiugong quickly brought a new watermelon cup to Kangxi.
Kangxi took a few bites and praised, "It's good. There aren't many watermelons offered as tribute this winter. Since you like them, I'll give them all to you. If you want to eat them, ask your servants to go to the imperial kitchen to get them."
"Thank you, Father!" Yinzuo loved eating these sweet foods the most.
"Father, please try this pickled vegetable. The sauce is so fragrant! I couldn't help but eat half of it! If you don't eat it, I will eat it all~"
"This dipping sauce is a way of eating that has been passed down from our ancestors. The Empress Dowager loves this dish very much. I will try it."
While Kangxi was eating, he was thinking of the Empress Dowager. He was happy and his appetite improved.
"There is also this tofu and kelp soup, which is soft and fresh. It tastes great whether you drink the soup or eat the ingredients inside." Yinzuo continued to strongly recommend the dishes that he thought were delicious to his father.
Yinzuo used words to incite and his greedy eating habits to increase his persuasiveness. Before Kangxi knew it, he ate a lot at dinner.
Kangxi put down his chopsticks only when he realized that he was a little full. He took a deep look at the little guy in front of him. He saw that he was a filial and smart child. It was obvious that thinking of ways to coax him to eat was more sincere than just telling him to take care of his body in a dry voice.
His love for the little guy deepened.
"I know you've always liked to tend to flowers and plants since you were little. Once I caught you getting yourself covered in mud, and I remember scolding you."
"It all happened a long time ago. I know that the emperor scolded me because he cared about me. If he didn't care about me, he would definitely not care about me." Yinzuo did have some resentment at that time, but that was all in the past and it didn't matter.
"I'm glad you think this way. When the Empress Dowager was alive, she also loved to take care of flowers and plants. There is a flower garden in the Cining Palace. I'm giving it to you as a gift to celebrate your birthday. I believe you will help the Empress Dowager take good care of it."
Liang Jiugong personally walked forward holding the box containing the key. Yinzuo took it in his hand and looked at it carefully.
"Thank you, Father! This birthday gift is the most precious one I have ever received! I will take good care of it. However, Father, can I make a small request?"
"you say."
"Can I take one day out every five days, not go to the study, and go to the Cining Palace to take care of the flowers and plants left by Ukuma Ma?"
Kangxi remembered that he had promised the Empress Dowager that he would not let the child take on too heavy schoolwork and would let him live a carefree life.
"Yes."
"Long live the Emperor!" Yinzuo jumped happily holding the keys.
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