Yinzuo heard his brother stop the Imperial Mother's personal maid outside the palace and ask her about the details of the Imperial Mother's current situation. Yinzuo could not understand many of the words they said.
After a while, Yinzuo heard his brother's footsteps walking into the bedroom.
"The royal mother is still asleep, brother, what is going on?"
"The imperial physician said that he had been depressed for many years and his internal organs were out of balance. He needed to rest well."
"Depressed?" Yinzuo had a rough guess in his mind. Could it be because of the position of empress? In recent years, the shadow of the death of the eighth sister has been overcome by the imperial concubine. As the head of the harem, she has a noble status. If there is anything that is not satisfactory, it is probably that she has not been able to ascend to the position of empress.
The two brothers did not continue talking for fear of disturbing her rest, and just stayed quietly by her bedside.
As the sun sets, the sunlight coming in from the window becomes increasingly dim. Yinzuo notices that there are many tiny particles of dust in that beam of light, just like the nebulae scattered in the vast universe, so numerous that they are countless. People in this world are just like these particles of dust and nebulae. The world changes, from birth to gradual extinction. This is the law that no one can escape or change.
Suddenly the dust turned turbid, and there was a noise outside. Then, a bright yellow figure strode in.
"How is the Imperial Concubine?"
The two brothers bowed and greeted the emperor, who casually raised his hand to signal them to stand up.
As Yinzhen was the elder brother, he naturally answered. He gave a brief explanation and Kangxi frowned as he listened.
"Depressed?"
What else could the Imperial Concubine be dissatisfied with? The entire harem was handed over to her. Now she was second only to the emperor and above everyone else. Apart from him and the Empress Dowager, she was the most respected person in the harem. Kangxi really couldn't understand it.
At this moment, the person lying on the bed moved and opened her eyes, and she immediately struggled to get up.
"I am sorry for being rude. I didn't know that the emperor had arrived and failed to greet him in time. I hope the emperor will forgive me."
Kangxi hurriedly supported her, only then he realized how thin her body was, and her bones even hurt his hands. He was stunned for a moment, then lowered his voice.
"You are ill, so you should avoid these ceremonies if possible. Just lie down. I am busy with the Spring Examination today, so I came to see you now. Are you tired from handling the ceremonies?"
When the Imperial Noble Consort heard this, she knew in her heart that the Emperor did not accept her depression. Yes, she was already the Imperial Noble Consort. In the eyes of the Emperor, she should be content. What was there to be unhappy about?
"That's probably the case. I didn't feel anything at first, so I fainted suddenly."
"Then take a good rest for a while. As for the palace affairs, let the Imperial Concubine and the Four Concubines handle them for the time being. I will be relieved if you recover soon."
"I'm sorry to have made Your Majesty worried. It's my fault. Your Majesty can make the final decision on everything."
Kangxi personally watched the Imperial Noble Consort drink the medicine before leaving.
Before leaving, he called the two brothers outside and asked Yinzuo, "Do you want to go on this southern tour, Xiaoliu?"
Of course Yinzuo thought about it. He looked back in the direction of the bedroom, but finally refused.
"No, Father Huang, I would like to take a few more days off to accompany my mother."
Kangxi patted his shoulder and nodded.
"That's fine. Xiaoliu, you are always so filial. I am very happy. Then you two brothers can accompany her more on my behalf. I still have government affairs to deal with. You don't have to send me off. Go back quickly."
Kangxi eventually left Beijing and did not take the matter to heart.
Yinzuo had not been able to accompany the emperor on several trips, and naturally felt a little regretful. The previous trip to Mount Wutai was for Qionghua, and this time during the southern tour, the imperial concubine was sick again, and he didn't know when he would have the opportunity to travel far away next time.
The Imperial Concubine was ill, and before the Emperor passed away, he specifically ordered the palaces not to disturb her, so apart from the brothers Yinzhen and Yinzo, there was no one else in Chengqian Palace. Yinzhen was not talkative, so most of the time it was Yinzo who racked his brains to come up with jokes and make everyone happy.
"Okay, take a rest. You're sweating. Don't catch a cold." The Imperial Noble Concubine's eyes never left Yinzuo.
"Royal Mother, are you happy now?" Yinzuo asked after sitting down and drinking a cup of tea.
"I am happy. I am naturally happy to have you in my presence."
Yinzuo said with a smile: "If you say so, then when I go to the study to study, I am not in front of you, so you will be unhappy, right?"
The Imperial Concubine's expression was stiff for a moment, but she covered it up by taking the embroidered handkerchief from her lapel.
"You are so good at flattering yourself. You are so grown up, but you are not ashamed. By the way, your royal father sent a letter yesterday saying that you have arrived in Yangzhou now. The people are welcoming you with colorful decorations. It is very lively. They also sent many fashionable items from Jiangnan. You can pick some for yourself later."
"The Emperor really cares about you the most. There are no other things and letters in the palace." Yinzuo said this deliberately to please her.
"How dare you, kid, make fun of me? Of course, each palace has some. I am asking the servants to divide them up and send them to each palace later. You two brothers have been guarding me all day long. I am afraid you haven't visited Concubine De for a while. It's a good opportunity for you to go there in person with the things. I also want to be quiet for a while."
"Are you annoyed with me and my brother? We will be back later! We won't leave!" After saying this, Yinzuo ran away with a smile.
Two pieces of fabric were sent to Concubine De, sparkling in the sun, and embroidered with Jiangnan Suzhou embroidery, with bright colors, very eye-catching. At this moment, Concubine De just wanted to try it on herself under Yinzuo's constant pestering.
"Xiao Liu insisted that mother change into it. This is Hanfu. If others see it, they will laugh at mother for being inappropriate." Defei rarely wears such bright colors.
"This was given by the Emperor himself. How dare others say these things? When my mother puts on these Han women's clothes, she is indeed better than Xi Shi and even better than Feiyan! It's just that her hair doesn't match well." Yinzuo's compliments were as exaggerated as possible.
"How can it be like what you said? Wang Shi is probably more suitable for the clothes than mother, she is younger."
The Wang mentioned by Defei is none other than the Han Chinese woman brought back from Jiangnan during Kangxi's last southern tour. She was initially hidden in Changchun Garden and has now entered the palace. Although she has not been officially promoted, she is very favored. Like Defei, she appears to be a gentle woman at first glance.
"In my eyes, mother is the most beautiful woman! It's not like you haven't been young before, and others may not have the charm you have now. Besides, mother, you are only in your twenties, and you are still young. People who don't know you would think you are only in your twenties, in your prime. Even if you are in your seventies or eighties, you are still the most beautiful among the old ladies. There is a saying that goes, time cannot defeat beauty~"
Defei was amused by him and laughed, and was in a good mood.
"You are not in your twenties anymore. You will be thirty soon. Is your mouth filled with honey today? It seems that you don't need to eat this snack anymore."
"Oh! It's not your birthday yet, we are already in our twenties. My brother and I eagerly sent you such beautiful clothes, but you didn't even let me eat something delicious. I heard from my third brother before that people say that the youngest son and the eldest grandson are the lifeblood of the old lady. It turns out that now that mother has a younger brother, she doesn't love us anymore!"
Yinzuo pretended to be aggrieved and acted pitifully on purpose.
The palace maids in the hall couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Why don't you serve snacks to the two princes quickly? If it's any later, won't I really be accused of favoring the Fourteenth Prince?" Defei ordered with a wry smile.
Aunt Qing just walked in with a smile on her face, holding some freshly made snacks, still hot.
"The snacks are here, please try them, brothers."
Yinzuo finally calmed down while eating snacks.
Defei personally poured him a cup of tea and placed it next to him to prevent him from eating too fast and choking himself.
"How is the Imperial Concubine? Is she feeling better?"
Yinzhen saw Yinzuo eating, so he took the initiative to answer: "I am much better now. Yinzuo and I will go back in two days."
"That's good, I'm glad you're alright."
Defei had seen too many women in the palace die overnight. The Imperial Noble Concubine had taken good care of the Yonghe Palace over the years, and it was thanks to her careful care that Yinzhen and Yinzuo grew up safely. Defei still hoped for the best for her.
After swallowing the snack in his mouth, Yinzuo couldn't help but ask: "Mother, don't be unhappy, and don't tire yourself out. I hope you will always be healthy. In a few years, I can move out of the palace to build a mansion. By then, I will definitely build your house beautifully.
I will bring you out to live with me in the future. We can go hiking in the spring, escape the heat in the summer, experience the harvest in the fall, and soak in hot springs in the winter. What do you think?"
Concubine De smiled and nodded, and replied softly, "Very good, then mother will wait for you to take her out to enjoy happiness."
"No problem! When I can do my job, I will work hard and ask the emperor for a reward. It would be best if I could get a few more royal farms. That way, we won't have to worry about not being able to afford meat~"
Concubine De burst out laughing and subconsciously looked at her eldest son.
"Xiao Liu, do you still remember what your mother told you when you were a child?"
It was because Yinzuo was unwilling to study that Yinzhen came to her to discuss the plan. The mother and son set up a plan for Yinzuo. Unexpectedly, after so many years, the child still kept it in mind. Defei felt a little guilty and wondered whether she should explain it.
Yinzhen shook his head slightly and took over the conversation.
"I can't speak, and the Emperor doesn't like me very much. I'll have to rely on you to take care of me in the future. Don't be like what you said to the third brother that day, and become more and more distant from your brother as you grow older."
Yinzuo waved his hands repeatedly.
"How could that be! Brother will always be my brother. If I get a farm, I will definitely give half of it to you, brother."
"What about Little Fourteen? You just said that mother is partial to you, but aren't you being partial?" Concubine De teased him with a smile.
"Little Fourteen is also a younger brother, so naturally he has to work hard and take care of me and my brother in the future. What's more, Little Fourteen is so good at acting like a spoiled child, the Emperor will definitely not treat him badly. My brother, on the other hand, is not talkative and doesn't know how to please others, so he needs my care more! Mother, don't you think so?" Yinzuo analyzed seriously.
Concubine De opened her mouth and looked at her eldest son. It was indeed true. She had five children in total. The other four were good at acting like spoiled brats, so she always paid more attention to and loved them more, and ignored her eldest son who didn't talk much.
"...Yes, you should take better care of your brother."
Fortunately, there was always a Xiaoliu who cared about Yinzhen, so that she, as his mother, would not feel too guilty.
"We are a family, it's our duty to take care of each other~" Yinzuo looked at his brother with a smile.
"Also, mother, this snack is so delicious. Please prepare an extra box so that I can take it back~" Yinzuo came over and acted coquettishly.
"I have already given the order. Before you return to the South Third Residence in two days, come again and bring some back to share with the other princes. You are brothers, so you should be harmonious and friendly with each other. Your Royal Father will be even happier if he knows."
"Got it." Yinzuo nodded casually.
"By the way, Prince...have you met with you two recently?" Defei asked suddenly.
Yinzuo shook his head, but Yinzhen nodded.
"My second brother asked me for help with something, and I happened to have nothing to do these days, so I helped him out."
Concubine De looked at him deeply and said softly, "Just be careful about your behavior."
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