104. Chapter 104
"none"
Snowflakes fluttered and swirled through the air. The large, gold-plated characters for "Xian'an Palace" on the blue plaque were now covered in snow, looking gray.
The biting cold wind whirled through the corridor, and in an instant, his entire body was frozen solid. Qi You wrapped himself in his cloak, stretched his stiff legs, and stepped forward.
The eunuchs and guards guarding the gate heard the noise, hunched their necks and looked out, with a look of impatience on their faces.
Qi You rarely spent time in the capital, so he looked unfamiliar to them. After a while, their faces changed, and they ran out with smiles on their faces, bowing and greeting them.
The guard in charge of the keys trotted forward and busied himself with opening the side door.
The keys clashed, a chilling sound echoing through the clatter. After unlocking the door, the guard pushed. It seemed stuck, and it wouldn't budge. He exerted more force, and the hinges creaked harshly, barely opening it halfway.
Qi You stared at the half-open side door for a while, then walked in. The door creaked behind him, then closed again and locked.
The snow covered the ground in a white layer, covering the weeds and dead trees. The paint on the columns was mottled, as if covered with moss.
On the broken bright yellow glazed tiles under the eaves, a few sparrows, their tails cocked, pecked at something. Hearing the noise, they chirped in unison, flapped their wings, and fled.
Shi, who was inside the house, heard the noise, opened the door a crack, and looked out cautiously. Seeing Qi You, De Gao, and Gui He, who were carrying packages, she was shocked, quickly opened the door, and ran forward to greet them.
Qi You nodded in return, calling her "Second Sister-in-law." Shi, whose cheekbones were so thin she moved them, squeezed a thin sound from her throat as she responded. She smoothed her wind-blown hair around her ears, revealing a mix of gray and black.
Qi You was in a daze for a moment, and his eyes felt dry.
"Who?!" A hoarse voice mixed with impatience came from the East Warm Pavilion, followed by a woman's moans and panting.
Shi lowered her head, her face turning red and white, as if she was neither crying nor laughing.
Qi You frowned and answered loudly: "Second brother, it's me!"
The room was silent for a moment, then there was a rustling sound, followed by an impatient whisper: "Get dressed and get out!"
Qi You sighed secretly, gestured to Gao Guihe, and said softly to Shi: "Second sister-in-law, I just came back from Guangzhou and brought you and your second brother some local specialties. They are not expensive, just for your convenience."
Shi sighed twice and hurried forward to take it, but was afraid of neglecting Qi You, so she stood there at a loss as to what to do.
Qi You couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he stopped when he heard the noise coming from the East Warm Pavilion and walked over.
When they reached the door, a young woman with her collar still open rushed out with her head lowered, bowed to Qi You, and walked out quickly sideways.
The room was dimly lit, and Qi You took a moment to adjust before he could see clearly. The deposed Crown Prince Yinreng had gained weight, his face the size of a steamed bun, and his eyes were swollen, their pupils a mere line. The half-worn brocade robe he wore was so tight it constricted his body, and the buttons seemed poised to fly off at any moment.
Yinreng stood in front of the couch with his hair loose, staring at Qi You in a daze, muttering, "Is it really the Seventh Brother?"
Qi You smiled as he stepped forward to greet him, calling him "Second Brother." Yinreng stirred, a look of sarcasm on his face, and said, "Oh, I can't bear your courtesy. Now I have to pay my respects and kneel down to greet you." After saying this, he pretended to kneel.
There were several charcoal basins in the corner, the black charcoal was pungent, the air in the room was turbid, and there was an indescribable strange smell.
Qi You ignored Yinreng and walked over to open the window frame.
Yinreng bent his legs and saw that Qi You did not try to stop him, so he froze there, unable to kneel or stand up.
The cool air from outside rushed in, and Qi You felt a little better. He turned to look at Yinreng, pointed at his broken buttons, and said bluntly, "Second brother, get up. You're really uncomfortable like this."
Yinreng snorted, stood up, straightened his robes, and said, "This place is not as good as your palace. If you don't mind, you can sit anywhere."
Qi You closed the window frame, leaving a small gap, walked over and sat down on the couch.
Yinreng picked up the teapot, poured a cup of half-warm tea, and handed it to him, saying, "The third and fourth brothers have been ordered to guard Xian'an Palace. Do you have their consent for you to come?"
Kangxi's complex expression surfaced in Qi You's mind. It took him a long time before he mumbled something incoherent.
Qi You took a sip of tea and said, "I have Khan Ama's permission. I will go to see my elder brother later."
Yinreng's hand, holding the teapot, paused in mid-air. After a moment, he put the teapot down and laughed. His laughter grew louder and louder, and the sound was eerie, like the whimpering of a cold wind or the whine of a broken bellows.
Qi You looked at Yinreng with a calm expression. He laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face. He bent over and coughed violently. His coughs were so deafening that he could hardly breathe.
Shi walked to the door in panic, lifted the curtain and looked inside the house in panic.
Qi You looked up, nodded at her, and comforted her: "Second sister-in-law, it's okay."
Shi's shoulders slumped, and she tried to force a smile at Qi You. She lowered the door curtain and left quietly.
Qi You looked at the swaying door curtain, remained silent for a moment, picked up the kettle and filled Yinreng's tea bowl, and said, "Second brother, have a drink of water."
Yinreng stood up slowly like an old woman in her seventies or eighties, raised his sleeves, wiped his face casually, grabbed the tea bowl and gulped down the tea.
Throwing the tea bowl down with a bang, Yinreng's bloodshot eyes were filled with resentment and hatred. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm fine. I want to live a good life and make those people who laugh at me die of anger!"
Qi You thought for a moment and asked softly, "Second brother, who are you angry with?"
Yinreng looked at Qi You suddenly, veins bulging on his forehead, and said angrily: "Shouldn't I be angry and hate you? I'm already like this, what else do I have to lose or be afraid of! At worst, I'll die, at worst, I'll die!"
The hatred was so strong that Qi You lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and said, "Hongxi still lives in the palace. Second brother, please look at your second sister-in-law and your children. Perhaps, I say this with the intention of speaking without any hesitation. But I still have to say, second brother, I accept the loss."
Yinreng's breathing was rapid, with a frantic light in his eyes. He stared at Qi You and roared, "I don't accept it! Seventh Brother, I have been the crown prince for almost forty years, forty years! Seventh Brother, you have read so many books, but is there any old crown prince like me in history books, living under his nose everywhere? What to eat, what to wear, what to read, what to do, who to serve around, are all decided by others. A crown prince who can't even breathe freely? I don't owe anyone anything. This position of crown prince was earned for me by my mother, my uncle and his family. I don't owe anyone anything, no one!"
Qi You picked up the teapot and poured another cup of tea for Yinreng. He said, "Second brother, no matter how much resentment you have in your heart, now that things have come to this, what can you do? Live well and make life easier for your family. This is the only thing you can do right now."
Yinreng's tears suddenly flowed out, he covered his face with his hands, his shoulders twitched, and he cried silently.
Qi You did not try to persuade him, but sat quietly beside him and watched Yinreng cry. When he finished crying, he handed him a clean handkerchief and some tea.
Yinreng took the handkerchief without hesitation, wiped his face, and drank a few sips of tea. Although his eyes were getting more swollen, he seemed relieved. He exhaled deeply and said in a hoarse voice, "Seventh Brother, when I was defeated, everyone avoided me as much as possible. You came to see me and called me Second Brother. I appreciate your kindness."
Qi You smiled and said, "There's nothing I can do. With me in the capital, you don't have to worry too much about food and clothing. I can't provide you with fine clothes and delicious food, but I can ensure that you have enough to eat and wear warmly. Tomorrow I'll have someone send in some good charcoal and a few sets of clothes that fit you."
Yinreng subconsciously lowered his head, and seeing his bloated body, his expression darkened. He said self-deprecatingly, "I'm locked up in this hellhole, with not even a piece of paper the size of a fingernail visible. Besides stuffing my stomach with pig food and having fun with women, what else can I do? The days are long, the days and nights are endless. I can't let my mind be empty. If it is, I'll start to have wild thoughts and go crazy."
Qi You frowned and said, "Next year I plan to send Hong Nuan to study at Shunyi School. I will talk to Khan Amat and ask my nephews and nieces to go to Shunyi together. It will be good for them to have company when they study together."
Yinreng stared at Qi You blankly, his nose sore. He smiled sadly and said, "It's me who has implicated my children. Seventh Brother, I leave everything to you." After saying this, he stood up and saluted.
Qi You quickly stopped him and said, "Second brother, please sit down and don't be so polite. You should move around more. Being too fat is not good."
Yinreng insisted on greeting Qi You, staring at him with a sharp gaze. He glanced outside the room and said in a low voice, "Seventh Brother, I have another favor to ask of you. Get Hongxi to live outside the palace."
Qi You met Yinreng's gaze and said frankly, "He's too young. Let him stay. With someone watching over him, nothing will happen."
Yinreng was stunned for a long moment, then he slumped down on the couch and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, if he were to go out and be provoked by someone with ulterior motives, it would only harm him."
Qi You looked at the sky, stood up and said, "Second brother, I have to go. Please take care of yourself."
Yinreng slowly stood up and walked Qiyou to the door. When they passed each other, he quietly stuffed the paper ball in his hand into Qiyou's hand, waved his hand, and said, "I can't go out, so I won't see you off any longer."
Qi You squeezed his palms and nodded to Shi who came over to see him off, "Second sister-in-law, please stay."
After leaving Xian'an Palace, Qi You arrived at the residence of the Xianzhi County Prince. Like Xian'an Palace, the once magnificent palace now had a mottled paint gate and was stained with decay and desolation.
Yinzhi was different from Yinreng. He was incredibly thin, with deep eye sockets and his robe hanging on his body, swaying as he walked back and forth.
When he saw Qi You, he was stunned for a moment, then rushed over quickly, grabbed Qi You with his skinny hands, and laughed wildly like a crow: "Seventh Brother, you're here, it's great, you're here!"
Qi You waved his hand, called him "Big Brother", and turned around to look around. After all, it was the former royal palace. Although the room was cold, it was better than Xian'an Palace.
Yinzhi stopped laughing, looked at Qi You suspiciously, and asked, "How could you get in when there are so many guards outside?"
He paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he said quickly and expectantly, "Are you here to let me out? Has Khan Ama found out that I've been wrongly accused?"
Qi You just stared at Yinzhi, cruelly piercing his fantasy, and said, "I asked Khan Ama to come and see you. I just returned to the capital today. I visited my second brother on the way, and came to see you after leaving the palace."
The light in Yinzhi's eyes faded, and he suddenly spun around, clapping his hands and cursing, "Serves him right! Serves him right! The second son is no good, and the third son is even less so! Seventh son, I'm telling you, the third son has been no good since he was a child. Bah! What's the point of being well-read? He's read nothing but books. He's just a jerk seeking fame!"
Qi You was dizzy from Yinzhi's spinning, so he reached out to hold him back and said, "Brother, stop scolding and sit down for a while."
Yinzhi stopped and looked straight at Qi You. Suddenly, he grabbed Qi You's arm, slowly slid down to the ground, and burst into tears.
The crying was so sad that it could be heard from far away.
When Yinzhi had almost finished crying, Qi You squatted down, gently patted his shoulder, and comforted him: "Brother, the ground is cold. Get up, be careful not to get sick."
Yinzhi cried until his throat was on fire. When his tears dried up, he stood up on his knees and sat back on the couch. He wiped his face carelessly and said in a hoarse voice, "Seventh Brother, you are the only one who can come to see me..."
Qi You saw that Yinzhi had stopped crying, but looked even sadder than if he had been crying. He touched the teapot on the kang table and found it was still slightly warm. He poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying, "Brother, please have some water."
Yinzhi took the tea bowl and took a few sips, then said sadly, "I don't have any good tea to treat you. Look at this tea soup, it's like mud. Now I can only drink this tea. Seventh Brother, if you find it unbearable and can't finish it, I won't blame you."
The tea was old and a little cloudy, definitely not as good as before. Qi You didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard this. Seeing that Yinzhi was still picky about food and clothing, he felt relieved and said, "Brother, I'll have someone send you some tea. I'll go back and prepare some other food and clothing for you. But you have to be patient. I can't provide you with fine clothes and delicious food. I really don't have much money."
Yinzhi squinted at Qi You, sighed softly, and said dejectedly, "How could I not know you? You live on salary and farmland. You treat servants kindly and generously, and you don't take bribes. It's strange that you have money. It's enough that you have this kind heart. I won't be picky now. As a criminal, I am lucky to live one more day. How can I be picky?"
Qi You asked Yinzhi's opinion, just as he had done with Yinreng: "Brother, my nephews and nieces have no one to look after them, and it won't be a good thing for them in the long run. I plan to send Hongnuan to Shunyi School after the New Year. Do you want them to come with me? But my second brother's children also want to go."
Yinzhi was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at something. After a long while, he smiled sadly and said, "We have fought for so many years, and now both of us are hurt. This is the end of our lives. My children can still move on, so let them go. No matter how they treat each other, I can't control it. Let them accept their fate."
Qi You said okay, "Brother, I have to go back. I'll come to see you again when I have the chance. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Yinzhi looked at Qi You, his face full of reluctance and disappointment. He knew that Qi You's words were just a consolation.
It was not easy to get Kangxi's permission to visit him this time. If he came more often, he would anger Kangxi.
Yinzhi's face darkened, bitterness spreading through his mouth as he said, "People in the palace are always snobbish. As for Enie, please ask Concubine Cheng to help look after her. I, as her son, have failed to fulfill my filial duty and have caused her to worry about me all day long. I feel really sorry for her."
Qi You immediately agreed: "Okay, I will talk to Enie about Concubine Hui's mother. Big brother, if you live well, Concubine Hui will be well."
Yinzhi's eyes reddened again, and after a few sobs, he said, "Seventh Brother, when you bring in the gifts, prepare some extra for your sister-in-law. It's almost New Year, so give her some new clothes. She's been married to me for so many years and has given birth to so many children. She's not in good health. She's been imprisoned with me, and she's almost crying herself blind. Seventh Brother, go now. From now on, all your nephews and nieces will be handed over to you."
Qi You thought of the Irgen Jueluo family he had met earlier. She looked even older than Shi, with almost no trace of black in her hair. He nodded and said, "I heard my sister-in-law coughing earlier. I'll go to the Imperial Hospital and get her a prescription and bring some medicine in."
Yinzhi smiled and stood up to see Qi You out. He lowered his voice and whispered a few words in Qi You's ear, then returned to his normal voice and said, "Seventh Brother, bring me some more wine."
Qi You smiled, walked out of the house, and clasped his fists towards Yinzhi, "Brother, go back. Don't drink any more, it's bad for your health."
Yinzhi glared, ready to explode in anger, but Qi You had already turned and strode away. The expression on his face faded, and he stood under the eaves, gazing blankly at a point in the sky. He remained motionless for a long time, almost blending into the wind and snow.
The author has something to say:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2022-12-13 23:42:22 and 2022-12-14 23:22:11~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 1 bottle of Green Xiaomei Qinglian;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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