106. Chapter 106
"none"
The New Year came quickly, and there were several snowfalls in between, and the water outside almost turned into ice.
Qi You didn't know whether the Little Ice Age was over now, or perhaps he had been in the south for a few years and his body was no longer as strong as when he was young.
He felt that the capital was even colder than when he was in the north. As soon as he went outside, the cold air seemed to "slap" his face, making him feel like he was slapping someone and he could hardly breathe.
Hong Nuan and Hong Shu, a brother and sister, were excited for a few days when they first saw the snow, but later they could hardly go out as they both couldn't stand it.
The older one was unhappy and listless in the house, while the younger one was whining and rolling on the floor, clamoring to go out and play.
Qi You would try to find time to accompany the siblings, or wrap them up tightly and go to the palace to talk to Dai Jia.
That evening, Qi You led the siblings out of Jingren Palace, passed Kunning Palace, and planned to leave the palace through Shenwu Gate.
Walking out of the corridor, Qi You saw Hong Xi wrapped in a cloak, standing there in a daze, and couldn't help but pause.
Hong Xi heard the noise and looked over, a look of panic and vulnerability flashing across his face. Seeing it was Qi You, he hurriedly took two steps forward and clasped his fists in greeting.
After Qi You returned to the capital, it was the first time he met Hong Xi. He had grown up in the palace and married there.
Unlike Hongwang and the self-boasting Hongli, he is the only grandson of the Hong generation who actually grew up with Kangxi.
Empress Xiaochengren, Hesheli, lived in Kunning Palace after her wedding to Emperor Kangxi. After her death, Emperor Kangxi had two more empresses, Xiaozhaoren and Xiaoyiren. However, no one lived in Kunning Palace again, and it was only used for daily sacrifices.
Hongxi stood here, and Qi You didn't know whether he was missing Empress Xiaochengren or the glory when Yinreng was still the crown prince.
Qi You smiled and nodded to Hong Xi, then called Hong Nuan and Hong Shu over to greet them and said, "This is Brother Hong Xi."
Hong Shu's chubby face was full of confusion, and he insisted, "Ama, it's uncle."
When he was away from home, Hongshu was used to calling older people uncles and younger people brothers.
Although Hongxi was only in his early twenties, he already had a beard. Coupled with the fatigue revealed between his eyebrows, he looked to be in his early thirties, older than Qi You.
Qi You sighed inwardly and corrected him gently, "This is my elder brother, not my uncle. You are cousins, different from the strangers you usually meet."
Hongshu seemed to understand, but didn't quite understand, and obediently called him brother.
Hongxi was amused by Hongshu's baby voice and said, "Seventh Uncle has been away for so many years that we cousins don't even recognize each other when we meet."
Qi You smiled and said, "In the future, when we are in the capital, we will see each other more often and become familiar with each other. If you have nothing to do, come to my place and have a cup of tea."
Since Yinreng was deposed, everyone else has been avoiding him, and Qi You was the first to invite him to his house. Hongxi's throat choked, and his expression was excited.
But gradually, the light in Hongxi's eyes dimmed again.
Qi You sent charcoal, food, clothes and other things to Xian'an Palace, and people were already talking about it privately. Hongxi, as Yinreng's biological son, could do nothing and even dared not approach Xian'an Palace.
Fearing that he might cause trouble for Qi You, Hong Xi bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Uncle Seventh."
Qi You knew that he was thanking him for Yinreng, so he smiled and said, "It's just a small favor, you don't need to think too much about it. It's too cold outside, go home early."
Hongxi forced a smile and whispered, "Seventh Uncle, the New Year is almost here, and I'll have to trouble you with everything."
During the Spring Festival, every household would be preparing for the New Year. In previous years, Yuqing Palace would have been freshly painted, and the whole place would be filled with joy.
The Forbidden City has been painted everywhere. The vermilion walls, the emerald green eaves, and the bright yellow glazed tiles reflect the white snow, creating a vibrant and bustling scene.
Apart from the empty Yuqing Palace which is overgrown with weeds, there is also the deserted and desolate Xian'an Palace.
Qi You smiled and agreed, "During the New Year, we have to eat pig-killing dishes. I will send half a pig. Back then, your father, your uncle and I carried half a pig back to the palace from Shunyi together."
Hongxi listened intently to Qi You talking about their childhood, his eyes dim.
Hongxi used to hate Yinzhi because he always opposed Yinreng. Now Yinzhi is also imprisoned, and he doesn't know who to hate.
He had fallen from the position of Crown Prince, but it was not the end of the world. He still lived in the palace and Kangxi treated him as usual.
Hongxi became even more terrified, as if he had fallen in mid-air, with his feet feeling empty and without a place to rest.
Hongshu was too impatient to listen to the adults and ran to the corner to step on the snow. Hongnuan couldn't persuade him, but seeing that he was having fun, he simply joined in and stepped on the snow.
Deerskin boots are not very slip-resistant and leak. Qi You quickly stepped forward to stop the two of them, nodded to Hong Xi, and left with the brother and sister.
After walking a long way, Qi You turned around and saw Hong Xi still standing there.
Qi You didn't look at him again.
There are some things that Qi You cannot say to him too much, as it will give him too many illusions and unnecessary hopes.
Qi You couldn't encourage him either, as Hongxi, like Yinreng, was a Saker Falcon imprisoned in a golden cage. It looked mighty, but in reality, it could no longer fly.
Two days after the Kitchen God was sent off, Kangxi set up an altar in Kunning Palace to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God. Qi You entered the palace and followed him to offer sacrifices.
After a series of complicated rituals, Kangxi covered the Kitchen God's mouth with malt sugar and kowtowed again, and the Kitchen God worship finally came to an end.
The bluestone floor of Kunning Palace was so cold it penetrated right into my knees. Add to that the sheer number of people, and the wafting of various smells, like the lingering whirlwind of incense, made the air incredibly stuffy and unpleasant.
When Kangxi stood up, he supported himself on his knees and swayed a little. Liang Jiugong, who was standing beside him, quickly stepped forward and supported him without making a sound.
With Yinzhi and Yinreng absent, Prince Cheng was now at the top of the list. Next in line were Qiyou, the Fourth Beile, and the Fifth Beile, following in order of rank.
When Qi You saw Prince Cheng in front of him, his eyes suddenly widened. He seemed to realize his own impoliteness and quickly lowered his head to cover it up.
Prince Cheng was very alert and quickly looked towards Qi You with a probing look in his eyes.
Qi You didn't dodge or evade, but met his gaze and smiled slightly.
As the person who directly reported Yinzhi's conspiracy to win, Prince Cheng was very uneasy when Qi You sent something to his house. He even had someone write a memorial to accuse Qi You and have him beaten.
Prince Cheng looked uncomfortable, forced a fake smile, and turned his head stiffly.
Kangxi stood up, took Liang Jiugong's arm, glanced at everyone in the room, and said, "Let's all go."
Everyone responded in unison, and only left after Kangxi walked out.
Prince Cheng strode forward, then stopped and turned sideways, smiling at Qi You. "Seventh Brother, you've been in the south for so many years, and now that you're back, you haven't even come to my house to sit and have a cup of tea. We are blood brothers, and even after not seeing each other for decades, we're still as close as ever. Seventh Brother, please don't make things awkward for us."
Qi You smiled and replied, "I went to see my eldest and second brothers first. They have been busy these days, and the children are not used to the climate in the capital, so I didn't go out. I hope Third Brother will forgive me."
When Prince Cheng heard Qi You mention Yinzhi and Yinreng, his expression changed. He laughed and said sarcastically, "Seventh Brother is really something. He remembers the eldest and second brothers who were imprisoned by Khan Ama, but forgets us brothers who are still alive."
Qi You remained calm and said gently, "Don't be angry, Third Brother. If you were imprisoned, I would come to see you and bring you something."
"You!" Prince Cheng didn't expect Qi You to be so disrespectful to him. He was so angry that his eyes went dark. He swung his hand downwards and angrily said, "Seventh Brother, what do you mean by this?"
In the past, Qi You had a very good temper, gentle as jade, and never gave others a hard time. When Prince Cheng was still the Third Prince, Qi You never took to heart the ridicule he made towards him, whether intentional or unintentional.
To this day, Qi You still doesn't bother with Prince Cheng, and they just keep their relationship. He doesn't like to talk about people behind their backs, so he slowed down his tone and said, "Third brother, don't you understand? I mean what I said. If you were imprisoned, I would come to see you. Even if I get beaten up, I wouldn't care, because I have an open mind and am not afraid of any evildoers."
When Prince Cheng was young, Concubine Rong was favored, and he was looked up to by others. As the third of his brothers, he had a disdain for his eldest brother, and the two had always been at odds.
Yinreng was the crown prince and was more famous than Prince Cheng. He could only be ranked behind him and thought that he was actually the second oldest among his brothers.
No matter how well Qi You studied and how many jobs he held, in the eyes of Prince Cheng, he was just a cripple, or what the saying goes, a disabled person.
Facing Qi You's unyielding attitude, Prince Cheng's face turned red and white. Although he was angry, he found that he did not dare to do anything to Qi You.
Qi You stood there calmly, his figure upright, his eyes gentle. From his personal morality to his public morality, he was impeccable.
Eighth Prince stepped forward with a smile and advised Prince Cheng, "Seventh Brother has always been outspoken. He didn't mean to contradict you, he just said what he thought. He always speaks his mind in front of Khan Ama, so please don't be angry, Third Brother."
Upon hearing this, Prince Cheng's rage intensified. The Eighth Prince's implication was that Qi You was eager to have him imprisoned.
The Ninth Prince's eyes rolled, and he continued, "Seventh Brother, you are so friendly and loving to your brothers, but why don't you show any concern for Thirteen? Does that mean Thirteen is no longer your brother?"
Qi You's expression was calm, his gaze cold. He glanced at the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince, who were adding fuel to the fire, and said with a smile, "I sent something in for Thirteen. You guys are always well-informed. Didn't anyone mention it to you? Also, I'm not familiar with Thirteen."
Ninth Prince's expression was gloomy, and he snorted coldly, "So you're not familiar with Thirteenth Prince. I thought Seventh Prince only cared about the useful ones."
Qi You smiled and said, "Hey, it's useful! Ninth brother, what you said is very interesting. It turns out that brothers are meant to be used. Ninth brother, you reminded me that I deeply feel that you are quite useless."
The Ninth Prince's face suddenly fell, and he said angrily: "Don't go too far!"
Qi You said slowly, "If I wanted to bully you, would you still be standing here talking to me? Ninth brother, you have enjoyed benefits that ordinary people cannot enjoy by reincarnating. Be content and don't overdo it."
Of the brothers, Qi You disliked the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince the most. Regarding the Eighth Prince's talent and ability, Qi You only heard a bunch of praise for his good performance. As for any actual deeds, Qi You didn't see them.
The Eighth Prince is good at getting along with everyone and is smooth and smart, which is not a bad thing.
As the saying goes, when a person is in trouble, the character of those around him can be seen clearly. Ba Beile was raised by Concubine Hui since childhood. Regardless of whether he was cared for or not, he should have been filial to Concubine Hui on the surface. However, he was too lazy to even show respect.
After Yinzhi's imprisonment, Concubine Hui suffered a difficult life in the palace. Dai Jiashi once told Qi You that although Concubine Hui's allowance seemed the same as before, it was actually being cut in many places. For example, during the winter, only the charcoal on top was red, while the majority of the charcoal underneath was black, smoky, and charcoal.
Concubine Hui was old, and the green badge had long been removed. In the past, Kangxi would visit her palace, but after Yinzhi was imprisoned, he never set foot there again.
The fickleness of human nature was vividly displayed in the palace. Eighth Prince was well aware of this, but he simply pretended not to see it.
The Ninth Prince seemed clever, having joined the team early on, but in reality he was just a pawn of the Eighth Prince. He desperately tried to make money, from the south to the north, on the river, and even at the customs.
He is so cruel and has no conscience.
If the Eighth Prince really took the throne, his status would change, and the first person to be liquidated would be the Ninth Prince.
The Fifth Prince saw the Ninth Prince and Qi You arguing with each other. One was his best childhood friend, and the other was his brother.
He was in a dilemma, his honest face full of anxiety. He simply rushed between the two men and persuaded them: "Seventh brother, ninth brother, please say less. Harmony is the most important thing, harmony is the most important thing."
At this time, the Fourth Prince also stepped forward, pulled Qi You, and urged: "Seventh brother, let's go, I have something to discuss with you."
Qi You ignored them and left with the Fourth Prince.
After walking for a while, the Fourth Prince looked back and saw that the others were also walking to the other side, then looked at Qi You.
The Fourth Prince's expression was quite complicated. He asked in confusion, "Seventh Brother, you are always gentle. You know that Third Brother is always harsh and Old Nine has a quick temper. Why did you lose your temper today and start arguing with them?"
Qi You laughed and said, "Fourth brother, in this palace, besides Khan Ama, I didn't even know there were other people with bad tempers."
As a prince, he had been taught etiquette since childhood, and his edges and corners were smoothed out early on. Whether he had a good temper or not depended on who he was with.
Qi You said frankly to the smirking Fourth Prince, "They've gone too far."
The Fourth Prince sighed and stopped talking about them. He said, "Seventh Brother, I really have something to talk to you about. You sent something to Thirteen earlier. Do you know anything about his specific situation?"
Qi You thought about it and said apologetically, "I really don't know about that. De Gao sent something over, and he replied that he asked the doorman to pass it on. He never met Thirteen."
The Fourth Prince felt a wave of disappointment, lowered his head, and sighed again, saying, "Seventh Brother, I also want to take care of Thirteenth and Twelve, but I'm worried about angering Khan Ama, which would make me seem unfilial. I heard that you want to send the younger ones to Shunyi to study. Perhaps you can take Thirteenth's children with you?"
Qi You agreed immediately, "Okay, it will be more lively when there are more people. I didn't think it through before. Don't worry, Fourth Brother, I will go and tell Khan Ama right away."
The Fourth Prince was stunned for a moment, then said, "Thank you," with a bitter taste in his mouth. He had too many things to consider, and he absolutely did not dare to touch Kangxi's weak spot.
Qi You clasped his fists towards the Fourth Prince, then turned and went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Kangxi half-leaned on the couch, his legs covered with a thick quilt. His face was not very good. He said to Qi You in a deep voice, "Are you done arguing?"
Their quarrel in Kunning Palace must have been known to Kangxi. One of the reasons why Qi You came to Qianqing Palace was to prevent the others from filing a complaint first.
Now that he's grown up, it's time for him to take the lead.
Qi You frowned, not adding fuel to the fire or hiding anything, and explained the whole process in a calm and collected manner. Finally, he summarized the reasons: "Third brother was selfish and had a guilty conscience. Eighth and ninth brothers were public-spirited and lost money, so they added fuel to the fire."
Kangxi was almost pissed off when he heard Qi You's answer, which was as detailed as his usual plans. But after thinking about it for a while, he realized that it was indeed the case.
Qi You was away from home all year round, so where did he have the time to make enemies with them? They ignored the brotherhood and said irresponsibly what Qi You did.
Kangxi's dissatisfaction with them increased. After a moment of silence, he said, "I plan to build a house in Zhengjiazhuang and let the second son move there."
Zhengjiazhuang was far away in Changping, so Kangxi built his mansion far away to settle Yinreng down so that he would not have to see him and would not be bothered by him.
Qi You could understand Kangxi's complicated feelings. It was all because the relationship between him and Yinreng as father was not as important as the country and the people.
Kangxi's feelings towards Yinreng were truly complex. To put it bluntly, he was the only one who could scold or punish him; anyone else who stepped on him would be committing a grave offense against him.
Qi You smiled and said, "I met Hongxi yesterday and chatted with him for a while. The New Year is coming soon, and I plan to send half a New Year pig to my eldest and second brothers so that they can have a good year. Also, Khan Ama, let my thirteenth brother's children go to Shunyi to study next year."
Kangxi glanced at Qi You with displeasure and said, "Not only do you have too many things to do every day, but you also take on tasks everywhere. Thirteen is kind-hearted by nature, but too kind. He's a bit foolish and needs to be disciplined."
Qi You had never dealt with Shisan before, so he didn't know his true character. He just listened silently without saying a word.
Through this incident, Qi You was able to see some of the strength of the Fourth Beile and the Eighth Beile.
Kangxi raised his eyelids and glanced at Qi You, then asked casually, "Thirteenth and Fourth have always been close, but did Fourth ask you to intercede for them?"
Qi You said, "Fourth brother tried to stop the fight earlier and pulled me away, mentioning Thirteenth brother. I'm not very familiar with Thirteenth brother, but it was Fourth brother who reminded me. Since we have to send them all, we might as well send them together. With all the cousins together, the Jueluo School will finally be worthy of its name."
Kangxi hummed a word, disappointment, sadness and other emotions swirling in his heart.
The Fourth Prince was on good terms with the Thirteenth Prince, so he avoided them everywhere and pushed Qi You forward.
Qi You was extremely smart, but he did not dodge or evade, and stood up without hesitation.
Kangxi's mood gradually calmed down, and his eyes became softer as he looked at him. He said, "It's too cold. I'm old, and my body can't stand the tossing and turning, especially my legs. I can't kneel. When the time comes, you can go to offer sacrifices to heaven on my behalf."
This is not something that can be gratefully agreed to immediately. Qi You's mind turned quickly. He looked at Kangxi in surprise and blurted out: "Khan Ama, my legs are not convenient either!"
Kangxi almost choked and glared at him, cursing, "Stop talking nonsense to me! You're so young, what's wrong with you? You're dreaming of being lazy. I'll teach you a lesson. Go ahead and do it!"
The author has something to say:
Note: The palace that Kangxi gave to the deposed crown prince was just completed before his death. In Zhengjiazhuang, Changping, the relationship between father and son is truly complex. Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-12-15 23:40:49 and 2022-12-16 23:54:14~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 1 bottle of sweet porridge;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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