9. Chapter 9
『First Show of Prowess』
This was the second time Qi You had a dispute with the Third Prince since he started school. Moreover, this time, the First and Fourth Princes were also involved.
Regardless of whether Qi You was the cause of the incident, he was still to blame. They were all Kangxi's sons. After all, Qi You had a leg problem, and the talent he had shown was not enough to compare with the other princes.
Qi You had long known that it was difficult to strike the right balance. He didn't want to be ridiculed and bullied all the time, and he couldn't cause Kangxi's displeasure, so he couldn't help but sigh.
He was still too young and had attended school for too short a time. No matter how diligent or intelligent he was, there was a limit to his abilities. He could not be taken seriously enough by Emperor Kangxi to be considered above the other normal princes.
After careful consideration, Qi You decided to take an unconventional approach. He looked at Kangxi with wide eyes and asked anxiously, "Khan Ama, I have a leg disease. Is it embarrassing for Khan Ama?"
Kangxi was stunned. Facing Qi You's innocent and timid gaze, his heart tightened for no reason.
The child was so innocent, but Kangxi had never been happy since he was born. Not to mention the royal family, even ordinary people would be criticized for giving birth to a child with poor health.
Back then, my second brother, Fuquan, suffered countless cold stares and disdain due to his eye disease. However, if Fuquan had not had an eye disease, the throne would probably not have been his.
Because of Shunzhi's attitude, his brothers had a difficult childhood.
Now, he has followed the old path of Shunzhi, because of his attitude, the other sons bully and look down on Qi You.
Kangxi felt bitter in his mouth, and shame and regret rose in his heart little by little.
He reached out and stroked Qi You's head, saying lovingly, "You are smart and clever, and like your other brothers, you have not brought shame to Khan Ama."
Qi You breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I'm not afraid of anything, except embarrassing Khan Ama. Khan Ama, I don't hate Third Brother. My legs have always been bad, whether he says it or not, they are just like that. But I can find a way to overcome it. I can do as well as Third Brother, or even better than him, and he won't laugh at me anymore."
Qi You's words made Kangxi's nose sore. He seemed to see his younger self, looking forward to Shunzhi's love and care, always thinking about doing well so that Shunzhi would look at him more.
Kangxi turned his head away in embarrassment, wiped away the tears that overflowed from the corner of his eyes, took Qi You's hand, looked at it carefully, and said: "Your hand is injured, you should rest it tomorrow. More haste makes waste. You are still young, don't hurt your strength, understand?"
"Well, I'll listen to my father." Qi You answered obediently.
Kangxi called Liang Jiugong over and said, "Go get some water and help the seventh brother wash and change his clothes. Then bring some ointment and apply it to his hands. He will stay here and have dinner with me later."
Liang Jiugong agreed and quickly went out to lead the young eunuch into the room with water, a handkerchief and ointment, and helped Qi You wash his hands carefully.
Kangxi personally scooped some ointment with a silver spoon and gently applied it to Qi You's red and swollen area. The ointment felt cool, and the burning sensation in Qi You's palms was somewhat relieved.
"Take the ointment back with you later and remember to apply it several times a day. You will be fine after the redness and swelling subsides." Kangxi put down Qi You's sleeves and reminded him gently.
Qi You sniffed hard and hummed in a muffled voice. He lowered his head and threw himself into Kangxi's arms, choking and calling out "Khan Ama".
Kangxi's heart melted when Qi You pounced on him. He hurriedly hugged Qi You, patted his soft and fat body, and was lost in thought.
He preferred to hold his grandchildren but not his own sons. Even though the crown prince had been raised by his side since childhood, he had hardly ever held him in arms. The same was true for his other sons.
Now holding Qi You in his arms, he felt as if he was heavier than the country, and strange emotions surged in his heart, warm and sad.
"Okay, you're still acting like a spoiled child at this age." Kangxi said with a smile in an incredibly soft voice.
Qi You quickly stood up, lowered his head and said shyly: "Khan Ama, I just can't help it, I want to be closer to Han Ama."
"Hahaha, okay, okay, you are still shy. I am your father. You must be hungry. Let's go eat first." Kangxi stood up and took Qi You to the main house.
Qi You followed behind Kangxi and breathed a sigh of relief again. This time he made the right bet again.
The eldest prince and the third prince were kneeling under the eaves outside the house. Qi You looked at them from time to time and walked slowly towards the table.
Kangxi was furious and punished the eldest and third princes. Kneeling for this much was enough. If they knelt any further, their legs and feet would become stiff, and Kangxi would be distressed.
The third prince is not innocent. The eldest prince has suffered an unprovoked misfortune, and he is about to get engaged. It is too embarrassing to lose face, and there will be trouble in the future.
Kangxi glanced at Qi You, then looked outside, frowned and said, "Don't bother with those two bastards, they deserve it!"
Qi You stopped when he saw that he was ahead, and said anxiously: "Khan Ama, my eldest brother and third brother have been kneeling for so long, the ground is cold..."
Kangxi frowned and said, "Let those two bastards get out of here."
Liang Jiugong, who was serving on the side, walked out quickly, led the eldest prince and the third prince into the house, limping and walking forward to pay their respects respectfully.
Kangxi glanced at them with a dignified look and asked, "Do you realize your mistake?"
The two men replied reluctantly that they knew they were wrong. Kangxi stared at the Third Prince and said coldly, "Third Prince, you also said you knew you were wrong last time, but I see you don't repent."
The Third Prince knelt on the cold bluestone floor for a long time, his knees aching. He cried and replied, "Khan Ama, I know I was wrong, and I will definitely repent in the future."
Kangxi said, "I see you're just talking nonsense. You made a mistake and bullied Old Seven, but Old Seven didn't care. Are you planning to just get away with it like last time? Are you planning to go and cause trouble for him and threaten him again after you get out?"
The third prince said hurriedly: "I didn't do it, Khan Ama, I will never dare to do it again. Seventh brother, I will not laugh at you again, I apologize to you." He bowed and saluted Qi You.
Qi You didn't avoid it. He blinked his eyes, his face tense, and said to the Third Prince sincerely, "Third brother, I don't blame you. But third brother, please don't laugh at me in the future. We are brothers. If you laugh at me, you are laughing at yourself. My legs, like my brain, are innate, and I can make up for it through hard work. Now I have learned how to get on and off the horse. Third brother, please work harder in the future."
The Third Prince looked confused and almost fainted by Qi You. He was unable to understand the meaning of his words for a while.
The eldest prince intuitively felt that something was wrong and kept thinking about it.
Kangxi thought Qi You was just kind and gentle, but being too kind was a sign of weakness. He never expected that Qi You had a kind heart but also a sharp edge. This discovery made Kangxi even more relieved.
He burst into laughter and pointed at Qi You, "You mischievous guy!"
When Kangxi saw the reactions of the third prince and the eldest prince, his mood was no longer so good.
It seems that the two sons, with two brains and four intact legs, are still no match for Qi You, who has only one brain and one and a half legs.
The eldest prince was slow to react, and the third prince didn't know what was going on when he was called stupid!
The author has something to say:
I wish all the little angels a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, and may their studies, careers, relationships, families and health be the best, and may they get whatever they want.
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