Chapter 129 – Qing Transmigration Tale (38)
After the hundred day celebration for Hong Wang, without realizing it, the grasses had turn yellow. Lin Yu Tong had just sent people with Si Ye’s clothing to Rehe when the imperial edict came from the emperor.
This time, he did not just summon all adult imperial sons, even all the imperial grandsons above the age of eight were summoned.
Each autumn, the imperial family would have their hunt. But this year seemed to be especially important.
Lin Yu Tong accepted it and started to pack for the two children. Si Ye was at Rehe. When they arrived, with him looking over the two boys, she did not have anything to worry about. However, Lin Yu Tong was worried about the two of them on the road.
“Eniang, how old am I now?” Hong Hui was taller than Lin Yu Tong now. He was twelve, but his voice had not changed, and his face was young. He felt that he could leave his parents, and fly with his wings like an adult.
Of course, in the imperial family, this was not a young age.
But she was still worried and warned, “Without your a-ma, be more careful on the road. If anything happens, go find your Fourteenth Uncle.”
Fourteen was a bit of a scoundrel, but he knew who was most close to him.
Hong Hui nodded and responded to all this.
Lin Yu Tong pulled Hong Yun and exhorted, “Do not try to force yourself when you get there. Do not compete with others using your shortcomings and their strengths.”
This child had just managed to get on the road and have the horse trot. Do not go to compete in riding and shooting with the other people. Was this not just finding unhappiness for himself?
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Hong Yun’s face. He was eleven, but Di–Eniang still treated him as a child. But he still said, “I know, I will not for myself.”
Under Eniang‘s warning, Hong Hui took Hong Yun and left the city.
The brothers rode the horses, guards following behind them, and then a dozen carriages of luggage.
Fourteen’s sons were still young, and would not come along. He was someone with nothing to do so he sent people to wait for Hong Hui and Hong Yun, telling them to be with him, and not go anywhere else.
“Your a-ma is not here, just follow Ye. You are not allowed to roam freely.” Fourteen, when he acted like Si Ye when the other lectured people, was able to frighten others.
Hong Hui politely responded, swearing to not run around, and Fourteen was a bit less worried. However, now he encountered obedient children, the threats and scary words he had prepared were not of any use.
After Fourteen left, Hong Yun said, “Behind us is Sixteenth Uncle, Seventeenth Uncle, and Eighteenth Uncle. Should we greet them?”
Never mind.
Hong Hui shook his head, “Eighth Uncle will be behind and taking care of them. It is not appropriate for us to go back.”
Sixteenth Uncle and Seventeenth Uncle were just a few years older than him. Eighteenth Uncle was just eight years old. If they could not be avoided, they would go to pay their respects. If they were able to avoid, they would not go there. Eighth Uncle was very popular in the capital recently, and it was better not to join in the fun.
Because children were coming along, it was not possible to travel swiftly. Which one of the masters did not have several luggage carriages? Adding on the servants and the guard, there was even more luggage.
So, this procession could not be said to be very fast.
Their own carriages had been modified, and it was possible to lie down in there. The dust was flying outside, and riding a horse was very hard. The two brothers stayed in the carriage, and did not need people to worry about them.
Fourteen would come two times each day, and have his personal eunuchs to deliver the food. At night, seeing that the two went to sleep, he would have people stand guard outside. If anything happened, he would be the first to know.
Hong Hui knew that A-ma and Eniang had not notified Fourteenth Uncle ahead of time. But because they were of the same blood, there was no need to remind. If a reminder was given, it was treating him as an outsider.
He felt that he had learned something. Sometimes, how to hold someone’s heart was just this subtle.
They bounced around on the road for seven days to reach Rehe. Si Ye sent Su Pei Sheng to welcome them.
An auxiliary palace had been built at Rehe. The imperial sons, the members of the imperial house, and the important officials all built residences around the auxiliary palace.
It was the first time Hong Hui had come to this residence. After entering, he looked around, and Si Ye returned from the auxiliary palace.
“A-ma.” The brothers hurriedly greeted him.
Si Ye had not seen his sons for half a year. When he looked, Hong Hui had reached his shoulder in height. His lips softened. “Rise.” Then he led the two into the study, and then told them to wash and change in the inner room.
“Is the family well?” Si Ye asked.
Hong Hui saw that the table had been set, all foods that he and Hong Yun liked. He knew that A-ma must have told people to prepare them early. So he sat down by the table and said, “They are all good. Hong Zhao is able to recite the Three Character Classic now. Mister Wu has praised Hong Shi in his classes right now. He picked a few good ones for me to take along for A-ma to see. Sister is able to make shoes on her own, and she made a few pairs for A-ma, and I have brought them along as well. Eniang says for A-ma to not worry about the matters at home. Just eat well, and sleep on time, so she will not be so worried.”
Si Ye listened intently and then nodded. “Eat, eat, you likely did not eat well on the road.”
“Fourteenth Uncle took very good care of us sons,” Hong Hui objectively reported.
Si Ye’s expression softened even more. “A-ma knows. Eat, and then go rest.”
The brothers were arranged to sleep in the side rooms of the courtyard. Clearly, they were being put under watch.
The next day, the emperor was going to hunt. The hunt was not far from the auxiliary palace, just less than half a day of travel. They definitely could not return on the day.
Entering the tent, Hong Hui was very excited. However, before the novelty passed, someone came to report that Hong Xi invited him to ride.
Hong Hui had complicated feelings towards Hong Xi and he did not want to go at all. So he stood up. Hong Xi was standing not far from the tent with his horse and other people, looking in this direction.
“Second Brother, how come you came?” Hong Xi once had an older brother who had passed away. So the imperial grandsons all called him Second Brother. Hong Hui smiled and met him. Before Hong Xi could speak, he hurriedly said, “I really admire Second Brother to be able to come outside. I cannot do this, my a-ma has ordered me to study.”
Hong Xi frowned. “Why study right now?”
“Recently, I was in the establishment, and did not go to the imperial study. My classes have fallen behind. When A-ma asked, this was exposed.” Hong Hui just spoke lies and blamed Si Ye.
Hong Xi stilled. “You did not study in the establishment?”
“My eniang is not in charge of this, I went mad playing.” Hong Hui had a smug smile.
Si Ye came from afar, and after hearing a few words, understood the matter. So he shouted, “I told you to study, why have you come out?”
Hong Xi turned his head and bowed to Si Ye. “Fourth Uncle, you have misunderstood, this nephew has come to visit Hong Hui.”
“Do not make excuses for him.” Si Ye turned and scolded Hong Hui with a black face, “You have learned to seek a rescue. I think that your people should all be beaten.”
Hong Hui gave a look to Hong Xi for him to hurriedly leave. However, he was very timid in his speech, not daring to say a thing.
Hong Xi feared Si Ye’s cold face a bit. He hurriedly made his farewells.
Hong Hui closely followed behind Si Ye, returning to Si Ye’s tent.
Si Ye sat down and asked him, “What is it? You do not want to go with him?”
“This son feels that something is not right, but cannot pinpoint where.” Hong Hui shook his head and said, “During this time, this son did not go to the study, but this son knows the events of the imperial study. Hong Xi and Hong Yu’s relationship has worsened. There must be a reason. This son will just stay in the tent for the next few days and study.”
Si Ye was a bit gratified. “Go, watch Hong Yun, do not let him go out.”
Hong Hui stood and bid farewell.
Si Ye sat in front of the table and pondered the emperor’s intentions. The emperor was very angry with Eight in the capital, but when the Mongolian princes and dukes had come, the emperor had Eight receive them in place of the crown prince. He did not know the meaning in this. The crown prince had not appeared for several days now, and did not even meet him. The last two times he went to pay his respects, someone had blocked him, saying that the crown prince was not feeling well.
After testing two times, he did not dare to visit.
This time, even the Mongolian princes and dukes were not called to visit the crown prince. But what happened to cause the emperor to become so nervous?
Si Ye was very clueless.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Su Pei Sheng say in a whisper, “Thirteenth Prince’s young eunuch has come in a hurry to meet Ye.”
Si Ye stilled. Thirteen did not come himself, but sent a young eunuch. What matter had to be so secretive?
“Bring him in,” Si Ye ordered in a low voice.
The young eunuch was just thirteen or so. Seeing Si Ye, he knelt in greeting and whispered, “Our ye told this servant to tell Fourth Prince not to meet the crown prince.”
Si Ye nodded expressionlessly, “I understand. You tell your ye to be careful, and protect himself.”
The young eunuch kowtowed again before leaving.
Si Ye did not appear as calm as he looked on the surface. He felt like a storm was coming.
Hong Hui was trapped in the tent for three days, and only was freed because the emperor was taking everyone to hunt.
Kangxi looked at the handsome sons and grandsons below and had complicated feelings.
The crown prince once again appeared in public, very pale like he had a great illness.
Commandery Prince Zhi would occasionally look at the crown prince and laugh coldly, not even concealing it.
Kangxi seemed to not see the hidden turbulence. “Today, Zhen will give something good to the imperial son who gets the most prey. You all have to use your full effort.”
Si Ye sighed inside. This was like throwing a meaty bone for dogs to fight over. People trained dogs like this. The emperor trained people like this.
Did he truly have to become the servant of the emperor, and be teased like a dog?
No! Ye is an imperial son! Not an animal raised by others.
Everyone went down to prepare, and even Hong Xi was going to represent the crown prince but Si Ye did not move.
Si Ye did not move, so Hong Hui and Hong Yun did not move.
“Four, how come you are not going?” Kangxi looked at the father and sons below and asked.
Si Ye said, “Khan A-ma, the wind last night was strong, and this son did not sleep well. This son worried that Hong Hui and Hong Yun would not get a good sleep and went to visit them several times. This son’s body is not good, and got a bit of a cold. This son is all right, but this son’s limbs feel weak, and this son likely cannot ride or shoot. Khan A-ma, please forgive this son.”
“Has the palace physician seen you?” Kangxi frowned slightly and said.
Of course they had. He did have a bit of a cold. He did not dare to truly lie to the emperor.
He immediately nodded and said, “Khan A-ma, do not worry. The palace physician inspected this son, and it is not very serious.”
Kangxi nodded. “Then do not regret it in the future.” Then he turned and asked Hong Hui, “Hong Xi has gone. Your riding is not inferior to his, you will not go try?”
Hong Hui kowtowed and said, “Khan-mafa, this grandson will have chances in the future to ride and shoot. However, A-ma is not feeling well, and this grandson will not feel reassured if this grandson is not nearby to serve.”
Kangxi nodded and had them take a seat.
The crown prince looked in surprise at Hong Hui who was circling around Four and thought, this child was able to keep his composure better than Hong Xi. He had told the child several time to not be the focus of attention, but the child did not listen.
Hong Hui did not need to be ordered to take away the wine pots on Si Ye’s table and switched them for teapots.
The crown prince even heard Hong Hui say, “This is ginger tea, Eniang made this. It is better than medicine. Just drink this.” He made the decision arbitrarily but people would feel comforted. Hong Yun took away all the meat dishes on the table. In a while, Su Pei Sheng came with fruit plates. Now, even meat was not permitted.
From afar, there were the sounds of drums, shouts, and hoofbeats, and the chopsticks on the tables jumped. Si Ye enjoyed the service of his sons, and was not anxious at all.
He did not know what had happened with the emperor and the crown prince to reach today’s situation. People could not help but release their ambitions. If they defeated the crown prince, they would have the chance to take another step. It seemed that every pore of the imperial sons were shouting.
They attempted to display themselves in front of the emperor, trying to get positive feeling, and wait for the meat pie to someday fall down from the sky.
But they forgot the most fundamental. The heart of the ruler.
An emperor, no matter what, would not like a person who had ambitions. Would the emperor dare to use someone who always thought about replacing him without any worries?
So, what was most important now was stability.
If he did something, there was the possibility of making a mistake, but if he did not do anything, at least, he would not commit any mistakes.
He turned the cup in his hand. When he drank the ginger date tea, the warm feeling spread through his limbs. He ordered Su Pei Sheng, “Pour for the two a-ge. Expel the cold.”
Hong Hui took a cup with a grimace, and slowly sipped.
He thought of Eniang telling him the story of Zhu Yuan Zhang. He had been able to win in the end because at the start, his plan was “build tall walls, stock up rations, delay claiming kingship.”
This “delay claiming kingship.” If it was analyzed now, maybe, it could be called “do not expose your ambitions prematurely.”
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