Chapter 136 – Qing Transmigration Tale (45)
Kangxi sighed slowly. “You feel that Zhen is a ruthless person?”
Si Ye stilled and did not expect the emperor to say such things. He looked up and said in a slow and calm tone, “This son is a a-ma too. This son has high hopes for Hong Hui, and wants to give him everything. This son hopes that Hong Hui will become accomplished. This son also hopes that Hong Yun will listen to Hong Hui and that the two will trust and keep each other company like they do as children, never knowing what is plotting, and support each other. However, this son knows that it is just this son’s wish and delusion. They will grown up in the end, will have their families, their wives and children, and will seek benefits and plot like many other people. When this son thinks of this, this son cannot have a good sleep. This son will think about what to do with them. This son values Hong Hui but will try to arrange paths for the other sons. At this time, this son experiences what the saying of ‘both the palm and the back of the hand have flesh.’ This son does not dare to wound either the palm or the back. However, in the end, the one who hurts the most is this son. This son wants them to be kind and love each other for a lifetime, never having a conflict, but if such a day truly came, this son does not know what to do?”
Just like the emperor right now, putting the crown prince there but not daring to touch him. He did not know what to do with these sons so they would be able to live out their lives.
Si Ye did not say that the emperor was ruthless. He only spoke of his thoughts on the matter from the viewpoint of a father, telling him that he also understood the difficulty.
“You go, bring your second brother back to the palace first, and then Thirteen back to his establishment. Tell them to stay inside if they have no matters,” Kangxi closed his eyes after saying this.
Si Ye was stunned for a moment and then kowtowed before leaving.
After Si Ye left, Kangxi said, “Come out.”
Zhang Ting Yu came out from behind the screen.
“Heng Chen, what do you think of this son of Zhen,” Kangxi asked.
Zhang Ting Yu looked down and said in a low voice, “Fourth Prince has a pure and innocent heart of a child.”
The innocent heart of a child?
Kangxi did not comment on this and changed the topic, “The deposition of the crown prince was Zhen‘s own decision. Zhen sees that you want to say something recently. Just say such things directly. Right now, it is only ruler and subject here, what can you not say?”
Zhang Ting Yu knelt down and said in a low voice, “Emperor, please forgive this subject. This subject is worried that the lack of master in the eastern palace will cause conflict between the sons for the position.”
Kangxi’s eyes opened immediately. “Zhen has plans about this.”
Si Ye left the palace, and saw the commander of the imperial guards, Tukesh waiting there. “Us servants are to listen to Fourth Prince’s orders.”
“Then let’s go,” Si Ye said and boarded the carriage.
The Bee Rearing Street was the name of an unremarkable alley. There was a three-entry residence there.
Longkodo did not think that just after he told Si Ye that Thirteenth Prince was here, Si Ye came openly today.
Tukesh was the commander of the Imperial Guards. He did not have to give Longkodo face. He showed the other the token in a business-like manner, and was about to go in. “We have an edict to take them.”
Longkodo had a new understanding of Si Ye’s power. This person had not just come, he even got an imperial edict to take them away.
In front of others, he would not appear very close to Si Ye. He just hurriedly responded and moved to open the gates.
“Thirteenth Prince is over there.” Longkodo led the way and was about to turn to the west.
Si Ye stopped. “Go for the other person first. Then, Ye will take Thirteen. Ye will trouble Uncle to tell him to wait a while.”
Longkodo was stunned. The other person was the deposed crown prince.
Si Ye had been able to beg for mercy for the crown prince from the emperor.
Longkodo bent down even deeper from the waist. “Please come this way with this servant.”
A dark room, tattered window paper, no bed, just a pile of hay in the corner, some used bowls and utensils on the ground. The half bowl of porridge had frozen into ice.
The crown prince was leaning against the wall in the corner, his expression aloof. Hearing someone had come, he opened his eyes.
Si Ye’s tears came down. “Second Brother……” Then he took off his cloak to wrap around the crown prince.
“Four, you have come.” The crown prince was still smiling like that, so faint it was almost imperceptible.
Si Ye nodded and wiped his face. He turned back and reprimanded, “Brazier, hot water, serve…… Second Prince to wash.” He turned to look at Su Pei Sheng. “Return and find Princess Consort to bring some clothes to change into.”
The crown prince shook his head. “No need for such effort.”
Si Ye did not speak and moved the brazier closer to the crown prince.
Lin Yu Tong learned of Si Ye’s intentions and hurriedly found clothing that Si Ye had not worn before. She thought of Thirteen and prepared two sets, and a bearskin cloak and a mink cloak. Then she packed up two food boxes for Su Pei Sheng to bring along as well.
The crown prince was a bit thinner than Si Ye. When he wore the clothes, it was a bit loose. After washing up and eating a hot meal, he felt like he had come back to life.
“Four, where are you going?” The crown prince looked at Si Ye with a smile and asked.
“Khan A-ma has ordered to return to the palace first,” Si Ye said in a low voice.
The crown prince sighed. “Then let’s go.” Without the emperor’s edict, he could not even die.
If he was going to die, then the women and children in Yuqing Palace would not be able to live.
The moment he was about to step out, the crown prince looked at Si Ye and said in a low voice, “Four, say, do you think that your second brother will one day come back here?”
Si Ye did not answer. He did not know what the emperor would do next.
Seeing the carriage leave, Longkodo hurriedly ran into the courtyard. One ancestor had been sent away, and there was still another ancestor here.
Thirteenth Prince laid on the straw, his legs in such pain it took almost all his strength. Hurried footsteps came from outside, urgent and light. Thirteenth Prince thought, this should not be a bad thing.
Khan A-ma would not kill his sons. In reality, this was no situation worse than this.
When Longkodo came in, Thirteen opened his eyes, a smile on his face. “So it is Uncle, how come you have the free time to come here?”
“Ha-ha……” Longkodo laughed awkwardly. These imperial sons were so clever. He had not yet spoken, but the other had realized that something had changed, and his words had barbs.
No way about it, these were all ancestors.
He immediately smiled and said, “Thirteenth Prince, this servant cannot bear such words. Yesterday, this servant went to visit Si Ye in person and told him you were here. Si Ye asked if you were living well, and this servant spoke honestly. Otherwise, Si Ye would not go to ask for an edict today……”
“Fourth Brother went to request an edict?” Thirteenth Prince struggled to get up and asked.
Longkodo immediately gave a thumbs up. “Otherwise, people would not say that Si Ye is so benevolent.” Then he said in a low voice, “Si Ye is taking that one back to the eastern palace, and said for you to wait for a moment, and then will come for you later. Food and clothing has been brought for you. Look, you see…… We can first clean up.”
So Si Ye had went to the palace to ask for mercy. Thirteenth Prince knew how much risk he had taken to do this.
He, Thirteen, would remember this.
Su Pei Sheng had not left with Si Ye, and stayed behind to serve Thirteenth Prince.
Now, seeing that Third Master Tong had finished talking, he went forward. “Thirteenth Prince, let us get warm first.”
Then he went up to help Thirteenth Prince up. When he got close, he found that Thirteenth Prince’s legs were so frozen they were stiff. When they moved, the knees could not bend.
Heavens! This was very serious.
Su Pei Sheng’s expression changed. He hurriedly said to Longkodo, “Please, Third Master Tong, call two people in. Thirteenth Prince’s leg likely……”
Longkodo’s heart skipped a beat. If something happened while under his care, it would be very bad.
He hurriedly called for people to carry Thirteenth Prince to the front.
Thirteenth Prince’s face turned color in pain. The others did not dare to rashly wash and dress him.
When Si Ye came, he saw Thirteen lying on a broken door, a brazier by his side. He had not cleaned up, and was just covered in the bearskin cloak from home.
Su Pei Sheng met him and whispered Thirteenth Prince’s situation to him.
Si Ye immediately changed expression and darted forward, looking at Thirteen’s legs. “Thirteen, Fourth Brother came late.”
Thirteenth Prince opened his eyes and shook his head. His tears came down, and he cried while pulling Si Ye’s hand.
Si Ye ordered Su Pei Sheng, “Return first, have Physician Su immediately go to Thirteenth Prince’s establishment. Ask Princess Consort if there is still any of the medicine for the bath from last time. If there is, deliver it immediately. If not, then have it made immediately.”
Su Pei Sheng immediately responded and returned to run.
Thirteenth Prince’s legs were likely frozen.
When Si Ye was at the carriage, he said, “Khan A-ma intends for you to stay in the establishment for now.”
Thirteenth Prince nodded. This was better than the previous situation. He and the crown prince had been tied together for too long. He had to fade out of the public eye. When the crown prince became the deposed crown prince, when he became the past, and no one paid attention, he would not be eye-catching then.
Si Ye saw that he understood and said, “This is good to you too. I fear it will be very chaotic in the future. At least you will not be involved in the mess later on.”
This was the truth.
Thirteen said apologetically, “It is a pity that this brother cannot help Fourth Brother with anything.”
Si Ye patted Thirteenth Prince’s shoulder. “The future is long. You first recover well in the establishment. It likely will not be a short trip to heal your legs.”
Also, he could not openly invite palace physicians to visit.
When Thirteenth Prince opened his eyes again, who he saw was the fragile Joogiya-shi.
“Ye…… You finally returned.” Joogiya-shi‘s tears dripped down. No one knew what anxious days she had lived recently.
Thirteenth Prince laughed softly. “Why cry, Ye is fine. In the future, Ye will not go out, and will just keep you company.”
Joogiya-shi knew the meaning in Thirteenth Prince’s words. This meant that in the future, he would likely live in the establishment like this. He temporarily could not leave. But even so, she was very content. If this person was here, she felt safe.
The deposed crown prince returning to the palace was an important matter.
The fact that Si Ye had begged for mercy for the crown prince and Thirteenth Prince immediately spread.
Commandery Prince Zhi’s expression immediately changed. He raced on his horse to the imperial palace. Four, are you truly confused or not? If this matter has nothing to do with Yin Reng, you can just twist Big Brother’s head off.
Yin Reng was a disgrace. He had controlled everything from the shadows. What face did he have to return to the Forbidden City.
He had spent half a lifetime with him. With the crown prince there, Khan A-ma had created him, the Commandery Prince Zhi. He was bored of this. He pitied Yin Reng and also himself. He did not dare to hate Khan A-ma, so he could only hate Yin Reng who was just as pitiful as he was.
“Khan A-ma, this son does nod understand why you call Yin Reng back to the palace?” Commandery Prince Zhi knelt in front of the emperor, his eyes confused.
Kangxi looked at his eldest son. “Then what do you hope Zhen to do? What should Zhen do? He is the same as you, Zhen‘s son. Zhen watched you babble as babies, taught you to read and write. What do you think Zhen should do to the children that Zhen raised?”
Commandery Prince Zhi thought of how in his childhood, Khan A-ma would give the best to Yin Reng first. Even when writing, Yin Reng would sit in Khan A-ma‘s lap. Back then, he envied the crown prince so much. He thought he would have forgotten it after half a lifetime, but now, when he recalled it, it seemed to have just happened yesterday.
“Yin Reng, he should die. He does not deserve Khan A-ma‘s favor,” Commandery Prince Zhi gritted his teeth and said.
The people outside were frightened by Commandery Prince Zhi’s murderous voice.
The imperial sons outside heard. They had learned that the crown prince had returned to the palace, and knew that Commandery Prince Zhi had entered the palace immediately so none of them dared to delay arriving. Si Ye returned from Thirteen’s establishment to report, and was surprised when he saw so many of his brothers present. Other people were restrained as they looked at Si Ye, but Fourteen looked at Si Ye like he was looking at an idiot. Everyone worked so hard to pull the crown prince down. Why do you act as the good person to help the deposed crown prince? What benefit was this to you? He acted better to Thirteen than to him, his full brother. He did not know if he was in unfortunate straits, would his brother work so much on his behalf? Bah! He would not be so unlucky.
Third Prince had been silently standing outside. Hearing Commandery Prince Zhi say again that the crown prince should die, he could not help but think of that night when Commandery Prince Zhi almost strangled the crown prince to death. Then he thought of how Four was able to persuade the emperor to receive the crown prince back into the palace. Then at least, in the emperor’s heart, he was still leaning towards the crown prince. He immediately felt that Four could not be the only good person. It could not be that everyone was cold-blooded, and only Four was benevolent, no?
So he did not hesitate in running in. “Big Brother! What do you want to do now? You almost forced Second Brother to die, what do you want to do? You want to pressure Khan A-ma?”
The brothers outside were shocked. What was with Three today that he was so daring?
Why was he suddenly in support of the crown prince? The people outside looked at each other. They did not understand Third Prince’s thoughts.
Before the brothers could react, they heard Commandery Prince Zhi shout at Three, “Three, do not think that you can pick up here and be a good person. You do not qualify.”
Third Prince was angry. Who was willing to have their thoughts be known by everyone? “Big Brother, everyone can criticize Second Brother, but not you. If not for you, Second Brother…… It is all because of you, Big Brother.”
Commandery Prince Zhi knew that he was speaking of how he and the crown prince had been at odds for these years. But could this be blamed on him alone? But he truly could not argue about this. Could he say that Khan A-ma had intended this? He said with a black face, “Yin Reng did not obey the order of the world, and has gone mad, this is because of Ye?”
“If not because of you…… Then it is because of…… your curses!” Third Prince weakly shouted. “Yes! It is because Big Brother cursed him in secret.”
The brothers outside almost laughed out loud. Third Prince was old now, but he still argued the same as back when he was a child. He never argued with reason.
Commandery Prince Zhi almost laughed in anger. It was this move again. He never made sense, just spoke without thinking, and was unrational.
Before he spoke, he heard the emperor say coldly with a complicated expression, “Third A-ge has discovered Commandery Prince Zhi has bewitched the crown prince. Zhen remembers the feelings between father and son, and will not punish him for his crimes. He will be sent back to his establishment to reflect, and without Zhen‘s permission, he cannot leave.”
Commandery Prince Zhi was stunned. What did this mean? How come he did not understand?
Third Prince was also stunned. Who said that Commandery Prince Zhi had bewitched the crown prince? Who said that? Did he mean that? Four being a good person was being loyal. When he was the good person, how come he was blamed for such a thing?
Bewitched? Even an idiot knew this was a calamity. No one would believe that witchcraft would be effective. So only an idiot would do such an unreliable thing. But Commandery Prince Zhi was not stupid, and even very smart. Otherwise, he would not have been known as the Thousand Years for so many years. Now, he was said to bewitch the crown prince and caused the abnormality of the crown prince’s conduct. Stop joking! Who would believe it? Commandery Prince Zhi had not gone mad, and would not do such a thing!
Emperor Wu of Han used the excuse of witchcraft to depose Chen A Jiao.
There were countless examples in the history books like this. Back when we were young, Khan A-ma, you told us this.
The crown prince had been deposed. Commandery Prince Zhi had no need to exist. But could you find a better excuse?
Third Prince felt his breath catch in his chest. He was tongue-tied as he looked in disbelief at the emperor. He could not say a word. He covered his chest, his energies surging. Suddenly, his sight gave out, and he fell down.
Commandery Prince Zhi had been still stunned, but then he saw Three’s mouth droop, and then he fell down. He reached out to catch the other. This brother was not brave. He would charge if there were benefits ahead, and hide to the side if anything bad was there. Today, he had wanted to pick up a benefit, but he picked up the blame instead.
Four had been the good person, becoming the example of caring about his brothers.
Three, you were the good person, but you came the villain who tattled. He would likely be written into the history books.
Commandery Prince Zhi suddenly found it laughable and sad. However, he was not the only person to take on the blame.
He, the eldest son. Two, the crown prince. And now, Three.
He looked at his brothers who had charged in and were stunned. Then he looked at Four. He wanted to ask, “Will you be the next one? Four.”
- Grafting Life Chapter 135 – Qing Transmigration Tale (44)
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- Grafting Life Chapter 138 – Qing Transmigration Tale (47)
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