Chapter 138 – Qing Transmigration Tale (47)
Ninth Prince looked at the old Daoist in front of him. The other truly looked a bit like an expert, and had some of the airs of a celestial.
He looked back at Ten and finally found that this guy would not be unreliable in his actions all the time.
“Go, visit Eighth Brother,” Ninth Prince said. Then he looked at the old Daoist who called himself Celestial Master Zhang. “At the time…… When you see anything, just say it, no need to keep anything back.”
He did not have anything to say. People who sold their skills on the jianghu were the best at observing people’s expressions and knew what they could and could not say. If he said more, it was more likely that something would go wrong. If anything happened, people would think that he had ordered this.
Ha-ha! In any case, he was just bringing an interesting person over. No matter what he said, it was just for entertainment. It was all.
Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince did not need to report to enter the establishment of the Eighth Prince.
But Ninth Prince still had people report first when taking an outsider along.
It was still snowing outside. Eighth Prince came to welcome them. “I was just saying how I did not see you two recently. What fun did you find now?”
Ten chuckled. “Eighth Brother, you have wrongly accused Ninth Brother. Ninth Brother had some trouble with the business side, and just after he finished today, he pulled this brother along to pay our respects.”
No one knew if Eighth Prince believed it or not. He said in concern, “If there is something you cannot solve and you need your eighth brother, just say. Us brothers, no need to be so polite.”
Ninth Prince chuckled. “End of the year, the accounts have to be checked. Every year, the accounts will have some problems. Such matters cannot be avoided.”
The words were true. Eighth Prince’s smile grew more sincere. “Go! The plum flowers in the courtyard are blooming well. Your eighth sister-in-law has heated a pot of good wine. Us brothers have not drank recently. Today, stay overnight in the establishment and we will not rest until we are drunk.” He was very enthusiastic.
Tenth Prince smiled as he walked and told the fact he had found an expert to Eighth Prince.
The three sat down in the pavilion. The sides of the pavilion all had crystal windows. Outside, it was possible to see the plum flowers, but inside, it was very warm.
There were some important officials sitting in the pavilion along with members of the imperial house. They all stood and bowed to the pair.
After wasting time for a while, they took their seats.
Eighth Prince poured wine for the two and said to Ten, “How come you believe in such things? Jianghu masters are full of lies.”
Ten gave a docile smile, “Such things cannot always be taken as false. It is just to amuse Eighth Brother, and we will all be entertained as well.”
Celestial Master Zhang bowed to Eighth Prince and looked pretty skilled.
The people around all urged for him to divine for Eighth Prince.
Eighth Prince shook his head. He naturally did not believe in such things. He could not write any characters for the other to divine from. Everyone laughed and fussed, and a servant girl passing by to pour wine looked a bit pretty.
Eighth Prince casually said, “Beauty! The character for beauty.”
“Beauty!” Celestial Master Zhang combed his beard. “The upper part is eight, the middle is prince, the lower is big.”
Tenth Prince said in shock, “Eighth Prince big.”
Ninth Prince sprayed the wine in his mouth. “Eighth Prince big”, it was more like “big tortoise.”1 He coughed to disguise it, “He does have some skill.” He said against his conscience.
Ninth Prince was able to think of this, how could Eighth Prince not? He did not like such words, but he could not point it out. He only reprimanded, “The jianghu people just try to fool people.” Then he turned to Tenth Prince and said, “In the future, you must not interact with people like these.”
Tenth Prince obediently agreed.
But after the matter ended, next morning, the emperor release a big bomb during the court session for people to recommend a new crown prince.
This was a novel act.
Who would dare to jump? The emperor had trashed the first three. At this time, no one dared to step forward.
But someone was this unlucky. The matter of an expert divining “Eighth Prince big” spread. In half a day, everyone in the capital knew of this.
Lin Yu Tong even heard the eunuchs and palace attendants in the garden mutter about this.
She came back and told Si Ye. He smiled, “I do not know if these people are helping Eight, or setting a trap for him?”
Lin Yu Tong found it incredible. These imperial sons were so clever, who would want to step up now?
Third Prince had been saying that he was ill all this time and did not leave his establishment. Si Ye was in the garden with his entire family and did not meet anyone. Fifth and Seventh Prince were minor. This matter had nothing to do with them. Even Fourteen was studying at home. Supposedly, he realized that his studies were not enough.
No matter how urgent Eighth Prince was right now, he would not pop up now.
Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince looked at each other speechlessly. In reality, they had taken someone along to flatter Eight. They did not manage to flatter him, but had tripped him up.
Ninth Prince looked at Tenth Prince and sighed, “Ye just knew you are unreliable! Ye was blinded to feel that you will have a brain?”
Tenth Prince did not agree. “This brother has brains. But, you have to say, people need to have that kind of luck? How can it be so unlucky that right after we speak, the old man throws out a bomb like this.” He whispered, “Eight’s luck…… He just does not have that destiny.”
Ninth Prince had nothing to say to this.
Eighth Prince Establishment closed the gates to guests once Eighth Prince came back from the court session.
He sat in his study. He could not find a solution. This matter was just so unlucky!
No one had truly plotted against him. Nine and Ten would not do that.
But someone must have interfered for the information to spread so quickly. The people sitting in the pavilion that day were people close to him, but they could not avoid being on good terms with other people, for example, Fourteen.
It was likely Fourteen making waves in the shadows.
When he thought of Fourteen, he felt disgust. It was like a flea growing on him, unable to be sent away. When left alone, he usually did not announce his existence, but occasionally, when there was a chance, he would bite. It was very irritating.
Eighth Princess Consort sat next to Eighth Prince. She said in a low voice, “Yin Si, so what if we gamble this once? Can the emperor take back the words he has spoken? The saying is that the emperor will not joke. If everyone is on Ye‘s side, the emperor cannot refute. He was the one to send the edict.”
Eighth Prince shook his head. “It is not to that point. Let Ye think some more.”
“Think? Think of what?” Eighth Princess Consort sneered. “If the emperor said it, then even if he is not willing, he has to grit his teeth and admit it. If we take the position first, everything else is easy to take care of. In any case, we will not take the path of the deposed crown prince.” Then she looked at Eighth Prince, “Yin Si, we did not have an easy time to reach where we are now. If we cannot grasp the opportunity in front of us now, it will be more difficult in the future. Me, a woman, does not fear losing my head along with you. What are you worried about? Do not make me look down on you.”
Eighth Prince was irritated by Eighth Princess Consort’s words. “This is not a minor matter. Let me think.” Then he stood up. “I am going to the study to talk to Mister He. You can just stay in the establishment to watch Hong Wang and eldest gege. Do not worry about other matters.”
Eighth Princess Consort watched Eighth Prince leave and stomped her foot in anger.
Si Ye was much more at ease in the Garden of Perfect Brightness. He was full of spirit watching Hong Hui and the others building snowmen in the garden.
Hong Zhao was young, but he wanted to be part of things. With every two steps, he would trip. But he would not cry. He just ran after Hong Hui. Lin Yu Tong stayed in the room and started a hot pot. Soup made with fish heads were the most delicious to cook mutton. When the smell spread, the children did not need to be called, and they would rush and run to the room.
They were told to change. Each person had to drink a bowl of ginger and date tea before they could sit at the table to eat.
Hong Zhao could not eat meat. The wet nurse took him down to eat some egg and vegetable porridge.
Hong Hui and Hong Yun were half grown, and each could eat three plates of rice. Moyaqi had the kitchen make wonton that she put into the soup and fed Hong Shi.
Si Ye looked at the meat in his bowl and whispered to Lin Yu Tong, “Ye is not able to eat more than Hong Hui now.”
Hong Hui would practice martial arts for half the day. Of course he would use up more energy.
However, Si Ye had not slacked off in riding and shooting. His body’s lines were still very streamlined.
Lin Yu Tong thought this and said, “Ye is not able to digest because you have matters on your mind. Hong Hui is at an age he can play and eat, how could you eat more than him?”
Lin Yu Tong spoke the truth. The children had gone mad with fun in the garden. The lake had frozen over with a thick layer of ice. They dared to go skate on top. Even Moyaqi was much more lively. The place was large, they had a lot of free space, and they played through the garden.
Lying on the bed at night, Lin Yu Tong asked, “Ye feels no urgency at all?”
Si Ye sighed. “You think your ye is a celestial? Have I not been thinking about it all day? If it is like Ye predicts, how to take care of this matter? If something suddenly occurs, what to do? What do you think your ye is doing with the retainers in the study all day? To plan for everything that may occur, and then think of solutions. Maybe most of them will not be used, but one does not dare to slack off at all.”
Making emergency plans.
Lin Yu Tong nodded. It truly was not easy.
The next morning, right after breakfast, Su Pei Sheng reported, “…… The news is that Eighth Prince has arrested that jianghu master and is traveling to Changchun Garden.”
Si Ye snorted and waved his hand for Su Pei Sheng to leave.
“With Khan A-ma‘s personality, he would assume that Eight is playing a double act. On one side, he has people make rumors, and on the other side, he wants to use this to show he is open and honest.” Si Ye shook his head. “The more he does, the worse it is!”
At this time, Eighth Prince was kneeling by the emperor’s feet, “…… Such jianghu masters like this who mislead the public should be strictly punished.”
Kangxi looked at the kneeling Eight and nodded minutely, a faint smile on the corners of his lips……
- ba wang da rearranged is da wang ba. A wang ba is a tortoise, also a cuckold. ↩
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