Chapter 157 – Qing Transmigration Tale (66)
“Bring Ye another bowl of porridge.” Ninth Prince pushed the bowl to the side, and looked at the eunuch who was in charge of serving the food.
The young eunuch looked up and then looked in trepidation at Si Ye. Si Ye did not have time to speak when Ninth Prince glared and said, “You servant, you are stupid. Ye is eating in Ye‘s older brother’s home, there is no need to be polite. You do as you are told, understand?”
He truly did not think himself a stranger! He even reprimanded servants.
This young eunuch looked young, but if he was not loyal and clever, how could Si Ye keep him close to serve him food? Ninth Prince was not polite at all in reprimanding him.
The young eunuch shrank his head back, and served Ninth Prince half a bowl of porridge.
“What is this?” Ninth Prince looked in dissatisfaction at the half bowl of porridge. You do not bear to give Ye more to eat? A bowl the size of a fist, how many mouthfuls were in half a bowl?
“You ate two baskets of steamed dumplings already, how much can you eat?” Si Ye had a black expression. “What time is it now? It will soon be time for lunch. Just eat this.”
Ninth Prince choked. So the servant had not served him more because he ate too much?
Ye was grown up now! He had left the palace, started his own establishment. He did not have any horrible grannies muttering to him what he could eat, what he could not eat. It had been so irritating.
He just managed to shamelessly visit, and even eating something he wanted was being disliked.
Also, Four said “lunch?” The pastries eaten as lunch could count as lunch? Did they not rely on the food from morning to make it through the day?
While he was discontent, he still first finished off the porridge in the bowl. Then he greeted Lin Yu Tong,”Fourth Sister-in-law, the porridge is truly very good.”
Of course it was very good! Made from the spring water of the pocket space, with the dates and different kinds of rice produced by the space. It was very nourishing. You benefited greatly.
Her heart jerked in pain but she still smiled. “As long as Ninth Brother likes it.”
“Of course! Of course. We can eat this porridge in the evening,” Ninth Prince smiled at Lin Yu Tong and said directly.
Evening?
You planned to stay here the entire day?
You even planned what to eat in the evening.
Lin Yu Tong felt that her smile froze. “That is good. I will make extra dishes at night.”
Si Ye glanced at Ninth Prince and stood up. He turned to Lin Yu Tong and said, “Ye will go to the front, do not leave the room, I have ordered people to hire two female storytellers. If you have energy, then call them in to serve you.”
One person listening to the stories alone. They would not even have someone who would listen to the complaints. What would be fun about that? However, Lin Yu Tong accepted Si Ye’s goodwill. “Good! I will call Moyaqi later, and us mother and daughter will have something to pass the time with.”
Si Ye nodded and let Lin Yu Tong tie his cloak before he left for the front.
Ninth Prince followed in Si Ye’s footsteps, bouncing. He thought, Fourth Brother was very good to Fourth Sister-in-law, he even thought of something to pass away the time. Also, it was rare for something to keep the princess consort during breakfast.
He counted on his fingers. It seemed that if he would keep his princess consort twice in a month, he was giving the other face.
Thinking of this, he felt a bit of guilt to Donggo-shi.
After he was done…… Oh! No!…… After Ye managed to bum food off for this while, he would stay in the home and keep his princess consort more?
Si Ye’s health had recovered mostly after Lin Yu Tong’s care. When he walked, his steps were strong and fast.
Ninth Prince panted as he followed. When he came to the study, he poured himself tea and panted.
Si Ye looked in dissatisfaction at Ninth Prince. From looking at him, he knew the other had stopped riding and shooting a long time ago. He looked at Ninth Prince with an even more dangerous gaze.
Ninth Prince was even more discontent. What kind of gaze was this? He appeared to look very scornful?
He was one who would lie down if he did not have to sit, and sit if he did not have to stand. His endurance was in the past.
He drained a cup of tea and felt better. But when he waited for the tea to be poured again, it was just water?
The young eunuch enthusiastically suggested, “Ninth Prince, there is also fruit juice. How about this servant serves you a cup?”
Damn! Was Ye a woman?
He looked at Si Ye’s cup. It was also plain water.
“Fourth Brother, your family has no silver to buy tea?” Ninth Prince heartlessly shouted.
Si Ye looked coolly at him. He did not speak when he saw Hong Hui, Hong Yun and Hong Shi stream in.
Seeing Ninth Prince, they were shocked and then they went to greet him.
Ninth Prince saw his coffin-faced fourth brother suddenly soften. He asked the three children about their studies, and then sent the children next door to study.
It was so shocking that the children were not schooled in another courtyard.
Did he not mind that it would be inconvenient for guests to come in and out?
Right now, it was the end of the year, and many people came with new year gifts. Ninth Prince thought, there would be many people who came to visit. He did not know how many people would be shocked seeing him keeping Four in his study.
However, he was wrong. The servants came in and out with gift lists and notes. But there were only a few who were lucky enough to be invited in the door by Si Ye. He did not encounter any in the morning.
In reality, this was normal. People of high status would not personally visit. They would just send their servants. Their gifts would arrive, but they would not come. People who were of low status, they would come with their gifts, but Si Ye would not lower himself to meet them.
So, this caused the saying that the fourth prince’s establishment was hard to enter.
This was completely different from Eighth Prince’s Establishment with its wide open doors receiving all guests.
Ninth Prince drank nine cups of water, went to the toilet three times, and did not see anyone visit. Si Ye did not ask him, seeming to know why he had come. He just practiced his calligraphy, relaxed.
“Come, bring me brush and ink.” Ninth Prince stood up, glanced at Si Ye. Are you the only one who knows how to write? Ye also knows.
Ninth Prince did have some talent in this area. The present court romanizing Manchurian in Latin had been invented by this prince.
This prince looked very careless, but he was skilled in Manchurian, Mongolian and Han, and even skilled in Russian. He had been able to use Latin characters for Manchurian, making it easy to learn and for later generations to use this. One could see his talent.
Si Ye did not even look up, just waved his hand.
Ninth Prince snorted. In order to show off, he wrote the new characters of his new style.
At noon, Hong Hui and the others came with their work for Si Ye to look at. After Si Ye looked at the children’s work, he said to Ninth Prince, “What about yours?”
Ninth Prince was dumbstruck. His work was going to be inspected as well?
Hong Shi saw that Ninth Prince’s face was blushing, and thought that Ninth Prince had not finished. So he said in a low voice, “Ninth Uncle, if A-ma punishes you, just cry.” If you cry, you won’t be punished. Where could people get such a bargain like this?
Ninth Prince grew more red, out of anger!
Hong Yun glared at Hong Shi. He almost could not suppress his laughter.
Ninth Prince furiously showed his new style to Si Ye. Humph! Could you understand this? Ninth Prince thought proudly.
Si Ye first frowned, and then narrowed his eyes.
Hong Hui said, “Ninth Uncle’s writing……” A new writing style.
Si Ye looked again. “There is room for more improvement.”
A waste of words! Would a new style form in a day or two?
Ninth Prince snorted in scorn.
Hong Hui smiled and said, “A-ma, Ninth Uncle should go to the Court of Colonial Affairs. Most people do not have Ninth Uncle’s skill.”
The Court of Colonial Affairs were mostly in charge of the affairs for Tibet, Mongolia, and other peoples. They were also in charge of diplomacy with Russia. The court had four bureaus in charge of titles, tribute, borders, officials, the military, the households, farming, taxes, relay stations, trade, religion and other matters. For example, the Lama Office and Muran Hunting Grounds were under this court.
This definitely counted as a good position.
But how could it end up being him? Ninth Prince twisted his lips and did not keep it on his mind.
Si Ye’s eyes flashed. “This afternoon, re-write two sheets well.”
Ninth Prince was even more angry. This person was giving homework to him?
But no matter how angry, he had to endure. He was silent, waiting for the pastries. But Si Ye’s family would have a proper noon meal.
At noon, they ate spinach noodles. In the middle of winter, using vegetables to make dough, it truly was…… Ninth Prince was satisfied with the food, but inside, he started to complain.
On the table was a dish of white cut pig head meat. It was very delicious. Such a thing was only found in disreputable restaurants outside. People like him who had proper meat to eat usually ate lamb or beef. They would only eat pork after they left the palace. He did not expect Fourth Brother to even eat pig head meat.
Of course, it was delicious. Ninth Prince took another portion with his chopsticks. He immediately felt that Four was not so cold and lofty, and was actually very common.
Hong Shi, this bad luck child, muttered to his ninth uncle again, “I like to eat pig head meat, but A-ma does not let me eat more. The braised pig trotters that Di–Eniang makes is delicious. I will ask Di–Eniang make it for us tonight.”
Ninth Prince nodded. If the braised pig trotters were the same level as the pig head meat, it was worth a try.
Hong Shi immediately relaxed. He had just eaten it yesterday. If not for Ninth Uncle, Di–Eniang likely would not make it.
Si Ye gave the young eunuch a look. The plate of meat disappeared in front of Ninth Prince.
It was gone!?
What replaced it was a plate of bean sprout salad. The young eunuch saw Ninth Prince just look and not eat, so he was considerate and put down a small plate of enoki.
This was not giving him meat to eat!
People would control how much he ate, and what he ate. Could people have a pleasant time at the meal?
Hong Shi reminded, “You have to eat both meat and vegetables. Ninth Uncle, how could you just eat meat? If you get fat, Ninth Aunt will not like you.”
Di–Eniang said if he grew fat, his future princess consort would not like him.
He was reminding Ninth Uncle out of the goodness of his heart.
Ninth Prince immediately grew awkward! This bad luck child was just like his a-ma. How could he be so annoying?
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