AWB Chapter 286 was nothing special, I just suddenly felt it was pretty boring.
Chapter 286 was nothing special, I just suddenly felt it was pretty boring.
Despite Yinzhuo's loud pronouncements, his back injury wasn't actually that serious. He was just exaggerating to distract Kangxi and Yinreng. Sure enough, the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is absolutely true. Look, without Yinzhuo's interruption, both Kangxi and Yinreng immediately quieted down.
"Alright, let's go out now. This study is a bit messy, so watch your step. Or perhaps your father could help you out..."
Yinreng looked at Kangxi, who was following Yinzu out of the study with a worried expression, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. He stood there for a long time before taking a step out of the study.
"Doctor Wang, don't rush off. While you're at it, take a look at my second brother too. His forehead... um... he bumped into a pillar, yes, he bumped into a pillar."
Upon hearing Yinzhuo's words, Imperial Physician Wang nearly lost control of his expression, barely managing to refrain from rolling his eyes at him. He said, "Your Highness, I am your physician. Let's first discuss how the Crown Prince got that wound on his forehead. Before you speak, could you at least look up at him? There's still tea dust on his forehead."
Despite his inner complaints, Physician Wang's actions were swift and efficient. He quickly treated the wound on Yinreng's forehead, wrote a prescription for the two brothers, showed it to Emperor Kangxi, and then followed Liang Jiugong to fetch and prepare the medicine.
With Physician Wang gone, the large flower hall was left with only the servants and Emperor Kangxi, Yinzhuo, and Yinreng. Yinzhuo looked up at Kangxi sitting beside his couch, then turned to look at Yinreng standing not far away. He was filled with worry. "Wait, are you two playing 'one, two, three' like statues? Are you trying to see who can keep quiet longer, or has someone sealed your language system?"
"Wan Quan, you take the men out first."
Upon hearing Yinzhuo's words, Wan Quan's first reaction was to look at Kangxi, who was sitting next to him. Seeing that Kangxi's expression was calm and he did not object, Wan Quan slightly raised his hand to signal the servants in the flower hall to leave with him. Once they left, only Yinzhuo and his two sons remained in the room.
"Father, Second Brother, don't you two have anything you want to say to me?"
As expected, Yinzhuo's question did not receive an answer from Kangxi and Yinreng. Although Yinzhuo had long anticipated this outcome, he still couldn't help but sigh in the face of this stubborn pair.
"Alright, since Father and Second Brother have nothing to say to me, then I'll ask. Second Brother, can you tell me what's going on here today? Why did you suddenly resign from your position as Crown Prince?"
Upon hearing this, Yinreng first glanced at Kangxi, then turned his gaze to Yinzu, who was lying next to him. He stared at him for a while before slowly curving his lips into a smile.
"Nothing much? I just suddenly feel pretty bored."
In just a few words, Yinzhuo could hear a sense of relief in his calm and even tone, and for a moment, Yinzhuo couldn't help but feel sorry for his second brother.
It's no wonder that Yinreng suddenly gave up. From his perspective, the position of Crown Prince had become quite meaningless. Kangxi was a person with an extremely strong desire for control, and he always had the final say in matters of the court and in his sons.
If Kangxi's initial attitude towards Yinreng was merely one of forceful indulgence, as Yinreng's power grew, Kangxi, who was always sensitive to power, gradually developed some wariness towards him. Even though Yinreng had been patient and submissive in front of Kangxi for years, and even repeatedly stated that he had no intention of seizing power, Kangxi's fear and suspicion of him did not diminish at all, but instead intensified as Yinreng grew older.
So what if he's second only to the emperor and above thousands of others? It's lonely at the top. Yinreng was a favored son of heaven since childhood, and he wasn't someone without pride. Since forbearance was useless, he might as well just overturn the table. When he came, he thought, "At worst, you can kill me, which is better than this torment day after day."
"Hmm, it's quite boring. Second Brother, didn't you say before that you'd move to my Shufeng Pavilion for a few days when you had some free time? Now that you're no longer the Crown Prince, you should have the time, right? Come on, let's pack our things and move to Shufeng Pavilion for a while. I'll tell you, Tenth Brother and the others are raising a few sheep at the Imperial Estate. A few days ago, they told me they'd send me a couple when they were ready. Perfect, let's ask him to go to the Imperial Estate with us to catch some sheep, and we can have a whole roasted lamb tomorrow..."
Wait, is our thinking really that jumpy? If I remember correctly, weren't we just discussing the position of Crown Prince? How did we suddenly get to talking about roast whole lamb? Yinreng looked at Yinzuo, who got off the couch and was pulling him to leave, and his mind went blank. He didn't struggle at all and was pulled by Yinzuo all the way to the entrance of the flower hall.
"Yinzuo, you brat, stand right there! If you dare take another step forward, see how I deal with you. What do you mean you're giving up your position as Crown Prince? Did I agree to that? And you want to move to Shufeng Pavilion for a while? Did I agree to that? I advise you to come back here right now and behave yourself, or don't blame me for whipping you with a ruler."
Even Emperor Kangxi was taken aback by Yinreng's sudden and astonishing act. The two brothers were almost out of the flower hall before he came to his senses. Yinreng was startled by Kangxi's shout and his thoughts of running away returned to normal. Yinzuo, on the other hand, kept walking, completely ignoring his father's words, and focused on getting his roasted whole lamb.
"I said, you little brat, don't you have ears? Or are you itching for a beating again? Fine, then I'll grant your wish. Wan Quan, go to the study and get my ruler. If I don't beat your bottom until it's bruised and swollen today, it would be a disservice to your audacity."
Just when he was about to escape, his father grabbed him by the ear and pulled him back. Yinzhuo winked at Yinreng beside him for help while trying to pry his father's hand off his ear.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Father, please let go! Don't be angry. I was wrong just now. I'll be a good boy and lie down on the bed. Second brother, don't just stand there like an idiot. Please beg for me. My back is already injured today, and my bottom absolutely cannot be injured. Father, please, forgive me this time. I really didn't pretend not to hear you. I just don't want to take my medicine..."
When asked for help, Yinreng said he was powerless to help, as he himself was in dire straits and could hardly save Yinzuo. However, considering that Yinzuo had taken him with him when he fled, Yinreng did not just stand by and watch. Seeing that Kangxi was arguing with Yinzuo and had not noticed him, he quietly stopped Wanquan, who had already brought the ruler, for Yinzuo.