AWB Chapter 140 Shooting yourself in the foot
Chapter 140 Shooting yourself in the foot
Not feeding people until they finish reviewing their memorials? You fascists! How can you starve them after they've worked so hard? That's incredibly unfair!
Normally, Yinzhuo would have insisted on getting back at his father, but since he hadn't yet obtained the birch bark bow and the auspicious crane painting, he didn't dare to be so arrogant. So he stood up and bowed to Kangxi.
"Alright, Father, you rest. I'll go to the study to help you with the memorials. Eunuch Liang, let's hurry up and go, lest we be late for Father's dinner."
It has to be said that reviewing the memorials of greetings was a real test of one's composure. In just one afternoon, Yinzhuo was so angry that he was practically fuming with rage at the sight of those ornate but meaningless parallel prose pieces. Finally, as evening approached, Yinzhuo finished dealing with that pile of memorials. He got up, stretched, and walked out of the study.
"Father, I finally understand why you dumped that pile of memorials on me. Were those greeting memorials? They were torture. From now on, if any of my brothers make a mistake, don't punish them by deducting their salary, making them copy books, or putting them in confinement. Just bring them here and make them deal with greeting memorials for a whole month. I guarantee they'll remember it well and never do it again."
Kangxi agreed with Yinzhuo's words. He felt that replying to those greeting memorials was a waste of time and a test of patience, and there was really no benefit to be gained. He even thought that Yinzhuo's suggestion to let him handle greeting memorials whenever someone made a mistake was quite good.
"That's a good idea. Since it was your suggestion, let's start with you. This month's worth of greetings reports will be yours!"
Okay, this is what it means to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot. Yinzhuo is now filled with regret and wishes he could go back in time and slap his own self who was just talking big. But it's too late to say anything now. He can't make a fuss before he gets his hands on the Horned Bow and the Auspicious Crane Painting!
It's true that Yinzhi could manipulate Kangxi, but the reverse is also true. Kangxi used the horn bow and the auspicious crane painting as bait, forcing Yinzhi to work as a laborer for him for half a month. Why half a month instead of the agreed-upon month? That's because our Prince Zhao was so tormented by those greetings that he quit.
"Father, just give me a straight answer. Can you bring me the birch bark bow and the crane painting today? It's been half a month. If you don't give me these two things today, I might as well just hang myself at your study door... What kind of fate do I have? Brother, you're such a worrywart. Father, Father is a liar..."
Kangxi had long guessed that Yinzhuo would eventually give up, so he was not at all surprised by Yinzhuo's obvious act of shirking responsibility. He had thought that Yinzhuo would not be able to hold out for more than a few days before he would make a fuss, but he never expected that Yinzhuo would endure it for half a month for those two things, which was quite unexpected for Kangxi.
"You good-for-nothing! If I ever hear you talking about death or anything like that again, do you think I'll spare you? Liang Jiugong, send someone back to the palace and bring him that birch bark bow and the auspicious crane painting. You brat, once you get your things, get out of here right now."
Yinzhuo had been waiting for these words from his father. As soon as Kangxi said them, he immediately transformed from a street ruffian into his father's devoted son. He even took over Liang Jiugong's duties, surrounding Kangxi, massaging his shoulders, pouring tea, grinding ink, and handing him memorials. His obsequious manner was simply unbearable to watch.
Of course, all of this was a false prosperity, which only lasted until the people Kangxi sent to the palace to retrieve the items returned, and then came to an abrupt end. Kangxi glanced at Yinzhuo, who was beaming with joy while holding the auspicious crane painting, and then raised his hand and threw the brush in his hand at him.
"How could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing? What kind of good thing is that? Is it worth laughing like this? Didn't I say before that I was going to give these two things to your eldest brother and third brother? What's wrong? Judging from your expression, you're not planning to give them to him anymore?"
Believe it or not, Kangxi actually guessed some of Yinzhuo's thoughts. He was genuinely reluctant to give away the painting of auspicious cranes, but the words had already been spoken, and there was no reason to take them back now. So even though he was reluctant, Yinzhuo's rebuttal was firm and resounding.
"Of course not. Although I am unruly, I still know the meaning of keeping my word. Since I have already said that these two items are for my eldest brother and third brother, I will not keep them for myself after I get them. I will have someone deliver these two items to my eldest brother and third brother in a little while."
After listening to Yinzhuo's righteous and awe-inspiring speech, Kangxi smiled and nodded, then turned around and beckoned the palace servants who were waiting nearby to come over.
“Since you’re not reluctant to part with it, that makes things easier. You two go to Prince Zhi and Prince Cheng’s place and tell them that Prince Zhao begged me for half a month to get this for them.”
When the little eunuch came over and took the horn bow from Yinzhuo's hand, his expression was calm, but when the auspicious crane painting was also taken away, his heart suddenly ached!
"Father, do you really have to take it away now? Even if your son could just hold that auspicious crane painting one more time..."
Upon hearing this, Kangxi raised his hand to dismiss the eunuch who had taken the items, then stood up and walked to Yinzhuo's side, patting him on the shoulder.
"Yinzhuo, you used to like to quote proverbs, so today I'll teach you one more: a short pain is worse than a long one. Don't you think that makes sense?"
This is utterly absurd! Do you think I don't know that a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one? Do I need you to go to the trouble of teaching me this? Besides, isn't the focus right now on whether it's a long or short pain? Shouldn't the focus be on the heartache I'm feeling right now?
"Father, I don't care whether the pain is long or short, right now my heart is aching. You have to do something to help my son relieve the pain."
Upon hearing Yinzhuo's words, Kangxi glanced around, then grabbed the ruler from the desk and struck Yinzhuo.
"You want pain relief, huh? Fine, then I'll get you something to treat this pain. Why are you running away? Just stand there obediently..."
Seeing that the ruler in Kangxi's hand was about to be swung down, Yinzhuo was not stupid and naturally would not stand there waiting to be whipped. He quickly dodged his father's attack and ran towards the door of the study.
“Father, why are you in such a hurry again? Alright, I admit your pain relief method is indeed effective. How about we stop here for today, or let me sit down and rest for a while before we continue?”
Good heavens, you think I'm joking with you? A halftime break, you think you're so clever? Just as Yinzhu was about to run out the door, Kangxi raised his hand and threw the ruler at him.
Just as the ruler was thrown out, a muffled groan came from the direction of the door, followed by Yinzhuo's exclamation.
Fifth Brother, are you alright?