AWB Chapter 26 My luck is just too bad.
Chapter 26 My luck is just too bad.
Regardless of the uproar that Kangxi's decision caused in the Imperial Study, Yinqi, who had just graduated from the Imperial Study a few days ago but missed out on good times, was now so angry that he was about to drown the Imperial Study.
"Sigh, as expected, comparisons are odious. Li Yu, you know, my luck is just too bad. I left the Imperial Study and the rules changed right away. One day off every ten days! I wouldn't have dared to dream of that before. Why didn't Father issue this decree sooner?"
However, no matter how sour he was, it did not affect the good mood of Yinzhuo and the others at all, because after a long period of hard study and passing Kangxi's strict test, Yinzhuo and the others finally got their first holiday after the new regulations were introduced!
"Sixth brother, there's no school tomorrow. Have you decided what you're going to do?"
Speaking of this, Yinzhuo had really thought it through. Since he came to the Qing Dynasty, apart from going to the Mulan Hunting Ground with Kangxi in the first year, he had spent the following years going back and forth between the Imperial Study, the Southern Three Palaces, the Qianqing Palace, and the Yonghe Palace. He planned to take advantage of tomorrow's holiday to go out of the palace with his entourage. He didn't have the opportunity when he was too young before, but now that he was twelve years old, he thought that Kangxi would probably agree to his request.
"Fourth Brother, I plan to go to the Qianqing Palace later to talk to Father Khan and see if he will agree to let me take some people out of the palace for a stroll tomorrow. Ever since I went to the Mulan Hunting Ground with Father Khan last time, I haven't even been to the palace gates."
Not to mention that he had never even touched the palace gates, even Yinzhen, who was two years older than him, had never touched them. It's true what they say, people only envy what they don't have. Just like how the eldest prince envied them for having a day off every ten days, they also envied Yinti, who had now graduated from the Imperial Study and could leave the palace at any time.
The holiday was only one day away, so in order not to delay the time to leave the palace tomorrow, Yinzhuo said goodbye to Yinzhen and then went to Qianqing Palace with his entourage!
"Yinzuo, if you have something to say, just say it. If you have nothing to say, find a place to sit down. You keep circling around in front of me, making me dizzy."
It is said that no one knows a son better than his father. Kangxi may not have known Yinzhuo very well, but they had been friends for many years. Judging from his behavior, Kangxi knew that this guy probably didn't come to the palace today without a reason. Yinzhuo's behavior was so obvious that it was practically written on his face: "Father, I have something to say." If he pretended not to see it, it would be a bit impolite.
"Hehe, as expected, Father Khan understands his son best. I really have something to ask of you today. It's almost the ten-day holiday, isn't it? Although I've grown up in the capital, I've never seen what the capital looks like. I'd like to take advantage of tomorrow's holiday to go out and explore. What do you think..."
When Kangxi saw that the fellow had been hesitant and reluctant to speak since he came in, he thought that he had done something wrong and was trying to curry favor with him in advance. He didn't expect that all this fussing was about this little thing.
"I thought you were being so hesitant for so long, but it turns out you just want to go out of the palace. It's not a bad thing for you to go out for a stroll at your age, but this is your first time leaving the palace. Even if you bring someone with you, it's not very safe. How about this, I'll have your elder brother pick you up first thing tomorrow morning. I'll feel more at ease with him by your side."
Yinzhuo was clearly surprised that Kangxi would agree to his request so easily, and he immediately beamed with joy. For him, just being able to go out for a walk was enough; he didn't care too much about who he went with.
"Thank you, Father. Then I will not disturb you any longer. I will take my leave."
Seeing Yinzhuo slip away as soon as he achieved his goal, Kangxi was dumbfounded. How come he never noticed before that this kid could be so ungrateful?
"That brat, I should have known better than to agree to his request so easily."
Although he had been looking forward to leaving the palace, when Yinzhu actually stepped out of the palace, he felt a little lost. The capital was so big, where should he go next?
"Sixth Brother, what are you thinking about while you're standing here?"
Seeing Yinti looking at him with a puzzled expression, Yinzuo's eyes lit up. It didn't matter that he wasn't familiar with the capital. There was a human navigation device right in front of him.
"Brother, are there any fun places to visit in the capital? This is my first time leaving the palace, and I'm completely unfamiliar with the city. I'll have to rely on you to show me around!"
This was nothing to Yinti, of course. What was he doing out today? Wasn't he just ordered to take Yinzuo out for fun? Hearing this, he immediately patted his chest and assured him.
"No problem, I'll take care of everything, Big Brother."
The city of Beijing a few hundred years ago is incomparable to the city of Beijing a few hundred years later, but for Yinzhuo, who had been confined to the palace for several years, it was certainly enough to satisfy him.
"Brother, look over there, there are street performers. Let's go check them out."
"Brother, look at this old man's clay figurine making skills, they're really good. Let's go over and make a couple to take home."
"Big brother, although the food outside the palace can't compare to the fine food at home, it's certainly more exotic. I'll buy a lot to take back for fourth brother and my mother!"
"Big brother..."
Yinzhuo finds everything new and exciting. He wants to watch acrobatics, make clay figurines, eat roasted chestnuts and candied hawthorns from street vendors, and even pastries that he would never normally look at in the palace now seem novel outside the palace.
Yinti was getting dizzy from being called "Big Brother" repeatedly. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and dragged him into a restaurant on the street. They went up to the second floor and asked the waiter to open a private room.
"Sixth Brother, it's almost noon now. I thought you didn't eat much this morning, so you must be hungry by now. This restaurant's roast duck is said to be the best in the capital. How about we eat something here, rest for a while, and then go sightseeing in the afternoon?"
If you were to ask what Yinzhu was most interested in, food would definitely be one of them. He was initially a little unhappy that Yinti had dragged him here, but as soon as he heard there was good food, his displeasure vanished instantly.
The eldest prince was right; the roast duck at this restaurant was indeed exceptional. The duck was roasted to a beautiful reddish-brown color, with tender meat that was fatty yet not greasy. Paired with several of the restaurant's specialty side dishes, Yinzhuo thoroughly enjoyed his meal.
After a satisfying meal, Yinzhuo didn't rush out to continue his stroll. Instead, he ordered a pot of tea, sat down by the window, and stared blankly at the street scene outside.
Seeing that he had finally calmed down, Yinti was relieved to have some free time and naturally didn't rush him. They only paid the bill and left the restaurant after they had almost finished drinking a pot of tea.
"Big brother, where do we go next?"
This stumped Yinti. Although it wasn't too late yet, if he wanted to return to the palace before dark, he certainly couldn't go to any far places.
"Before I left this morning, Father Khan told me that I must bring you back before dark. Although it's not too late now, we can't go too far. Didn't you say you wanted to bring some food from outside the palace back to your mother and them? I'll have someone buy some now. There's a bookstore not far away, and the storyteller there is quite good. Why don't we go sit there?"
Yinzhuo naturally wouldn't object to Yinti's arrangements, and he was quite interested in the library, so he nodded to Yinzhuo.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you to lead the way, brother."