sjar Chapter 544 Finale
Chapter 544 Finale
Just as a teacher standing on the podium can clearly see the situation of the students below, Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yinzhen, sitting in the head seat, could naturally also clearly see the actions of Yinzuo and Yinqi.
“Yinzhuo, what are you whispering and hushed to your fifth brother over there? Why don’t you speak up and let us hear too…”
Sneaking around? And whispering among yourself? No, I mean, Dad, when did your eyesight suddenly go so bad? And if you're going to talk, just talk, do you think I'm afraid?
“Father, it’s like this. I just suddenly thought of a really funny joke, and I was just about to share it with Fifth Brother. Since Father wants to hear it too, I’ll speak it out loud.”
Yinzhuo was just boasting to Yinqi about his estate in Laizhou Prefecture. This was certainly not something that should be said in public at a family banquet. Fortunately, our Prince Zhao was quick-witted and soon found an excuse for himself.
"Once, after an exam at the underwater kindergarten, Teacher Shrimp approached Little Fish and said, 'I found out you cheated on the exam. Tell me, whose paper did you copy?' Little Fish thought for a moment, glanced at the ivory clam and Teacher Shrimp beside him, and said, 'I copied from the clam…'"
To be honest, it was quite a cold joke for Yinzhuo to tell in the dead of winter. "You scooping up clams, huh?" Well, that's true, your joke is absolutely brilliant.
Although Kangxi knew perfectly well that what Yinzhuo had just told Yinqi was definitely not this joke, he obviously did not intend to hold it against him. He smiled and waved his hand to signal Yinzhuo to sit down, then cleared his throat, stood up and began to deliver his annual New Year's greetings.
Yinzhuo has traveled from the 24th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign to the present day. He has attended the family banquet in the Qianqing Palace every year except for last year. If you asked Yinzhuo to describe his feelings about attending the family banquet with one idiom, he would definitely tell you four words - extremely boring.
Because of Yinzhuo's habit of getting drunk easily and acting when drunk, Kangxi has kept a close eye on him over the years. Even at relatively private banquets like family gatherings, he would never allow anyone to serve him wine.
Yinqi and Yinyou had both witnessed Yinzuo's behavior when he was drunk, so they naturally wouldn't go out of their way to make things difficult for him. Since Yinzuo couldn't get any wine no matter what, he eventually resigned himself to his fate.
This year, just like every year, Yinti and Yinreng were clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, while Yinzuo sat there with a cup of tea, chin in hand, gazing at the wine with a sigh. A thousand words in his heart could be summed up in one sentence: "My fate..."
Emperor Kangxi could never bear to see his precious son looking dejected, so he sent Liang Jiugong down to fetch him halfway through the banquet.
Yinzhuo was even more carefree. After following Liang Jiugong to the head seat, he glanced between his father and brother, and then walked over to Yinzhen's side.
"Fourth Brother, could you move aside and give me a seat? The wine on your table smells like peach blossom wine. Could I have some to try?"
There's a saying that goes, "Brave people enjoy the world first." But there's always a chance that things won't go as planned. If you don't ask, how will you know if they'll give it to you?
Yinzhen wasn't suddenly out of his mind. His father had repeatedly emphasized that Yinzuo was forbidden from drinking alcohol, and now that someone was right next to them watching, he knew exactly how to respond if he wasn't stupid.
As expected, Yinzhuo was not annoyed by the rejection. He pulled up a chair and squeezed next to Yinzhen, picked up his chopsticks and began to pick and choose from the dishes on the table.
“Father, I find this capital city no fun at all. Let’s leave after the New Year. Let’s stay at Changchun Garden for a while, and when the weather gets warmer, we’ll go to Rehe. We’ll stay at the Summer Palace until August or September when the weather cools down a bit, and then we can travel to Laizhou Prefecture while having fun along the way…”
Although Yinti and the others appeared to be drinking and chatting happily downstairs, they were all secretly listening to what was happening over here. As soon as Yinzuo said this, Yinti, Yinreng, and the others all turned to look at him.
"Little Six, your older brother also finds this capital city incredibly boring. How about this? When you leave after the New Year, take your older brother with you. I'm quite skilled; when we get to Rehe, I can take you hunting pheasants and chasing rabbits in the forest. Don't you like skiing?"
If no one had taken the lead, it would have been fine, but once Yinti spoke up, things got out of hand, and everyone else immediately followed suit and volunteered.
“Big brother is right. Life in the capital is a bit boring compared to outside. Sixth brother, when you leave after the New Year, take your second brother with you. Although he doesn’t have the same fighting skills as big brother, his riding and archery skills are not bad. At least he can protect himself…”
"And me, Sixth Brother, you don't know, last year I was detained by Fourth Brother just because I left a step later than Eldest Brother and the others. Do you know what kind of life Fifth Brother has had this year? Didn't Third Brother ask you before if you've seen what the capital city looks like at 1-3 AM? Let me tell you, last year I not only saw it at 1-3 AM, I also saw it at midnight..."
"Sixth brother..."
Seeing that his brothers were all using their own methods to try and get a chance to go out with him, Yinzhen was in no hurry. He sat there leisurely, holding his wine cup, and waited until they had all finished speaking before putting down his cup and addressing his sixth brother.
"Sixth Brother, I won't say much more. In short, if you're willing to take me with you, all your expenses for the next year... no, from now on, will be on me..."
Good heavens, as soon as Yinzhen said that, not only Yinzuo, but everyone in the hall turned their gaze toward him.
"Ninth Brother, you have no sportsmanship. If you talk like that, who among us can beat you? Does having money make you superior? You're clearly cheating. If you're so capable, let's put money aside and compete fairly..."
Putting money aside—and I'm sorry, he really can't let go of that, since being rich is part of his power, isn't it?
"Exactly, Xiao Jiu, you're so shameless! Knowing you're at a disadvantage, you use connections and money to pave the way for yourself. I'm asking you, do you have any shame at all?"
Have some shame? What a joke! Compared to being left in the capital to be treated like a beast of burden by his fourth brother, shame is utterly worthless.
It has to be said that the power of money is immense. As soon as Yinzhen said that, he secured a spot to accompany the emperor. As for what happened to the others, he couldn't care less.
Since they had already said they would leave after the New Year, Yinzhu couldn't sit still for a moment after the New Year. Before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he dragged Kangxi, along with his eldest brother, second brother, and Yintang, to Changchun Garden. They stayed there until spring arrived, when the group finally gathered their men, guards, and attendants and rode out of the capital.
Behind him lay a safe haven from which he could return at any time, and ahead lay a free world where he could indulge in endless joy and sorrow. Yinzhuo looked back at the majestic city walls of the capital, and then at his smiling family members beside him. Happiness suddenly became so tangible at this moment.
"Hahahaha~~ At this moment, in this scene, we should sing a song! Only the young men of this world, fond of roaming the land, seize the day with swords and horses, their grudges and debts unresolved, with no ties to the mortal world, only love of life and death, discussing the Dao in drunkenness, plucking flowers when sober… Father, eldest brother, second brother, Xiao Jiu, let's go quickly! This world is so big, let's go and see it properly…"
【End of full text】