After New Yearâs Eve, it was the New Year. Jinsu arranged gifts for the princes and imperial concubines but she still waited for Yinyou to come back from morning court to ask him if they were suitable.
âFor the Crown Prince, add one more gift. As for the harem, De EâNiang said a few days ago that she likes folk gadgets, you can add some to her gifts. In the future, if you have time, please greet her for me1Yinyou means this in the same of going to pay a visit to Consort De, as a form of filial piety for an elder. . De EâNiang and EâNiang lived together in Yonghe back then and De EâNiang still takes great care of EâNiang.â
Yinyou put down the gift list, then turned to ask Fu Duo to bring the folk toys that boys liked to play with. To Jinsu he said, âSend this to the fourth brotherâs family. Just say itâs from me, no need to say anything else.â
Jinsu understood Yinyouâs intentions and agreed one by one.
Yinyou changed out of his court clothes and glanced at the snow that didnât stop outside. âItâs been cold these past two days. Please pay more attention. Iâll go to the study to read for a while, no need to send anyone to wait on me.â
âIâll ask someone to make Master a pot of hot tea. The eighth Lord sent tea a few days ago, I havenât tasted it yet.â Jinsu said as she walked towards the door.
Yinyouâs expression changed slightly, and when he saw that Jinsuâs expression remained as usual, he commented, seemingly casually, âI heard that my father-in-law admires the eighth brother very much, butâŠâ He raised his head and looked at the sky, showing a doubtful expression. âItâs the first month now. Choose a date to visit your parents. I will ask Fu Duo to prepare the gift for you.â
Jinsu thanked him, said her goodbyes and opened the curtain for Yinyou. Watching as he left the room, she closed the carved door, frowning. No matter what, she must not continue talking about her maiden family and the eighth princeâs relationship. Hearing her Masterâs words, she guessed he must be feeling dissatisfied with it2In the 1st month of Kangxiâs 48th Year, the emperor summoned court officials to conduct an inquiry to determine who initiated the movement for Yinsi to be appointed as heir apparent. [This is after the Crown Prince was deposed the first time]. The officials are terrified. The emperor asks Zhang Tingyu, and the official replies, âI heard it was Ma-qi.â The next day the crimes of Ma-qi are listed. He is spared the death penalty but arrested. After conducting investigations, it was found that Ma-qi was falsely accused, and he was released. In the 3rd month of the 48th year, Yinreng is reinstated as the Crown Prince. From Palace Museum. / B: Just providing more historical context, I think I told you guys last chapter as well. .
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Drinking the fresh tea, Yinyou rubbed his forehead and sighed. Not only did the fourth brother send tea to his house in the past two days, but the eighth brother also joined in the fun. He really couldnât understand Yinsiâs mind. Why would he continue to send things to him? At least, twice a year he would send him tea. But Yinyou would never help him. Since he was a child, Yinsi has been a gentle person, smiling whether he was unhappy or happy but Yinyou was never close to him. Yinyouâs closeness couldnât even compare to the closeness between the eighth brother and the ninth brother.
Could it be that this person wanted to deliberately make the fourth brother doubt him? Yinyou put down the tea cup and sighed. His calculations in his previous life were in vain in front of these imperial princes.
After the spring of the 38th year of Kangxiâs reign, the coldness in the Forbidden City had gone away somewhat, but news came out in the palace that the emperor had executed a young eunuch in the Yuqing Palace. The Crown Prince was so angry that he threw jade ornaments on the ground in front of the emperor. Although the emperor was angry, he walked away without punishing the prince.
Upon learning the news, Yinyou experienced a complex mix of emotions. In his mind, the Crown Prince was a very good young man. However, since the princes were enfeffed3(in feudal society): to take (someone) into vassalage by giving a fee or fief in return for certain services. / Yinyouâs referring to the events which happened in chapter 48 where they all got their ranks. last year, the Crown Prince had become more impetuous. Originally, he only raised beauties and occasionally played with them. Who would have thought that now he would have the courage to raise men too?
In addition to the pressure from his brothers, the Crown Princeâs behaviour was also related to Kangxiâs tolerance. Kangxi indulged his sonâs bad habits, including luxury, irritability, and lustfulness. Before he disliked the Crown Prince, all the Crown Princeâs faults were instigated by the villains around him. When he disliked the Crown Prince, the Crown Princeâs past shortcomings were infinitely magnified, and even his past advantages were regarded by him as having ulterior motives or even sinister intentions.
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The Crown Prince with outstanding literary talents and graceful bearing was eventually deposed and imprisoned. In later generations, he was even described as a worthless pustule by some people who did not understand history: he was lustful, cowardly, and scheming.
He was the most glorious Crown Prince in the Great Qing, and he was also the most miserable Crown Prince in the Great Qing. He was also a poor Crown Prince who was discredited by future generations. Look, no matter how beautiful and outstanding you are, until you reach the last step, you will never know whether your life will be glorious or humiliating.
Another half month later, Suoâetu4Suoâetu was a minister during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. He was an uncle of the emperorâs primary spouse, Empress Xiaochengren of the HeĆĄeri clan, who died during childbirth [Yinrengâs birth mother]. He was also the son of Sonin, one of the four regents appointed to assist the young Kangxi Emperor during his minority. As Empress Xiaochengrenâs paternal uncle, he was also, therefore, the grand-uncle of Yinreng, who was the Crown Prince throughout most of the Kangxi Emperorâs reign. / B: Since Kangxi canât bear to scold his favourite son, as Yinyou said, he would instead blame the others around him, like Suoâetu, one of the ministers supporting the Crown Prince. was reprimanded by the emperor. His words seemed to blame Suoâetuâ for teaching the Crown Prince badly. Yinyou stood with his head bowed, attentively listening to the man seated on the dragon chair enumerate Suoâetuâs crimes and then fine him a yearâs salary. Kangxi left the court in a bad mood.
Suoâetuâ face looked gloomy, and the Crown Prince held fear and anger in his eyes. On the other hand, the eldest brother on the other side showed a proud look. Finally, the Crown Prince tossed his sleeves and left the court without saying a word. Yinyou glanced at his back and lowered his eyelids indifferently. When he turned his head, he discerned a flicker of joy in Yinsiâs eyes that he couldnât conceal in time.
He couldnât help but glance at Yinzhen, who looked neither happy nor angry. Yinyou sighed, the eighth brother lost in this regard5This refers to how Yinyou canât handle his emotions as well as Yinzhen, and this is one of his disadvantages. In earlier chapters, Yinyou analyzed how Yinsi couldnât bear to keep a low profile and always wanted to shine and prove how good he was. Unfortunately, his status and the emperorâs favour were never on his side. You can check Chapter 10 to read Yinyouâs opinion on Yinsiâs struggle for the throne..
In the next month, the Crown Prince restrained himself a lot, and the beautiful women and men raised in his villa were sent away. Kangxi and the Crown Prince returned to the previous scene of a loving father and a filial son.
In April, news came again from the palace that Concubine Min was seriously ill6 In the 7th Month of the 38th Year of Kangxi: Lady Janggiya, an imperial consort, dies. She is given the posthumous title of Consort-in-ordinary Min (lit. âPerceptiveâ; an imperial concubine of the third rank, fei). [Sheâs the mother of the 13th brother whoâs being raised by Consort De, the mother of the 4th and 14th brother]. The third prince, Yinzhi, the Commandery Prince of Cheng (lit. âHonestâ) as a mourning son should not shave his hair for a hundred days but he did, and was demoted to the title of prince (beile, prince of the blood of the third degree). . His Majesty was so worried that he ordered the imperial physicians to take her pulse three times a day.
When they got the news, Yinyou was in Yinzhenâs villa and they both were appreciating the blossoming of the flowers from the pavilion.
âFourth brother, the thirteenth brother is young, and it is inevitable to worry about his Eâniang. Please visit him more often, brothers should care about each other.â Yinyou put down the teacup and looked at the sky. âItâs so late already, I should also go back home.â
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Standing up, he raised his head and squinted at the westward sun. Yiyou turned around and smiled at Yinzhen, âEveryone has a day like this sooner or later.â
Yinzhen stared at his cheeks which were reddened by the setting sun, and his heart throbbed.
âSeventh brother, IâŠâ he retracted his outstretched hand, and forced a smile, âLetâs go to the palace together tomorrow.â
Yinyou walked out of the pavilion, waving to Yinzhen without looking back, âI wonât go tomorrow. You go first, and I will go with you the day after tomorrow.â Looking at the flowers blooming on the roadside, Yinyou smiled bitterly: otherwise how could this mournful thirteenth brother be truly loyal to the later Emperor Yongzheng?
Yinzhen watched the figure go further and further away and sat back on the stone bench. His eyes fell on the tea cup that Yiyou drank from. The seventh brotherâs behaviour seemed to be⊠secretly helping him. Even though the seventh brother said nothing, he eased the relationship between him and EâNiang, made the fourteenth brother get closer to him, and helped win over the thirteenth brother.
All of this⊠was what the seventh brother wanted to run away from7In chapter 14, Yinyou distances from Yinzhen because Yinzhen had used him for political schemes. Later, Yinzhen apologizes and they have an agreement to not have such a relationship with benefits or schemes. Also I canât find the chapter, but when Yinyou goes to war, he says to himself: âWhen I come back, I will help this child [Yinzhen] get the position [the throne] he desires.â Yinzhen is realizing Yinyouâs change of mind..
After sitting for half a stick of incense, Yinzhen stood up and clapped his hands. Xiao Luzi appeared with two maids. After greetings, he said, âMaster, the sedan chair back home has been prepared.â
âNo need, weâll stay here in the villa today; you can go to the mansion to get my court clothes.â Yinzhen walked out of the pavilion, looked up at the fiery sunset, and walked towards the house.
After taking two steps, he stopped and said, âSend the best peonies in the villa to the seventh brotherâs house. You can see if there are any more precious flower seeds and send them there too.â
He took two steps and then stopped, instructing, âSend the best peony flowers from the estate to seventh brotherâs residence. Also, see if there are any precious flower varieties, and send them over as well.â Yinzhen felt somewhat helpless about the seventh brotherâs preference for tea and flowers, but seeing interesting things, he couldnât resist sending them. This subconscious behavior made him sigh in helplessness. Yet, he was grateful that this was his seventh brother, a member of the Aisin Gioro family. If it were his own concubines, he might have feared losing his sense of judgment.
Even Yinzhen couldnât fathom these inexplicable feelings of caring for the seventh brother without worrying about betrayal. For the imperial family feelings were inherently extravagant, and it left him pondering. Despite his usual cold-heartedness, he had developed a profound connection with his half-brother, a bond that went beyond blood. Yinzhen was unsure whether to be glad that he could experience such emotions or lament the misfortune of falling in love with a man who happened to be his own younger brother.
The next day, Yinzhen entered the palace and looked for Yinxiang. The boy, when standing in front of him, had red eyes. Yinzhen patted his shoulder and comforted him, âThirteenth brother, your Eâniang will be fine. Donât worry too much.â
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The two brothers spoke a long while. After that, Yinzhen left the palace where Concubine Min lived. Walking alone on the bluestone road, Yinzhen recalled ten years ago. At that time in Kunning Palace, it was he who was crying and it was Yinyou who offered him a shoulder to cry on. Then, he lost his Eâniang and her protection, and returned to his birth mother. His brotherâs attitude were not as warm as before, and even the Crown Prince did not care for him as much. Only Yinyou was kinder to him than when his Eâniang was alive. He often pestered him to âtalk by candlelight at nightâ, yet he was always the first to go to sleep.
Since the time when he was six years old when that child toddled over to hold his hand, they had never been apart. Yinyou was smart, could see the overall situation clearly, and did not like intrigues, but he was wary of his own Fu Jin because she was from the Nara family. He mightâve not care about his own dispute with the eldest brother, but he was worried that if he was truly close to the Nara family, it will bring trouble for him and cause the Crown Prince to doubt him.
He knew that Yinyou had met Nara shi before she died. Yinyou had some Han kindness in his nature8The ancient Han Chinese settled alongside the great rivers of China and populated the fertile areas, cultivated land and pursued a sedentary lifestyle. The Manchus originating from the vast areas of North East Asia, followed a semi-nomadic lifestyle and were skilled at warfare. (Source). / The different kind of life suggest a different kind of temperament, this is why Yinzhen says Han kindness, since the Aisin Gioro family âthe ruling family of the Qing Dynastyâ was Manchu. . Others didnât know it, but he knew it very well. Nara shi couldâve survive; at least, Yinyou couldâve protect her, and given Yinyouâs kind nature, he mayâve not wanted Nara shi to die.
But just because she was from the Nara clan âthe same clan as the eldest brotherâs Eâniangâ, Yinyou cruelly allowed her to die by Huang Amaâs glass of poisonous wine. For his own sake, what the seventh brother did in private may not be clear to others, but he had to understand it9(B: Damn, I did not know this. Itâs funny how Yinyou, the narrador and Yinzhen all have different perspectives of Yinyouâs attitudes regarding his first Fu Jin!).
Yinyou repaid his brotherly love with sincerity, but he responded with unbearable thoughts. Thinking of this, Yinzhen smiled bitterly. All the brothers gossiped about how Yinzhen preferred this lame brother over them. Even the Crown Prince often reminded him subtly that there was no need to please a brother who was of little use. These people didnât know that he wanted to use these good things to resist the guilt in his heart. The pitiful remaining true feelings of the imperial family were desecrated by his unbearable thoughts.
After all⊠He wasted the seventh brotherâs true sincerity.
âFourth brother.â
Yinzhen turned around and saw the person he was thinking about running towards him with a bag of things in his hand.
âSeventh brother,â his throat was a little dry, but his face showed the gentle expression that always appeared when he saw Yinyou. âWhat is this in your hand?â
âThis is the new peach blossom cake I got from Huang Ama. I accompanied Huang Ama to play chess for a full hour.â Yinyou divided half of the cakes, wrapped them in a clean handkerchief and handed them to Yinzhen. âFourth brother, you can try them too. If they taste good, we will go to Huang Ama to ask for the recipe, then we can do it ourselves.â
Yinzhen took the package of snacks and felt helpless. Huang Ama always summoned the seventh brother to play chess, and would often get angry and scold him for his poor chess skills. He once thought that Huang Ama disliked the seventh brother, but when he thought about it carefully, the seventh brother never lacked the rewards that other brothers got. Every year, the seventh brother would be pointed at by Huang Ama and scolded several times for being a brat and a foodie. But Huang Ama was never truly angry from beginning to end.
Looking at Yinyou who had a playful smile, Yinzhen sighed. How could Huang Ama not like such son who was simple and kind? The other brothers all had their own concerns and little tricks. Only the seventh brother, because of his lameness, never had the opportunity to care about the throne, and his own temperament has always been honest. Huang Amaâs occasional indulgence to the seventh brother must be because of this.
The seventh brother can even ask for the imperial dim sum recipe. Who could say that Huang Ama didnât favour the seventh brother?
When Yinzhen saw that Yinzhen was looking at him silently, the smile on his face faded, âIs Min Eâniang not in good health?â
âItâs okay, Min Eâniang has the imperial physician, so you donât need to worry.â Yinzhen and Yinyou walked side by side, âDid you win today?â
Facing the timeless chess expertise handed down through the ages, Yinyou had a headache. Thinking of the situation when Kangxi slapped the back of his hand just because he regretted his move, he sighed regretfully, âIn this life, my chess skills can only reach this level.â
The issue was that, despite his lack of skill, Kangxi still enjoyed tossing him. Could it be that Kangxi found a sense of intellectual superiority in Yinyouâs idiotic chess skills?
With an expression that said âI knew it would be like thisâ, Yinzhen patted Yinyou on the shoulder and said warmly, âItâs okay. Next time you play with me, Iâll let you win.â
Yinzhen bared his teeth, âFourth brother, even if you let me win, you shouldnât tell me.â This tone of coaxing a six-year-old child was so very unacceptable! He was an uncle, alright!
âOkay, then Iâll secretly let you win next time,â Yinzhen thought for a while and still came to the conclusion that it would not be easy for the seventh brother to win a game of chess.
Yinyou glanced at the pastry in Yinzhenâs hand, with a hint of regret, âFourth brother, you donât have to be so sincere.â
Taking the pastry a little further away from Yinyou, Yinzhen couldnât help but grin, âI was lying, though?â
Yinyou: ââŠâ
Damn, I did not know how Yinzhen thought of Nara shi. Itâs funny how Yinyou, Yinzhen and the storyâs omniscient narrator all have different perspectives of Yinyouâs attitudes regarding his first Fu Jin! Happy Holidays to you too