noffsinger Chapter 263 My son is indeed intelligent, just like me.
Chapter 263 My son is indeed intelligent, just like me.
Although Yinzhuo seemed to be full of energy and tireless when he was busy, deep down he was still a lazy bum who didn't have any great ambitions and just wanted to live a comfortable life. As soon as he returned to his Prince's Mansion from the Ministry of Revenue, the energy he had been putting on was gone.
"Dexi, come help me up! I feel like every part of my body aches. Come on, help me to the bathhouse in the back, then go back to my room and get me some clean clothes. These past two months, staying at the Ministry of Revenue has been such a struggle to even take a bath. Now that I'm finally back, I need to soak properly..."
As a son deeply favored by Emperor Kangxi, Yinzhuo's current residence not only boasts architectural specifications far exceeding those of a prince, but its interior is also incredibly luxurious and comfortable. Everyone knows about Yang Guifei's Huaqing Pool, right? It's because Yinzhuo casually mentioned wanting to build a bathhouse like Huaqing Pool at home for hot springs that his father actually built a pool for him to bathe in when expanding the mansion. It must be said that after a long day of hard work in the dead of winter, a good bath at home is truly comforting. Yinzhuo had been under immense pressure these past few days and was already physically and mentally exhausted; now, soaking in the pool, he quickly began to feel sleepy.
"Oh dear, my lord, how did you fall asleep in the pool? If you feel sleepy, let's go back to the room to sleep. This pool is not a place to sleep."
Yinzhuo was already feeling drowsy, and Dexi's loud voice nearly made him fall into the pool. He knew that the pool was not a place to sleep, so he quickly washed himself and asked Dexi to bring him his clothes.
"Dexi, in a little while, clear out all the people who have come from inside and outside our courtyard. I haven't been sleeping well these past few days, so now that I'm back, I need to catch up on all the sleep I've missed. Oh, and don't forget to send someone to tell the Fujin that I won't be going to her place today. I'll go see her and Hongxu after I've rested."
Yinzhuo was always a heavy sleeper, and now he was even more so. After returning from the Ministry of Revenue, he washed up and lay down on the bed. He slept until the afternoon of the next day. After getting up, he ate something to fill his stomach and lay back down. He then slept until the sun was high in the sky on the third day. If it weren't for Urentuya bringing Hongxu to see him, Yinzhuo probably would have continued to sleep.
"Ama~~"
Hongxu is now over two years old. Although he looks like a miniature version of the cold-faced king, he is still a baby inside. When he first saw Yinzuo, his father whom he hadn't seen for a long time, he was inevitably a little nervous and shy. Yinzuo squatted down and touched the hair of the little bean in front of him who called him father in a childish voice, and then reached out and hugged him.
"As expected of my eldest son, Yinzhuo, he is just as clever and quick-witted as I am. Come, let your father take a good look at him and see if he has grown taller or gained weight recently."
Manchus traditionally believe in holding grandchildren more than sons, but Yinzhi considered this rule utter nonsense. He reasoned that grandchildren could be closer than one's own sons, and that this "grandparental affection" was simply a filter effect of loving the child because the grandchildren reflected the Yinzhi's own childhood. Therefore, the Yinzhi wanted to extend his love for the child to the child. Since it was a case of loving the original first, then the "copy" could be loved through this filter effect. Yinzhi had grown up under his father's loving care, and he hoped his children would feel the same care and love from their father.
When Yinzhuo got up, the sun was already high in the sky. After playing with the children for a while, it was lunchtime. The family of three finally had a chance to sit down and eat together, so there was no need to follow the rules of not speaking while eating or sleeping.
“Not bad. My son is very clever. He is so skilled with chopsticks at such a young age. He is much better than your fourteenth uncle. He was not as good as my son when he was two years old. Here, Father will reward Hongxu with a big chicken leg!”
Urentuya watched with a smile as Yinzhuo and Hongxu interacted, occasionally chiming in with a few words. The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and warm. Seeing Hongxu, who was holding a chicken leg in both hands and gnawing on it with his face covered in oil, Yinzhuo's smile grew even wider. He reached out and took the damp handkerchief that Dexi handed him, and helped Hongxu wipe his little face, which was covered in oil from the chicken leg.
"Alright, son, let's stop eating this chicken leg here. Look at you, your face and clothes are covered in grease. Give the chicken leg to your father, let's eat something else. Don't you like this tomato and egg stir-fry with rice? Here, hold the bowl steady, and use the spoon to scoop it into your mouth..."
Children eating on their own is often like a battle, and Hongxu was no exception. After a meal, he made quite a commotion from head to toe. If he weren't his own son, Yinzhuo really wouldn't want to touch him at all, and of course, he wouldn't want to be touched by him either!
"Sir, leave him to me. I'll take him back to wash up and change his clothes. Didn't you say you have to go to the palace to meet the Emperor later? You can't go like this with oil stains all over your body. Sir, you should go to the back to tidy up too."
After seeing off Urentuya and her son, Yinzhuo, with Dexi's help, went to the back bath to wash himself. Just as he was getting ready, someone reported that the Fourth Prince had arrived.
"Hurry up and go inside. It's so cold outside. Why did you come out with your hair wet? Dexi, hurry up and get a dry cloth to dry your master's hair. If he catches a cold, you'll be in trouble."
To be fair, Yinzhen has quite a way with words. Look, he just said that Yinzuo would easily catch a cold if he went out with wet hair, and the next thing he knew, he started sneezing.
"See what I told you? I told you to wipe your sweat and hair before going out, but you wouldn't listen. Now you've caught a cold. Just you wait, when your father sees you like this, he'll definitely detain you and make you drink your medicine himself."
Yinzhuo took the handkerchief Yinzhen handed him, rubbed his nose, and then tossed it into the carriage and placed it in the basket. Yinzhuo was now filled with regret. He never imagined that the tuft of hair on his head could get wet and cause him to catch a cold. But it was too late now. If he hadn't gone to the palace today, it would have been fine. But once his father found out he had a cold, he would definitely have to take medicine.
It is said that illness strikes like a landslide, and that is absolutely true. It is only a short walk from Cong Yinzhuo's residence to the palace, but in that short distance, Yinzhuo's cold symptoms have become more and more serious.
"Yinzuo, what's wrong with you? Who upset you? Your eyes and nose are red, and your voice sounds off. Fourth Prince, you came with him, but you scolded him again."