HCB Chapter 458 These past few years have really been tough for you, Uncle 4.
Chapter 458 These past few years have really been tough for you, Uncle 4.
What exactly is Yinzhuo's ultimate move? Actually, the answer is quite simple: You have so much energy, right? Well, I'll just find a way to burn off that energy of yours.
“Hongxu, Hongshi, do you see that stack of bricks over there? Go and lift it up, then carry it to the pavilion on that mountain over there. Rest for a quarter of an hour, then carry it down again. Repeat this ten times, and your task for today will be complete.”
Hongxu and Hongshi were only twelve or thirteen years old, so Yinzhuo didn't prepare many bricks for them. The two boys had spent a lot of time in the cloth warehouse over the years, and they were used to being tough and rough. They obviously didn't take Yinzhuo's punishment too seriously. It's just moving bricks, right? No big deal. I have plenty of strength.
As the saying goes, old ginger is spicier. Yinzhu could tell what these two were thinking just by looking at their nonchalant expressions. He was always the kind of person who loved to watch the fun and would naturally not mind giving these two little devils a good whack when they were feeling smug.
"Hey, you two, don't think I'm just making you move bricks for one day and that's the end of it, do you? Dream on! I'm not afraid to tell you, this matter won't be over until you two are back in the Imperial Study after the New Year."
Well, after Yinzhuo poured that bucket of water on them, Hongxu and Hongshi, those two little devils, immediately wilted like they'd been hit by frost. Yinzhuo didn't give them any time to recover from their dejected state. He raised his hand and called Akshang over, ordering him to escort Hongshi and Hongxu to move bricks. He then had a palanquin carried up and followed behind them to supervise the work.
Even though Hongxu and Hongshi were at the peak of their energy, they had been pampered since childhood and had never experienced such hardship. At first, they could persevere because of the novelty, but the main characteristic of bricklaying was its tedium and boredom. After only two days, they couldn't keep going.
“Father, how about we change the punishment? Squat in a horse stance, run laps around Changchun Garden, or even just whip us both. Look at how blistered our hands are from carrying bricks these past few days.”
Yinzhuo only had one son, Hongxu. How could he not feel sorry for him when he saw the blisters on the hand that Hongxu held out to him? But as the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. If he couldn't be tough on him now, he would be the one to suffer later.
“It’s alright, son. It’s just a few blisters. We men are men; we can bleed and sweat, but we can’t cry. Life is full of difficulties and challenges, and we have to bravely overcome and face them. You’re still young, the age when you should be experiencing hardship. If you endure more of life’s hardships now, your future will be smoother…”
Although Yinzhuo's words were quite inspiring, Hongxu and Hongshi didn't seem to buy it. They exchanged a glance, took two steps forward, and each grabbed one of Yinzhuo's arms on either side, shaking them vigorously.
"Sixth Uncle, Hongxu and I know we were wrong. Please be magnanimous and forgive us this time. I promise you, we will never do it again."
"Yes, Father, we really know we were wrong. Look, we've been carrying these bricks for two days now, maybe we should just stop now."
As the two little ones shook him from side to side, Yinzhuo kept encouraging himself. "That's enough, that won't do. If I soften my heart now, I'll have to suffer the hardships of life later."
What was Yinzhuo's motto in life? Based on the principle that "I can't let others suffer, but I can suffer myself," Yinzhuo quickly made up his mind, struggled to break free from the pull of the two little ones, raised his hand and beckoned Dexi to help him to a seat far away from Hongxu and Hongshi. It took him a while to feel his head, which had been shaken, clear up a bit.
"Good heavens, you two almost made me throw up from all that shaking. And you think you can plead with me after what you did? No way! Akshan, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and come in and take those two young princes to carry bricks. Remember, ten round trips, not a single step less. Dexi, come here, help me to the house to lie down for a while, my head is spinning terribly..."
Hongxu and Hongshi stood there watching helplessly as Yinzhuo was helped out of the flower hall by Dexi. Their last glimmer of hope was extinguished. Alas, let them suffer. The hardships of life are nothing compared to their miserable fate.
Hongshi and Hongxu were so engrossed in the joy of carrying bricks that they had no time to bother Yinzhuo anymore. Our Prince Zhao was now free of worries and felt that the sky was bluer, the sun was warmer, and even the potted jewel flowers in the room looked more vibrant.
"Eagles soar in the azure sky. I gaze northward from Changchun Garden. Sigh, it's been a month since Thirteen and Fourteen left. I wonder where they are now..."
Although Dexi didn't know where his thirteenth and fourteenth masters were, he knew that his master was in a pretty good mood today. Look at him, he's so happy he's starting to talk nonsense. The sky is indeed quite blue, but there aren't any eagles in sight.
Whether or not there was an eagle didn't affect Yinzhuo's good mood. After eating and drinking his fill, he went to his study to write letters to the thirteenth and fourteenth princes who were at the front. He dawdled in the study until almost noon before finally coming out with two letters.
"Dexi, go to the Imperial Kitchen and tell them to hurry up and make some chili sauce, tomato sauce, hot pot base, and the like. Have someone send these two letters along with those things to them tomorrow. Hongxu, have those two boys, Hongshi, come back yet? If they have, tell them to wash up and come over for dinner."
Because they still had to move bricks in the afternoon, Hongxu and Hongshi didn't change their clothes. They just washed their hands and came over. They didn't care about the two little mud monkeys sitting opposite them. Once everyone was there, they ordered Dexi to have the prepared food brought up.
"Father, is there really no room for negotiation about this brick-moving job? How about this, can we reduce the number of shifts by two? Look at our son, he's lost weight these days because he hasn't been eating or resting well."
Upon hearing this, Yinzhuo looked up at Hongxu, who had already eaten two bowls of rice and was still eating. He almost began to doubt his previous understanding of the world. No, son, if this is considered not eating well, then when you eat well, aren't you eating like a pig?
“Son, although we’re already quite familiar with each other, could you at least pretend for a moment when you’re trying to fool me? You’ve already eaten two bowls of rice in this short time, and you still can’t eat well. Sigh, your fourth uncle has had a tough time these past few years. I bet all of his allowance from Yuqing Palace has been used to support you.”