Blessed by God Chapter 12: 55 and 56, a manhua/chinese comics/漫画 fanfic

After New Year's 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.

"For the Crown Prince, add one more gift. As for the harem, De E'Niang 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 me1. De E'Niang and E'Niang lived together in Yonghe back then and De E'Niang still takes great care of E'Niang."

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, "Send this to the fourth brother's family. Just say it's from me, no need to say anything else."

Jinsu understood Yinyou's intentions and agreed one by one.

Yinyou changed out of his court clothes and glanced at the snow that didn't stop outside. "It's been cold these past two days. Please pay more attention. I'll go to the study to read for a while, no need to send anyone to wait on me."

"I'll ask someone to make Master a pot of hot tea. The eighth Lord sent tea a few days ago, I haven't tasted it yet." Jinsu said as she walked towards the door.

Yinyou's expression changed slightly, and when he saw that Jinsu's expression remained as usual, he commented, seemingly casually, "I heard that my father-in-law admires the eighth brother very much, but…" He raised his head and looked at the sky, showing a doubtful expression. "It's the first month now. Choose a date to visit your parents. I will ask Fu Duo to prepare the gift for you."

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 prince's relationship. Hearing her Master's words, she guessed he must be feeling dissatisfied with it2.

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 couldn't understand Yinsi's 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. Yinyou's closeness couldn't 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 Kangxi's 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 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 Prince's behaviour was also related to Kangxi's tolerance. Kangxi indulged his son's bad habits, including luxury, irritability, and lustfulness. Before he disliked the Crown Prince, all the Crown Prince's faults were instigated by the villains around him. When he disliked the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's past shortcomings were infinitely magnified, and even his past advantages were regarded by him as having ulterior motives or even sinister intentions.

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, Suo'etu4 was reprimanded by the emperor. His words seemed to blame Suo'etu' for teaching the Crown Prince badly. Yinyou stood with his head bowed, attentively listening to the man seated on the dragon chair enumerate Suo'etu's crimes and then fine him a year's salary. Kangxi left the court in a bad mood.

Suo'etu' 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 Yinsi's eyes that he couldn't conceal in time.

He couldn't help but glance at Yinzhen, who looked neither happy nor angry. Yinyou sighed, the eighth brother lost in this regard5.

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. 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 Yinzhen's villa and they both were appreciating the blossoming of the flowers from the pavilion.

"Fourth brother, the thirteenth brother is young, and it is inevitable to worry about his E'niang. Please visit him more often, brothers should care about each other." Yinyou put down the teacup and looked at the sky. "It's so late already, I should also go back home."

Standing up, he raised his head and squinted at the westward sun. Yiyou turned around and smiled at Yinzhen, "Everyone has a day like this sooner or later."

Yinzhen stared at his cheeks which were reddened by the setting sun, and his heart throbbed.

"Seventh brother, I…" he retracted his outstretched hand, and forced a smile, "Let's go to the palace together tomorrow."

Yinyou walked out of the pavilion, waving to Yinzhen without looking back, "I won't go tomorrow. You go first, and I will go with you the day after tomorrow." 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 brother's behaviour seemed to be… secretly helping him. Even though the seventh brother said nothing, he eased the relationship between him and E'Niang, 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 from7.

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, "Master, the sedan chair back home has been prepared."

"No need, we'll stay here in the villa today; you can go to the mansion to get my court clothes." 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, "Send the best peonies in the villa to the seventh brother's house. You can see if there are any more precious flower seeds and send them there too."

He took two steps and then stopped, instructing, "Send the best peony flowers from the estate to seventh brother's residence. Also, see if there are any precious flower varieties, and send them over as well." Yinzhen felt somewhat helpless about the seventh brother's preference for tea and flowers, but seeing interesting things, he couldn't 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 couldn't 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, "Thirteenth brother, your E'niang will be fine. Don't worry too much."

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 E'niang and her protection, and returned to his birth mother. His brother's 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 E'niang was alive. He often pestered him to "talk by candlelight at night", 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 might've 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 nature8. Others didn't know it, but he knew it very well. Nara shi could've survive; at least, Yinyou could've protect her, and given Yinyou's kind nature, he may've not wanted Nara shi to die.

But just because she was from the Nara clan —the same clan as the eldest brother's E'niang—, Yinyou cruelly allowed her to die by Huang Ama's 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.

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 didn't 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 brother's true sincerity.

"Fourth brother."

Yinzhen turned around and saw the person he was thinking about running towards him with a bag of things in his hand.

"Seventh brother," his throat was a little dry, but his face showed the gentle expression that always appeared when he saw Yinyou. "What is this in your hand?"

"This is the new peach blossom cake I got from Huang Ama. I accompanied Huang Ama to play chess for a full hour." Yinyou divided half of the cakes, wrapped them in a clean handkerchief and handed them to Yinzhen. "Fourth 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."

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 Ama's 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 didn't favour the seventh brother?

When Yinzhen saw that Yinzhen was looking at him silently, the smile on his face faded, "Is Min E'niang not in good health?"

"It's okay, Min E'niang has the imperial physician, so you don't need to worry." Yinzhen and Yinyou walked side by side, "Did you win today?"

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, "In this life, my chess skills can only reach this level."

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 Yinyou's idiotic chess skills?

With an expression that said "I knew it would be like this", Yinzhen patted Yinyou on the shoulder and said warmly, "It's okay. Next time you play with me, I'll let you win."

Yinzhen bared his teeth, "Fourth brother, even if you let me win, you shouldn't tell me." This tone of coaxing a six-year-old child was so very unacceptable! He was an uncle, alright!

"Okay, then I'll secretly let you win next time," 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 Yinzhen's hand, with a hint of regret, "Fourth brother, you don't have to be so sincere."

Taking the pastry a little further away from Yinyou, Yinzhen couldn't help but grin, "I was lying, though?"

Yinyou: "…"

Damn, I did not know how Yinzhen thought of Nara shi. It's funny how Yinyou, Yinzhen and the story's omniscient narrator all have different perspectives of Yinyou's attitudes regarding his first Fu Jin! Happy Holidays to you too 3 —Bambi

Yinyou means this in the same of going to pay a visit to Consort De, as a form of filial piety for an elder.

In the 1st month of Kangxi's 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, "I heard it was Ma-qi." 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.

(in feudal society): to take (someone) into vassalage by giving a fee or fief in return for certain services. / Yinyou's referring to the events which happened in chapter 48 where they all got their ranks.

Suo'etu was a minister during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. He was an uncle of the emperor's primary spouse, Empress Xiaochengren of the Hešeri clan, who died during childbirth [Yinreng's 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 Xiaochengren's paternal uncle, he was also, therefore, the grand-uncle of Yinreng, who was the Crown Prince throughout most of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. / B: Since Kangxi can't bear to scold his favourite son, as Yinyou said, he would instead blame the others around him, like Suo'etu, one of the ministers supporting the Crown Prince.

This refers to how Yinyou can't handle his emotions as well as Yinzhen, and this is one of his disadvantages. In earlier chapters, Yinyou analyzed how Yinsi couldn't bear to keep a low profile and always wanted to shine and prove how good he was. Unfortunately, his status and the emperor's favour were never on his side. You can check Chapter 10 to read Yinyou's opinion on Yinsi's struggle for the throne.

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. "Perceptive"; an imperial concubine of the third rank, fei). [She's the mother of the 13th brother who's being raised by Consort De, the mother of the 4th and 14th brother]. The third prince, Yinzhi, the Commandery Prince of Cheng (lit. "Honest") 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).

In 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 can't find the chapter, but when Yinyou goes to war, he says to himself: "When I come back, I will help this child [Yinzhen] get the position [the throne] he desires." Yinzhen is realizing Yinyou's change of mind.

The 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 —the ruling family of the Qing Dynasty— was Manchu.

(B: Damn, I did not know this. It's funny how Yinyou, the narrador and Yinzhen all have different perspectives of Yinyou's attitudes regarding his first Fu Jin!)

At the end of May, the weather in Beijing gradually became hotter.

Yinyou was in the study when Fu Duo hurriedly entered and brought the news that the third prince had been disrespectful to a concubine in the harem, and how he'd been recently been too harsh on his servants. All of this combined made the emperor furious.

In recent days, the third brother has indeed become a lot more arrogant in his words and deeds. Earlier this year, it was the Crown Prince who'd angered the emperor, then Imperial Noble Consort Min fell seriously ill and now the third brother's actions only made the emperor even more unhappy.

"Enough, this matter has nothing to do with your Master. Let them make a fuss." Yinyou slowly took a sip of tea before adding. "Go and tell Fu Jin to warn the people in the mansion to keep their mouths shut. If someone is not being cautious, beat them to death. There's money to buy them a coffin, anyway."

"Aye," Fu Duo was also worried. Recently, the relationships between the princes have become more and more tense, being in such a situation, he didn't dare to slack off. After receiving his Master's order, he left the study and walked to Fu Jin's yard.

When the study room was quiet again, Yinyou put down the book and rubbed his eyebrows. He didn't know what Jinsu said, but after they returned from her maiden family, Maqi didn't stand in the faction of any prince in the court, and he behaved like the emperor's loyal minister. This result was already very good. For a talented man like Maqi, as long as he didn't favour any prince, Yinyou believed Yinzhen had his way of dealing with him.

Recently, the fourth brother and Yinxiang have been very close, and the fourth brother and the fourteenth brother have also gotten along very well. Yinyou tapped the table with his right index finger. The political struggles will begin sooner or later, but they will also end sooner or later. He just needed to wait it out.

In July, Imperial Noble Consort Min couldn't hang on anymore and finally died of illness. The emperor held her funeral according to the ceremony of a concubine and did not raise her rank. She was the Imperial Noble Consort Min while she was alive and when she was dead1.

Yinyou looked at the thirteenth brother, who was crying in the mourning hall and felt distressed. In this harem, an underage prince who lost the protection of his E'niang would never have it easy. He walked up to the thirteenth brother and patted him on the shoulder. Then, he knelt on the futon next to him and silently accompanied the thirteenth brother to burn the incense paper2.

"Seventh older brother?" Little Thirteenth who had a flushing face and red eyes stared at the young man in the light-coloured robe3 beside him. He stubbornly wiped the tears from his cheeks, obviously not wanting to look embarrassed in front of him.

"Thirteenth younger brother, restrain your grief.4" Yinyou threw the money papers into the brazier one by one and whispered, "When someone leaves us too soon, they go back to where they began. Everyone goes through this in their lifetime. As her child, you are right to be sad but don't grieve too much and hurt your body. Min E'niang will only worry about you when she sees you like this, wouldn't that make Min E'niang even more unsettled?5"

The thirteenth brother looked at Yinyou with wet, sad eyes, but did not reply. Yinyou patted him on the back gently, "The thirteenth younger brother is a man already. As a future Batulu6, you should be strong and brave."

Outside the mourning hall, Kangxi gazed calmly at the two brothers kneeling together. He did not step forward, but stood quietly in the courtyard and listened to their whispering. His entourage of palace eunuchs stood in the corner with their heads buried.

"Seventh brother, fourth brother also told me that E'niang doesn't want to see me cry." Yinxiang sniffed, "But I will never see E'niang again, and I will never eat the snacks made by E'niang, or wear the leather hat she made for me…"

Although the thirteenth brother was smart, he was still a child after all. This tragedy caused his usual joyful appearance to disappear, leaving only a sad child.

"Don't cry." When Yinyou saw Yinxiang's beautiful face twisted from his crying, he frowned and took out a handkerchief, kindly wiping away his tears. "You are my younger brother. Even if there is no Min E'niang in the future, I will take good care of you. There is also the fourth brother. Although the fourth brother has a cold face, he's very kind to you. Don't make him worry about you like this. The other brothers are also good to you. Without Min E'niang, you still have Huang Ama and the rest of us brothers."

"Seventh brother!" Thirteenth leaned against Yinyou's body, his voice trembling.

Although Yinyou mentioned the other brothers, it was merely a polite statement. Yinyou just didn't want to tell Yinxiang the truth. He sighed, stretched out a hand and patted the thirteenth brother's back slowly. After this incident, afraid the thirteenth brother would grow up.

Kangxi did not interrupt the two brothers, but turned around and left with his large entourage. He walked on the palace road with a serious expression, and Li Dequan and the eunuchs who followed him did not dare to speak.

Kangxi knew very well that there were only two of his sons who cared to comfort little thirteenth: one was the fourth son and the other was the seventh son. The fourteenth one often came to accompany little thirteenth, but he was still young and didn't know how to comfort a grieving person.

His disabled seventh son actually cared more about his younger brother than the other older sons, which made him, as a father, feel tired. He spoiled the eldest son, and Yinzi became complacent and arrogant. He cared for and planned for his second child, but Yinreng only acted more and more extravagantly. When he cared for his third son, it only caused Yinzhi to become arrogant and domineering. Although he treated his fourth son well, he was also very strict towards him. He hadn't expected Yinzhen to be the only one who did things properly: the accounts in the Ministry of Revenue were cleaned up neatly, and even the national treasury had been filled up a lot in the past two years. As for little seventh… although his ability to do things wasn't apparent, his heart was in the right place and he was kind towards others.

The old eight on the other hand… Kangxi thought of that all-around son and involuntarily furrowed his brows. After returning to Qianqing Palace, he practised calligraphy but was still very dissatisfied with the results. Ultimately, after drinking a cup of cold tea, he picked up the memorials to handle official matters.

At the end of July, Imperial Noble Consort Min was buried, and the atmosphere in the harem was a bit gloomy. In mid-August, the weather was still very hot, and it was at this time when Yinzhen got the news that a concubine in the third brother's mansion was pregnant but she "accidentally" miscarried.

When Yinzhen heard the news, Yinxiang and Yinyou were also present. After hearing this, their expressions turned displeased. "How old was the child?"

Seeing the thirteenth prince looking rattled, the visitor carefully glanced at his Master's expression before hesitatingly answering, "This servant heard that it was not more than a month old."

"What a good third brother!" The thirteenth brother was now completely furious, his face looking almost blue from anger.

Although her E'niang was not the Empress, she was still an Imperial Noble Consort. In the hundred days after the deceased passed away, the princes were not allowed to shave their hair or indulge in pleasure. His good third brother actually made the women in the mansion pregnant! Even more, the days of pregnancy coincided with the days when his E'niang was dying.

"Thirteenth brother, don't hurt yourself." Yinyou saw that Yinxiang was truly angry, and he felt that something would go wrong if he didn't guide him properly

He ordered the servant to retreat, handed a cup of tea to the thirteenth brother and spoke seriously, "If you ruin your health out of frustration, it won't be worth it. Don't act impulsively."

The thirteenth brother took a sip of half-warm tea, took a few deep breaths, and managed to suppress the anger within. His complexion gradually improved. Gripping the tea cup tightly, he said calmly, "Seventh brother, you're right. I was impatient."

Yinzhen walked up to Yinxiang and patted him on the shoulder. Instead of continuing the topic, he said, "It's noon already. I asked someone to cook some light but delicious dishes. You have lost a lot of weight, you need to make up for it."

The thirteenth brother nodded, and seeing the worry in the eyes of the fourth brother and seventh brother, his heart warmed up. After all, he still had two older brothers who cared about him.

Thirteenth, who had calmed down, suddenly said, "Seventh brother, when I was in the palace, I accidentally overheard the ninth brother talking bad about you. What's going on between you and the ninth brother?"

In his impression, although the seventh brother was not too close to the other brothers, he was very kind. Why was the old nine so unhappy with the seventh brother?

Yinyou didn't care much about the ninth brother. He mused for a while before saying slowly, "I rarely got along with the ninth brother, and I don't remember much about our past interactions. But once he used a whip to beat a little eunuch when he was young and I happened to pass by. I asked him to stop, and that's it. I just didn't expect that such a trivial matter would make him hate me to this day."

He remembered that the tone of his speech was very gentle, and he didn't scold or punish him. What could have caused Old Nine's unhappiness?

Yinzhen knew the true reason, but he didn't say it out loud. He handed a cup of tea to Yinyou's hand and said nonchalantly, "Old nine has a domineering temperament. Don't waste your brain thinking about his behaviour."

After taking a sip from the teacup, Yinyou smiled and nodded, "That's right. There is indeed a layer of separation between us. If we were to compare closeness, it would still be you and the thirteenth brother who are closer to me. However, Little Thirteenth, if you dare to treat me as the ninth brother did in the future, I will surely teach you a lesson."

Yinxiang didn't like hearing these words, and he raised his eyebrows and complained, "Seventh brother, why don't you say that the fourth brother might also treat you like the ninth brother in the future?"

Yinyou stretched out his hand and pulled Yinxiang's fair and beautiful face. Without thinking, he said, "I believe in the fourth brother, he won't do such a thing."

The thirteenth brother swatted Yinyou's paw away. He originally wanted to refute, but seeing the fourth brother standing behind the seventh brother with a smiling expression, the words died out. He didn't know if it was his illusion but recently the seventh brother seemed to be particularly relaxed in front of the fourth brother, and the fourth brother seemed to be particularly gentle. He glanced to the left, then to the right, burying his head to avoid Yinyou's paws.

At the beginning of September, Prince Cheng of the Second Rank7 shaved his head even when the Imperial Noble Consort Min one hundred days had not passed. Kangxi was furious and demoted him to a Prince of the Third Rank. At the same time, he rewarded a large number of treasures to play to the thirteenth prince. In the month following this incident, he would not hide his love for Yinxiang

Shaving one's head when in mourning was not particularly bad or good. It just depended on whether the emperor wanted to pursue this issue. The third prince had been too arrogant in recent days and made the emperor angry. The reason for his demotion was not difficult to understand.

At this time, Yinyou was nestled in the Taishi chair in Yinzhen's study. As he listened to Xiao Luzi's report, he thought lazily: this one just doesn't understand what it means to be low-key. Then, he dozed off.

Seeing Yinyou's lazy appearance, Yinzhen sighed, "If you are sleepy, go to sleep. I arranged for a room next to mine."

"Then this matter of the Ministry of Revenue…" Yinyou lazily waved a stack of paper in his hand. His job was not important, it was just sorting out paperwork.

"Leave it. I'll do it for you." Yinzhen waved his hand. "The mattresses and incense in that room are all chosen to your liking. If you don't like something, just ask someone to replace it for you. Anyway, the servants treat you as another Master so you don't need to be polite."

Sometimes when Yinyou arrived at his mansion, he just ordered someone to tell the chef what he wanted to eat. Yinzhen didn't need to say a word. Secretly, he was very satisfied with it. At least Yinyou has become more and more accustomed to coming here, and even sometimes slept in his courtyard.

Looking at the person walking outside the door while yawning, Yinzhen clutched the brush in his hand tight. Be calm, don't fret. He has everything planned out. He could wait some more. He didn't want Yinyou to endure a lifetime of suffering because of his immoral feelings.

Yinzhen knew that if Huang Ama knew about it, the person who would be sacrificed would be Yinyou. That kind of tragic situation was the last thing he wanted to see.

If he couldn't protect Yinyou, then he wasn't qualified to love him.

chinese-webnovels-I-made-to-understand-relationships-of-brothers-easier-information-is-accurate-historically-Blessed-by-God-2

When an imperial concubine died, if she was favoured, if she had merits, if she had a good family background, it was not impossible to raise her ranks to give her glory. To this character, the next rank was probably Empress, so it was problematic to give her any more rank since Yinxiang would become a di son, with the same legitimacy to the throne as Yinreng who was the son of the second Empress of Kangxi. / In real history, Yinxiang's mother died as a Concubine, was buried as Consort by Kangxi, and then became Imperial Noble Consort Min during Yinzhen's reign. In this story, the author made her extremely favoured, thus she became of the highest-ranked concubines.

The tradition of burning paper money as an offering to ancestors in China dates back to at least the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE). It is a significant part of Chinese ancestor veneration and is believed to provide financial resources for deceased relatives in the afterlife.

During mourning, there's etiquette to follow. For example, don't engage in sexual intercourse, do not be extravagant in clothes (use clear colours, nothing fancy), don't eat meat, and particularly important in this Qing Dynasty setting: don't shave your hair (There's this belief that the body and hair were given by one's parents, it's unfilial to cut it). Liu Jue (2022) says, "In Chinese culture, a mourning period can last for 100 days, which is the length of time it may take for someone's soul to be reborn as another person. During that period, bereaved people might continue to wear grieving colours, and might feel it inappropriate to go to celebratory occasions, like weddings." These things are stipulated in the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonies and the Book of Rites.

In Chinese culture, the phrase "請節哀" (Qǐng Jié āi) holds profound cultural significance in the context of expressing condolences. Translated literally as "Please observe mourning etiquette," it reflects a deep-rooted respect for the deceased and their family. This expression encourages individuals to handle grief with restraint and dignity, aligning with traditional customs associated with mourning in Chinese society. / B: I feel like a similar Western expression would be, "It's okay to cry but don't let sadness control your life", or "You have the right to cry and grieve." / Corie, a Chinese speaker, says: "Just like how we say for a friend who is down with a cold, is meant to be a well-meant wish, not a command." Source.

According to tradition, the "seventh day (头七 tóuqī)" since a person's death is when their spirit will revisit the living world one last time. Source.

巴圖魯 (bātú lǔ) it's an official title of the Qing dynasty, awarded to commanders and soldiers who fought bravely on the battlefield. In Manchu, baturu means "warrior" or "brave." It is originally from the Mongolian word baγatur, which has the same meaning.

This is the third brother, the one that made his concubine pregnant.