Chapter 2: Loving Father and Filial Son

Walking along the red and brightly colored walls of the palace, with rule-abiding maids and eunuchs walking back and forth, it was only now that Yinzhen truly felt his reality. He had really transmigrated to ancient times with the help of the system.

Maids walk delicately to avoid slipping on puddles of water from the rain yesterday, and dew drops fall from green tree leaves, refreshing the air and renewing the world.

Entering the Emperor's Qianqing Palace, Yinzhen glanced at the man sitting on the high seat for a second before lifting the front of his robe and knelt down. "This subject-son pays respect to Huang Ama, wishing Huang Ama peace and longevity."

Rouze, who had been walking behind him, also knelt down and said, "This subject-daughter pays respect to Huang Ama, wishing Huang Ama peace and longevity."

Kangxi, who had been sitting on the high throne of the Emperor, smiled like a kind elder, and raised his hand to signal them to stand up.

"Yinzhen, how have you been doing these days?"

"This subject-son is healthy, but Huang Ama, this subject-son saw that yesterday it was raining heavily and heard that Huang Ama stayed up late to complete those memorials. Huang Ama, state affairs is important, but for this subject-son, Huang Ama's health is the most important. Huang Ama should take care of one's body as to not have a cold."

Kangxi and Yinzhen both exchanged pleasantries with each other, acting like a loving father and filial son. However, compared with the original owner, Yinzhen's acting was actually more believable, his eyes soft with concern, and on his lips was an unconscious frown.

Even Kangxi was surprised. He had been Emperor for so many years, and had been tempered by time, yet all he could see in his fourth son's eyes was love and care for his old father. It made Kangxi, whose sons were starting to have ideas, really happy.

Although he wasn't sure if this care was sincere or not, at least Yinzhen contributed some efforts into acting like he cared, unlike his some of his other sons who only wanted to draw officials to their side or display their talents.

In exchange, Kangxi also gave some face to Yinzhen and said kindly, "Huang Ama knows your care. Huang Ama also sees that your heirs are not many, how about Huang Ama tells your E-Niang to choose some beautiful girls for you to spread the branches and leaves of your line (gives birth to more babies)?"

Yinzhen was a bit startled. He was just expressing his concern for this old man, but this old man wanted to stuff women into his backyard? As long as he thought of some palace-fighting dramas, he would have a chill at the thought of multiple women in a backyard pleasing one man.

The original owner probably already had many women in his backyard, he really didn't want any more.

So Yinzhen said earnestly, "Huang Ama, this subject-son thinks that the women in his backyard is already enough. If Huang Ama wants to add more, this subject-son is afraid that he can't control them all." The last part of the sentence was purposely said by Yinzhen with a hint of playfulness, like a joke.

Hearing this, Kangxi glanced at Rouze and understanding flashed in his eyes. He then looked at Yinzhen with a disapproving expression, "You are the son of my Aixinjueluo family, if you can't even handle some women, how can I let you handle bigger things?"

On the surface, it sounds like a reproach, but it's actually a temptation. The "bigger things" Kangxi spoke of, was it errands or the court?

Yinzhen smiled inwardly. Kangxi really deserve to be an Emperor who has sat on the throne for decades, even a casual sentence can have different hidden meanings.

Yinzhen cusped his hands together and said fervently, "Huang Ama is right. However, although this subject-son is not as talented as Huang Ama or his brothers, this subject-son is willing to go through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire for Huang Ama! So may Huang Ama not dislike this subject-son!"

"Good! Yinzhen really deserves to be Huang Ama's son!" Kangxi slapped a hand onto his thigh and said with a laugh. Unexpectedly, this fourth son really pleased him today.

Thinking of this, Kangxi narrowed his eyes. What could be the occasion for Yinzhen to go out of his way to act so pious towards him?

Kangxi looked at Yinzhen who was still showing a resolute expression and smiled, "Since you've already paid respects to me, go see your E-Naing, she misses you."

Yinzhen was doubtful. According to the rules the system told him on the way to the palace, he and his primary wife had to go into the palace everyday to pay respects to Kangxi and his mother. Where would she find the opportunity to miss him? Moreover, wasn't it said that the Fourth Master and his mother had a bad relationship?

Despite this, Yinzhen still showed a grateful expression as both he and Rouze bowed.

"This subject-son(daughter) thanks Huang Ama!"

When the two of them stepped out of Qianqing Palace, Yinzhen saw that Rouze was affectionately looking at him with gratitude. This look gave him goosebumps.

"Si Lang, thank you for what you did today. Rouze will definitely work harder to be worthy of Si Lang's efforts." The woman said softly, her eyes looking like they're full of yearning for their future.

Eh? Efforts? What did he do?

Seeing the interactions between the two, especially Yinzhen, whose head was a block of wood, the system couldn't help but explain, "She thinks you rejected having more women because of her."

Oh. Yinzhen looked at the fanciful Rouze in front of him.

Sorry, he just really didn't want to be troubled by backyard fighting and have nightmares about babies crying at night, that's all.

"Hm," Yinzhen hummed perfunctorily in reply, "Let's go to Yonghe Palace to greet E-Niang."

Gazing at the eunuch leading the way, Yinzhen was really thankful of these people. Without them, he probably wouldn't be able to distinguish between these palaces and be lost until sunset.

Speaking of which, these palaces were quite the spectacle. Even without modern technology, the ancients were still able to build such magnificent architecture. One really shouldn't underestimate the ancients just because of the time and knowledge gap. In his view, most of them were actually much more tenacious than modern people.

Arriving at Yonghe Palace, Yinzhen stuffed a pouch of silver into the eunuch's hands and asked, "What's your name?"

The eunuch was overjoyed and said as he weighed the pouch of silver, "Replying to the Fourth Elder Brother, this servant's name is Hu Sheng."

(# Elder Brother - How to address the Emperor's sons in the Qing Dynasty)

A smile formed on Yinzhen's usually cold face as he said, "Then Hu Sheng, you remember to serve Huang Ama well in Qianqing Palace. If this king is confused about anything, this king will ask you in the future."

Tucking the pouch of silver into his sleeves, Hu Sheng immediately bowed and said, "This servant will definitely put all of his efforts into serving His Majesty."

"En." Yinzhen then strode into the gates of Yonghe Palace, imagining what kind of person Consort De, the Fourth Master's mother, would be. Would she be shrewd and ruthless, or warm and kind?

Thinking to this, Yinzhen couldn't help but laugh at himself. How could a kind person survive in the harem? The Fourth Master's mother was definitely the former.

When he saw the woman who was famous for her bad relationship with her son, Yinzhen once again felt that something was familiar about her. Nevertheless, he acted like nothing was out of the ordinary and repeated what he did in Qianqing Palace.

"This subject-son pays respect to E-Niang. Wishing E-Niang peace and longevity."