7 Chapter 7: The Heart to Contribute

Hearing that he wouldn't be able to see his Ama anymore, the young Honghui suddenly panicked. Besides Aunt Jianqiu and a group of maids' aunts and sisters, he had rarely seen anyone besides E-Niang. Now he had finally seen his Ama, and he liked his new Ama, but now tell him he couldn't see Ama, he was really not willing. The child looked up at Yinzhen and said with determination, "Then Honghui won't be sick anymore. Honghui wants to see Ama more."

Looking at the child's serious expression, Yinzhen restrained the urge to laugh. He picked up the bowl of medicine at the bedside table and said, "Since Honghui doesn't want to be sick, you must drink all the medicine."

Honghui stared at the dark concoction in front him, his face extremely reluctant, "All?"

Yinzhen nodded, "Yes, you must drink every drop of it." Yinzhen lifted the spoon and began slowly feeding Honghui the medicine, his actions gentle, afraid the child would choke. Yixiu looked at their father and son interaction from afar and felt sweet in her heart. Yes, even if her son could not have a legitimate status, he was still the Lord's son, and he was even the Lord's only existing son, the Lord would not mistreat him.

When the last spoonful slipped down Honghui's throat, the child looked he was about to cry. "Bitter?" Yinzhen asked, prompting Honghui to nod. Yinzhen turned to Yixiu to inquire, "Ce Fujin, do you have any preserves?"

"Here, my Lord," Looking at Yinzhen feeding Honghui the sweet preserves, Yixiu couldn't help but smile, "Every time this concubine gives Honghui medicine, she would always prepare a few preserves in advance. This time with the Lord here, Honghui is already more cheerful than in the last few days. Presumably he doesn't need these sweet preserves."

Yinzhen listened to Yixiu's speech to accumulate points for her son, then glanced at Honghui's confused eyes and said, "This king didn't realize until now that Ce Fujin's mouth was this sweet."

The corner of Yixiu's smile froze, but her hand holding the remaining preserves didn't pause as she fed them to Honghui. "It's all credit to the Lord who brings this concubine and Honghui joy." Yixiu replied with her usual prim and proper smile.

Yinzhen snorted coldly, his lips remaining closed even until the empty bowl of medicine was placed on the table. The atmosphere in the room became awkward, tense and stuffy as if hot fire and cold glaciers collided together to form claustrophobic steam.

Jianqiu on the side panicked. The Lord rarely comes to their courtyard, what has her master done to offend the Lord now?

It was not until Honghui, who was sensitive to the emotions of the adults around him and worried whether Ama was not happy with E-Niang, spoke up that such stiff air dispersed. "Can Ama take Honghui to play outside? The aunts and sisters have all been outside, only Honghui has not..." Speaking of this, the child's expression turned puzzled and downcast, his chapped lips drooping.

A frown was pasted on Yinzhen's mouth, and his eyebrows creased with an emotion unknown to others than himself. As cautious as Yixiu was, she could only infer that he was dissatisfied with Honghui's request, so she turned to Honghui and reprimanded lightly, "Honghui, be obedient, your Ama is busy. How can have time to take you out? Not to mention that your body is weak, can you not fall sick when you come back?" In the end, Yixiu pleaded guilty, "Honghui is young, at the age of being playful, it's this concubine who did not teach well. Asking my Lord for forgiveness."

Listening to his E-Niang's reasoning, the sick Honghui became even more depressed, and his heart was covered in stifling heat, wondering when he could see the outside world that the maids' aunts and sisters described.

Yinzhen glanced at Yixiu and said flatly, "This king knows, get up." Contrary to her worries, his unhappiness stemmed from the original owner's irresponsibility as a father. He didn't want to be a cheap father, but since he occupied the original owner's body, he should at least watch over his wives and children, and make sure his children grow up safely.

As for this backyard full of women? The most he can do is guarantee their safety and daily necessities, but if they want to find a husband to sleep with or play an act of affection to, heh, find someone else. With himself here, those women can rest assure to retire as widows early.

Taking into consideration the original owner's schedule, Yinzhen felt that even if he wanted to, he did not have much spare time to take Honghui out to play after these three days of rest were over. These three days of rest were used by him to familiarize himself with his environment, while the remaining days of the year can actually be spent all in the Household Department.

Thinking of this, Yinzhen wanted to scold the original Yinzhen for his hasty and not serious-minded attitude towards his work. Whether it was checking the accounts or arranging for the court's expenses, he had always completed it hurriedly in order to have more time to sing and dance with Ulanara Rouze.

Scanning through his extra memories, Yinzhen was absolutely certain that the original owner himself knew how much suspicious errors and fraud was present in the bookkeeping and the unclear transactions between members of the Household Department, but he chose to ignore it.

Without pondering, Yinzhen could already figure out the reason for the original owner's behavior of looking the other way. Not to mention whether Kangxi would support his cleaning of corrupt officials in the Household Department, to investigate into the depths of the fake accounts would touch the interests of a number of people and shake his position as appointed chief of the Household Department, resulting in the possible danger of being targeted by the people behind the scenes.

Moreover, whether this fails or succeeds, his status in court, no matter in the hearts of Kangxi or ministers, will become extremely weak. For Kangxi who advocates the ruling the court leniently, how can he favor a rash and unstable son who doesn't rub sand in his eyes to ascend the throne? For the ministers, who are greedy for profits, how can they favor a prince who is strict and seeks incorruptibility among officials?

The hustle and bustle of the world is for profit, and the hustle and bustle in the court is for that top position.

Yinzhen lowered his head to hide the frost and mockery in his eyes. The original owner is indeed the Yongzheng in 'The Legend of Zhen Huan', the selfish and cowardly nature is exactly the same. To the original owner, it doesn't matter if anyone suffer from his deliberate disregard, it is fine as long as his position is stable.

While the original owner is entangled in a dog blood love story with Zhen Huan, thousands are dead and displaced because of his tolerance for Nian Gengyao. While the original owner is reciting poems and love words to his true love of Rouze, how many people's blood and livelihood is being sucked by unscrupulous officials.

One less corrupt official, there will be one less family who starves to death.

The thought made an unraveled fire spark in Yinzhen's heart, and he no longer had the heart for idleness. Although his hands and feet could not sit still and wanted to immediately plunge back to his study to formulate his future plans, he did not forget Honghui in the end. Softening his brows, he offered, "If Honghui can memorize and recite the Three Character Classic, Ama will take Honghui to see the outside world."

Three-year-old Honghui's eyes brightened and sparkled like stars, "Really?"

Yinzhen raised an eyebrow with displeasure, "How can an Ama lie to his son?"

The father and son of Yinzhen and Honghui quickly made a deal, and Yixiu watched on the sidelines with relief.