Rebirth: I'm a Daddy's Darling in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 252 A scholar may be killed but not humiliated, but...

Even though Kangxi was angry, Yinzhen and Yinqi were still his biological sons. Seeing them shivering from the cold, how could Kangxi not feel sorry for them? Hearing Yinzuo's words, he simply went along with it and asked Liang Jiugong to take Yinreng and the others to the dining hall for a meal.

After Yinreng and Yinzhen left, only Kangxi, Yinzuo, and Yinzhi remained in the flower hall. Yinzuo was alright, since he had just returned from eating his fill at his elder brother's place. Yinzhi, however, was in a terrible situation. Not only did he have to go hungry, but he also had to lie there motionless. At that moment, he could only feel regret. Why had he been so cowardly? If he had been brave enough to open his eyes then, wouldn't he be able to eat in the dining hall with his brothers right now? Even if not, at least he could have gotten a bowl of plain porridge to fill his stomach.

Yinzhi was filled with remorse, while Yinzuo beside him felt exactly the same way as his third brother. However, he regretted waking up too early. Why didn't you hold on a little longer? If you had still been unconscious, you wouldn't have been forced to drink the medicine now...

"Father, look, the wound on my son's forehead isn't serious. Can my son refuse to drink this medicine? Father, I feel like vomiting just from the smell of this medicine."

As the saying goes, some are dying of thirst while others are drowning in floods. If it weren't for Yinzhi constantly reminding himself that he should be unconscious at this moment, he would have loved to get up and snatch the medicine bowl from Yinzuo's hand and perform his special skill—downing it in one gulp. It goes without saying how much Kangxi cared about his son Yinzuo. Before, when he only had a minor cold, Kangxi was afraid that he would disobey and throw away the medicine, so he went so far as to detain him by his side and personally watch him drink the medicine. How could he possibly grant him this request now?

"Stop talking nonsense. The weather is getting cold now, and the medicine will cool down quickly. Stop dawdling and drink the medicine in your hand. Didn't you just tell me that you had already bragged about this to Yinzhi and the others? If you obediently drink the medicine now, then I will consider letting your brothers off the hook."

Hehe, then I really have to thank you. What do you call this behavior? Despicable? Or taking advantage of someone in distress? You clearly know that I came here today to get someone out of trouble, yet you still try to manipulate me with this. Humph, do you even look at me? Do I look like the kind of person who can be easily manipulated?

"Haha~~ Father, you're a good judge of character. You know your son is a man who cares a lot about his reputation. Well, let's make this clear beforehand: once I drink this medicine, you can't go back on your word. It's not a matter of considering it; you really have to let Third Brother and the others off the hook. Father, I'm really not joking with you. It's so cold outside today. Even if Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother were wrong, you've already punished them, so your anger should have subsided by now. Otherwise, how about this: if you're still angry, have them line up in a bit, and you can use the ruler to spank their bottoms. If any of them cry out in pain, we'll spank them harder. If any of them are stubborn and stand there without moving, we'll spank them less..."

Yinzhi's evaluation of Yinzuo's idea was summed up in one word—"rotten." He exclaimed, "Look at this shameful form of punishment! The brothers stand in a row while their father whips their bottoms with a ruler! How could you even think of that? And if anyone cries out in pain, the beating is heavier; if anyone stands still, the beating is lighter. What kind of new assessment method is this? Is this a competition for the most stubborn person of the year?"

It's not so bad to have a bad idea; what's terrible is when both the person who comes up with the idea and the person who listens to it think there's nothing wrong with it. Kangxi glanced at Yinzhuo, who was getting more and more excited as he spoke, and patted him on the shoulder.

“That’s good. Yinzhuo’s suggestion is quite good. Father has adopted it. Now, you should drink the medicine obediently. After you finish drinking it, Father will reward you with a surprise.”

Upon hearing about the surprise, Yinzhuo didn't hesitate at all. He picked up the medicine bowl and performed a special skill for his father. Even though the medicine was so bitter that his brows were furrowed, he still didn't forget to ask his father for the surprise.

“Father, look, I’ve finished all my medicine. Now you can tell our son what the surprise you have for me is.”

Kangxi glanced at Yinzhuo, who was holding a medicine bowl upside down and showing it to him, smiled slightly at him, and then looked at Yinreng and the others who had finished their meal and returned from the entrance of the flower hall.

"Yinreng, Yinzhen, Yinqi, Yinsi, Yintang, Yin'an, Yintao, Yinxiang, Yinzhen, all of you come here. See over there? Stand in order of seniority. Yinzuo, since you came up with the idea, you should also be the one to carry it out. Liang Jiugong, go to the study and bring me that ruler from my desk. Yinzuo, don't go easy on me later."

Kangxi's surprise was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Yinzhu completely stunned. He could easily discipline the ninth, tenth, thirteenth, and fourteenth princes, but to ask him to use a ruler to beat his second and fourth brothers was somewhat contrary to the natural order.

"Father, please don't joke like that with your son. Second brother, fourth brother, fifth brother, they are all my brothers. How can a younger brother spank his older brother? How about this, tenth brother and fourteenth brother are the most resilient. I'll drag them out and give them a beating to vent your anger. Is that alright?"

Yinreng and the others hadn't known why Kangxi had ordered them to stand there, but now that they did, they were immediately uneasy. "Father, are you serious? A spanking? And you're going to have Xiao Liu (the sixth son) use a ruler? What, do you think we're children? As the saying goes, 'A scholar can be killed but not humiliated.' If you're so capable, have the guards drag us out and give us a beating..."

To be fair, there was a certain unspoken understanding between father and son. Sure enough, Yinreng and his son's angry roars were heard by their father. Kangxi glanced at Yinzuo, who was bargaining with him, and said in an annoyed tone.

“Yinzhuo is right. Father did not consider things carefully just now. Liang Jiugong, go outside and call someone in. Drag these unfilial sons out and give each of them twenty strokes of the cane. Remember to beat them hard.”

Upon hearing Kangxi's words, not only Yinzhuo but also Yinreng and the others widened their eyes in astonishment. Was it really that amazing? Could this be the telepathic connection between father and son? Actually, the saying "a scholar can be killed but not humiliated" wasn't entirely absolute. In special circumstances, a little humiliation might not be unacceptable. As the saying goes, a great man can bend and stretch. Although both involve spanking, Yinreng and the others could distinguish which was more severe, the board or the ruler.

"Sixth Brother, you don't need to disobey Father for our sake. Since Father has told you to hit him, then go ahead and do it. We brothers will be grateful for your kindness. Don't worry, we will never have a single complaint."

Upon hearing this, Yinzhuo turned his incredulous gaze from Kangxi to Yinreng, who had spoken. "Second brother, we are, after all, the Crown Prince. Although it is said that those who know the times are wise, you are being too wise. Aren't we going to stand up for ourselves?"