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

Chapter 87 Okay, then we're no longer number one in the world.

After wandering around Qingxi Study, Yinzhuo lost a large sum of money for nothing. After returning to Enze Garden, he felt more and more heartbroken. For several days afterward, he looked listless and lost a lot of weight because of his poor appetite.

"Master, the weather is nice today, how about we go out for a stroll?"

Dexi has been worried sick these past few days. Ever since his master went to Qingxi Bookstore a few days ago and came back, he's been acting completely out of sorts. He's either sighing all day long or just sitting there in a daze. Just like now, he doesn't know what's so interesting about the lotus leaves in the pond. Anyway, he's been sitting here looking at them for days.

Unsurprisingly, Dexi's inquiry also failed to elicit any response from his master. Helpless, he gave Xia He, who was waiting nearby, a wink, signaling her to go ahead.

"My lord, you haven't had much of an appetite these past few days. How about I make you your favorite braised pork ribs for lunch today? You can taste them and see if my hand is still there."

Compared to Dexi's inquiry, which seemed to disappear into thin air, Xiahe fared a little better, at least she received a few words from her master.

"No need, I don't feel hungry."

Dexi and Xiahe exchanged glances and both saw the words "Oh no!" in each other's worried eyes. They knew that their master usually loved to eat and drink, but now he wouldn't even eat his favorite braised pork ribs. This meant that this matter was really serious.

The two of them were now at a loss with their master and could only turn to Chunxiang, who was usually the most composed, for advice. After all, this couldn't go on forever. If their master were to starve to death in their own garden, they, the servants, would be in big trouble.

Dexi, Xiahe, and Chunxiang had all been by Yinzhuo's side since childhood and were familiar with each other. After discussing it together, they decided that they should trouble the Fourth Prince with this matter. Although they couldn't get a single word out of their master, they believed that as long as the Fourth Prince came, he would definitely be able to get the information.

Yinzhen had been extremely busy with disaster relief lately. When he received Dexi's message, he had just returned to his residence from his post at the yamen. Upon hearing that something had happened to Yinzuo, he rushed over with Dexi without even changing his clothes. When he entered Yinzuo's residence, Shuyizhai, and saw Yinzuo sitting by the lotus pond from afar, he was almost startled. How could he have lost so much weight in such a short time?

"Dexi, what's wrong with your master? How come he's lost so much weight in just seven or eight days?"

Well, you've stumped me. If I could find out, would I have bothered to invite you over when I knew you were incredibly busy?

"Fourth Master, I know you've been busy lately, but I'm at my wit's end. My master has been like this ever since he came back from Qingxi Study a few days ago. He's either sighing all day or just sitting there staring blankly at the lotus pond. He also doesn't have much of an appetite..."

Yinzhen knew Yinzuo's temperament. Although he seemed easy to talk to, he wasn't entirely without temper. If Yinzuo didn't want to talk about something, Dexi naturally wouldn't get it out of him. So he didn't make things difficult for Dexi and walked towards the pavilion where Yinzuo was sitting.

"Why have you lost so much weight these past few days? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Have you called the imperial physician?"

Yinzhen's three consecutive questions finally brought Yinzuo back to his senses. He glanced at Yinzhen in front of him, then at Dexi, who was peeking in from a distance. He understood immediately: he must have frightened them these past few days, and they couldn't do anything about him, so they had to ask Yinzhen, the one who could keep him in check, to come over.

"Fourth brother, you have no idea what kind of life I'm living these days. It's truly miserable. It's not just that I'm physically unwell, it's that I'm suffering from heartache. Father is so heartless, he's withholding my money..."

After being stifled for so many days, Yinzhuo was finally able to see his family. He burst into tears and complained to Yinzhen about his father without holding back. Yinzhen, who already knew the whole story, frowned and felt an itch to act. However, he understood from Yinzhuo's tearful account that the guy had been very generous to his father, but after returning home, he felt he had lost out and regretted it. He was so heartbroken that he couldn't eat or sleep for several days and had lost a lot of weight from worry.

It has to be said that Yinzhen understood his younger brother Yinzuo quite well. His guess was absolutely right. Wasn't Yinzuo just feeling more and more regretful after showing off to Kangxi?

Yinzhen looked at his arm, which Yinzuo was holding tightly in his hand, sighed helplessly, and with some effort pulled his hand out of Yinzuo's arms, patting Yinzuo's shoulder.

"Alright, stop crying and wailing. Look at you, so pathetic. I thought something terrible had happened. Since the money was given to Father, there's no reason to ask for it back. If you really care about the money, Fourth Brother will give you some later."

Yinzhuo finally vented his frustrations by saying what he had been holding back. When he heard his fourth brother say that he would give him some money, he quickly shook his head.

"Forget it, Fourth Brother, you usually try to stretch every penny you have, where are you going to get the money to make up for me? Besides, I don't lack money these days. It's just that I've lost a lot of money for no reason, and I'm really upset about it..."

I understand. It's just that you're generous but get ripped off without realizing it. How can you feel good about that? Seeing the pained expression on Yinzhuo's face, Yinzhen pinched his thigh and struggled to suppress the smile that was on the tip of his tongue. But if you looked closely, you could still see a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.

Although Yinzhen tried to be discreet, Yinzuo was sitting right next to him and couldn't possibly miss his fourth brother's actions. Well, now there was no way to appease him.

"Fourth Brother, you really came to laugh at me. What kind of life do I have? My own father is always thinking about swindling money from me, and my own brother even comes to mock me. I'm really like Lin Daiyu burying flowers, lamenting my ill fate..."

Seeing that he couldn't coax this person, Yinzhen simply stopped holding back. Soon, Yinzhen's loud laughter and Yinzuo's exasperated voice could be heard from Shuyizhai.

"Fourth Brother... Alright, from today onwards, we're no longer the best in the world."

However, this commotion wasn't entirely without its benefits. After being ridiculed by his fourth brother, our sixth prince turned his grief and anger into appetite. He immediately ordered Dexi to go to the kitchen and order a table full of dishes. He pulled his fourth brother to sit at the table, personally cleared away the bowls and chopsticks in front of him, and made him watch as he devoured the entire table.