"External threats must be dealt with only after internal affairs are settled. From here on, I'll really need to put on an act."
Di Xin massaged his temples with a headache. When handling serious matters, there were always historical allusions to follow or borrow from. But dealing with personal affairs was much more troublesome. At the end of the day, they were someone else's wife and children, and he was about to accept the whole package...
Ahem, it wasn't entirely impossible...
Bah! How was that line of thought any different from Cao thief's? The sons could be accepted, but as for the wife, it would be best to avoid her if possible. Couldn't he just find a few women of his own?
For example, Daji. Or the Nine-tailed fox. Or, finally, Daji and the Nine-tailed fox... Sharing one bed, shameless and carefree, heheh...
Just as Di Xin was "racking his brains" over how to handle his personal affairs, a commotion broke out outside the hall.
"Your Highnesses, you can't go in."
"Move aside! I'm here to deliver food to my Father King. How dare the likes of you stop me?"
"Exactly! You're only a pair of lowly guards. If you dare stop my elder brother and me again, I'll have you executed!"
"Your Highnesses, it's not that this lowly one refuses to let you in. The Great King ordered that no one is to enter and disturb him! If Your Highnesses insist on forcing your way in, losing this lowly one's head would be a small matter. But if you anger the Great King, even Your Highnesses might..."
"The two brats are here. I can take advantage of this opportunity."
After hearing who had arrived outside, Di Xin's thoughts shifted. Why not use this chance to settle everything at once? It would also give him a legitimate reason not to become that Cao thief.
"Who's making such a racket outside? Get in here, all of you!"
Di Xin drew a breath and roared. The noise outside fell silent at once.
The hall doors opened. A guard strode in and knelt down, while two small heads cautiously poked in behind him.
"F-Father King, M-Mother Queen..."
"You may leave first."
Di Xin sighed, then addressed the two brats:
"What are you waiting for? Get in here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two legitimate Crown Princes of Yin Shang, Yin Hong and Yin Jiao, tiptoed inside. When they passed the guard, they even glared viciously at him. Di Xin saw it all.
Well, well. Are you afraid your father won't punish you enough? With intelligence like that, no wonder you were toyed with after leaving the mountains following your studies, ultimately meeting such tragic deaths.
Fortunately, in this life, you ran into me, your cheap Father King. I'll teach you two a proper lesson and knock some of that arrogance out of you.
"Father King, Mother Queen said that handling state affairs has been hard on you, so she specially sent my younger brother and me to bring you medicinal porridge."
Yin Jiao was somewhat cleverer. Seeing Di Xin's displeased expression, he quickly spoke up and found an excuse for their fooling around.
Compared to him, Yin Hong seemed more timid and weak. He had none of the viciousness he had displayed outside when threatening to kill people. At that moment, he followed behind Yin Jiao and spoke softly:
"Father King, Elder Brother is right!"
"You know I'm tired, yet the two of you were still causing such a commotion outside!"
Di Xin hardened his expression, frightening the two youngsters into jolting in unison.
Although they were father and sons, they were also part of an imperial household. They spent little time together each day and rarely played together. They did have affection for one another, but not much. Thus, the brothers feared Di Xin more than anything.
"Yin Hong, I heard that you even wanted to take that guard's life. Is this how your Mother Queen taught you to conduct yourself?"
Yin Hong had a weaker temperament, so Di Xin changed his approach and decided to start with the child.
Yin Hong's body suddenly trembled. Tears swirled in his eyes as he opened his mouth, unsure whether to speak or remain silent. He simply stood there blankly, at a complete loss.
He was still young. Moreover, after the Kongtong Seal's enhancement, Di Xin's imposing presence had grown even more formidable. Whatever else could be said, it was remarkably effective at frightening children.
Seeing this, Yin Jiao hurriedly set down the medicinal porridge in his hands. He was naturally cleverer and older than Yin Hong, so he was more sensible as well:
"Father King, this is all Jiao'er's fault. My younger brother studies with me every day, but I failed to teach him properly. This has nothing to do with Mother Queen. If Father King wishes to punish someone, Jiao'er is willing to bear his punishment in his place!"
"You want to bear his punishment?"
Di Xin laughed in fury. Pointing at the tightly shut hall doors, he roared:
"Didn't I say that no one was allowed to enter? Yet you actually dared to force your way in while leading your younger brother! With such reckless behavior, how am I supposed to pass the position of Human King to you in the future? I haven't even mentioned your own mistakes, and you went ahead and threw yourself into the fire! Fine! Fine! Fine! Today, I'll punish both of you together. Then I'll ask your Mother Queen how exactly she taught you!"
"Waaah!"
Perhaps he had never seen Di Xin furious before, but Yin Hong burst into tears. With tear-filled eyes, he stared at Di Xin as though he were looking at a stranger.
Yin Jiao also froze beside him. Only when he heard Yin Hong crying did he come to his senses. Tears began to well in his eyes, and even his voice carried a trace of a sob:
"Please punish me, Father King!"
Sigh!
Di Xin sighed inwardly. Had he gone too far in frightening the children? Still, if he wanted the two of them to change their fate, they would ultimately have to change it themselves. Although he was only their cheap Father King, he would do his best to help them. That would also settle the cause and effect and make up for what they had been deprived of.
After firming his resolve, Di Xin not only made no effort to soften his manner and comfort the two boys, but instead displayed his anger even more clearly:
"Punish you? Of course I'm going to punish you! And severely at that! Guards!"
"Great King!"
"Take the two of them to change clothes, then send them to live alongside the slaves for one month! Within that month, they must plow ten mu of land, weave three pairs of straw sandals, and feed three head of livestock. Come see me again after one month!"
"Yes!"
The two guards looked at each other. In the end, the older one hardened his heart, nodded, accepted the task, and stepped forward:
"Your Highnesses, please come with this lowly one to change clothes elsewhere."
"Father King, are you abandoning your child?"
"Father King! Father King!"
Only after the guards took the two brats away did Di Xin's surroundings grow quiet again. He opened the food container with his right hand, lowered his head, and took a sniff. A delicate fragrance rushed into his nose:
"This porridge is excellent. It really does need to be simmered slowly over a low flame."
Di Xin lifted the jade bowl and drank it little by little. Warmth rose through his stomach, and his face was filled with satisfaction.
Everything was ready. With all the imperial consorts confined to their palaces for a month of self-reflection, the space he had to maneuver had suddenly widened!
Central Palace
"The Great King has issued an order. Queen Jiang failed to discipline her children properly and is to remain in the Central Palace for a month of earnest self-reflection, contemplating her own conduct. She is not to leave without cause."
West Palace
"The Great King has issued an order. The two Princes, Yin Hong and Yin Jiao, are arrogant and overbearing in both temperament and speech, entirely because of the indulgence of the imperial consorts. All consorts are hereby ordered to remain behind closed doors and reflect for one month. None may leave without cause!"
Xinqing Palace
"The Great King has issued an order..."
While all the consorts were confined to their palaces for self-reflection, the two brats, Yin Hong and Yin Jiao, had already changed clothes. The guards secretly sent them to a place where slaves lived. Eating and sleeping alongside them, working and farming alongside them, they began their countryside-experience journey...
Before you continue