Chapter 8: Never Forgetting to Earn Money While Celebrating Birthdays
Although it was the Spring Festival today, Yinzuo could not escape the clutches of Chen Tianyuan. He was sent out to run laps at the third watch, took his position at the fifth watch, and by the sixth watch, he hurriedly groomed himself, not even having time for breakfast. In a rush, he grabbed a mysterious small box and hurried towards Cining Palace, inwardly cursing Chen Tianyuan for his lack of humanity—one could be late for school, and even take leave for court, but one could never be late for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration. As soon as Yinzuo arrived at the entrance of Cining Palace, he found it already crowded with people. The old Emperor Kangxi was at the forefront, and all the princes and princesses had arrived, even those still being nursed were held by their mothers in line. Outside the palace, the various princes, beile, and beizi had also come, with over two hundred people standing densely together. This was only the first group of royal family members who were closely related, while those without titles could only pay their respects from home.
Yinreng is the Crown Prince, ranked first among all the princes. He was presented with a pillow made of a whole piece of warm jade, which keeps warm in winter and cool in summer, promotes blood circulation, and alleviates stagnation; it is indeed a treasure. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang has always favored this great-grandson who lost his mother at a young age. She happily accepted Yinreng's kowtow, beckoned him to her side, warmly inquired about his well-being, and then stuffed a large red envelope into his hands before allowing the other princes to pay their respects. Yinzuo and Tu Shu did not have any particular feelings about it, but the other older princes, especially the eldest prince, looked rather displeased upon seeing Yinreng being favored.
After a brief silence, Emperor Kangxi spoke: "Xiao Liu, is this the surprise you mentioned?" He still remembered the excuse that Yinzuo had used when he was caught leaving the palace without permission.
Toothpaste and toothbrushes became tributes, and their reputation was thus established. Yinzhuo took the opportunity to present a customized set of silver toothbrushes to all the princes and concubines to win their favor. Of course, the gift to the old Emperor Kangxi was a premium set inlaid with gold and jade. As for the princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials, well, I’m sorry, but these are not free; if you want them, you’ll have to pay. In no time, these two small items became all the rage in the capital, and soon spread throughout the country. Yinzhuo made a significant profit from this, marking his first pot of gold.
The first to present their respects was, of course, Kangxi, who offered nine treasures displayed on a gilded tray, cushioned with red silk, presented one by one by the eunuchs for the ancestors to behold. Each item was a priceless rarity—such as a three-foot tall jade and glass pagoda, a fire tree of silver flowers (a five-foot red jade, entirely transparent and coral-like, adorned with various gemstones), and a night pearl the size of a coconut, among other dazzling treasures. Following this were several elders and the princes of the royal family, and only then did the princes express their loyalty.
Every morning, before the roosters have crowed, Chen Tianyuan would come to catch people. There was nothing else to do but run laps. However, the time for running was getting shorter while the number of laps was increasing. Just running laps was not enough; after finishing the laps, one had to stand still as well. This had exhausted Yin Zuo's small frame terribly. According to his own words, he felt as tired as a dog every day. Every time he asked Chen Tianyuan when he could start practicing internal skills, the answer was always: "Not in a hurry." There was no other way but to endure. As he endured day by day, who knows when he might eventually transform into a mature person.
The sun has finally risen, marking the first ray of sunlight of the New Year. Its golden light shines upon the earth, offering a touch of warmth to the people after the snow. However, at this moment, Yinzuo is not in the mood to enjoy this warmth—the birthday celebration has begun. Bowing, kneeling, reciting the words of praise, Yinzuo mechanically performs all these actions among his brothers. After much anticipation, he finally reaches the most important moment of the ceremony—presenting the birthday wishes, where those closest to the Empress Dowager each offer their filial respect. Bowing, kneeling, reciting the words of praise, Yinzuo mechanically performs all these actions among his brothers. After much anticipation, he finally reaches the most important moment of the ceremony—presenting the birthday wishes, where those closest to the Empress Dowager each offer their filial respect.
With enough effort, an iron pestle can be ground down to a needle. This saying sounds easy, but it is certainly uttered by those who have never ground a needle; it is undoubtedly a trick to fool the gullible. Yet, there are indeed people who believe it, and Yin Zuo is one of them—having been a disciple of Chen Tianyuan for over a month now, with the Spring Festival approaching and the snow falling heavily, Yin Zuo's so-called martial arts practice still consists merely of running laps.
"According to the words of the Emperor, this brush is called a toothbrush, and this small silver box contains toothpaste. It is an invention of the child, designed for the purpose of cleaning the oral cavity and also has health benefits in reducing heat. It is much more effective than using salt. As the saying goes, if the teeth are good, the appetite will be good. The child thought, since the ancestors are getting older, using salt for rinsing is cumbersome and not very effective, so a special yellow jade toothbrush was crafted. The toothpaste was personally formulated by the child, who also consulted with the physician Sun from the Imperial Medical Institute; that recipe is absolutely effective." Thus, Yinzuo took this opportunity to promote the product, even borrowing the famous toothpaste advertisement slogan from later generations.
The brothers are all well-informed; how could they be unaware of Yin Zuo's recent misfortunes? Behind his back, they have long been laughing uproariously. Now, seeing Yin Zuo in such a disheveled state, they exchange knowing glances, reveling in his plight. If it weren't for the scale of the situation, they would have burst into hearty laughter by now. Yin Zuo is well aware of their thoughts, but at this moment, his mind is in turmoil, and he cannot afford to concern himself with such trivial matters.
Do you not know? Hehe, this is our performance time now, and whether our small business can succeed depends on this occasion. Yinzuo magically pulled out a silver toothbrush and a small silver box from his own bosom, and then asked the eunuch from Cining Palace to fetch a cup of water and a basin. Yinzuo gently pressed a button on the small silver box, revealing a small hole on the side, from which a toothpaste the thickness of a broad bean was squeezed out, which he gently applied to the toothbrush, rinsed his mouth, and began to brush his teeth.
Inside the box is a toothbrush with a yellow jade handle and a small silver box. The box is closed, making it impossible to discern what is inside. Aside from Yinzuo, no one knows what this toothbrush truly is. Not only does the venerable Kangxi, who stands beside the ancestor, not understand it, but even the highly experienced Xiaozhuang, who has lived through three dynasties, cannot figure out the purpose of this peculiar-looking brush.
Yinzuo hurried and delayed, but ultimately arrived a bit late. However, the old Emperor Kangxi merely glanced at the panting Yinzuo without showing any anger. Instead, he smiled slightly and waved his hand to let him join the ranks. The old Emperor had long known that Yinzuo had been tormented by Chen Tianyuan during these days, and he truly admired Yinzuo for being able to endure such hardships at such a young age.
Indeed, it must be said that these gentlemen, both young and old, have never seen teeth being brushed in such a manner. Each one of them was quite intrigued. Taking advantage of the moment, Yingzuo boasted extensively about the benefits, such as fresh breath, dental care, and anti-inflammatory properties, leaving these royals utterly bewildered. Not only did he win the favor of the ancestors, but even Emperor Kangxi was moved, ordering that this item be treated as a tribute and distributed to the people in the palace.
The first few princes had all presented their respects, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang received their gifts with a smile, yet she did not treat the Second Prince with the same warmth. At this moment, it was finally Yinzuo's turn. A daughter-in-law must meet her in-laws, regardless of the outcome; whether it be life or death, one must face it head-on. Yinzuo gritted his teeth and quickly stepped forward, kneeling down on the ground, and said: "Great-grandson wishes the Empress Dowager longevity without bounds, may her years be as numerous as the heavens." With determination, he opened the box in his hand and raised it high above his head.
"Well, it's rare for you, little monkey, to show filial piety and think of our ancestors." Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang smiled and gestured for the eunuch beside her to bring the small box from Yinzuo's hands. She picked up the toothbrush and toothpaste box, examined them for a moment, and asked with a smile, "How does one use this?"
The first day of the Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival has always been the most grand holiday of the year. This year, it coincides with the seventy-fourth birthday of the Empress Dowager, making the celebrations even more lively. Emperor Kangxi had issued an early decree for a nationwide celebration to honor the Empress Dowager's birthday. As a result, the gifts sent by officials from all over the country have already filled the storerooms of the Cining Palace. Any precious and rare items are currently displayed on large trays, neatly arranged within the Cining Palace, awaiting the opportunity to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday.