After being reincarnated, Yinreng spent twenty years as a young man in modern society. Then, one act of righteous bravery sent him back to his past life.

Tiny dumpling Yinreng kicked his little feet in the air, sorting through the past-life memories that had just resurfaced.

In his early childhood, his attendants were rotated out almost monthly. Any servant who dared advise him to mind his words and conduct was the first to go, dismissed for "disrespecting the Crown Prince."

During his studies, his elderly tutor knelt trembling to deliver lessons. When Yinreng took pity and granted him a seat, the tutor was severely reprimanded for "disrespecting the Crown Prince."

In his youth, he once briefly chatted about poetry and verse with a kind, gentle old minister, and the minister was driven from the capital for "disrespecting the Crown Prince"...

His siblings playing with him was disrespecting the Crown Prince. The Crown Princess Consort's residence was kept far from his own, because nothing could be allowed to disrespect the Crown Prince...

In the end, he turned arrogant, tyrannical, brutal, and self-important. Installed twice, deposed twice, he became a complete madman.

Tiny dumpling Yinreng rolled over, belly to the sky, like a dead fish that had lost its dreams.

Forty years as Crown Prince wasn't unusual. In modern times, some crown princes held the title for fifty or even sixty years. But a lifetime of doting that came with constant surveillance and control was unbearable.

Anyway, Father is soft-hearted and wouldn't kill his own sons. As long as it wouldn't actually get him killed, he'd court death with everything he had.

Goal: get deposed as soon as possible.

So...

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince and the First Prince beat up the Minister of the Imperial Household Department!"

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince took the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Princes out of the palace to brawl with the imperial clansmen's sons!"

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince and the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Princes swindled the Mongol prince out of his horses!"

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince and the Ninth, Tenth, and the rest of the little princes ran a business venture and made off with every last coffin-fund of the ministers in the capital!"

"Your Majesty..."

Kangxi pressed at the throbbing vein on his temple and gritted his teeth. "Out with it. What has Baocheng done this time?"

"The Crown Prince has left a letter and run away from home, Your Majesty. He says he's going to sneak aboard a long-voyage fleet and expand the borders of Great Qing!"

Kangxi shot to his feet and kicked the table over. "What are you waiting for?! Drag that unfilial son back to me! This time I'll punish him properly!"

* * *

Has Yinreng courted death today?

Of course.

Has Kangxi deposed the Crown Prince today?

Next time for sure!