Yinreng's cowpox healed quickly.

The imperial physicians were puzzled. Such mild symptoms didn't look like smallpox at all. Could it be that they misdiagnosed him?

It wasn't that they wanted to conceal the possibility of misdiagnosis, but if what the Crown Prince had wasn't smallpox, and he later contracted actual smallpox and something went wrong, every one of them who had treated the Crown Prince would likely die.

So the imperial physicians had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell Kangxi their suspicions.

Even Kangxi had his own doubts.

Smallpox was a terminal illness. How could it be cured so easily? But he had no way to prove that it wasn't smallpox.

He couldn't exactly let Yinreng come into contact with the smallpox virus just to see if he'd catch it, could he?

At this time, officials began submitting memorials in waves, urging Kangxi to perform rituals to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors, and to announce to all his subjects that the Crown Prince had recovered from smallpox.

If a child survived smallpox, his chances of dying young dropped significantly. Among the common folk, every child who survived was thought to be destined for greatness. Publicizing this would surely consolidate Qing rule!

Kangxi's anger flared.

Beneath the surface jubilation, he could vaguely sense undercurrents stirring in the shadows.

The palace was full of mouths and rumors. Word had already spread among the common people that the Crown Prince's rapid recovery might mean it wasn't smallpox at all. At a moment like this, what were the true intentions of those stepping forward?

Were they trying to win political capital for the Crown Prince, or trying to set him in a dangerous position?

If he performed the rituals to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors now, what if the Crown Prince later contracted smallpox?

Kangxi's brow was furrowed so tightly that it was about to wrinkle permanently. Meanwhile, the chubby little Yinreng, finally allowed outside again, was running happily back and forth between Cining Palace and Qianqing Palace every day, constantly urging Kangxi to bring his elder brother and his third younger brother back already.

Kangxi felt deeply unbalanced.

He tickled Yinreng until the boy was laughing so hard that he was on the verge of collapse, and then made his decision.

At this point, he had no choice but to bite down hard on the line that what Yinreng had was smallpox.

As long as Yinreng never came into contact with smallpox again, this matter would never be exposed.

He would protect Yinreng.

He would protect him no matter what.

So, Kangxi took Yinreng to perform rituals to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors, and even carried him up onto the city tower to receive the people's prostrations.

Many ministers turned pale when they saw that Emperor Kangxi had actually brought Yinreng into the palace in his own arms.

They deeply felt just how much Kangxi cherished Yinreng. This Crown Prince was not merely a mascot installed to stabilize the realm.

Songgotu shot Mingzhu a smug glance.

Mingzhu smiled as if the Crown Prince had been born from his own family's womb, looking even more benevolent than Songgotu.

Songgotu: "……"

He flicked his sleeve and left, not giving Mingzhu the slightest face.

From afar, Yinreng spotted Songgotu among the ranks of officials, the one daring to fidget out of line, and immediately recognized this overbearing yet once-beloved maternal great-uncle* from his past life. (T/N: Uncle of Yinreng's mother)

Uh... was great-uncle always this bad-tempered?

Recalling Songgotu's eventual fate, Yinreng felt a pang of sadness. If Songgotu kept courting death like this, even if Yinreng himself wasn't placed under house arrest, Songgotu would still meet a violent end sooner or later.

Mingzhu, in contrast, had been intelligent. Once he realized he had lost emperor-dad's trust, he immediately became obedient quietly in his residence, ceasing to cause disturbances and enjoying his later years in peace. His achievements were even preserved in history.

After Songgotu was ordered to commit suicide, every one of his merits except for his negotiations with Tsarist Russia had been ordered destroyed by his emperor-dad. That showed just how much emperor-dad came to hate him.

"Who is that person?" Yinreng decided that it was time to make his great-uncle cool down a bit.

He didn't want to be the Crown Prince and did not need any maternal-clan power. It was better for his great-uncle to retire early than die a tragic death.

Kangxi glanced at Songgotu, and displeasure rose in his heart.

But Songgotu was the only person with real ability in the Crown Prince's maternal clan. Suppressing his dislike, Kangxi said, "Songgotu of the Heseri clan. Your great-uncle."

Yinreng counted on his fingers, then lifted his small face. "A very distant relative."

Kangxi let out a small laugh. "Not that distant."

Yinreng said seriously, "It really is."

Kangxi sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright, really, really distant."

Yinreng asked while sounding wronged, "Does he hate me? He's the only one fidgeting. Did my maternal grandfather beat him up before?"

Kangxi couldn't follow Yinreng's thought process. "He couldn't possibly hate you. Maybe something happened, that's why he's fidgeting. Why did you say that your maternal grandfather beat him?"

Yinreng blinked. "Grandpa said that brothers fight."

Kangxi was speechless. "Not all brothers fight. Don't listen to your Granpa's nonsense. I've summoned Songgotu. It's about time you got to know him."

Although the Crown Prince was still young and going to court was a long way off, Kangxi wanted to start paving the way for Yinreng in advance.

Leaning on Kangxi's shoulder, Yinreng tilted his head to look at him. "Get to know him? So I can beat him later?"

Kangxi was full of question marks. "Why are you so fixated on beating him?"

Yinreng waved his little hand, almost smacking Kangxi's chin. "Arrogant maternal relatives need beating. Grandpa said so. The stories Father reads me say so too."

Kangxi started trying to recall whether he had read such a story.

…It seems like I really did?

Kangxi had no choice but to patiently explain, "Not all maternal relatives need beating."

Yinreng buried his face in Kangxi's shoulder. "Maternal relatives are troublesome. Don't want any."

Kangxi: "……" The cautionary stories about maternal-clan upheavals he'd read to Yinreng to keep him from trusting the Heseri clan too much seemed to have worked a little too well.

"Maternal relatives are still useful. You'll be the Crown Prince in the future, and you'll need them to help you handle things." Kangxi tried to redirect Yinreng's thinking.

Yinreng nuzzled against Kangxi's shoulder. "There are ministers, each with their own duties. If they don't listen to me, I'll tattle to Father."

"You little tattletale-puppy." Kangxi patted his bottom, caught between laughing and crying. "What if Father isn't around anymore?"

Yinreng said, "Wherever Father goes, I'll go."

Kangxi sighed. "Father is older than you. Father will go to see your Mother before you do. I can't protect you for a lifetime."

Yinreng fell silent.

Kangxi patted his bottom again, puzzled. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Yinreng lifted his head: QAQ.

Kangxi: "……" Oh no, I made the child cry!

Flustered, he pressed Yinreng's tearful little face into his arms. Forgetting about the officials who'd been waiting eagerly atop the city gate, he hurried back to the palace with Yinreng in his arms.

Even after they were back, Yinreng was still crying.

When Yinreng fake-cried, he wailed at full volume. But when he really cried, he clenched his teeth and shed silent tears, only occasionally sniffling, looking utterly pitiful.

When the Grand Empress Dowager learned that Kangxi made Yinreng cry again, she demanded the reason. Then, in fury, she picked up a nearby book and smacked Kangxi on the forehead several times with it.

"Baocheng is intelligent and understands matters of life and death. He's also soft-hearted, willing to risk his own life to save brothers he's never even met. What were you doing telling him you'd go before him?!" For the first time since Kangxi had taken personal rule, the Grand Empress Dowager was pointing at him and scolding. "Do you know how much he depends on you? He's so heartbroken now. What if his spirit is harmed?!"

Kangxi lowered his head and accepted the scolding. His forehead hurt, his nose stung, but inside, he was a little happy.

My son cherishes me.

Seeing Kangxi's expression, the Grand Empress Dowager knew he was secretly pleased, and her temples throbbed with rage.

Heavens above! Why is my grandson more of a brat than my great-grandson?!

In her fury, the Grand Empress Dowager drove Kangxi out of Cining Palace, temporarily "confiscated" little dumpling Yinreng, and forbade Kangxi from coming over to nuzzle his son for the next few days.

Only then did Kangxi realize the seriousness of the situation.

His son was truly heartbroken. And grandma was truly angry.

Quick-witted as ever, Kangxi immediately stirred up several major matters to divert his family's attention.

First, he conferred new ranks throughout the harem, keeping the Grand Empress Dowager busy with harem affairs and giving her no time to monopolize his son.

Then he brought back the two sons who had been sent out of the palace to escape the curse, re-established their birth-order ranking, and formally named his third son Yinzhǐ, finally restoring the spirits of Yinreng, who had been incessantly talking about his brothers.

Holding his goofily smiling son again, Kangxi inhaled his scent and felt fully recharged.

These past few days, the Grand Empress Dowager blocked him from getting close to his son. Kangxi felt so deprived of his son’s presence that he even had no interest in the harem.

"Didn't you want to see your brothers? Your younger brother can't talk yet, so go get to know your older brother first." Kangxi rubbed his son's head and finally agreed to let Yinreng go play with Yinzhī.

Originally, he didn't want Yinreng to interact too much with the other princes. He thought that the Crown Prince's status was different from the other princes' and that mingling was beneath him. But since Yinreng had protected the others, he should let them grow closer, lest Yinreng feel disheartened.

"Okay! See big brother." Yinreng had just turned four. Because the realm was still at war, no birthday banquet had been held in the palace.

Yinzhīwas six years old this year. Although Kangxi had assigned him a tutor, he placed all his energy into Yinreng and hadn't paid much attention to Yinzhī's education. Yinzhī's studies were not strong, and his manners were a bit rough.

Seeing Yinreng held in Kangxi's arms, the still-childish Yinzhī openly showed his dissatisfaction and jealousy.

Kangxi frowned and couldn't help holding Yinreng a little tighter.

He finally realized that it was time to arrange systematic education for the princes.

"Big brother?" Yinreng jumped down from Kangxi's arms, ran up to Yinzhī, who stood a head taller than him, and then tilted his head up to look at him.

When Yinzhī grew up, he would be a fierce fighter, a tiger-general. As a young child, Yinzhī also looked sturdy and tiger-headed*, like a… (T/N: 虎头虎脑 [hǔ tóu hǔ nǎo] — "tiger-headed," idiom for a child looking robust, sturdy, and adorably simple-faced.)

Ahem, like a sweet silly goose.

The little eunuch behind Yinzhī was about to die of anxiety.

First Prince, First Prince, have you forgotten what Consort Hui taught you? Hurry and pay your respects to the Crown Prince!

But Yinzhī stood ramrod-straight and refused to bow.

Kangxi's frown deepened. Just as he was about to scold him, Yinreng leapt straight up from where he stood, threw his arms around Yinzhī's neck, and hung off him.

"Father! Is this my only big brother?!" Yinreng wailed dramatically. "But I'm not big brother's only younger brother, that's not fair! I don't care, I want to live with big brother before the next little brother comes to take him from me!"

Little Yinzhī, blinking in confusion, suddenly had an even smaller, milky-soft little dumpling fling itself into his arms. The unfamiliar contact made his sweet, simple little face flush bright red.

Kangxi: "……" What nonsense is this brat spouting? Get back here!

Watching Yinreng cling and nuzzle against Yinzhī, Kangxi slowly began to feel a pang of jealousy.