Just a reminder, the Revolt of the Three Feudatories was not over yet.

Kangxi reluctantly allowed Empress Niohuru to enter the palace and permitted Ebilun to build his family temple, all in an effort to appease the Manchu Eight Banners nobles and get them to work hard to quell the rebellion.

Therefore, Empress Niohuru cannot be deposed, at least for now.

Kangxi dejectedly locked himself in his study all night, dismissing all his servants and leaving only his tiny dumpling Yinreng fast asleep in his arms.

Kangxi held Yinreng and stroked Yinreng's little head repeatedly, feeling a pang of frustration.

"Your father is so angry about you that he can't sleep, while you said you'd come to keep him company, but you fell asleep the moment you closed your eyes."

Yinreng slept very well and didn't wake up, no matter how much Kangxi kneaded and squeezed him.

Looking at his son's sleeping face, Kangxi's anger gradually subsided, but his resentment remained.

Kangxi finally deeply understood the pain of his own Khan-Father, and for the first time, resonated with Shunzhi.

As an emperor, if even his harem couldn't provide for him, it shows how useless he was.

Kangxi recalled the Ming Dynasty and even earlier dynasties, noting that many empresses and empress dowagers who were recorded in history came from very humble backgrounds.

Besides protecting against powerful maternal relatives, another reason was that the emperor's position was secure, and he could freely choose the woman he liked as his empress.

The Mongol noble ladies in Khan-Father's palace, the Manchu noble ladies in my palace, hmph.

As Kangxi sneered, Yinreng turned over and howled, "Grandpa is the greatest emperor of all time!" Then he turned over again and continued to sleep soundly.

Kangxi: "..."

He pinched the chubby boy's cheek, both amused and exasperated.

Khan-Father, what are you doing in Baocheng's dream? Is it fun to tease your grandson?

Patience is the best teacher. Kangxi tolerated many things since ascending the throne, and this one wouldn't make a difference. After calming down and regaining his composure, Kangxi went to the Kunning Palace to visit Empress Niohuru.

After that, Empress Niohuru rested peacefully in Kunning Palace to prepare for childbirth. According to the imperial physicians, her health had improved considerably, and the child might be born safely.

Empress Niohuru sent many gifts to Yinreng as an apology. The old nanny who had scolded Yinreng that day kept kowtowing to him until her head bled.

Yinreng couldn't bear to watch, but Kangxi made him watch.

"You are the Crown Prince." Kangxi turned Yinreng's head back to its proper position. "Don't be afraid of blood."

Yinreng pursed his lips. It wasn't that he was afraid of blood. He was just not used to this era.

He understood that sooner or later, he would have to adjust to this era. Even if he couldn't become the fully feudal Crown Prince as he had in his past life, he could at least learn to pretend to be a native of this time.

But he's not even five years old yet, so he can still be willful for a while longer.

Human nature has many aspects, such as being a pigeon* and procrastination. Yinreng snuggled closer to Kangxi. (T/N: 鴿子 [gēzi] — lit. "pigeon"; Chinese internet slang for someone who flakes on plans/commitments)

Right now, I'm just an ordinary procrastinator.

Kangxi sighed, but still couldn't bring himself to do it. He released Yinreng's head, letting Yinreng bury his head in his chest like a little ostrich.

...

After Kangxi returned, the inner palace immediately became peaceful and tranquil. No one dared to cause trouble under Kangxi's nose.

But the news of the witchcraft curse and the Crown Prince spread quietly, even reaching the ears of people outside the palace.

Rumors say that from now on, as long as the children in the palace are healthy and there are no accidents, they will not die young because of the Crown Prince's protection.

Many people outside the palace scoffed at the rumor.

The implication of this rumor is that if a healthy prince survives, the Crown Prince deserves credit. If a prince dies, it's because he was unwell or encountered an accident, and it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince.

The emperor was so eager to glorify his Crown Prince that he even resorted to such an ominous excuse as witchcraft. Was he not afraid of making a fool of himself?

However, the concubines in the palace, taking into account the events that had occurred in the palace over the past two years, secretly began to believe the rumor.

Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong, in particular, saw another layer of meaning in this rumor.

How could rumors possibly spread in the imperial palace with the Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager in charge? Unless the rumors were spread at their behest.

The matter of the Crown Prince could not be kept secret. The two powerful figures in the palace deliberately spread such rumors, which also contained the meaning of intimidation and warning.

Empress Niohuru represented the power of the Manchu nobility, and the emperor couldn't touch her for the time being. But any other concubines who dared to lay a hand on the Crown Prince would have to think twice if they had such a powerful backer.

The sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign quietly passed, and the seventeenth year of his reign arrived amidst the sound of firecrackers.

Empress Niohuru's health has further improved, and it seems that her pregnancy is stable.

Yinreng recalled that Empress Niohuru seemed to have passed away at the beginning of this year.

Empress Niohuru, in this life, seems to have come to terms with things. Her health has improved, and she may not only live past this year, but he could also gain a younger brother or sister who did not exist in history.

Was this my butterfly effect? Did I change history? Yinreng put his hands on his hips, feeling incredibly awesome even though he hadn't done anything.

Seeing that Yinreng was becoming increasingly cheerful and seemed to adore the child in Empress Niohuru's womb, Kangxi felt quite helpless.

This fool doesn't realize at all that the presence of another legitimate son would affect his status?

Kangxi himself had heard the rumors circulating in the palace, so it's impossible that no one had told Yinreng.

Those in the palace knew they would be beaten to death for saying these things, yet they still risked their lives, indicating that the person behind it was truly in a great hurry.

After thinking about it, Kangxi started taking Yinreng to the Kunming Palace for a short visit every few days.

Empress Niohuru was nearly frightened to death.

She felt conflicted when she saw Yinreng grinning foolishly.

For the sake of the Niohuru clan's interests, she should have been hostile to Yinreng. But she wasn't inherently bad. Seeing a simple and kind child who was still so kind to her even after hearing her speak ill of him, she couldn't help but be moved.

Is the Crown Prince an idiot? How can someone so stupid be the Crown Prince?

Empress Niohuru thought maliciously, but her hand that was stroking her belly trembled slightly.

Another month has passed.

When Yinreng saw the pond water thawing and the spring trees sprouting buds, he laughed even more heartily.

Spring has arrived, and Empress Niohuru has truly survived! His younger brother or sister, who didn't exist in history, is really about to be born!

Yinzhī couldn't understand why his younger brother, the Crown Prince, would be excited about a child in the womb of a wicked woman, especially since that child clearly threatened the Crown Prince's position.

He could only conclude that his younger brother, the Crown Prince, was foolish.

How can this grandpa protect such a stupid little brother? Yinzhī was so worried that his head ached.

What troubled him even more was that his Khan-Father couldn't possibly be unaware of what even he, a child, could see.

Is Khan-Father just letting his younger brother be so foolish? Let his younger brother be bullied? Does Khan-Father really care about his younger brother, the Crown Prince?

Yinzhī's suspicions about Kangxi deepened.

Children don't understand the helplessness of adults. Besides, in Yinzhī's eyes, Kangxi was omnipotent. If Kangxi didn't do it, it wasn't because he couldn't, but because he didn't want to.

Yinreng was unaware that those in the know were secretly thinking that he was a fool.

He was simply excited by the fact that something "did not exist in history." Everything he did was to escape the predetermined fate of history, and now that something "did not exist in history" appeared, Yinreng was filled with confidence.

This is similar to gacha pulls in mobile games. If no one gets an SSR, everyone will assume there's something wrong with the gacha rates. But once someone around you gets an SSR, you'll feel more comfortable spending money on the game.

If this card is in the gacha pool, then it's just a matter of money. Is money even a problem? If it is, then you haven't spent hard enough (lol).

The moment Yinreng counted the births of his new siblings on his fingers, his expectant look touched even Kangxi and the Grand Empress Dowager.

They also helped Yinreng prepare things for the child.

Empress Niohuru wasn't a good person, but her child was innocent.

The Grand Empress Dowager had even discussed with Kangxi that, while she was still in good health, the child, whether boy or girl, should be raised in Cining Palace.

Since Yinreng was so eager for this younger brother and sister, the Grand Empress Dowager was determined to raise the child to be close to Yinreng.

Just when the expectations of the three most honored people in the palace were at their peak, Empress Niohuru suffered a miscarriage, and her health deteriorated rapidly. It was clear that she was about to die.

Upon hearing this news, Yinreng was stunned.

His head was buzzing.

He wondered, is the inertia of history really that strong? She was almost due, and the baby was so stable, so how could she possibly miscarry?

At this moment, the pain and sorrow in Yinreng's heart felt like pouring all his living expenses into the gacha pool, only to be told that "the person who pulled the SSR before was lying to you."

This card might not be in the card pool.

History hasn't been changed. It just took a slight detour.

Yinreng got stuck in a dead end and became ill from worry.

Inside Kunning Palace.

Ignoring the smell of medicine and blood, Kangxi stood at the head of Empress Niohuru's bedside, coldly watching this pitiful woman whose appearance had faded.

"Baocheng was really looking forward to this child. He fell ill from crying when he heard the child was gone," Kangxi said coldly. "Was it that even Baocheng was more eager for the child's birth than you, the mother?"

Empress Niohuru's pale, chapped lips moved, emitting a harsh sound like a broken bellows: "I look forward to it! Your Majesty! I look forward to it! How could I not look forward to my child!"

Kangxi gritted his teeth and said, "You were expecting it? Then why did you drink that stuff?! Just because the imperial physician said you might be carrying a princess, you went and took all sorts of folk remedies in order to have a prince! Forcing a girl to turn into a boy?!"

Empress Niohuru wailed, "The imperial physician said my health was poor and that I could only have this one child. I have no choice, I have no choice... I didn't know that the medicine couldn't be taken! I consulted the imperial physician, and none of the ingredients on the prescription were poisonous..."

"Enough." Kangxi closed his eyes. "The Niohuru clan wants to send your younger sister into the palace to take care of you."

Empress Niohuru's crying faltered.

Kangxi sarcastically remarked, "To the Niohuru clan, you are utterly dispensable. Without you, they have other women they can send into the palace. Is it worth it for you to risk everything for the Niohuru clan?"

After making his sarcastic remarks, Kangxi turned and left.

Kunning Palace was so filthy it made him want to vomit. He desperately needed to return to Yinreng's side to catch his breath.

Everyone in this palace has their own hidden agendas, except for his foolish son, who is pure of heart.

...

Kangxi's foolish son is currently sitting in Qianqing Palace, hugging his knees and staring blankly.

He did not grieve for Empress Niohuru, nor for his younger sibling, whom he did not know. He was not that kind.

Yinreng was simply terrified and cowardly.

His previous clamor about the curse and Grandpa entering his dreams had caused him a lot of trouble.

In his previous life, Yinreng was just an ordinary college student. He wasn't a good actor, was too soft-hearted, and didn't want to act for the rest of his life. Acting was just too tiring, and deceiving his family, who had been so good to him, made him feel very guilty.

Yinreng originally planned to gradually get back on track while he hadn't told too many lies. Now, Kangxi genuinely loves him, and the First Prince also has a deep brotherly bond with him. Perhaps history has already changed.

The fact that Empress Niohuru survived and gave birth to a child that did not exist in history proves that history has been changed, doesn't it?

As long as I cling to Kangxi and don't disobey or covet power, I'm sure I can survive, and maybe even live until my forties or fifties to inherit the throne.

Yinreng even decided on his reign title.

Reality dealt him a heavy blow. Honey, it's not that easy. The inertia of history is incredibly powerful.

The break with Kangxi, the terrifying brother, his own madness, the suffocating control, and the endless confinement... The gloomy emotions of his past past life churned in Yinreng's heart, stimulating his spirit and soul. The consciousness of the three worlds continued to merge through the squeezing and collision.

It seems that the only option is to keep lying, right? Be a big liar, swindle a large estate with hot springs to serve as a place of confinement, and then stay there in seclusion. That's better for everyone.

"Be a liar for life, you can do it." Yinreng thought sadly before he fell into a coma.

 

 

 

Author's Note:

Honey, growth always comes with growing pains. Don't think about lying down and being lazy. Keep up the good work! Your loving mother is cheering you on through tears.