The Grand Empress Dowager held her breath and dared not speak.

She was afraid that the moment she did, the phantom would disappear.

Yinreng noticed someone's presence.

He turned to look at the Grand Empress Dowager, whose face was full of shock. Realizing that he revealed too much, his eyes couldn't help darting away for an instant, and he turned his head slightly to the side.

This reflexive movement further confirmed the Grand Empress Dowager's suspicions.

With so many people around, the Grand Empress Dowager composed herself and, leaning on her nanny's hand, walked shakily over to Yinreng.

"Leave this matter to me. Your Highness, please go and rest." The Grand Empress Dowager spoke and observed Yinreng's expression at the same time.

Yinreng frowned.

The Grand Empress Dowager was currently ill and lacked knowledge of infectious disease prevention. How could he entrust this matter to her with any peace of mind?

But if he contradicted the Grand Empress Dowager, his father was sure to scold him on his return, and might even be suspicious or wary, by the extraordinary abilities he has shown.

Wait a minute, wasn't this actually a good thing?

He saved people, showed extraordinary abilities, and aroused his father's vigilance. Surely, his father would depose him from the Crown Prince position, but also feel guilty about it, so he would try to make amends!

"Grand Empress Dowager, please go back. You are the cornerstone of the palace. You should focus on recovering. Leave this matter to me." To make himself sound more reliable, Yinreng didn't say "great-grandma" but used the more formal title instead.

Yinzhī was so startled that his eyes widened in shock.

His younger brother, the Crown Prince, actually dared to defy the Grand Empress Dowager? How could he be so bold!

Yinzhī hurriedly tried to smooth things over and plead for leniency on Yinreng's behalf, but he saw that the Grand Empress Dowager wasn't angry at all. Her eyes had even gone red, as if she was very moved.

V-very moved?

Was it really being moved? Why does the Grand Empress Dowager seem a little sad?

"Stop talking, the Grand Empress Dowager is heartbroken," Yinzhī said quickly.

Yinreng paused for a moment, then looked up at the Grand Empress Dowager.

He saw sadness, longing, guilt, and even a flicker of grievance in the Grand Empress Dowager's eyes.

Yinreng's brow furrowed as his instincts indicated that something was off.

Things had veered slightly beyond what he'd anticipated.

His mind raced, almost overtaking even his previous-life college-student self, and shot straight back to the original Crown Prince's mind from his past-past life.

Yinreng stared wide-eyed at the Grand Empress Dowager in disbelief.

And the Grand Empress Dowager, seeing the change in his expression, became more certain still.

She reached out and gripped Yinreng's right hand tightly: "Y-you, you..."

The Grand Empress Dowager knew she shouldn't call out that name, but right now, she could not suppress the urge to call it out.

Seeing the Grand Empress Dowager's pleading eyes, Yinreng panicked and reflexively pulled his hand back.

The moment he withdrew his hand, the Grand Empress Dowager's tears could no longer be held back. They spilled along the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and dripped down.

Yinzhī's mind went blank.

T-to that extent?! His younger brother, the Crown Prince, didn't even say anything! Why is the Grand Empress Dowager crying?!

Yinreng quickly placed his right hand back into the Grand Empress Dowager's palm and stood on tiptoe to wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes with his other hand.

"Leave this matter to me. I'll keep them safe." Yinreng already guessed the reason for the Grand Empress Dowager's strange reaction.

The Grand Empress Dowager probably thought he was possessed by a ghost.

Possessed by an ancestor's ghost, his Imperial Grandfather, Emperor Shunzhi himself.

It's all my own fault for going around shouting "Grandpa says" day in and day out. Now that I'm acting too mature for my age, people think I'm being possessed.

But Yinreng wasn't flustered. This was part of his plans.

Having an ancestor possessing you was far more dangerous than simply being exceptionally talented. While this would solidify one’s position during childhood, as an adult, it could very likely lead to execution. Despite Kangxi’s deep affection for him, he remained cautious of all supernatural superstitions.

Therefore, he has to make Shunzhi go offline soon. He already figured out what to do.

For now, while the Grand Empress Dowager had mistaken him for someone else, he might as well make use of it.

When the word "make use of" flashed through Yinreng's mind, an uncomfortable feeling rose in his chest, and his eyes dimmed for a moment.

In addition to providing him with knowledge and the common sense to adapt to this era, the dark memories of his early life also tugged at his thoughts, pulling him against his will closer and closer to that cold, mad Crown Prince.

His earliest-life self was, after all, the future emperor personally trained by Kangxi.

The ways of the emperor are cold-blooded and ruthless. He can manipulate and exploit everyone and everything.

The flicker of pain in Yinreng's eyes alarmed the Grand Empress Dowager, and her grip on his hand involuntarily loosened.

Yinreng pulled his hand back and ignored the Grand Empress Dowager.

He went on issuing orders, mobilizing the entire harem to cut the smallpox outbreak in the bud.

The Grand Empress Dowager forced herself to stand straight despite her discomfort. Behind little Yinreng, she stood like an indestructible guardian deity.

A flicker of surprise passed through the eyes of Sumalagu, who knew the Grand Empress Dowager best.

As she watched the great-grandmother and great-grandson, the scene before her gradually overlapped with images from times past.

It was the Grand Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi.

And it was the Empress Dowager of years past, and Emperor Shunzhi.

Yinzhī's brow was deeply furrowed.

He stared fixedly at Yinreng, watching him methodically arrange everything, until every last detail had been settled. Just as Yinreng was about to set off for the Imperial Hospital to ask after the details of the smallpox epidemic, Yinzhī caught the corner of his robe.

Yinreng turned back in confusion.

Yinzhī's voice was harsh and severe, his body shaking uncontrollably: "Y-you... who are you?! Where's my younger brother? What happened to my younger brother...?"

The Grand Empress Dowager paled in shock: "First Prince!"

Sumalagu, having pieced together what was going on, immediately stepped forward and clapped a hand over Yinzhī's mouth, stopping him from saying any more.

Yinzhī kicked Sumalagu hard and bit her hand.

"Ouch!" Sumalagu let go. "Quickly, take the First Prince inside! The news about smallpox frightened him!"

"You're not my Crown Prince younger brother! Give my younger brother back to me... wuwu..." After tearing free from Sumalagu, Yinzhī lunged at Yinreng.

Two burly nannies stopped Yinzhī, covered his mouth, and lifted him.

Yinreng raised his head, his expression neither sad nor happy. His gaze was so deep and dark, comparable to a fathomless abyss.

Yinzhī was so frightened that his whole body shook violently. His tears and snot bubbles burst out at the same time.

He struggled desperately, trying to lunge at Yinreng again.

"The Crown Prince is fine." Yinreng put away his coldness. His gaze became warm as he made a helpless little laugh: "Don't worry."

Yinzhī stopped struggling, but he trembled even more violently.

"Rest easy, this matter will absolutely not spread." The Grand Empress Dowager swept a fierce gaze over everyone around them.

"Children before the age of six all possess the ability to pierce heaven and earth, but only with the closest blood relatives, and only with those whose yang energy has grown weak." Yinreng averted his eyes and lowered his voice. "Since you've already noticed, pass a message along to Xuanye for me. Xuanye is wreathed in dragon energy. I cannot speak to him directly. Yinreng's body may grow weak later on, and he may not be fit to remain Crown Prince. When that time comes, give Yinreng a large hot-springs estate as his place of confinement."

Yinreng's voice was very low, and only the Grand Empress Dowager, who was standing close, could hear him.

The Grand Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly. She leaned down and lowered her voice: "You... Fulin... your mother... I..."

Yinreng turned his head aside, closed his eyes, and said: "I'm sorry."

And with that, he left without looking back.

Yinreng stepped into the small sedan that had been waiting outside the Cining Palace. The moment the curtain dropped, he crouched down with his head buried in his hands.

Aaaaaaaah, so embarrassing! It's so embarrassing that I could dig another Cining Palace with my toes!

Reverting to the mad-Crown-Prince of my earliest life is humiliating enough, but impersonating Shunzhi is even worse!

Why on earth did I do that?! Did my brain go mad again?!

I must have been burning through too much energy these last few days, used up too many brain cells, and turned into a complete idiot!

How could the Grand Empress Dowager not recognize Shunzhi? The more you say, the more you slip up! The Grand Empress Dowager has surely figured it out by now!

Yinreng, you absolute idiot! Was your brain eaten by zombies!?

After clutching his head for a while, Yinreng took advantage of his small size to climb onto the sedan cushion and lie down flat.

He folded his hands across his abdomen with a serene expression.

Just let me die. Right now, I want to leave the palace, leave the capital, leave the Qing Dynasty, and go adventuring overseas.

Goodbye, my motherland.

While Yinreng was wallowing in his belated, extreme embarrassment, the Grand Empress Dowager fell back against Sumalagu, her body limp.

"Fulin... Fulin..." the Grand Empress Dowager murmured. "Was that apology a reproach against me?"

Sumalagu said, "Definitely not. His Majesty wants to reconcile with you, too."

The Grand Empress Dowager closed her eyes to rest a moment, then straightened up again.

"What happened today must absolutely not get out," the Grand Empress Dowager commanded.

Sumalagu said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has already combed through the servants in Cining Palace several times. The ones still here are all longtime Cining Palace veterans. Grand Empress Dowager, please rest easy."

Anyone she didn't fully trust had long since been driven out. Besides, the Crown Prince and the Grand Empress Dowager spoke in very low voices. While the First Prince had been sobbing rather loudly, it wouldn't be easy for anyone to understand him.

The Grand Empress Dowager nodded, and only then was Yinzhī released.

Once put down, Yinzhī wailed at full volume: "I want my Crown Prince younger brother! I want my younger brother! Give my younger brother back to me!"

"Good boy, your younger brother will be back soon, don't worry." The Grand Empress Dowager pulled Yinzhī into her arms. "He has things he must take care of. He'll be back any moment now."

Children really were perceptive. At one glance, Yinzhī had seen that the Crown Prince in front of him wasn't the real Crown Prince. The Grand Empress Dowager sighed inwardly.

The people around them didn't understand the strange scene that had just played out, and they didn't hear the whispered exchange between Yinreng and the Grand Empress Dowager.

Only after Yinzhī let out his howl did they suddenly understand in their own ways.

The First Prince might be young, but he knew smallpox was a fatal illness. Hearing that the Crown Prince was going off to handle smallpox, he must have been so panicked that he had started talking nonsense.

Wild ravings from a young child are perfectly normal.

The Grand Empress Dowager, worried that the First Prince might blurt out something shocking, took him into her own residence and had the Third Prince brought over too.

Yinzhī held Yinzhǐ tightly. Yinzhǐ sensed the uneasy atmosphere around them, became very sensitive and afraid, and remained silent with his lips pressed together.

After the Grand Empress Dowager's warning, Yinzhī now knew what he should and shouldn't say.

His small mind hadn't really fully grasped what had just happened. He only vaguely felt that the Crown Prince in front of him had undergone some great change, and that this wasn't the younger brother he knew.

Yinzhī thought of the curse again, and was very worried that his younger brother, the Crown Prince, wouldn't come back.

Khan-Father, where are you? Is keeping vigil for some annoying empress really more important than my younger brother, than me, than all these people in the palace?

Why aren't you back yet? If you don't come back soon, my younger brother will be taken away by the curse!

"B-big brother." Yinzhǐ, who had only just learned to spit out words one syllable at a time, hugged Yinzhī's neck tightly. "Sec-ond brother, want, sec-ond brother..."

"Second brother has gone to take care of important business. He'll be back soon. Third brother, don't be afraid." Yinzhī gently patted Yinzhǐ's back, just like the way Yinreng used to do for Yinzhǐ.

Yinzhǐ pouted: "I'm... scared... want, sec-ond brother..."

"Don't be afraid, big brother will protect you." Yinzhī gently patted Yinzhǐ's back and added through gritted teeth, "Big brother will protect second brother too."

"Mm." Yinzhǐ buried his little head in Yinzhī's chest and finally went quiet.

The Grand Empress Dowager watched all this, her heart torn between relief and grief.

Fulin... Baocheng...

How could she tell Xuanye about all this?

And then there were Fulin's last words.

Could those curses really shorten the Crown Prince's lifespan? Or was it Fulin's possession of Baocheng that was damaging the Crown Prince's body?

If the Crown Prince's health really did fail, then even if Xuanye didn't depose him, the princes who came after would surely seize the chance to fight for the Crown Prince's position.

Perhaps when that time came, the only way to save the Crown Prince's life would be to have Xuanye place Baocheng under house arrest in advance.

A large estate with hot springs... The Grand Empress Dowager also misses it dearly.

She and Fulin both loved soaking in hot springs. Yinreng, on the other hand, had never been to a hot spring. Therefore, it was indeed Fulin inside Yin's body.

...

Although Yinreng was embarrassed to death by his sudden burst of acting, he gritted his teeth and finished handling everything.

The little Crown Prince ran around the palace, toiling without rest, and not a single person dared to look down on him.

The Crown Prince was very young, yet he handled affairs with remarkable maturity and skill. Those who witnessed his work were struck by his hardened and calculating demeanor, which sent a chill down their spines.

People are always afraid of things that defy common sense.

And the Crown Prince's actions had already gone past the bounds of common sense.

The eyes watching him gradually began to fill with fear, as if they had run into some kind of monster.

Yinreng didn't care about what they thought. He was still the Crown Prince now, so no one would dare to spread gossip about him.

After arranging the duties for each imperial physician, Yinreng went on to call upon the high-ranking consorts and concubines.

Noble Consort Tong gave Yinreng a blessing pouch and said, "Your Highness, please take good care of your health. To His Majesty, nothing is more important than Your Highness's health."

"Noble Consort Tong, please rest at ease, this lone one's health is fine. You should also take good care of yourself." Yinreng accepted the blessing pouch. "These next few days, Noble Consort Tong, you'll have to bear with us and stay inside Chengqian Palace."

Noble Consort Tong replied, "It is my duty."

Yinreng then went on to Concubine Hui's palace.

Once at Concubine Hui's palace, his manner softened considerably. He no longer wore the lofty air he had at the Chengqian Palace.

"Big brother is full of energy and wasn't frightened," Yinreng informed. "Concubine Hui, do take care of yourself. Big brother is very worried about you."

When Concubine Hui learned that smallpox appeared in the palace, she couldn't help but kowtow in the direction of Cining Palace to thank Yinreng.

So it was smallpox! Smallpox of all things! No wonder the Crown Prince had been so tense.

The Crown Prince already had smallpox himself, so he had no fear of catching it again. All this enormous trouble was entirely for the sake of His Majesty's other children.

The Crown Prince truly was the most benevolent person in the palace.

"As long as the First Prince hasn't caused trouble, that's all this concubine needs to be at ease about." Concubine Hui pressed her hand to her chest and said over and over, "Cining Palace is safer than this concubine's palace. This concubine won't be sending anything over to the Cining Palace. Please tell the First Prince, on this concubine's behalf, to behave himself."

Yinreng laughed softly: "Big brother is very well-behaved, really. Concubine Hui truly does not need to worry."

Concubine Hui looked thoroughly unconvinced.

Do I not know what kind of son I gave birth to? Only His Highness the Crown Prince praises the First Prince day in and day out. Everyone else in this palace knows perfectly well what kind of holy terror the First Prince is.

When Yinreng arrived at Concubine Rong's palace, Concubine Rong kowtowed to him without a word, completely startling him.

"This concubine will keep Zhongcui Palace in good order. The Third Prince has been a great trouble to His Highness the Crown Prince." after finishing the kowtow, Concubine Rong stood up and spoke calmly.

Yinreng touched the side of his nose: "No trouble at all, no trouble at all. The Third Prince is my younger brother. How could it be a trouble for an older brother to look after a younger one?"

After saying this, Yinreng fled in disarray.

Concubine Rong's attitude made him feel awkward all over again.

He had really overdone it this time! He, himself, couldn't stand it anymore.

Fortunately, after Yinreng had finished making all the arrangements, he learned that Kangxi had heard about the events that took place in the palace. As a result, Kangxi abandoned his travel plans with the ceremonial guard and was riding hard on horseback to return. He would be back in the palace by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

His heart unclenched, and he tossed out every last bit of his past-past life adult-brain stuff and let his overworked mind go back to normal.

I, the little dumpling Yinreng, am back!

Then, with a bang, the taut string in his mind snapped, and his tensed body collapsed right along with it. Yin immediately became feverish and lost consciousness.

When Yinreng fell into a deep sleep, his state of mind was actually very relaxed and peaceful.

As long as I've passed out, embarrassment doesn't matter. And I don't have to explain anything to Father either.

As expected of you, Yinreng! You're so clever!

Kangxi, who had felt "offline" for what seemed like several years (though it had actually only been a few days), finally returned to the palace. However, he was greeted with the news that the Crown Prince had managed everything perfectly in his absence but then collapsed from exhaustion and fell ill.