Kangxi smiled and said, "Baocheng."

Yinreng obediently replied, "Father, what is it?"

Still smiling, Kangxi said, "Your father does not want to point his sword at the whole world and become an emperor remembered for all eternity."

Yinreng nodded obediently. "But Grandpa said Father does. Grandpa also said the Qing Dynasty rules with filial piety. If he wants it, then you want it too."

Kangxi's smile cracked as he waved his hand for his son to get lost.

He couldn't exactly beat his son over Emperor Shunzhi's affairs, could he? He wasn't the kind of terrible father who took out his anger on his child.

Kangxi stewed in frustration, unsure how to vent it.

Just then, trouble erupted within the Tong family, and they were impeached by the censors again.

Unable to vent his anger on his son, Kangxi redirected it elsewhere. With a sweep of his hand, he stripped Longkodo and Orundai of their positions, ordered them home to reflect on their behavior, docked Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei's salaries, and scolded them for failing to discipline their households.

Losing salary was a small matter, but losing face was the real issue.

Tong Guowei could endure it, but Tong Guogang, who had long despised Orundai, could not. Thus, the moment he returned home, he beat his son.

But Orundai was not the type to submit meekly to a beating. He immediately started brawling with his father, throwing wild punches in every direction that the people nearby couldn't even pull them apart.

When Noble Consort Tong heard about this, she, already miserable because several women in the palace were pregnant with her cousin's children while she herself remained childless, fell ill on the spot.

Once Noble Consort Tong became sick, Kangxi naturally grew even angrier.

In the past, when Kangxi got upset, he would just lecture his son for a while and swallow the irritation himself.

But now that he had a newly unemployed brother-in-law who suited his tastes very well, Kangxi disguised himself in plain clothes, carried his son along, and went to chat with his brother-in-law.

Changtai shouldered the burden of managing the enormous Duke's residence from a young age and had always been skilled at social interaction.

After quietly listening to Kangxi vent all his frustrations, Changtai first empathized by pointing out that the Heseri family also had its own mountain of troubles. Then he said that although the Tong family had two complete bastards, the rest of the family was fairly decent. Every family had a few disappointing descendants, so let the Tong family handle their own headaches. His Majesty simply didn't need to employ those troublemakers.

After saying all this, Changtai smoothly changed the subject and entertained Kangxi with interesting stories.

Ever since the days of Sonin, the Heseri family had been fascinated by foreign weapons.

Changtai especially liked foreign firearms and artillery and maintained private contact with several missionaries. Under the Crown Prince's guidance, he began learning English and Russian from them.

English made communication with most missionaries easier. As for Russia, it was the only neighboring state capable of posing a real threat to the Qing Dynasty. A war between them was inevitable sooner or later.

While researching firearms and battlefield formations involving guns, Changtai had already encountered foreign languages.

People in ancient times could study with terrifying intensity. "Hanging one's hair from the rafters and stabbing oneself with an awl" was no exaggeration. Since Changtai had little else to occupy himself with, he devoted himself completely to language study. In less than a month, he already reached the point where he could haltingly read some of the books brought by missionaries.

What he discussed with Kangxi were the things he had learned from missionaries and foreign texts about overseas royal families and the distribution of nations abroad.

Kangxi listened with great interest, but he was also curious why Changtai had become familiar with these things.

Changtai answered honestly as always. "His Highness the Crown Prince said Your Majesty intends to point your sword at the entire world and become an emperor greater than all Han emperors before you. So this subject thought it best to learn more and be able to help Your Majesty in the future."

Kangxi: "…"

He glanced at his son, who was flying a kite nearby. His expression remained calm, but his heart was bleeding.

Kangxi painfully wondered just how many people his son had already told about his supposed ambition to conquer the world and surpass every Han emperor in history.

Would there come a day when the entire court believed that he was preparing for world conquest and had already begun making preparations, while he himself remained the only one unaware?

It wasn't that Kangxi lacked ambition. He was simply realistic. He didn't believe that the current Qing had the capability to undertake something as exhausting and unrewarding as world conquest.

The Qing territory was already enormous. Governing it properly was achievement enough. Why pursue empty glory?

"Your Majesty truly is remarkable. When I first heard of Your Majesty's aspirations, this subject was somewhat puzzled. The Qing's territory is already vast, why seek more lands? But after learning what those foreign countries have been doing overseas, I finally understood Your Majesty's far-reaching wisdom," Changtai sighed.

Without changing expression, Kangxi said, "Oh? Tell me then. What far-reaching wisdom does I possess?"

Changtai proceeded to describe the prosperity that overseas expansion had brought to those foreign nations.

Their expansion wasn't about annexing territory in the traditional sense. In fact, those countries understood perfectly well that lands so distant from their homeland could never remain permanently under their control. What they truly sought was to seize every movable resource from those lands to enrich the homeland itself.

Technology, infrastructure, culture. Every aspect required money and grain. It was no different from how the Qing had once looted the Central Plains from beyond the passes. As long as they could seize the wealth, that was enough.

As for what state the conquered land was left in afterward, what did that matter to the overseas powers?

Changtai even suspected that this might be the true meaning of "inner sage, outer king."

The common people suffered under taxation, and the state also suffered from taxation. His own family belonged to the nobility, so he knew exactly how much tax they concealed.

But if the Qing could secure enough overseas markets and mutually beneficial trade with powerful nations around the globe, commercial taxes alone could sustain the entire empire.

More importantly, because Chinese dynasties had always prioritized agriculture and suppressed commerce, commercial taxes were something nobody could avoid paying!

Even imperial merchants had to pay taxes when doing business!

Hidden inside his sleeves, Kangxi's fingers trembled slightly.

Th-that's possible? So it can be done this way? These Western countries are rather shameless!

"This perhaps does not suit the image of a Celestial Empire," Kangxi said solemnly. "Every dynasty throughout history has emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce."

Changtai smiled. "And that is precisely why this subject admires Your Majesty even more."

"Oh?" Kangxi's eyes flickered.

Changtai said, "We are the Qing. In the eyes of the Han Chinese, we're barbarians. Why should their cultural and moral restraints mean anything to us?"

Kangxi slapped the table. "Excellent!"

Then immediately thought: I'm going back to the palace to beat my son.

Kangxi scooped up his chubby little son and fled in embarrassment under Changtai's admiring gaze.

Changtai flicked his sleeves and returned indoors to help Gabula drink his medicine while listening to his lectures.

Everything Gabula taught had actually come from Yinreng whispering things into his ear while pretending to play with his grandfather.

Born with innate wisdom? Able to foresee the future? A divine being descended to earth? None of that mattered.

All they needed to know was that the Crown Prince was extraordinary, and that following him to the bitter end was enough.

The Heseri family was already tied to the Crown Prince. Their fortunes rose and fell together. If the Heseri family encountered disaster, the Crown Prince might survive, but not necessarily them.

Since the Crown Prince was willing to help the Heseri family, they absolutely had to seize the opportunity.

-----

On the way back to the palace...

Kangxi laid his son across his knees and spanked him, though he didn't dare to use much force.

The last time he accidentally hit Yinreng too hard, he regretted it for a long time.

"What exactly did you tell Changtai?" Kangxi rhythmically smacked Yinreng's bottom.

Yinreng yawned, tucked in his short limbs, and drowsily sprawled across Kangxi's lap like a kitten being petted. "I told him lots of things."

Kangxi: "…"

He stopped the utterly painless spanking and sat Yinreng upright.

"Can you stop telling outsiders that I want to become some emperor remembered for eternity?!"

Yinreng tilted his head while clutching his own head. "Hm? Did I say that?"

Kangxi: "…"

Expecting a child to keep secrets was impossible. Baocheng probably didn't even remember half the things he said.

Angry and anxious, Kangxi nearly wanted to run to Emperor Shunzhi's spirit tablet and start shouting.

Now he finally understood. Emperor Shunzhi wasn't raising his grandson at all.

He regretted never having properly taught Kangxi himself, so now he was using his grandson to educate the son from beyond the grave!

If Kangxi were still a child or teenager, he might have been deeply moved. But now, he was already a mature emperor. He did not want his imperial father constantly lecturing him with "You absolutely must become an emperor remembered through the ages!"

Remembered your ghostly head!

"Changtai has some real talent," Kangxi mused after calming down, holding his son in his lap while pinching the child's cheeks thoughtfully.

He was almost persuaded by Changtai.

Kangxi was still young and ambitious. What young emperor didn't dream of becoming a ruler remembered throughout history?

But the Qing itself wasn't fully stabilized, so launching reckless campaigns abroad was hardly wise.

After returning to the palace, Kangxi stared at the globe presented by the missionaries for a long time.

When he finally ordered it put away, Taiwan was already circled in red ink on the globe.

-----

Not long afterward, more children were born in the palace.

Lady Gorolo and Noble Lady Nara both gave birth to healthy daughters.

Since the palace already had four healthy princes, neither Kangxi nor the Grand Empress Dowager felt an urgent need for more sons.

Daughters could still be used for Mongolian alliances, so they were not disappointed and bestowed generous rewards. Lady Gorolo was even promoted from unranked concubine to First Attendant.

Though both women regretted not bearing sons, daughters who survived to adulthood could still become a source of support. They put aside excessive ambitions and wholeheartedly focused on raising their children.

At this point, the palace had five princesses:

Consort Rong's Third Princess

First Attendant Bu's Fifth Princess

Concubine Xuan's Sixth Princess

First Attendant Gorolo's Seventh Princess

Noble Lady Nara's Eighth Princess

Kangxi reassigned their birth order rankings among the surviving princesses.

The Third Princess became the First Princess and was granted the title Princess Heshuo Rongxian.

The Fifth Princess became the Second Princess and was granted the title Princess Heshuo Duanjing.

The Sixth Princess became the Third Princess and was granted the title Princess Gulun Huijing.

The daughters of First Attendant Gorolo and Noble Lady Nara were still too young and were not yet formally ranked.

Most Qing princesses only received formal titles upon marriage, and only a very small number received titles early due to imperial favor.

Since Kangxi had already promised the Grand Empress Dowager that Concubine Xuan's daughter would receive the title of Gulun Princess, he simply granted titles to the older girls as well.

First Attendant Gorolo and Noble Lady Nara both felt bitterly sour inside.

Concubine Xuan's daughter was also born this year. If their daughters were considered "not yet grown," then wasn't hers the same?

Noble Lady Nara's hands trembled slightly as she held her daughter.

She had once borne a prince who failed to survive. She had once dreamed that if that son had lived, perhaps her treatment within the palace would improve.

But the arrivals of Consort Yi and Consort De had shattered that illusion.

Concubine Xuan represented Mongolian political marriage alliances, and she couldn't compare to that. But Consort De had been elevated to Concubine status the moment she became pregnant, and Consort Yi became mistress of a palace not long after entering the harem.

Moreover, even Consort Yi's elder sister, despite giving birth to a daughter, became a First Attendant.

Imperial favor was simply that unpredictable.

After wiping away her tears, Noble Lady Nara soothed the daughter she had accidentally awakened.

She kissed the child's forehead.

Forget it. Was she really still hoping for the emperor's illusory affection?

Back when there were fewer women in the palace, she failed to win it. Now that beautiful newcomers entered the palace every year, was there any hope left?

Let her daughter grow up quickly, marry into a good family, and at least she would have something to look forward to in palace life.

Compared to those consorts with no children, no favor, and no rank, her life as a noble lady with a daughter was already much better.

Setting aside the suffering of the palace women...

With so many daughters now, Kangxi began seriously considering the "absurd remarks" made by Yinreng and Yinzhī.

Any normal parent naturally wishes for their children to live well.

If princesses could wield authority in Mongolia, that was indeed more beneficial to the Qing than merely marrying them off as political tools to suffer and die.

After witnessing Tang dynasty princesses interfere in politics, later Han dynasties guarded strictly against both princesses and imperial consorts gaining power.

But Changtai's words had awakened Kangxi.

We aren't a Han dynasty. Why should we follow their rules?

If Qing princesses seized power, they would be seizing Mongolian power.

Wasn't that a good thing?

Coincidentally, the Yuqing Palace was already halfway through renovations. Since his precious son didn't want to live there, it might as well be converted into a school for princes and princesses.

If Qing princesses were expected to participate in Mongolian politics, then rigid gender segregation should not apply too strictly. Male teachers could instruct them academically, while female instructors could handle horseback riding and archery.

Concubine Xuan nearly jumped with excitement. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This concubine can teach the princesses!"

Kangxi held down the energetic Concubine Xuan by the shoulders. "Alright, alright. I'll consider it. I'll consider it. Stop jumping around. You haven't fully recovered yet."

Concubine Xuan protested, "This concubine is almost completely recovered! But the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager refuse to let me leave my quarters. Your Majesty, please help persuade them!"

Kangxi thought of Consort De, who was still recuperating after childbirth, then looked at Concubine Xuan, who looked ready to run laps around the palace to demonstrate her vitality.

The corners of his mouth twitched as he retreated in defeat.

After the novelty wore off, Kangxi realized he still preferred delicate women.

Once he grew tired of delicate women, then perhaps he would visit Concubine Xuan again.

Scumbag Kangxi patted his chest, still startled by Concubine Xuan's vigor, and continued making rounds to visit his little consorts.

Noble Consort Tong was still ill, so he skipped her.

His final stop was Consort De's palace.

By coincidence, Yinreng and the just-dismissed Yinzhī were amusing themselves by teasing the toddler Yinzhen, who was learning to speak.

After Consort De sewed Yinzhen a little stuffed dog toy, he had become inseparable from it.

Yinzhī snatched away Yinzhen's toy dog and refused to give it back unless Yinzhen called him "big brother."

But Yinzhen was not even one year old yet. How could he possibly speak? He could only roar "Aaaahhh!" in baby fury while Yinzhī laughed maniacally like a tiny demon.

Enraged, Yinzhen flipped over and actually managed to sit up shakily.

Pointing at Yinzhī, he kicked his little feet furiously. "Aaaaahhhhhh!"

Yinzhī burst into louder laughter. "Little Brother! Fourth Brother is scolding me!"

Yinreng also doubled over laughing.

Whether it was Fourth Brother angrily climbing up just to yell at someone, or Big Brother being delighted to get yelled at, both were absolutely hilarious.

Seeing that his furious baby-roars had no effect on the evil villain, Yinzhen angrily pounded the soft couch twice with both hands. Then, bracing himself on all fours, he actually managed to wobble upright.

Yinzhī's mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an entire egg. "Little Brother, look! Fourth Brother can crawl already at such a young age!"

Before he finished speaking, Yinzhen's weak little limbs gave out beneath his round chubby body. With a thump, his stomach smacked against the bed.

Watching Yinzhen flail all four limbs helplessly while failing to push himself back up, Yinzhī laughed so hard his gums showed. "Hahahaha! Little Brother looks like a baby turtle!"

Yinreng covered his mouth with both hands to stop himself from laughing too loudly. "Not a baby turtle. More like a panda."

Yinzhī asked, "What's a panda?"

Yinreng explained, "Big Brother knows the bamboo bears from Shu that are offered as tribute, right? When they're babies, they can't stand up either. They just wiggle around on their bellies like Fourth Brother."

Yinzhen angrily wriggled across the bed. "Aaaahhh!"

Yinreng pointed at him. "Exactly like that."

Yinzhī's eyes lit up. "That sounds fun! I'm going to ask Khan-Father for one!"

Outside the door, Kangxi lowered his voice and asked, "Consort De, what are you doing?"

Consort De, peeking through the crack in the doorway while biting her handkerchief with teary eyes, sniffled emotionally. "Your Majesty, Fourth Prince can crawl now, and he can scold people too!"

Kangxi: "…"

Crawling was certainly good, but being able to scold people didn't really seem like the sort of thing that was worth crying tears of joy over.

He pushed open the door and strode inside. Snatching the stuffed puppy toy from Yinzhī's hands, he returned it to the exhausted Yinzhen, who had already run out of energy from yelling, and helped him sit upright.

Yinzhen's eyes sparkled brightly. "Ah! Ah!"

With a stern face, Kangxi extended a finger and gently poked Yinzhen in the forehead.

Yinzhen tipped backward and flopped onto the couch.

The sparkle vanished from his eyes, and tears welled up immediately.

Kangxi said smugly, "That's the proper way to play."

Yinzhen: "…" Shock!

Yinzhen: "…" Pain!

Yinzhen: "Waaahhhhhhh!" He burst into loud sobs.

Consort De took tiny deep breaths while silently reciting Buddhist scriptures in her heart.

This is the emperor. This is the emperor. If he wants to play with your son, you can only let him. You absolutely cannot grab your round fan and smack him over the head with it!

"After he cries, you do this." Kangxi continued demonstrating while helping Yinzhen sit back up.

Yinzhen's wailing subsided into hiccuping sobs.

Then Kangxi pushed him over again.

The hiccups instantly turned back into full-blown crying.

Yinzhī eagerly squeezed forward. "Imperial Father, let me try too! I want to play! It looks so fun!"

Yinreng clutched his chest and took a step back.

He remembered now.

When he was little, Kangxi used to play with him exactly like this.

People always said babies, before reaching the stage where they became little terrors that everyone disliked, were basically highly entertaining smart toys.

That was how Kangxi entertained himself back then!

"Your Majesty, Fourth Prince is going to be dehydrated from crying too much," Consort De finally couldn't endure it anymore. She bravely stepped forward and scooped Yinzhen into her arms.

Kangxi said, "Look at him. He's just wailing without shedding tears, exactly like Baocheng used to. He won't dehydrate."

Yinreng looked at him resentfully. "Imperial Father, what exactly did you come here for? To play with Fourth Brother and tell everyone how you used to play with me?"

"Ahem." Kangxi coughed awkwardly as reason returned to him.

Could he really admit that he came to spend time with one of his consorts, but got distracted by watching his sons tease the baby?

"What else would I come for? Obviously to find Baoqing." Kangxi said stiffly.

Yinzhī, who had been happily bullying his younger brother: "Hm?"

Kangxi clasped his hands behind his back and lectured, "Did you only finish half your homework again?"

Yinzhī replied honestly, "Haven't I always only done half?"

Kangxi: "…"

Yinzhī immediately grabbed Yinreng and bolted. "Brother, run! Imperial Father's about to breathe fire!"

Yinreng shouted, "Awooo! Run!"

Consort De hugged her son tightly. "Your Majesty?"

Kangxi waved at her dismissively and strode after the two little troublemakers with his long legs.

Watching him leave, Consort De finally let out a long breath of relief.

"Why are you all still standing there? Hurry and bring Fourth Prince some honey water for his throat! Oh, my poor baby…" Hearing Yinzhen's voice grow hoarse from crying, Consort De's heart ached terribly.

The Crown Prince being able to grow up healthy and still remain so kind and considerate truly showed how wonderful Empress Renxiao's foundation had been!

Unaware that his consort was silently criticizing him, Kangxi actually failed to catch his eldest son.

Yinreng twisted his fingers together and giggled.

His own little legs weren't fast enough, so he simply let Big Brother abandon him and flee for his life alone.

And Yinzhī, already old enough in modern terms to attend elementary school, could sprint wildly enough that even adults struggled to stop him.

Kangxi picked Yinreng up and bounced him lightly. "You only know how to protect your big brother! He skips homework and you still defend him!"

Lying across Kangxi's shoulder, Yinreng replied, "The purpose of homework is to learn the knowledge in books. If Big Brother already understands it, then why keep making him do pointless assignments?"

Naturally shifting Yinreng onto one arm, Kangxi asked, "Oh? Then what do you think should be done instead?"

"Uncle said Western schools have exams. If you pass, you move on to the next book."

Kangxi said, "When I was young, I studied the same way Baoqing does."

Yinreng answered, "Father studied until you coughed blood. Big Brother and I don't want to cough blood."

Kangxi bounced his little bottom thoughtfully. "Let me think about it."

If the princes were to learn about the Western world, their studies would become much heavier indeed. There really wouldn't be time for methods like reading a hundred times, memorizing a hundred times, and copying a hundred times.

"Don't be angry at Big Brother, okay?" Yinreng rubbed against Kangxi's face.

Only after getting rubbed on both cheeks did Kangxi finally relent. "We're going to Yanxi Palace. Homework may be reduced in the future, but punishment is still required today."

Yinreng held up one finger. "Don't punish him too harshly. Just… just one page of calligraphy."

Kangxi could no longer maintain his stern expression. "How is one page of calligraphy a punishment?"

Yinreng raised two fingers. "Th-then two pages?"

Kangxi shook his head.

As father and son walked toward Yanxi Palace, they continued bargaining back and forth the entire way.

Just as they finally reached an agreement of ten pages, someone sent by the Grand Empress Dowager stopped them.

"Prince Chun is critically ill. He may not survive."

Kangxi's arm tightened around Yinreng, grief deepening in his eyes.

Though he had long prepared himself mentally, when the moment truly arrived, he realized he was nowhere near as calm as he had imagined.

The nineteen-year-old Prince Chun Longxi was Kangxi's half-brother.

Kangxi himself hadn't yet reached thirty, and yet, he was already about to lose another close relative.

When Yinreng heard that Prince Chun was gravely ill, his own mind buzzed.

He was very young when Prince Chun died and didn't remember it clearly. But another event that followed soon after remained vivid even in his childhood memory...

Not long after Prince Chun's death, a massive earthquake struck the capital region, killing and injuring countless people.

Yinreng's small hand tightened around Kangxi's robe.

The earthquake disaster would not disappear simply because he had been reborn. He intended to use that catastrophe to accomplish his goals.

For example, forcing Shunzhi to finally exit the stage.

However…

Yinreng pressed his face against Kangxi's shoulder.

According to his original plan, after the earthquake, he would claim that it was caused by a struggle over the dragon veins, a manifestation of the curse. Then Shunzhi would withdraw in order to protect the imperial palace, while Yinreng himself could pretend to become chronically sickly and eventually hand the Crown Prince position off to someone else.

But if he warned people about the earthquake in advance, things would no longer proceed so easily.

Even with advance warning, too few people could actually be saved. Perhaps no one would even believe him.

Doing so would be a meaningless kind of kindness.

"Father," Yinreng whispered.

"What is it? Did you get frightened? It's alright, it's alright." Kangxi snapped back to himself and patted his son's back. "Don't be afraid. Go back to Qianqing Palace first. Your father is going out to see your uncle."

Yinreng shook his head. "Father, Grandpa said the curse is about to strike back."

Kangxi's breathing stopped for a moment. "What?!"

Yinreng said, "The dragon veins beneath the capital are damaged, so the earth dragon will turn over. It will happen within this month."

After a pause, he added, "Uncle's grave illness is the warning sign."

As soon as he finished speaking, his breathing grew fainter and fainter until he fainted.

As long as he forced himself to recover his adult rationality and dredge up memories from his previous lives, he would quickly lose consciousness.

By now, Yinreng was already extremely skilled at pretending to faint.