Yinreng was still ill when he learned the news. He sat there stunned for a while, then couldn't help but rub his forehead.

He had always wondered why Consort Yi, who was so favored ever since entering the palace, would have her son raised by the Empress Dowager. Well, here was the reason.

In his first life, the Fifth Prince was also born the day after the Hall of Supreme Harmony caught fire. Kangxi may have considered that an ill omen.

And it wasn't just the imperial family. People throughout society in this era were extremely superstitious.

The Seventh Prince was another example. At the time, Lady Daijia was actually very much in favor, and the Seventh Prince was already growing in her womb. But after she gave birth to a prince who had a slight congenital deformity of the feet, Daijia was banished to the Cold Palace and never received the Emperor's favor again.

Fortunately, the Seventh Prince himself turned out well, and only because of him was Lady Daijia eventually granted the title of Concubine and then Consort in her old age.

Compared with Lady Daijia, Kangxi had truly been very fond of Consort Yi. Two lives ago, he had merely taken his anger out on the Fifth Prince and didn't blame Consort Yi.

But in this life, Kangxi also placed his anger on Consort Yi.

He had already ordered the Imperial Kitchen to shut down its stoves and relocate immediately, yet Consort Yi insisted on having some nourishing soup. That single pot of soup set the Imperial Kitchen ablaze, and even the walls of the nearby Hall of Supreme Harmony were blackened by the smoke.

If their own precious Crown Prince hadn't stationed people there in advance, who rushed in all at once and cut off the flames, the Hall of Supreme Harmony would definitely have been affected this time.

If the Golden Throne Hall, where grand ceremonies were held, burned down a month before New Year's Day, Kangxi would have to issue another edict blaming himself for Heaven's displeasure.

There had already been an earthquake and now a palace fire this year. How was Kangxi supposed to carry out his new policies?!

Fortunately, only the Imperial Kitchen had caught fire this time, and Yinreng had taken precautions in advance under the guise of acting in Kangxi's name. Once word reached the outside world, people would merely spread the story that the Kangxi Emperor was blessed by his ancestors and protected by divine spirits.

The angrier Kangxi became, the more he wanted to demote Consort Yi, and the Grand Empress Dowager wholeheartedly supported him.

Kangxi, Yinreng, and Yinzhī had all fallen ill. This child was truly an ill omen! Consort Yi was simply an unlucky woman!

Yinreng forced himself to get up and wrapped his arms around Kangxi's leg.

“Father, forget it, forget it. Consort Yi is innocent, and so is Fifth Brother. If we're talking about bad luck, wouldn't I, who's covered in curses, be the unluckiest?”

Kangxi was overwhelmed with sorrow. He raised his huge palm high into the air, but when he looked at his sickly son, he couldn't bring himself to strike him.

So instead, Kangxi slammed his palm down on the table, cracking it in the process.

Yinreng's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock.

No way, no way. Can you really crack a table with your hand? Wasn't that just an exaggerated effect in TV dramas?

Yinreng held Kangxi's reddened palm and blew gently on it in sympathy.

“Father, if you're unhappy but don't want to hit your son, I'll find you a punching bag. Why take it out on a table? Doesn't your hand hurt? Blow on it, blow on it. Pain, go away.”

After Yinreng blew on it, Kangxi felt both sad and happy.

He picked his son up and rubbed him. “It doesn't hurt. Don't say things like that again.”

Yinreng replied indifferently, “I'm only stating a fact. A real man shouldn't deceive himself or be afraid of facts.”

Kangxi was speechless.

He rubbed Yinreng again, and in the end managed to suppress his impulse to take his anger out on Consort Yi.

After learning what had happened, the Grand Empress Dowager also temporarily put aside the idea of reprimanding Consort Yi. She sent her some gifts and told her that the Crown Prince, out of pity for his younger brother, had forced himself to support his sick body and plead for mercy on her behalf.

This time, the people in Consort Yi's palace really made a mistake.

Kangxi had already ordered the Imperial Kitchen to shut down its stoves and relocate. Even if Consort Yi's people had already gone there, they should have followed Kangxi's decree.

The people Consort Yi sent had become arrogant because their mistress was so favored in the palace. The Imperial Kitchen, meanwhile, had become accustomed to fawning over favored consorts who were about to give birth. That was what ultimately caused this disaster.

Consort Yi lay on a bed where the smell of blood had not yet faded, her face ashen.

Only when she heard that the Crown Prince had pleaded for her did some light return to her lifeless eyes.

Then she heard that the Crown Prince had boiled the clothes and belongings he had once used in hot water and sent them to Chengqian Palace for the Fifth Prince to wear.

With the Crown Prince taking the lead, Yinzhī immediately followed, and Concubine Rong and Concubine De also showed their support.

Although the Fifth Prince had been forgotten by everyone ever since birth, Imperial Noble Consort Tong would certainly not shortchange him when it came to food, clothing, or other necessities.

It was simply a custom of the era that when a baby was born, things such as swaddling cloths and blankets had to be made from old clothing that had been thoroughly sun-dried and boiled, because that was believed to help the child survive.

Among ordinary people, relatives would collect clothes belonging to fortunate people in advance and turn them into blankets. In the palace, the Emperor or older princes might also bestow old items they had used themselves.

There was actually some scientific basis behind this practice.

Infants' skin was delicate. While dyes in ancient times were made entirely from natural substances, they still had unstable compositions that could potentially cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

After old clothes had been boiled and exposed to sunlight, they were less irritating to an infant's skin and less likely to cause allergies.

When Yinreng heard that Imperial Noble Consort Tong, wanting to demonstrate how much she cared for the child, had taken the newest and brightest silk from the storerooms, he immediately sent over his own clothes, just in case the Noble Consort accidentally killed his Fifth Brother by dressing him in unsuitable things.

Once Yinreng took the lead, the other princes immediately banded together and followed suit.

Only then did the two great powers of the imperial palace, Kangxi and the Grand Empress Dowager, finally bestow gifts on the child instead of continuing to ignore this supposedly unlucky prince.

Consort Yi finally endured the postpartum bleeding and climbed out of bed, bursting into tears before pulling herself together once more.

Lady Guo sighed, “Thank goodness there's still the kind-hearted Crown Prince in this palace.”

In a place like the imperial palace, kind people were often bullied. Many people privately sighed that the Crown Prince was too benevolent and might not live long.

But when someone extended a hand to help in a moment of utter desperation, the feeling of being pulled back from the brink of death was enough to make people want to bow down before the Crown Prince on the spot.

“Even though the Crown Prince holds such an honored position, people in the palace used to say plenty of nasty things about him,” Lady Guo said. “But now, everyone hopes that the Crown Prince stays healthy and lives a long life.”

“As long as the Crown Prince is alive, they can still see hope. When they are falsely accused or mistreated, they know there may be a lifeline somewhere that can save them.”

Consort Yi nodded tearfully.

She remembered how the consorts who had children spoke of the Crown Prince. Their faces were filled with tenderness and gratitude, as though he were their shared benefactor.

Thinking about it now, perhaps the Crown Prince really was their shared benefactor.

The Emperor could be affectionate and heartless in equal measure. Before the Crown Prince became sensible enough to understand things, many children in the palace had died, yet the Emperor remained cold and indifferent.

But after the Crown Prince became sensible, not only did the palace children survive one after another, but there were also no longer stories of favored people becoming arrogant or neglected people being abused.

Consort Yi remembered the small but incredibly reliable figure of the Crown Prince when smallpox had broken out in the palace, and couldn't help murmuring several prayers to Buddha.

“Can Fifth Prince ever return to me?” she asked tearfully after finishing her prayers. “If I regain the Emperor's favor, can I take Fifth Prince back?”

Lady Guo replied coldly, “The Fifth Prince has already been branded as unlucky. If you still want to regain favor, don't think about taking him back. You should regain the Emperor's favor as quickly as possible and become even more favored than before. That way, you can protect Fifth Prince. The palace is only so big. Even if he's not raised at your side, you can still visit him whenever you want.”

Consort Yi knew rationally that Lady Guo was right, but she still couldn't help feeling devastated.

Lady Guo ignored the unpleasant postpartum smell clinging to Consort Yi and gently held her younger sister in her arms, patting her comfortingly.

This was simply how difficult life was for women in the inner palace. After this blow, perhaps her younger sister would finally grow up.

At the very least, she should bury her vague, illusory love for the Emperor deep in her heart and stop touching it.

Love can cloud a person's judgment. And once a person's judgment is clouded, life becomes much harder.

When Lady Guo returned to her own residence, the wet nurse of the princess told her that Concubine Xuan had sent over another batch of books.

Lady Guo flipped through them and smiled while shaking her head.

Concubine Xuan wasn't really sending her books. She was tactfully telling her that she should find some time to come and read to her.

Concubine Xuan could speak reasonably well, but when it came to reading and writing, she stumbled badly over both Chinese and Manchu. Most of the books suitable for imperial princesses sent by the Crown Prince and First Prince were written in Chinese, and Concubine Xuan found them utterly overwhelming.

So she invited every consort who had a daughter to gather together and hold a reading club, ostensibly to educate the princesses, but in reality so that she could study herself.

With Concubine Xuan taking the lead, the consorts who had daughters began gathering together. Their days became much livelier, and they increasingly had something to look forward to.

Lady Guo walked over to her daughter's cradle and gently rocked it.

My daughter, when you grow up, you must remember to thank His Highness the Crown Prince.

The idea that princesses should be educated in the same way as princes was something the Crown Prince had proposed to the Emperor. The introductory books for the princesses were also adapted by the Crown Prince and First Prince from the books originally used to educate the imperial princes.

Some of these books even still contained the childish notes written by the Crown Prince and First Prince, along with the Emperor's own annotations.

Lady Guo looked toward the direction of Qianqing Palace, then went to the small Buddhist shrine to pray for the Crown Prince.

May the Crown Prince recover as soon as possible.

The matter of Fifth Prince and the fire at the Imperial Kitchen was temporarily put to rest.

Kangxi ordered people to repaint the walls and make repairs as quickly as possible. They worked day and night, and the New Year's Day banquet was successfully held.

When the officials went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they couldn't help glancing toward the burned-out Imperial Kitchen.

The Imperial Kitchen right next to the Hall of Supreme Harmony caught fire, yet the Hall of Supreme Harmony itself was completely unharmed?

Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor really was blessed by his ancestors and protected by the gods?

Illness comes like a landslide and leaves like silk being slowly pulled from a cocoon, especially for a child like Yinreng, whose constitution had not yet fully recovered.

Kangxi recovered from his cold in only seven or eight days, and Yinzhī was back to his energetic self after half a month. Only Yinreng was still coughing.

As Crown Prince, he had to attend the New Year's Day banquet.

Kangxi wrapped Yinreng up like a giant fluffy ball: a fur-lined cape, a fur-lined hat, and even his pale little face was buried completely in fluff until no one could tell what he actually looked like.

Yinzhī stared thoughtfully at his furry little brother, then suggested to Kangxi that they could simply wrap Yinreng in an entire tiger skin, hollow out the tiger's head, and use it as a hat. Then the Crown Prince would become a little tiger!

Oh, hell no!

Kangxi kicked Yinzhī in the butt, and Yinzhī covered his backside and ran away.

But Kangxi's gaze toward Yinreng suddenly became a little dangerous.

“Perhaps Baoqing's suggestion isn't bad.”

Yinreng coughed weakly.

“Father, why don't you have the palace maids sew me some little animal clothes? They'd look much better than just wearing animal fur.”

Kangxi said awkwardly, “I thought you'd object.”

Yinreng answered seriously, “Actually, I kind of want to wear little animal clothes.”

If he started the trend, then he could later dress his younger brothers in little animal outfits too. He was willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of playing with his brothers more effectively.

Yinreng's shamelessness had been thoroughly tempered by modern life. He wasn't afraid of little animal outfits at all.

Kangxi said, “We'll talk about it later.”

But in his mind, he was already thinking about what kind of animal costume to make for Yinreng.

As for the Crown Prince's dignity... his own son was already so sickly. Forcing himself to maintain an imposing demeanor wouldn't accomplish much anyway.

When the banquet began, every official who came forward to toast could see the furry little bundle sitting beside Kangxi.

This Crown Prince... wasn't he a little too adorable?

Kangxi would say a few words, drink a little wine, eat a little food, then grab his sickly, fluffy son and rub him a couple of times. He seemed wonderfully soft to the touch.

Prince Yu, Fuquan, hurried forward with a wine cup.

“Your Majesty, shall I take the Crown Prince to meet some of the imperial clan?”

Kangxi reflexively hugged his fluffy son closer.

“No. Baocheng is ill. What if they frighten him?”

Fuquan replied, “If the Crown Prince doesn't go, they'll have even more to say. Rest assured, Your Majesty. I'll hold the Crown Prince the whole time. I won't let anyone frighten him. Changning has also become much more well-behaved.”

Kangxi narrowed his eyes.

“You just want to hold Baocheng, don't you?”

Fuquan said, “Your Majesty, you're wronging me. I absolutely did not think of that.”

Yeah, right.

Kangxi snorted and reluctantly handed the fluffy bundle in his arms to Fuquan.

“Baocheng, if anyone gives you trouble, remember their names. Father will settle the score for you afterward.”

Fuquan immediately said, “I'll remember them. Don't worry, Your Majesty.”

Yinreng raised his little paw, covered in a fluffy mitten, and waved it around. Kangxi immediately wanted to snatch his adorable son back.

Fuquan scooped up the fluffy bundle and tucked Yinreng securely into his arms, then hurried away at a trot, looking like a kidnapper running off with someone else's child.

Kangxi's outstretched hand froze in midair.

He laughed and cursed, “And he still says he doesn't want to steal my son!”

Kangxi shook his head and began looking through the crowd for his brother-in-law to drink with him.

Changtai noticed Kangxi's gaze and slowly moved behind Songgotu.

Songgotu asked, “What are you doing?”

Changtai whispered repeatedly, “The Emperor can't see me. The Emperor can't see me.”

Songgotu: “???” What's wrong with this nephew of mine?!

“Come on. Let's go toast the Emperor!” Songgotu grabbed Changtai and tried to drag him toward Kangxi.

Changtai said, “No, no. I want to go see the Crown Prince.”

Songgotu immediately released him, his eyes lighting up.

“Where's the Crown Prince?!”

He hadn't looked up earlier and hadn't noticed that Fuquan had already snatched the fluffy Crown Prince away.

Following Changtai's gaze, Songgotu spotted the little Crown Prince among the imperial clansmen and immediately wanted to rush over.

This time, Changtai stopped him.

“Prince Yu is currently showing the Crown Prince around and helping him get acquainted with the imperial relatives. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to go over. We'll intercept them when Prince Yu is about to return.”

Songgotu nodded vigorously, looking determined.

His arch-rival, Mingzhu, let out a derisive “tsk.”

Songgotu didn't even spare Mingzhu a glance.

Mingzhu: “...”

Mingzhu: “Tsk.”

Songgotu continued staring longingly at the Crown Prince, who was now basically nothing but a mass of fur-covered clothing.

Mingzhu: “Tsk! Tsk!”

Tong Guogang gently tapped his bowl.

“Lord Mingzhu, are you sneezing? Don't sneeze toward the food. I haven't finished eating yet.”

Mingzhu: “...I caught a bit of a chill.”

Damn you, Songgotu! Are you looking down on me? You actually ignored me!

Mingzhu seethed inwardly, already plotting how to trip Songgotu up.

On the imperial clan members' side.

Although they didn't like the Crown Prince, when he came over to toast them, they still put on the “wolf-grandma” smiles that Yinreng had once described to Kangxi.

They praised him endlessly, but the problem was that their praise was full of sarcasm.

For example, they praised the Crown Prince for being strong, healthy, heroic, and possessing Manchu-Mongol bearing...

All good words in themselves, but when directed at a Crown Prince who was currently sick, they were obviously not compliments at all.

While praising the Crown Prince, they tried to push Changning forward as their spearhead, hoping he would charge into battle for them and absorb any anger Kangxi might unleash later.

But who would have expected that Changning, who had previously reacted to any mention of the Crown Prince as if he were seeing a sworn enemy, would simply keep drinking in silence and completely ignore their signals?

Since the earthquake, Changning had become much quieter and stopped jumping around to cause trouble.

Apparently, he had caused some serious trouble, and the Emperor had nearly sent him to guard the imperial tombs. That was supposedly why he had been behaving himself.

But with Changning's brainless and dog-like temperament, surely his period of quiet obedience should have ended by now?

Under the increasingly frantic signals from everyone around him, to the point that their eyes were twitching, Changning finally spoke.

“How are you still so weak?”

Yinreng answered honestly, “I was almost recovered, but a lot of people in the palace caught colds, so I caught one too.”

Changning frowned.

“Didn't the Emperor separate you from the people who were sick?”

Yinreng replied, “Khan-Father caught a cold too.”

“Then send you to the Grand Empress Dowager's palace.”

“Father and I caught our colds at the same time, so we're recovering together.”

Changning frowned even more.

“How could the Emperor raise you so roughly?”

After saying that, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, picked Yinreng up, and patted him.

“Don't always endure things silently. If something feels wrong, say so.”

Yinreng nodded, “Okay. Thank you, Uncle.”

Changning smiled, handed the fluffy bundle back to Fuquan, and continued drinking in silence.

Fuquan left with Yinreng in his arms, smiling, leaving behind a group of completely bewildered imperial clansmen.

Prince Ping Luokedu* said with a half-smile, “Prince Gong seems to have quite a good relationship with the Crown Prince?”

Changning answered expressionlessly, “Mm.”

Luokedu: “...”

You actually admitted it?!

Prince Ping Luokedu and the other imperial clansmen exchanged glances, feeling somewhat alarmed.

Did their pawn somehow awaken?

With Changning's intelligence, that shouldn't be possible!

Prince Ping Luokedu was Nersu's* grandfather, whom Yinreng had beaten in his first life. He belonged to the line of Daišan*, Prince Li, and held the hereditary iron-cap rank of Prince Ping, a commandery prince whose title could not be reduced.

Daišan supported Hong Taiji, and then Shunzhi in claiming the throne. The Prince Li lineage had long been accustomed to imperial clansmen choosing the next Emperor.

Then came Shunzhi, who had unexpectedly issued an edict selecting the next Emperor himself, which had made them quite unhappy.

And Kangxi was even worse and directly established a Crown Prince. This was practically rubbing the imperial clan's face into the dirt.

But Kangxi was young, powerful, and difficult to manipulate. They could only endure for now and wait until he grew old, then join forces with the other imperial clansmen to cause trouble.

Before then, they would push forward Kangxi's own younger brother to stir things up.

So why did Changning suddenly switch sides?

Prince Ping Luokedu was extremely displeased.

If they were talking about succession by the legitimate eldest son, how could Hong Taiji's line inherit the throne at all? Their ancestor Daišan should have inherited it.

Their ancestors had lost the throne because of the ancestral rules, and now the Hong Taiji line, which had benefited from those very rules, wanted to overturn them.

Did they really think those who had suffered because of those rules would agree?

Hmph.

“What kind of spell did that little Crown Prince put on you?” an elderly imperial clansman said bluntly. “He's sickly and foolish-looking. How could you possibly like him?”

Even though they were in the middle of an imperial banquet, he dared to speak this way.

The Eight Banners armies were in their hands, so even if Kangxi heard him, he wouldn't dare do much.

Changning's wine cup paused, “Foolish?”

He glanced at the man and continued drinking.

“I don't speak to blind people.”

The clansman was about to explode, but Prince Ping Luokedu restrained him.

“All right. If you've been drinking, say less. How could the Crown Prince personally raised by the Emperor possibly be foolish? He's simply weak physically and doesn't look much like us Manchus. Right, Prince Gong?”

Changning answered sullenly, “Wrong.”

Prince Ping Luokedu: “...”

What had gotten into this man? Something was seriously wrong!

Changning sighed, “Forget it. You wouldn't understand even if I explained.”

He ignored the others and continued drinking in silence.

After experiencing the incident where his Khan-Father had possessed his Crown Prince nephew and descended from Eternal Heaven in fury to teach his sons a lesson, Changning's state of mind was completely changed.

When Changning was taking notes in the tent, he heard Shunzhi say things that sounded like heavenly scripture and was deeply shaken.

Does being Emperor really require knowing this much?

Is governing a country really this difficult?

Are the relationships between those court officials and imperial clansmen really this complicated?

So the Great Qing's ambitions aren't limited to the Central Plains?

Shunzhi's ideals had left him dizzy.

Changning had tried to study the recorded notes, but no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't understand them.

Am I really this stupid? Why can my five-year-old nephew understand all of this, but I can't?

Changning glanced at the imperial clansmen sitting beside him.

Inside the tent, Shunzhi had sorted out the imperial clan's connections and ambitions with absolute clarity. Changning had all of it poured into his head, and even now, looking at these people, his mind was still numb. He couldn't make head or tail of them.

The only thing he understood was that these people were using him as a weapon to test Kangxi.

After all, as Kangxi's own younger brother, even if he went too far, the worst that could happen was being sent to guard the imperial tombs.

Heh.

Changning mocked himself inwardly.

I'm brainless and cowardly. No matter how much I try to court disaster, I can't truly create an enormous disaster. Being stripped of my title and placed under house arrest? Impossible.

At most, I'd be sent to guard the imperial tombs.

If I did end up guarding the tombs, would Khan-Father appear in my dreams and beat me up?

No. Khan-Father would probably be too lazy to bother with a stupid son like me.

Khan-Father doesn't even remember my name!!

Changning took another gulp of wine, treating the imperial clansmen's words like they were nothing but background noise.

No one can wake a person who has completely shut himself off. No one!

Prince Gong was putting on a live demonstration of what it meant to withdraw into oneself, and the other imperial clansmen were completely helpless.

Fuquan watched everything unfold and patted the fluffy Crown Prince in his arms.

“Don't be afraid. Once we go back, I'll report them to the Emperor.”

These people were far too arrogant, relying on the military power in their hands. Once the Three Feudatories were pacified, let's see how the Emperor dealt with them!

Yinreng yawned and nodded gently.

He couldn't be bothered to argue with these people.

Basically, all of these imperial clansmen would die young anyway. The imperial clansmen who would later participate in the struggle over the succession would be their descendants.

Those little brats had already been fooled by him into making up mythological stories for his Father.

For example, the current heir of Prince Ping Luokedu, fourteen- or fifteen-year-old Nartu*, was already winking at Yinreng and desperately trying to demonstrate his loyalty.

Yinreng touched his own chin, which had no flesh on it.

If Nartu was Nersu's uncle, and Nartu didn't die, then Nersu's father wouldn't inherit the title of Prince Ping.

If Nersu's father didn't inherit the title, then Nersu couldn't become the heir. He'd only be some powerless member of the imperial clan wearing a red sash.

Yay! The great grudge from first life had been avenged so easily!

Yinreng really wanted to see whether Nersu would still dare provoke him without the status of heir to Prince Ping.

Petty-minded Yinreng had already written the names of future enemies into his little notebook. The moment these people were born, he would leave the palace and record all their embarrassing deeds.

After meeting the imperial clansmen, Fuquan prepared to carry Yinreng back, but Songgotu stopped them.

Looking at Songgotu's yearning expression, Yinreng ultimately couldn't bear to refuse him, so he reached out his hands.

“Grand-Uncle, would you take me to meet your friends?”

Songgotu QAQ: “Yes, Your Highness!”

Fuquan suppressed a laugh and handed the Crown Prince over to Songgotu, “I'm coming along too.”

Songgotu awkwardly held the fluffy Crown Prince in his arms.

The soft, fluffy, warm, sweet-smelling little Crown Prince was now nestled against him.

Songgotu nearly lost control and buried his face in the little Crown Prince's furry hat.

At that moment, Songgotu's understanding reached a whole new level.

He finally understood what his elder brother Gabula said.

The rise and fall of the entire Hesheri family was tied to the Crown Prince. If they wanted the Crown Prince to prosper, the Hesheri family would rather remain mediocre than become ostentatious.

Even the wealth and glory other officials were permitted to enjoy should be somewhat restrained by the Hesheri family until the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

There was no need to show off. Good things could simply be kept at home and enjoyed privately.

Songgotu had originally thought that this was terribly frustrating.

But the moment he held the Crown Prince in his arms, he suddenly realized that as long as the Crown Prince was willing to be close to him, gold and silver treasures couldn't be eaten and couldn't all be worn on one's body anyway.

So what did it matter if he couldn't show them off? Even if they had nothing, it wasn't a big deal.

Whatever the Crown Prince liked, he would like too!

At that moment, Songgotu completely transformed into a doting grandfather.

As for why Songgotu valued the Crown Prince so highly, it was probably simply a matter of chemistry.

Love at first sight, but in the familial sense?

Lying in Songgotu's arms, Yinreng pondered this.

Hmm.

His grand-uncle had been exactly the same in his first life.

The moment he'd first seen Yinreng, he'd wanted to give him the very best of everything.

Yinreng tightened his arms and rested his head gently against Songgotu's shoulder.

Songgotu was still a fat man at this point, clearly someone who loved eating and could eat a lot.

Wouldn't someone who loved food this much suffer terribly if he were literally starved to death?

He heard that starvation was one of the most painful ways to die.

He wondered whether dying of starvation or being executed by lingchi* was more painful.

Yinreng tightened his arms again.

Songgotu immediately sensed that Yinreng was unhappy and asked softly, “Are you tired, Your Highness? Shall I take you back to His Majesty?”

Yinreng shook his head, “Since we're already here, they're all staring at me.”

Songgotu glanced at the various colleagues curiously observing the fluffy Crown Prince and pressed Yinreng's head farther into his chest.

Fuquan almost couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Songgotu's gesture reminded him of Kangxi.

“Where's Changtai?” Songgotu knew that Changtai was also familiar with Yinreng and wanted to hand the Crown Prince over to him so Yinreng could relax a little. But he looked around for a long time and couldn't find him.

“The Emperor summoned him,” one official said sourly. “When the eunuch came, he even called him ‘Imperial Uncle.’”

Yinreng poked his head out of Songgotu's arms, “Imperial Uncle? What did Uncle do to make Khan-Father angry?”

Songgotu was puzzled, “Angry?”

Yinreng nodded, “Uncle once told Khan-Father that he wanted to make a name for himself through his own abilities, and Khan-Father agreed. So Khan-Father only make his people call Uncle as ‘Imperial Uncle’ when he's angry.”

Yinreng paused, then said helplessly, “He actually called Uncle ‘Imperial Uncle’ in front of everyone. Khan-Father must be extremely angry. What did Uncle do? He's so far away that it's not like he could have made Khan-Father angry from here.”

The officials looked at one another.

Is that really what it means?!

They had thought this was an evidence that Changtai was highly valued by the Emperor. But it actually meant the Emperor was angry?

They remembered Changtai's helpless and bitter smile.

So that bitter smile wasn't because he didn't want to show off. It was because he knew the Emperor was angry?

The Emperor's heart was truly impossible to fathom!

Songgotu was also extremely shocked.

He had followed the young Emperor all the way to the present day, and boasted that he was very accurate in guessing the Emperor's intentions. Yet both his elder brother and the Crown Prince had told him that he didn't understand the Emperor's heart.

So it turned out he really didn't!

He couldn't understand why calling someone “Imperial Uncle” meant the Emperor was angry, nor could he understand why the Emperor would call someone “Imperial Uncle” when angry.

Wasn't that an affectionate term?!

Songgotu looked toward his old rival, Mingzhu.

Mingzhu: “???” Why are you looking at me?

Songgotu humbly asked for advice, “I don't understand this. Mingzhu, do you?”

Mingzhu: “???” Why are you asking me?!

Yinreng asked, “The friend Grand-Uncle wanted to introduce is Lord Mingzhu? Are you and Lord Mingzhu already friends?”

Mingzhu: “...”

The assembled officials: “...”

Songgotu glanced at Mingzhu's utterly terrible expression and nodded.

“Yes. That's right.”

Songgotu's firm declaration was like a cannonball that dropped into the hearts of all the officials, leaving everyone shaken to their core.

A little eunuch listening nearby later carried the story to Kangxi.

Kangxi laughed loudly at Changtai, whom he was forcing to drink.

“What happened to Songgotu? When did he become friends with Mingzhu? Why didn't I know?”

Changtai pressed his aching temples and drank his third pot of wine.

Kangxi noticed the movement and realized that Changtai didn't want to come up and drink with him, so he immediately had people drag him over.

Didn't want to drink with me? Then be punished by drinking wine!

After finishing the third pot, Changtai still had three more to go.

Kangxi said that he had already prepared a sedan chair and an imperial physician. Once Changtai passed out drunk, he would simply have people carry him home.

Changtai smiled bitterly. Apparently, he wasn't getting out of this without getting drunk.

“Uncle is deliberately annoying Mingzhu,” Changtai said, rubbing his temples. His mind was still fairly clear. “Whenever he's facing Mingzhu, he likes to insult him even when it gains him nothing. If you compare it to fighting, it's like he enjoys smashing his own head against Mingzhu's head.”

Kangxi laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.

“That's vivid. Very vivid. Changtai, why don't you try taking the imperial examinations? I think you have quite a talent for this.”

Changtai replied, “Very well. I'll resign immediately and study behind closed doors.”

“Get lost. Don't even think about it. I'm short-handed right now.”

Kangxi had the wine pots removed and brought over hangover soup instead.

He was only joking with Changtai, and he didn't actually intend to humiliate him at the New Year's banquet.

Changtai said, “Your Majesty, please hurry and find someone to replace me. I'm anxious to go home and attend to my sick parents. Changhai is clumsy, and I can't stop worrying about him.”

Kangxi waved his hand dismissively, “Yes, yes, I know you're filial. I'll find you an assistant after the New Year.”

Changtai rubbed his forehead.

Did “find an assistant” actually mean the Emperor wasn't willing to let him leave?

Fine. He'll just find another excuse later.

“The palace is currently under repair right now, and there's dust everywhere. It's not good for Baocheng's recovery. During the first month of the year, I'm thinking of sending Baocheng to your house to recuperate.”

Kangxi finally began discussing serious matters.

Changtai thought for a moment and said, “I would really like to invite His Highness the Crown Prince to stay at my home, but both my father and mother are ill. Although I don't believe in such superstitions, the Crown Prince's health is important, and we can't be too careful. My residence truly isn't the best place for His Highness to recover.”

Kangxi sighed, “I know. But I don't trust anyone else. Surely we can't send him to Songgotu's house? I'm afraid Songgotu will corrupt Baocheng.”

Changtai said, “With the Crown Prince's intelligence, Songgotu can't corrupt him. But I also don't recommend sending him to my uncle's house. Several of my cousins are rather foolish, and they've finally learned to behave themselves. If the Crown Prince goes there, they'll think they have a powerful backer and would probably return to their old ways. Why doesn't Your Majesty choose Prince Yu?”

Kangxi replied, “Prince Yu's children have been dying one after another. That place is unlucky.”

Changtai was speechless. Your Majesty, your words really strike a nerve.

Kangxi drank half a cup of wine and continued sighing.

“A trusted bondservant? If his status is too low, I don't like it. The other imperial clansmen don't treat the Crown Prince well. Among the younger generation of the Tong family, there are too many rascals. There are sick people in your household, and we obviously can't send him to Mingzhu's home.”

Changtai said, “Actually, Mingzhu's home would be quite suitable. Nalan Xingde is extremely good to the Crown Prince, and Mingzhu's wife is also an imperial clanswoman. Mingzhu himself favors the imperial clansmen and nobles, but his wife and son both treat the Crown Prince well. Aside from being too stubborn to go home himself, there's actually very little he can do. If Your Majesty is worried, send First Prince with the Crown Prince. First Prince conducts himself properly and can take good care of the Crown Prince.”

Kangxi looked incredulous, “Baoqing conducts himself properly?”

Changtai nodded, “First Prince conducts himself properly.”

Kangxi asked very seriously, “In what way does he conduct himself properly?”

Changtai explained, “First Prince hates evil as much as he hates his enemies.”

Kangxi continued, “...And exactly how does he ‘hate evil as much as his enemies’?”

Changtai blinked but said nothing.

Kangxi rubbed his forehead and sighed, “I'll think about it again. Come, let's drink!”

Changtai replied dejectedly, “Your Majesty, you just said I didn't have to drink anymore.”

Kangxi slapped the table, “You don't have to drink punishment wine anymore. This is a toast!”

Changtai: “...” I'll endure it!

Changtai wasn't literally carried home, but it was hardly much different. Getting drunk at the New Year's banquet made Changtai the laughingstock of everyone.

But soon their attention shifted away from him.

Kangxi issued an edict, stating that since the reconstruction of the palace was not yet complete and the Crown Prince was still young, it was inconvenient for him to spend the New Year in the palace, so he would temporarily be sent to Nalan Mingzhu's home to recuperate.

Oh, the First Prince and Third Prince would be going with him. Only the Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince were still too young to leave the palace.

For a time, Mingzhu became the most talked-about and envied man in the capital, practically the most fortunate person in the entire city.

Songgotu cried until his collar was soaked.

Your Majesty! Why won't you let the Crown Prince spend the first month of the year at my residence?!

Haven't I done enough?! I'll go home right now and beat up my younger brother and son!

After receiving the edict, Mingzhu was dumbfounded.

He looked at his eldest son, Nalan Xingde, who was the Crown Prince's trusted courtier.

“Rongruo, do you know why this happened?”

Nalan Xingde suppressed a laugh, “Father, don't worry. There's no special reason. His Majesty is simply trying to help His Highness the Crown Prince recover by changing his surroundings. It's just like when First Prince and Third Prince were sent out of the palace to be raised.”

Mingzhu asked, “Then why our house?”

Nalan Xingde replied, “His Majesty doesn't trust the imperial clansmen. Prince Yu has sick people in his household. Prince Gong isn't really reliable. Moreover, Mother is Lady Jueluo, and I'm one of the Crown Prince's trusted people. Naturally, he chose our family.”

Nalan Xingde emphasized, “Father, don't read too much into it. The Crown Prince and First Prince are staying at your son's home temporarily. It actually has nothing to do with you.”

Mingzhu: “...” My hands are itching, really itching. I really want to beat this son.

Lady Jueluo coughed lightly.

Mingzhu awkwardly lowered his raised hand, “Fine, fine. You're now an even more important confidant of the Emperor and the Crown Prince than your own father. Hmph!”

Nalan Xingde said, “Another reason His Majesty chose our family is because Mother and Father have such a harmonious marriage and there are no troublesome matters in the inner household.”

Mingzhu stroked his beard, “That is true. Rongruo, when are you going to marry again? You only have one concubine without a formal status beside you right now. Your father can find someone for you... Hey! Don't run!”

Nalan Xingde turned and ran for his life, with Mingzhu chasing furiously after him.

Lady Jueluo covered her forehead and smiled helplessly.

These two father and son...