In daily life, apart from his full brothers the Fifth Prince and Ninth Prince, the other imperial princes also showed kindness toward the young Eleventh Prince. On Yinzi’s sixth birthday, the Fourth Prince brought him a fluffy little rabbit from the palace’s pet quarters and even personally designed several tiny outfits as gifts for his youngest brother.
Just as Yinzi appeared—fair, soft, sweet, and innocent—he was like a rare, untainted sprout growing in the murky waters of the imperial court. It was truly extraordinary for someone raised in such a scheming environment to remain so pure-hearted.
But after the truth behind the assassination attempt came to light, the way his elder brothers looked at Yinzi changed entirely.
They say appearances can be deceiving—who would have thought the Eleventh Prince could defeat a would-be assassin with nothing but a pouch of chili powder?
At first, his brothers were both furious and heartbroken, showering him with concern. Some volunteered to hunt down Longkodo, while others secretly vowed to eradicate the remnants of the Tiandihui to avenge their little brother.
Then, rumors spread like wildfire. No one knew who started them, but the claims were so vivid it was as if they had witnessed it themselves: Longkodo, the traitor, had gravely underestimated the Eleventh Prince.
It was said that Yinzi possessed piercing eyes that could distinguish loyalty from treachery—one glare from him could make assassins collapse in droves. The chili powder was merely a personal preference, carried for convenience, as he couldn’t bear to look upon their filthy gazes.
Even Yinzi, dense as he was, gradually noticed the deep reverence in the eyes of the palace servants around him.
One day, while walking through the palace corridors, he spotted a eunuch behaving suspiciously. Puzzled, Yinzi merely widened his eyes slightly in curiosity—only for the eunuch to drop to his knees, kowtowing desperately while clutching a bundle.
"Spare this lowly one, Eleventh Prince! I was blinded by greed and stole my mistress’s golden hairpin to sell! I beg for mercy!"
Yinzi: "…"
With this incident fueling the rumors, even the Ninth Prince grew contemplative. During a meal, he stared intently at his youngest brother’s eyes before nudging the Tenth Prince and whispering worriedly, "I know our little brother is sharp, but there’s a saying—'too much wisdom brings sorrow.' Could it be that in his past life, he saw too deeply into human hearts and couldn’t bear the filth of this world, so the heavens sought to take him back?"
The Tenth Prince initially wanted to argue, but the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. From then on, he treated Yinzi with utmost caution, even altering his usual speech.
For example, where he once would have said, "Why bother with books? Come, Tenth Brother will take you to catch crickets!"
Now, he declared, "Reading is wonderful! The classics are endlessly enriching—Tenth Brother loves them too. Let’s study together!"
He was practically bending over backward to avoid being deemed "filthy" and getting chili powder thrown in his eyes, nearly slipping into addressing Yinzi with honorifics.
Utterly baffled, Yinzi soon found himself at the center of a gift-giving frenzy in the palace.
It began when the Crown Prince acquired two imperial chefs renowned for their Sichuan and Hunan cuisine and promptly assigned them to the kitchens of the Eleventh Prince’s residence. Not to be outdone, the Eldest Prince ordered a cartload of chili peppers ground into powder, packed into dozens of embroidered pouches, and presented to Yinzi—"one for seasoning, one for fun."
With the elder brothers setting the trend, the younger ones followed suit. The Third Prince painted a "Bountiful Chili Harvest," the Fourth Prince gifted a jade chili carving, and soon came a chili-patterned folding screen, a chili-shaped pillow…
Finally, Yinzi could take no more. Tearfully, he sought out his father, Kangxi, and his mother, Noble Consort Yi, sniffling, "I’ve changed my mind—hic—I don’t like chili anymore."
Yunxiu struggled to suppress her laughter, but Kangxi was heartbroken. While he could overlook the others’ antics, the Eldest Prince had gone too far. He summoned him for a harsh reprimand and forced him to eat a "Red Pill"—a dish invented by Noble Consort Yi.
Unable to defy the emperor’s order, the Eldest Prince took a cautious bite. An indescribable sensation shot from his soles to his scalp, his face turning a spectacular shade of red and green.
"Hssss— Your Majesty, this—!"
His ordeal didn’t end there. The task of dispelling the rumors now fell squarely on his shoulders.
Returning to his residence, the Eldest Princess Consort took one look at his dazed expression and scoffed, "Gifting without consulting me? A whole cartload, no less! Why not keep it for yourself—sprinkle it on your rice or bathe in it!"
With that, she flung the curtain aside and stormed into the inner chambers.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince remarked to his consort, Jingchu, "With him like this, it’s no wonder Father assigned him to the vanguard for the upcoming campaign against Galdan, under Uncle Prince Yu’s supervision." If he wasn’t captured alive, it’d be a miracle.
Jingchu replied gently, "The Eldest Prince excels in martial arts. It’s only natural for His Majesty to place expectations on him."
Having extinguished his ambitions for the throne, Kangxi could now employ him freely, even entrusting him with long-withheld trust—a blessing in disguise.
Softening her tone further, she added, "Didn’t you also consider gifting chili powder? Though you lacked the audacity to buy a cartload. Had I not stopped you, you’d be the one reprimanded today."
The Crown Prince coughed and fell silent.
As the rebellion case drew to a close, Longkodo was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, Suo Etu and several Tiandihui remnants were slated for execution after autumn, and accomplices like Geerfen shared their fate.
Male family members were exiled to Ningguta, while officials linked to Suo Etu faced demotions or imprisonment. The once-mighty Suo faction, which had rivaled Mingzhu’s influence, dissolved entirely, and the most illustrious branch of the Hesheli clan vanished overnight.
Despite the political upheaval, the Crown Prince remained untouched. Courtiers quietly noted that Kangxi’s trust in him seemed unshaken, easing the worries of loyalists who believed stability hinged on the heir’s security.
Some, like Mingzhu, still harbored hopes for the Eldest Prince, sensing the Crown Prince’s perceived vulnerability. Though the heir had married and participated in governance, he was never seen cultivating close ties with powerful ministers. Beyond assisting with the Six Ministries and handling imperial assignments, he spent his free time in Yuqing Palace or with his younger brothers. His only real "faction" was the Crown Prince’s household office, staffed by scholars and low-ranking officials—hardly a threat.
But before they could act, Kangxi assigned scions of prominent families—Manchu bannermen like the Fucha, Niugulu, and even Nara clans, alongside Han officials—to serve alongside the Crown Prince, ostensibly for "training."
The message was unmistakable. Mingzhu nearly choked on his own fury. How could they contend now?
It was both a warning and a lifeline for the Nara family. Persist in defiance, and they’d meet Suo Etu’s fate.
Resentful yet resigned, Mingzhu sighed deeply, grudgingly acknowledging Kangxi’s mercy. Recently granted a sinecure after a long idle period, he gazed toward the palace and admitted, "Observing the Crown Prince’s conduct… he has mastered the balance of being an heir. He surpasses even His Majesty. The Eldest Prince pales in comparison."
Soon after, urgent reports arrived that the leader of the Dzungar Khanate in the western deserts had grown increasingly audacious, launching an attack and obliterating a small tribe under the imperial court's protection. Chaos had already begun to brew along the northwestern border, and the dispatch of the imperial army was imminent.
At this critical moment, the Emperor proposed leading the expedition himself, personally commanding the central forces to crush Galdan, while leaving the Crown Prince to oversee state affairs in the capital.
Both the imperial court and the inner palace were thrown into an uproar. Since ancient times, it was said that the Son of Heaven should not risk himself by venturing into danger. Yet, given Kangxi's formidable authority, the memorials of admonition, though as numerous as snowflakes, were all couched in the most cautious and indirect language.
In the inner palace, the imperial consorts, led by Consort Rong, sought an audience with the Grand Empress Dowager in Cining Palace and the Empress Dowager in Ningshou Palace. The Empress Dowager had always remained aloof from political matters, while the Grand Empress Dowager, advanced in years, grew weary after hearing only a few words. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them, saying merely, "This old one has taken note."
Left with no recourse, the consorts could only bow and withdraw.
The Grand Empress Dowager had never been able to sway the Emperor. Back during the dispute over the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, when the Emperor alone insisted on their suppression, she had ultimately relented. If she had yielded to his youthful vigor then, there was even less reason for her to oppose him now. Exchanging glances, the consorts made their way together to Yikun Palace.
There had been no morning greetings that day, and Yunxiu was still deep in slumber when a flurry of disruptive announcements disturbed her rest. Lifting her eyelids slightly, she frowned and said, "Tell them truthfully that this consort has not yet risen and will not receive visitors."
Ruizhu whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Rong is also here."
Consort Rong, who lived a reclusive life devoted to Buddhist practices, had never been one to meddle in worldly affairs. Yunxiu narrowed her eyes, instantly awake.
Ah, yes. The Third Prince was still of an age to study in the imperial study and, by convention, too young to join the military expedition. If the Emperor were to lead the campaign in person, the valor of the Eldest Prince would surely catch his eye, while the toil of the Crown Prince in governing the capital would earn his gratitude. But as for her own Yin Zhi—there would be no advantage for him at all.
Her heart grew unsettled, her composure slipping.
She smiled faintly. "Prepare my toilette and attire."
By the time a cup of tea had cooled after being reheated, Noble Consort Yi finally made her belated appearance.
While Concubine An and the others grew restless, Consort Rong showed not the slightest trace of impatience. With gentle courtesy, she said, "This humble consort pays her respects to Noble Consort Yi."
"No need for formalities. I rose late," Yunxiu replied with equal warmth, exchanging a few pleasantries before asking, "What matter brings you to seek an audience with this consort?"
In a soft voice, Consort Rong recounted the matter of the Emperor's personal expedition in full. "At present, only Your Highness holds the influence to persuade the Emperor. This humble consort ventures to implore Your Highness—"
Before she could finish, Yunxiu raised a brow and cut her off.
"This consort has never involved herself in state affairs. You may as well seek an audience with the Emperor at Qianqing Palace yourself. And if anyone dares to rebuke this consort for meddling in governance, will you step forward to defend me?"
