Yunxiu spoke slowly, her tone as gentle as could be, yet the meaning behind her words struck the Crown Prince’s heart like a thunderbolt, each syllable resonating deeply.
Hearing this, the Crown Prince halted in his steps, his eyes widening gradually as an expression of disbelief and astonishment—rare for a ten-year-old—flashed across his face, making him look vividly alive.
Consort Yi—no, Mother Yi—was actually willing to guide him, and without the slightest reservation, she had spoken such heartfelt words!
Burying his shock and gratitude deep in his heart, the Crown Prince carefully committed Yunxiu’s advice to memory. Then, a hint of joy surfaced on his youthful yet already refined features before he sank into contemplation.
……
First, he would perfect the act of "brotherly affection" for the Emperor to see, ensuring no one could find fault.
A little suffering now was nothing. In the future, even if he felt uncomfortable, Yinti would feel even worse—so he wouldn’t lose out in the end.
Second, he would set aside the pride of being the heir apparent and fully embrace "fraternal harmony," yielding to Yinti again and again.
Over time, this would lead to one of two outcomes—either Yinti would grow overconfident, his ambitions spiraling out of control, or he would lose his composure and strike first, provoked by the Crown Prince’s attitude.
This way, the Crown Prince would remain flawless, free of blame, while all accusations and reproaches would fall upon Yinti!
More importantly, a clever man shouldn’t always rely on strength. He must seize the right moment to reveal his true feelings and confide his grievances to the Emperor.
At this thought, the little Crown Prince’s solemn face flushed slightly.
When he was three and recovering from smallpox, he had suddenly matured, unconsciously emulating the Emperor’s dignified manner—so he hadn’t shed any embarrassing tears since then…
Well, following Mother Yi’s advice might not be so bad after all.
Compared to victory, pride wasn’t that important.
After all, making a fool of himself before the Emperor didn’t count as shameful!
Once everything became clear, as if clouds had parted and enlightenment had dawned, the Crown Prince took a deep breath. His eyes, no longer gloomy, sparkled with a new light.
He parted his lips, wanting to express his gratitude, but ultimately swallowed the words.
I’m still young. For now, I can’t repay Consort Yi’s kindness. In the future, I’ll quietly show my appreciation in my own way.
Shedding his earlier anger and confusion, the Crown Prince regained his composure as the heir apparent and said slowly and solemnly, "Mother Yi’s teachings will be engraved in my heart."
Then, with newfound lightness, he cupped his hands in salute. Meeting Yunxiu’s warm, smiling gaze, a trace of shyness colored his cheeks. "It was my fault for disturbing your rest so abruptly. I shall take my leave now."
Halfway through turning away, he seemed to remember something and paused, adding in a hushed voice, "Mother Yi, rest assured, I’ll take good care of Fifth Prince and make sure no one bullies him. And Ninth Prince…"
A childish grin spread across his face. "Next time, I’ll come to see him again!"
As for teaching Little Ninth archery and horsemanship—Yinti better not think of competing with him for that!
Yintang stood frozen, his small mouth slightly agape, his eyes shut stiffly like an emotionless wooden puppet.
From the moment the Crown Prince uttered "Mother Yi," Ninth Prince’s mind had been thrown into turmoil, bombarded by a flood of exclamation marks.
Good heavens!
But that wasn’t all—something even more shocking followed!
The Crown Prince had actually asked his mother for advice, and she… she had not only answered but provided a meticulous, flawless plan that sounded entirely feasible.
Yintang’s thoughts were a tangled mess. He was utterly bewildered.
Why had everything changed in this life? First, Kangxi acted strangely, and now even the Crown Prince was different.
In their past life, the Crown Prince had kept his distance from the imperial harem. Even toward his maternal aunt, Young Lady Hesheri, he had been indifferent, showing no special treatment.
As the heir apparent and the Emperor’s legitimate son, aside from the Empress Dowager, the Dowager Empress, and the Emperor himself, no one in the palace dared express concern or closeness toward him. The imperial consorts avoided mentioning Yuqing Palace altogether, treating it as taboo.
His mother, like the other three consorts, had shown the Crown Prince due respect and courtesy—but it was merely superficial politeness.
Nothing like this!
Guiding him earnestly, treating him with kindness, even offering heartfelt advice that revealed profound wisdom.
Frowning, Yintang felt a pang of jealousy, but the more he thought, the more alarmed he became.
His mother was no longer blind, no longer clinging to the Emperor, and her sharp intellect had reached new heights—her words cut straight to the heart, striking with deadly precision.
Show brotherly affection, retreat to advance… That was indeed the perfect strategy to deal with Yinti and Consort Hui.
Confronting Mingzhu head-on, as Suo Etu had done, was the worst approach.
And shedding tears to voice grievances? Even more brilliant.
Not only would it subtly plant seeds of doubt in the Emperor’s mind, but it would also win his pity, making him dote on his precious Crown Prince even more. Truly killing multiple birds with one stone.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Who in the world wouldn’t show leniency toward a child?
Ninth Prince’s thoughts wandered further. Had the Crown Prince grasped these truths in their past life, would he still have been dragged into factional strife by Suo Etu, locked in a bloody feud with Yinti and Mingzhu?
The Emperor’s disappointment had begun there.
Everything had changed!
……
Pulling his scattered thoughts back, Yintang racked his brain before vaguely grasping Yunxiu’s intentions in guiding the Crown Prince.
Could it be that she intended to support the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir, ensuring her position as an imperial consort in the next reign?
With the Crown Prince’s sincere "Mother Yi," she could live a long life, perhaps even rise to the rank of Noble Consort.
The moment he considered this, Ninth Prince wholeheartedly approved.
The shadows of their past life still lingered. If Fourth Prince ascended the throne again and Consort De became Empress Dowager once more—ha!—his hands itched just thinking about it.
As for Eighth Brother? Don’t even mention him!
If he ever became Emperor, Yintang would be the first to object.
The Crown Prince… truthfully, he had been the most outstanding among the princes. In terms of knowledge and refinement, no one could compare.
Back then, he had treated his younger brothers well—even Eighth Brother, raised by Consort Hui, couldn’t in good conscience speak ill of him.
Kangxi had taught the Crown Prince the ways of rulership from childhood—something Fourth Prince and Eighth Brother had lacked.
Thinking of Kangxi, Yintang’s heart sank slightly.
How could he have forgotten?
The Crown Prince’s downfall hadn’t been solely due to the succession struggle but also Kangxi’s growing wariness as the Crown Prince came of age.
At this realization, Yintang suddenly felt a wave of despair.
Kangxi lived too long. Who could outlast him?
This required long-term planning!
As she watched the Crown Prince depart, Ruizhu remained stunned, unable to snap out of her daze. Hesitantly, she called out, "Your Highness…"
She understood her mistress’s actions less and less. Why had she shared such words with the Crown Prince?
With the Emperor’s favor, why would she involve herself in the conflict between the Crown Prince and Yinti, wading into such troubled waters?
Yunxiu smiled softly and waved her hand lightly, sighing inwardly as she tucked away her emotions.
The Crown Prince was only ten years old, still innocent and yearning for the affection of his mother—something the Emperor could not provide.
In the palace, no one had it easy.
In her dreams, the fate of the deposed Crown Prince bore an uncanny resemblance to the misfortunes of Little Ninth.
Lowering her gaze to her youngest son, who had pretended to sleep so convincingly that he had actually drifted off, Yunxiu pondered for a moment, slowly revising the assumptions she had previously held.
Her initial shock and anger over Little Ninth’s body being taken over gradually subsided. Yunxiu thought to herself, he couldn’t be some rootless wandering spirit—he must be someone familiar with the Crown Prince and the ways of the palace.
Resistant toward the Emperor yet deeply reliant on her…
As her vague suspicions grew clearer, on the verge of revelation, Nanny Dong lifted the curtain and entered, bowing slightly. "Your Highness, the Noble Consort has arrived."
Yunxiu gently placed the swaddled baby down beside the pillow and said with pleasant surprise, "Why not invite her in at once?"
The Noble Consort’s due date was approaching, and she had mostly stayed in Yongshou Palace to rest, rarely venturing elsewhere. Now, dressed in simple, understated attire, she walked around the screen with her rounded belly, smiling. "This place is refreshingly cool, not stifling at all—what a lovely retreat."
"One after another, everyone comes to Yi Kun Palace," Yunxiu chided lightly. "With such a heavy burden, you ought to rest properly."
Assuming Yunxiu was referring to Lady Guoluoluo, the Noble Consort smoothed her sleeves and sat gracefully by the bedside. "I’ve always been restless—any more idleness would make me ill. Since the third-day ceremony has passed, I thought I’d drop by to see you. How are you feeling? Are you recovering well?"
Leaning closer, she gently stroked Yintang’s sleeping face and murmured, "On the day you gave birth, the Fifth Prince fell into the water—a deliberate scheme. My heart was in turmoil for the longest time, unable to settle. Thankfully, all is well! Look, our Ninth Prince is growing so beautifully…"
The more the Noble Consort gazed at him, the fonder she grew. "If I bear a son, he could play with him—then Little Ninth wouldn’t be lonely."
Yunxiu smiled, her eyes curving with amusement. "You’ve thrown so many questions at me, I hardly know which to answer first. This birth was quick, and my recovery has been smooth. As for those schemes…"
Her smile faded slightly. "There are only a handful who would dare."
The Noble Consort immediately forgot about Little Ninth, her expression darkening as she asked softly, "Was the promotion of Lady Daijia and Mrs. Hesheli to consorts part of it?"
Yunxiu gave a slight nod, lowering her eyes. "You know me—I could never swallow such an insult."
"What a reward for them!" the Noble Consort scoffed. "How is Mrs. Hesheli worthy of being a consort? She should remain a lowly concubine forever."
"Her status is what it is—the Emperor would have promoted her eventually. As the younger sister of the late Empress, ranked last among the consorts, she’ll have to bow to me in the future. Thinking of it that way, I feel much better." Yunxiu covered her mouth with a laugh, and the Noble Consort joined in.
"You’ve always been mischievous," the Noble Consort said, pausing before continuing, "As for Yonghe Palace…"
Without waiting for Yunxiu to respond, she gestured toward Chengqian Palace and lowered her voice, her smile elegant. "Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort will likely be released from confinement soon. Once that happens, the palace will grow lively again."
Yunxiu blinked as the Noble Consort went on, "With the Tong Family’s influence, the Emperor must consider their standing. Once she comes to terms with things, she’ll regain her footing…"
What did it matter if she lost the title of Empress? The Imperial Noble Consort still held the highest rank in the harem!
Though she had lost her own child, she still had Yinzhen. With years of careful maneuvering, she would surely rise again.
Yunxiu smiled faintly and picked up the thread. "A mother’s strength is the same for everyone."
Meanwhile, in Chengqian Palace.
"Suo Etu secretly arranged for Lady Liu to be taken away and questioned in detail about the Sixth Prince’s daily routines and Consort De’s unusual behavior…" Nanny Zhen whispered closely into the Imperial Noble Consort’s ear.
The Imperial Noble Consort’s lips curved slightly. "How did Lady Liu respond?"
"Following Your Highness’s instructions, Lady Liu initially refused to answer. Only when pressed unbearably did she say—Consort De often whispered to her attendants that Yinzuo was deeply favored by the Emperor, bright and clever, destined for greatness!"
