Not only was Liang Jiugong taken aback, even Kangxi himself froze for a moment, wondering if he had misheard.
After regaining his composure, the emperor’s furious expression gradually softened, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. His tone was no longer cold and heavy.
"Bring it in," he said.
For the past half month, Kangxi had visited Yikun Palace almost daily, sometimes staying for a quarter of an hour, sometimes for an entire hour.
Under the pretense of "having a legitimate reason," the emperor used the Ninth Prince as an excuse to converse with Yunxiu. Even when Yintang repeatedly wet his dragon robes, Kangxi showed no trace of annoyance. Over time, he even developed a fatherly intuition—
The moment Yintang’s lips quivered, showing signs of crying, Kangxi’s mind would ring with alarm, and he would dodge with lightning speed!
This left the reborn Ninth Lord utterly frustrated, cursing the old man in his heart countless times.
Not only shameless, but even bullying a mere infant—disgusting!
The father and son were practically locked in a battle of wits. After several rounds of back-and-forth, Yunxiu could no longer maintain her icy demeanor.
Days had passed, her anger had subsided, and her stance had been made clear. Yet the emperor remained unbothered, still visiting diligently. She could hardly believe that the real Kangxi was like this—completely different from the man in her dreams.
His tolerance for her was extraordinarily high, allowing her every manner of defiance. His fatherly affection for the Fifth Prince and Ninth Prince was unmistakably genuine… including the matter of her promotion to Consort Yi, which had pleased her deeply. For all this, Yunxiu was grateful.
During childbirth, Yunxiu had suddenly learned of Yinqi’s near-drowning and lost her composure, venting all her "disrespectful" words without restraint.
Upon reflection, wasn’t that just misplaced anger?
Dreams and reality were entirely different. Reality had already diverged from its original course. Kangxi would never again say things like "Consort Yi is domineering and disrespectful." If she continued to hold a grudge, she would only be the unreasonable one.
Her initial resistance and rejection had now turned into deep resignation. When the Crown Prince came to her in confusion, asking, "What should I do?" Yunxiu had an epiphany.
In the future, as the princes vied for the throne, there would never be a day of peace. Since she had already made up her mind and given the Crown Prince advice, she wouldn’t stand by and watch the throne slip away—nor let the title of Imperial Noble Consort slip through her fingers!
Long ago, Yunxiu had carefully weighed her options. Helping the Crown Prince was purely for her own benefit—to protect herself and her children.
The Fifth Prince had no chance of inheriting the throne. As for the Ninth Prince… who knew whose soul resided in his little body? Though the more she observed him, the more familiar he seemed, and though she had her suspicions, she couldn’t be certain yet.
If it really was who she thought… well, then peace would be out of the question.
To return to the matter at hand, Empress Renxiao had passed away early, leaving the Crown Prince distant from all his stepmothers. Helping him ascend the throne was not only justified but also ensured no other Empress Dowager would overshadow her or make her suffer.
Right now, the Crown Prince was still young, not yet led astray by Suo Etu or estranged from the emperor. Supporting him was far easier than supporting anyone else, wasn’t it?
……
Over time, as she spent more days with the Crown Prince, Yunxiu’s heart softened, and she began to genuinely guide him.
Yinreng was sensible and sweet-tongued, always looking out for the Fifth and Ninth Princes. Who could dislike such a child?
The thought of him losing his mother at such a young age only deepened her pity.
Yet no amount of scheming mattered in the end. The succession of the throne wasn’t determined by court officials or public sentiment—it hinged entirely on the emperor’s will.
During the struggle for succession, whoever stayed closest to the emperor’s heart would have the advantage.
Moreover, Kangxi lived a long life. By the time he grew old, he would inevitably grow wary of his sons. To avoid all her efforts going to waste, she had to keep a close watch at all times!
For now, rejecting imperial favor was inconsequential, as was maintaining a cold front. But decades later, if she remained blind to the power struggles over the throne, it would be too late for regrets…
After thoroughly thinking it through, Yunxiu spent days pondering before devising a brilliant plan.
The events of her dream still weighed on her. She couldn’t bring herself to offer genuine affection, but she could play the role of the emperor’s confidante—the one he trusted and relied on most.
A confidante held a unique position. Even if imperial favor waned, no one would dare cross her.
Though she thought this way, Yunxiu felt a flicker of shame, an uneasy restlessness burning in her chest.
To think she would be the one to relent first.
Her face darkened as she coldly ordered, "Ruizhu, prepare a bowl of lotus seed and lily soup for the emperor. Add extra lotus seeds and make sure it’s thick."
The soup was meant to cool internal heat—originally intended for herself.
To an outsider, Yunxiu’s expression might have suggested she was sending a bowl of poison to Qianqing Palace…
Beside her, Yintang, who had been chewing on his toes, suddenly widened his eyes in outrage. Letting out a few indignant babbles, he kicked his feet into the air, drool dripping uncontrollably.
Mother, how could you yield to the old man?!
Ninth Lord wasn’t the only one reacting strongly. Ruizhu shrank back and cautiously asked, "Your Highness, forgive this servant’s dull ears, but did you say lotus seeds… not coptis?"
"..." Yunxiu took a deep breath, her face turning even grimmer. "I’m not foolish enough to court death like that."
Nanny Dong stifled a laugh and shot Ruizhu a reproachful look. The latter hastily apologized before scurrying off.
Meanwhile, Kangxi sipped the lotus seed and lily soup sent by Yunxiu, feeling all irritation melt away, his heart soothed and his entire body warmed. His demeanor softened to an unprecedented degree.
A gentle smile graced His Majesty’s face, leaving Chief Eunuch Liang, who had been stealing glances, utterly astonished. He mused that Consort Yi’s bowl of soup might as well have been an elixir.
Ever since the Ninth Prince’s birth, the chief eunuch’s tightly wound nerves had finally relaxed.
He nearly wept with relief. Wasn’t this bowl of soup a sign of reconciliation?
The two stubborn souls had finally made peace, and he no longer had to serve on tenterhooks. Thank the heavens, thank the Buddha—this servant could finally see the light of day, free from the threat of beatings!
Having been pacified by the perfectly brewed cooling soup, Kangxi’s smile soon faded, replaced by his usual calm.
Picking up a fresh brush, he dipped it in vermillion ink and began reviewing memorials. As he wrote, he remarked, "While Mrs. Wuya is in confinement, have someone purge the inner palace—remove all their spies."
"Them" referred to the restless concubines, and these words were directed at Liang Jiugong.
The emperor paused before adding, "Relay my decree: have Mingzhu and Suo Etu jointly investigate and reform the Imperial Household Department, targeting the influential servant families… If they shield anyone, they can forget about keeping their official hats."
His tone was mild, yet laced with a sharp, icy edge.
One was Minister Ming, the other Minister Suo—two men who would never concede to each other. Mingzhu would uproot every last spy planted by the Hesheli family, while Suo Etu would eradicate all influence of the Tong and Nara families. As for the Wuya family, neither would show them any mercy.
The harem was long overdue for a purge.
……
Consort De—the emperor had referred to her simply as "Mrs. Wuya."
Liang Jiugong barely had time to process his shock when he heard the rest. He slowly lowered his head, concealing the storm raging in his heart—His Majesty, His Majesty was purging the entire inner court!
Swiftly brushing his sleeves, he bowed deeply and said, "This servant... obeys the decree."
Meanwhile, at the martial training grounds of the study hall, the sun gradually dipped westward, and a cool breeze swept through as the midday archery and riding lessons neared their end.
The Crown Prince, drenched in sweat, dismounted and took the handkerchief handed by his attendant, wiping his face haphazardly before gulping down several mouthfuls of cold water.
Standing at an angle, he was about to straighten his rolled-up sleeves when suddenly, the Eldest Prince Yinti came galloping toward him on a fully grown chestnut horse. The distance was so close that dust and the pungent scent of horse mane billowed into the Crown Prince’s face.
"......"
The Crown Prince turned away, coughing uncontrollably.
Yinti quickly reined in his horse, as if only just noticing him, and dismounted with practiced ease. Clasping his hands in apology, he said, "My apologies, Second Brother! I was so absorbed in riding that I startled you..."
The title "Second Brother" was one the Crown Prince detested most.
Hierarchy came before fraternal order—he was first and foremost the heir of the Great Qing, and only then Yinti’s younger brother!
On formal occasions, Yinti always addressed him as "Your Highness," but in private, he often dropped such courtesies, as he did now.
In the past, the Eldest Prince could easily provoke the Crown Prince into turning livid with rage, fists clenched. But today was different—
Once his coughing subsided, the Crown Prince waved a hand and replied hoarsely, smiling, "Eldest Brother’s passion for riding delights me. How could I possibly be startled? Between brothers, let’s not stand on ceremony."
Yinti choked on his words, eyes widening as he swallowed whatever he had planned to say next.
Between brothers? Delighted?!
Had Yinreng lost his mind?!
Stunned, the Eldest Prince stood frozen for a long moment before finally forcing out a stiff reply: "You... speak wisely."
The instructors and study companions all turned to watch. On the other side, the Fourth Prince, who was learning to mount a horse, and the Third Prince, frowning as he blew on his sore little hands, also noticed the commotion.
Seeing the Eldest Prince and the Crown Prince standing together, Yin Zhi felt a pang of dread, fearing they might come to blows. Yinzhen glanced worriedly at the Crown Prince before tugging at the Third Prince’s sleeve. "Let’s go see..." what the Eldest and Second Brothers were discussing.
Though reluctant, Yin Zhi was dragged along.
Noticing Yinti’s slightly ashen expression, the Crown Prince’s demeanor grew even warmer.
Spotting his two younger brothers approaching from the corner of his eye, his smile deepened. "A few days ago, I wrote a passable essay. After His Majesty read it, he rewarded me with several fine young horses, now kept in Yuqing Palace. Since Eldest Brother loves horses, why not come take a look and pick one for yourself?"
His tone was utterly sincere, but the words themselves—
Was he flaunting his literary talent and the Emperor’s favor?
Yinti’s face darkened. "No need," he said curtly before turning on his heel and leading his horse away in haste.
The Crown Prince called after him gently, "Take care, Eldest Brother," his voice so saccharine it sent shivers down the spines of the two younger princes.
Yinzhen stared at his Second Brother, mouth slightly agape, bubbles of confusion rising in his mind.
The Crown Prince then said cheerfully, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, come with me to Yuqing Palace to see the horses. Pick whichever you like! He Zhuer, go to Cining Palace and invite the Fifth Prince."
The Seventh and Eighth Princes were still too young—they could join when they were older.
Pausing, he added, "Also, send someone to Yonghe Palace to ask if the Sixth Prince would like to choose one. The foals are gentle and won’t kick."
At this, Yin Zhi brightened instantly, exclaiming, "Thank you, Second Brother!" But Yinzhen drooped, visibly displeased.
The Crown Prince knew exactly why.
With a soft sigh, he pulled Yinzhen aside and whispered, "Consort De has just given birth to a Little Princess... I’ve heard your younger sister is frail and requires constant care. With that, how could Consort De spare attention for the Sixth Prince? As his elder brothers, it’s only right we invite him. Why must you be so stubborn?"
And stubborn he was!
The rift between these full-blooded brothers had lingered for far too long.
Though Yinzhen said nothing, his cheeks flushed red.
Pursing his lips and fidgeting with his fingers, he finally mumbled, "Fine. I’ll... be nicer to Sixth Brother."
Listen to that reluctance—as if I’m forcing him!
The Crown Prince saw right through Yinzhen’s half-hearted agreement. Chuckling, he ruffled the little Fourth Prince’s shaved head and coaxed, "Good, good! Listen to your Second Brother, always listen to your Second Brother. You’re pouting so hard you could hang a lantern from it—hurry and get ready!"
Then, raising his voice, he called, "...Third Brother, let’s go!"
