"Nonsense. What do you mean by 'just teasing'?" The Grand Empress Dowager chided her lightly. "Imperial princes and princesses are of the highest nobility, and here you are, describing them as mere playthings."
The Empress Dowager smiled and pointed at Yunxiu, then suddenly recalled something, her expression turning concerned. "Didn’t you wake up startled the other night? Have you seen the imperial physician? Did you sleep well yesterday?"
It seemed someone had reported it, and the Empress Dowager had taken it to heart.
Touched, Yunxiu quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, it was nothing serious. I slept soundly last night..."
The Empress Dowager urged her to take care of her health, and Yunxiu nodded obediently. After chatting for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Grand Empress Dowager patted Sumalagu’s hand and asked, "Where’s Yinqi?"
The elderly lady saw right through it—Consort Yi must be missing her son, and she was more than happy to let mother and child spend more time together.
A mother’s love is the same everywhere under heaven!
Yunxiu’s eyes brightened, and she fidgeted slightly, unable to sit still. The two dowagers noticed, their hearts softening even more.
Sumalagu chuckled, "Your Majesty, the young prince is playing in the warm chamber. This old servant will fetch him at once."
Just then, a chubby little figure came barreling in from outside, dressed in deep red robes, his features delicate, his skin fair and tender—utterly adorable.
Yinqi skidded to a stop before reaching Yunxiu, his eyes sparkling as he cheered excitedly, "Mother!"
...
Five-year-old Yinqi!
Yunxiu’s eyes reddened instantly.
In her dream, Yinqi had stayed clear of the struggles for succession, content with his lot, and could have been entrusted with important duties... Yet first, he had busied himself securing honors for his mother, the Dowager Consort Yi, then pleaded relentlessly for Yintang’s sake, until he finally drew the new emperor’s displeasure and was sidelined for the rest of his life.
Little Yintang had grown up by her side, while Yinqi had been raised under the Empress Dowager’s care, creating a slight distance in their mother-son bond. Yet this child, pure-hearted and earnest, had shown her no less filial devotion than Yintang.
If Yunxiu had any regrets in that dream, it was spoiling Yintang to the point of raising a little troublemaker, while the opposite was true for Yinqi—she only wished she had doted on him more in his childhood and planned better for his future.
But thankfully, heaven had granted her a chance to make amends!
Mindful of the dowagers’ presence, Yunxiu quickly suppressed her emotions, holding back her tears and forcing a gentle smile.
This child—he must have known she was pregnant, stopping just in time to avoid jostling his future sibling.
How could she not adore him?
Yunxiu took Yinqi’s little hand, stroking his plump cheeks, her gaze tender enough to melt. "Yinqi, you’ve grown taller and sturdier. Tell me, what delicious things have you been eating lately?"
Yinqi spoke Mongolian fluently but stumbled a bit in Manchu. Counting on his fingers, he answered cheerfully, "Yinqi ate so much! Imperial Grandmother gave me roast meat, and Great-Grandmother gave me milk cakes..."
Midway through, Yinqi stared at Yunxiu’s face, forgetting his words, his expression utterly earnest. "Mother, you look so pretty today."
Yunxiu blinked. What brought this on?
The innocent remark sent the entire room into laughter.
The Grand Empress Dowager nearly doubled over, giggling. "Oh my, our Yinqi is only five and already knows what’s pretty and what’s not!"
Sumalagu shot Yunxiu a grateful look.
Whenever Consort Yi visited, her wit and charm, combined with the presence of the fifth prince, lifted the Grand Empress Dowager’s spirits. At her advanced age, such hearty laughter was rare.
Sumalagu wasn’t the only one who thought so. Kangxi, who had arrived with Crown Prince Yinreng in tow, was equally surprised.
He silenced the announcing eunuch and asked, "Who’s inside?"
"Your Majesty, it’s Consort Yi."
Yinreng, standing behind him, immediately sensed his father’s demeanor soften.
The Crown Prince mused silently—everyone said Consort Yi was favored. It seemed the rumors weren’t unfounded.
...
Amid the laughter, Kangxi strode into the inner chamber, Yinreng following closely.
"The emperor is here—ah, and Yinreng too!" The Grand Empress Dowager beamed at them, her voice warm. "No need for formalities, come, sit!"
Yunxiu’s smile stiffened. Why was the emperor visiting Cining Palace at this hour? It made no sense.
She had timed her visit carefully to avoid his post-court schedule—there should have been no chance of crossing paths.
What luck!
Reluctantly releasing Yinqi’s chubby hand, she rose and curtsied. "This concubine greets Your Majesty... and pays respects to the Crown Prince..."
Little Yinqi mimicked her bow.
The Crown Prince hurriedly returned the courtesy. "Consort Yi, please rise. Fifth Brother, no need for formalities."
At ten years old, his voice still carried a childish lilt, yet his manners were impeccable, exuding grace beyond his years.
"Rise, rise." Kangxi understood at once—Consort Yi had come to see Yinqi.
His gaze flicked briefly to Yunxiu, and his mood brightened visibly. Turning to the dowagers, he explained, "Grandmother, Mother, I was examining the princes’ studies, hence the delay."
Then, with a chuckle, he added, "But from afar, I heard laughter—what amusing thing happened?"
"It’s all Yinqi!" The Empress Dowager chuckled. "This child, so young yet already knows what’s beautiful." She repeated Yinqi’s innocent remark.
The Crown Prince’s shoulders shook as he struggled to maintain a solemn expression, fighting back laughter.
Amused, Kangxi beckoned Yinqi forward, ruffling his shaved head. The rare display of affection made Yinqi grin widely as he called out, "Imperial Father!"
No one noticed the emperor’s subtle glance at Yunxiu—one filled with unmistakable agreement.
Only Liang Jiugong discreetly lowered his head, suppressing a wince...
Consort Yi inhaled softly, her jade-like complexion flushing faintly.
Out of sheer irritation!
Here we go again. How was anyone supposed to resist such a look?
Yunxiu wanted to flee, but Yinqi was here—she couldn’t bear to leave him. So she settled for a compromise, resting a hand on her belly as she curtsied gracefully. "Your Majesty must have important matters to discuss. This concubine would like to take Yinqi to the side chamber for a while. Grandmother, would that be acceptable?"
Pleased by her tact, the Grand Empress Dowager readily agreed.
With a smile, she dispatched a retinue of attendants to accompany them, reminding Yinqi, "Your mother is carrying your little brother. Don’t tire her out, alright?"
Yinqi answered brightly, "Yinqi understands!"
After days apart, he had so much to tell her.
Mother and son walked away arm in arm, Yinqi bouncing like a lively little calf. Kangxi watched them, his expression softening.
Too many princes had been lost in infancy. From Yinti onward, each surviving child was a miracle—let alone one as robust and spirited as Yinqi.
The boy’s fearless energy, his clear, confident cry of "Imperial Father," warmed the heart.
Yet Yinqi, raised by the Empress Dowager, spoke fluent Mongolian but struggled with Manchu. As for Chinese—he couldn’t understand a single word.
In this, he lagged behind his brothers from the very start.
Consort Yi never complained to him, nor did she interfere with Yinqi’s upbringing. Every time she visited Cining Palace to see Yinqi, she delighted the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, never seeking credit for it.
Thinking of this, Kangxi turned back and gently said to the Crown Prince, "Baocheng, look after your fifth brother in the future. In about a year, Yinqi will begin his studies."
The Crown Prince quietly withdrew his gaze from Yunxiu and nodded in agreement.
In his heart, he thought, His Majesty truly favors Consort Yi. Then came an overwhelming wave of envy—
Though Fifth Brother wasn’t by his mother’s side, he still had her love and concern. If his own birth mother were still alive, wouldn’t she treat him just as well?
...
After Yunxiu and Yinqi left, the Grand Empress Dowager’s first words were, "Consort Yi is a good one."
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.
Kangxi rubbed his jade thumb ring and merely smiled without speaking. The Grand Empress Dowager immediately understood and chuckled, pointing at him, "You..."
After taking a sip of tea, Kangxi discussed the matter of the imperial selection with the two Empresses Dowager, while the Crown Prince sat upright and listened attentively.
"The Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort are with child and should not be burdened. I was thinking this year’s selection need not be a grand affair. Let the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager oversee it, selecting suitable noblewomen to be matched with the imperial clan. As for the imperial harem, no new additions will be made for now..."
So that was the matter.
The Grand Empress Dowager laughed in realization. "Qi Qige, look at this—the Emperor is even tasking this old woman with work."
Qi Qige was the Empress Dowager’s name.
Traditionally, presiding over the imperial selection was the Empress’s duty. The Emperor’s filial piety was a gesture to honor her. The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Mother, I’ve never been one to handle affairs—how would I know the procedures? We cannot do without you. Let’s agree to the Emperor’s request."
The Grand Empress Dowager thought it over and waved her hand in assent.
Kangxi let out a sigh of relief, and Sumalagu gave an imperceptible nod.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s energy was not what it used to be, and idleness only sapped her strength further.
Today had been an exception, but Consort Yi couldn’t possibly visit every day, could she?
Having something to occupy her mind would surely make a world of difference.
If there was one child Kangxi cherished and valued above all others, it was undoubtedly the Crown Prince, Yinreng.
Raised on his lap and personally instructed, Yinreng was later given the Yuqing Palace as his residence. Kangxi inquired about his daily life without fail, sparing no effort in his care.
When he had time, Kangxi would keep the Crown Prince by his side, teaching him the ways of the world. Even his studies in the imperial school were conducted separately, with renowned scholars gathered exclusively for him—every detail reflected his unique status.
The Crown Prince was intelligent and had long been aware of his position, striving to be a flawless heir beyond reproach.
Apart from the somewhat contentious Eldest Brother, Yinti, the Third Prince, Yin Zhi, and the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, who had already begun their studies, were both close to the Crown Prince—especially Yinzhen, who would confide in him whenever he faced great troubles.
The Crown Prince, too, was fond of this younger brother, always sharing delicacies and toys with him.
Yinzhen couldn’t help but notice that since the Imperial Noble Consort became pregnant, though her attitude toward him remained unchanged, her affection was not as warm as before.
Kicking a small pebble, he quietly shared these thoughts with the Crown Prince after their lessons.
How could the Crown Prince not understand the Imperial Noble Consort’s thoughts?
There was a world of difference between an adopted son and a biological one.
His granduncle often said that if the Imperial Noble Consort bore a son, the Crown Prince’s position would be threatened.
"Whether it’s a son or a daughter is unpredictable. We’ll discuss this later. For now, we must take advantage of her pregnancy to drive a wedge between the Imperial Noble Consort and the Fourth Prince..."
"The Imperial Noble Consort’s adopted son, if elevated further, would be akin to a half-legitimate heir. We cannot let our guard down!"
...
Though he recalled Suo Etu’s words, the Crown Prince couldn’t bear to see Yinzhen disheartened. After a long moment of contemplation, he said, "Fourth Brother, if the Imperial Noble Consort isn’t as close to you as before, take the initiative to get closer to her."
He thought, If he touches his younger sibling, Fourth Brother will surely feel better, won’t he? The other day, Consort Yi and Fifth Brother interacted like that, and Fifth Brother was overjoyed.
What threat could a baby who hadn’t even been born pose?
His granduncle was far too paranoid!
Returning from Cining Palace, moved by Yunxiu’s maternal devotion, the Crown Prince eagerly awaited good news from Yinzhen.
Yet after their lessons, Yinzhen’s lips were pressed tightly together, his expression sullen. When he saw the Crown Prince, he softly called out, "Second Brother..."
"What’s wrong?" the Crown Prince asked in surprise, dismissing the attendants and pulling him into a secluded corner.
Yinzhen recounted what had happened the day before at Chengqian Palace, his voice low and despondent. "Mother shielded her belly and avoided my touch..."
Children raised in the imperial family were never naive. Upon reflection, how could Yinzhen not realize that Nanny Zhen had lied?
In that moment, a flood of grievances overwhelmed him.
But he couldn’t speak of it—he could only cry silently under his covers at night.
"Second Brother, if Mother has a child of her own, will she still treat me well?" Yinzhen sniffled, voicing the fear buried deep in his heart. "Mother De has Sixth Brother—she doesn’t need me anymore. Mother is all I have left."
When he was four, learning that the Noble Consort wasn’t his birth mother had shattered his world. In his grief, he had clung to hope and longing for his birth mother, even sneaking off to Yonghe Palace once.
But he had been disappointed.
Mother De had looked at him with indifference, nothing like the warmth in his mother’s eyes. Yet when she gazed at Sixth Brother, her expression was entirely different.
"Mother said that Mother De doesn’t like me at all—she even resents me..."
From that moment on, Yinzhen understood—though the Noble Consort wasn’t his birth mother, she was better than one!
But now, was he going to lose even her?
Yinzhen’s eyes were red as a rabbit’s, and the Crown Prince, at a loss, felt he had given terrible advice.
I’ve miscalculated!
Crown Prince: The convoluted ways of adults are beyond me.
