Yinqi: "..."
Kangxi: "..."
The Emperor never expected that a spur-of-the-moment decision to eavesdrop with his son would lead to catching someone red-handed trying to steal his woman!
Under Yinqi’s increasingly shocked and accusatory gaze, Kangxi’s face darkened instantly. Suppressing his temper, he burned the name "Fulu" deep into his memory.
Liang Jiugong, equally stunned, stole glances at the Emperor’s expression, shoulders shaking as he struggled to hold back laughter, his face contorted in the effort. Oh, young master! To declare in front of His Majesty that you’d carry Lady Yunxiu into your home with an eight-lift bridal sedan—isn’t this poking the tiger’s tail? This is sheer madness!
As soon as Fulu finished speaking, Yinqi pointed inside, his dark eyes blinking meaningfully: Father, look—this bootlicker!
Kangxi, however, remained composed. With a glance, he signaled his fifth son: Wait. Let’s see what your mother says.
Outside the hall, father and son wore identical expressions of bitterness—one amused yet exasperated, the other utterly aggrieved. Inside, Guargiya clutched her chest, looking as if she might faint any moment.
His Highness was right—Fulu must never become a study companion, or he’d truly grow wings! Listen to this—what kind of nonsense is this for a five-year-old to spout?
"Marry her into our family"? Hah! If he were older and of different status, the Emperor would’ve exiled him to Ningguta already!
She was about to beg for mercy when Fulu, relentless, toddled up to Yunxiu, tilting his head sweetly. "Auntie, don’t you agree? Would you be willing?"
Today, he still wore his fluffy skullcap but had changed into a thicker blue outfit, transforming from a red ball into a blue one. With a folding fan, he might’ve looked positively dashing!
Hearing such bold words from Fulu, Yunxiu burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling like willow branches brushing the water’s surface in spring.
She bent down to pat his little hat, feigning hesitation with a sigh. "Auntie’s wishes don’t matter, dear. You’d have to ask the Emperor yourself."
Outside the door, Kangxi caught the deliberate hesitation in her tone: "..."
Fulu, mesmerized, momentarily forgot where he was. Coming back to his senses, he scratched his head and exhaled dramatically, lamenting, "But I never get to see him!"
Wenyuan and Ruizhu doubled over in laughter—this little master was truly a riot!
The joyous atmosphere in Yikun Palace was shattered the next moment by the Emperor’s imposing voice: "You couldn’t before, but now’s your chance. Fulu, was there something you wished to say to me?"
Yinqi trailed behind, barely suppressing his glee—serves you right, you little brat! Kangxi’s gaze swept over the gaping Fulu, his face darkening. Strange. The boy resembles Tuyue like a carbon copy, yet their personalities are poles apart.
Look at his father—loyal, honest, a bit simple. But this kid? Silver-tongued, with the makings of a full-blown sycophant...
Unbeknownst to Fulu, at just five years old, he’d already been branded a "treacherous minister"!
Guargiya, realizing the Emperor had likely heard everything, trembled, struggling to breathe as if in dire need of heart medication. She barely managed to greet him.
Fulu, however, recovered swiftly after the initial shock, his eyes shining with admiration as he stared at Kangxi—no fear, no nerves.
He opened his mouth: "Your Ma—"
Yunxiu, still smiling, startled, pinched him lightly and hurried forward to curtsy. "This concubine greets Your Majesty. Why have you come so early today? And with Yinqi?"
Early? Not early enough.
Any later, and my backyard would’ve caught fire!
Kangxi snorted inwardly, sulking.
Yinqi muttered, "I came to see Yintang..." To stretch his neck and help him grow taller—but I’ve lost the mood now.
Noting Yunxiu’s blatant avoidance of the earlier topic, Kangxi fixed his eyes on the blue ball and repeated, "Fulu, wasn’t meeting me your wish? Now that you have, speak your mind."
The Emperor wasn’t truly bent on arguing with a child—he merely wanted to scare him a little, curb his audacity, and assert dominance.
He gripped Yunxiu’s hand tightly, making Liang Jiugong’s eye twitch. His Majesty regresses every time he comes here—past thirty yet acting more lovesick than a greenhorn!
The Chief Eunuch couldn’t take it. He averted his eyes, locking gazes with Nanny Dong. In that shared glance, they commiserated: We’re too old for this.
Anyone else would’ve knelt trembling, stammering denials. But Fulu was no ordinary child.
Enviously eyeing the intertwined hands, he solemnly removed his skullcap, cradling it like a treasure.
"Uncle Emperor," he declared earnestly, cupping his hands in salute. "I’ve long admired your brilliance."
Then, shaking his head mournfully: "They say seeing is believing, and now I must retract my earlier words... I’m no match for you. Father says fireflies can’t rival the moon—meeting you, I’m ashamed. Only a hero like you deserves Auntie!"
His mother: "..."
Yinqi: "..."
Once again, Yinqi was stunned speechless.
He gaped as the Emperor’s expression shifted—first inscrutable, then softening, until not a trace of anger remained, replaced by faint amusement.
This bootlicker’s even fake-crying! Those "teary" eyes are bone-dry!
Even Guargiya’s urge to discipline him waned. This is more like it. Flattering the Emperor beats stealing his woman—at least it’ll spare you a beating.
Neither my husband nor his father was like this. How did Fulu turn out this way?
Exhausted, she resigned herself: Fine. I’ll take what I can get.
Yunxiu watched Kangxi’s mood brighten, his grip on her hand tightening—clearly pleased by Fulu’s flattery. She: "..."
She didn’t know what to say, caught between laughter and exasperation as she called out, “Fulu,” then pressed her lips together in a smile. “This child… Your Majesty mustn’t take his words to heart.”
Take it to heart?
The Emperor had long forgotten any notion of taking offense.
That single word—“Uncle”—had sent Kangxi into a state of pure delight, as refreshing as biting into a watermelon on the hottest summer day. And then there was that straightforward flattery: “A hero deserves a beauty.” Never before had anyone dared to praise the Emperor so boldly. Court officials, even when singing his praises, were always subtle and reserved. Who would dare to flatter him so openly?
It would’ve been like slapping a horse’s leg instead of stroking it!
If an official had been this exaggerated, Kangxi would’ve immediately questioned their motives. But now, here was a chubby five-year-old boy earnestly praising him as “wise and mighty,” his tone so sincere it was downright amusing.
And Fulu even knew how to humble himself!
The Emperor burst into laughter before waving his hand dismissively. “Why would I take offense? Do I seem that petty to you?”
So Yunxiu had been right after all, Kangxi mused inwardly. This boy really was entertaining. How Sanguanbao had raised such a silver-tongued grandson was nothing short of a marvel.
Fulu remained blissfully unaware that his uncle’s opinion of him had shifted—from “that brat” to “this kid,” from “smooth-talking” to “eloquent.”
Hearing the Emperor’s words, he nodded gravely, carefully adjusting his little melon-skin cap before adding, “Uncle’s magnanimity knows no bounds…”
Yunxiu couldn’t help but laugh again, while Guargiya looked on with an expression of sheer disbelief.
Outside the court, countless relatives could technically address the Emperor as “uncle.”
The Hesheli and Niugulu families, with their abundance of male descendants, had no shortage of nephews. Thanks to Empress Renxiao and Empress Xiaozhao, they were legitimate imperial relatives. Compared to them, Fulu’s claim was far shakier. Yet none of those nephews dared to call the Emperor “uncle,” let alone gain an audience with him.
Fulu, however, had the audacity to address him so casually—and Kangxi, far from reprimanding him for impropriety, had tacitly approved the title.
With a warm smile, the Emperor beckoned his opportunistic little nephew closer. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”
Fulu grinned and shook his head. “Not at all! I’m overjoyed just to see you!”
...
“What has your father taught you so far?”
As Kangxi chuckled heartily, thoroughly engrossed in his exchange with Fulu, the Fifth Prince, Yinqi, stood alone in desolate gloom, feeling utterly out of place amidst the laughter filling Yikun Palace. With a stifled sob, he fled to the warm chamber in search of solace from his younger brother.
Yintang had just finished nursing and was blinking drowsily when Yinqi began venting: “Hmph! Even His Majesty has been bewitched by that bootlicker!”
Bootlicker? Who was he talking about?
Still groggy, the Ninth Prince let out a tiny burp before his confusion was soon cleared up.
Yinqi rambled on about what had just happened, so incensed that he forgot his original intention of “nurturing” his brother. Under the amused gaze of the wet nurse, he painted Fulu as his lifelong nemesis—the biggest obstacle in his quest for favor.
At first, Yintang was stunned. Fulu? Cousin Fulu?
In this lifetime, he’d become Fifth Brother’s study companion?
Once the shock wore off, the Ninth Prince began to ponder. In his past life, he’d only known that Fulu grew up in Shengjing, was exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and had spent half his life climbing the ranks in the military barracks. He’d even recommended Fulu to the Fourteenth Prince back then…
Though, in the end, the Fourteenth Prince hadn’t taken him up on the offer.
Fulu wasn’t the same straightforward, honest type as Uncle Tuyue. Could he really be the same bootlicker Fifth Brother was describing?
He wasn’t buying it.
Seated beside the cradle, Yinqi grumbled for a while longer before sighing dramatically. “That bootlicker is too cunning. I can’t take him on alone.”
If he complained to Second Brother, he’d surely be ignored. Was there truly no one in the world who could help him?!
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as they landed on his little brother, who was happily gnawing on his fingers. A realization struck him—here was a ready-made ally!
Yintang abruptly felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced around, unable to pinpoint the source of the danger, when the wet nurse suddenly paled. “Fifth Prince, you mustn’t—!”
Watching as Yinqi squared his shoulders, cracked his neck, and flexed his wrists before reaching out, she nearly fainted in horror. Was he about to hit his baby brother?!
If the Emperor or the Empress Dowager found out, it would be a disaster!
Just then, Fulu—who had been clinging to Kangxi’s robe outside the curtain—witnessed the scene. His eyes darted shrewdly as he racked his brain for a solution. Then, in a loud voice, he exclaimed, “Fifth Prince is such a doting elder brother! Even his way of bonding with the Ninth Prince is so… ceremonial!”
The booming announcement made Yinqi freeze mid-motion. Instinctively, he withdrew his hand, only to lose his balance and lurch forward.
Chaos ensued. With a loud mwah, he ended up sprawled over the cradle, planting a firm kiss right on Yintang’s chubby cheek!
The smack echoed loudly. The Ninth Prince stiffened in utter disbelief: “...!”
