Fulu stood tall with his chest puffed out, his eyes sparkling with the unique vitality of a child, which swept through the grand hall. Not only was the Empress Dowager taken aback, but even the Grand Empress Dowager, a woman weathered by decades of life, was momentarily stunned.
When the Empress Dowager posed her question, she had no intention of making comparisons or belittling anyone. She simply found Fulu utterly endearing and wanted to tease the little boy. Yet, to her surprise, Fulu showed not a hint of modesty. Instead, he answered with unwavering confidence, his chubby little face brimming with pride. Far from being off-putting, his demeanor made everyone want to scoop him up, pinch his cheeks, and shower him with kisses.
Yunxiu’s heart melted at the sight.
Just moments ago, before she could intervene, Fulu had swiftly seized the Empress Dowager’s words and responded with absolute certainty, leaving himself no room for retreat.
Yunxiu was both exasperated and amused—exasperated that his little mouth had moved too fast for her to stop him, and amused by his sheer audacity. She had been about to discreetly pinch his plump little hand as a warning, but now it was too late.
Still, she would always stand by her nephew. Since Fulu had made his bold claim, she certainly wouldn’t undermine him.
At his age, children were innocent and carefree, untouched by the complexities of the world. Even if the Grand Empress Dowager were to reprimand him, a simple plea of "he’s just a child who doesn’t know any better" would suffice to absolve him.
And if the Eldest Prince stooped to holding a grudge against a five-year-old, it would only reveal his own pettiness. How could the Emperor possibly entrust important duties to someone so narrow-minded?
In just a few moments, Yunxiu sorted through her tangled thoughts and smiled gracefully, curtsying slightly. "Please forgive this child’s impertinence, Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager! Fulu has always been a little tyrant, full of himself. His childish boasts shouldn’t be taken seriously."
Then, turning to Consort Hui, she raised an eyebrow and added, "I hope Sister Consort Hui won’t take offense either."
Consort Hui had never expected Fulu to be so bold—not only did he dare to boast in private, but he even had the audacity to do so in the Cining Palace!
For a moment, she was too stunned to speak. Then, anger surged within her. She shot her son a look, signaling him to stay calm, before forcing a tight-lipped smile at Yunxiu. Just as she was about to speak, the young boy standing behind the Eldest Prince could no longer hold back.
Three young masters from the Nara clan had come today. The eldest of them tugged at his younger brother’s sleeve, trying to restrain him, but it was no use.
"My cousin has been personally trained by the Emperor since childhood. His talents are unmatched by ordinary men. If he were to compete, he would undoubtedly claim the title of martial champion!" Kuien, an eight-year-old boy with the build of a ten-year-old, glared at Fulu, his face flushed with indignation. "Especially in horsemanship and archery—even the Crown Prince can’t compare! Even if you grow to twenty, you’ll never be a match for my cousin!"
His eyes were filled with disdain, as if they were etched with six bold words:
How could a little ball like you ever compare?
Fulu’s eyes widened in disbelief, and soon, anger bubbled up inside him.
"Only cowards hide behind age differences!" he huffed, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly letting go of Yunxiu’s hand. To emphasize his point, he planted his hands on his hips, making his already round little body look even rounder. "You don’t get to decide that. If I say I can, then I can!"
The tense atmosphere shifted into a childish squabble—an eight-year-old and a five-year-old trading barbs, neither willing to back down. As they argued, the Eldest Prince, the very subject of their dispute, grew visibly darker in expression.
Yunxiu covered her mouth, hiding a smile. Consort Hui, on the other hand, wore a faintly mocking smirk as she interjected coolly, "Kuien, mind your manners in front of the Grand Empress Dowager—"
The Grand Empress Dowager chuckled and waved her hand, cutting off Consort Hui’s impending scolding. "It’s been years since I’ve seen such lively entertainment. They’re just children—a little bickering during the New Year won’t ruin the harmony. Let them be."
It seemed the elderly matriarch, much like the Empress Dowager, had taken a liking to Fulu. Perhaps she had never encountered such a spirited little boy before, and coupled with his status as Yinqi’s study companion, she couldn’t help but favor him slightly.
Just children?
Consort Hui sneered inwardly but said nothing.
The Grand Empress Dowager had grown softer with age. In the past, such disrespect toward a prince would have earned Fulu—and even Consort Yi—a severe reprimand. But now? A mere "childish squabble" was enough to dismiss it all!
Remembering the plans she had carefully laid out, Consort Hui’s displeasure faded quickly, and her expression smoothed over.
Meanwhile, Fulu and Kuien’s argument continued. The most composed of the three Nara brothers, Kuimi, stepped forward and spoke gently to Fulu. "Kuien is still young and doesn’t know better. He idolizes the Eldest Prince and has only heard of your bravery without ever witnessing it firsthand. Naturally, he’s a bit skeptical. As his elder brother, I apologize on his behalf."
Kuimi’s words were polished, clearly the product of a refined education. Though his tone was apologetic, Yunxiu detected a hint of amusement—and condescension—beneath the surface.
On the surface, he was defending Fulu, but in reality, he was subtly pressing the point that Fulu’s so-called bravery was nothing more than empty talk, hardly convincing to anyone.
Really? Resorting to mind games against a five-year-old?
Yunxiu’s eyes sharpened, her smile cooling. Just then, Kuien, his face dark with frustration, muttered something under his breath before suddenly raising his voice.
"Fulu, do you dare to compete with me?"
"Compete in what?" Fulu shot back immediately, wrinkling his nose and pointing at him. "Bullying someone younger—how shameless!"
"You—you—!" Kuien’s face turned beet red as he stammered before finally blurting out, "We’ll go to the training grounds. You decide what we compete in. If you beat me in even one event, I’ll apologize on the spot!"
The moment he said this, the Empress Dowager felt uneasy.
Aside from the age gap, how could Fulu’s round, pudgy frame possibly compare to Kuien’s tall, robust build?
Consort Hui had boasted that her nephew had been training with martial instructors since the age of three, gifted with exceptional talent and strength far beyond his peers. The Empress Dowager’s gaze shifted to Fulu, her worry deepening. This is outright bullying!
Just as she was about to intervene, the little boy in question beat her to it.
Fulu clasped his hands behind his back, mimicking the posture of a deep thinker, before nodding solemnly. "Fine! But if I win, you can’t take it back."
Then, with quick little steps, he ran back to Yunxiu, beaming up at her. "Auntie, just wait—I’ll make you proud!"
With that, Fulu sealed the deal, turning the challenge into an inevitability.
Yunxiu’s earlier amusement had faded, replaced by rising anger. But faced with her nephew’s eager, hopeful expression, she hesitated, torn between laughter and exasperation. In the end, she could only sigh and say, "...Alright. I’ll be waiting."
Watching this unfold, Consort Hui nearly laughed aloud.
Oh, Consort Yi… I know you dote on Fulu, but isn’t this indulgence going too far?
There was a saying: Disaster comes from careless words. And another: He doesn’t know his own limits.
Smirking, Consort Hui exchanged a glance with her son, Yinti, who immediately understood.
"Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager," Yinti said with a bow, "this grandson will go prepare the training grounds at once." With that, he took his leave, Kuimi following close behind.
Though they claimed to be heading to the training grounds, the moment they stepped out of the hall, Yinti changed course—rushing straight toward the Qianqing Palace.
He walked along, laughing uncontrollably, and instructed his personal eunuch, "Go to Yuqing Palace and send a message—tell them that Fulu intends to challenge Kuien, who is three years his senior, and request the Crown Prince to bear witness for our brave warrior. Hurry!"
The young eunuch suppressed a chuckle and quickly complied.
The training grounds.
The biting wind howled, but it couldn’t extinguish the fire in Kuien’s heart. Recalling Consort Hui’s instructions, he solemnly clenched his fists, removed his fur-lined collar, and meticulously warmed up—a stark contrast to Fulu, who stood nearby.
Fulu wore a round melon-skull cap, his neck tightly tucked in, hands stuffed into his sleeves. Only his dark, gleaming eyes peeked out.
"It’s so cold, so cold," he whined to Yunxiu. "Auntie, I want hot pot later… My mother is waiting at Yikun Palace. We can’t keep her waiting too long."
This little rascal!
Yunxiu didn’t know whether to scold or laugh. She could only tap his forehead sharply. "The Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are here. Don’t be impudent."
Then, she whispered in his ear, "Just have fun. Don’t push yourself. If you get hurt, it won’t be worth it. If they have no shame, I won’t spare them any face either… I’ll make sure they regret this."
Why had this child agreed to it in the first place?
Well, even if Kuien won, she had ways to make Consort Hui pay dearly. Let her bask in this "dishonorable victory" for now.
Fulu nodded seriously and sweetly replied, "I understand." Then he turned to Kuien. "Big guy, you said you’d follow my rules for the challenge. You won’t go back on your word, right?"
Kuien choked—this was the first time anyone had called him "big guy"!
"I won’t go back on my word," he muttered gruffly.
Once his anger faded, a wave of shame washed over him.
Kuien wiped his face. Competing against a five-year-old brat—even if he won, there was nothing to boast about. And here he was, warming up so seriously!
With newfound magnanimity, he decided he’d go easy on Fulu, ensuring the little one wouldn’t lose too embarrassingly… That settled it.
"Alright then, we’ll compete in strength," Fulu said with a sly grin, pointing at a pile of stones nearby. "Whoever lifts the biggest rock wins!"
When the Crown Prince arrived, holding Yinqi’s hand in haste, he heard the challenge loud and clear.
With the New Year holiday granting a break from studies, even the imperial tutors were off duty. At noon, the Crown Prince had seized the opportunity to drag his idle younger brother, Yinqi, who had been wandering the imperial gardens, to Yuqing Palace for a "strict" calligraphy lesson.
Before they could finish a few sheets, Yinti’s personal eunuch arrived with the message: Fulu, Yinqi’s study companion, intended to challenge Kuien of the Nara clan?
Regardless of whether the news was true, holding such a contest in front of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager was absurd. And the challenge itself—lifting rocks? Even more ridiculous!
Kuien was known for his natural strength. Mingzhu had high hopes for this young heir, something even the Crown Prince had heard of. How could Fulu, with his round little frame, possibly compete?
Clearly, the Nara family was determined to humiliate the Gorolo clan.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to scold, "This is nonsense!" Liang Jiugong’s voice faintly announced, "His Majesty approaches—"
The Crown Prince narrowed his phoenix eyes and turned. Sure enough, Yinti followed closely behind Kangxi, trailed by a large entourage.
His expression froze. Mingzhu? The newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Kerkun?
The heads of the Six Ministries, officials from the Censorate, the Hanlin Academy… They had all come!
Yinti hadn’t expected such an unexpected delight.
Originally, his mother had only asked him to invite Kangxi. But by chance, they encountered high-ranking ministers presenting New Year poems and submitting memorials outlining next year’s plans for their respective offices.
He had merely mentioned, "Fulu is remarkably brave—he intends to challenge Kuien," and Kangxi, intrigued, set aside the memorials and invited the ministers to witness the spectacle at the training grounds.
Now, watching Consort Yi and the Crown Prince’s grim expressions, Yinti felt immense satisfaction.
Bragging was one thing, but to make a fool of themselves before the Emperor and the ministers—how would they salvage this?
Among the crowd, whispers and curious murmurs spread, but Tuyue’s ashen face stood out starkly.
Mingzhu glanced back subtly, suppressing a smirk as he bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, Kuien is still young and foolish. Forgive him for entertaining this challenge. Fulu insisted on competing, and Kuien accepted without considering the age difference… Truly, this victory is hardly honorable!"
He twisted the facts entirely, painting Fulu as the instigator.
Tuyue opened his mouth, hesitating. "Your Majesty…"
Kangxi waved a hand, amused. "The young fear nothing. No need for harsh judgment. Let’s see who lifts the heavier stone."
Seeing the Emperor and his clan’s leader present, Kuien flushed with excitement.
"I’ll go first!" he declared loudly, rolling up his sleeves and striding to the pile of stones. After a deep breath, he bypassed the smaller rocks and went straight for the largest one—nearly half Fulu’s height.
With a grunt, he lifted it halfway before it slipped from his grasp and thudded to the ground.
Panting, Kuien felt a flicker of disappointment, but Yinti cheered loudly.
For an eight-year-old, lifting the stone even that high was an impressive feat!
Applause erupted around him. Mingzhu stroked his beard, beaming with pride.
"Your turn!" Kuien turned triumphantly to Fulu, all traces of defeat gone.
Fulu glanced around nervously, shrinking further when he spotted his father.
"Then… I’ll try the same one," he mumbled.
A ripple of shock spread through the crowd. Yinqi stood on tiptoe, calling out anxiously, "Cousin, don’t push yourself!"
"I won’t, I won’t," Fulu said, tossing aside his cap. With a grin, he waddled forward and crouched awkwardly—his plump frame straining against his clothes.
Soft laughter rose around them. Someone teased, "Tuyue, what a prodigy you’ve raised."
Tuyue’s face remained stony. "…"
Then Fulu lifted the massive stone effortlessly—and set it down just as easily.
Silence fell.
The wind howled, carrying only Tuyue’s mortified words: "Your Majesty, this brat was born with freakish strength… yet he hid it from Kuien. Truly, this victory is hardly honorable, hardly honorable…!"
