Qianqing Palace.
The imperial princes stood dejectedly with their heads bowed before the jade steps, forming a "constellation" around the timid Yinqi.
Their study companions remained in the imperial study hall, being reprimanded by their tutors, while the princes themselves had been summoned to the emperor's study to face Kangxi’s displeasure. From the eldest prince to the fifth, none dared raise their heads to meet the emperor’s stormy gaze.
The Crown Prince was still wallowing in regret over his earlier careless remark. He sighed inwardly—just moments ago, Yinqi had been snoring softly, and now, as if summoned by fate, they were all standing before their furious father.
Some of the princes fidgeted nervously, others wore expressions of shame, while a few barely concealed their resentment. The third and fifth princes were particularly guilt-ridden, their heads sinking lower by the second. Even Yinzhen, the fourth prince, seemed remorseful. Only Yinti, the eldest, remained expressionless, silently lamenting his misfortune at being dragged into this mess for no reason.
When Kangxi demanded in a low voice, "Who is responsible for this?" no one spoke. Only Yinti shifted slightly, casting a quick glance toward the Crown Prince’s apricot-colored figure before cautiously saying, "Imperial Father, today is only Yinqi’s second day at the study hall... It’s natural for him to struggle with waking early in the cold. Please be lenient with him..."
He had preempted the Crown Prince in pleading for his younger brother’s sake.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, hesitating briefly before opening his mouth to speak. But before he could, Kangxi let out a displeased hum and called out sharply, "Yinqi!"
Yinqi flinched, his face flushing red with embarrassment. He wished he could dig a hole in the palace floor and disappear. "I-Imperial Father..."
"Was it not you who confidently assured the Empress Dowager? Was it not you who pestered your second and fourth brothers to practice calligraphy?" Kangxi pointed at him, eyebrows raised, his voice dropping to a warning tone. "Not only did you sleep soundly, but you also distracted the others. Quite the achievement!"
The imperial princes were known for their diligence—today’s incident was unprecedented. Even the tutors had been stunned, and Kangxi himself was baffled.
Upholding the principle that "dragons beget nine sons, each unique," the emperor placed the highest importance on his sons’ education, enforcing strict standards. He frequently tested them, summoned them to discuss their insights, and scrutinized their progress with a sternness that contrasted sharply with his usual paternal warmth.
Hard work was rewarded, and the princes studied diligently not only out of fear of punishment but also to earn their father’s praise and attention.
Take the eldest prince and the Crown Prince, for example—close in age, locked in constant rivalry, each striving to outdo the other. Was their competition not also a struggle for their father’s favor? As role models, they had long grown accustomed to the rigorous schedule of the study hall.
Even the younger third and fourth princes, despite exhaustion, had stubbornly endured without complaint, never once shirking their duties—a fact that had filled Kangxi with pride.
Thus, the words "laziness" and "napping" simply did not exist in the emperor’s vocabulary.
Now that he understood the situation, his anger had faded, replaced by resignation. He glanced at Yinqi, who stood like a quivering quail, and continued, "In a few months, I had planned to take you on the southern tour. But now..."
Southern tour?
Before Yinqi could react, Yinti stiffened in surprise—Kangxi had never mentioned this to him.
A pang of envy struck him. In just a year, Yinqi had somehow won their father’s increasing favor, nearly eclipsing him entirely!
For Yinqi, however, the words were a bolt from the blue. Overcome with regret, he let out a long, pitiful sniffle, his eyes welling with tears. A southern tour was far more important than even Yinzhen’s prized white cat! Why had he wasted time worrying about Fuqing’s photographic memory?
Remembering his mother’s warnings—to avoid conflict with Consort Yi of Yikun Palace and to look after Yinqi—Yinti watched as the Crown Prince called out, "Imperial Father." Narrowing his eyes, Yinti stepped forward and clasped his hands. "Imperial Father, I must also bear responsibility for this."
Kangxi paused, giving him a sharp look before replying with a humorless smile, "Indeed, you should! As the eldest brother, it was your duty to guide your younger siblings, yet you failed to correct them. If you’re so eager to repent, standing against the wall is too light a punishment—perhaps kneeling would be more fitting?"
"..." Yinti froze, his face burning with humiliation. After a long silence, he retreated a step, inadvertently exposing the Crown Prince, who stood slightly behind him, closer to Yinqi.
The Crown Prince stiffened for a moment before reluctantly stepping forward, silently cursing Yinti for throwing him under the carriage yet again.
If Kangxi remembered their earlier exchange by the window, the blame might shift to him!
Since the princes were still young, the emperor had no intention of punishing them too harshly. His gaze swept over them before settling on the Crown Prince. "Yinreng, I entrust Yinqi to your care—"
Yinqi’s heart sank. Now even his studious, aloof second brother was being dragged into this.
But before Kangxi could finish, Liang Jiugong’s hushed yet urgent voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Consort Yi requests an audience."
In an instant, the "culprits" witnessed a breathtaking transformation.
Their formidable father, who had been seething moments ago, softened in an instant, his thunderous anger melting into gentle warmth.
Kangxi cleared his throat. "Well? Let her in."
Liang Jiugong: "..."
The grand eunuch hesitated, suppressing a wince. Your Majesty, please maintain some dignity—your sons are watching.
Yinqi, meanwhile, brightened instantly, his cheeks flushing with hope. The Crown Prince exhaled in relief—it seemed both he and Yinqi were saved.
The third and fourth princes exchanged bewildered glances before barely containing their relief. Only Yinti remained utterly lost.
Long ago, his mother, Consort Hui, had mentioned Consort Yi’s favor in passing, but he had never witnessed it firsthand.
As a young teenager, he was still naive about matters of love and favor. During palace banquets, he had never fully grasped the source of the other consorts’ envy.
Now, hearing Consort Yi boldly remark, "Winter hours differ from summer ones—perhaps Your Majesty is being too strict with the children’s studies?" his eyes widened in disbelief. "..."
Cining Palace.
Upon learning that Consort Yi had rushed to Kangxi’s side, the Empress Dowager patted her chest in relief. "With his mother pleading for him, my dear Yinqi will surely escape punishment."
The Grand Empress Dowager, on the other hand, believed that while Kangxi’s academic standards were strict, they were not without merit. Her grandson had always held himself to the highest standards, growing into a man she could take pride in—one of her life’s greatest achievements.
For this reason, she never interfered in the upbringing of the next generation, whether in studies or martial training. After all, look how well Yinreng had turned out under Kangxi’s guidance?
While she agreed with the reasoning, it didn’t stop her from feeling sorry for Yinqi.
Little Five had started his education late and learned Mandarin later than most. At his age, children naturally craved sleep. Add to that the excitement of his first day at the imperial study hall—it was understandable that he’d stayed up late. But making him face the wall as punishment? That was far too harsh!
The Grand Empress Dowager nearly lost her composure, almost sending Sumalagu to the Qianqing Palace to intervene. But then she recalled the embarrassment caused by Second Miss Tong’s antics last time and waved her hand, dismissing the idea.
Even an old woman like her had her pride to consider!
The Empress Dowager wanted to plead for leniency, but the Grand Empress Dowager dissuaded her: "Yinqi is being raised under your care—you mustn’t speak up. What if the emperor takes it the wrong way and does the opposite?"
After much deliberation, they still couldn’t come up with a good solution.
The two dowagers sighed in frustration at the Cining Palace, while Sumalagu and Nanny Qian found the scene rather amusing.
People often said that the elderly grew weaker with age, and indeed, at the beginning of last year, the Grand Empress Dowager had seemed to lack energy. But the imperial harem was never peaceful, and she had countless concerns weighing on her mind. Being the diligent woman she was, over time, she actually grew more spirited—even scolding people with renewed vigor, taking on the temperament of a mischievous old child.
No sooner had they dealt with Second Miss Tong than now it was the Fifth Prince’s turn. Truly, there was no end to the worries!
And now, upon hearing that Consort Yi had accomplished what the two dowagers had wanted to do, they began discussing what reward to give her.
The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke up: "With the higher ranks currently vacant, and her having borne two princes, she has contributed greatly. She would make a fitting Noble Consort—especially since the emperor favors her. As you’ve seen, Mother, Consort Yi is genuine, not scheming like Consort Tong… But what truly surprised me was how willingly she entrusted her children to Yinreng’s care. Not just Yinqi, but even little Nine—she hands them over without hesitation."
The Grand Empress Dowager slowed the turning of her prayer beads. After a moment of astonishment, she closed her eyes in contemplation and remained silent for a long while.
Qi Qige, having raised Yinqi, naturally felt some guilt toward Consort Yi and thus leaned toward favoring the Yikun Palace. That was only human nature, nothing to criticize. But upon closer reflection, the reasons she listed were indeed beyond reproach.
Consort Yi came from a prominent clan, had the seniority, the merit, and had never committed any major mistakes. In the emperor’s heart, her standing was unique.
What worried the Grand Empress Dowager most, what she couldn’t set aside, was the Crown Prince. She hadn’t thought so far ahead before, but Mrs. Wuya’s accusations and Mrs. Tongjia’s schemes had served as a wake-up call—
Even while she was still alive, these petty individuals dared act so brazenly. Once she passed, the Empress Dowager would have no authority to intervene in matters concerning the Crown Prince.
Without an elder to mediate, those with ill intentions would surely grow restless. Even if the emperor’s favor remained unshaken, over time, who could say for certain?
If father and son were to develop a rift, it would be like carving flesh from her bones, leaving her restless even in the afterlife!
At court, the Grand Empress Dowager saw clearly whom Mingzhu supported. After Suo Etu’s fall, factional strife had faded, leaving Mingzhu as the dominant force. The only ones who could counterbalance him were the Tong Family and a few other clans loyal to the throne.
Mingzhu was clever enough to keep his schemes from surfacing openly, and his competence made Kangxi reluctant to dismiss him. With such a looming threat in the court, and no birth mother to shield the Crown Prince in the harem…
The more the Grand Empress Dowager pondered, the heavier her worries grew.
Her grandson Kangxi’s mastery of imperial tactics had reached new heights. In the future… who could predict?
The Noble Consort, a member of the Niu Gulu clan, had the Tenth Prince—naturally, she couldn’t become the Crown Prince’s ally. Consort Ping was a foolish, arrogant woman from the Hesheli family, who would only drag Yinreng down.
Consort Yi…
After much deliberation, Qi Qige’s words made sense.
"When there’s time, summon the emperor," the Grand Empress Dowager instructed Sumalagu. "Tell him I have matters to discuss."
Qianqing Palace.
After paying her respects, Sumalagu relayed the Grand Empress Dowager’s message with a gentle smile. Kangxi paused in reviewing the memorials and asked casually, "Did Yinqi go tattling?"
