Yinsi’s life journeyed from the humble beginnings of low status to the peak of support from hundreds of officials, ultimately ending in the downfall of Akina.
At the end of his life, he quietly awaited his demise in the prison of the Imperial Clan Court. As Yinsi watched the swallows flying past outside his cell, his gaze was already growing unfocused.
Spring had come again.
“The Eighth Prince is inexperienced, has recently committed crimes, and his maternal family is of lowly status…”
“Yinsi was born to a wretched woman from the Xinzhoku; thus, he cannot be established as Crown Prince.”
“From now on, the bond of father and son between Us and Yinsi is severed.”
Every word Kangxi had spoken began echoing again in Yinsi’s mind—the heartless Imperial Father, the ruthless Fourth Brother… and his mother, who had suffered the most unjust calamities because of him.
Before closing his eyes for the last time, he thought: if there really is a next life, may I not be reborn into an imperial family again.
Harmonious parents, deep brotherly affection, a reunited family—that would be enough.
As Yinsi closed his eyes, his mind felt muddled, as if drifting in a pitch-black sea, boundless and without light.
He thought this was the underworld he had arrived at after death, condemned to drift forever due to his heavy sins. Until one day, he suddenly saw a fissure appear before him, followed by a pair of hands pushing him from behind towards that crack.
Startled and panicked, he struggled briefly, and in the next moment, he felt himself being lifted up. Then, he tasted his first breath of air.
“Waa— Waa—”
“Oh my! The little Prince has a strong cry; he looks healthy and robust!”
The midwife deftly cleaned Yinsi, wrapped him in the prepared longevity swaddling cloth, and placed him beside Wei Shi, who had just given birth.
Wei Shi was exhausted from childbirth. With great effort, she raised her hand to touch her son’s small face. “Consort Xuan has been waiting outside. Hearing of your successful delivery, she sent me to offer congratulations on her behalf,” said Zhen Zhu, entering from the outer room with two young palace maids carrying numerous congratulatory gifts.
Wei Shi struggled to sit up and express her thanks, but Zhen Zhu quickly pressed her back down. “Your health is most important; there’s no need for formalities,” she said, glancing at the little Prince beside her and adding with a smile, “Consort Xuan said it’s not good for the little Prince to be separated from his birth mother so soon after birth. She asks you to endure a few more days of hardship.”
Although Kangxi had issued an edict for Wen Shan to raise Yinsi, Wen Shan couldn’t bring herself to separate mother and child immediately after birth. She allowed Wei Shi and Yinsi to stay together for a few more days.
Wei Shi’s beautiful eyes welled with tears. Though disheveled from childbirth, her beauty was undeniable. She knew her lowly background and status meant she could never raise her child herself. She had already accepted the inevitable separation when Kangxi’s edict was announced.
Fortunately, Heaven took pity, and Consort Xuan was compassionate. During her pregnancy, Consort Xuan often visited, bringing many tonics. Now, after the little Prince’s birth, she had specifically allowed Wei Shi to care for him for a few more days. Wei Shi was deeply grateful.
Meanwhile, the newly born Yinsi’s vision was still blurry, and he couldn’t see clearly. His hearing was also muffled. He only sensed a commotion around him. Stretching his arms and legs, he cried out twice, but what emerged were only wailing sounds.
Soon, someone picked him up, and the dazed Yinsi felt something soft being placed in his mouth. His infant instincts made him suckle, and a sweet liquid flowed out.
At this moment, Yinsi finally understood what was happening.
Had the heavens truly heard his wish, allowing him to be reborn as a human again?
Two more days passed, and though Yinsi’s vision remained blurry, he could finally hear clearly—only to be struck by a thunderbolt from the blue.
He heard his mother of this life holding him and saying, “Yinsi, from now on, your name is Yinsi. Do you like the name Emperor Father gave you?”
Like… my foot!
Yinsi felt like crying but had no tears. So, he had returned after all?
The timing of Yinsi’s birth was unfortunate. The day before he was born, Noble Consort Tong Jia had suffered a miscarriage, casting a pall of grief over the palace. As a prince born to a low-ranking consort, almost no one dared to offer congratulations, fearing they might offend Noble Consort Tong Jia.
Moreover, even Kangxi had only come for a brief look before leaving, and the customary gifts were noticeably meager. After caring for Yinsi for a few days, Wei Shi grew increasingly anxious about the palace’s tense atmosphere. Fearing that Yinsi might come to harm, she reluctantly sent him to Xianfu Palace.
After all, Consort Xuan held a high rank and enjoyed the protection of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. Raising Yinsi there would surely keep him safe.
Wen Shan, seeing the still-frail Consort Wei struggling to hold back tears as she handed Yinsi over, felt a pang of sympathy. “Little sister, there’s no hurry to send Yinsi to Xianfu Palace. We can wait until after his hundred-day celebration. If you wish, I will speak to the Emperor.”
Kangxi clearly did not pay much attention to this son, so her request would likely not be refused.
Consort Wei shook her head. “No, I’ll feel more at ease with Yinsi under your care, Your Highness.””
Wen Shan sighed, looking at Yinsi, who stared back at her with wide eyes. Noble Consort Tong Jia had just lost a young prince, and Yinsi was born the very next day. In the current palace climate, both mother and son were in an awkward position.
“Take good care of yourself during your confinement and don’t worry about Yinsi. Once you’ve recovered, you can visit him anytime, or even take him back to stay with you for a few days,” Wen Shan said gently.
Thank you for your grace, Your Highness.”
Consort Wei performed a deep bow, and Wen Shan, after handing Yinsi to Zhen Zhu, quickly helped her up.
Watching Consort Wei depart, Wen Shan gently stroked Yinsi’s cheek. “See how much your mother loves you.”
Meanwhile, Yinsi was reeling from shock.
Where was he?
Wasn’t he supposed to be raised by Consort Hui?
How did he end up with Consort Xuan?
In his previous life, he and his mother had also been separated. Due to her low rank, he had been taken away just days after birth to be raised by the mistress of Yanxi Palace—Consort Hui, the mother of the Eldest Prince. Consort Hui’s treatment of him had been neither good nor bad; with her own biological son, she naturally paid him little attention.
As for Consort Xuan… to be honest, his impression of this Mongol-born consort was quite vague. She had neither favor nor children but lived a peaceful life in the palace thanks to her background. She seemed to have been a long-lived consort, but such inconspicuous imperial consorts were all too common in Emperor Father’s harem.
So how had he ended up being raised by Consort Xuan?
Before Yinsi could figure it out, a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears.
“Xuan E Niang, I’m back.””
Yinzhen had just finished his studies, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead from the recent heat. Wen Shan crouched down, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped his sweat.
“Have you visited your Noble Consort Mother at Chengqian Palace?” Wen Shan asked as she straightened Yinzhen’s clothes.
Yinzhen’s expression instantly turned dejected. He shook his head: “Noble Consort Mother still refuses visitors.”
Since her miscarriage, Consort Tong Jia had only received the Emperor, refusing all other consorts and even Yinzhen. It was said that in a few days, Consort Tong Jia’s mother would enter the palace for a visit. Having her mother by her side might help her overcome her grief and heal from the pain of losing her child.
Just as Yinzhen was about to share some amusing stories from the Imperial Study, he noticed Zhen Zhu holding a swaddled infant nearby.
“Mother, is this Eighth Brother?”
Wen Shan stood up, took Yinsi into her arms, and walked to sit nearby, then beckoned for Yinzhen to join her.
“Yes, this is your Eighth Brother, Yinsi. He was just born a few days ago. Isn’t he adorable?”
Yinzhen gazed curiously at the tiny bundle in Wen Shan’s arms: “He’s so small.”
“You were just as small when you were born,” Wen Shan said with a smile. “Would you like to gently touch your brother? Be very soft.”
Yinzhen nodded and reached out to touch Yinsi’s face. But before he could make contact, Yinsi—who had been quiet and well-behaved since arriving at Xianfu Palace—suddenly burst into loud cries, twisting his head as if trying to avoid Yinzhen.
Yinzhen awkwardly withdrew his hand: “Mother…”
Wen Shan flusteredly tried to soothe the wailing Yinsi, her movements clumsy and unpracticed. Seeing Yinzhen equally at a loss, she found the situation both amusing and exasperating. Was this the destined bond between Yongzheng and the Eighth Prince?
Fortunately, after a short while, Wen Shan managed to calm Yinsi down. She placed him in a rocking bed that had been prepared earlier, surrounded by toys she had sewn herself.
Yinzhen followed closely, eager to greet his brother, but wherever he stood, Yinsi would turn his head away, ignoring him.
“Mother, it seems Younger Brother doesn’t like me,” Yinzhen said, deeply disheartened.
Wen Shan took Yinzhen’s hand to comfort him: “Your brother is still very young and can’t recognize people yet. Perhaps he’s just tired. Let me take you for lunch and let your brother rest for a while, alright?”
Yinzhen nodded. Before leaving, he glanced back at Yinsi in the rocking bed, then suddenly stood still and mustered his courage to ask: “Mother, now that you have Eighth Brother, will you like me less?”
After speaking, his face flushed, and he showed a rare expression of bashfulness.
Eighth Brother had been raised by Mother since he was just a few days old, while Yinzhen had only been under her care for a few months and would soon return to Chengqian Palace.
Yinzhen was reserved by nature, often keeping his thoughts to himself. Over the past three months, Wen Shan had been diligently encouraging him to speak his mind and not overthink things alone. It seemed her efforts were paying off.
In the past, Yinzhen would never have asked such a question.
Wen Shan understood his fear. He had already experienced too much of this—Consort De had grown distant after having the Sixth Prince, and Consort Tong Jia had treated him differently after becoming pregnant. It always seemed as though he was the one left unchosen.
“Of course not. I care for both you and your brother deeply,” Wen Shan said softly, patting his head. “No matter what happens, I will never forget the time you’ve spent here at Xianfu Palace, and neither will you, right?”
Yinzhen nodded emphatically. These past few months by Mother’s side had been the happiest days he could remember.
Mother would prepare delicious food for him, help him make kites, accompany him to and from school, and play with him and Fuqi. No matter what they did, she would always stay by his side.
“When I grow up, I’ll be filial to you, Mother,” Yinzhen declared, clenching his small fist and glancing at Yinsi beside him with determination. “I’ll also take good care of my younger brother.”
Wen Shan: “…”
If you manage to keep him out of prison, that would be achievement enough.
In the cradle, Yinsi rolled his eyes. Who would believe such words coming from you!
But… why was Fourth Brother also in Xianfu Palace?!
And was this really his cold-faced, rule-obsessed, unfeeling Fourth Brother? He remembered Fourth Brother being anything but obedient and docile in childhood—instead, he’d been fiercely stubborn and rebellious. Otherwise, Emperor Father wouldn’t have criticized him for being temperamental.
Overwhelmed by the shock, Yinsi’s mind grew foggy. This must be a dream—it had to be a dream. Once he woke up, everything would be normal, and he’d be back in Yanxi Palace.
Full of hope, Yinsi opened his eyes again only to see his Fourth Brother’s still-youthful face staring down at him. Then he heard him shout loudly: “Mother! I think Younger Brother wet the bed!”
Yinsi: “…”
Still the same detestable Fourth Brother after all!!!