Yinti had only said it offhandedly and didn’t expect to be countered. He was stunned for a moment before mustering his courage and saying, “Fine, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you about my experience as a great general!”
Yinti leisurely replied, “Go ahead.”
Yinti pursed his little mouth and thought for a moment, quickly coming up with an idea. “That day, I wore armor, sailed a big ship, and led many, many soldiers. When the enemy came, I just shouted ‘Fire!’ The cannonball flew so far and broke the enemy’s ship! They all called me Great General—it was so impressive!”
—Was there any difference between this and what he had said before? Yinti’s earlier irritation vanished, replaced by a mix of amusement and exasperation. “And then? Did the enemy run away?”
“Of course they ran!” Yinti’s eyes lit up as he spoke with even more enthusiasm. “When they saw me—the great General Yinti—they were so scared they wet themselves and ran away! Many of them even fell into the water! Later, the soldiers on the ship caught lots of fish, grilled them, and they smelled so good!”
Yinti: “…”
If he hadn’t been right beside Yinti while he was playing the naval battle game, watching the whole thing clearly, he might have actually believed his words. Yinti thought for a moment and asked, “Are you hungry?”
“Sleepy Worm Immortal is so amazing! How did you know?” Yinti patted his little belly, his eyes wide with astonishment. “Can you conjure up grilled fish? Or milk cakes? Or maybe steamed egg custard would work too!”
Yinti took a deep breath. “For something like that, you can get up and have the palace attendants prepare it.”
“Sleepy Worm Immortal is so useless.” Yinti pouted pitifully, his face scrunched up. “Forget it, I’ll just endure it. Otherwise, Nanny Luo will tell Mother and wake her up.”
“No need to worry about that.”
As soon as Yinti finished speaking, Yinti saw a pair of hands lift the curtain. Consort De, dressed in a thin robe and draped in a cloak, met Yinti’s wide, round eyes and couldn’t help but sigh helplessly. “You child, why aren’t you asleep so late? You have to wake up early tomorrow.”
“Mother!” Yinti scrambled up and, like a little kitten, threw himself into Consort De’s arms, nuzzling against her. “Mother isn’t asleep either!”
“I came to check on you.” Consort De tapped his nose and chided gently, “Are you excited about going to Xiyuan tomorrow?”
“How did Mother know?”
“From the day you were born, I’ve been with you every day. Of course, I know everything about you.” Consort De smiled, her eyes crinkling, and kissed her youngest son’s forehead. “I’ll stay with you. Now, go to sleep, alright?”
“I’m hungry. I can’t sleep.”
What was Consort De’s reaction? Naturally, she immediately waved for the palace attendants to prepare food. In less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a palace maid brought a steaming bowl of egg custard to Consort De’s side.
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Yinti lay back down in the bedding, but his eyes were still wide open.
Consort De pinched his nose. “Go to sleep now.”
Yinti let out a big yawn, but his little hand still clung to Consort De’s sleeve as he whined, “Mother, Mother, tell me a story!”
“What story does Yinti want to hear?”
“Hmm—” Yinti thought hard for a long time before shaking his head. “I like any story Mother tells.”
Consort De’s expression softened. With one hand gently patting her son’s back, she began to tell a story in a soft voice. “Once upon a time, there was a great general. He was brave and skilled in battle, winning many, many victories. And then…”
Warm bedding wrapped around his body, and his mother's gentle voice filled his ears. Yinti's eyelids grew heavier and heavier until he gradually drifted off to sleep.
Right up until the moment he fell asleep, he was still pondering one question: The stories his mother told were just as boring as the ones the Sleepy Worm Immortal told… zzzZZ.
As the little hand clutching the sleeve loosened, Consort De also stopped speaking. She reached out to tuck the blanket snugly around Yinti, kissed her young son's forehead, bid him goodnight, and then rose quietly to leave.
Once outside the room, a hint of pride appeared on Consort De's face as she whispered to Nanny Luo, "It seems my storytelling skills haven't declined. In the past, my younger sister would fall asleep listening to me, and now Yinti is the same."
Hearing Consort De's boastful words, the corners of Nanny Luo's mouth lifted slightly as she replied with a smile, "Indeed, Your Highness tells them wonderfully."
The next day arrived, and Yinti, full of energy, climbed into the carriage. He pressed his hands against the window, curiously poking his little head out to look around.
As the convoy prepared to depart, Yinti grew even more excited. He had expected to see commoners on the streets, restaurants, and taverns, but to his surprise, the convoy merely passed through three or five large gates, traveled along a broad and empty road for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then passed through several more gates.
Finally, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
Even as Nanny Luo lifted him out of the carriage, Yinti could hardly believe it: "Really, are we already here?"
"Yes, young master, we've already arrived at Xiyuan."
"Silly child, Xiyuan is right next to the Forbidden City. You came here last year too."
Consort De couldn't help but chuckle as she took Yinti's little hand and explained, "After the New Year, His Majesty will also go to Changchun Garden. That garden is much farther away—it takes nearly a full day to get there."
Yinti only half-understood, but for now, he had little interest in that Changchun Garden. His heart and eyes were completely filled with thoughts of the big ship.
He craned his neck, looking around eagerly, his lively and active demeanor drawing many sidelong glances.
The Empress Dowager watched with delight and asked Consort De to bring Yinti before her. Holding her little grandson's hand, she smiled and asked, "What are you looking for, Yinti?"
"I'm looking for the big ship!" Yinti answered loudly, while secretly glancing at Kangxi: "Hán'āma promised me!"
Kangxi deliberately put on a stern face to tease him: "Are you worried that I would lie to you?"
Yinti rushed forward, grabbing the Empress Dowager with one hand and tugging at Kangxi's sleeve with the other: "I'm not! I'm worried that… Hán'āma forgot!"
Before Kangxi could speak, the Empress Dowager cheerfully chimed in: "Yinti wants to see the big ship? It's alright. If the Emperor forgot, your Imperial Grandmother can take you to see it."
"Wow! Imperial Grandmother is the best!"
"…I didn't forget." Seeing that the grandmother and grandson were about to pin the blame squarely on him, Kangxi couldn't hold back: "After we're settled, I'll take you to see it."
The court officials observed this scene and privately discussed the matter of the Fourteenth Prince's favor. Some worried that he was being overly indulged, but more were unconcerned: "The Fourteenth Prince is the youngest little prince in the palace. It's normal for him to receive some extra affection."
"I've heard there's a saying among the common folk about parents doting on the youngest child," another minister stroked his beard and said, narrowing his eyes. "Besides, in terms of favor, who could compare to the Crown Prince in his day?"
This statement was a decisive blow. As soon as it was uttered, the entire court ceased to dwell on the matter, turning instead to discussions about the next day's Ice Frolic Ceremony or other court affairs.
"I've heard there's been a sudden freeze disaster in Lujiang."
"The relief efforts for the snow disasters in Gaochun and Wujin have just concluded…"
"While they face snow disasters, here we are…" A minister, loosening his collar to catch a breath, furrowed his brow and sighed, "The temperature this year is bizarre. Just days ago, we had heavy snowfall, and now it's so warm we want to shed our winter coats."
"Indeed, this hardly feels like the New Year."
"With such conditions, I fear this summer will be difficult." Another official lowered his voice, looking troubled, "I heard the Dasheng Wula Supervisor has already reported that pine nuts have failed again this year."
The chaotic climate and poor harvests in the north not only make life hard for the people but also likely leave the Northern Desert and the Rasha people struggling, raising concerns they might raid southward.
Meanwhile, frequent freezing and snow disasters in the south mean the court must not only provide disaster relief but also reduce taxes for the next year or two to prevent the people from losing everything and becoming displaced.
Combined, any far-sighted minister knows the coming days will be tough.
At this thought, the court officials wore grave expressions but could only console themselves, "For now, no bad news is good news."
"That's true."
"Perhaps it will snow again later. These sudden temperature swings might kill more pests, sparing us from insect calamities this year." Some ministers still held hope.
Yinti, unaware of the ministers' worries, became the happiest child in the world after receiving Kangxi's promise. He circled around Consort De, urging her from time to time, "Mother, is it almost ready?"
"Not yet."
"Mother, is it ready now?"
"Just a little longer."
"Mother, mother, mother—"
Though Consort De enjoyed her son's affectionate closeness, she couldn't withstand the endless chirping of this little chatterbox. After repeated interruptions, she completely lost her patience, "I'll handle the rest. Yinti, go to His Majesty first."
"Really?"
"Of course." With that, Consort De promptly 'shooed' Yinti, along with Nanny Luo and others, out of the courtyard before continuing to direct the palace servants in tidying the rooms.
Yinti skipped happily away, curiously admiring the scenery of Xiyuan along the way. Though close to the Forbidden City, the landscape here was quite different, with various large trees, pavilions, towers, and a broad river frozen solid.
As he walked, Yinti forgot his original purpose and excitedly approached the riverbank, poking the hard surface with his small hand, "Wow—it's frozen!"
"Little master, be careful." Nanny Luo, quick-eyed and swift-handed, caught Yinti just as he was about to leap onto the river and set him firmly back on the ground, "You mustn't go onto the river. You might slip and fall."
"But the ice is hard?"
"Hard ice can be very slippery. If you jump on it, you'll fall and hurt your bottom."
"A real man isn't afraid of pain!"
"But if you accidentally get hurt, we'd have to call the imperial physician for bandaging, and you might miss seeing the big ship." Using the big ship as leverage, Nanny Luo saw Yinti's expression change instantly. He turned away from the river and kept his distance.
Nanny Luo chuckled inwardly and hurried after him.
Yinti soon arrived at Qinzheng Hall, where Kangxi was. He peeked inside and met several pairs of eyes, startling him so much he instantly pulled his head back.
After a moment, Yinti realized what had happened.
He boldly peeked again, locking eyes with the people inside the hall. Then, puffing out his chest, he strode grandly into the hall… but didn't quite make it.
The eunuch beamed as he stopped him. "His Majesty is currently in a meeting. Please wait a moment, Fourteenth Prince."
Yinti obediently withdrew his foot, thought for a moment, and continued to cling to the door, craning his neck to peek inside.
The eunuch's smile stiffened. "Fourteenth Prince, this… this is improper."
Yinti puffed out his cheeks and shot him a sidelong glance.
Seeing that he wouldn't budge, the eunuch hurriedly leaned closer, rubbing his hands together with an apologetic smile. "Fourteenth Prince, although the weather is warm, the wind at the entrance of the hall is quite chilly. The side hall next door has already prepared a soft couch, along with freshly steamed jujube paste cakes and warm almond milk. Why don't you go to the side hall to rest for a while? As soon as His Majesty finishes the meeting, this servant will come to fetch you immediately. How about that?"
Yinti, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, his small hands gripping the doorframe as he continued to sneakily peer inside. He saw Kangxi seated at the head, with memorials spread out before him, while several ministers stood below with bowed heads, their expressions serious and tinged with apprehension.
Following Yinti's perspective, Yinti felt he had seized an opportunity and abruptly spoke up: 【Isn't Imperial Father handsome!】
【Mhm, so handsome!】
【Then, don't you want to be like Imperial Father in the future…】
【Sleepy Worm Immortal.】 Yinti interrupted Yinti's words with a serious tone, complaining: 【This is my Imperial Father!】
【…This isn't the time for that.】
【Why not?】 Yinti muttered to himself, feeling this was the most important topic at the moment.
Yinti was busy arguing, but in the eunuch's eyes, it seemed the Fourteenth Prince had completely ignored his words. The eunuch looked miserable, but he softened his voice and lowered his posture further, trying to lure Yinti away. "Fourteenth Prince, you see…"
"Fourteenth Prince."
"Fourteenth Prince—"
Before Yinti could grow annoyed with him, Kangxi, who was listening to an urgent report inside the hall, suddenly noticed faint rustling noises outside the door, occasionally accompanied by the eunuch's soft attempts at persuasion. He glanced toward the entrance and, though he only caught a glimpse of a small corner of golden clothing, guessed it was Yinti.
Remembering his promise to the little one yesterday to go see the boats, Kangxi helplessly curved the corner of his mouth and turned to whisper a few instructions to Liang Jiugong beside him.