In the evening, Kangxi personally visited Yonghegong. First, he checked on the two children, which made Consort De feel quite smug. No matter how noble the Imperial Noble Consort’s rank was, in the Emperor’s eyes, she herself was the most favored one.
When the Imperial Noble Consort had come that day, she had expected to be reprimanded, but it hadn’t happened. The Imperial Noble Consort had been very polite, yet the more courteous the other was, the more uneasy Consort De felt.
The Imperial Noble Consort never mentioned Yinzuo snatching Yin You’s things, only saying that Yin You’s mischievousness was due to her and the Grand Empress Dowager’s indulgence, and that Consort De shouldn’t take it to heart.
She added, “All day long, a whole crowd revolves around him alone. Letters from home always ask about the Seventh Prince’s health and appearance. If he so much as frowns, everyone’s hearts are in their throats. If things don’t go his way and he throws a tantrum, no one will have peace.”
After saying this, she even laughed self-deprecatingly, as if she were just chatting casually like sisters.
Consort De was going mad. She would rather have been scolded than sit there listening to such casual conversation. It was terrifying, so much so that she didn’t dare leave her palace for several days and immediately sent someone out of the palace overnight to deliver a message to her father and brothers.
Now, things were better—her backer had arrived.
Unexpectedly, after seeing the children and sitting down, Kangxi abruptly changed the subject and ordered her to be confined for three days to reflect on the children’s upbringing.
If she couldn’t teach them well, then someone else would take over.
This tactic of giving a sweet treat before delivering a slap thoroughly stunned Consort De.
The Emperor’s thoughts were the hardest to guess. Just a few days earlier, during the Mid-Autumn moon viewing, he had affectionately called her by her childhood name and praised their pair of children for growing up well. Today, he used the son she cared about most to intimidate her.
Consort De thought of the Imperial Noble Consort again. After all, they were cousins by blood, a family. What was she? Nothing more than a servant.
Yin You stayed in Chengqangong for a few days, spending each day with his E’nang and brother, and even getting to see his Ama. He couldn’t have been happier.
But someone was not pleased. In just three to five days, someone from Cining Palace came over, saying that if the Seventh Prince had recovered from his illness, he should be sent back immediately, as the Grand Empress Dowager missed him dearly every day.
Yin You, with his childlike heart, was reluctant to leave his E’nang but also wanted to accompany Nanny Ukuma. He nestled in the Imperial Noble Consort’s arms, dawdling for a long time, refusing to budge.
The Imperial Noble Consort looked at her little son in her arms, her heart softening unbearably. She almost gritted her teeth and ran to beg Kangxi to send the child back.
In the end, it was Li Xi who whispered something into Yin You’s ear, and only then did the little one obediently follow along.
On the way, the little one hopped and skipped, swinging Li Xi’s hand back and forth. “Cining Palace is closer to Qianqing Palace, so it’ll be more convenient for me to go accompany my brother with his studies every day.”
Li Xi smiled and teased him, “This servant only said it’s closer, not that the Grand Empress Dowager would agree to let the Prince run to Qianqing Palace every day.”
“Hmph, Aunt Xi lied. Lying is wrong.”
Li Xi looked at his dumpling-like little face and couldn’t help but laugh. Her little master was so adorable every day—there was no happier duty in the Forbidden City than this.
As soon as he returned to Cining Palace, Yin You dashed familiarly into the Grand Empress Dowager’s bedchamber, wobbling as he threw himself into the old lady’s arms, saying in a milky voice, “Nanny Ukuma, Xiao Qi missed you so much.”
The Grand Empress Dowager hugged him, grinning from ear to ear. “Then why didn’t Xiao Qi come back earlier to keep Nanny Ukuma company?”
Yin You’s lively eyes darted around: “Xiao Qi is sick and can’t pass the illness to Nanny Ukuma.”
The Grand Empress Dowager was truly warmed by this little one. She knew that even the Imperial Noble Consort wouldn’t have taught him this; everything Yin You said came from his own heart.
Yin You then slipped from her embrace to the floor, standing in the middle of the room. He assumed a horse stance and swung his little fists with practiced flair: “Xiao Qi wants to be the bravest Baturu of the Great Qing, so he can protect Nanny Ukuma in the future.”
Just standing there, he wobbled like a little duckling, his chubby fists and earnest expression looking quite comical. The Cining Palace, quiet for several days, once again echoed with laughter and joy.
Yin You insisted on running to the Qianqing Palace every day, not only to see Ama and accompany his elder brother in studying, but also to play with Cao Yin and Nalan.
However, those two were seriously on duty before the Emperor and couldn’t always be so idle.
Sometimes, Yin You would be left alone in the Emperor’s bedchamber.
He had a deep obsession with the sword on the wall. Every time he entered the bedchamber, no matter how the eunuchs tried to dissuade him, he wouldn’t listen, insisting on taking it down to brandish it around.
Strangely enough, the second time he touched this sword, he only felt a bit dizzy. His body swayed a couple of times, but he managed to steady himself by holding onto a table.
Yin You couldn’t understand what he was saying at all, only feeling a severe headache, yet he clutched the Seven-Star Sword tightly, unwilling to let go.
He felt this sword was very important to him, but he couldn’t figure out why.
The attending eunuchs and palace maids, seeing fine beads of sweat on his forehead, thought the sword was too heavy for him to hold.
So they all gathered around. Someone picked him up, someone tried to take the sword from his hands, and the little eunuch named Zhao Cheng even tried to pry his fingers open.
After all, Yin You was still a child not yet three years old. With everyone’s efforts, they finally managed to separate him from the sword.
At this moment, everyone looked down to see the Seventh Prince had already fallen asleep.
Thus, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and settled him on the spacious imperial bed.
In his dream, Yin You saw a shadowy figure again. Though he couldn’t make out its appearance, he recognized it at once as the Sword Spirit.
The Sword Spirit praised him profusely: “As expected of the Golden Virtue Star Lord’s reincarnation. Though physically weak, your spiritual strength remains formidable.”
Yin You responded: “Still don’t understand.”
So the Sword Spirit switched to a way he could understand: “The Seven Stars are your sword. You must interact with it more often, and in the future, you will become the bravest Baturu of the Great Qing.”
“Understood,” Yin You clenched his fist, “The sword is mine, you are mine, I am the bravest Baturu!”
“…”
Yin You didn’t catch what the Sword Spirit said next. He only felt a slight itch on his cheek, as if something had gently brushed across it.
Then, his nose itched a bit, his eyebrows itched a bit, his nose itched a bit again…
Actually, Yin You slept very soundly this time. He wasn’t sick, nor did he have a fever; he was just tired from playing and took a short nap.
If no one had disturbed him, he could have slept for another hour.
But who was this person? Ama was in the South Study discussing state affairs with court ministers, and his elder brother was completing his studies in the Hongde Hall.
So who exactly was this person always disturbing his sleep!
His thick eyelashes fluttered twice. Yin You opened his eyes just in time to see the finger that had just poked his nose tip retracting.
Before his eyes was an exceptionally handsome face, poised between the innocence of a child and the budding youth of a teenager. Though not yet ten years old, years of study and experience had cultivated a gentle temperament and the dignified authority befitting the Heir Apparent.
Yin You sat up in delight from the bed, leaping into the other’s arms like a kitten, and called out softly and sweetly, “Crown Prince brother!”
The Crown Prince had been raised by Kangxi since childhood, making him the most esteemed child within the Forbidden City. Though he had lost his E’nang at birth, he possessed the unique affection of his father, the emperor—a privilege none of his siblings shared.
Kangxi placed particular emphasis on the Crown Prince’s studies, scheduling his time from the hour of Yin to the hour of You, packed to the brim. He personally quizzed him on recitations, explained insights, and even took an interest in his horsemanship and archery.
Yin You rarely had the chance to see this second brother on ordinary days, but Kangxi occasionally brought the Crown Prince to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, and the two brothers had always gotten along well.
Yinreng held the little bundle in his arms, straightening the disheveled clothing.
Normally, he would only come to Qianqing Palace after the hour of Shen, when Han Ama summoned him. Today, however, he had sustained a minor injury to his palm during archery practice. After having it bandaged by the imperial physician, he arrived at Qianqing Palace earlier than usual.
Having grown up here since childhood, he was intimately familiar with every corner of the palace. Whether it was Han Ama’s study or his bedchamber, he could come and go freely without anyone stopping him.
Yinreng had originally intended to find a book in the bedchamber—one he remembered Han Ama casually flipping through once.
As soon as he entered the room, he noticed a small figure lying on the bed.
This was something new. In the Crown Prince’s memory, aside from himself, no other imperial prince should have slept on Han Ama’s dragon bed.
Driven by curiosity, Yinreng tiptoed to the bedside. The little one on the bed was sound asleep, curled up beneath a thin quilt—a small, soft bundle. Lying on his side, half of his face was nestled into the plush pillow. Perhaps dreaming of something delicious or amusing, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.
Yinreng recognized the little fellow at once: it was Yin You. Among all the imperial princes, he was the only one so carefree, able to adapt anywhere, eating when hungry and sleeping as soon as he lay down.
The little bundle was simply too adorable—his chubby cheeks, rounded nose tip, smooth and radiant forehead… Yinreng couldn’t resist reaching out to poke his cheek, then his nose.
Then, he watched as the little bundle opened his eyes. His large, dark pupils, gleaming like the black sesame filling in tangyuan during the Lantern Festival, suddenly stirred an appetite. Yinreng could almost taste the sweet, delicate flavor in his mind.
The little bundle suddenly sat up, his face breaking into an innocent, joyful smile as he excitedly cried out, “Crown Prince brother!” and threw himself enthusiastically into Yinreng’s arms.
Traces of drool still lingered at the corners of his mouth, all of which ended up smeared across the front of Yinreng’s robe.
Such a soft, sweet little bundle—Yinreng couldn’t get enough of him, let alone find him bothersome.
Yin You looked up, gazing happily at the Crown Prince’s smile. Ama, E’nang, and Nanny Ukuma had all praised the Crown Prince for his excellence—in studies, calligraphy, horsemanship, and archery.
In the little bundle’s heart, the Crown Prince was like an idol radiating a holy light, unmatched by any of his other brothers.
Yin You lowered his head and saw his “idol’s” palm wrapped in white gauze. Frowning, he asked, “What happened to you, Crown Prince brother?”
Yinreng patted his head. “I accidentally cut my palm while practicing archery. It’s just a minor injury, nothing serious.”
The little dumpling asked, “It must hurt a lot, right?”
Although Yinreng was only ten years old, he still had to maintain some of his idol image in front of his younger brother’s admiring gaze. He waved his hand dismissively. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Yin You didn’t believe him. Every time he fell while walking and scraped his knees, it hurt so much. How could it not hurt when Crown Prince brother cut his palm? He could even see faint traces of blood seeping through the gauze.
Tilting his head, he recalled that whenever he fell, Aunt Xi would always say she would blow on it, and blowing on it would make the pain go away.
So, the little dumpling imitated what he had seen. With his chubby little hands, he gently lifted the Crown Prince’s injured hand and blew on it twice, as if afraid his Crown Prince brother might feel any pain. His movements were soft and gentle, looking both clumsy and amusing.
“Blow on it, and it won’t hurt anymore.”
The Crown Prince rarely interacted with his brothers on ordinary days. Even though they studied together in the Imperial Study, he and the First Prince and Third Prince had different tutors.
In his heart, he was well aware that his status was different from that of his other brothers. He was the Heir Apparent of the Eastern Palace, the future emperor.
Though he didn’t go so far as to call himself “the solitary one,” he had long drawn a clear line between himself and others in his mind.
At this moment, however, a little dumpling unexpectedly broke through the boundaries he had set for himself. His heart instantly melted into a puddle, warm and soft, carrying a faint scent of milk and sweetness.
Just then, Wei Zhu, the eunuch by Kangxi’s side, suddenly entered. He bowed to Yinreng and said, “The ministers have left. His Majesty summons the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince to the South Study.”