This was the daily routine, only today it started earlier because the Crown Prince was injured, and there was an extra fourth brother.
Yinreng looked at Yin You in his arms, the little dumpling also tilting his head up to gaze at him.
Yinreng asked him, “Does Xiao Qi want to accompany Crown Prince brother to see Han Ama?”
Yin You had been waiting for this very question, throwing himself forward to wrap his arms around his neck. “Yes, yes!”
Yinreng had practiced martial arts since childhood—after all, he was someone who could shoot a deer at five and a wolf at eight. His height and build were quite outstanding among his peers, so carrying Yin You, who was not yet three, from Zhaoren Hall to the South Study was no problem at all.
When they entered the room, Yinzhen had already arrived, standing quietly to the side, waiting for Kangxi to review his day’s studies.
After quickly glancing through the few sheets of paper in his hand, Kangxi nodded with satisfaction. “Although there is still some gap compared to your elder brothers, you have not been studying for long. To have achieved this, I am already quite pleased.”
The First Prince and Third Prince were not present, so it was clear who he meant by “elder brothers.”
Yinzhen stood respectfully to the side, listening without much emotional fluctuation. After all, the entire Forbidden City knew that Han Ama’s favor and trust in the Crown Prince were something other princes could only dream of.
Kangxi looked up just in time to see Yinreng carrying Yin You as they walked in. His expression darkened, and he spoke with displeasure, “How old are you now, still needing your elder brother to carry you? Have you forgotten how to walk?”
Since Han Ama said so, Yinreng had no choice but to set the little dumpling down.
Both the second and fourth brothers sensed the dissatisfaction in Kangxi’s words but couldn’t quite grasp why he was displeased—was it simply because the Crown Prince had carried Yin You?
But Yin You himself didn’t pick up on it. He was a little fool whose mind was filled with delicious treats and had no room for anything else. Not being carried was simply not an option; even if he could walk, he still wanted someone to hold him.
The little dumpling trotted over to his Han Ama’s side, stretching his arms toward Kangxi on the dragon throne. “Ama, hold me~”
Kangxi took a deep breath, telling himself inwardly, “Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. He’s my own flesh and blood, my own flesh and blood. If I lay a hand on him, it won’t be easy to explain to my cousin. Endure it, just endure it a little longer.”
Beside him, Yinreng and Yinzhen both felt the low-pressure atmosphere emanating from Han Ama. In Kangxi’s view, educating princes was a serious matter, and the little dumpling insisted on causing trouble. Anyone else would have been punished without question.
Only Yin You could still act as if nothing had happened and ask to be held.
“Liang Jiugong!”
As soon as Kangxi called out, before he could give any orders, Yin You’s intelligence kicked in instantly. He withdrew his hands, neatly took several steps back, and stood obediently beside his two elder brothers, his little face tense, trying his best to mimic the serious expressions of his imperial father and brothers.
Kangxi glanced at this clever little imp, waved his hand at Liang Jiugong, signaling that it was fine and he could leave.
The Crown Prince had seen Han Ama’s unyielding demeanor in front of court officials but never imagined he would compromise in front of a three-year-old child. He also recalled his own childhood, when Han Ama had doted on him just as much.
Kangxi reviewed the Crown Prince’s day’s studies and began asking questions. He had kept Yinzhen there precisely to let him see how outstanding the Crown Prince was, hoping to inspire him to strive even harder.
The questions he posed were all answered fluently by the Crown Prince. Not only could the teacher recite the texts he had studied word for word, but he could also expand on their content, adding his own understanding and insights.
Yinzhen remained quietly standing there, his expression unchanged from beginning to end. In contrast, Yin You beside him lifted his head, looking at his Crown Prince brother with admiration.
Although he couldn’t understand, he could sense the confidence and focus in the Crown Prince’s words.
The Crown Prince was the future successor cultivated by the emperor and had already begun to handle affairs of the previous court.
Kangxi asked a few more questions about court matters, and the Crown Prince answered them one by one, greatly satisfying Kangxi.
The topics they discussed grew increasingly profound, to the point that even Yinzhen beside them couldn’t understand, let alone Yin You.
At this point, the little dumpling could no longer stand still. He was already standing closest to Kangxi and now tried to take a small step sideways with his short legs.
Then, he looked up at Ama, who was intently listening to Yinreng’s answers. Seeing that the other hadn’t noticed him, he grew bolder and slowly inched his way to Kangxi’s feet.
Kangxi could no longer bear it. He grabbed the back of his collar, lifted him up, and placed him on his lap, thinking the little thing would finally settle down now.
However, in Yin You’s eyes, Ama had indulged his mischief. Happily lowering his head, he began his exploration.
He touched the dragon patterns on Ama’s chest, fiddled with the jade pendant hanging from his waist, and then played with the Eastern pearls dangling from the back of his braid…
Fortunately, by this time, Kangxi and the Crown Prince’s conversation was nearly over. Otherwise, who knew where the little one sitting on his lap would have explored next.
Yinzhen kept his eyes downcast, focusing on his own thoughts. What his younger brother was doing to Han Ama was something he would never dare to do.
Yinreng also watched thoughtfully. The little dumpling acted spoiled with such confidence. He himself had lost his E’nang at a young age and had never acted spoiled in front of Han Ama, let alone in front of others. After all, he was the Crown Prince, a figure of noble status—how could he ever do such a thing?
Seeing this, Yinreng felt a twinge of envy for his younger brother, who acted freely and did whatever he wanted.
Kangxi held the little one with one hand and gestured toward the Crown Prince with the other: “Come here, let me see your injury.”
The Crown Prince spread open his palm, which was wrapped in thick gauze. Kangxi examined it carefully for a while but couldn’t discern much. After a moment of thought, he only said, “Take good care of it.”
The Crown Prince nodded: “Your son thanks Han Ama for his concern.”
Kangxi added: “Once the injury heals, you must continue practicing. We Manchus built our empire on horseback—we cannot abandon the traditions of our ancestors.”
At this moment, Yin You looked up and suddenly said, “Crown Prince brother shouldn’t practice anymore.”
“…”
Not only the Crown Prince and Yinzhen, but even the eunuch waiting nearby broke into a cold sweat for the Seventh Prince.
The emperor had just urged the Crown Prince to work harder and not abandon the traditions of their ancestors, and now he was telling the Crown Prince not to practice.
Kangxi frowned and looked at him: “Why shouldn’t he practice?”
Yin You, completely unaware that Ama’s anger had reached its peak, looked up and gave him a sweet smile: “Leave it for Xiao Qi to practice. Xiao Qi is a Baturu and can protect Crown Prince brother in the future.”
Kangxi grew even more frustrated. This little fellow had so many people he wanted to protect, yet his own Ama wasn’t among them. It seemed his standing in the child’s heart was declining day by day.
Soon enough, the fifteenth day of the eighth month arrived—the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions. Kangxi had always placed great importance on familial bonds and filial piety. Every year on this day, he would host a family banquet in the Qianqing Palace, inviting the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, the imperial consorts and concubines, as well as the princes and princesses to admire the moon together.
As evening fell, Kangxi led the Crown Prince in offering sacrifices to the heavens at the Moon Altar. Meanwhile, the Qianqing Palace was adorned with vibrant decorations, with fiery-red begonias and large pomegranates visible everywhere.
The Grand Empress Dowager sat in the seat of honor with Yin You beside her, while the Empress Dowager took her place at her side. The two chatted in Mongolian about everyday matters.
Although the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the former was actually the latter’s grandniece, so their relationship was naturally close.
The Fifth Prince, Yinqi, was born to Consort Yi of the Gorolo clan. Shortly after his birth, Kangxi sent him to the Ningshou Palace to be raised by the Empress Dowager. Later, Yin You was sent to the Cining Palace. Whenever the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law gathered, their conversations inevitably revolved around these two children, primarily exchanging child-rearing experiences, with a subtle sense of comparison in their words.
Although both Yinqi and Yin You were born in the nineteenth year of Kangxi’s reign, one arrived at the beginning of the year and the other near the end, making them nearly a year apart in age.
Their statures were even more strikingly different—Yin You was a full head shorter than his Fifth Prince brother.
It was clear that the Empress Dowager had put great care into raising Yinqi. Not only was the child physically robust, but his temperament was also excellent.
Yin You had many opportunities to meet his Fifth Prince brother, and the two got along exceptionally well.
Yin You loved eating walnuts and other nuts, so Li Xi, along with two palace maids, would shell them for him nearby. For every nut Yin You ate himself, he would invariably stuff one into his Fifth Prince brother’s mouth.
Yinqi was nearly four years old but only spoke Manchu and Mongolian, with no knowledge of Chinese at all. Although he was older than Yin You, when the two played together, he often acted more like the younger brother, following Yin You’s lead in everything.
Before long, the imperial consorts and concubines began arriving at the banquet with their respective princes and princesses. With the Emperor absent, the first order of business upon entering the Qianqing Palace was to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
In daily life, the Grand Empress Dowager preferred tranquility. Aside from the Imperial Noble Consort, other consorts and concubines who came to pay their respects rarely had the chance to see her, let alone lower-ranking ladies. Only on such public occasions could they bring their children before the elderly lady.
Each visiting consort not only adorned herself meticulously, vying to outshine the others, but also made sure their children performed before the Grand Empress Dowager—uttering auspicious words or showcasing small talents. A word of praise from the elderly lady was considered an achievement, and receiving any reward was even better.
There were too many people—older brothers, sisters, and younger siblings came in waves and left in waves. Aside from the Imperial Noble Consort and Yinzhen, Yin You couldn’t remember any of them, including Consort De and Yinzuo, with whom he had clashed not long ago. When he saw them again, he could hardly recall who they were.
Consorts Hui, Yi, Rong, and De each had sons and daughters, and the covert and overt rivalries among the four never ceased. Consort Hui’s First Prince, Yin E, excelled in archery and horsemanship; Consort Rong’s Third Prince was exceptionally talented in literature; Consort Yi’s Fifth Prince, raised by the Empress Dowager for years, was deeply favored. Moreover, she was now nine months pregnant, drawing even more attention from the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
Although Consort De held the lowest rank among the four consorts, she was the most favored by Kangxi, giving birth to princes and princesses one after another, much to the envy of the other consorts.
Yinqi looked at Consort Yi. Children always yearn to be close to their mothers, but Consort Yi’s belly was already quite large. She merely smiled and patted his head, with no intention of holding him.
Children are least adept at concealing their emotions; even Yin You could sense his fifth brother’s distress.
The little one had gathered a handful of walnut kernels in his small palm and stuffed them all into Yinqi’s mouth: “Fifth Prince, eat, eat, eat more! This is delicious!”
Whether startled by his younger brother’s enthusiasm or truly overwhelmed by his own sorrow, Yinqi couldn’t hold back and burst into tears, his tears falling in big drops.
The courtyard was bustling with noise and excitement. On the stage, Jiang Ziya was chanting the list of gods in a drawn-out voice, and for a moment, no one noticed them.
Yinqi’s wet nurse quickly crouched down to soothe him, but for some reason, the Fifth Prince could not be comforted and instead seemed to cry even more sorrowfully.
Sitting beside him, Yin You tilted his head thoughtfully. Li Xi thought he was frightened and reached out to pick him up.
To her surprise, Yin You pushed her hand away, steadied himself against the table, and slid down from the stool. Soon, he returned to the table, holding the Imperial Noble Consort’s hand.
“E’nang, Fifth Prince wants a hug from his mother. Please hug him quickly.”