Hidden in the shadows, four-year-old Yinzhen clutched the small pouch hanging from his waist.
His dark eyes were wide with shock.
What does “not biological” mean?
Me?
His little mind was overwhelmed by too much information at once.
What exactly had Mother and the nanny been talking about?
He quietly shifted his feet, trying to get closer and hear more clearly.
“Your Highness! Why have you come here? Please come back with this nanny at once!”
The old nanny’s voice trembled with fear.
Yinzhen had intended to keep listening.
Suddenly, he didn’t want to anymore.
The nanny quickly seized the opportunity and quietly led him away.
As they walked, Yinzhen couldn’t hold back any longer.
He turned to look at the elderly nanny beside him.
She had been with him since childhood.
She was one of the closest people in his life.
“Nanny…”
His voice was unusually quiet.
“Is Mother… my real mother?”
The moment the words left his mouth, the old nanny froze.
Then she immediately dropped to her knees.
Her forehead pressed against the cold stone pavement.
She didn’t dare breathe.
Her fingers gripped her skirts tightly.
Her lips trembled.
Yet she couldn’t utter a single word.
How could she?
This was a royal secret.
One that Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia herself had forbidden anyone to discuss.
But when she looked up and saw the confusion on her young master’s face…
The helpless pleading hidden in his voice…
Her heart ached.
In the end, she simply lowered her head further and remained silent.
That silence told him everything.
At first, Yinzhen had only suspected.
Now he understood.
Completely.
No wonder they always said he wasn’t obedient.
Turns out…
He really wasn’t.
Why had he come back?
Why had he learned any of this?
“Nanny, get up.”
His voice sounded calm.
But his small body trembled slightly.
The nanny slowly rose.
Her eyes were red with tears.
She looked at him with obvious heartbreak.
Yinzhen took a deep breath.
Trying desperately to remain composed, he said,
“Nanny, I’ll pretend I never heard it.
Don’t be afraid.”
The nanny’s eyes reddened even more.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Nanny, I’d like to be alone for a while.
Please go back first.”
“Your Highness, this servant—”
“Please.
Just let me walk around by myself.”
After speaking, he turned and walked away alone.
Yinzhen didn’t know where he was going.
He didn’t even know what he was thinking.
Normally, the palace was full of things he enjoyed.
Today, nothing interested him.
Mother isn’t my real mother.
Then who is?
The nanny said they wanted to move me somewhere else…
Where?
Rubbing his reddened eyes, he muttered softly,
“It’s okay.
I’ll be five soon.
Mother only has to raise me for one more year.
Next year I’ll enter the Imperial Study.
Then she won’t have to worry about me anymore.
She’ll have more time for my younger brothers and sisters.”
He sniffed.
Then made a solemn decision.
He would eat less from now on.
That way Mother wouldn’t have to spend so much effort raising him.
And he would stop getting sick.
That would save Mother and the nannies trouble too.
And he would become more mature.
He wouldn’t ask to be carried anymore…
At that thought, the tears he had been holding back finally fell.
Does that mean…
Does that mean I won’t be allowed to hug Mother anymore?
The more he thought about it, the sadder he became.
Hiding in a corner, he cried quietly until he could barely breathe.
“Eighty! Eighty! Eighty!”
A childish voice suddenly sounded nearby.
Yinzhen originally intended to ignore the annoying chant.
But the voice kept repeating itself over and over beside him.
Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he followed the sound.
What he found was…
A round little bear.
No.
A round little child.
The child was crouched beneath a tree, holding a tiny hammer and enthusiastically pounding something.
Every strike was accompanied by a cheerful shout.
“Eighty!”
The little fellow was so focused that he didn’t even notice Yinzhen approaching.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Eighty!”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Eighty!”
Looking at him…
He looked like an idiot.
Yinzhen reached that conclusion immediately.
Finally he spoke.
“What are you doing?”
The child didn’t even look up.
“Working!”
“Working?”
Yinzhen was confused.
“That’s right!”
The child nodded seriously.
“My mother said if I do fifty Eighties, I’ll get snacks.”
“…”
Yinzhen stared at him.
Then asked what seemed like a critical question.
“How many Eighties have you done already?”
That instantly stumped the child.
The hammer froze.
He sat on the ground, tilted his head, and began counting on his fingers.
After a long struggle, his cheeks puffed out.
His face was completely blank.
“Oh.
That’s a good question.
How many Eighties have I done?”
After failing repeatedly, he suddenly waved his hand.
“Not important!
I’ll just start over!”
Then he enthusiastically began again.
“Eighty, one!
Eighty, two!
…Eh?
What comes after that?”
Yinzhen silently took two steps backward.
This child couldn’t even count.
Clearly, maintaining distance was the safest option.
Otherwise stupidity might be contagious.
Unfortunately, he had barely moved when the little boy attached himself to him.
“Big Brother!
Why don’t you help me count?
Then I’ll ask Mother to give you snacks too.”
“No.”
Yinzhen immediately refused.
“You count yourself.”
“Come on!
The things my mother makes are really delicious.”
The child even drooled slightly while saying it.
“No.
I’m going back.”
Yinzhen turned to leave.
Then discovered he couldn’t move.
Looking down, he found that the child was tightly hugging his leg.
“Let go.”
“I won’t!
Not unless you play with Little Six!”
“We don’t even know each other.
Why would I play with you?”
The child looked completely baffled.
“My name is Little Six.
My mother is Defei.
Who are you?”
Yinzhen didn’t really want to answer.
But not answering would be rude.
“I’m Yinzhen.”
The little boy’s face immediately brightened.
“See?
Now we know each other.
That means we can play together.”
Decision made.
Case closed.
Yinzhen stared at him.
“I don’t want to play your Eighty game.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Little Six happily scooted closer and practically sat on his foot.
Then he looked up.
“Hey.
Big Brother, the ground is cold.
Why are you—”
He suddenly froze.
“Big Brother…
Your eyes are raining.”
His chubby finger pointed toward Yinzhen’s face.
“I am not crying.”
Yinzhen responded stubbornly.
“I know.”
Little Six nodded.
“You aren’t crying.
Your eyes are raining.”
Then he grabbed Yinzhen’s sleeve and tried pulling him down.
After a lengthy struggle, Yinzhen finally gave up and crouched beside him.
Little Six clumsily reached out and wiped at the corner of his eye.
His movements were awkward.
But gentle.
“Little Six likes rainy days.
But Little Six doesn’t like eyes raining.
So can you tell your eyes not to rain anymore?”
“I told you I’m not crying—”
Yinzhen stopped when he saw the serious expression on the little boy’s face.
“Fine.
They’re not raining.”
“Then why—”
“Sand got into my eyes.”
Yinzhen interrupted immediately.
Then he changed the subject.
“Didn’t you say you wanted snacks?
Hurry up and work.
You hit things.
I’ll count.”
Little Six’s eyes lit up.
He immediately scooted forward and raised his hammer.
Tap!
“Eighty!”
“One.”
Yinzhen leaned against the tree and replied lazily.
Tap!
“Eighty!”
“Two.”
Tap!
“Eighty!”
“Three.”
And so it went.
One shouting.
One counting.
Until a warm female voice called from inside the palace walls.
“Little Six! Come back and eat!
Where have you run off to this time?”
“Mother!”
Little Six immediately shouted back.
“I’m here!”
“Come back and eat.
Stop playing with the hammer.”
“Okay!”
As far as Little Six was concerned:
The sky could collapse.
The earth could split apart.
Nothing was more important than food.
He immediately packed away his hammer and grabbed Yinzhen’s hand.
“Come on!”
Yinzhen frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“You helped me.
I’ll take you to dinner.”
“No need.
I have my own home to return to.”
He gently pushed Little Six toward the palace entrance.
“You go back.”
“Big Brother, are you sure you don’t want to eat at my house?”
Little Six looked genuinely concerned.
“The food my mother makes is really good.”
“No.”
“All right then.”
Little Six shook his head dramatically.
“You’re really missing out.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, he waddled away.
Then he turned and called out:
“See you tomorrow!
Little Six will bring you beef jerky!”
Watching the round little figure disappear into Yonghe Palace, Yinzhen rolled his eyes.
Who agreed to see you tomorrow?
He had barely taken two steps when the frantic nanny finally found him.
“Your Highness!
Why are you here?
Please come back with this servant immediately!”
“All right.”
Yinzhen nodded.
Then he followed her.
But for some reason, after only a few steps, he looked back.
His gaze settled on the palace gates behind him.
“Yonghe Palace…”
he murmured softly to himself.