Eleven-year-old Yinzhi drew his bow under the guidance of his martial instructor. Holding his breath and focusing intently, he slowly pulled the string taut. The arrow shot forward like a meteor toward the target.
When he saw that it had missed the bullseye, Yinzhi frowned in frustration.
The instructor stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.
“First Prince, don’t be impatient. Archery requires your mind, eyes, and hands to work as one. You’re still young. What you’ve achieved already is quite impressive.”
Yinzhi paid little attention to the encouragement.
If he wasn’t good enough, then he would practice more. Practice enough, and he would improve.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his stance again. Shoulders lowered, elbows relaxed, he gripped the bow steadily in his right hand while extending his left arm. Concentrating, he released.
The arrow pierced through the air and struck dead center.
Yet Yinzhi barely reacted to the result. He continued drawing, aiming, and releasing in one fluid motion. Though not every shot hit the bullseye, his accuracy steadily improved.
Repeated exertion left his palms raw and aching, but he only grew more determined.
Only by becoming exceptional at riding and archery could he earn more of Father Emperor’s attention.
Not until his shoulders began to ache did Yinzhi finally stop practicing. Handing his bow to a nearby eunuch, he turned to leave the training grounds.
Seeing this, the instructor simply instructed the attendants to put everything away.
The red marks on Yinzhi’s palms stung in the cold wind, but the training had helped him vent the frustration he had been bottling up.
So what if he has a good mother and was made Crown Prince? He acts like his eyes are permanently fixed above his head.
Then again, he’s lucky. He can return to Qianqing Palace whenever he wants, and sharing Father’s chambers is nothing unusual for him.
“Did you find out why the Crown Prince rushed back yesterday?” Yinzhi asked.
“Replying to Your Highness, yesterday the Imperial Noble Consort was feeling unwell, so His Majesty brought the Fourth Prince back to Qianqing Palace to care for him,” the young eunuch replied cautiously.
“The Fourth Prince?”
Yinzhi’s brows knit together in surprise.
“Why was he suddenly taken to Qianqing Palace?”
“I heard the Fourth Prince had been rather mischievous lately. Combined with Her Ladyship’s poor health, His Majesty was worried the servants couldn’t look after him properly, so he had him brought back.”
“So the Crown Prince rushed back because of that?”
Yinzhi raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. They say that as soon as the Crown Prince heard the news, he immediately hurried back to Qianqing Palace.”
“And did Father Emperor scold anyone?”
Yinzhi still remembered being punished with extra calligraphy practice simply because he’d complained about studying.
The eunuch lowered his head even further.
“The Crown Prince stayed the night.”
Yinzhi’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
His fingers clenched until his knuckles turned white.
Just yesterday, his instructor had criticized his archery for lacking stability. He had trained all afternoon, hoping Father Emperor would notice his efforts.
Yet now it turned out that the place he considered such a privilege to visit was somewhere Little Four could enter as well, and the Crown Prince could stay overnight whenever he pleased.
Looking toward Qianqing Palace, Yinzhi’s eyes reddened.
He swallowed down the resentment and bitterness surging inside him, composed himself, and walked back into the Imperial Study Hall.
Still seething, he pushed aside the curtain and entered.
Inside, Yinreng and his study companions were bent over their desks reading.
Hearing the commotion, Yinreng looked up. Seeing the hostility still lingering on his elder brother’s face, he silently shifted to the opposite side of his desk.
Hypocrite, Yinzhi thought.
Brute, Yinreng thought.
Neither brother thought highly of the other, but Yinzhi especially despised the Crown Prince’s perpetual air of superiority.
He strode to his seat and sat down heavily.
Looking at Yinreng’s composed expression, he suddenly laughed.
The sound rang out sharply in the otherwise quiet room.
Yinreng frowned.
“I know Elder Brother isn’t fond of books and isn’t particularly bright, but you should at least pretend while you’re in the study hall.”
Yinzhi clapped his hands lightly.
“I just thought of something amusing.”
His smile widened.
“I heard our Crown Prince rushed back in such a hurry last night. What is it? Afraid of losing Father’s favor?”
Yinreng lifted his chin slightly, his voice cool as ice.
“I merely returned to dine with Father Emperor.”
He dusted imaginary dirt from the hem of his robe.
“But someone like Elder Brother, who is seldom summoned by Father Emperor, probably wouldn’t understand.”
Yinzhi sneered.
“Dine together? Who would believe that? If Little Four hadn’t moved into Qianqing Palace, would you have rushed back so quickly?”
He leaned forward.
“Let’s be honest. You’re worried he’ll steal Father’s affection.”
Yinreng’s expression remained calm.
“Elder Brother, watch your words. I am the Crown Prince. Caring for Father Emperor and looking after my younger brother is only proper.”
“Caring for him?”
Yinzhi laughed coldly.
“Then why don’t you care about me? Why only Little Four?”
“‘Looking after my younger brother’? I doubt even you believe that yourself.”
He continued maliciously,
“But then again, there are more and more younger brothers every year. Perhaps the Crown Prince isn’t quite as special as he used to be.”
His gaze sharpened.
“I wonder whether you’ll still be so calm after the Noble Consort and Imperial Noble Consort give birth.”
Yinreng’s face darkened.
“Elder Brother, mind your language.”
“My position as Crown Prince was bestowed by Father Emperor himself. Why shouldn’t I remain calm?”
“Oh? When you can’t argue back, you hide behind Father Emperor.”
Yinzhi snorted.
“But who knows what you’re really thinking?”
Seeing the Crown Prince upset instantly improved his mood.
Humming to himself, he returned to his seat.
Yinreng’s face flushed red. The veins stood out on the hand gripping his book.
No one around them dared speak.
After all, this was a dispute between imperial princes.
The anger simmered inside Yinreng all the way back toward the palace. The attendants following behind didn’t dare offer any advice.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince usually managed to calm himself down whenever he saw His Majesty.
“Fourth Prince, slow down!”
The call of a servant caught Yinreng’s attention.
The anger he had barely contained flared even hotter at the sight before him.
Yinzhen was kicking a small cuju ball with several young eunuchs in an open area beneath the corridor.
His legs were short, and his little boots pattered noisily against the stone pavement as he ran after the ball. His cheeks were flushed red, beads of sweat glistening at his temples.
Seeing the smile on Yinzhen’s face, Yinreng found it unbearably irritating.
The ball rolled toward him again, and Yinzhen laughed as he chased after it.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone watching him.
Looking up and seeing Yinreng, he quickly stopped.
“Crown Prince Brother.”
Ignoring the ball that had rolled to his feet, he stood properly with his hands at his sides, his small back straight and rigid.
He didn’t dare move.
Looking at Yinzhen’s obedient posture, Yinreng let out a cold snort.
His thin lips parted, uttering only one word.
“Get lost.”
The moment the word fell, all the eunuchs dropped to their knees.
None dared breathe too loudly or raise their heads.