Much later, Bao Cheng would learn why all the imperial brothers had gathered at Cining Palace that day—
It was to discuss the matter of establishing an heir.
On the third day of the sixth month in the fourteenth year of Kangxi’s reign, Bao Cheng, who had just turned one year old, received a new name—“Yinreng.”
From that day onward, he was no longer the carefree Imperial Prince Bao Cheng but the first true Taizi of Da Qing.
The course of history had not changed, and the unrealistic hopes Yinreng once held in his heart ultimately came to nothing.
On the day of the Taizi’s investiture, Cining Palace was filled with joy.
Although it was only an official decree of investiture, with the formal ceremony yet to be held, everyone had already begun addressing him as Taizi, treating Yinreng with increasing reverence.
The Empress Dowager held the lavishly dressed little Taizi in her arms, seated at the head of the hall, and accepted the grand salutations from the servants of Cining Palace, led by Sumalagu. She then rewarded everyone on behalf of the little Taizi.
After the crowd dispersed, the Empress Dowager finally looked down at the sullen Yinreng in her arms and asked, “What’s wrong, my little Taizi? Why do you look so unhappy?”
Yinreng clutched the Empress Dowager’s lapel, pressing his small face against her chest.
The Empress Dowager’s heartbeat was faster than usual, a clear sign of her genuine excitement.
“Grandmother Empress Dowager, are you happy?” Yinreng asked in return.
The Empress Dowager stroked Yinreng’s little head. “Yes, Grandmother Empress Dowager is very happy. From today onward, Da Qing has a Taizi, and with that comes a future. Not only is Grandmother Empress Dowager happy, but the officials and people of the realm are also rejoicing for the Taizi.”
But he was not happy.
Yinreng lowered his head, not letting anyone see the worry and fear in his eyes.
Those who have never ascended to the position of Taizi would yearn for this role, second only to the emperor and above all others. They all believe that becoming Taizi means ruling the world in the future.
But if they, like him, knew the historical outcome, would they still strive for it?
If he were any other Imperial Prince, he would have the confidence to change his fate. After all, all he would need to do is avoid contention and align himself with the right people.
But he was Yinreng.
Becoming Taizi was already an established fact, and the tragedy of Yinreng in history was never due to Yinreng’s own shortcomings but because he occupied an inappropriate position at an inappropriate time.
Yinreng was not Taizi Zhu Biao, and Kangxi was not Emperor Taizu of Ming. Kangxi could not offer Yinreng selfless paternal love. One day, Yinreng’s existence would become a thorn in Kangxi’s side, something he would want to remove at all costs.
When that time came, what favorable outcome could a deposed Taizi expect?
At best, lifelong confinement.
And what other options did he have, aside from striving for a better place of confinement?
Yinreng thought too much, so much that his still-developing brain capacity became completely overloaded, and he fainted in the Empress Dowager’s arms.
On the very day of his investiture as Taizi, the little Taizi suddenly fell unconscious, terrifying everyone in the palace.
Kangxi’s first reaction was that someone dissatisfied with the heir’s establishment had targeted Yinreng. However, after interrogating everyone in Cining Palace, no abnormalities were found.
The imperial physicians said that the Taizi was simply too exhausted, which was why he remained unconscious.
But how could a little one who had just turned one year old be so exhausted?
Kangxi did not believe it and summoned wave after wave of imperial physicians, yet the conclusions remained the same.
Yinreng slept for a full two days.
Kangxi was deeply anxious, and the imperial clan, already dissatisfied with his decision to establish an heir, continued to exert pressure, believing that Kangxi's actions had violated ancestral customs, which had led to the Crown Prince's misfortune.
Under pressure from all sides, Kangxi had no choice but to summon the shaman from the imperial temple into the palace. After inspecting Cining Palace, the shaman reported:
"Your Majesty, Cining Palace is a residence for widows, where yin energy is abundant and yang energy is sparse. This is beneficial for the Empress Dowager, but for the Crown Prince, it creates an imbalance of yin and yang, allowing yin energy to invade his body and causing extreme fatigue. If the Crown Prince is moved to the place in the palace with the strongest yang energy, this misfortune can be resolved."
Unlike Buddhism and Taoism, which emphasize spiritual roots and enlightenment, shamanism itself means "the knower." Shamanic priests do not possess any extraordinary supernatural powers but rather greater experience, knowledge, and wisdom.
As a healer, the shaman could naturally see that Yinreng was not seriously ill. However, Kangxi had summoned him to the palace not to hear the same conclusion as the imperial physicians but to provide a solution to the problem.
The shaman was well aware of the imperial clan's dissatisfaction with the establishment of an heir, so he complied with Kangxi's wishes and directly offered the solution Kangxi most desired.
As expected, Kangxi was overjoyed. He immediately ordered Yinreng to be moved to Qianqing Palace and said to the shaman, "You truly possess great wisdom! If the Crown Prince recovers, I will personally visit the temple for the monthly rites to honor our ancestors."
Having accomplished his mission, the shaman withdrew, leaving the palace with generous rewards.
An attendant child praised him for his divine power, but the shaman scoffed disdainfully, "What divine power? I am but a mortal—where would divine power come from? Buddhism and Taoism are arrogant and self-important, always believing their myriad gods can save the world. Yet they fail to realize that it is the Emperor and the Crown Prince who truly save the people! The empire is settled, the imperial star shines with boundless radiance, unstoppable by anyone. We mortals need only align ourselves with the greater trend."
Those who understood how to align with the greater trend were far from limited to the shaman alone.
Upon learning that Kangxi had moved Yinreng back to Qianqing Palace to personally care for him, Suo'etu immediately joined forces with court ministers who supported reform and submitted a memorial praising Kangxi's deep paternal love. They stated that the Crown Prince, moved by his father's affection, would surely receive the protection of the dragon's energy and be free from harm.
After reading the memorial, Kangxi casually tossed it aside and paid it no further attention. When he returned to the bedchamber, he happened to see Yinreng waking up.
"It seems Suo'etu was right after all,"
Kangxi said as he held Yinreng in his arms. "You little rascal, if you don't get better soon, I'll have to kneel in Fengxian Hall."
Yinreng, still groggy from sleep, was irritated by Kangxi's fussing and kicked his legs in displeasure, landing a blow on Kangxi's stomach. Kangxi let out an "ouch," but his voice was filled with laughter. "Such strong force—it seems you're almost fully recovered."
Liang Jiugong brought over warmed goat's milk and flattered, "Just as the shaman said, with the protection of Your Majesty's yang energy, the Crown Prince has recovered immediately."
Kangxi laughed heartily and poked Yinreng's little cheek with his finger. "Did you hear that? It was my yang energy that saved you."
Still irritable from waking up, Yinreng grew impatient with the poking and chomped down on Kangxi's finger.
His newly emerged baby teeth posed no threat, only making Kangxi laugh even more boisterously.
Yinreng rolled his eyes, released Kangxi's finger, rubbed his empty stomach, and turned to look at Liang Jiugong.
Liang Jiugong hurriedly brought the goat's milk closer, but Yinreng turned his face away in disdain.
"What's wrong? Don't you want milk?"
Kangxi gently patted Yinreng's little belly. "Is your stomach still upset?"
Yinreng wriggled his head in Kangxi's arms. "No milk, want meat!"
"You're still so little, and you already know to ask for meat?"
Kangxi was somewhat surprised. "Liang Jiugong, go ask the servants who previously attended the Taizi what he usually eats."
In this era, children generally weren't weaned too early, especially in the palace. The five-year-old Eldest Princess still drank milk twice daily, let alone the little Taizi who had just turned one.
But Yinreng didn't like drinking milk; he preferred flavorful foods.
The Empress Dowager was never one to cling to old ways. When raising children, she gave them whatever they were willing to eat. So, Yinreng had already started eating some paste-like foods in Cining Palace.
For example, rice porridge cooked until the rice oil emerged, steamed soft vegetables, and meat pastes made from fish or chicken.
After getting used to these, Yinreng grew increasingly averse to the gamey taste of goat's milk. If no one forced him, he wouldn't drink a single sip.
Kangxi, who had never personally raised a child, didn't know whether the Empress Dowager's feeding method was reliable. He summoned the imperial physician to inquire, and the physician said:
"Emperor, as long as the food is sufficiently nutritious, whether he drinks milk or not is not important. I observe that the Taizi is healthy, even stronger than ordinary children of the same age, so he may continue eating according to his preferences. I will clearly list what children can and cannot eat and inform the kitchen."
Only then did Kangxi feel reassured. He ordered someone to prepare a bowl of rice porridge mixed with meat paste and vegetables, intending to feed Yinreng himself.
However, while the rice porridge received Yinreng's enthusiastic welcome, Kangxi's attempt to feed him was rejected.
Watching his son, who looked like a little dumpling, clumsily eating with a wooden spoon on his own, Kangxi pinched his chin and asked in puzzlement, "Did I also learn to eat by myself this early when I was little?"
Guwen Xing, who had served Kangxi since childhood, looked up at the ceiling—
The patterns on the palace ceiling today looked particularly pleasing, didn't they?
Kangxi: …Alright, no need to say more.
Kangxi watched his son eat, finding it more and more interesting.
Yinreng's movements were slow, and each time he only scooped up half a spoonful. Precisely because of this, although he appeared clumsy, he hardly spilled anything, eating everything cleanly.
Kangxi had seen wet nurses feeding the Imperial Princes and princesses before—it was always a mess. Often, more food was spilled than eaten, and even with bibs, their clothes would inevitably be ruined.
But Yinreng, eating alone, could be so steady. It was truly remarkable.
"The Empress Dowager really knows how to raise children,"
Kangxi sighed. "Eunuch Gu, do you think I should have the women in the rear palace go to Cining Palace to learn from the Empress Dowager?"
Guwen Xing's eye twitched. "Emperor, the Taizi was born intelligent and is naturally different from others."
Please spare the Empress Dowager, and spare the innocent Imperial Princes and princesses!
Kangxi also knew he had said something foolish. He coughed lightly to cover it up. "Ahem, I was just joking."
Guwen Xing: …Heh, do you think this servant's smile looks good?
Having eaten his fill, Yinreng rolled his eyes at his childish father and stretched out both small hands. "Want walk."
Kangxi frowned. "It's already dark. What walking? Have the servants massage your stomach instead."
Yinreng was very principled. "Ate too much, digest, walk myself!"
He did not particularly enjoy being treated like a helpless child who could not take care of himself. This was the case in Cining Palace, and now in Qianqing Palace, he had no intention of changing that.
He had come to understand that although he was destined to be deposed, at least until he grew up, there was no conflict between him and Kangxi.
Kangxi did not need a Taizi who matured too early, and he himself had no desire to prematurely burden himself with constraints. So, while there was still no need for caution, he intended to live more freely.
He was a child, and as such, he could afford to be unreasonable and mischievous.
If not now, then when?