On the seventh day of the second month, Kangxi issued a decree to promote Consort Hui to Noble Consort Hui, and Daijia Shi to Consort Cheng, granting her residence in Changchun Palace.

Yinreng chuckled. Things were indeed different now. Historically, Consort Hui was not promoted individually; it was at the end of this year that she, along with Yide and Rong, were all promoted together.

As for Daijia Shi, her promotion came even later. Even after giving birth to the seventh prince, Yinyou, she wasn’t promoted to consort until the 48th year of Kangxi’s reign, and to noble consort in the 57th year. Among the mothers of Kangxi’s older sons, she was the last to be granted a title.

This made it clear that her favor in the harem was genuinely limited, and her presence in historical records was minimal.

But now, she had the favor of the Crown Prince, the support of the Grand Empress Dowager, and the credit for the success of the cowpox vaccination trial. Kangxi’s attitude toward her had clearly shifted. Even if that change wasn’t due to affection, she had gained enough attention.

For Noble Consort Hui, this promotion might be a mere embellishment, but for Daijia Shi, it was like receiving coal during a snowstorm.

According to the rules, the rank of consort marked a dividing line in the harem. Below the rank of consort, all were junior concubines, and even if they gave birth to a prince, they could not raise their children personally. Above the rank of consort, they could be addressed as “Your Ladyship,” hold the position of palace head, and could keep their children with them until they were six, at which point the children would move to the East or West Five Residences.

Of course, if a child had been born before the promotion and already had a foster mother, unless the foster mother died or committed a serious crime, it would be unlikely for the child to be returned to their birth mother. For example, Fourth Prince Yinreng.

At this moment, Daijia Shi was immensely grateful because the awkward situation surrounding Yinyou had actually turned into a blessing for her.

In Changchun Palace, Daijia Shi held Yinyou, who had just been brought back from the West Five Residences, and wept tears of joy.

In Yonghe Palace, however, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Even though the table was filled with gifts, Yujun was still indignant. “Your Ladyship, did something happen at the vaccination manor? Or did someone try to sabotage you? Now both Noble Consort Hui and Consort Cheng have been promoted, but why… Your Ladyship, should we investigate to see if someone is playing tricks behind the scenes?”

Yujun didn’t know the full story, but Yuchan did, and quickly stepped in to stop her. “Your Ladyship knows well enough; you don’t need to say more. Go outside and catalog the items the emperor has gifted.”

Yujun was unwilling. “Your Ladyship!”

Wuya Shi waved her hand lightly. “Leave.”

Yujun swallowed her frustration and left.

Yuchan was about to offer words of comfort when Wuya Shi smiled and shook her head. “Yuchan, I expected this result long ago, so I’m not surprised. Noble Consort Hui’s promotion is not just her achievement; it also involves the First Prince.

“This time, out of all the princes, only the First Prince went for the vaccination. Since he is not yet of age and hasn’t been conferred a title, it makes sense to add his reward to his birth mother’s status.

“As for Consort Cheng, she was the first to step forward and was favored by the Grand Empress Dowager. The emperor’s special favor of promoting her to consort and allowing her to raise Yinyou herself is also understandable.”

Wuya Shi continued as she called for Yuchan to help her remove her makeup. “Compared to those two, what have I done besides joining the crowd for the vaccination? Even with that, many of the harem consorts expressed willingness to be vaccinated but just weren’t chosen. If I were promoted alone because of it, what would they think?

“Yuchan, I know you’re worried I might be upset. Don’t be. If you want to survive long in this palace, you mustn’t get hung up on temporary gains and losses. Life is full of ups and downs, like the changing winds and clouds. What matters is who can laugh last.”

Wuya Shi looked at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes showing a newfound determination.

On the tenth day of the second month, Concubine Wei gave birth to the Eighth Prince. Kangxi named him Yinli and entrusted his upbringing to Noble Consort Hui.

This decision came as no surprise to anyone. First, Noble Consort Hui was currently in high favor, and the First Prince had also gained the emperor’s attention. Second, Concubine Wei lived in Zhongcui Palace, which was under the authority of Noble Consort Hui. She couldn’t have safely delivered her child without Noble Consort Hui’s care. Everyone could see that Noble Consort Hui intended to support Concubine Wei and gather allies for her own strength.

The other consorts went to Zhongcui Palace to offer their congratulations, all with smiles on their faces, but what they thought inside was known only to them.

Tongjia Shi was particularly annoyed. She had long wanted a son of her own but hadn’t been able to conceive. Meanwhile, princes kept appearing one after another in the palace—how could she be happy? Seeing Concubine Wei following closely behind Noble Consort Hui, clearly loyal to her, only made her angrier.

Alliances, support, and dependency among the harem consorts were nothing new. Tongjia Shi had once wanted to recruit Daijia Shi to her side, but others’ pawns remained obedient while hers had betrayed her, slipping further and further out of her control.

Wuya Shi had done so, and Daijia Shi was still doing the same.

Tongjia Shi turned to glance at Wuya Shi and Daijia Shi, who were chatting and laughing as if they were the best of friends. Her hands tightened inside her sleeves, her gaze cold and sharp as if laced with venom.

Back in Chengqian Palace, Tongjia Shi removed her headdress and sat wearily on her couch, lost in thought. Outside, the Fourth Prince was chasing a puppy around the courtyard.

Tongjia Shi coldly watched, her eyes flickering.

She suddenly smiled, walked to the eaves, and waved the Fourth Prince over, lovingly embracing him as they went inside.

“Yinzhen, do you like puppies? Are you tired from playing? Look at all this sweat! Yuchan, bring a basin of water to wipe down the Fourth Prince. We don’t want him to catch a cold.”

Chunying was astonished. The Fourth Prince had lived in Chengqian Palace for over two years, and although Tongjia Shi had never treated him harshly, she had never been close to him either. Her actions today were truly unusual.

Yinzhen, on the other hand, was overjoyed. Who wouldn’t want to be close to their mother? Seeing Tongjia Shi treat him so kindly, he was thrilled, grinning from ear to ear as he answered her questions one by one.

At just over two years old, it was easy for a child to be won over, and Tong Jia was doing this deliberately. Before long, Yinzhen fell into her web, clinging to her, playfully calling out “Mother, Mother” with joy.

When he eventually got tired and fell into a deep sleep, Tong Jia ordered Chunying, “From now on, there’s no need to deliberately keep Fourth Prince away from Consort De.”

Chunying widened her eyes in surprise. “My lady?”

Tong Jia smiled softly. “The Sixth Prince has just turned one and is healthy. It seems he will survive. Consort De no longer confines him to the Yonghe Palace. I’ve heard she often takes him for walks in the gardens, enjoying the beautiful spring. Find more opportunities for the wet nurse to bring the Fourth Prince over there. And speak more often about how well Consort De treats the Sixth Prince to the Fourth Prince.”

Chunying felt a chill in her heart. “My lady, are you planning to…”

“Didn’t you always suggest that I should be kinder to the Fourth Prince and win him over? Well, I’ve thought it through.”

Tong Jia’s smile deepened.

Now that Dai Jia had grown stronger wings with the support of the Empress Dowager, it wasn’t easy to make a move against her. But dealing with Uya, Tong Jia still held a trump card.

Though people say both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh, the amount of flesh differs. Five fingers vary in length, and no heart can be equally divided. The child raised by one’s side is bound to be closer than the one raised in an enemy’s household.

Tong Jia was determined to see what would happen when the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince started to clash. And if those clashes became frequent, what would follow?

Looking at the sleeping Yinzhen, her eyes deepened.

She wanted to drive a wedge between Yinzhen and Consort De. Not only that, she would show kindness to Yinzhen. The natural favoritism of a birth mother versus the affection of a foster mother—Yinzhen would naturally gravitate toward her. If he were to oppose Consort De for her sake, that would make things even more interesting!

…

Yucheng Palace

Yinreng had grown adept at horseback riding and archery, and he had begun practicing basic martial arts with the instructors. After a vigorous workout, he was covered in sweat. After bathing and changing clothes, he noticed Xiao Zhuzi, Xia Cao, and others gathered around a small white dog, playing with it.

Yinreng chuckled and asked, “Where did this little fellow come from?”

Xia Cao shook her head. “I’m not sure. It seems to have wandered in on its own. I found it lying under a bush in the courtyard. It looks familiar, though its fur is dirty. It must be a well-cared-for pet. It probably belongs to one of the ladies in the palace, so I was just about to send someone to inquire.”

Yinreng leaned closer to take a look. “It does look familiar. It resembles Fourth Brother’s Snowball.”

Though he didn’t interact much with Yinreng, he had seen him a few times, and each time Yinzhen had a small white dog by his side called Snowball.

But then again, white dogs weren’t unique in the palace. The palace’s pet house raised many animals for the amusement of the royals. Small, fluffy white dogs like this one were especially popular among the noblewomen, and the pet house kept several of them.

Yinreng wasn’t particularly good at distinguishing between cats and dogs, so he couldn’t be sure if this was indeed Yinzhen’s pet.

The little white dog in Xiao Zhuzi’s arms kept struggling, whining and barking, scratching at his clothes with its paws.

Yinreng reached out to pet it, but Xia Cao stopped him. “Your Highness, please don’t touch it. It seems rather agitated, and it might hurt you.”

Yinreng wasn’t particularly fond of dogs, nor was he a dog enthusiast, so he casually withdrew his hand. “Go to the Chengqian Palace and ask. If it’s Fourth Brother’s, return it quickly. He’s very attached to Snowball and must be worried.”

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Chi entered the room and reported, “Fourth Prince’s wet nurse, Cui Zhu, says she saw Snowball run this way and asks if Your Highness could help look for it.”

Yinreng turned and saw Yinzhen standing at the gate, looking in eagerly. Yinreng laughed and walked over. Yinzhen greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Despite his young age, Yinzhen’s manners were impeccable.

Yinreng laughed, “Why didn’t you come in?”

Yinzhen glanced at his wet nurse. The wet nurse quickly explained, “We didn’t dare enter without permission since this is the Crown Prince’s residence.”

Yinreng frowned slightly, pulling Yinzhen inside by the hand. “They may be servants, but you are a prince. We are brothers. There’s no need for such formality. If you’re looking for Snowball, just tell me directly.”

Yinreng beckoned, and Xiao Zhuzi quickly brought Snowball over and handed it to Yinzhen.

Snowball, showing its intelligence, stopped barking and settled down as soon as Yinzhen held it.

Yinzhen joyfully thanked Yinreng, “Thank you, Your Highness!”

“As brothers, you can simply call me Second Brother.”

Yinzhen furrowed his little brows in confusion. “They say you’re different. Eldest and Third Brother call you the Crown Prince, so I must call you that too.”

It was clear who “they” referred to.

Yinzhen’s wet nurse, Cui Zhu, was so frightened that she immediately knelt, keeping her eyes down and holding her breath.

Yinreng was speechless for a moment. He couldn’t blame the servants for teaching him this. Kangxi had elevated his status too much, granting him the supreme honor of being the Crown Prince.

Since Yinreng had been old enough to understand, none of his brothers addressed him by his rank. Whether it was the eldest, Yinji, or his younger brother, Yunzhi, they all called him the Crown Prince. Kangxi had never corrected this either, which made it clear how people should think.

Naturally, servants like Cui Zhu would want to prevent any disrespect by teaching their young masters to be careful.

Yinreng found himself unsure whether to praise or blame Kangxi. On the one hand, his father wanted his sons to live in harmony and treat each other with respect. On the other hand, he worried that without a mother, Yinreng would be at a disadvantage, so he gave him every honor and constantly emphasized his role as Crown Prince.

But didn’t Kangxi realize that the title of “Crown Prince” was already creating a barrier between him and his brothers?

Looking back at history, the Eighth Prince had the Ninth and Tenth Princes by his side, and the Fourth Prince had the Thirteenth Prince. But did the Crown Prince ever have close brothers?

Yinreng’s thoughts shifted as he patted Yinzhen’s head. “Then just call me Crown Prince Brother.”

At his young age, Yinzhen had no hidden agendas, and he readily complied. In a sweet, childish voice, he called out, “Crown Prince Brother!”

With his round, chubby face and angelic voice, Yinreng could barely resist the urge to pinch his cheeks. In a burst of happiness, Yinreng ordered Xia Cao to fetch several new toys from the workshop to give to Yinzhen. They were all brand new items from Suo’ertuo’s workshop.

Since receiving the Kangxi Emperor’s special permission to manufacture glass and open a shop, Yinreng had subtly hinted a few times about the possibility of creating toys using the principles of clockmaking, such as wind-up frogs or wind-up ducks.

These were much easier to make than clocks. Skilled artisans under Songgotu’s command quickly made them, even inventing more toys by extrapolating from the original ideas—wind-up boats, wind-up dolls, and the like.

These small toys were fun and interesting. What child wouldn’t love them? Yinzheng was overjoyed.

“If you like them, the next time something is brought in from outside the palace, I’ll have someone call you over to pick some.”

Yinzheng’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Of course.”

Yinreng was quite generous! After all, he wasn’t really a child himself and wasn’t that fascinated by the toys.

“Thank you, Crown Prince Brother!”

As the two were talking, a eunuch from Qianqing Palace came to deliver a message: “The Emperor requests the Crown Prince to change his clothes and come over. That outfit from the last time you left the palace will do nicely.”

Yinreng was taken aback for a moment, then happily asked, “Is Father leaving the palace again?”

The eunuch smiled and replied, “Yes! Your Highness, please get ready quickly!”

Yinreng, excited, turned to go inside but noticed that Yinzheng’s eyes were shining even brighter than his. A thought crossed his mind, and he asked, “Fourth Brother, have you ever left the palace?”

Yinzheng shook his head. “What’s it like outside the palace?”

“Would you like to go outside?”

Yinzheng’s eyes sparkled like stars, but the light quickly faded. “I… I can’t go out.”

Yinreng chuckled. “Who says you can’t? Let’s go ask Father! We’ll have him take us both out! Come on!”

The nursemaid, Cuizhu, tried to stop them, but Yinreng was already carrying Yinzheng inside. With the Crown Prince making the call, who would dare say otherwise?

All the palace maids and eunuchs were left speechless: “…”

---

Kangxi looked at the little shadow following Yinreng and was slightly confused. “You want to bring Yinzheng along too?”

T/L: Changed the names based on the real names of Kangxi emperor’s children

“Yes! Father, Fourth Brother has never been outside the palace!”

Kangxi’s mouth twitched. Aside from you, which prince has ever left the palace?

Yinreng glanced at Yinji and then winked at Kangxi. “Father, since we’re all going, how could we leave out Third Brother? We should call him too. It’s just a pity that Fifth Brother and the others are still too young. They’ll have to wait until next time.”

Yinji: !!! So his reward had turned into a group outing with his brothers?

Kangxi: … When did I agree to bring Yinzheng? And now you’ve added Yinzhi too?

Before the two of them could process what had happened, Yinreng quickly instructed Xiao Zhuzi to summon Yinzhi. Then, turning back, he naturally took Kangxi’s arm. “Father, we’re all your sons. You can’t play favorites. It wouldn’t be fair to bring us and leave Third Brother behind. How would he feel?”

Yinji: Favoritism? How can you even say that? Who’s the “this” and who’s the “that”? Figure it out!

“Father, usually, Eldest Brother and I are busy with our studies, and you have a mountain of state affairs. We rarely get the chance to spend time together as father and sons. The last time I went outside the palace, I saw many families strolling the streets together—fathers with their children, dining together at restaurants. I couldn’t help but feel envious.”

Kangxi was startled. He recalled seeing many fathers and sons sitting together at restaurants last time, laughing and talking, enjoying close family bonds. Suddenly, he thought this was a pretty good idea.

“Alright! We’ll all go together!”

Yinreng nudged Yinzheng. “Aren’t you happy now?”

Yinzheng’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. “Very happy!”

Yinji: …I am not happy at all!

---

Outside the palace.

The most excited ones were Yinzhi and Yinzheng. Being young, their playful spirits were strong, and everything outside the palace was new to them. They were curious about everything, marveling at the sights. Carried by the servants, they directed them here and there, wanting to explore every corner.

With his experience of leaving the palace, Yinreng stayed by their side like a guide, explaining things and even paying out of his own pocket to buy them various treats: candied haws, sesame cakes, kites, and spinning tops. Soon, the guards could barely hold everything.

Yinreng happily played the role of a generous older brother, and Yinzhi and Yinzheng had a blast. Kangxi watched with a smile, finding Yinreng to be quite the responsible and caring elder brother.

As for Yinji? He was frustrated. He had worked hard to earn the chance for a solo outing with Father, but now his brothers had tagged along, ruining his mood. Even worse, he noticed that Kangxi’s gaze toward Yinreng was becoming more and more admiring. Yinji quickly realized what was happening.

No! He couldn’t let Yinreng steal the spotlight anymore! What was so hard about being a loving brother? He was the eldest son, after all!

Yinji joined the group, edging closer to Yinreng, Yinzhi, and Yinzheng, who were currently standing in front of a sugar painting stall.

“Spin it! Spin it! Faster! I want a qilin! Stop! Stop!”

Yinzhi groaned. “Why is it a fish again? I wanted the qilin.”

Yinzheng nodded in agreement. “I want one too!”

The two of them had spun the wheel many times, but not once had they landed on the qilin.

Yinreng chuckled. The sugar painting game relied on probability. The most intricate and desirable designs, like the qilin, occupied the smallest section of the wheel.

In later times, the top prize would be a dragon. But in this era of imperial power, the dragon held a different significance. The vendor didn’t dare offend anyone by offering it, so the qilin was the next best thing. And creating a qilin was no easier than a dragon.

Yinzheng tugged at Yinreng’s clothes, looking conflicted. “I want to try again!”

Yinzhi raised his hand as well. “I want to try again too! I don’t believe I can’t get it!”

Oh dear, they weren’t going to give up until they won.

Yinreng, ever patient, handed over more coins. “Boss, two more spins!”

The shopkeeper grinned widely, realizing he had encountered a generous customer today!

As expected, each child had one more try, but neither hit the jackpot.

Yinji raised an eyebrow. “Let me try! Third Brother, Fourth Brother, wait. Big Brother will win this for you!”

He rolled up his sleeves and stepped up. Having trained in martial arts, he had a much better sense of strength than the younger ones. But the spinning sugar drawing game had its own tricks, not so easy to master.

Yinji tried five or six times, and each time the pointer seemed to almost land on the qilin, only to stop just short of it, making everyone sigh in disappointment.

After several more attempts, even Yinji became determined. How could a sugar drawing game beat him? Fueled by his growing competitive spirit, he kept spinning, unwilling to give up.

“One more try! Another! Let’s go again!”

Seeing that he was in high spirits, Yinreng patiently continued to pay for the attempts.

After nearly fifteen or sixteen turns, they finally hit the qilin!

Yinzhi and Yinreng cheered wildly, clapping in excitement. Yinji laughed heartily, “See? I told you I’d get it!”

Yinreng praised him without hesitation. “Yes, Big Brother, you’re amazing!”

Yinzhi and Yinzhen nodded enthusiastically. “Big Brother is amazing!”

However, when the sugar painting was finally made, Yinreng faced a dilemma. “But there’s only one, what should we do?”

The issue wasn’t the lack of quantity, but rather the potential imbalance. If only one of them had it while the others did not, it wouldn’t feel fair.

Both Yinzhi and Yinzhen turned their gazes toward Yinji.

Yinji: …

He discreetly wiped away some sweat, wishing he could boldly declare that he’d spin another one. But after the previous experience, he knew it wasn’t so simple. The odds were tricky, and no amount of skill could guarantee a win every time. Looking into their eager eyes, he hesitated to promise anything.

Yinreng chuckled and leaned over to whisper a few words to the shopkeeper, discreetly handing him a small silver ingot. The shopkeeper’s face lit up with a grin, “Of course! Young master, please, go ahead!”

Yinreng spun the wheel.

On the first try, he hit the qilin!

Yinji: !!!

Yinzhi and Yinzhen clapped their hands in joy.

On the second try, it was again a qilin.

On the third try, still a qilin.

On the fourth try, yet another qilin!

If Yinji hadn’t figured out by then that there was some trick to it, he would have been clueless. What?! He had worked so hard, only to find out there was a hidden mechanism!

Yinji shot a fierce glare at the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, knowing these young masters were not ordinary folk, trembled in fear.

Yinreng stepped in, gently pulling Yinji back from what looked like a potential confrontation. “Big Brother, let it go. This is a common practice in the market. This old man doesn’t charge much—only two copper coins per spin.

“No matter what you land on, you never leave empty-handed. Even if you get the smallest, cheapest item, it’s not a loss. It’s just a small business. If someone gets lucky, even landing the pig, horse, or ox multiple times, he might end up losing money.”

The shopkeeper nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes! The young master is right. I’m just a humble small-time vendor. Really!”

With Yinreng mediating, what else could Yinji do? After all, Kangxi was watching. He couldn’t allow the emperor to think he lacked grace over something so trivial. Reluctantly, Yinji backed down.

The shopkeeper sighed in relief and quickly got to work on the sugar drawings.

In total, they had five qilins, including the one Yinji had won. Yinreng made sure each of his brothers got one, giving the largest one to Kangxi.

Kangxi, holding it in his hand, couldn’t be more pleased. Look at that! How thoughtful his son Baocheng was—he even made sure to think of him when winning a sugar drawing!

Yinzhi and Yinzhen were elated, continuously praising, “Second Brother is the best! Second Brother is amazing! Second Brother, I want to be just like you when I grow up!”

Yinji: … What the heck! Just moments ago, they were singing his praises, and now suddenly it was Yinreng who was the amazing one? He had won his by pure skill! Yinreng cheated! Cheating counts as amazing now? What nonsense!

Yinji angrily bit into his sugar drawing, finding even the sweetness lacking.

Kangxi took a small bite of his and felt warmth in his heart.

Yinzhi and Yinzhen couldn’t bear to eat theirs, treating the qilins like precious treasures. Yinzhen tugged at Yinreng’s sleeve, pointing to the many sugar drawings still held by the guards. “Second Brother, we can’t finish all of these!”

Yinreng glanced over—each guard had at least seven or eight, some with ten.

His eyes twinkled as an idea came to him. He winked and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan!”

Crossing the street, Yinreng spent a silver coin to buy the remaining sugar-coated haws and the wooden stand from the nearby hawker, instructing the guards to place the sugar drawings on the stand. He then began mimicking the street vendors, calling out, “Sugar drawings! Get your sugar drawings! Small ones for one coin, big ones for two! And delicious sugar-coated haws—one for two coins, two for three!”

Yinji was dumbfounded.

Yinzhi and Yinzhen found it amusing and joined Yinreng, calling out together, “Sugar-coated haws! Sugar drawings!”

The sugar drawing vendor frowned. “Young master, your prices are too low! How am I supposed to do business with rates like that?”

They were selling them way too cheap.

Yinreng gave him a sideways glance. “You’ve already earned plenty today. Be content. Don’t get greedy. It’s getting late, and with today’s good fortune, why not go home and spend time with your family?”

The vendor was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly laughed. “Yes, yes! I’ll pack up right away!”

After calculating his earnings, the vendor realized he’d made about six months’ worth of income in just one day thanks to these young nobles. It was worth it! Sell away, young masters! Sell as much as you want!

With a flick of his wrist, the vendor picked up his wares and left.

Since their prices were cheaper than the market, it didn’t take long for a crowd to gather around them.

Yinzhi and Yinzhen were too young to be of much help, so Yinreng called Yinji over. One was in charge of selling, one in charge of counting the money, while the younger two helped with the shouting. The four of them worked together in harmony, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Kangxi sat at a nearby wonton stall, watching with both amusement and pride.

Look at how well these brothers get along! They’re all such good children!

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