Chapter 60 Consort Hui's Big Son

In April, the First Consort gave birth to a son.

The happier the young couple and Mingzhu were, the more unhappy Suo'etu was.

Over the past few years, Mingzhu and he have been fighting openly and secretly, with each side winning and losing. Although he always tells the Crown Prince to be wary of the First Prince, he doesn't really take them too seriously.

Without an heir, there is no future. Don't be fooled by the fierce competition between Mingzhu and him; the people below are not on the same page.

But now...

The Crown Prince, however, didn't seem to care much: "We all know my elder brother's temperament. He's fine as a general, leading troops and setting up battle formations, but once it comes to other matters, hmph."

The Crown Prince snorted coldly, recalling his elder brother's blunt and outspoken remarks over the past few years, which made him even more displeased.

Even if Father Emperor wanted to find him a whetstone, shouldn't he have found one that was smarter? Does Father Emperor think he's only on par with his elder brother?

The Emperor himself has been angered by his elder brother quite a bit these past few years. I heard that he really lost his temper during the first month of the lunar year, but he didn't let it get out of the news to save face for his elder brother.

"With the time you spend researching, you'd be better off doing a couple more practical things."

In the years since he entered the court, he has been able to sense his father’s subtle distancing, but his position as crown prince remains secure, and in his eyes, his other brothers are all future subordinates.

Songgotu also had great confidence in the crown prince.

The Emperor's favor towards the Crown Prince over the years was not just empty talk. There were some things that the Emperor would rather not have himself than not provide for the Crown Prince. The Imperial Household Department allowed the Crown Prince to take whatever he wanted at will, and its chief minister, Ling Pu, was the husband of the Crown Prince's wet nurse.

They all firmly believed that the eldest prince was merely a whetstone.

Of course, Bao Qing doesn't think so.

He believed himself to be exceptionally capable, highly valued by his father, the Emperor, and a beloved and caring son.

-

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the finest ambergris incense wafted upwards. Emperor Kangxi sat upright on a bright yellow dragon throne, with the Crown Prince standing beside him.

Kangxi glanced at his sons standing below and said unhurriedly, "I plan to accompany the Empress Dowager on an eastern tour in July. Please speak your minds."

Knowing that this was a test for them, the princes each shared their thoughts.

Seeing that his eldest son, who usually loved to argue with him, was silent, Kangxi asked in bewilderment, "Baoqing, do you have any objections?"

Before spouting his nonsense, the eldest son didn't forget to protect himself, saying, "Father, this is what you asked me to say."

Kangxi had a bad feeling, but he still nodded.

He wanted to hear what insightful opinions they had.

Bao Qing said righteously, "Father, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're already over forty years old. It's time to put down some of your burdens. You still have several sons. We can help you with any eastern or southern tours. How can we let you go through all that trouble?"

In his view, being over forty was truly entering old age.

Many emperors in history lived to be only in their forties or fifties, and the late emperor only lived for a little over twenty years, which is less than the reign of Emperor Kangxi.

Although Emperor Kangxi valued health and could still shoot tigers with a bow during hunts, Baoqing, who had a son, felt that his father was already old!

The words had barely left his mouth when Kangxi's previously calm expression instantly darkened. "Yinti, do you know what you're saying?"

He was so angry that he stopped using his childhood nickname and title.

Baoqing realized something was wrong, but he felt that what he said was correct. His father was only in his forties and should take good care of his health.

Shrinking his neck, Bao Qing cautiously said, "Your subject... Your subject knows his mistake?"

When in doubt, admit your mistake first.

The Crown Prince, standing beside Emperor Kangxi, subtly curled the corners of his mouth.

Although my elder brother is a bit blunt and sometimes a bit clumsy, his clumsiness hasn't harmed him yet, and it's quite nice to see Father Emperor make a fool of himself.

Who gave the Emperor permission to support his elder brother in challenging him to a duel?

This time, they got what they wanted.

Let your own good son suffer the consequences.

Several princes looked down at the floor, wishing they could bury their heads in it.

Wow, this floor is so shiny!

Seriously, how dare my brother say something like that?

It's not like he's the Emperor's father, but rather he's the Emperor's father.

Kangxi took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging anger in his heart.

He knew his son was reckless and spoke without thinking, but he never imagined that in his son's heart, he was already old.

"Carry the burden?" Kangxi's voice was as cold as ice. "Do you think I'm blocking your way and that you should abdicate?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall immediately knelt down.

Baoqing knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject dares not."

The ambergris incense in the Qianqing Palace was still wafting, and only Kangxi was still sitting upright in his chair, while the Crown Prince knelt with his brothers along with the others.

However, he felt that his father, the Emperor, had brought this upon himself.

Knowing full well that your brother can't say anything nice, you still let him speak. Now look what happened, you won't be happy even if you do say it.

Serves them right.

To let his sons know who their father was, Emperor Kangxi made them kneel for half an hour.

When children grow up, making them kneel is no longer considered corporal punishment, but rather a way to make them face reality.

-

In July, Emperor Kangxi accompanied the Empress Dowager on an eastern tour to Mongolia, while Baoqing, who had just offended Kangxi, was left to guard the capital.

The Crown Prince was still overseeing the country in the capital. Bao Qing was left behind but had no job and could only wander around the capital aimlessly.

Why did Emperor Kangxi take away all the princes he got along well with, including the Ninth and Tenth Princes who were studying in the Imperial Study? Suddenly, the capital only had the Crown Prince who was at odds with Baoqing in the previous court, the Third Prince who was bookish and disliked by Baoqing, and the cold-faced Fourth Prince who was the Crown Prince's future Prince of the Ninth Court.

Emperor Kangxi even brought Consort Hui along.

People tend to get restless when they have free time.

The situation was even worse for Baoqing.

"Fourth Brother," Bao Qing, who had just finished his shift, slipped into the Ministry of Revenue and came face to face with the Fourth Prince, who was about to mount his horse.

The Fourth Prince nodded, "Eldest Brother."

Baoqing patted the Fourth Prince on the shoulder, "Oh dear, the old man isn't here, don't keep a long face."

The fourth prince used to be quite cheerful when he was little, and he could cry and laugh quickly. But since he was granted a title, he has become less and less expressive. It's all because his father, the Emperor, is so unkind.

The Fourth Prince said calmly, "If Father Emperor knew that my elder brother addressed me like that, he would probably be forced to kneel again as punishment."

Upon hearing this, Bao Qing raised an eyebrow, his tone casual and mocking: "So be it, I'm kneeling. Anyway, I'm thick-skinned and won't mind one more time. But are you going to send a message to Father Emperor by carrier pigeon to complain?"

He circled around the Fourth Prince and clicked his tongue, saying, "But Fourth Prince, don't take Father's criticism too seriously. You don't seem to be suppressing any smiles."

When the title was conferred, the Fourth Prince should have been granted the title of Prince of the Second Rank.

However, the prince was put down by Kangxi's comment that he was rash.

The Fourth Prince rarely smiled after that, and it was clear that he was trying hard to appear composed.

Knowing that his elder brother was just bored and making fun of him, the Fourth Prince's face grew even colder. "Elder brother, I have matters to attend to at my residence. I'll take my leave first."

After saying that, he mounted his horse and rode away.