Chapter 195 Historical Deduction 1.3

Reminded by Yinqi's words, I realized that Xiaowu and Xiaoliu, as Yinreng's guardian beasts, would surely appear.

However, Kangxi suddenly recalled the behavior of Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu when Bao Cheng was infected with cowpox as a child, and his face turned even more pale. So, was this also a trial and test from heaven?

Last time, Bao Cheng was asked to contribute to the health of all people. What does he want Bao Cheng to give up this time? Is it for his father?

A tear glistened in Kangxi's eyes; he dared not think any further.

The content on the screen quickly answered their questions.

One day, in the rare bird garden of the imperial palace, the beasts were restless, and countless birds circled above Yuqing Palace. With two mournful cries, the beasts joined in with their wails.

The next day, everyone learned that Crow No. 5 and Peacock No. 6, who had grown up with His Highness the Crown Prince, had passed away.

Yinreng reappeared in the court. Although the clouds and mist obscured his face, it was clear from the expressions and words of those around him that he did not look well.

Emperor Kangxi, now seated on the dragon throne, looked grave. Citing the Crown Prince's excessive grief, he ordered the prince to cease attending to state affairs and return to Yuqing Palace to recuperate.

"So, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu are helping to suppress the demon inside Father Emperor's body, right?"

Yinqi's eyes instantly reddened. As someone who had raised Xiao Wu, he had very deep feelings for him, and Yinzuo, who was standing next to him, was no exception.

You have to understand that during the time he first learned he had been adopted, besides his second brother, the one who spent the most time with him was his sixth brother.

Kangxi wiped his face, suppressing his sadness. Had he misunderstood these two little ones?

To be honest, because of Yinreng, he raised these two as if they were his own sons. When he suddenly learned that they had died to save him, Kangxi was also upset.

The atmosphere in the space was oppressive, and everyone else kept their lips pursed in silence. Everyone knew that Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu were not coming back, but the demon that had possessed Kangxi's body had returned.

[Kangxi did not rush to depose the crown prince. Instead, he ordered Yinreng to return to the Imperial Study to study, citing that Yinreng was "lost in love" and excessively saddened by his two pets. He forbade Yinreng from engaging in political affairs, and at the same time, he once again stirred up the struggle among the princes...]

Outside the curtain, the crowd clenched their fists tightly. They watched him humiliate Yinreng, watched him use crude methods to disrupt the court, and watched him deliberately suppress loyal officials and promote treacherous ministers for power.

He became wary of the "eldest son," Yinzhi, who controlled the firearms battalion.

Yinzhi hurriedly left the Qianqing Palace, his face grim, and quietly entered the Yuqing Palace. The next day, Yinzhi accused the eldest prince, Yinzhi, of using witchcraft to scheme against the crown prince in order to obtain the position. Kangxi was furious and ordered that Yinzhi be stripped of his title and confined to his residence.

The First Prince Party disbanded.

Soon after, a minister accused the Third Prince of harboring anti-Qing elements and of writings that disrespected the emperor and contained anti-Qing and Ming ambitions. Emperor Kangxi was furious and placed Yinzhi under house arrest. The Third Prince's faction disintegrated.

"absurd!"

Yin Zhi laughed in anger, saying that if a prince of the Qing Dynasty wanted to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming, and was afraid of him and wanted to imprison him, he should at least find a good reason!

"Who's next?"

Watching the "Kangxi" who was completely consumed by power and smugly playing his clumsy game of balancing things, everyone's feelings were complicated.

Next, Kangxi's gaze did not fall on the princes below him, but on Crown Prince Yinreng, who was being pleaded with by ministers to return to court.

In the fifty-first year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, on the grounds that Crown Prince Yinreng showed no remorse and was forming cliques for personal gain, the Emperor once again deposed him from his position as Crown Prince and placed him under strict surveillance in the Xian'an Palace, forbidding anyone from visiting him.

However, the power within the palace was clearly not something that Kangxi could completely reclaim simply by saying he would. After Yinreng was deposed again, princes continued to secretly visit him at Xian'an Palace.

Afterwards, rumors about the birth and physical condition of the fifth, seventh, and twelfth sons circulated, and they were excluded from the list of heirs.

The Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, was imprisoned for giving Emperor Kangxi a dying gyrfalcon. Yintang was reprimanded by Emperor Kangxi for "competing with the people for profit." The Tenth Prince was "stupid" and not valued. The Eleventh Prince was weak. The Eighth Prince's faction completely dissipated.

At this point, only the Fourth Prince Yinzhen, who wore Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist and was always doing the dirty work of "offending people," and his twin sons, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes, remained in the imperial court...

Indeed, it was a case of being abolished twice and then reinstated twice. Kangxi closed his eyes helplessly. His Baocheng had suffered so much injustice, yet he was still thinking about how to protect his other brothers.

As Yinzhen looked at the Buddhist prayer beads on his hand reflected in the curtain, he choked up slightly. They were prayer beads made by his second brother. But because his father, the Emperor, didn't like them, he had never worn them. However, they were carefully preserved in the study of Yuqing Palace.

Which brother hasn't seen him? At the time, everyone was panicked and afraid that our second brother would develop a greater interest in Buddhism, and afraid that he would leave. At the same time, we were also deeply impressed by him.

Although this string of Buddhist beads is never shown to the public, everyone knows that it is a symbol of the second brother's status.

Therefore, when he saw the Buddhist prayer beads appear in his hand, Yinzhen had a bad feeling.

Not just him, but everyone felt a sense of fear and unease.

What followed, shown on the screen, was how "Kangxi" began to sow discord between Yinzhen, Yinxiang, and Yinti, and how he began to favor the adopted Yinzuo. Everyone lost interest in watching; they were only concerned with seeing "Kangxi" become increasingly deranged and increasingly uneasy about the final outcome.

In the sixty-first year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the emperor fell seriously ill and recuperated at Changchun Garden. He appointed his fourth son, Yinzhen, to oversee the state affairs and urgently summoned Yinxiang and Yinti, who were away on campaigns, back to the capital.

At dawn, Kangxi awoke to the shock of discovering a large number of ministers—some he had demoted, some he had promoted—gathered in the palace, along with the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.

They all stood silently in place, but he was too ill to speak. Li Dequan, the powerful eunuch who had been promoted by him, took out an imperial edict to pass the throne to the fourth prince, Yinzhen.

Everyone responded in unison. After the court officials withdrew, leaving only the newly appointed Emperor Yinzhen in the hall, a thin figure emerged from behind the curtain.

"Second Brother."

Yinzhen forced a smile; years of toil had prematurely aged him, and his face looked weary.

"Little Fourth, I'm leaving this mess to you. I'm taking Father Emperor home."

Yinreng's voice remained gentle, carrying a unique air of compassion. Even with his face obscured by mist, one could recognize him solely by his voice.

"Father, don't be afraid, Bao Cheng is here to keep you company."

Soon, from Yinzhen's perspective, Yinreng sat down beside Kangxi, took his hand, and slowly lowered his head. Kangxi, on the bed, struggled, as if the two were fighting for control of their bodies. His expression quickly shifted from malice and resentment to sorrow and grief. Gazing at Yinreng's figure, a tear rolled down his cheek, and he gently closed his eyes. Outside the palace, the clear sky suddenly became overcast, flowers withered, and a torrential downpour began…