Chapter 114 Conferring the Title of Crown Prince

"In all our conduct and dealings with others, we should always keep a forgiving heart. Fourth brother, do you still remember this saying?"

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi sat at a table, reviewing the memorials that Yinzhen had just read. Yinzhen stood solemnly to the side, listening attentively to the instructions.

“I remember, this was what Father Emperor taught his children when they were young.”

“Not bad,” Kangxi nodded, put down the memorial in his hand, looked at Yinzhen, and continued to ask, “Then do you still remember why I said those words back then?”

"Father wanted to teach his sons that we should be tolerant in our dealings with others. We should see the gains of others as our own, and the losses of others as our own."

"You remember it very clearly, so why can't you do it?" Kangxi pointed to the memorial on the table.

Yinzhen bowed respectfully and replied earnestly, "Father, I remember you taught us a saying: 'Those who are in a position of authority, if they wish for the laws to be enforced, must first lead by example, and the people will follow.' Father, how can these ministers not be considered superior to the common people?"

"Who among mortals is without fault? Fourth Prince, I know you are wholeheartedly devoted to the people, but excessive rigidity leads to downfall. Everyone has selfish desires; how many people in the court are truly clean? If we dismiss everyone, who will do the work?"

At this moment, Kangxi was genuinely instructing Yinzhen. In the past, Yinzhen was following the ways of a subject, and being strict with him was not a bad thing. But now Kangxi was teaching him the ways of a ruler, so naturally he needed to correct his temperament.

To be honest, teaching Yinzhen was quite fulfilling. Who wouldn't like a gifted, humble, and eager-to-learn student? Kangxi could teach him almost anything, but Yinzhen's black-and-white personality made him a bit difficult to handle.

This, however, fueled Kangxi's desire to educate Yinzhen, and his attention to and cultivation of Yinzhen became increasingly evident, with the relationship between father and son visibly becoming much closer.

Therefore, seeing Yinzhen's stubborn silence and pursed lips, Kangxi was not annoyed, but rather pleased. Seeing his fourth son revealing his true feelings in front of him showed that he trusted his father very much.

Thinking of this, Emperor Kangxi's heart warmed with affection, and he patiently instructed his son, "Fourth Prince, putting everything else aside, just look at the court now, and look at your own situation. How many ministers have pledged allegiance to you?"

"Father Emperor." Yinzhen was taken aback, clearly surprised, not expecting Kangxi to suddenly bring up such a sensitive topic.

Kangxi smiled. Ever since he made his decision, he had become much more composed and no longer felt that there was anything he couldn't say.

"Isn't my action obvious enough? Why are the court officials still hesitant? Are you not good enough? Or have I not given enough hints? Ultimately, it's because you are too individualistic, and your political leanings are too individualistic."

Kangxi said earnestly, "Fourth Prince, it is not a problem for a loyal minister, but an emperor who does not have the trust of his ministers and makes them live in constant fear is a lonely ruler who cannot hold the throne."

This was already quite blunt, and Yinzhen was somewhat surprised. Kangxi's words were a clear confirmation of his position as crown prince.

Yinzhen was somewhat moved, knowing Kangxi's good intentions, and nodded earnestly, saying, "Your subject understands, thank you for your trouble, Father Emperor."

"As long as you are well, you can... cough cough, cough cough..." Before Kangxi could finish speaking, he suddenly started coughing violently.

Yinzhen, who was standing nearby, was startled and quickly stepped forward to help him catch his breath. "Father, I will go and fetch the imperial physician."

"Cough cough... No need... cough... No need..." Kangxi grabbed Yinzhen's arm and stopped him. "I know my own body. I just choked. I'll be fine after a sip of water."

Since Kangxi said so, Yinzhen went along with it and didn't call the imperial physician. He turned around, picked up the teacup on the table, touched the cup with the back of his hand to make sure the water temperature was right, and handed it to Kangxi, saying, "Father, have some water."

"Good." Even while coughing, Kangxi noticed Yinzhen's natural little gesture, and felt even more satisfied with him. He took the tea Yinzhen offered, took a sip, and quickly calmed the itching in his throat.

Even though the cough stopped, the weariness in Kangxi's eyes could not be hidden.

After confirming that Kangxi was alright, Yinzhen considerately took his leave: "It's getting late, Father Emperor, please rest early. I'll take my leave now."

"Go." Kangxi tried to suppress the discomfort in his chest and nodded gently to Yinzhen.

Only after seeing Yinzhen walk away did Kangxi frown, clutch his chest, and fall to one side, where he was caught by Liang Jiugong, who was prepared in advance.

"Your Majesty..." Liang Jiugong, who knew about Kangxi's health condition, was somewhat saddened, his eyes reddening. He presented the emperor with specially prepared pills, but after seeing Kangxi take them, he couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, you should still let the imperial physician take a look. Pills are not as effective as decoctions."

"No need." Kangxi waved his hand; he didn't have that much time to waste on medicine. Besides, to avoid revealing his health condition too quickly, taking pills with an unpleasant taste was the best choice.

"Liang Jiugong, grind the ink; I need to draft an imperial edict."

"yes."

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Since ancient times, emperors who ascended the throne and ruled the world had always established a successor and strengthened the foundation of the state to ensure the long-lasting prosperity of the dynasty. I, having inherited this great legacy, am diligent and conscientious day and night. I look up to the glorious achievements of our ancestors. The entrustment is of utmost importance. The continuation of the dynasty and the continuation of blessings rest on the shoulders of a virtuous and capable ruler.

The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, is of exceptionally high talent and bears a striking resemblance to me. Therefore, in accordance with the initial edict, following proper rites, and respectfully considering public sentiment, I hereby solemnly inform Heaven, the ancestral temples, and the state, that I hereby bestow upon him the imperial seal and establish him as Crown Prince, placing him in the Eastern Palace, thus ensuring the continuity of the imperial line for ten thousand years and easing the anxieties of the entire realm. This is my decree!

The following day, at the grand court assembly, Liang Jiugong read aloud Kangxi's imperial edict appointing the crown prince in front of all the civil and military officials.

With this, everything settled down, and Prince Yong, Yinzhen, officially became the second Crown Prince.

The arrival of the new crown prince brought joy to some and disappointment to others. But overall, they all appeared to be celebrating.

Laughter echoed from the imperial court to the inner palace, from the palace to the prince's residence, and from the court to the common people. Everyone knew that from this day forward, Prince Yong would become the crown prince.

Leaving aside the excitement of the women in Prince Yong's mansion upon receiving the news, and the fact that the Eighth Prince next door was laughing loudly in his study, let's turn our attention back to the long-silent side hall of Yonghe Palace.

Years of suppression and exclusion from outsiders, coupled with her own inner turmoil, have aged Uya Chengbi considerably. If she were to go out, people would believe she was the same age as the Empress Dowager.

Hearing the cheerful laughter outside the palace, Uya Shi was unusually curious. Before she could ask, the people outside the palace started talking loudly, as if afraid she wouldn't hear them.

"Good sister, do you know why you have received these rewards today?"

"How could I not know? Of course, it was because the Emperor himself appointed the Crown Prince, and the whole palace celebrated."

Hearing the familiar conversation between the two young consorts from Yonghe Palace outside, Lady Wuya was somewhat surprised. A new crown prince? She had been quite shocked when she received the news of Kangxi's deposition of the crown prince. Now a new crown prince had been chosen? She wondered who it was. If only it were the Fourteenth Prince…

Perhaps knowing her curiosity, the two servants outside, after praising the emperor's benevolence, steered the conversation back to the new crown prince.

"Sister, have you seen this new crown prince?"

"How come I've never seen him before? The Crown Prince has visited Yonghe Palace before."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wuya's heart leaped into her throat. Had he really been to Yonghe Palace? Before she could even feel excited, the two people outside poured cold water on her.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Before the imperial genealogy was changed, the Crown Prince was the Prince of Yonghe Palace."

"That's right. If you ask me, some people are just unlucky. They don't know how to cherish such a good son, and they deserve to end up like this..."

A bolt from the blue! Uya Chengbi could no longer hear the sarcastic remarks of the two people behind her. Her eyes were glazed over, her hands gripping the bed tightly, and she kept muttering to herself in a daze.

"Impossible...impossible, how could it be Yinzhen? It can't be Yinzhen, how could Yinzhen be the crown prince..."