As autumn approached, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager finally returned to Beijing from the Rehe Imperial Palace.

Yinreng skillfully led the ministers and princes to welcome Kangxi and the Empress Dowager back to the palace.

This has been the case every year, so there's no chance of any mistakes.

News of events in the capital was reported to Emperor Kangxi daily.

Emperor Kangxi naturally remembered Yinreng's gesture of asking Yinzhen to take care of the Fourteenth Prince.

"The Crown Prince is very kind to his brothers, that's excellent." Kangxi praised Yinreng as soon as he saw him.

The ministers and the princes standing to the side had blank expressions.

I've never seen an emperor and his crown prince so affectionate. It was one thing when the crown prince was young, but he's almost thirty and they're still showing off their father-son bond. They just can't stand it.

Of course, Emperor Kangxi's complete devotion to the Crown Prince did make things much easier for Yinreng when he worked with the court officials.

Wherever the emperor's heart lies, that's where the ministers will turn.

The Fourteenth Prince's face, like a sunflower, turned in the direction of Kangxi.

Emperor Kangxi was amused by him and beckoned to him. The Fourteenth Prince immediately ran over like a little calf.

"Have you been studying diligently while I've been away from the palace?" Kangxi asked kindly.

The Fourteenth Prince said with great enthusiasm, "I study diligently every day, and my Fourth Brother has also taught me a lot."

The bond between brothers is strong by blood, but there is a significant age difference. As long as the Fourteenth Prince doesn't oppose Yinzhen, Yinzhen, with his patience, is more than capable of being a good elder brother.

Having lost his older sister, the Fourteenth Prince, who now clings desperately to his only older brother, considers Yinzhen very important.

Yinzhi lowered his eyes unwillingly, all those years of coaxing the Fourteenth Prince had been for nothing. In the end, the Fourth Prince simply waved his hand and summoned him away.

"Your fourth brother is very knowledgeable and conscientious in his work. You can learn a lot from him," Kangxi praised.

Yinzhen, who had been keeping a straight face, suddenly broke into a smile, like spring snow melting.

"My fourteenth brother is clever and well-behaved. My son and the tutor in the Imperial Study both like him very much." Yinzhen was also good at saying nice things.

This was the first time the Fourteenth Prince had heard Yinzhen praise him in person. What a young man needs most is recognition and praise.

He stood tall and proud, so arrogant that he made his group of brothers laugh.

The atmosphere among the princes was harmonious, which pleased Emperor Kangxi.

They were all his own sons. Although he intended for them to compete with each other, he wouldn't want them to be like enemies.

The emperor's mind is too complex; it's truly difficult to be a person of his.

It must be admitted that the various talents displayed by the princes helped Emperor Kangxi, who was still thinking about Princess Wenxian, to feel much relief from his grief.

The Empress Dowager stood by, watching with amusement. Old people are easily satisfied.

As expected, Yinreng and Yinzhen accompanied Kangxi to the Qianqing Palace to report on the political affairs they had handled over the past month and the undercurrents of power struggles in the court.

Yinzhi walked subtly to the Fourteenth Prince's side: "Fourth Brother and the Crown Prince have left with Father Emperor. Eighth Brother will accompany you back to the Princes' quarters."

The Fourteenth Prince is not stupid. They were born of the same mother. Yinzhen was smart, so how much more stupid could he, as the younger brother, be?

Yinzhi used to pretend to be a good elder brother in front of him, and he was happy to benefit from it.

Now he's getting close to his older brother; only a fool would associate with his brother's enemy.

"I'll go with Thirteenth Brother." Fourteenth Prince decisively leaned against Thirteenth Brother. The two brothers were about the same age, so it was perfectly normal for them to play together.

Yinzhi watched the ungrateful brat run far away in a flash, his chest heaving with anger.