Chapter 10: The Tenth Brother's Apology with the Thumb Ring

Kangxi looked down at the cradle and saw his son pouting, looking like he was sulking with someone. He looked so adorable.

A hint of a smile flickered in the Consort's eyes. She knew why Yin'e was sulking; he probably regretted hearing her say that the rosewood rattle drum was more valuable. The Consort admitted that she hadn't told Yin'e about this beforehand, partly to see him make a fool of himself.

The little baby pouted, his big, dark grape-like eyes glistening with moisture.

The sweet smile that had been on her fair and delicate face was gone. Her cheeks were puffed up with anger, making her face look even rounder and cuter, which made people feel sorry for her.

Emperor Kangxi's heart melted with paternal love at the sight of Yin'e's plump, soft, and fair cheeks, which looked easy to pinch and felt wonderful to the touch.

In an instant, the red jade thumb ring that Kangxi wore on his thumb left a red mark on Yin'e's fair face.

Kangxi did not use force, but the baby's skin was too delicate. Unlike the Consort, he did not carefully remove the nail guards and rings on his hands before touching Yin'e, so he inevitably hurt the young and weak infant unintentionally.

Upon seeing this, the Imperial Concubine's slightly upturned lips instantly flattened, and the smile in her eyes vanished in an instant, fading away like flowing water, revealing her hidden indifference and coldness.

This unusual behavior lasted for less than a moment. In the time it took to raise her eyes, the Imperial Concubine concealed all her inappropriate emotions, as if the brief moment of reproach and displeasure had never occurred.

Stepping forward, Consort Gui gently stroked Yin'e's tender little face. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she gave Kangxi a reproachful look, complaining softly with a hint of annoyance, "Your Majesty, be gentle. A baby's skin is so delicate; you might accidentally leave a mark."

Kangxi withdrew his hand, a hint of embarrassment showing in his eyes.

A year has passed, and Emperor Kangxi, now thirty, has many children. Among his many children, only Crown Prince Yinreng was personally raised by Kangxi. However, the Crown Prince is already eleven years old this year, and Kangxi has long forgotten how fragile and delicate a young infant's skin is.

In fact, because so many children died young in the palace in the early years, Emperor Kangxi no longer devoted much affection and effort to his princes when they were young. Only when the princes had grown up and entered the Imperial Study would Emperor Kangxi give them careful nurturing and instruction.

As the Crown Prince grew older, Emperor Kangxi rarely showed affection to his young son. Yin'e was an exception only because of the Consort Gui – otherwise, how could one say that a son's status is determined by his mother's?

"Ah ah..." Just then, Yin'e suddenly stretched out his little hand and tried to reach Kangxi's right hand, which was hanging down beside the cradle.

He swept away his previous dejection and gloom, and his round, large eyes were as clear and clean as if they had been washed with water.

Yin'e didn't feel any pain from the red marks on his face at all. He just seized the opportunity to fawn over Kangxi and act cute incessantly.

That's right, Yin'e can't accurately judge the value of items now, but he knows how to curry favor with powerful figures—Kangxi, as an emperor, wore jewelry that was absolutely priceless.

Having finally met my adoptive father in this lifetime, how could I not seize this opportunity to ask for some benefits? Who knows when I'll see Kangxi again? I must cherish this hard-won chance to fleece him.

With his big, blinking eyes, Yin'e smiled brightly. His fair face was filled with a pure and adorable smile, innocent and naive. While acting cute, he stared intently at Kangxi's right hand. Because his smile was so bright, a small dimple appeared on his cheek.

As if he had been saved, Kangxi immediately turned his gaze to Yin'e. His voice unconsciously softened, and a genuinely loving smile appeared on his face: "Does Yin'e like Father?"

As an emperor who ruled a country, Kangxi was very confident in himself. Or rather, Kangxi was a bit narcissistic and sometimes had an inflated sense of self-worth.

Consort Niohuru understood Yin'e better than Emperor Kangxi. Mother and son were of one mind, and the consort saw through Yin'e's intention to charm Emperor Kangxi at a glance. The slight annoyance that had surfaced in her heart vanished, and she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"What's wrong? Is something amiss?" Kangxi turned his head and looked over, his eyes filled with some doubt, but his face was still brimming with the pride of an old father.

Clearly, Kangxi was pleased to be close to his son and to have gained his son's favor.

The Imperial Concubine covered her mouth and chuckled, "cruelly" shattering Kangxi's illusions and revealing the truth: "Yin'e has his eye on the thumb ring on your right hand."

With his eyes widening slightly and a moment of stunned silence, Kangxi raised his right hand, his gaze falling on the blood-jade thumb ring on his thumb.

This thumb ring was originally a tribute item, crafted from the finest blood jade. Its surface is smooth, its texture is warm and lustrous, and its color is translucent, clear, and bright. It is a treasure among treasures, worth a fortune, and extremely precious.

It seems the Consort was right. After all, the blood jade thumb ring was very eye-catching, and Yin'e liked shiny jade and gemstones, so it would indeed attract his attention... Kangxi muttered to himself, knowing that the truth was probably as the Consort said.

But Kangxi was still somewhat unwilling to admit defeat. He couldn't believe, or rather, he didn't want to believe, that he was inferior to a thumb ring; he was even more unwilling to accept that in his son's eyes, he, the old father, was not as attractive as a piece of blood jade.

With this in mind, Kangxi looked down at Yin'e and saw his son in the cradle struggling to lift his head and look up. His gaze followed him closely, but he was clearly staring intently at the blood jade ring on his right thumb, his eyes burning with an intense intensity.

Kangxi was taken aback. Looking at Yin'e, who was eagerly asking for something with his little head held high, his feelings were very complicated.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Kangxi's smile turned helpless. He glared at Yin'e, both amused and annoyed. If Yin'e weren't too young and too old to understand what adults were saying, Kangxi would have scolded him as an "unfilial son" to appease him.

"You little rascal." Kangxi rarely felt like teasing his son, so he deliberately glared at Yin'e with a fierce look, but the laughter in his voice betrayed him. "So you like my thumb ring, not me."

Yin'e stared at Kangxi with his big, round eyes, completely unafraid of his threats. His bright, black eyes darted around lively, full of childlike innocence.

Although he jokingly scolded Yin'e, Kangxi still liked this lively, strong, and promising son very much.

In addition, Kangxi already felt a certain amount of guilt and pity towards Yin'e that he found difficult to express. After spending so much time together, Kangxi's gaze towards Yin'e became even more gentle and affectionate.

After a moment's hesitation, Kangxi unhesitatingly took off the blood jade thumb ring from his right thumb and stuffed it into Yin'e's small hand, which was being held high with great effort: "Since you like it, then you can have it."

The Imperial Concubine was slightly startled and quickly advised, "This is His Majesty's beloved possession. Giving it to Yin'e would be a waste. Your Majesty should take it back."

"It's just a little trinket," Kangxi waved his hand dismissively.

The Imperial Concubine pursed her lips, still somewhat hesitant: "Yin'e doesn't understand anything, nor does he know how to appreciate anything. He's just a little kid; he only wants the blood jade because of its vibrant color. Your Majesty shouldn't spoil him."

How could Kangxi take back what he had given away? Besides, a mere blood jade thumb ring was nothing to him.

“This is more than just a reward,” Kangxi said with a smile, pointing to the red mark on Yin’e’s cheek. “It’s also compensation.”

Yin'e didn't care about the Emperor and Consort's gnashing of teeth. He had already lay back down, holding the blood jade thumb ring in his hands, grinning from ear to ear. His joy was evident, and it was clear that he was extremely happy.

Hmm, the jade used for this thumb ring seems to be quite special. The Imperial Concubine just said it was blood jade!

After glancing at Yin'e, Kangxi suddenly asked the Consort thoughtfully, "Yin'e can already recognize people?"

"Yes, Yin'e already recognizes him." The Imperial Concubine smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling.

However, Yin'e was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, as if he were born with knowledge. He could understand what adults were saying, but the Consort never mentioned it.

The topic of recognizing people seemed to have struck a nerve with the Imperial Concubine, and the smile on her face, no longer gentle and faint as before, involuntarily became bright and radiant.

With a smile, the Imperial Concubine, though trying to restrain herself, couldn't help but reveal a hint of smugness: "Yin'e is closest to me and likes to stick to me the most."

Kangxi was a little jealous, but he knew it was normal, since strictly speaking, this was the first time Yin'e had met him.

However, Kangxi also silently made up his mind to visit Yin'e more often.

His Yin'e is so clever, he can recognize people so early. After he visits him a few more times, Yin'e will definitely remember him. After all, father and son are of one heart. Yin'e is close to his mother, so he will probably be close to his father, the Khan.

Gazing at Yin'e, who was smiling broadly in the cradle, Kangxi's heart was filled with the warmth of a father.

At this moment, he was sincere, simply hoping as a father that Yin'e could grow up safely.

To ensure the stability of the crown prince's position, Emperor Kangxi did indeed suppress Yin'e intentionally or unintentionally. However, he was not without a loving father's heart, did not fail to consider Yin'e's well-being, and did not treat the crown prince as only a son, even at the cost of sacrificing other princes.

Yin'e's noble birth made him too conspicuous, which was not a good thing given that the crown prince had already been chosen.

When Kangxi suppressed Yin'e, it was also a way of protecting and showing his affection for him.

On this point, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Gui were of the same mind.