December of the 47th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign

When the Empress Dowager fell seriously ill, Emperor Kangxi personally attended to her. Looking at the unconscious woman and glancing around at the distinctly Mongolian-style furnishings, he knew that this old woman, who had never fought or competed in her life, was still thinking about her hometown on her deathbed.

This woman, hailed as the pearl of the Khorchin tribe, was once beautiful and vibrant. Now, trapped in the palace for decades, perhaps death would be a relief for her.

Kangxi respected his stepmother, after all, she never made things difficult for him or disobeyed him. She always completed his orders immediately and never made friends with outside officials. Even the Mongols had lost contact with her in recent years.

Since that's the case, Empress Dowager, could you do me one last favor and I'll send you back to Mongolia?

Looking at the Empress Dowager who was still asleep, Kangxi made a decision.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager died in Ning Shou Palace. It is said that before her death, she only asked the Emperor for one thing: to see the Crown Prince.

Perhaps she was delirious from illness, because she said "Crown Prince" instead of "Deposed Crown Prince." The Emperor did not correct her and summoned Yinreng to Ningshou Palace for an audience.

Thus, with the title of deposed crown prince, Yinreng moved into Xianfu Palace with Kangxi's tacit approval, living with Tong Guining and Hongzhao. Although he did not deliberately move around, Kangxi summoned Yinreng to accompany him almost every day, and Honghui's job of studying was finally taken away.

After being deposed, Yinreng seemed to have finally broken free of his shackles. Instead of exuding gloom, he became even more gentle and refined. However, the poor food during his imprisonment made him much thinner, and the long periods of kneeling made his legs look somewhat unnatural when he walked quickly.

Facing Emperor Kangxi, he remained remarkably calm: "Your Majesty, I have been reflecting on many things lately, as if the past few decades have been a dream. Now that I have awakened from this dream, I realize that I have failed in my duty to you, Father."

"Your Majesty, I am already very fortunate to be able to serve you like this. Now that I have Hongzhao, I can understand how you felt back then."

"Brother, perhaps you have misunderstood for a moment. We are brothers, and I am not fit to be the Crown Prince. You are the eldest and brave, and should expand the territory of the Qing Dynasty. Father, please think it over."

Emperor Kangxi felt incredibly comforted upon hearing this; this was truly his good son.

With his eyes slightly narrowed, Kangxi felt that his eyes had not improved after taking Doctor Ye's medicine, so he stopped taking the medicine for a while, and of course, Doctor Ye was no longer in the palace.

Yinreng was very close to him, so close that Kangxi could see his micro-expressions clearly just by looking up.

"You don't know the gratitude you owe your parents until you raise your own children. It's good that you turned back in time." Kangxi said this, and the two of them seemed to have forgotten that the Crown Prince had two teenage sons!

******

Just as Yinreng and Kangxi were entering a honeymoon period, a strange wind suddenly swept through the court, bringing up the matter of establishing a crown prince again.

Since Emperor Kangxi had previously stated that he did not allow anyone to discuss the succession to the throne, saying that choosing a successor was a matter for him to consider when he became emperor, things appeared to be calm on the surface during this period.

The person who brought up this matter was Nalan Mingzhu. His power was no longer what it used to be, and now he was only struggling to support his family.

Mingzhu submitted a memorial requesting to retire, and the gist of it was as follows.

I am old now, and I can barely eat a bowl of rice or drink a bowl of soup a day. I even need a magnifying glass from a Westerner to read. Over the years, thanks to Your Majesty's continued favor, the Nalan family has flourished under Your Majesty's grace. Because of this, I understand even more clearly that Your Majesty needs younger ministers. I hope to retire from the military and live a life of leisure as a wealthy man.

Your Majesty and I have enjoyed a harmonious relationship for over a decade, and I believe I have gained some insight into Your Majesty's thoughts. Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed and the First Prince has been ruined, I dare to speak frankly. Among all the princes, the Eighth Prince possesses the countenance of someone destined for great wealth and honor. He is respectful and courteous to his subordinates, loving towards his brothers, and reverent towards Your Majesty—truly a model prince.

If Your Majesty still intends to establish an heir, I recommend the Eighth Prince, and I request Your Majesty to consider it.

After reading Mingzhu's memorial several times, Kangxi suddenly realized a problem: he had suppressed the eldest son, but where had his power gone?

It seems that he was taken in by Lao Ba, and he managed to have a good meal without making a fuss.

That's right, there's also a daughter from the Nalan family in the Eighth Prince's backyard. It seems she even gave birth to a son for him. No wonder the Nalan family all turned against him and sided with him. So that's what was foreshadowed.

Kangxi grew angrier the more he thought about it, and disregarding the fact that the palace had already been locked, he summoned all the older princes to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

It was past midnight, and Yihua and Yinzhen had long since fallen asleep, but Su Peisheng forcibly woke them up.

Upon hearing that it was an urgent summons from Emperor Kangxi, Yihua immediately snapped awake. She sat up abruptly, staring at the pitch-black night outside: "Master?"

Yinzhen sensed Yihua's unease and lowered his head to comfort her, saying, "It's alright. Father Emperor summoned not only me, but also all the princes who have established their own residences. It's still early, you should go to sleep."

How could she possibly sleep? Yi Hua sat up, wrapped in a blanket, and watched Yin Zhen get dressed and wash up. Yu Ling brought over the mutton soup and flatbread that had been wafting from the small kitchen to fill Yin Zhen's stomach. Going out now, there was no guarantee when he would be back, so it was best to have something to eat first.

Yinzhen finished a pancake in a few bites and drank the mutton soup in two gulps: "Don't go to the Imperial Study with Honghui today. I'm asking Father for leave. You all stay at home and don't be afraid."

Yi Hua nodded and watched Yin Zhen leave. She then asked Yu Ling to turn on the lights in the study and sat down, her thoughts wandering.

Honghui, perhaps awakened by Yinzhen's commotion in the front yard, was already dressed and came to pay his respects. Yihua invited him to sit in the study: "Father has given you a day off today. Stay home and teach Hongyun to read."

Honghui looked at Yihua and nodded, indicating that he understood.

“Mother, your son may know the reason for Father’s trip. Yesterday, when I was reading memorials to Grandfather in the palace, I saw Prime Minister Nalan’s memorial. I only glanced at it briefly and felt that something was wrong. The contents should not be something that I should know.”

"Grandpa's eyesight has been poor lately, so his son used a trick to switch the document. Now Grandpa may have seen it himself, which is why he's so furious."

"Don't worry, that memorial involves my eldest uncle, second uncle, and eighth uncle, but has nothing to do with Father."

Seeing that Yihua was a little flustered, Honghui quickly reassured her: "Don't blame your son for not telling your father in advance. Your son thinks it's better for your father not to know."

"Yes, you didn't know either." Yi Hua realized what she meant and indicated that she hadn't heard those words earlier that day.

All the princes and noblemen had arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Except for the eldest prince, who was under house arrest, only the tenth prince was absent. The ninth prince was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

Kangxi glanced at the list and noticed that the tenth prince hadn't come. He wasn't angry, though. This son of his was used to being a good-for-nothing and never had a say in important matters. So, if he didn't come, he didn't come.