This tour to the border regions was not peaceful. First, news came that Prince Gong Changning was seriously ill. Emperor Kangxi ordered medicine and doctors to be provided, and ordered the imperial physicians to stay at Changning's residence to take care of him.

However, he died young, on the seventh day of the sixth month of the forty-second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, at the age of 47.

Emperor Kangxi ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department to handle Changning's funeral arrangements and did not return home.

However, this was destined to be turbulent. Soon, news came from the capital that Prince Yu, Fuquan, was seriously ill. Before Emperor Kangxi's tour of the northern frontier, he had made a special trip to visit Fuquan.

When Emperor Kangxi received the news in the border region, he ordered the princes accompanying him to ride to visit their uncle, but it was too late; they only saw him one last time.

Fuquan passed away on June 24 at the age of 51.

Upon hearing the news, Emperor Kangxi immediately rushed back to the capital to personally pay his respects; during the funeral procession, he also went to the Prince Fuquan's residence and wept bitterly.

The emperor ordered the censor Luo Zhan to oversee the construction of a tomb and stele for Fuquan at Huanghua Mountain, stipulating that in addition to the annual sacrifices, there should be additional sacrifices.

From a young age, Fuquan and Emperor Kangxi jointly honored their grandmother, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuangwen. Whenever they accompanied their grandmother on outings, the two brothers always led the way. When their grandmother was seriously ill, they meticulously cared for her until Empress Dowager Xiaozhuangwen passed away, forging a deep bond between the brothers. After Fuquan's death, Emperor Kangxi specially commissioned a portrait to be painted, depicting himself and Fuquan sitting side-by-side under the shade of a paulownia tree, symbolizing their brotherly love and lifelong companionship. Emperor Kangxi used this painting to express his heartfelt feelings and deep longing for Fuquan.

This shows that Fuquan was much more important to Emperor Kangxi than Changning.

After Fuquan's death, his third son, Baotai, inherited the title of Prince.

After Changning's death, Haishan inherited the title, but not as a prince, only as a beile.

This also reveals the difference in treatment between the two. Baotai was once a tyrant in the Imperial Study, and as a child in the palace, he always called Emperor Kangxi "Father," and Kangxi doted on him.

The sudden loss of two brothers plunged Emperor Kangxi into deep grief, causing him to fall ill. The Empress Dowager frequently visited and comforted him, which greatly strengthened the bond between mother and son.

After recovering from his illness, Emperor Kangxi became even more filial to his stepmother, the Empress Dowager.

On July 2nd of the 42nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, it was the first birthday of the Eighth Prince, Prince Zhi. Due to the funerals of Fuquan and Changning, the ceremony was simply held at the residence without inviting anyone, not even the concubines and secondary consorts in the inner courtyard. Only Yinzhi, Hezhuo, and Xiaozhenbao were present.

Just after the little boy's first birthday, Consort Hui summoned He Zhuo to the palace.

"This is the roster of the female contestants in this year's talent show, take a look."

He Zhuo took the list, puzzled, and looked at Consort Hui.

“Hongyu is now 13 years old and has been granted the title of heir apparent. It’s time to arrange a marriage for him.”

Consort Hui's words struck Hezhuo like a thunderbolt. Hezhuo was only 28 years old and was about to become a mother-in-law. My son was still a tender young cabbage, and he was about to be eaten by a pig.

No, it should be said that the little white pig we raise is about to start rooting up the little white cabbage.

Consort Hui found her daughter-in-law's surprised expression quite amusing.

"This, this, Mother, Hongyu is still young, this..." Hezhuo instantly felt that the roster in her hand was like a hot potato, and put it on the table.

Consort Hui, seeing her daughter-in-law's incoherent behavior, covered her lips with her handkerchief and laughed incessantly.

When my son was getting married, I felt a mix of sadness and bitterness. Now it's my daughter-in-law's turn.

"This year, we're arranging a marriage for Consort De's fourteenth son, and I reckon our Hongyu will also be getting married soon." Consort Hui spread out the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection.

"This year, only one prince, the Fourteenth Prince, is arranging a marriage. He'll have plenty to choose from. Let's take a look."

He Zhuo looked at her mother-in-law, who was in high spirits, and felt very resistant.