The emperor was amused by Yinqi.

He poked Yinqi's forehead: "Your mother was so worried about you, and you're such a heartless little brat."

Consort Yi was furious.

Forcing a smile, she reached out and pulled Yinqi, who was busy acting coquettishly, aside: "Your Majesty, this concubine will take her leave first..."

Yinqi objected: "No, I don't want to!"

He clung tightly to Yinzhen, shouting, "I want to be with Fifth Brother! I want to hear Fifth Brother tell stories!"

"Your mother can tell stories too." Consort Yi pulled Yinqi away from Yinzhen and coaxed him gently.

"Mother only knows how to recite the Three Character Classic, I don't want to listen to it—" Yinqi was unhappy when he was pulled away, so he simply lay on the ground and rolled around like a spoiled brat.

"How about I tell you the story of Sima Guang smashing the water jar today?" Consort Yi continued to persuade her.

Emperor Kangxi frowned.

Consort Yi's reaction was so calm that he instantly realized that Yinqi was probably always this willful.

"No, no!" Yinqi cried out loudly.

"You child..." Consort Yi was annoyed, and also felt a little regretful that she had spoiled Yinqi too much.

Not to mention Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager.

Regardless of Kangxi's reaction, the Empress Dowager also secretly shook her head. She had originally intended for the Sixth Prince to go and keep the Fourth Princess company, but she thought it best to avoid it! What if he corrupted her adorable Fourth Princess?

The Empress Dowager had previously thought that it would be better if the Cining Palace was more lively.

But looking at Yinqi crying and making a scene in front of him, with a sharp and piercing voice, he felt that it was better to keep quiet.

Emperor Kangxi never thought that Yinzhen would cause trouble.

Seeing Yinqi throwing a tantrum and rolling around on the ground, her face darkened even more: "Consort Yi, how did you raise Yinqi?"

Consort Yi's face paled.

Seemingly sensing that the people in the palace weren't as considerate and gentle as his mother, Yinqi's crying gradually subsided. His round face showed some confusion and fear, and his little hands clutched the hem of Consort Yi's dress, tears welling up in his eyes as if he wanted to cry but couldn't.

Wan Anran still softened her heart.

She half-squatted down and ruffled Yinqi's hair: "When your mother brings the storybook over later, I'll have your mother read it to you, okay? If you keep crying, your face will get all dirty and you'll become ugly, you know?"

"disfigure?"

"Nobody likes you!" Wan Anran made a face.

Yinqi was so frightened that his eyes welled up with tears.

Consort Yi's expression changed. Just as she was about to step forward to stop Consort Qi, she saw Yinqi stop crying and look around anxiously.

Wan Anran secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Yinqi's little actions. Children of this age are very sensitive. If you really treat them as little guys who know nothing, that would be a disaster.

Yinqi looked around in fear.

Unlike the palace servants in Yikun Palace who fawned over her and dared not utter a word of dissent, her father was staring at her with a serious expression. The cheerful Ukuma in front of her had also lost her smile, and only her mother was looking at her with a worried expression.

Consort Yi said softly, "Yinqi, my good boy—how could your mother not like Yinqi? Your mother loves Yinqi the most."

The Empress frowned.

Isn't Consort Yi spoiling the Sixth Prince too much? Everyone could tell that Consort Qi's words were just a way to intimidate the Sixth Prince and make him control his temper.

after all--

The Empress glanced at the Emperor secretly and sighed inwardly.

Emperor Kangxi's expression was not good.

Needless to say, Crown Prince Yinreng was impeccable in his manners and etiquette, which inspired respect and admiration. The other princes were also all outstanding.

For example, the eldest prince Yinqi and the fourth prince Yinzhi, although they were raised outside the palace and were mischievous when they returned to the palace, were quite elegant in their conduct and learned the rules very well.

For example, the Third Prince Yinzuo was lively and cheerful, acted with grace and ease, and complemented the Crown Prince Yinreng quite well.

Not to mention the Fifth Prince Yinzhen, who, despite his young age, was excellent in manners and speech. He was reserved but not dull, intelligent but never ostentatious, respectful to his elder brothers and sisters, friendly to his younger siblings, and kind to the palace servants.

Although Emperor Kangxi often said that Consort Qi was foolish, he actually praised the adopted son to the Empress several times, which shows his satisfaction with Yinzhen.

With so many outstanding talents ahead of him, Yinqi, an exceptionally ordinary child, stands out conspicuously.

Emperor Kangxi didn't think much of it when he was in Yikun Palace.

Children are children, it's normal for them to be a little mischievous, and it's not a big deal for a prince to be spoiled. Besides, Yinqi looks just like Consort Yi, with his cute and adorable little face snuggling into his arms and acting all cute and cuddly...

Who can withstand this?

To be honest, before today, Kangxi didn't pay much attention to Yinqi's temper and even enjoyed it, feeling that he was experiencing a rare pampered child in Yikun Palace!

But right now...

Kangxi's expression turned slightly solemn, and he couldn't help but start thinking about how to change Yinqi's temperament.

As the saying goes, "You can tell what a child will be like at three, and what they will be like in life at seven."

If you don't correct your personality when you're young, it will be even more difficult to change it later in life.

Consort Yi did not notice the change in the Emperor's expression.

She held Yinqi and patiently coaxed him, displaying the demeanor of a loving mother, which was how Consort Yi had always presented herself to Emperor Kangxi.

Seeing that Yinqi had stopped crying and his previous awe had vanished, Wan Anran secretly shook her head. She wanted to say more, but the Empress reached out and squeezed Consort Qi's palm, signaling her to stop.

Wan Anran listened to the Empress very well.

Therefore, she did not hesitate and consciously chose to keep quiet. After all, the Empress, as the legal mother, was the one more qualified to educate the Sixth Prince, and she could only offer a word of advice based on her conscience at most.

Emperor Kangxi did not want Consort Qi to say any more.

He used the excuse that Yinqi was crying and getting dirty to order Consort Yi to take him back to change and wash up. Consort Yi smiled and agreed, but as soon as she took Yinqi's hand, he stood still and didn't move, pouting with a wronged look on his face.

Wan Anran was afraid that Yinqi would cause trouble again.

She smiled and instructed, "Haitao, go back to Xianfu Palace and deliver the storybook to Yikun Palace."

Then Wan Anran patted Yinqi's head and said, "The storybook is your fifth brother's favorite treasure, so you should treat it well."

Yinqi's expression immediately brightened.

He happily agreed, and before leaving, he said with reluctance, "You must bring the storybook..."

Wan Anran smiled and agreed.

Consort Yi hurriedly led Yinqi away, while Noble Lady Guo could only leave early as well. She glanced longingly at the Fourth Princess before finally chasing after Consort Yi and departing hastily as well.

The fourth princess stood at the entrance of Cining Palace.

She stood there, clutching the wooden box tightly in her arms, her lonely figure looking particularly pitiful. But before Wan Anran could even offer a few words of comfort, the Fourth Princess cheered up again, and ran towards the Empress Dowager with a smile: "Grandma, Fifth Brother's story was so interesting!"

"How about you talk to Grandma, Nannan?"

"Mm!" The fourth princess nodded with a smile, her clear voice immediately echoing throughout the hall.

Seeing the exceptionally well-behaved Fourth Princess, Kangxi grew increasingly dissatisfied with the Sixth Prince. He turned around, intending to speak to the Empress, only to find that she and Consort Qi had already walked hand in hand to the other side, engaged in a lively conversation.

Kangxi: …………

He suddenly felt a pang of desolation, and only when he looked down and saw that Yinzhen was also lonely and miserable did he finally feel some comfort.

Kangxi held Yinzhen on his lap and asked with a smile, "Yinzhen, your father sees that you read storybooks quite well. Perhaps you know quite a few characters? Come, recite the Three Character Classic for your father."

Wan Anran pricked up her ears.

Here it comes! Here comes the thing that relatives loved to say to children during the New Year holidays in my past life!

Yinzhen's body was stiff.

He never wanted to be held by his father, yet his father insisted on holding him. It was truly a case of wanting something but not getting it, and then being forced to do it when he didn't want it. Sitting in Kangxi's lap, he felt that everything was strange and unsettling.

"Doesn't Yinzhen know how?"

"...Your subject understands." Yinzhen's lips twitched, suppressing the urge to move away from Kangxi. He slowly recited the Three Character Classic: "At the beginning of life, man is inherently good..."

The sounds of recitation and laughter filled the Cining Palace, and the previous noise and commotion seemed to dissipate quickly like ripples on the water, but something was quietly changing.

For example, Kangxi and the Empress had a long discussion about it later.

The Sixth Prince, Yinqi, was somewhat spoiled, so the Emperor planned to move him to Kunning Palace to be raised for a period of time.

The empress was unwilling.

Her reason was simple—as the Empress, the princes raised under her care had different statuses, and the Empress did not want to give Consort Yi any expectations.

It may be a bit blunt, but it's the truth.

Kangxi thought about it and quickly dismissed the idea. After all, it was one thing that he hadn't discovered Consort Yi's doting on the child before, but once he did, he was immediately displeased after a thorough investigation.

In the past few months, four or five palace servants have been injured because of Yinqi. The most serious injury was to a palace maid who suffered facial injuries. Although Consort Guo sent her ointment, the wounds on her face were quite deep. It is said that Yikun Palace has already reported the matter to the authorities and is preparing to release her from the palace.

Who is responsible for all of this?

Yinqi was certainly not wrong; the one who was wrong was Consort Yi. Not only did Kangxi not elevate the status of Consort Yi and the Sixth Prince, he even neglected Consort Yi somewhat, while simultaneously pondering how to raise Yinqi.

Since keeping the child in Kunning Palace was not feasible, the emperor's attention turned to Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager chose to refuse directly.

She glared at Kangxi warily: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess is my precious darling. Look at Yinqi, he ruined that child's doll as soon as he arrived, and he made the Fourth Princess cry. If he stays here for a long time, what will become of Cining Palace? This will not do."

This was the first time Kangxi had heard of this matter.

The Empress Dowager, filled with righteous indignation, gave Consort Yi a severe dressing-down: "Consort Guo is pitiful. She doesn't even have much time to spend with the Fourth Princess. She specially made two dolls, which were then ruined by Yinqi. Just think about how this happened... It breaks my heart to think that I sent Yinqi here."

Goodness.

Has the Fifth Prince, Yinqi, become a hot potato? Is he someone you can't put down anywhere?

Emperor Kangxi was displeased and became increasingly cold towards Consort Yi.

The Emperor had been busy all along and hadn't been seen visiting any other palaces. In addition, the palace was busy preparing for the victory banquet, so Consort Yi hadn't really noticed the Emperor's change.

Her mind was entirely focused on Yinqi.

Consort Yi also felt that Yinqi had been wronged and bullied in Cining Palace, and she felt uncomfortable.

Normally, these grievances would have dissipated quickly, but Yinqi became obsessed with storybooks and insisted that Consort Yi read storybooks to him every day before he would go to sleep.

Whose storybook is it? It belongs to Qi Pin.

Each time Consort Yi read the storybook, her heart was pierced with pain, and tiny sparks of anger gathered in her chest, growing stronger and stronger.

The outburst reached its peak when a palace servant informed Consort Guo that she wanted to go to Cining Palace; Consort Yi finally couldn't hold back any longer and exploded.

She hadn't forgotten that the Fourth Princess was also among those she bullied!