Chapter Fifteen
When Yinreng was summoned to the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi had already dismissed his attendants. Such a sensitive topic could not be known to others.
At the same time, he looked worried and worried. What if it really doesn't work out?
Didn't the imperial physician say there was no problem?
He had seen all the princesses bestowed upon him afterward, and they came in all sorts of styles: charming, lively, romantic, delicate, aloof... He didn't like any of them. What kind of princess did he actually like?
Hmm... there are seven or eight already. Of course, that was before. The mourning period for the Empress Dowager is still in effect for the past three years, and even the triennial general election has been moved to early spring next year.
Looking at his father's kind and gentle face, Yinreng felt that something was... ill-intentioned. He was sorry, but he really shouldn't have said that about his father.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty. Your Majesty, is there something you wish to tell me?" The main issue was that everyone else had been dismissed, including Liang Jiugong.
Liang Jiugong was still standing guard at the door, seemingly worried that someone might eavesdrop and arouse Crown Prince Yinreng's suspicion that something serious had happened.
Looking at the Crown Prince who was becoming more and more perfect under her careful nurturing and guidance, although he was still a little immature at times, such as not liking to get too close to people, these were not major problems.
Bao Cheng is still young and cannot be too mature in many things. If he does not get close to his ministers, how can they support the crown prince?
But it's alright, there's still plenty of time, and his father, the Emperor, will teach him step by step.
Ahem... But I digress. The reason I called Bao Cheng here this time wasn't for this matter.
Kangxi pulled himself back from his reverie and looked at Yinreng again, a hint of difficulty in his eyes, as if he found it hard to speak.
Yinreng grew up by Kangxi's side since childhood, so he naturally understood the meaning behind his father's eyes and expression. However, he could understand it but did not understand why his father looked at him with such eyes.
Yinreng felt that he didn't think there was anything wrong with him.
"Baocheng, tell your father honestly, are you feeling unwell somewhere?" Kangxi asked cryptically, afraid of hurting his son's tender little heart.
A man can't say no! This is a very important matter.
It is said that of all virtues, filial piety is the most important, and having no offspring is the greatest tragedy. If Bao Cheng is not up to par, then, then, as the crown prince, having no heir, wouldn't that be...
Therefore, Emperor Kangxi paid special attention to this issue. He should have been eighteen by the end of the year, but who would have thought that as the crown prince, he was still a virgin... cough cough!
Anyway, Kangxi didn't dare to publicize this matter everywhere, but since Yuqing Palace was the palace of the Crown Prince, and none of the princesses had ever served the emperor, how many people were paying attention?
If it weren't for the rumors circulating outside and Liang Jiugong reporting it to him, he wouldn't have even noticed this matter, since he had more important matters of state to attend to.
At first, I thought, since the woman and the fire-avoidance diagram have already been sent over, is the Crown Prince still a fool?
Looking at it now...
Yinreng was quite bewildered by his father's question, blinking his eyes in confusion. However, out of concern for his father, Yinreng obediently nodded.
"Father, I am in good health. You should also take care of your health. The Qing Dynasty cannot be without you." I remember when Mother Uku had just passed away, Father refused to eat or drink, which really frightened him.
Kangxi didn't take his son's concern to heart. Instead, he stared at Yinreng with even more concern. Seeing that Yinreng didn't understand his meaning, he spoke more bluntly.
"Baocheng, don't you have quite a few more princesses in your harem? Do you really not like any of them?" Kangxi, who considered himself a model and refined ruler, found it truly difficult to discuss the question of 'whether you are capable or not' with his son.
Fortunately, no one was around, and he remained the wise and benevolent ruler.
Yinreng recalled the princesses who had been bestowed upon him. It wasn't that all of them harbored ill intentions, but the princesses who had been sent earlier all wanted to use him as a tool for bearing children, so that they could give birth to the eldest son of a concubine before the Crown Princess was chosen or before she married into Yuqing Palace, and thus gain a foothold in the palace.
For the later ones, Yinreng never appeared to see them; he simply sent them to the backyard.
It really affected my mood. I might as well study properly. At that time, the Emperor had set a date for the lectures, although it was delayed for a while due to the passing of Mother Wuku.
Even now, he has no interest in those women; it only makes him feel cheated. What do they take him for? A tool to climb the social ladder?
It's disgusting to even hear about it. It's better to be like Princess Fucha, who openly wanted his 'beauty' and was simply after him as a person.
"Father, I'm still observing mourning. I wasn't thinking about these things." The Crown Prince spoke righteously, showing that he was particularly filial. "I'm only observing mourning. Father, unlike you who always have a harem."
That little bit of pride in his heart remained unspoken, lest he reveal it and make his father, the Emperor, lose his temper and become angry.
"The mourning period is over..." Kangxi retorted sternly, but then sighed, "Even when your mother was still alive, you were the same. Baocheng, tell your father honestly, are you... incapable?"
Kangxi felt that if he continued to be so tactful, he would not get the result he wanted at all, but would only drag things out, just like just now, when he almost steered the topic away.
It's all Bao Cheng's fault.
Upon hearing this, Yinreng was stunned for a moment, his mind going blank for a brief instant, as if he had never expected to hear such a question from his father, the Emperor.
But then she wondered if she had misheard. "Father, what did you say?"
Although Yinreng had never tried it, now that he was allowed to leave the palace to lecture, he would occasionally go out with the group of young men from the Hesheli family. He had heard about some of their esoteric and non-esoteric teachings, but he only glanced at them and never paid any attention to them.
"Father, what did you say?" Shocked, it was as if those eyes were questioning Kangxi: Father, how could someone as noble and elegant as you utter such vulgar words?
Emperor Kangxi was so angry that he almost smashed the memorial on Yinreng's head, but he still took a deep breath and held back his anger.
"Baocheng." He called out, stood up, and walked down, lowering his voice with a sigh, "None of the princesses in your backyard have served you in bed. Are you... impotent? You can't hide your illness from medical treatment. The imperial physicians in the palace are all highly skilled and can definitely cure you."
The old father was afraid that his son would die and the family line would end, which was the most painful thing for a man. How could he not care?
"Father! What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just... I'm just not very interested in women! I'm perfectly fine." Yinreng's face flushed with anger. His father actually thought he was incapable—it was an utter disgrace!
Upon hearing this, Kangxi thought, "Oh no, he's not interested in women? That means it won't work."
"What's the reason? Is he not good-looking enough? Does he speak badly? Is his status not noble enough?" The old father's heart sank, convinced that the crown prince was no good, and he began to dig out the reasons so that the imperial physician could treat him.
The imperial physicians certainly wouldn't be able to extract these words, for fear of affecting the prince's treatment plan.
Your Highness: ...
"Father, I really just don't like being surrounded by women. I just want to learn and help you serve the Qing Dynasty." He would rather do things than associate with women who wanted to use him as a tool.
Furthermore, by listening to the thoughts of others, the Crown Prince also realized that his position was coveted by many.
Historical records show that very few crown princes were able to ascend the throne smoothly. However, Yinreng, who had a very deep relationship with his father, the Emperor, never worried about this. He even said: "Women affect the speed at which I draw my sword."
"Nonsense, you need to have an heir, right?" It must be because the Crown Prince has never experienced love that he doesn't like it. What's wrong with him? Are those women so useless?
Seeing that Bao Cheng was arguing his case, he thought, "Fine, fine, I'll just believe for now that it's not the Crown Prince."
"Baocheng, you're not young anymore, and the mourning period is over. It's time for you to get married." Those bestowed princesses can be ignored, but the Crown Princess can't just abandon them, can she? If it doesn't work, then we'll treat him! Let's see how he avoids medical help then.
He made the decision directly with a stern face, and said that he would have the Imperial Astronomical Bureau find an auspicious day the next day, the closest one he wanted! He wanted them to get married and have children as soon as possible.
He then used reverse psychology: "Look at your elder brother, he'll soon have a legitimate son. How can you not be married yet? You are the crown prince, how can you lose to others?"
(End of this chapter)
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