When Yinreng woke up, it was already evening.
The time he awoke and the time the academy judged were only about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
"Xiao Yan, I'm alright." The first person Yinreng saw when he opened his eyes was Tong Wanyan.
Looking at the haggard woman before him, Yinreng felt that the suffering he had endured was nothing.
On the contrary, his darling must have been terrified.
Yinreng's hoarse voice was caused by the vomiting caused by being forced to drink medicine; he would recover after a few days of rest.
Tong Wanyan came early in the morning to keep watch, her eyes glued to the ground.
When Yinreng finally woke up, she couldn't help but burst into tears: "Your Majesty, you've finally woken up."
When his beloved daughter cried, Yinreng panicked.
"Don't be afraid, this won't happen again. This time it was to protect Father Emperor. In any other situation, I would have avoided it long ago. You mustn't throw a tantrum. I'm skilled in both literature and martial arts, and I can protect myself. Oh dear, my face is so beautiful. Don't cry and make yourself ugly."
Yinreng held Tong Wanyan's hand, ignoring his sore throat, and hurriedly said a series of words.
She said it, and even tugged at her little hands, wanting a hug.
Tong Wanyan's ears turned bright red instantly. She wanted to shake off Yinreng's hand but couldn't bear to.
"Your Majesty, you're still with Father Emperor," Tong Wanyan said softly, bowing her head.
Yinreng turned his head and saw Kangxi and the Empress Dowager sitting not far away.
Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager looked at the two younger men with smiles on their faces and meaningful expressions.
True friendship is revealed in times of adversity; it is indeed a heartfelt expression of affection.
"Father, Father, Bao Cheng has worried you." Yinreng put away his mischievous teasing of Tong Wanyan and said to his two elders with a serious expression.
Emperor Kangxi, who was feeling jealous, saw that Yinreng was weak and listless, and immediately felt sorry for him and said, "Silly child, it is my neglect that has caused you to suffer an undeserved disaster. It is only right that I worry about my son."
After taking a closer look at Yinreng's pale, chapped lips, Kangxi said with concern, "You will stay here with me tonight, and we will move you back to Yuqing Palace tomorrow."
After Emperor Kangxi, the Empress Dowager said with relief, "Baocheng is a filial son. You are my grandson, how could I not worry about you? This time, it is all thanks to you that the Emperor was spared a calamity. Don't blame me for being biased. The Emperor is the ruler of the Qing Dynasty and the pillar of the country. He must not be harmed."
Yinreng looked at Kangxi with admiration and respect in his eyes: "Grandson thinks the same way as his father. No matter whether Father is the emperor or the monarch of the Qing Dynasty, grandson should protect Father for the sake of family and country!"
"Therefore, I was worried, but also proud of you. Although the imperial physician said you were fine, I still needed to see you with my own eyes to be at ease. Now that you are awake, my heart is finally at ease," the Empress Dowager said.
Emperor Kangxi lacked love in his youth, and the Empress Dowager and Yinreng's overflowing affection warmed his heart and brought tears to his eyes.
Tong Wanyan remained obediently and quietly in the corner of the bed, not making a sound or disturbing anyone.
With outsiders present, it wasn't appropriate for Yinreng to be so affectionate with Tong Wanyan.
He turned his head and thought of the culprit who had caused him so much pain: "Father, where is that assassin? It's one thing that he's ugly, but this poison is making my internal organs ache terribly."
Yinreng complained to Kangxi, feeling wronged. He now understood the saying, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Kangxi immediately felt sorry for you: "I know you're in pain. When the imperial physician was giving you acupuncture, your face was all scrunched up. As for that assassin, I've already ordered him to be ground to dust. Letting him commit suicide by poison is too lenient for him."
Yinreng raised his head happily and showered Kangxi with sweet words: "I knew Father Emperor was the best son! How dare he assassinate Father Emperor! Even in the afterlife, he will be cursed by the people. The peaceful and prosperous Qing Dynasty was created by Father Emperor. How dare he disregard the lives of the people? He deserves to be executed!"
Kangxi felt extremely pleased to hear this, knowing that in Bao Cheng's heart, he had always been the most magnificent and wise ruler.
In his laughter, Kangxi blurted out, "Baocheng, that assassin was actually a man."
Male?
The man who was courting him?
A man who's so ugly, yet he dresses as a woman?
Yinreng was extremely upset. He felt uncomfortable all over and was truly disgusted.
"I'm heartbroken." Yinreng lay back down on the bed, looking dejected.
Kangxi understood Yinreng's feelings; they were both men, after all.
The thought that he himself was the culprit made Kangxi feel short of breath.
Having committed wrongdoings, the only way to make amends through material means is out of guilt.
In a moment of impulse, Emperor Kangxi took many things from his private treasury and gave them to Yinreng.
Even though some of these privileges were forbidden for the Crown Prince, they were exceptionally permitted for Yinreng to use.
The Empress Dowager followed along with a smile, occasionally mentioning something, and somehow managed to empty half of Kangxi's private treasury.
The Empress Dowager said that Yinreng had done a good job, but how could an old woman not love her grandson?
"Your Majesty, what about Xiao Yan?" After the Empress Dowager had finished claiming the benefits for Yinreng, she turned to claim credit for Tong Wanyan.
These words were like a wake-up call, and Yinreng's eyes immediately lit up.
"So it was Xiao Yan who saved my life? Xiao Yan is truly my lucky star!" Yinreng sat up in bed again and let out a loud cry full of emotion.
Emperor Kangxi was startled: "I also saved you."
“Father, you are my biological father, it’s different,” Yinreng said confidently.
Kangxi was actually pleased to hear such outrageous words. Indeed, he was Baocheng's biological father, and there weren't many complicated relationships between father and son.
The Empress Dowager and Yinreng's blatant attempt to claim credit could not be ignored by Emperor Kangxi.
After a day of calming down, he recalled what the imperial physician had said the day before.
Of the two medicines that the previous dynasty had tried so hard to find, Tong Wanyan offered up the most difficult one.
Without Tong Wanyan, Yinreng would surely have died.
If the emperor of the Qing Dynasty cannot be harmed, then how could the excellent heir whom the Qing Dynasty has nurtured for many years be harmed?
Emperor Kangxi knew perfectly well that even if he had another twenty years, he could not raise a better heir than Yinreng. None of his dozen or so sons could compare to Yinreng.
Natural talent is a gift from heaven; no amount of artificial irrigation can compare to it.
Whether he bestowed one gift or two, it was still a gift. After a moment's thought, Emperor Kangxi bestowed some pearls, gemstones, and fabrics upon Tong Wanyan. Some of the gemstones were rare items, considered family heirlooms even among the most prestigious and wealthy families.
Neither Yuqing Palace nor Tong Wanyan lack material possessions.
The most significant reward was the comment given by Emperor Kangxi.
The Crown Prince's first concubine, Lady Tongjia, offered a miraculous medicine to heal him when he was seriously injured while protecting the Emperor. Her actions have rendered meritorious service to the nation, and I remember her virtue. Moreover, she is gentle, virtuous, and chaste, a model of feminine virtue.
This passage will surely be recorded by the censors, further elevating Tong Wanyan's status within the royal family.
Yinreng coughed excitedly, startling Kangxi and Tong Wanyan, who immediately stepped forward.
Yinreng patted Tong Wanyan's hand, telling her not to panic.
Then, he turned to Kangxi and said, "Father, don't panic, I'm fine."
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