The fourth day of the first lunar month, just a few days before the day when the court would resume.
After ten days of wild revelry, the boys, no longer needing to get up early every day to study diligently, suddenly became like wild horses that had broken free of their reins, impossible to restrain.
Just then, a bolt from the blue struck them.
Emperor Kangxi was going to conduct an assessment of the studies of his older princes!
The inability to cheat or delay is disheartening.
Apart from Yinti and Yinreng, all the princes, from the third prince Yinzhi to the tenth prince Yin'e, had to undergo the assessment.
Yinreng gloated in Yuqing Palace, wishing he could be there to watch his brothers suffer.
The things Emperor Kangxi tested him on were always arbitrary, and extremely obscure and difficult.
Yinti had originally planned to go to the palace to pay his respects that day, but upon receiving the news, he insisted that the person who tied up the carriage go back, and he hid in his residence and refused to leave.
This shows that the Kangxi Emperor's examinations cast an indelible shadow on the hearts of the princes.
Yinzhi and Yinzhen remained quite calm, confident in their diligent studies and unafraid of Kangxi's surprise attack.
Yinqi, Yinyou, and the rest of the family were all in a panic.
In particular, the three brothers, Yinqi, Yintang, and Yin'e, had little interest in Chinese studies and often slacked off in class.
A whole string of young princes, steeling themselves, went to see Emperor Kangxi, standing in a neat row.
Emperor Kangxi, holding a string of beads in his hand, looked sternly at his sons: "I was just giving you a routine test today, why do you all look so worried? Have you not studied enough and are you panicking now?"
Yin'e and Yin'tang exchanged a glance, then each grabbed one of Kangxi's legs.
They've practiced this move countless times, and they've become very skilled at it.
Even the seasoned Emperor Kangxi was caught off guard.
"Why are you two standing still and running over to hug my legs?" Kangxi said with a laugh.
Yin'e was born simple and honest, with a chubby face and a fair complexion.
He grinned sheepishly, revealing a row of teeth missing a few: "Father, I get a headache whenever I try to memorize something, and I get dizzy as soon as I see the words in the book. Few people in this world can have it all, and the requirement of being both a scholar and a warrior is too high. How about I become your great general instead of a Grand Secretary?"
Yin'e clenched his small hand into a fist and slammed it hard on the coffee table next to him to show off his strength.
That force was indeed considerable.
Taking advantage of Yin'e's impressive display that stunned Kangxi, Yin Tang pressed his advantage, saying, "Father, I will be the God of Wealth in the future, earning you and the Qing Dynasty lots of gold. As for taking exams and such, let's forget about it."
Although Yinzhen was chubby, his face was truly handsome. He'll probably grow up to be a stunningly beautiful man.
Although Emperor Kangxi doted on his youngest sons, he would not budge an inch when it came to important matters such as their studies.
They picked up one in each hand, and like little chicks, Yinzhen and Yin'e were lifted up and thrown aside.
"If you continue to spout nonsense, I will give each of you ten rulers," Kangxi said.
Yintang and Yin'e quickly tucked their hands behind their backs, their lips curving into sweet smiles as they pretended to be well-behaved.
The examinations were conducted from the highest to the lowest rank. Yinzhi and Yinzhen passed smoothly, which greatly improved Kangxi's mood.
Yin Zhi received several approving glances from him, and his posture became ramrod straight, no longer showing the irritability he had displayed when he was confined to his quarters recently.
Yinzhen was calm and composed, which made Kangxi most satisfied with him.
"Yinqi, come here." Kangxi shifted his gaze to Yinqi.
Yinqi stepped forward cautiously, his expression full of tension.
He was fluent in Mongolian, had a mediocre command of Manchu, and spoke halting Mandarin. Faced with Kangxi's expectant gaze, he chose to lower his head and avoid it.
Kangxi sighed inwardly; he had delayed Xiao Wu.
Feeling guilty, Emperor Kangxi asked some extremely simple questions, though some of the more difficult ones were directed at the Mongols and the Khorchin tribe.
Yinti, who could please Kangxi, understood Kangxi's favoritism towards him.
He looked at Kangxi with admiration and answered questions fluently and logically.
Just as a person's five fingers are of different lengths, so too are people's hearts biased.
Emperor Kangxi showed favoritism towards Yinqi, Yintang, and Yin'e, but not towards Yinyou and Yinsi. Moreover, he was quite cold and harsh.
For no other reason than that Yinyou was born with a foot disability, which was a stain on Kangxi's heart.
Yinzhi was born to a maid in the Imperial Household Department. His mother was exceptionally beautiful, possessing a unique fragrance, and was considered a femme fatale. Emperor Kangxi was captivated by her beauty, but he refused to admit that he was an emperor who was indiscriminate in his attraction to beauty.
Therefore, Yinzhi was also a dark place in his heart.
That's how it is in royalty: the good get better and the bad get worse.
Yinyou stammered as he answered Kangxi's questions, receiving the evaluation of being mediocre and unqualified, his face turning bright red.
Yinzhi panicked, but forced himself to remain calm and stepped forward, waiting for Kangxi to ask questions.
Emperor Kangxi randomly pointed to an article and asked him to memorize it first.
Yinzhi smiled confidently. Although he was only ten years old, his demeanor already carried a touch of gentleness and refinement.
Kangxi observed his expression and movements, lost in thought.
Yinzhi was modeling himself after the Crown Prince, imitating his manners and temperament. Unfortunately, he couldn't learn the arrogance and nobility that Yinreng had developed from a life of luxury. He did, however, imitate the gentle and refined manner.
Yinzhi's voice was clear and resonant, and his enunciation was fluent and smooth, prompting the princes standing beside him to nod in approval.
Yinzhen and Yin'e, who didn't like studying, looked at him with great admiration. Although they were about the same age, the Eighth Prince was much smarter than them.
Despite being of the lowest status, he was surrounded by his younger brother, who was of noble birth, expressing his admiration. Yinzhi couldn't help but feel a little smug.
Emperor Kangxi couldn't stand him like this: "How is your calligraphy progressing these days? Write a piece for me to see."
Writing was Yinzhi's weakness. He was good at almost everything in his studies, but his handwriting was the only thing he didn't do well.
Emperor Kangxi wasn't trying to discourage him; it was just that his handwriting was really bad, and he had to improve it no matter what, so as not to embarrass him.
Yinzhi bit his lip and took the brush from Liang Jiugong, treating it with utmost care.
Even though he tried his best and gave it his all, he was still not good enough for a formal occasion.
He has no talent for calligraphy.
Yinzhi's face, as white as jade, was flushed with a rosy hue, a reflection of his own shame.
Just then, Liang Jiugong stepped forward and whispered in Kangxi's ear, "The Crown Prince has come to pay his respects."
In an instant, Kangxi's face glowed with joy.
"Please invite the Crown Prince into the hall." Kangxi's bad mood was instantly swept away.
Under the watchful eyes of his younger brothers, Yinreng appeared with a smile, his very being exuding the air of a crown prince.
A dragon's bearing and a phoenix's grace—this is how it should be.
Yinreng stood beside Yinsi and bowed to Kangxi in a loud voice, his movements fluid and graceful, exuding grandeur.
Yinzhi felt ashamed of himself and secretly imitated Yinreng's words and actions.
Now that the real product has arrived, his fake looks truly pathetic.
"The younger brother pays his respects to the Crown Prince."
After Yinreng finished his greetings, he accepted the greetings from the other princes with an open and generous manner.
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