Over the years, he had his princes roam around the Six Ministries and send them out on official business, but with little effect, because factional strife was constant and the administration was never truly clean.
Upon returning to the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi summoned his trusted imperial physician.
"How much longer can the Fourth Prince's body hold out?"
"At most twenty years, and that's assuming you take good care of yourself."
Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but feel heartbroken and asked, "Is there any way to extend his lifespan?"
Emperor Kangxi did have some genuine affection for Empress Xiaoyi's adopted son.
The imperial physician shook his head helplessly: "The Fourth Prince suffered from an epidemic a few years ago, which damaged his health. If he wants to live a long life, he can only become a wealthy and idle person. However, the Fourth Prince is not one to stay idle. It is almost impossible for him to recuperate."
Emperor Kangxi sighed, "Twenty years is not enough time!"
Kangxi knew his physical condition and believed he could hold on for another ten years or so, or even longer.
Yinreng's experience taught him that he couldn't be the crown prince for too long, or he would be driven mad. Considering Yinzhen's health condition, Kangxi shook his head and completely excluded him from the list of candidates for crown prince.
Given this, Yinyi became Kangxi's only choice.
He's young, which now seems like a good thing.
However, Kangxi wanted to put more tests on things during this process, because things that are too easily obtained are easily taken for granted.
Logically speaking, Emperor Kangxi wouldn't have noticed the Fourth Prince's health condition, but Anning knew quite a lot of things!
The fourth prince, Yinzhen, was the same person who reigned for only thirteen years as Emperor Yongzheng in history. However, he was over fifty years old, which is considered quite long-lived among emperors. There's nothing to be done about it, since he had an even longer-lived father.
It's a fact that he had previously contracted the epidemic, and given his workaholic nature over the years, it would be strange if he were too healthy.
Anning didn't do much; she simply had someone remind Consort De to pay more attention to the Fourth Prince's health. Anning's network of connections, cultivated over many years, would naturally draw Kangxi's attention to Consort De's actions.
Everything was so natural and smooth.
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