The forty-fourth year of Kangxi, winter.
Dusk fell, and suddenly, large, goose-feather-like snowflakes began to tumble down from the sky, quickly covering the Forbidden City, about to be locked up for the night, with a hazy layer of white.
As soon as Yin Hui stepped out of the study at the Prince’s Residence, his personal eunuch, Zheng Yusheng, hurried over, holding out a thick fox-fur cloak.
Zheng Yusheng’s voice was trembling from the cold, “This wretched weather! It’s almost nightfall and it starts snowing again. It’s as if it doesn’t want people to sleep soundly!”
“Master, hurry and put this on. Don’t catch a chill, or else Liang Anda will have my hide again later.”
“If that’s the case, you should learn from Zhang Xiang and Shunfu. The moment they see Liang Anda, they run for it.” Yin Hui was long used to his young eunuch’s tendency to nag, and only frowned slightly at the sky, teasing him with an offhand comment.
The two people Yin Hui referred to were the eunuchs serving Sanbao and Fourbao.
Zheng Yusheng secretly pouted, swallowing his grumbling words.
The Sixteenth Prince, Seventeenth Prince, and Tenth Princess were closely watched by the Imperial Noble Consort; Liang Anda only put on a show.
If Zhang Xiang and Shunfu didn’t serve well, it would be Aunt Cui’s punishment that was truly deadly.
Unlike their own Prince—who, being a bit older, had a livelier older sister above and younger siblings below, and was so sensible that he rarely warranted a few words of attention from the Imperial Noble Consort.
Only His Majesty really cared for their Prince, instructing Liang Anda to keep a closer eye on him.
If he failed to serve his master well and got punished, he’d accept it willingly—no need to run and become a laughingstock.
Yin Hui was unaware of Zheng Yusheng’s silent defense of him, and kept his head lowered, silently calculating the time he’d need to go in and out of the palace.
In truth, after returning from Gubeikou, Fang He had already had a long talk with him early that morning.
Fang He said, “You, Sanbao, Fourbao, Jiujiu, and Minbao, in my heart, are all the same. There’s no such thing as who’s favored more or less, or any difference in how you’re treated; it’s just that your personalities are different.”
“In the future, when your second brother steps down, this position will be open to you, Sanbao, and Fourbao, but your father and I are most optimistic about you.”
“So you have to think clearly: I can meddle in everything, tending to your every need and raising you like a big baby, but if you one day become Emperor, you’ll inevitably have to take some winding roads—after all, I, your mother, am hopeless with state affairs.”
“Or, I can hand you over to your father to teach. If you feel wronged, you can always tell me; I’ll strive to win you the greatest room to maneuver, but I won’t interfere in your communication with your father, nor will I meddle in your decisions. No matter what you choose, your mother and your sisters will love you unreservedly.”
Yin Hui’s face flushed from his mother’s blunt words.
He was not someone who liked to talk much.
Other than those childish years when he didn’t know better, he was never keen on pouring out his heart, and to hear his mother be so direct was frankly embarrassing.
But he always understood the care his mother and sisters had for him.
Even though sometimes his mother would forget him at the Grand Empress Dowager’s place, and when she remembered him, she’d smother him in kisses.
Even though his sister always made him take the blame, and would try to curry favor with him afterward.
Even though his younger siblings gave him endless worries… but he never doubted his mother’s love.
Maybe he was simply not the type to keep score.
Left at Shoukang Palace by his mother, he could eat extra fried potato crisps; taking the blame for his sister meant earning some pocket money; worrying for his younger siblings even got him a few leaky little pot lids.
This temperament of his made his mother sigh in private several times, saying that the Aisin Gioro family’s wily hearts had finally mutated, which made his sister stomp her feet and insist their mother change her words to say she had mutated too.
Just thinking about these daily happenings always made Yin Hui want to smile.
He simply couldn’t act like a bitter, resentful, pitiful thing.
After calculating the time, he realized that if he left the palace now, he wouldn’t make it back before curfew.
So he decisively quickened his pace and strode outside the Prince’s Residence.
Zheng Yusheng was just gazing at the heavy snow, sighing on behalf of his master.
‘Maybe the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Princes had been called to the Grand Empress Dowager’s place for a hotpot and hadn’t returned; no one had summoned their own Prince.’
Just as he was thinking, he got a faceful of cloak from his master and hurried to catch up.
“Master, it’s almost curfew. Where are you off to?”
Yin Hui waved his hand, “Take my waist token to the Imperial Household Department, find Weian Da, and have him prepare some shovels and brooms to be sent to the Shuntian Prefecture.”
He didn’t explain more, only running as fast as he could straight for Qianqing Palace, where he happened to see his future brother-in-law, Fan Lianghan, on duty.
“Fan elder brother, quickly help me report to Father: the snow tonight looks like it won’t be light. Earlier, when I was in the Southern City, I saw some of the outer city houses were too dilapidated—if this snow keeps up, they might not withstand it. Shuntian Prefecture needs to move people out and clear the snow.”
Fan Lianghan had now taken over Zhao Changluan’s position as a first-class guard and a Ministry of War clerk, in charge of Qianqing Palace’s security.
Hearing this, he nodded calmly and said, “Jiujiu guessed you’d come, so I reported to His Majesty ahead of time. His Majesty said you can go straight in.”
Yin Hui gave him a thumbs-up.
At first, no one thought highly of this guy marrying his sister, because he was too arrogant for his own cleverness.
But now, in the entire capital, he’s the only one who takes his wife’s words as imperial edict every single day.
Anyway, he approved of this brother-in-law; as for whether Father approved, Fan elder brother could only rely on his own luck.
Yin Hui stamped his feet outside Zhaoren Hall to shake off the cold before following the sounds of laughter inside.
Kangxi was sitting there, helplessly playing chess with Fang He and her daughters.
Fang He, Jiujiu, and Minbao played as white; Kangxi played black.
Originally, black stones dominated most of the board, but under Jiujiu’s constant chattering, Minbao’s secret swapping of pieces, and Fang He’s blatant regret moves, Kangxi was about to lose again.
In short, against these three, unless they got too outrageous and forced him to use his wits, Kangxi almost never won.
Right now was one of those times.
Jiujiu was grabbing Kangxi’s left hand, insisting on reading his palm with a serious face.
Fang He animatedly gushed to Kangxi about how Yiqian Pavilion had just gotten two new beautiful dancers.
Minbao, like a little turtle, half-crouched under the chessboard, stretching out her paw to secretly snatch a black piece, hoping to win quickly.
Yin Hui: “…………”
His father must have agreed to something for mother and them again.
If it weren’t for the disaster the snow was about to bring to the people outside, Yin Hui would have wanted to turn and leave right away.
Yes, he loved his family, but whenever Father dumped a problem on him, of course he’d follow his mother’s example and run as fast as he could.
Hearing someone enter, Kangxi’s helpless expression immediately turned into a smile.
“Yin Hui, you’re here? Just in time! Your sister and your little sister insist on going to the Hot Springs Palace to admire the snow. Take Tahun and Baozhu and accompany them.”
Yin Hui: “…..”
Father just doesn’t pity his son—could he at least pity Tahun and Baozhu?
If his sister wanted to go to the Hot Springs Palace, she must be going on a date with Fan elder brother.
It was fine taking Minbao along as a tag-along, but if he and Tahun and Baozhu joined, would Fan elder brother let Tahun and Baozhu off the hook?
Earlier, both Tahun and Baozhu liked Jiujiu.
Now seeing Jiujiu and Fan Lianghan so openly affectionate, they must feel a little jealous—inevitably, they’d act out.
Fan Lianghan, faced with his love rivals, might set traps for them again, and each time it was Yin Hui who had to bail them out.
Why bother?
But seeing his sister and little sister looking over, Yin Hui could only smile bravely.
“Should I bring Sanbao and Fourbao as well?”
After all, if you’re driving one out, you might as well let two go.
Let the blizzard rage more fiercely… or maybe let sister and brother-in-law look after the kids and dig fewer pits.
Before Jiujiu could answer, Kangxi made the decision, “Liang Jiugong, summon the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Princes over; let them join Yin Hui in gaining some experience among the people.”
“The Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported this morning about the heavy snow; I’ve already notified the Ministry of Works and Shuntian Prefecture. You’ll handle the disaster relief this time.”
Yin Hui accepted at once, instructing Zheng Yusheng, Chunlai, and Liu An to help Jiujiu and the others go more slowly, while he and Fan Lianghan took Sanbao and Fourbao and headed out of the palace ahead.
Fang He rose; outside, the palace lanterns were already lit.
Leaning on Kangxi, she gazed at the ever-falling snow, a bit worried, “Will Yin Hui’s health hold up?”
Ever since Yin Hui was seriously injured, though he had been carefully nursed, his foundation was weakened and he hadn’t fully recovered.
Fang He had especially instructed the kitchens at Shoukang Palace and the Imperial Kitchen not to make strong-flavored dishes for Yin Hui.
If he must eat, she’d rather he didn’t, preferring mild, nourishing medicinal meals.
Kangxi lazily embraced Fang He, smiling as he kissed her ear and said, “No harm. I’ve had Fuquan and Yabu watching over him. Yin Hui is grown now; it’s time for him to toughen up.”
“You’ve chosen to let him fly on his own—so you must trust him. Yin Hui is even steadier than I was back then.”
Fang He didn’t speak, only sighed softly.
Every mother understands this in principle, but emotionally, it’s impossible not to worry.
Heaven knows how many times she had Chunlai and Jinghao sneak over to the Prince’s Residence to check on him behind the scenes.
Thankfully, Liang Jiugong and Wei Zhu had carefully selected Zheng Yusheng to serve him.
That boy, though a bit mouthy and slow-witted, was indeed good at caring for others and obedient.
This time was no exception.
Whatever Yin Hui instructed, Zheng Yusheng executed perfectly, making sure the Ninth Princess and others were delivered to the Hot Springs Palace safely.
Then, disregarding the snowstorm, he donned an old sheepskin coat he’d gotten from an old eunuch during former outings, and raced his horse back to the capital.
After entering the city gates, he knocked on the door of Tianya Inn, had Qiao Xiaoyuan specially make a nourishing mutton soup prescribed by Liang Madam, and carried a large bucket of it to his master.
It wasn’t that their master could drink so much, but their master was not only adept at looking after his sister and siblings—he was also quite skilled at commanding… cough, rather, getting along with the older princes.
Sure enough, when Zheng Yusheng reached the already-erected porridge shelter, it was almost midnight.
On one side, the First Prince, Fourth Prince, Seventh Prince, Eighth Prince, Twelfth Prince, and Thirteenth Prince were all present.
Deeper in, he could see the Third Prince, Fifth Prince, Ninth Prince, and Tenth Prince huddled around a fire, warming themselves.
Zheng Yusheng quickly dismounted and respectfully greeted all the princes and lords.
“My master instructed me to go to Tianya Inn for some mutton soup to warm everyone up.”
As he spoke, two young eunuchs quickly laid out clean cotton quilts, took out bowls and spoons, and served up the hot mutton soup for Yinzhi and the others.