At the Cining Palace.
The Grand Empress Dowager sat calmly, sipping her tea. She looked toward her closest confidante, Su Malagu. "Has the news of the Emperor punishing the Crown Prince spread outside the Yuqing Palace?"
"No, Your Grace," Su Malagu replied. "Aside from the Crown Prince's immediate personal staff, only we know, thanks to a discrete message from Xueqing."
The Grand Empress Dowager exhaled softly, the tension leaving her shoulders. "Then there is no crisis."
Su Malagu hesitated, her maternal instincts showing. "Should Your Grace not intervene? The Crown Prince is still kneeling on the cold floor."
"Intervene? Absolutely not," the Grand Empress Dowager chuckled, her tone laced with political wisdom. "This is a matter between father and son. If I interfere, the Emperor will feel his authority is being undermined. Furthermore, observe the Emperor's actions: he was furious, he ordered the Prince to reflect, yet he strictly commanded a total information blackout. This proves he is actively protecting the Crown Prince's reputation. If he is protecting him, the 'crime' is superficial. Given Baocheng's formidable intellect, he can resolve this minor friction himself. We will not interfere."
***
Meanwhile, at the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Kangxi received the final medical report from Doctor Liu's senior apprentice. The news from the quarantine estate was flawless: no relapses, no complications. Every single volunteer had achieved full immunity and would return to the capital tomorrow.
A massive weight lifted from Kangxi's chest. Overjoyed, he immediately headed toward the Yuqing Palace to check on his son, his previous anger entirely dissolved by the medical victory.
He did not announce his arrival. Approaching the main hall quietly, he looked through the window.
Yinreng was still kneeling in profile. His small shoulders were trembling violently, his face a picture of absolute despair, and large, heavy tears were dripping onto the floor tiles.
Inside Yinreng's mind, the System was experiencing a processing error.
[System: ...]
If it hadn't literally just witnessed Yinreng mentally debating what to eat for dinner three seconds prior, it would have been fooled. The moment the System alerted Yinreng to Kangxi's approach, the boy had seamlessly transitioned from casual boredom to profound, heartbreaking devastation.
System Assessment: The Host's ability to manipulate his physiological responses—summoning tears and mimicking micro-expressions of grief—was terrifyingly precise.
Hearing Kangxi enter, Yinreng hastily wiped his face, attempting to suppress a sob, presenting the image of a child trying to be brave. "Imperial Father!"
"Imperial Father, I was wrong!" Yinreng choked out, scrambling forward slightly but stopping as if afraid to get too close. "Please... please do not be angry with me. I shouldn't have spoken those words."
As Kangxi stepped closer, Yinreng cautiously reached out, his small fingers trembling as they gripped the hem of Kangxi's robe. "Imperial Father..."
Kangxi's heart twisted. He sighed softly. "Tell me, where did you err?"
The Psychological Strike: "I shouldn't have focused on making silver, and I definitely shouldn't have accused you of discarding me after using me," Yinreng said, his voice raw. "But... I didn't do it out of greed."
He looked up, tears streaking his face, delivering his logical defense wrapped in emotional devastation. "Last year, when I invented the glass and clocks to fill the treasury, you praised me. For years, I watched you frown over disaster reports—floods in the south, snowstorms in the north—always stressing over the lack of imperial funds. But recently, with the treasury full, you smile so much more."
Yinreng's grip on the robe tightened. "I just wanted you to keep smiling. I thought if the treasury had more silver, you wouldn't have to be so exhausted. I didn't want the money for myself! I just wanted to help my father!"
He let out a broken sob. "I didn't mean to offend you! You told me that in private, you were just my father. You explicitly ordered me to speak my mind without fear, to tell you my true thoughts. I don't understand the complex politics! I just wanted to help, but you said I was wrong. If you say I am wrong, then I am wrong. Just... please don't be angry. You promised you would teach me if I made mistakes because I am still little. Please teach me, Imperial Father. Just don't abandon me."
The final words shattered Kangxi's defenses completely.
Kangxi stood frozen, struck by a wave of profound self-reproach. 'What have I done? I pushed a seven-year-old boy to the brink of despair.'
Kangxi's Internal Monologue: Yinreng's logic was entirely flawless. Why did the boy obsess over silver? Because he saw his father struggling with state finances. Every scheme Yinreng devised, he handed directly to the state. He hadn't kept a single copper coin. Yet, how did Kangxi repay this pure, filial devotion? By lecturing him about imperial decorum and treating him like a corrupt official.
Furthermore, Yinreng's brilliance had made Kangxi forget his age. The boy was merely six. And the worst part? Kangxi 'had' explicitly told Yinreng to treat him as a normal father in private. When the boy finally treated him like a normal father and spoke bluntly, Kangxi had pulled rank and used his imperial authority to crush him. To a child, that was the literal definition of burning the bridge after crossing it.
"Imperial Father!" Yinreng cried out, throwing his arms around Kangxi's waist. "My brothers have their mothers to love them. I only have you! If you don't want me, I have nothing left!"
Kangxi felt entirely unworthy of the title 'father.' He crouched down, wrapping his arms tightly around the weeping child. "Baocheng, do not cry. Who said I don't want you? You are my greatest pride, my most outstanding son. I will never abandon you. Stop these foolish thoughts."
Yinreng buried his face in Kangxi's chest, continuing to sob, refusing to easily relinquish his leverage.
Watching this unfold, the System was paralyzed by shock.
[System: ...What kind of psychological warfare is this?!]
The System analyzed the power dynamic. Yinreng had deliberately provoked the Emperor, deliberately broken imperial protocol, and deliberately forced this confrontation. Yet, the end result was the 'Emperor' feeling immense guilt and apologizing to 'Yinreng'. The Host had weaponized his own vulnerability to completely dominate the most powerful man in the empire.
That night, Kangxi canceled all his meetings and harem visits. He stayed in the Yuqing Palace, personally patting Yinreng's back until the boy fell asleep.
***
The next morning, the bond between father and son was visibly reinforced.
Yinreng woke early, assisting Head Eunuch Liang Jiugong in dressing the Emperor. "Imperial Father, I am sorry. Because of me, you didn't sleep well."
Kangxi smiled, affectionately rubbing Yinreng's head. "Have you thought it through? Do you still feel wronged?"
"As long as you don't abandon me, I am never wronged!" Yinreng replied with a bright, innocent smile.
"Silly child," Kangxi chuckled. He then adopted a teaching tone. "I understand you wanted to generate revenue for me. It is incredibly rare for a child your age to contribute to the national treasury. I am proud of you. My words yesterday were too harsh; do not take them to heart."
Yinreng leaned against Kangxi. "I thought about it last night. Selling greenhouse blueprints is a minor trade. It has a low ceiling. You said a Crown Prince shouldn't focus on such trivial matters, and you must be right. I just... I don't know what I 'should' be focusing on."
Kangxi's smile widened. The trap was fully sprung. "I will teach you."
"From today onward," Kangxi decreed, "you will spend one hour every day in the Imperial Study with me."
Yinreng frowned, feigning reluctance. "But my schedule is full! I have literature with the tutors, martial arts with the instructors, Western science with the Jesuits, and I promised to visit Great-Grandmother."
Kangxi mentally noted that his six-year-old son had a more grueling schedule than most cabinet ministers. "Then we will optimize your time. I will have the eunuchs set up a desk for you directly beside my imperial throne in the Study. When I review state memorials, you will do your homework. When you finish, I will personally inspect it."
"But Imperial Father," Yinreng asked, his eyes wide, "you summon high officials to discuss state secrets there. Won't it be inappropriate for me to be present?"
"That is exactly why you will be there," Kangxi stated firmly. "You do not need to participate. Just listen. If you don't understand the politics, it doesn't matter. Just listen and memorize how an empire is governed."
Yinreng smiled brightly. "Understood!"
System Status: Offline. It had chosen to initiate a self-imposed sleep mode. The sheer magnitude of Yinreng's political victory—securing a permanent seat at the epicenter of Qing Dynasty power through a few fake tears—was too much for its algorithms to process.
***
A few days later, the cowpox volunteers returned to the Forbidden City.
The Emperor personally received Concubine Hui, Concubine De, Concubine Daijia, and First Prince Yinshi. Kangxi briefly praised the women before pulling Yinshi forward. Seeing his eldest son looking even more robust than before, Kangxi laughed heartily.
"Excellent! You have returned safely. Truly worthy of being called a 'Baturu'—a true Manchu warrior!"
Yinshi's chest swelled with immense pride. He had risked his life, acting as the vanguard for the imperial family. He had proven his courage. Surely, this grand sacrifice would elevate his status in his father's eyes above all others.
"To share Your Majesty's burdens is my greatest honor!" Yinshi declared loudly.
Kangxi patted Yinshi's shoulder. "My Baoqing has grown up! In time, you will surely become my right-hand man!"
'Right-hand man.' The phrase echoed in Yinshi's mind. He was ecstatic, ready to leverage this new favor to challenge the Crown Prince's authority.
However, his triumph was short-lived.
The very next day, Yinshi discovered a catastrophic shift in the political landscape. During the mere twenty days he spent locked in the quarantine estate risking his life, a new piece of furniture had been installed in the Imperial Study.
A small, intricately carved desk, placed directly beside the Emperor's seat.
Yinreng's desk.
Yinshi stood frozen, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. He had traded his life for a verbal compliment. Yinreng had traded absolutely nothing, yet had secured total, unfettered access to the core of imperial power.
His grand sacrifice had been completely eclipsed.