Chapter 154: Yinreng: The Dead Old Man Always Picks a Fight with Me

Kangxi felt displeased in his heart, but showed no sign on his face; instead he turned to the Eighth Prince Yinsi and asked:

"Eighth Prince, you have been recommended twice; what will you say yourself?"

The Eighth Prince Yinsi's expression remained calm, his countenance unruffled; hearing this, he bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty! I, your son, am shallow in learning and fear I cannot fulfill this duty! The ninth and tenth brothers place great expectations, and I feel ashamed to accept!"

"In this campaign, Your Majesty has already planned meticulously; whichever brother is appointed Grand General, it is by Your Majesty's wisdom and will not disappoint the trust placed."

"Of course, if Your Majesty commands me, I would die a thousand deaths without hesitation. If not commanded, I am also content to stay in the background."

Yinsi, though he wishes to become this Grand General, outwardly maintains a posture of humility.

However, his words failed to win Kangxi's trust; instead the emperor's gaze sharpened.

This eighth son always speaks sweetly. In front of me he pretends to stay in the background, but once home he wants to be in the forefront!

His words and deeds are inconsistent, his mouth says one thing while his heart says another, a pretentious façade.

On the surface he claims to contest nothing, yet secretly lets others fight for him; where is any imperial dignity in that!

"The Eighth Prince's words are most appropriate!"

When the hall fell silent, Gao Shiqi stepped forward and loudly proclaimed:

"In this campaign, the Son of Heaven has been strategizing for months; whichever brother is appointed Grand General will surely achieve victory from the outset."

"I, the old minister, recommend the Crown Prince for Grand General! The Crown Prince is the nation's heir, to lead the army in the emperor's stead, rightful and proper."

"If the Crown Prince Yinreng could be sent to command troops, it would boost morale and better win the trust of the Northern Yuan and Hunxie states. Please, Your Majesty, consider."

Gao Shiqi has always been a staunch supporter of Crown Prince Yinreng; seeing the ninth and tenth princes both recommend the Eighth Prince Yinsi, he grew anxious and hurried to interject.

He does not wish this crucial opportunity to fall to the Eighth Prince Yinsi, bolstering the Eighth Prince's faction and threatening the Crown Prince's position.

Kangxi, hearing this, couldn't help but glance sidelong at the Crown Prince Yinreng standing nearby.

At that moment, Yinreng in the hall kept his head lowered, silent, his mind wandering beyond the world, his thoughts unknown, as if the events before him bore no relation to him.

Kangxi looked at his second son, feeling a touch of desolation at the prospect of having no successor.

If it were not for his memory of the late Empress Xiaochengren, and the fact that the Qing has just suffered a great defeat and the situation is unstable, he truly wishes to immediately issue an edict to depose this incompetent Crown Prince!

All day he cares for neither state affairs nor family duties, standing here each day as if his soul were lost; how could such a man ever be fit to shoulder the Qing's realm and state in the future?

Kangxi turned his head toward the Crown Prince, his cold gaze like a blade, and asked in a stern voice:

"Yinreng, Gao Shiqi has recommended you for Grand General; what do you say?"

The Crown Prince Yinreng, trembling under Kangxi's icy stare, lowered his head slightly, his voice a little weak, and said:

"I… I will only follow Your Majesty's orders."

Yinreng had little interest in taking up the Grand General role; he preferred to stay in Shengjing, cuddling his young mother and enjoying carefree days.

If he became Grand General, he would be entangled in military power; win or lose, he would not have a good life.

Winning a battle would only increase his father's suspicion of him.

Losing a battle, needless to say, would make the Eldest Prince a cautionary example.

Therefore, Yinreng thought of promoting his own Crown Prince faction's Fourth Prince or Thirteenth Prince to Grand General.

Thus he would avoid the front lines while preventing the Eighth Prince's faction from seizing military command.

Of course, he would not make a recommendation now; once the controversy settles, he will go with the flow and make a convenient gesture.

Kangxi's brows furrowed subtly.

Every time he asks the Crown Prince for opinion, it's this useless rhetoric.

If the Son of Heaven's wisdom does not illuminate, there would be his own judgment; otherwise, just obey orders.

You are the Crown Prince, not a echoing insect.

Kangxi looked at Yinreng and asked coldly again:

"Last time I said you should have time to visit the Eldest Prince's family; in these three plus months, have you gone?"

Yinreng stared at Kangxi's grim expression, silently cursing his fate; he had not said a word, and this dead old man was once again fixing his gaze on him.

He has so many daily duties, how could he find time to visit the Eldest Prince's family?

Even if he had time, he would not be willing to go.

He and the Eldest Prince have always been at odds; not adding insult to injury would be generous enough, let alone visiting his family.

Facing Kangxi's question, Yinreng forced himself to answer tremblingly:

"I… I have been busy with state affairs and have not yet found time to visit."

"Three months plus, and still no time?" Kangxi's anger flared!

Yinreng dropped to his knees with a thud; he was not arguing any longer, and the sight of his own father gave him a headache.

The dead old man will always pick a fight with him.

Kangxi, seeing the Crown Prince's pitiful state, wanted to kick him, but out of respect for the heir's face, he held back and ignored the prince.

Instead, he sternly turned to the Fourth Prince Yin Pillow beside him and asked:

"Fourth Prince, what do you think of the Grand General candidate?"

The Fourth Prince Yin Pillow stepped forward, his voice steady, and said:

"I recommend the Thirteenth Brother."

Kangxi's eyes shifted slightly as he looked at Yin Pillow; this son, cold and ruthless, nonetheless had thoughts of the empire and state.

His temperament can be overly impatient, lacking leniency toward others; he still needs more experience.

Kangxi said:

"Thirteenth Prince, skilled in horsemanship and archery, knowledgeable about warfare, is a suitable candidate; tell me your reasons!"

In Kangxi's heart, he held great affection for the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang.

A few years ago, Kangxi convened ministers and princes at the temporary palace to practice calligraphy.

Not only did he personally write the large‑character couplet and display it on the spot, but he also invited the crowd to view the couplet written by the Fourth Prince Yin Pillow and the Thirteenth Prince Yixiang.

At that time, the ministers glanced around, and none were without joy and reverence.

Such a flattering display naturally contained elements of flattery, but it is indeed a fact that the two princes excel in calligraphy.

That year, Yixiang was 17; if he hadn't been confident, how could Kangxi have let him demonstrate his skill alongside his elder brother on the spot?

In Kangxi's view, Yixiang inherited the Manchu traditional arts, being proficient in both horseback riding and archery.

Whenever the imperial family went hunting, he excelled at mounted archery, and every shot hit its mark.

On one occasion during a patrol hunt, a fierce tiger burst from the forest, yet he remained expressionless, brandishing a sharp blade to thrust forward at it.

All who saw it could not help but admire his valor.

The Fourth Brother Yin Pillow respectfully replied:

"Your Majesty! When it comes to those versed in warfare, among the brothers, none surpass the Thirteenth and Fourteenth brothers."

"Both have trained in martial arts since childhood, are adept in military strategy, and have battlefield experience."

"The reason I recommend the Thirteenth brother over the Fourteenth is that the Thirteenth brother's maternal grandfather is the Karakho Mongol Great Khan."

"For this northwestern campaign, if the Great Qing wishes to secure the full support of the Karakho Mongols, no one but the Thirteenth brother could serve as Grand General."