Chapter 3 Poverty

The Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince locked eyes for a moment before the former slowly turned his head away, swallowing his shock with difficulty. He lowered his gaze and began earnestly counting the floor tiles.

One, two, three…

An awkward silence filled the study.

The self-discipline of a crown prince meant concealing emotions, yet now, the Crown Prince’s fair complexion was tinged with green. He struggled for a long moment, glaring at Hong Yan speechlessly, until even his ears slowly burned red.

Being caught “bribing” was embarrassing enough, but to have a five-year-old Yuanbao act like a debt collector was beyond humiliating. The Crown Prince felt the urge to discipline his son, momentarily overlooking Hong Yan’s odd behavior and having no mind to probe how the boy had discovered his little secret.

Suo’etu’s money-passing had been extremely discreet!

After a long pause, the Crown Prince pried open Hong Yan’s small hand and scolded sternly, “How dare you speak so disrespectfully in front of your uncle? After paying your respects, go find your mother. The Main courtyard just sent someone asking for you.”

Though his tone was authoritative, it couldn’t mask his guilt.

Hong Yan wasn’t the least bit afraid of his father. Shaking his head, his eyes shining like they held X-rays, he extended his palm again.

“Illicit wealth should not be taken. Father must not vent anger out of shame. If you don’t give it, I’ll tell Mother and Hanmafa.” Though reason was returning, he couldn’t let go of his obsession with the banknotes. Mimicking his father’s stern expression, he at least used an honorific this time.

The Crown Prince was momentarily stunned by his son’s righteous demeanor. Finally, he relented.

With a face like thunder, the Crown Prince pulled two crisp new banknotes from his sleeve, inwardly fuming—this was outright rebellion! As the saying goes, don’t air dirty laundry in public. Yinzhen was clearly enjoying the show—why couldn’t Hong Yan’s clever little head see that? Really, just… really…

Only after confiscating the illicit wealth did Hong Yan finally smile, tucking away the banknotes and quickly departing.

The Crown Prince watched his retreating figure with visible heartache and reluctance.

He seemed deeply concerned about the banknotes’ fate.

It was the Fourth Prince who shared his thoughts, no longer pretending to be part of the background. He couldn’t help but ask, “Where is nephew Hong Yan going?”

“To turn the money over to the public treasury,” came a distant, childish voice, still sweetly lisping.

“Oh.” The Fourth Prince had nothing more to say.

In the study, the two brothers sat facing each other in complete silence.

The Crown Prince’s ears finally cooled, but the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Yuanbao was only five—where had he gotten this information?

To think that he, the crown prince of a nation, could be manipulated by his own rebellious son—where was his dignity?

Burning with agitation, the Crown Prince fidgeted, unable to focus on business. Even his usually close younger brother now seemed an eyesore.

What if the Emperor and his consort found out…?

The Crown Prince cleared his throat, wiggled his toes, and kept glancing at the Fourth Prince, wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.

Soon, his discomfort turned to suspicion—

Yinzhen’s face was full of admiration, looking genuinely moved. Meeting the Crown Prince’s gaze, he tactfully avoided mentioning the banknotes and couldn’t help but sigh, using Hong Yan’s childhood name, “Yuanbao is truly a blessing to you, Second Brother.”

“Illicit wealth should not be taken”—what perfect words, straight to his heart.

Though the words sounded utterly sincere, the Crown Prince’s eyelid twitched as he forced a smile. “Heh, is that so…”

Since when did Old Fourth become so insufferable!

Crown Princess Guarjia was overjoyed to see Hong Yan arrive.

She set aside the palace accounts, took Hong Yan’s hand to feel his forehead, and only relaxed when finding no sweat. Softly, she said, “You just returned from the Hall of Heavenly Purity and went straight to find your father, running about without rest—aren’t you tired?”

Hong Yan responded while glancing at a wooden box on the display shelves of antiques. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze with visible relief, beaming as he called out “Mother!” followed by a stream of questions: Did you sleep well last night? Has it been so long since we last met that you dreamed of missing your son?

The entire room burst into laughter. The Crown Princess teased, “Yuanbao had dinner with me just last evening—how could it feel like three years apart?”

Hong Yan’s eyes resembled his father and grandfather’s, but his face shape and mouth took after his mother, with oval cheeks that revealed faint dimples when he smiled.

The late Grand Empress Dowager had adored those dimples, often saying girls with them carried blessings. When the Emperor later selected the Crown Princess, he immediately recognized Guarjia as a woman of fortune.

Guarjia possessed dignified, gentle features—not the most stunning, but certainly lovely, standing out among the princes’ consorts. When she married into the East Palace, her life was neither bitter nor particularly comfortable. With Li Jia, the Light Chariot General’s daughter, already mother to the eldest princess and skilled in charming tactics, Li Jia had enjoyed a period of great favor.

The Crown Prince valued the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, never failing in his respect for the Main Courtyard. The Crown Princess didn’t fuss over it, but what new bride wouldn’t harbor hopes for her husband? Li Jia, spoiled by favor, flaunted herself daily, and even the most generous heart would grow resentful.

Moreover, with the precedent of Empress Hesheli and the Crown Prince, not only did the Emperor hope for a legitimate grandson, but the entire court watched eagerly. After two years in the palace without pregnancy signs, how could the Crown Princess not feel anxious?

Conceiving Hong Yan was like finding light in darkness. Yet two months later, Li Jia became pregnant again. Though displeased, the Crown Princess refrained from acting.

After ten months, on the very day Hong Yan was born, news arrived: Li Jia had taken a labor-inducing drug, and the baby girl… was stillborn.

A labor-inducing drug? The Crown Princess nearly laughed in anger. Before she could react, the Crown Prince erupted in fury, confining Li Jia for a year and transferring the eldest princess to another Li Jia (there were two Li Jia Princesses) to raise.

From then on, no one dared challenge the Crown Princess. With Hong Yan, the Crown Prince’s heart gradually turned toward the Main Courtyard.

Praised by the Emperor for her round face and dimples as signs of fortune, Guarjia saw her son as her little lucky star. Yuanbao delighted her daily, and even tedious palace affairs now held joy. Her eyes softened tenderly as she finished laughing.

“Whether studying or moving about, never rush. Always mind your health,” she said.

Hong Yan, ever obedient, agreed to each reminder.

Once she finished, he eagerly pulled silver notes from his robe, whispering, “…This is Father’s new private stash.”

Hong Yan had his reasons.

Men spending money on women was natural—converting bribes into wife savings was turning trash into treasure! Besides, his mother’s wealth came legitimately; he trusted her.

Though his father’s poverty was tear-inducing, royal life was merciless—impartiality was the rule.

And with the Emperor safeguarding them, what did a little lack of silver matter?

The Crown Princess immediately understood her son’s meaning. Without probing further, she took the banknote and glanced at the amount. For a fleeting moment, a faintly amused expression crossed her face before she quickly composed herself, blinking as she said, “I understand now, my dear.”

After accompanying the Crown Princess for lunch, Hong Yan returned to his room contentedly. Under Sanxi’s anxious gaze, he slowly sat down on the couch.

The closed door shielded him from the servants’ worries. After what felt like an eternity, the intense satisfaction of confiscating ill-gotten gains finally faded, and Hong Yan’s expression abruptly darkened, becoming inscrutable.

What the hell was this **[Good at Confiscating Homes]** ability? What kind of nonsense was this?

The boiling impulse in his blood, the walking scanner, the banknote authenticity detector?

His father’s hidden 100,000 taels of silver had been perfectly concealed, yet the moment this ability activated, it suddenly gained sentience, calling out to him with deep affection, seeking resonance—and so he had rushed out, eyes filled with longing.

Hong Yan’s face remained expressionless as he struggled to recall the mechanical voice he had heard earlier.

The **Monthly Ability System** meant the ability would change every month. There was a chance of repeating abilities—sounded like a pyramid scheme, utterly unreliable.

If there was no response within five seconds, it would automatically bind—and couldn’t be unbound! After years of research, he had never encountered anything like this. What kind of garbage program was this?

And that line about “the ability holder, Yinzhen”—wasn’t that his fourth uncle, the future Yongzheng Emperor, infamous for confiscating homes?

Since he had already encountered time travel, a system didn’t seem all that strange anymore. Hong Yan didn’t panic or make a fuss. Frowning, he analyzed the situation, pondering for a long while before arriving at the most absurd conclusion—

This damned system wanted him to learn how to confiscate homes like his fourth uncle.

After painstakingly uncovering his grandfather’s secret and barely escaping a deadly predicament, couldn’t he just live in peace?

Hong Yan looked down at his small frame, then called out expressionlessly in his mind, “System.”

He really wasn’t cut out for this!

Learning to confiscate homes at five years old—someone ought to check his brain. Was he supposed to circle around someone’s mansion, waving a lollipop and shouting, “So much money! I’m gonna confiscate your home!”?

Hong Yan: “…………”

The absurdity of his own imagination sent a shiver down his spine. He called for the system repeatedly, but the mechanical voice seemed to have vanished without a trace, stubbornly refusing to respond.

It had all the makings of a deadbeat!

After calling out endlessly to no avail, Hong Yan grew furious.

His peripheral vision caught sight of the half-written character for “fat,” fueling his rage even further. Taking a deep breath, he thought to himself, *Fine. If it can’t be unbound, you have your ways, but I have mine.*

From now on, he would steer clear of banknotes and turn away from gold and silver. Nothing would stand in the way of his happiness. No matter how powerful this damned system was, could it really overpower human willpower?

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince forced a smile as he saw off the Fourth Prince. Summoning a servant, he learned that Hong Yan had gone to see his mother earlier.

Having discovered the whereabouts of the illicit silver, he hurried toward the **main courtyard**.

As he walked, his glare repeatedly shot toward He Zhuer. *Damn servant, why didn’t you stop Yuanbao at the study door? Letting him cause such a disaster!*

He Zhuer understood his master’s silent rebuke and felt wronged. *But you were the one who let the young master in!*

And when had Lord Suo slipped the Crown Prince those banknotes? As his personal attendant, he hadn’t even known. He Zhuer felt deeply aggrieved, convinced he was no longer the Crown Prince’s most trusted confidant. Once they reached the inner chamber, he “tactfully” cleared the room, swiftly lowered the curtains, and dragged Fuling and the others out with him.

Only the couple remained, facing each other.

The Crown Prince kept glancing left and right until his eyes nearly cramped, only to realize the servant who should have been taking the blame had fled. He viciously noted this down for later before clearing his throat and speaking gently, “Did Hong Yan come to see you earlier?”

The face before him was truly a sight to behold—arched eyebrows like soaring wings, phoenix eyes bright as stars. The Crown Princess observed quietly, then smiled shyly and said softly, “Your Highness’s thoughtful intentions, this consort understands completely. Those banknotes were clearly Your Highness showing care for me through Yuanbao’s hands.”

The Crown Prince rarely saw his consort in such a state. For a moment, he stood frozen, his heart itching as if tickled by tiny fingers.

But before this feeling could linger, as he processed the meaning behind her words, his lips moved slightly: “…”

The curious matter of the Crown Prince’s poverty was known to very few.

The East Palace overflowed with treasures, palace rewards arriving in wave after wave, with daily expenses covered by the Imperial Household Department. By all accounts, he shouldn’t lack for money. Yet unmarked silver was exceedingly scarce, let alone the Crown Prince’s private savings—truly a sight that would move anyone to tears in its emptiness.

Not to mention comparing to the Crown Princess’s dowry, even Hong Yan’s little money vault surpassed it!

The Emperor valued his sons’ conduct highly, keeping constant watch over the East Palace, particularly focused on the Crown Prince alone. Consequently, the Crown Prince lacked the settlement silver typically given when princes establish households outside the palace, nor did he receive customary gifts from subordinates. To maintain the dignity of the heir apparent, he dared not make this known, with only Suo’etu able to secretly provide some support.

One hundred thousand taels—the largest sum given in recent years—had just been confiscated!

The Crown Prince’s heart bled with pain as he looked at his wife and thought of his son, unsure whom to blame.

Could Suo’etu have leaked the information?!

What could he do but grit his teeth and acknowledge this “thoughtfulness,” saying stiffly, “Yes, yes.”

Seeing his forced composure, Guarjia couldn’t help but feel affectionate pity, deciding not to twist the knife in her husband’s heart.

Enough—the resentment toward Li Jia had been mostly vented. In this life, who hasn’t made one or two mistakes?

The Crown Princess smiled gracefully, took his hand, and slowly pressed it against her lower abdomen.

This hint left the Crown Prince stunned. Soon, his low spirits vanished completely as his eyes widened with joy: “Consort—”

The Crown Princess chuckled, revealing dimples identical to Hong Yan’s, and said, “Are you happy, Your Highness? Yuanbao is going to have a little sibling.”

Author’s Note:

And thus the poor Crown Prince had his attention diverted.

Later, Yuanbao’s father: What does it matter if I’m a winner in life? What does it matter if I’m surrounded by children and grandchildren? I have no money.