Chapter 50: Adorably Dumpling

There were many idle and useless officials in the Imperial Household Department, but there were also no shortage of capable ones. Turning coarse wool into yarn? Though many secretly grumbled that Noble Lady Wan’s idea was unrealistic, someone actually managed to do it.

After being processed through combing and several other steps, the rough wool had become something quite close to what Wan Anran envisioned. When it was presented to her, it came in all kinds of thicknesses, from coarse to fine—everything she could have wanted.

The palace maids from the Needlework Room wore smiling faces as they respectfully offered a color sample booklet. “These yarns are all in their natural shades. Would Your Ladyship like them dyed? There’s water green, rose pink, crabapple red, rouge, peach pink, willow green… or perhaps indigo, navy blue, or lilac…”

The sample book was filled with swatches of fabric in various colors, each clearly labeled with the color name and materials used—very detailed and concise. The only problem was that there were simply too many colors, and Wan Anran was overwhelmed by the choices. She looked left and liked one, looked right and liked another… In short, she liked all of them.

“Which do you think suits Little Peach best?” Wan Anran frowned and motioned for Haitao and the others to come forward and help her decide.

The palace maids from the Needlework Room looked utterly baffled.

Little Peach? What peach? Who was that? Just as they were beginning to think they must have misheard, palace maid Haitao chuckled and said, “This servant thinks the young prince would look better in bright colors—something like silver-red would be lovely.”

So “Little Peach” was the Eleventh Prince!

The Needlework Room maids struggled to suppress their laughter, bowing their heads and keeping their hands straight to avoid bursting into giggles.

Meanwhile, the master and servants of Xianfu Palace continued their serious discussion.

Zisu shook her head. “This servant once heard from my mother that children shouldn’t wear clothes with colors that are too dark—it attracts evil spirits.”

Haitao immediately changed her stance. “Then let’s go with something more delicate—maybe flower white, ivory, pale blue, or water green.”

Zisu nodded as well. “We can embroider some flowers and trees on it. If Your Ladyship likes stronger colors, how about we make a separate bellyband in those?”

“A bellyband…” Wan Anran rested her cheek in her hand. In her mind’s eye, she imagined the chubby Little Peach dressed in a bellyband, his plump little hands like lotus root segments waving at her adorably. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes sparkled. “That’s a great idea.”

That red color would be used for the bellyband.

Wan Anran then selected a few soft, elegant colors for Little Peach’s new clothes. Of course, this time she didn’t forget to also choose apricot yellow and a few other shades—planning to make a set for the Emperor as well. Not only to keep the petty Emperor from grumbling again, but also to prepare this year’s New Year’s gifts in advance.

The Eastern Wing Hall gradually quieted down.

After leaving Xianfu Palace, the Needlework Room maids couldn’t help but laugh softly to themselves. “The Eleventh Prince’s nickname… pfft!”

“Little Peach… How on earth did Noble Lady Wan come up with a nickname like that?”

“Maybe an unpretentious name brings better luck?”

“Ah, I’ve heard that too back home—but in the palace…”

The palace maids clicked their tongues in amusement.

Just look at how lofty the Emperor’s names were for the earlier princes. Compared to those, the Eleventh Prince’s name was downright comical. After a few words of amusement, the maids quickly put the matter aside. But another group of palace attendants who had caught wind of the story passed it along to Chengqian Palace, hoping that the usually melancholy Noble Consort Tong might finally smile.

Noble Consort Tong grew thoughtful.

As she tucked the blanket corners around the Twelfth Prince, she mused aloud, “…Come to think of it, I’ve also heard the saying that simple names bring good fortune.”

But here in the palace…

Just look—Noble Lady Wan picked “Little Peach” and everyone was laughing about it. If she were to give the Twelfth Prince a nickname, what kind of talk would that stir?

Yet when she looked down at the sleeping Twelfth Prince, her eyes softened. The Emperor had already lost six sons. After so much love and pain, he’d learned to harden his heart. If he kept his distance, he wouldn’t grow attached to his children—and if he wasn’t attached, he wouldn’t grieve if they died… Since the Twelfth Prince was born, the Emperor had only come to see him on the first day. He hadn’t stepped foot in her palace since.

But even if the Emperor could bear it, how could she?

Gritting her teeth, Noble Consort Tong reached out and gently stroked the little prince’s cheek. “We’ll call you Ah-Moo.”

The entire room of palace maids fell silent.

They had just been laughing at Noble Lady Wan for naming her prince “Little Peach,” and now Noble Consort Tong had named hers “Ah-Moo”? Wasn’t that… a cow?

But the one naming him was their mistress.

No matter how odd they found the name, all the palace maids forced smiles onto their faces and enthusiastically praised it. “What a great name, my lady! Truly wonderful! It sounds lovely! The little prince will surely grow up strong and become a great warrior of the Qing!”

Far away in Xianfu Palace, had Little Peach known about Ah-Moo, perhaps he would have felt a bit lucky. At least in his past life, he hadn’t been given a nickname like “Ah-Moo.”

Unfortunately, Little Peach had no idea.

The former Emperor Yongzheng, Yinzhen, now lay in a cradle with a blank expression. In his previous life, he had worked tirelessly, reading memorials deep into the night, even while ill—until he collapsed in front of his imperial desk. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a baby lying in a cradle.

At first, Yinzhen thought he had been reborn into Lady Uya’s womb again. But when he felt the large hand gently rocking him, softly stroking his hair and cheek, countless thoughts surged in his heart.

So… Lady Uya had once treated him like this too?

He struggled to open his eyes, but everything was blurry. Shadows swayed back and forth—he couldn’t make out the person’s face at all.

Unable to see clearly, Yinzhen had no choice but to listen to the voices around him. To his shock, he realized his mother wasn’t Lady Uya—

She was… Noble Lady Wan?

Who was that? With his tiny baby brain, Yinzhen couldn’t afford to spend too much energy thinking. After a brief moment of contemplation, a deep fatigue overwhelmed him, and he fell asleep.

Maybe… having a different mother wasn’t so bad?

That was the last thought Yinzhen had before drifting off.

It wasn’t until nearly a full month had passed that Yinzhen finally saw the woman clearly.

His birth mother in this life wasn’t Lady Uya—it was the mother of the Twelfth Prince, Lady Wan Liuhashi, later known as Consort Dowager Ding.

Yinzhen still had some memory of Consort Dowager Ding.

She and Lady Uya had entered the palace together as selected candidates, living in the same quarters and becoming concubines one after another. But unlike Lady Uya, who rose steadily through the ranks to become a Noble Lady, then a Consort, and then a Concubine, Lady Wan Liuhashi gave birth to the Twelfth Prince only after more than ten years, and still did not gain favor. The Twelfth Prince was even fostered by Su Ma La, and Lady Wan Liuhashi’s status never improved. It was clear how indifferent the Emperor had been toward her.

It wasn’t until the 57th year of Kangxi’s reign that Lady Wan Liuhashi was finally given the title of Concubine, and only after the Emperor’s death was she promoted to Consort Ding under Yinzhen’s own reign. The only thing to envy was that she had a cheerful personality and good health—she was still lively and vigorous even before Yinzhen’s sudden death in his previous life, able to chase the Twelfth Prince all around the courtyard with a broom.

How had he ended up as Lady Wan Liuhashi’s son?

Had he taken the Twelfth Prince’s place? No… everyone clearly called him the Eleventh Prince, which matched the order before the jade records were revised.

Yinzhen stared blankly at the toy swaying above him.

Not that he had the energy to think about any of that right now. When a wave of discomfort rolled through his belly, his face turned greenish, and he began kicking his little legs and whimpering.

Wan Anran and the others were immediately drawn to him.

Seeing Little Peach kicking his legs, the three women instantly understood and hurriedly called for the wet nurse to change the little prince’s diaper. As usual, Haitao took the chance to gush, “My lady, the young prince is truly a good child. These past days he’s barely fussed—he cries only when he wants to eat, drink, or relieve himself. So smart!”

The wet nurse lifted the baby’s legs to change the diaper and laughed in agreement. “Truly clever—this is the first time I’ve seen a baby like this. Just look at that little face—so displeased!”

Wan Anran was slightly stunned.

She hadn’t thought about reincarnation or anything of the sort—after all, the book didn’t have more than a few lines about the Fourth Prince. She just couldn’t help but silently marvel—Yongzheng really was Yongzheng, different even from a young age.

Wan Anran’s gaze was full of satisfaction.

But in Yinzhen’s eyes, it looked more like suspicion. His heart skipped a beat. Had he not been playing the baby role convincingly enough? Seeing the curious expressions on everyone’s faces around him, Yinzhen gritted his teeth, brought his little hands to his mouth to gnaw on them, and forced out a few silly giggles.

Haitao couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “He looks so adorably silly—just like our Lady.”

Wan Anran smiled with squinted eyes and nodded.

A moment later, her eyes widened, and she pinched Haitao’s ear. “You little rascal! You dare make fun of your mistress now, do you?”

Mao Tao is like this Lady—adorably silly?

Wan Anran gave a huff and couldn’t help but mutter, “If you ask me, he’s obviously clever like me. The silly cuteness—that’s like the Emperor—”

“Like who?”

“Like—like his concubine,” Wan Anran broke out in a cold sweat.

The voice came from behind the curtain, yet even so, everyone in the room could recognize the speaker—it was the Emperor. Instantly, everyone dropped to their knees with a rustling of robes.

Kangxi stood just beyond the curtain, smiling faintly, half amused.

Luckily, the Crown Prince had insisted on seeing his new little brother—otherwise, he wouldn’t have known that Noble Lady Wan dared to speak ill of him behind his back. Truly, a woman with a death wish.

Caught red-handed.

Kangxi’s face turned stern, and he gave a cold snort. “Oh? What I heard earlier didn’t sound quite like that.”

Wan Anran’s heart fluttered with guilt—for only a moment. Then, looking at the curtain, she composed herself. After all, the Emperor couldn’t see her expression from behind it—what was there to fear? Without hesitation, Wan Anran chose to change her story: “Perhaps Your Majesty misheard? I was just telling the palace maids that the Eleventh Prince’s natural intelligence must come from Your Majesty, and if he ever shows a hint of silly cuteness, that must be from your concubine.”

“Hmph. At least you have some self-awareness.”

“……” He’s the Emperor, the Emperor! Several veins popped out on Wan Anran’s forehead as she forcibly suppressed the rising fury in her chest.

Kangxi had no idea about her inner reaction.

Not that he cared—after all, he hadn’t come today for Noble Lady Wan, but for the Eleventh Prince. After exchanging a few idle words, he quickly turned his attention to the baby. When the nursemaid brought the swaddled infant out, he stepped forward with the Crown Prince, Wan Fu, and the Eldest Princess.

As they looked down at the snow-white, adorable little prince, old memories stirred in Kangxi’s mind. He reached out to hold and gently tease the child. Both Kangxi and Yinzhen stiffened. The father and son stared at each other—big eyes meeting small—but there truly was a slight resemblance between them.

The Crown Prince Baosheng wasn’t pleased.

He tugged at Kangxi’s robe. “Father Emperor, I want to see my little brother too.”

“All right, all right, go ahead and look.”

“Father Emperor, little brother has really gotten prettier!” the Crown Prince marveled. Wan Fu and the Eldest Princess also nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“He’s just a bit chubby—like a ball of risen dough.”

“Yes! All round and pudgy, like a little pig!”

The three of them chattered away excitedly.

Meanwhile, Yinzhen stared at the people before him in growing confusion. Were the Crown Prince and Princess Chunxi always this close? And who was this unfamiliar little prince standing with them? A flood of questions spun through Yinzhen’s mind. Overthinking began to heat up his baby-sized brain, to the point where his vision was practically spinning.

His blank dazed expression made him even cuter!

The Crown Prince, Wan Fu, and the Eldest Princess were having a wonderful time teasing him. After a while, the Crown Prince finally remembered his purpose and looked toward the curtain. “Noble Lady Wan, what’s my little brother’s name?”

Yinzhen immediately snapped back to alertness.

If the Crown Prince and others found out about his nickname, wouldn’t they tease him to death in the future? Panicked, he let out an “ah-ah” sound, trying to draw attention to himself. Unfortunately, Wan Anran was far too quick. Without hesitation, she gave him a solid betrayal.

With particular volume and satisfaction, Wan Anran proudly declared, “He’s called Little Dumpling!”

The Crown Prince, Wan Fu, and the Eldest Princess: ……

Kangxi’s expression froze. “……What??”

He couldn’t hide the sympathy in his eyes.

Baosheng, Baoqing, Ankang… all of them had good-sounding, auspicious names. And now, among them, a Little Dumpling? The poor child—if only he hadn’t been careless and let the naming rights fall into the hands of the boy’s mother.

Kangxi looked down at his infant son again. Feeling a twinge of sympathy, he immediately began planning to assign him a proper given name.