Chapter 33 – Down Jacket

While Songgotu was still huffing and puffing his way to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi had already calmed down and was focused on handling the memorials he hadn’t yet reviewed.

When Yinzhen heard that Songgotu had once again gone to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he couldn’t sit still in the Palace of Diligent Celebration. What had Uncle Great-uncle gone to see Father Emperor for this time?

After thinking it over for a bit, he decided to head to the palace as well.

Kangxi was working through the memorials in his study, leaving Yu Ying alone in the bedchamber with nothing to do. She decided to wander around the palace for a bit.

She had barely taken a few steps when she saw the Crown Prince walking toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Yu Ying stood under the eaves watching him, genuinely worried that the Crown Prince’s frail little body might get blown away by the wind.

As the Crown Prince approached, the two exchanged formal greetings.

Yu Ying struck up a conversation. “Is Your Highness here to see His Majesty?”

Yinzhen thought this noble consort that Father Emperor kept mentioning lately was really strange. If she wasn’t here to see His Majesty, who else would she be here for?

He gave Yu Ying a glance. Still, she had been there when Father Emperor fainted, so they shared that moment. After a short pause, he opened his mouth and replied, “Indeed, I’ve come to see Father Emperor. May I ask what Your Ladyship is doing here?”

Yu Ying belatedly realized what a silly question she had asked and let out an awkward laugh. “Haha…”

A gust of northern wind blew in.

The two standing at the steps of the Palace of Heavenly Purity were hit full-on by the wind.

Yu Ying had come out in a rush and hadn’t grabbed her cloak. Now the wind cut straight to the bone.

“Your Highness, shall we head inside?” Yu Ying spoke up first.

The Crown Prince didn’t argue. He gave a slight nod and headed straight for Kangxi’s study, not bothering to see if Yu Ying was following behind.

After all, he was the Crown Prince—he wasn’t accustomed to accommodating others. Talking to this noble consort was already him giving face on account of his father.

He wondered if Uncle Great-uncle had already arrived while they were delayed here.

With that in mind, Yinzhen quickened his pace.

Seeing the Crown Prince walking faster and faster, Yu Ying felt a bit annoyed. Was he really so unwilling to even walk beside her?

She hurried to catch up, the cold wind slipping through her sleeves and collar. In that moment, she really missed modern down jackets.

Wait…

Right! Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? There were down jackets! Just because they didn’t exist here didn’t mean she couldn’t make one herself!

Ah, why did it take her so long to think of that? If she’d remembered earlier, she might already be wearing one now. What a silly brain she had!

She smacked herself on the forehead, just as the Crown Prince—who had somehow stopped walking—seemed to witness her silly moment, looking at her with a complex expression.

Yu Ying was baffled. Wasn’t the little Crown Prince heading to see his father? Why did he stop?

She looked back at him, confused.

Yinzhen had heard the noble consort behind him say “Wait a second,” and after hesitating, decided to stop. Maybe she had something important to say.

But when he turned around, he saw her expressions shifting wildly—first realization, then frustration—her face changing so quickly it left him speechless. Hadn’t she told him to wait? Why wasn’t she saying anything now?

The proud Crown Prince frowned. “Does Your Ladyship have something to say?”

Huh?

What was this little Crown Prince talking about? Had she just called out to him?

But seeing his impatient expression, as if he were waiting for her to get to the point, maybe she had said something out loud?

Yu Ying fell into thought.

Suddenly, her eyes filled with panic.

Did she just… accidentally speak her inner thoughts out loud?!

No way. No way she was that dumb, right?

Still squinting at each other, Yu Ying continued her internal panic, while Yinzhen had already lost his patience. He no longer wanted to deal with this strange noble consort and headed toward the study.

He wasn’t about to waste his time with her. He really didn’t get it—what was so great about her that Father Emperor liked her so much?

Big questions filled the mind of this little prince.

Yu Ying had no idea that, in Yinzhen’s mind, she had just firmly established herself as a simpleton—and one who wouldn’t be easily cleared of that label.

Watching him walk away, she didn’t think much of it. What mattered right now was figuring out how to get that down jacket made.

She usually didn’t like taking a large entourage when going out. Earlier, she had sent Qing Tao off, and now only a stranger from the Palace of Heavenly Purity was following her. There was no one else.

She wondered if she had any authority to order around the staff of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Probably not. She looked at the palace maid who stuck close to her and wanted to cry.

After thinking it over, Yu Ying decided to go directly to Kangxi and ask for someone she could command.

So she, too, headed toward the study.

Inside the study, Songgotu had just learned that Mingzhu had been given a new assignment—one that might even earn him merit—and was now tearfully begging Kangxi to let him take part as well.

Kangxi looked at the tearful Songgotu before him and felt a headache coming on. “Didn’t I already tell you this plan might not even succeed? There’s no need to involve so many people!”

But Songgotu wouldn’t give up. “This servant only wishes to ease Your Majesty’s burden, regardless of success or failure!” Anyway, there’s no way he was letting Mingzhu take all the credit alone!

Kangxi looked at Songgotu, who tried his best to appear sincere.

Rubbing his temples, Kangxi asked, “You really want to do this? Even if it means being Mingzhu’s assistant?”

Songgotu’s face darkened for a moment. Of course he didn’t want to! But he wanted even less for Mingzhu to walk away with all the glory!

“I am willing, Your Majesty!” To show his resolve, he even dropped to his knees.

Seeing his insistence, Kangxi impatiently waved his hand and agreed.

Just as Yu Ying was about to reach the study, she caught up with the Crown Prince ahead of her.

When she saw him, her eyes lit up.

That’s right! She might not be able to order around the palace staff—but couldn’t she make use of Kangxi’s precious son?

And once the down jacket was made, it could be a surprise gift for Kangxi!

“Your Highness! Your Highness! Wait!” Yu Ying called out, slightly out of breath. “I need your help!”

Hearing the voice behind him, Yinzhen already knew it was that troublesome noble consort again. He felt a headache coming on. Why were all of Father Emperor’s consorts so lacking in boundaries? Still, he stopped. “Does Your Ladyship need something?”

Anyone familiar with the Crown Prince would recognize this tone as a sign he was annoyed—a warning not to push further.

But Yu Ying? She was just a clueless, naive college student. If she could read facial expressions, Kangxi wouldn’t have been left speechless by her so many times.

Seeing the Crown Prince stop, Yu Ying thought to herself, He’s actually kind of nice. He stopped just because I asked.

She walked up to him. “Could Your Highness help me get some duck or goose feathers?”

Yinzhen didn’t reply. He looked at Yu Ying as if she were some rare oddity.

Okay, Yu Ying knew her request was a bit weird, but she was desperate! She had no one she could order around!

“Your Highness, come on, I really need them for something important. I’ll explain everything slowly to you!” As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed his hand, about to drag him away from the study.

Yinzhen realized his hand was being pulled—again. The first time had been when he wasn’t paying attention, but he wasn’t about to let it happen again.

No one else had touched him like this since he was a child and Father Emperor carried him.

He pulled his hand back, the tips of his ears turning red. “Your Ladyship, please show some propriety!”

Yu Ying’s hand suddenly felt empty. She turned and saw his blushing face—and what he said next.

“Pfft—” She couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, okay, I won’t grab you anymore. But can you still come with me?”

“How are you already shy at such a young age?”

Yinzhen snapped, “In a few years, I’ll be able to take a consort!”

Oh right, this was the Qing Dynasty—people married young. But if she remembered right, the Crown Prince’s wedding had been fairly late?

“Well, you haven’t married yet, right? So you’re still just a kid!”

Yinzhen was furious. His eldest brother always teased him about this—and now her too?

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll charge you with disrespect!”

Yu Ying had underestimated the Crown Prince’s pride. Seeing that he was really mad, she quickly switched to coaxing mode. “Okay, okay, I was wrong. Please forgive me this once, Your Highness!”

The two of them left the entrance to the study together.

And just then, someone stepped out from the study—it was Songgotu, the very person Yinzhen had been so concerned about. He looked around, then headed toward the palace gates.

Everything that had just happened outside the study was witnessed by the palace eunuchs on duty. Eyes to the nose, nose to the mouth, they kept their expressions neutral—but still decided to go inside and report to Kangxi.