Chapter 2, Mixing in the title of a noble.

This fellow, Yinzuo, indeed recognizes him; it is Suo'ertu. As the Grand Minister of State and the Chief of the Imperial Guards, he often walks within the palace, and Yinzuo has seen him a few times. Lord Nalan must be Nalan Mingzhu; ha, I have long heard that these two do not see eye to eye. One speaks of black, and the other must speak of white. It seems that is indeed the case, quite interesting

Oh? Upon hearing this, Kangxi immediately became interested and smiled slightly, saying: "In ancient times, child prodigies could memorize everything they saw and never forget what they heard. It seems that Xiao Liu also has this talent. Good! Your Imperial Father will test you."

"In response to the Emperor's words, the child has studied the 'Three Character Classic' today." Upon hearing the old man's remark, Yinzuo hurriedly retracted his wandering thoughts and replied with a hint of modesty.

Oh no! This is going to be a disaster! Stealing a glance, he was astonished to see the entire room in shock. It was only then that Yinzuo realized he had gone too far: making a stunning impression seemed like a proud achievement, but first, it contradicted his initial intention of wanting to live a peaceful life as a prince. Second, explaining how he learned to read would be quite troublesome. Moreover, these brothers were not good people; by standing out, he would only become a target. This is a huge problem!

Oh? Can you recite a few lines for the Emperor to hear?

"Liu Er, have you memorized it all?" After a moment of silence, Kangxi still couldn't help but want to confirm.

Sly fellow, truly a sly one; it turns out this guy has been talking nonsense all along. Yinzuo, kneeling among the princes, already knew what trouble the old Emperor Kangxi was facing—while the Qing was busy suppressing the Sanfan Rebellion, the Russians invaded Northeast China, establishing a military stronghold in Yaksa. In April of the 24th year of Kangxi's reign, General Sabur of Heilongjiang led over 3,000 troops to decisively defeat the Russian army, forcing them to retreat from Yaksa. Unexpectedly, as soon as the Qing army withdrew, the Russians returned to Yaksa in July of the same year, rebuilding the fortifications, which made the old Emperor Kangxi, who had just ordered nationwide celebrations for the victory at Yaksa, feel greatly embarrassed.

Today, Emperor Kangxi was truly in a bad mood. He hastily concluded the morning court session and led a group of inner ministers to the study for a private discussion. Just as they reached the door, he heard the loud voices of the princes, which only added to his anger. With a darkened face, he snorted, instantly frightening all the princes to kneel on the ground.

Kangxi ignored the group of princes kneeling on the ground, walked straight to the seat of honor, and said: "Let us discuss today's matter."

The brothers could remain silent, but Yinreng was not so fortunate. Faced with Kangxi's cold gaze, he could only hiss and stammer: "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. It is the children who are at fault for mocking their own brother. The child acknowledges his mistake."

In the study, the ministers expressed their opinions, speaking until they were drenched in sweat. However, Yinzuo seemed to be enjoying a grand performance, leisurely watching the proceedings. If it weren't for the pain in his kneecaps from kneeling, it would have been quite entertaining. After much difficulty, once the ministers concluded their discussions, the group of princes had already knelt so long that their legs had gone numb, and their faces had turned somewhat pale.

He recited a lengthy passage, including phrases such as "Heaven and Earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and chaotic, the sun and moon wax and wane..." He deliberately paused several times in the middle to indicate that he was straining to remember. Even so, this performance greatly exceeded Kangxi's expectations.

"Good and books! Good! Good!" The Kangxi Emperor said cheerfully after repeating the word 'good' three times: "Yinzuo is truly a steed of a thousand miles in our family; I shall grant you the title of a Gushan Beizi." As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of all the princes in the room turned green with envy—among them, only the Crown Prince Yinzhen and the Eldest Prince Yinti held the title of Beizi. Although all princes would receive a title upon reaching the age of fifteen and could eventually become princes, it is always better to get things done sooner rather than later. Having the status of a Beizi means a significant increase in the monthly allowance, which brings financial security and allows for a more carefree lifestyle. What is even more infuriating is that the Sixth Prince merely had to speak to receive the title of Beizi, and a steed of a thousand miles at that! It is truly vexing!

The matter regarding Yaksa remains unresolved, and Kangxi's mood is indeed not very good. Looking at the group of princes kneeling beside him only adds to his frustration, and he coldly says: "Speak up, what were you all fussing about just now?"

Joking, how could one not understand such a simple thing? It’s just that one cannot claim to understand it; should one really have to admit to being from another time? Yinzu could only pretend to look embarrassed and said: "In response to Your Majesty, I do not recognize the characters, and I do not understand most of the sentences. I have only memorized them after hearing my brothers read them a few times."

The brothers' eyes were wide open like hungry wolves, and Yinzuo had long noticed this, feeling a wave of frustration in his heart: it is often said that impulse is the devil. Alas, I have gained a title of nobility but have offended all the princes, which is not worth it. However, the Emperor has spoken, and this reward cannot be declined. With no other choice, Yinzuo knelt down with an excited expression and said loudly: "Thank you, Imperial Father, for the reward from the Emperor and the library. I, your son, will study diligently, so that I may serve the court well in the future and relieve my Imperial Father's worries."

Kangxi casually picked up a book and began to read: "The heavens and the earth are profound and yellow, the universe is vast and ancient, the sun and the moon wax and wane ... ... "

Do you recognize all the characters? Do you understand their meanings?

Whether to go to war or to seek peace, I respectfully request your divine judgment; I have no objections.

"Yes, Your Majesty," it is too late to deny it now. Yinzuo had no choice but to respond with a stiff resolve

The two battles of Yaksa can be considered among the few victories of the Qing Dynasty in foreign military engagements. In this regard, Yinzuo understood the causes and consequences, but it was not the time for him to stand out. He had no intention of making a remarkable impression; he was merely curious about the minister who had just spoken. This individual was exceedingly smooth-tongued, passionately speaking for a long time without uttering a single useful word, truly embodying the essence of governance, yet Yinzuo could not discern which first-rank official this was. Just as he was pondering, a robust minister stepped forward and loudly declared: "I do not agree with Lord Nalan's viewpoint. I believe the Luocha people (the term used by the Qing for Russians) are uncivilized outsiders who do not understand enlightenment; the only response to them is a decisive blow, and there is no question of negotiation."

Well, good, Xiao Liu has this intention, which greatly comforts A Ma. Alright, everyone should return now. After this commotion, Kangxi's mood improved significantly, and he decided to let the princes off the hook. Each prince felt as if they had received a great pardon, expressing their gratitude and returning to their respective places. Naturally, the one who benefited the most, Yin Zuo, received even more disdain.

I believe that Yaksa is located in a remote area, making it difficult for our Qing dynasty to reach it. The Russians have precisely taken advantage of this point, as if our army were to campaign there every year, it would indeed be a source of constant trouble. If we were to station troops in Yaksa, having too few would render them ineffective, while having too many would complicate the logistics of supplies and provisions. If we were to negotiate peace, it would first undermine the dignity of our Heavenly Kingdom; second, given the greedy nature of the Russians, even if a treaty were signed, it would likely lack any binding force. At this moment, a middle-aged official with a refined appearance, three long strands of beard, dressed in a crane-patterned robe, and adorned with a double-eyed feather on his head, was the first to stand up and speak eloquently.

"Thousand Character Classic"? Ha, that's simple. However, this time I must not speak too much, but I also cannot recite nothing at all. Once Kangxi finished reading, Yinzuo pondered for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed; I can only remember a small section." Kangxi smiled and nodded, signaling Yinzuo to begin reciting.

This ... ... , Yinzuo hesitated somewhat, unable to decide whether he should put on a show. A sideways glance revealed that his group of brothers all wore expressions of glee at his expense, which instantly ignited a fire in his heart. Resolutely, he began to recite the scriptures without pause: "At the beginning of man, nature is inherently good. Similar habits bring people closer, while differing habits drive them apart. If one does not teach, nature will inevitably change ... ... "

Ah? Yinrang's face turned pale for a moment, yet he did not dare to retort. Helpless, he could only respond in a low voice, but in his heart, he had already begun to resent Xiaoliu: the matter of Yaksa was so uncertain that even those ministers had no clear opinion, making it difficult for him to present a memorial. This damned Xiaoliu, he would make him pay for it sooner or later

Yinzuo knelt to the side, and upon seeing the expression on the Second Brother's face, he realized that this fellow had developed a grudge against him. He thought to himself that it was not a good situation: although this master would ultimately not hold a position of power and would be deposed in twenty years, that was still a matter for the future. If he offended this master now, he would surely face many difficulties. Just as he was pondering a way to ease the tension, unexpectedly, Emperor Kangxi spoke up: "Yinzuo, today is your first day of school; what have you learned?"

Everyone knows that Emperor Kangxi despised conflicts and rivalries among brothers throughout his life. These few brothers did not expect that today's court session would end early. Just as they were celebrating, they were caught in the act. Now, they were at a loss for words. However, when the Emperor spoke, they had no choice but to respond. Reluctantly, everyone turned their gaze towards the Second Prince, Yinreng, since he was the semi-sovereign and the crown prince.

The entire text consists of 1,491 characters. Yinzuo recited it all in one breath, leaving the others speechless, their mouths agape, and their eyes nearly popping out. Even Kangxi wore a look of astonishment—Little Six had always been frail and had never attended school, yet at this moment, he was able to recite such a lengthy passage.

It is good that you recognize your mistake; today, the Emperor will not punish you. You also attended the matter of Yaksa, so please write a brief report on it.

"Then, according to your opinion, how should this be handled?" Kangxi clearly frowned.

After leaving the study, the princes dispersed in groups of three or two, leaving no one to pay attention to Yinzuo. Yinzuo forced a smile, shook his head, and walked towards the residence of the Uya clan, pondering how to ease his relations with those princes. Just as he reached the palace gate, an old eunuch led several people towards him, calling out loudly: "Gushan Beizi, the Emperor has an edict." This sudden voice startled Yinzuo greatly.