Rong Fei is not honored

Furthermore, "Your Majesty! What do you mean by eldest son? You are the emperor, and every word and action of yours will be magnified infinitely. If this gets out, will Chengrui ever have a peaceful life?"

"I was wrong." Kangxi only wanted to show off his eldest son, but he did not intend to provoke a dispute over the eldest son.

Moreover, Kangxi had never had the confidence to argue with Ji Nai about Cheng Rui's matter. After realizing that he had said something wrong, Kangxi decisively admitted his mistake.

In Kangxi's heart, the people in front of him were his closest and dearest family. It was a joyful occasion for the family to have dinner together, and there was no need to put on any airs of an emperor at this time.

Besides, there were no servants around, so what's wrong with him admitting his mistake?

In the past, there were times when he would apologize and admit his mistakes in private to appease Ji Nai, who had been teased and angered.

However, Sainchahun and the others had never seen their father like this before. Looking at their timid father and their composed mother, they all recalled the red marks on their father's face that time.

After the initial shock of glimpsing just the tip of the iceberg, I wasn't too bothered anymore. After all, my mother was a remarkable woman who dared to beat up the emperor.

"Alright, let's eat. It's not a big deal."

Ji Nai noticed that Saiyinchahun was unusually listless, and wanted to teach him a lesson, but couldn't bear to see the child continue to be sad.

Under the dinner table, Ji Nai nudged Kangxi's leg, intending to encourage him to have a proper talk with Saiyinchahun, both to let the child know he was wrong and to comfort him.

As a result... the moment his thigh was grabbed, Ji Nai knew that Kangxi had misunderstood his meaning.

In all honesty, even in her most youthful and impetuous years, Ji Nai never did anything so provocative or reckless in front of children. She never intended to be a seductive and bewitching concubine.

Helplessly, Ji Nai pulled his leg back, then, as if venting his anger, stomped on it again, grinding the dragon's foot and refusing to let go.

Kangxi's expression changed, but the little ungrateful boy was really angry and refused to stop.

He simply grabbed Ji Nai's leg, placed it on his own lap, and then clamped it between his other legs.

Before Ji Nai could react, Kangxi quickly completed this series of actions and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad that Ji Nai was not very strong, otherwise his foot would have been in more than just a dull ache.

Kangxi gave a warning look to the children who had noticed the commotion, his threatening gaze forcing them to lower their heads and eat. Only then did he softly complain to Ji Nai, who was practically spitting fire with anger, beside him:

Even if I misunderstood you, you don't need to react so strongly, do you?

"What misunderstanding? You did it on purpose! I... I've never done anything inappropriate in front of the children. It's all your fault... You're just pretending to be ignorant and trying to trick me!"

I don't know why Emperor Kangxi had such a peculiar habit, but he just liked to see her embarrassed and ashamed in front of the children.

Kangxi touched his nose, and with a hint of guilt, he defended himself, saying, "This time it wasn't that. I genuinely thought you..."

He visits Zhongcui Palace much less often these days, and because he is concerned about Ji Nai's health and the spying of "Ears," he can't always have his fill.

Kangxi genuinely believed that Ji Nai, like him, deeply missed the other's presence, which is why he made such an unprecedented move.

Kangxi's expression was very sincere. Although Ji Nai was still somewhat skeptical, he softened his attitude and explained that he was trying to remind Kangxi to pay attention to Saiyinchahun's emotions.

Kangxi instantly understood and returned a look that said, "Don't worry!"

Ji Nai breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Kangxi had indeed summoned Saiyinchahun to his study for a heart-to-heart talk after dinner, he was relieved and instructed Chengrui to be more careful the next day.

"With the Empress Dowager unwell, the Cining Palace must be under the watchful eyes of many. Every word and action you and Saiyinchahun take will be scrutinized."

Mother is not saying this to require you and Sainchahun to be perfect and without fault.

I just wanted to remind you that even if you hear anything negative later, you don't need to pay attention to it.

"You are a prince, with your father and mother here. Unless the Empress Dowager says something in public, you and Sainchahun don't need to take it to heart."

"Mother, don't worry, your son won't waste his energy on irrelevant people."

Internal strife, is that the word Mother used to tell him before?

"Not even related people! No one is more important than yourself, not even your father and mother, not even your younger siblings."

Feeling the several pairs of innocent gazes behind him, Cheng Rui blushed slightly and pleaded, "Mother, please stop."

Chengrui felt somewhat ashamed that his mother had repeatedly and solemnly reminded him to take good care of himself, especially in front of his younger siblings.

The child is grown up, so we should really save him some face. Ji Nai sighed and changed the subject, "I heard that Saiyinchahun has been coming to stay with you at the South Third Palace lately?"

Upon hearing his mother mention this matter, Chengrui remembered the favor that Saiyinchahun had asked him before, and tentatively asked:

"Do Father and Mother have any other thoughts about Saiyinchahun moving to the South Third Palace?"

"What? Are people gossiping outside?"

Ji Nai had an "I knew it" look on his face, which startled Cheng Rui.

"Mother?"

"The Empress Dowager couldn't bear to part with Saiyinchahun, and Saiyinchahun couldn't bear to leave the Empress Dowager either. But your father was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see them, grandfather and grandson, sad. So the matter of Saiyinchahun moving to the Southern Third Palace was delayed again and again."

To outsiders, wouldn't that just be a lack of manners?

However, neither the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager spoke up. Dissatisfied with open criticism, they secretly spread rumors.

"Just you wait and see. If Saiyinchahun hasn't moved to Nansansuo by the end of this year, it won't be as simple as a few private words; other things will inevitably arise."

For example, Saiyinchahun acted recklessly and offended a palace maid who served the Empress Dowager.

One was a notorious troublemaker in the Forbidden City, and also a prince; the other was just a lowly servant. It was obvious that the former was more powerful.

Even if it were discovered later that this was a scheme, no one would believe it; they would only think that Kangxi deliberately slandered the poor palace servants to protect his son's reputation.

Even if no one dared to object to the results announced by Kangxi, they would all think that Saiyinchahun was a beast, daring to lay hands on even the people around his grandmother at such a young age.

Of course, this is just the most serious possible outcome that Ji Nai is speculating about.

However, it's not impossible. The reason those people are holding back now is simply because they don't want to involve the Empress Dowager.