Chapter 115 The Death of Emperor Kangxi

“Uya cannot live.”

Regardless of whether Uya Chengbi harbored any intention of causing trouble after Yinzhen ascended the throne, Kangxi would not tolerate her continuing to live.

In order to clear all obstacles for Yinzhen, Kangxi sent someone to give Wuya a drug—a secret medicine that would not kill immediately but would slowly weaken a person, deplete their vitality, and could not be detected.

By eliminating Lady Wuya, Emperor Kangxi avoided putting Yinzhen in a difficult position, while also preventing her death from becoming a rift between Yinzhen and the Fourteenth Prince. It can be said that Emperor Kangxi had good intentions and truly cared about Yinzhen.

After handling the relevant matters and formally appointing Yinzhen as the Crown Prince, Kangxi's energy and spirit were greatly diminished upon seeing Yinzhen's adept handling of state affairs. The news of his poor health could no longer be concealed.

Having barely made it through the New Year's Eve banquet of the 48th year of Kangxi's reign, Kangxi fell seriously ill before the old tree could sprout new leaves. State affairs were entirely handed over to Yinzhen, and the princes took turns attending to him.

A dark cloud hung over the Forbidden City; everyone knew that Emperor Kangxi wouldn't live much longer.

One morning in March, Emperor Kangxi, who had been bedridden for a long time, suddenly became much more energetic and was able to sit up on his own. Liang Jiugong, who was standing beside him, was both excited and saddened.

"Liang Jiugong, summon all the princes and ministers."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With tears in his eyes, Liang Jiugong went to deliver the imperial decree. All those who rushed over upon receiving the news saw Kangxi's condition and their hearts sank. The Emperor was nearing his end, experiencing a final burst of energy before death.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Everyone who entered bowed deeply to Emperor Kangxi, knowing full well that this was likely the last time they would do so.

"Rise." Emperor Kangxi, who was nearing the end of his life, appeared remarkably calm at this moment.

Looking at the princes and ministers kneeling on the ground not far away, he fell into endless memories and began to evaluate his life.

"In my life, I have quelled the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories and recovered Taiwan, which can be considered as some achievements. Now that I am about to pass away, I have no regrets. I only wish that all of you ministers can continue to do your best for the country and create a prosperous era together."

"Your Majesty, I will obey your decree and will certainly not fail your trust." The courtiers below kowtowed deeply, some so moved that they could not help but shed tears.

After saying this, Kangxi's breath visibly weakened. He beckoned to Yinzhen, summoning him to his side.

“Yinzhen…”

"Your subject is here." Yinzhen grasped Kangxi's outstretched hand and sat down beside him with a sorrowful expression.

"You are excellent. You are a good son, a good subject, and you will be a good emperor in the future. I pass the throne to you, hoping that you will uphold your original aspirations and become a wise ruler... You must prioritize the country and its people, always remain vigilant, learn to be benevolent and tolerant... and also be kind to yourself..."

Listening to Kangxi's intermittent instructions and expressions of concern, Yinzhen's eyes reddened, and he tightly grasped Kangxi's hand, unable to hold back his sobs: "Father... Your son understands..."

Having given all the necessary instructions, Kangxi still felt a lingering attachment. He struggled to look at Yinreng, who knelt silently below, and whispered, "Baocheng... my Baocheng..."

"Second brother, Father Emperor is calling for you."

Kangxi's voice was barely audible, so Yinzhen turned and called out to Yinreng for him. Yinreng looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, and staggered to the bedside.

Yinzhen placed Kangxi's hand into Yinreng's. Feeling the faint strength in his hand, Yinreng looked at Kangxi's ashen face and suddenly burst into tears.

“Baocheng…”

"Father..."

Kangxi held his hand with all his might, his loving gaze lingering on his face. "Baocheng, don't cry, Father... Father is leaving. You must take good care of yourself, take good care of yourself..."

"Yes, Baocheng is fine." Yinreng wiped his face haphazardly, forced a smile at Kangxi, but couldn't stop the tears from flowing freely.

Kangxi strained his eyes to look at Yinzhen again, speaking slowly and deliberately, not as an emperor's last words, but as a father's request.

"Fourth brother, promise me you'll treat...your second brother well..."

"Yes, Yinzhen promises. Yinzhen will definitely treat Second Brother well." Yinzhen agreed with tears in his eyes.

"Good, good..." Having resolved his last hurdle, Kangxi stopped struggling. His eyes gradually dimmed, his hands lost their strength, and his mouth opened and closed, as if he were saying something.

Sensing Kangxi's helplessness, Yinreng felt a surge of fear and desperately moved closer, calling out "Father Emperor," but only heard Kangxi's last murmur: "Baocheng... I am Baocheng's father..."

After saying this, Kangxi completely lost his strength and stopped breathing.

"Father, Father!" Yinreng suddenly threw himself into Kangxi's arms, crying his heart out. After hearing Kangxi's words, he was completely relieved, but he had truly lost his father.

Hearing Yinreng's wailing, everyone was startled and immersed in endless grief.

Liang Jiugong stepped forward to investigate, unable to accept it but forced to announce the news—

"His Majesty has passed away!"

"emperor--"

"Father Emperor—"

Yinzhi knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, his heart filled with resentment but unable to express it any longer. Only now did he truly realize that after all these years of struggle, in the end, his father's heart belonged only to Yinreng.

As the eldest son, he could never compare to the legitimate son, which was probably Yinzhi's eternal regret.

Compared to Yinzhi, Yinsi saw things more clearly: his father's heart was very big, big enough to encompass the entire territory, but his father's heart was also very small, so small that he only acknowledged Yinreng as his son.

He had long since stopped expecting his father's love, but Yinzhi harbored resentment in his heart. From the day Kangxi uttered the words "son of a lowly slave from the Xin Zhe Ku," he had been filled with hatred, hating Kangxi's ruthlessness and his denigration of his mother.

So he couldn't wait for his fourth brother to ascend the throne. But when that day finally came, when Kangxi passed away, Yinzhi suddenly felt a void in his heart. All his love, hatred, and resentment lost their support with Kangxi's death, turning into a state of confusion.

Yinzhi thought that he must still feel resentment, resentment towards Kangxi, and resentment towards himself for having once had expectations.

Kneeling behind his elder brother, Yinzhen, having lost his mother and then his father in such a short time, was at a loss for what to do. He cried so much that he no longer knew why he was crying.

His mother harbored evil intentions and regarded him as a tool for profit; his father disliked him greatly and even drew his sword to kill him.

Even though he was disliked and hurt at every turn, Yinzhen was still heartbroken when he suddenly lost his parents. He felt like he couldn't grasp anything or achieve anything.

Yinzhen looked up and focused his gaze on his heartbroken fourth brother. He thought, his fourth brother was all he had left, all his hopes were pinned on him, and he couldn't bear to lose him too.

...

The Qianqing Palace was filled with wailing. Amidst the solemn tolling of bells, the news of Emperor Kangxi's death spread throughout the capital. The weeping continued for a long time, but the time for Kangxi's encoffining could not be delayed.

After covering Kangxi's body with a drapery printed with gold-embossed Sanskrit characters and determining the auspicious time for the small encoffining, a minister stepped forward and bowed to Yinzhen.

"We respectfully invite the Crown Prince to ascend the throne!"

Immediately, all the princes and ministers echoed, "Please let the Crown Prince ascend the throne!"