Chapter 19 Things After Awakening

Soon, news of Prince Yong's awakening swept through the entire Forbidden City.

Fortunately, Emperor Kangxi's decree arrived first, ordering Prince Yong to rest well and return to the capital only when he was fully recovered. This decree immediately deterred those who were eager to make a move. Regardless of their motives, they knew it was inappropriate to visit him at this time.

Enjoying a moment of leisure, Yinzhen, dressed in his nightgown, leaned against the bed, listening to Su Peisheng recount in detail everything that had happened in the past few days. His face was still a little pale, but his usual cold and stern demeanor revealed no particular attitude.

Su Peisheng carefully chose his words in his report, afraid of further provoking his master, the Prince. He was especially cautious when he spoke of Consort De, subtly observing Yinzhen's expression.

Having said everything, Su Peisheng lowered his head, not daring to breathe. As Yinzhen's personal eunuch, Su Peisheng naturally knew his feelings for Consort De, his biological mother, and guessed that his master was not in a good mood at the moment.

Yinzhen didn't actually feel anything; he was just evaluating the script based on Su Peisheng's narration, but a trace of sadness unconsciously showed on his face. It wasn't just a performance for Su Peisheng; the imperial physician had left, but Kangxi's secret guards hadn't withdrawn yet, and were currently eavesdropping from the upper beams of his bedroom.

"During the days I was unconscious, did Yonghe Palace send anyone?"

Seeing his master's displeased expression, Su Peisheng even forgot to address himself. Su Peisheng felt a pang of heartache, but the question he was asked made him freeze and speechless.

Seeing that Su Peisheng remained silent, Yinzhen seemed to understand something, and his expression couldn't help but darken.

"I suppose it's because Consort De is currently under house arrest, which is why the people in Yonghe Palace can't get out," Su Peisheng said cautiously, observing Yinzhen's expression.

"Is that so... I am tired. You may leave."

Yinzhen said no more, feigning weariness, and dismissed Su Peisheng. But after Su Peisheng left, Yinzhen did not lie down to rest as he had said. He just sat there silently, lost in thought, his dejected mood evident.

All of this was clearly recorded in the secret guards' notebooks. The strange charm of Yinzhen made even the usually cold and hard-hearted secret guards feel sorry for him and, without realizing it, they became biased towards Yinzhen, and their records were thus influenced by personal feelings.

As night deepened, the guards left to report the situation. Yinzhen, who had just lay down to rest, looked at the character score that was rising slightly on the character role-playing system panel and revealed a faint smile.

I must say, the "Primary Infection Aura" in the 556 Mall is actually quite useful.

Give yourself a thumbs up for getting into character; another "pure and innocent" persona played today.

...

In Wutong Courtyard, after learning that Yinzhen had woken up, Yixiu was initially overjoyed, but then filled with panic and restlessness, not knowing how Yinzhen would treat her.

Some people in the courtyard were also restless. After all, the Prince's coma was inextricably linked to Wutong Courtyard, and with his future uncertain, it was inevitable that other thoughts would arise.

Yixiu had noticed it, but at this moment she had no heart to deal with it, and only hoped for news from the front yard.

"Consort..." Jianqiu lifted the curtain and walked in.

"Well, is there any news from the front yard?" Yixiu looked at her capable head maid with anticipation.

Jianqiu avoided eye contact, not daring to look directly at her master. Her heart was in turmoil, but she had no choice but to tell the truth: "Reporting to my master, the people in the front yard... the people in the front yard have gone to deliver rewards to Qinghezhai and Yunshuiju..."

Yixiu suddenly lost her spirit and muttered, "That's right, they're just grateful for their service in caring for me, unlike me..."

"master……"

"Jianqiu, I'm tired, I need to rest..." Yixiu waved her hand to stop Jianqiu from speaking. What was the point of repeatedly trying to persuade her? It was all just empty talk.

Yixiu lay alone in bed, touching her belly and silently weeping, unable to sleep all night.

The next morning, Yixiu sat in front of her dressing table, putting on makeup. She had dark circles under her eyes. She listened to Ran Dong's incessant chatter, knowing it was to make her happy, but how could she possibly be happy?

At this moment, Jianqiu suddenly walked in with a smile, gave a light bow, and reported to Yixiu, "Consort, the Prince has sent the royal physician to take your pulse. He said that if your pulse is fine, he would like to invite you to the front courtyard for a chat."

"Really?" Yixiu turned her head in surprise, her eyes full of uncertainty as she looked at Jianqiu.

"Absolutely true, the royal physician is still waiting outside," Jianqiu replied with certainty, her tone full of joy. Seeing that the Prince was still willing to communicate and had even specially invited the royal physician to examine her, it seemed that his concubine still had feelings for him. Jianqiu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alright, Jianqiu, go and treat them well. Randong, hurry up and do my makeup. Look at my complexion, quickly cover it up..."

At Yixiu's happy command, the entire Wutong Courtyard sprang into action, creating a sense of calm after the storm.

Yinzhen, who was reclining on the soft couch, heard the noise from outside and put down the book in his hand. Soon a well-dressed woman with a slender figure, except for her unusually protruding belly, appeared before him.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness." Despite her overflowing love, Yixiu dared not raise her head as she stood before Yinzhen, for fear of seeing the look of disgust in his eyes.

"Come and sit down, everyone else, please go down first."

"Yes." With Jianqiu's help, Yixiu sat down next to Yinzhen, with a small table between them, on which warm tea had already been placed.

Seeing that the servants had all quietly left, Yixiu dared to quietly turn her head and look longingly at Yinzhen's profile.

The only sound in the room was Yinzhen fiddling with the beads. He didn't speak, and Yixiu didn't dare to speak either.

"This is not your fault..."

After a long silence, Yinzhen finally spoke softly. With just those one sentence, Yixiu's tears streamed down her face, and she choked out, "Your Highness..."

His tone was full of grievance, fear, and unease.

Yinzhen turned around, reached out and patted Yixiu's hand reassuringly, then suddenly changed the subject, saying, "I actually met you a long time ago..."

Yixiu felt the warmth in her hands and felt a lump in her throat. She tried hard to control her emotions, but when she heard Yinzhen's words, she felt somewhat lost.

Yinzhen seemed to be explaining to her, or perhaps muttering to himself: "It's not just you, but also your elder sister Rouze. She should have been my wife..."

Yi Xiu was startled. What did this mean? Did the prince take a fancy to Rou Ze? Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Yi Xiu dared not ask any more questions and could only listen quietly.

“I was raised by Empress Xiaoyiren from a young age, when she was still Consort Tongjia. Even though I had heard some rumors, I always believed that she was my biological mother… It wasn’t until my mother became pregnant that I learned that I was actually Consort De’s son…”

"Your Highness..." At this moment, Yixiu could no longer care about Rouze. She looked at Yinzhen with heartache in her eyes and couldn't help but boldly grasp his hand in return.

Feeling the strength in his hand, Yinzhen turned his head and smiled at Yixiu, though in Yixiu's eyes he appeared exceptionally vulnerable.

"Actually, it wasn't anything serious. My mother still treated me very well... But my younger sister, whom I gave birth to soon after, unfortunately died young, and my mother also fell seriously ill and gradually weakened. At this time, my mother also thought of me and talked to me about many things, saying that she had made a mistake in the past, that she shouldn't have separated me from her own mother, and that she was afraid that Consort De would treat me badly..."

Yinzhen's voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob. But how could those who were always watching him not notice?

"So... Mother came up with a plan. She wanted to choose a consort for me ahead of time. When she summoned Lady Jue Luo to the palace, I saw you and your sister from behind..."

Yixiu suddenly realized that she remembered when she was young, she had accompanied her stepmother to the palace and paid her respects to Consort Tongjia of Chengqian Palace, but she did not know that Yinzhen was also present at that time.

"Your mother chose your sister Rouze, but she passed away before she could tell Father Emperor, and the marriage fell through. Later, when she returned to Consort De's side, she betrothed you to me during the imperial selection. I immediately recognized you as the little girl from back then. I suppose it's fate between us, or perhaps it's Mother Tongjia's blessing upon me... So, Yixiu, I don't blame you, and you don't need to feel guilty..."