The Crown Prince is ill.

When the Crown Prince did not appear on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month and was ill, everyone thought it was because of the cold of the twelfth lunar month. It was only when the Crown Prince developed a high fever that things changed.

The faction led by Prince Zhi, who had been frolicking during the New Year holidays, eventually backed down. Prince Zhi even visited the Crown Prince at Yuqing Palace multiple times to feign brotherly affection.

On His Majesty's side, the tonics and gifts sent to Yuqing Palace every day were like a flowing stream. One day, His Majesty even personally visited the Crown Prince for a long time after court.

The once bustling December was now filled with fear and unease, not only in the imperial court but also in the backyards of every household in the capital.

No one wanted to offend the Emperor.

Third Master and Fifth Master had visited the Crown Prince a few times, and naturally they also brought Fourth Master along.

They went every few days, from the beginning when the young master's high fever persisted until it subsided.

However, none of the brothers had personally seen the Crown Prince's ailing appearance; it was naturally at the behest of the imperial physician. It is said that even when His Majesty came to visit, he was only seen through a curtain.

However, the brothers felt distressed by the coughing sound and naturally did not want to stay any longer.

Throughout the entire twelfth lunar month, people didn't have time to visit each other; instead, they were all busy visiting the Crown Prince.

When His Majesty learned of this, fearing that others might disturb the Crown Prince's recovery, he forbade his court officials from disturbing him.

Before the Lunar New Year, the Fourth Prince noticed that the area in front of Yuqing Palace was deserted, and he knew in his heart that everyone was going to fawn over his eldest brother, Prince Zhi.

It was only at this time, after paying his respects to Consort De, that the Fourth Prince went to Yuqing Palace.

The previous times he had been with his third and fifth brothers, and Fourth Master did not want to give others cause for criticism.

He was neither on the side of his elder brother, Prince Zhi, nor on the side of the Crown Prince.

The Fourth Prince was standing behind His Majesty.

He knew that his father disliked the princes forming cliques, so he waited until the Crown Prince's door was deserted before daring to disturb him.

This time, the Fourth Prince actually met the Crown Prince.

However, contrary to the Fourth Prince's expectations of a sickly appearance, when the Fourth Prince arrived, the Crown Prince was still lying on the couch, holding a frozen pear in his hand, and even smiled when he saw the Fourth Prince come in.

"Fourth brother is here? Come and sit down."

Soon, a servant placed a small round stool next to the Crown Prince's bed.

Fourth Prince quickly realized that the Crown Prince had been faking illness, but he really couldn't understand: "Why would the Crown Prince treat his own health so lightly?"

Seeing his stern face, the Crown Prince seemed lost in his memories.

The fourth prince, who became even more stern and unsmiling after ascending the throne in his previous life.

The Crown Prince couldn't help but smile: "Fourth Prince, why don't you try this frozen pear? It was brought up by the servants; this is the first time I've ever tasted one in my life."

Fourth Master had certainly eaten frozen pears, not just once, but in the little princess's courtyard.

The Fourth Prince shook his head helplessly: "Your Highness—"

The Crown Prince's joking expression vanished: "I'm not playing with my health; it's just that I'll be busy until the Lunar New Year. I also want to have some fun."

Such a statement left Fourth Master speechless for a moment.

The Crown Prince is right. Starting from the Lunar New Year's Eve, all members of the royal family and important officials of the court will have to enter the palace for half a month at a time.

It was either a sacrificial ceremony or various banquets.

He had to go to the palace before dawn every day, and there was no set time for when he would return.

Everything from previous years' festivals suddenly became vivid in his mind after hearing the Crown Prince's words.

The Fourth Prince understood the Crown Prince to some extent, but he couldn't agree on the surface. In the end, he could only sigh softly.

The Crown Prince had been observing the Fourth Prince's changing expressions, and found it inexplicably funny.

Having lived a second life, the Crown Prince was already quite clear that he was not cut out to be an emperor. After witnessing the Fourth Prince's decisive and efficient actions, the Crown Prince realized how indecisive he had been in the past.

The Crown Prince did not want to use his existing memories to fight for that position. Many things can change, and the Crown Prince did not want to compete for it anymore.

Of course, none of this could be decided by the Crown Prince alone, but he just wanted to express to the Fourth Prince that he had no desire for that position.

Once the fourth prince ascends the throne, at least he won't end up imprisoned in the outskirts of Beijing until his death.

All he ever wanted in his life was to wait until the fourth prince ascended the throne so he could see the landscapes he had never seen in his previous life.

After all, in the past, whenever the Emperor went on a southern or northern tour, the other princes had more or less the opportunity to accompany him, but the Crown Prince did not.

The Crown Prince will always be the one who stays in the capital to oversee the country.

After seeing off the fourth prince, Haha Zhuzi, who was by the Crown Prince's side, stepped forward to take away Xiao Yuandun, but in the end, he couldn't help but ask a question.

"Didn't the Crown Prince say that no one should know about this?"

This naturally refers to the Crown Prince faking illness.

The young master tossed the frozen pear into Haha Beads' arms: "Fourth Prince is different."

Haha Zhuzi naturally assumed that the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince were on the same side, so she chimed in, "The Fourth Prince is indeed an excellent person."

Because the Crown Prince was seriously ill, those who fawned over the powerful and looked down on the weak initially came to visit the Crown Prince's Yuqing Palace, but the Crown Prince did not see any of them. These people then turned around and began to curry favor with Prince Zhi.

It's as if the Crown Prince's illness is incurable; it's truly despicable.

The Fourth Prince was one of only two people to visit the Crown Prince in recent days; the first was naturally Prime Minister Suo'etu.

The Crown Prince, however, remained nonchalant: "Have you kept a good record of all the people who sent gifts these past few days?"

This Haha Pearl belongs to the Hesheli clan, the late mother of the Crown Prince. She has been in the palace since childhood to accompany the Crown Prince and is extremely loyal.

"As you instructed, I made an extra register to record the items that came with my visits these past few days, including those sent by the women from the Crown Princess's household. I sent them to Prime Minister Suo yesterday."

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