Lanqin turned her head away awkwardly, deliberately using the excuse of serving tea to Consort De to free her hand, and said softly, "Your Majesty, since ancient times, the empress dowager has not been allowed to interfere in politics. How can Lanqin, a mere woman, possibly influence the Emperor's thoughts..."

Consort De seemed a little angry. After thinking for a while, she leaned forward and said, "Lanqin, I know your difficulties. This is not a matter of the court, but a family matter! You should go and persuade the emperor to consider the bond between mother and son, and the bond between brothers, and not to make things difficult for or hurt his younger brother..." Consort De emphasized her tone when she spoke of his younger brother, and her pleading expression made Lanqin really unable to bear it.

Lanqin knew she was in a difficult situation and groaned inwardly. She knew that the Fourteenth Prince's matter was the Fourth Prince's Achilles' heel, something that couldn't be touched or mentioned. Lanqin was fully aware of the Fourth Prince's grievances, and the more this was the case, the less she could plead for him at this time, lest she rub salt into his wounds. However, Lanqin couldn't refuse the Empress Dowager De's request. On one side was the Fourth Prince, and on the other was his mother; Lanqin was caught in a dilemma.

"Lanqin, you must save the fourteenth prince. Please, for the sake of the Empress Dowager, please..." Consort De pleaded with Lanqin, disregarding her status.

Lanqin sighed, lowering her head and remaining silent. Consort De, assuming Lanqin's consent, smiled and took Lanqin's hand, repeatedly saying with delight, "I knew you wouldn't bear to see Fourth Prince harm his own siblings, and I knew you wouldn't stand by and watch your mother lose her son. Only you can persuade the Emperor. Your mother entrusts everything to you..."

The late emperor's funeral was finally drawing to a close. Throughout the entire mourning period, the opposition in the court either watched with amusement or sought opportunities to cause trouble, hoping to brand the Fourth Prince as unfilial. Regardless, the Fourth Prince persevered.

Kangxi's body was kept in Changchun Garden for more than ten days until everyone finished paying their respects before it was moved to Shouhuang Hall in Jingshan Park. The Fourth Prince led the officials and relatives to bury Kangxi in the mausoleum, and the Fourteenth Prince was exceptionally allowed to send Kangxi off one last time.

Having been imprisoned for many days, the Fourteenth Prince had long lost his former passion and fighting spirit. His eyes were dull and lifeless as he drifted along in the middle of the group, his brows full of sorrow.

The court held a grand funeral procession for Emperor Kangxi, burning 20,000 paper ingots, 50,000 paper money, and 40,000 coins in five colors, along with over a dozen tables of food and wine, and several whole sheep. Royal officials and ministers, according to their rank, gathered outside the gates and along the main streets where the coffin would pass. Eighty people carried the coffin, personally escorted by the Fourth Prince, before it was successfully moved into the mausoleum. The previously calm and solemn atmosphere erupted with overwhelming grief and sorrow at the moment Kangxi was laid to rest. People crawled on the ground, wailing and lamenting, offering their final tribute to the Great Emperor Kangxi.

Even the Fourth Prince secretly shed tears, choking back sobs as he gazed at the person he respected, revered, and looked up to, who ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time, lying quietly in the coffin with his eyes closed, seemingly just asleep. But the Fourth Prince knew clearly that Kangxi would never wake up again. The heavy responsibility of the Qing Dynasty would fall on his shoulders, no matter how arduous and uncertain the road ahead.

The reign of Emperor Kangxi, along with his glorious dynasty, came to an end at the moment of his burial. The ascension of the Fourth Prince to the throne was a settled fact. Some were happy, some were sad, but no more dissenting voices could be heard. As the Fourth Prince turned away, the courtiers knelt down, waved their hands, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"