Changping.

The Fourteenth Prince was imprisoned by the Fourth Prince in a villa in Changping, under constant surveillance. To alleviate his guilt towards Consort De, the Fourth Prince, following her dying wish, granted the Fourteenth Prince a pardon from death. The Fourteenth Prince's wife and children were sent to keep him company. Despite this, the Fourteenth Prince remained deeply troubled by Consort De's death. He spent his days drinking to drown his sorrows, and in his drunken rages, he would unleash a torrent of curses.

"Empress Mother, you died unjustly... Your son has returned, but I didn't even get to see you one last time..." The Fourteenth Prince, clutching a wine jar, rambled incoherently around the room, knocking over tables and chairs as he bumped into them, leaving the room in complete disarray.

The maidservant held several children and hid in a corner, even her crying was only done in soft sobs.

The Fourteenth Prince's wife followed behind him, trying to help him up, but she was too weak and was almost pushed to the ground by him.

"It's all his fault... He's the one who killed the Empress Dowager..." The Fourteenth Prince pointed towards Beijing, his eyes blazing with rage as he roared. His voice startled the maids and children in the corner, who burst into tears...

"Don't think you can deceive the eyes of the world. Heaven can see what you've done. You are the murderer who killed the Empress Dowager... Hahahaha..." The Fourteenth Prince spoke louder and louder, completely disregarding his wife and child behind him.

The Fourteenth Prince's wife, having reached her limit, stood up and pleaded with him, "Your Highness, that's enough. Stop drinking... Look at yourself now. Even the Empress Dowager might be disappointed..."

Fourteenth Prince was stunned for a moment, then turned around, his eyes red and his teeth clenched as he cursed, "What did you say? Why is Mother Empress disappointed in me? I am Mother Empress's most beloved son, I am Father King's most favored son..."

After saying that, he slammed the wine jar to the ground with a loud "Ah!" The Fourteenth Prince's wife covered her ears and took a few steps back, watching helplessly as the Fourteenth Prince went berserk and started cursing wildly in the room.

"You killed my mother, you're a murderer, you stole everything that belonged to me... Now don't even think about keeping me locked up for life... As long as I can get out, I'll definitely get my revenge..."

Every move of the Fourteenth Prince was reported to the capital and reached the ears of the Fourth Prince. Everyone thought that the Fourth Prince would be angry and severely punish the Fourteenth Prince. Just when everyone was sweating for the Fourteenth Prince, the Fourth Prince only frowned slightly. His expression was complicated and difficult to describe, with pain, guilt, resentment, disappointment and countless other emotions.

Only Lanqin knew that the Fourth Prince hadn't yet recovered from the grief of losing his mother and couldn't understand the Fourteenth Prince's current erratic and outrageous behavior. Besides, he had promised Consort De not to harm the Fourteenth Prince, which was why he tolerated his actions. But this was only temporary…

Lanqin silently prayed that things wouldn't get any worse, but what she feared most came to pass. Soon, rumors circulated among the people about the cause of Consort De's death, even including one that the Fourth Prince had secretly altered Emperor Kangxi's will. The rumor claimed that Kangxi originally intended to pass the throne to the Fourteenth Prince, but the Fourth Prince discovered this and changed it to himself. This was supposedly why, upon ascending the throne, he forced his mother to commit suicide and placed his younger brother under house arrest—all to cover up the truth.

Immediately, people began to speculate about the legitimacy of Yongzheng's ascension to the throne, and even children's songs about miscarriage began to circulate in rural areas. The Fourth Prince locked himself in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, refusing to see anyone and not attending court for several days.