Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince was still immersed in grief over the passing of Consort De, and aside from attending court, he almost never left the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Empress wanted to take this opportunity to impress the Fourth Prince, but she didn't even step inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Only Lanqin was allowed to enter and exit the Yangxin Hall. The Empress and Consort Nian were green with envy, but since it concerned the Fourth Prince, they had no choice but to keep quiet. In order not to cause the Fourth Prince any trouble, the ladies of the harem behaved themselves, and things became much calmer.

Lanqin worried that the Fourth Prince wouldn't eat and would ruin his health. Knowing that Su Peisheng was, after all, a palace servant and might not be able to take good care of him, she prepared tonics and sent them to the Hall of Mental Cultivation every day. Occasionally, he would return with an empty bowl, which would make Lanqin happy for half a day.

That day, Lanqin personally escorted him over. Just as she arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she encountered Su Peisheng, who was hurrying along. Su Peisheng looked up and saw it was Lanqin. Enraged, he knelt before her with a thud: "Your Highness, Consort Xi, you've finally arrived! This servant was just about to go to Changchun Palace to fetch you..."

Lanqin guessed that something must have happened to the Fourth Prince, so she helped Su Peisheng up and asked, "What's wrong? Is something wrong with the Emperor?"

“That’s right. Everything was fine yesterday, but this morning, some little brat sent the Emperor the fruit that Consort De usually likes the most. The Emperor was reminded of her by the fruit and punished all the palace maids and eunuchs in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in a fit of anger. The Emperor hasn’t come out yet, and this servant doesn’t dare to go in. I’m just waiting for Consort Xi to come and see him…” Su Peisheng was so anxious that his mouth was dry.

Lanqin calmed him down slightly, then quickly went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, quietly informed him, and pushed open the door. Sure enough, the hall was empty; the vast space was completely shrouded in darkness. Lanqin's eyes couldn't adjust, and she nearly slipped on the fruit scattered on the floor, her cry of "Ouch!" startling the Fourth Prince, who was reclining in his chair.

Fourth Master supported Lanqin, and it took Lanqin a while to slowly see the situation inside the hall. She slowly drew back the curtains, and a beam of light slowly shone into the room. Fourth Master was blinded by the light and looked away. Lanqin walked in front of Fourth Master and shielded him from the sunlight.

The Fourth Prince opened his eyes and looked up at Lanqin. Lanqin radiated warm sunlight, her light dazzling like a fairy descending to earth. Her gentle, serene smile swept away the Fourth Prince's long-standing gloom. His nose stung, his eyes reddened, and he slowly pulled Lanqin into his arms, burying his head in her waist: "I am truly heartbroken..."

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's death has nothing to do with you. Don't listen to the rumors. Your Majesty has a clear conscience. Whether it's the Fourteenth Prince's matter or the Empress Dowager's matter, Your Majesty has done nothing wrong! The Empress Dowager was already in poor health, and she passed away because of excessive grief. Now that Your Majesty has fulfilled your promise to the Empress Dowager, she will surely forgive Your Majesty in heaven..." Lanqin gently stroked the Fourth Prince's hair, comforting him with the patience of someone coaxing a child.

Fourth Master nestled in Lanqin's arms for a long time. That day, he poured out all his secrets to Lanqin, some of which she already knew, and some she didn't. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that Fourth Master had finally opened his heart. Perhaps this was the beginning of healing his heartache, and Fourth Master wouldn't be sad forever…