Chapter 261 Extra 3: Happy Ending (Continued from Chapter 241)

After finally recovering from his heart-wrenching cough, Yinzhen patted Hongzhao's hand reassuringly, indicating that he didn't need to move. After catching his breath a few times, he spoke again—"After abdicating as Crown Prince, I abdicated and became the Retired Emperor, enjoying my old age and spending time with my grandchildren. Now it seems that I have neither the time nor the blessing."

"drop--"

Hongzhao's mind suddenly went blank. Time seemed to stretch on for a lifetime, yet it also seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar furnishings of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but on the bed, his father was still babbling incessantly, panting and giving instructions.

At this moment, he was listening with tears in his eyes, his hands itching to stop his father from saying the next thing. Having lived a life alone, Hongzhao's mind was not yet fully clear, and seeing this scene, he only reflexively wanted to shed tears.

It's unclear whether she's crying over the long-awaited reunion separated by life and death, or over the pain of losing her father that she will soon experience again.

Isn't experiencing such pain once enough?

As he was thinking this, the electronic voice that suddenly rang in his mind like a savior made his pupils shrink involuntarily. His heart jumped into his throat, and he tentatively called out twice in his mind, trembling—"System? Are you back?"

"Yes, host!"

Whether it was his imagination or not, the usually emotionless electronic voice sounded somewhat excited and joyful to him, and the familiar suspended electronic screen reappeared in front of him.

Hongzhao didn't have time to ask him why he had disappeared for so long. He just excitedly said as if he had grasped a lifeline, "Please help me think of a way. This is the last day. You can come back, and you can call me back. You're here to help me, right?"

The system exists within his consciousness and can naturally sense his current anxiety. The fact that he rushed to choose this day is also for this reason, so it will no longer keep him in suspense.

"The system has detected a strong desire for Emperor Yongzheng to abdicate in this world. If he abdicates on this day in history, he should be able to use the pills produced by the system to prolong his life."

"!" Hongzhao's eyes widened, and he gripped his father's hand tighter and tighter.

Just then, Yinzhen said, "If any of them harbors thoughts of deceiving the emperor and taking advantage of the Crown Prince's young age to do something foolish, even if I can't see it, there are plenty of people watching for me."

Everyone assumed that the Crown Prince's emotional outburst stemmed from grief and emotion, and not a single person questioned it. Instead, they felt a deeper appreciation for the bond between the father and son.

Hongzhao never imagined that the boulder that had driven him to the brink of despair would one day turn around, but after the initial surprise came some hesitation—"...the points."

"..." The system was silent for a moment—"Anyway, this isn't the first time you've owed someone, let's leave it at that for now."

...

Historical records state that when Emperor Yongzheng was critically ill, he summoned the Crown Prince to his bedside, bestowed the Imperial Seal upon him, announced his abdication to the assembled officials, and proclaimed himself the Retired Emperor. The next day, the Crown Prince still attended the enthronement ceremony despite his illness.

Two years later, the laughter of children echoed from the Hall of Joyful Longevity. Hongzhao, who was standing at the door, heard the voices of the grandfather and grandson inside before he even went in, and his expression softened involuntarily.

Yongrui was less than a year and a half old at the time, and he could only take a few steps and was still unsteady. The floor and table corners in the Hall of Joyful Longevity were covered with thick soft cushions. As soon as Hongzhao entered, he saw his father, who had been the retired emperor for two years, holding that naughty little boy who was moving around like a carp in his arms.

"Father, don't hold him like that, you'll hurt your back!" Hongzhao was alarmed and quickly stepped forward to take the carp...son from his father's arms, but as expected, his father pulled his hand away.

"Yongrui, haven't I told you many times that you can't tire out Grandfather? If you keep moving around, I'll spank you." Hongzhao deliberately put on a stern face.

With the Emperor's support, Yongrui truly lived up to the Empress's words: he was the most blessed child in the world, being both the eldest son and the legitimate heir, and being pampered by two emperors from birth.

Grandparents love their grandchildren more than their grandchildren, and the Emperor was unwilling to play the villain in front of his grandson. So, he had to play the good cop, otherwise, the boy would really become unruly.

Although Yongrui was always pampered, he was not neglected in his upbringing. Seeing his father angry, he calmed down. With a quick thought, he turned around, took Yinzhen's hand, and mumbled, "Father, Yongrui was wrong. Father is not tired."

He can now speak fluently, and his soft, childlike voice softened Yinzhen's heart. He pulled Yongrui closer to him and gave Hongzhao a disapproving look—"Why scare him? I know my own body. I can carry you without any problem, let alone a little Yongrui."

Hongzhao reluctantly shut his mouth, thinking to himself, "Father, am I not your most beloved eldest son anymore?"

This kid doesn't learn anything good! He was taught so many military strategies before birth, and the moment he was born, he learned the tea ceremony that he'd used since childhood! And he's using it on himself!

Seeing Hongzhao's rare moment of frustration, Yinzhen almost laughed again. He suppressed the urge to smile, put Yongrui down, instructed the palace servants to watch over him while he played, and then beckoned to Hongzhao to come forward.

“Yongrui is young, so there’s no need to be so harsh on him. I only started to be strict with you when you were four years old, and now this is a rare time for you to play.” Yinzhen said this now, although he wasn’t that strict back then.

Hongzhao still couldn't refute it. In any case, he didn't really want to get angry with his eldest son; he was just worried about his father's health.

Having become the Retired Emperor, Yinzhen changed his diligent approach to governance from the previous decade. He entrusted all matters of state to Hongzhao, preferring to spend his remaining years in the Leshou Hall, which his son had built for him, focusing on his health and well-being. Unless Hongzhao brought matters up for discussion, he would not interfere.

There is something that needs to be discussed between the father and son today.

"Hongzhou is getting on in years. Your mother has mentioned to me several times that there's been no progress in choosing a consort for you, his elder brother?"

Hongzhao thought for a moment and said, "Father, the Manchu Bordered Red Banner Wu Zhaku clan you mentioned before, my son Yingjun went to meet her. She is a calm and composed person."

"Hmm." Yinzhen nodded. "Your mother always worries too much. I think Wu Zhaku is quite good. Her family background is not prominent, so she doesn't have such big ambitions. Being calm and steady is the best. Hongshi has improved a lot since he got married. I just hope that Hongzhou can be like him and curb his unruly nature after marriage. Otherwise, I would have to drag him over and punish him properly."

Hongzhao naturally understood what his father meant. He lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Her father, Wu Shitu, is a deputy commander, and his second-rank official position is not low. Since the Bordered Red Banner is not prominent, then we should raise it. It wouldn't hurt to give our daughter some favors after she marries into our royal family. It would also bring honor to my sixth brother."

"Let's elevate it to... the Plain Red Banner."

Seeing that Hongzhao had made up his mind, Yinzhen did not interfere much, but only gave him a word of advice: "Father knows that you are good to your brothers, but sometimes you have to be careful. Human nature is the thing you can't gamble on. Don't let yourself be disappointed in the end."

Hongzhao grasped his father's warm hand in return—"Father, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

...

Yinzhen's gaze lingered on Hongzhao's departing figure for a long time.

"Fortunately, my health has improved now, and I can continue to manage things for him for another ten years or so without any problem."

Su Peisheng stepped forward and replaced the cold tea. Seeing the Emperor's sentimental expression, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Your Majesty, you are very strong now. How could you have been so robust for more than ten years? Look at how you can lift the eldest prince with one hand. Isn't that the same as it was more than ten years ago?"

As Su Peisheng was speaking, Yongrui came running over and tried to climb up Yinzhen's leg to sit on it. Yinzhen smiled and picked up the little boy, holding him in his arms.

"Indeed, when I see him, it's like seeing Hongzhao when he was a child. They are so alike that I can't help but want to spoil him more."

"It's like...raising my son all over again."