Prince Yong remained expressionless, simply looking at her calmly and saying nothing.

Being stared at by the future emperor is not a pleasant experience.

Heyue felt immense pressure and finally admitted defeat. Resignedly, she sat down opposite Prince Yong, glanced at the chessboard, and quickly looked away before getting straight to the point: "Fourth Brother, I shouldn't have bothered you with this matter, but as you know, I have a rift with Consort Nian, and it's not appropriate for me to visit her in person. So I came to see you, Fourth Brother, and asked you to pass on my message."

Ignoring his oppressive gaze, He Yue continued, "Yesterday I met Consort He in the palace. Consort He asked me to visit Consort Nian and apologize to her on her behalf. It was just a small matter, and I felt it was making a fuss, but I couldn't refuse, so I came here. I'll trouble you, Fourth Brother, to tell Consort Nian that I wish her a speedy recovery. I won't go myself, so as not to upset Consort Nian."

As soon as she finished speaking, He Yue saw that Prince Yong's face turned ashen, and there seemed to be a dark undercurrent in his dark eyes. She was surprised, as she was about to get up and leave.

Why does he look so angry?

He Yue carefully considered what she had just said and didn't feel there was anything wrong with it. She probably hadn't said anything inappropriate that would make him angry.

However, this was none of her business. Having delivered her message, Heyue stood up to take her leave: "Fourth Brother, I won't stay any longer. Please continue with your work."

"Halt!" Prince Yong hissed.

He Yue stopped in her tracks, sighing inwardly.

"Did Fourth Brother give any instructions?" He Yue forced a smile.

"What else did she say?" Prince Yong's face was icy cold, as if he was trying his best to suppress his anger.

He Yue recalled the events, then shook her head innocently: "That's all, that's all."

"Don't pay any more attention to this. Forget about it." Prince Yong didn't ask any further questions, but his eyes held a warning.

He Yue nodded, puzzled. "I understand."

It seems... Fourth Brother isn't angry with himself, but with Consort He?

why is that?

Prince Yong's expression softened, and he pointed to the person opposite him: "Sit down, I'll see how your chess skills are."

He Yue felt a pang of despair; she didn't want to play chess!

How could my chess skills compare to Prince Yong's? I was simply being humiliated.

I should have known better than to come. What does the matter of Consort He and Lady Nian have to do with me?

Now that it's come to us like this, who can we blame?

Full of resentment, He Yue had no choice but to sit down again.

The two exchanged words back and forth, and unsurprisingly, the situation became one-sided.

Heyue rested her chin on her hand, looking listless and having no interest in playing chess.

Heyue was quickly defeated.

Prince Yong glanced at her and said, "It seems you still haven't been able to calm down."

He Yue looked over in confusion, meeting Prince Yong's cold, dark eyes. Deciding to ignore his cryptic remarks, she smiled again and said goodbye, "Fourth Brother, you see, I really don't know how to play chess. Hong Jiao is still waiting for me, so I'll go back first."

"Go back and practice your chess skills more, and meddle less in outside affairs," Prince Yong said calmly.

He Yue heard the warning in his words and pursed her lips.

What's gotten into him again? What did I do?

Isn't it just a matter of relaying a message on behalf of Consort He? Is that considered meddling in matters that are not within one's jurisdiction?

His words piqued He Yue's curiosity, and she stopped leaving, sat down again, and asked, "Fourth Brother, what exactly does Consort He mean?"

For some reason, Heyue suddenly remembered a passage she had seen somewhere before.

I don't remember the specifics, but it seems to describe some kind of conflict between Emperor Yongzheng and Consort Guarjia, a concubine of Emperor Kangxi.

Heyue naturally didn't believe that her fourth brother would do such a thing. After all, her fourth brother always valued rules and was very cautious in his actions. How could he have had anything to do with his mother while Kangxi was still alive? Wouldn't that be courting death?

Why did Consort He suddenly ask He Yue to relay a message to the concubine of her fourth brother's household?

The two of them had only met once, so why were they so concerned?

Unless, of course, their true intentions lie elsewhere.

What was the old drunkard's intention?

After a moment's thought, Heyue couldn't help but think of her fourth brother, and suddenly a bold idea came to her.

Could it be... that Consort He has feelings for Fourth Brother?

Although Consort He was one of Emperor Kangxi's concubines, she was younger than the Fourth Prince. It was not hard to guess from Consort He's words that Lady Nian's illness was related to Consort He. Consort He was so eager to apologize to Lady Nian and then conveyed the message to the Fourth Prince through He Yue.

Given the Fourth Brother's favor towards Lady Nian, perhaps Consort He was apologizing to the Fourth Brother, not Lady Nian?

Is this because he's afraid of upsetting his fourth brother because of the Nian family?

Although it's a bit far-fetched, it's not impossible. Heyue is quite curious about such things and doesn't know if it's true.

If it's true, then Consort He was jealous of Fourth Brother and Lady Nian, and made Lady Nian sick.

Ha! This is interesting!

Heyue wasn't afraid of angering her fourth brother; she stared at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.

A fierce glint flashed in Prince Yong's eyes, his face growing increasingly grim. He coldly warned, "Mind your own business! Don't pry into things you shouldn't be asking about! After all these years, haven't you learned these things yet?"

He Yue pouted, "I was just curious, why are you so nervous, Fourth Brother? Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore."

She also knew that it wasn't good to ask too many questions, especially about such private matters.

If someone overhears this, it's no laughing matter.

Moreover, judging from the fourth brother's amiable expression, he had already guessed the general idea.

Whether it's true or false, it's best to avoid asking about such things.

Before leaving the room, Heyue turned back and said with a smile, "Fourth Brother, actually, that Consort He is quite pretty, just as beautiful as Consort Nian. No wonder Father Emperor likes her, don't you think?"

Afraid of making him even angrier, Heyue ran away in a flash.

Once they were far away, Heyue patted her chest, almost bursting out laughing.

It's a pity I can't see my fourth brother's furious expression.

I wonder how he reacted to what he just said?

Heyue felt that she was becoming bolder and bolder, and she couldn't help but pull the tiger's whiskers.

In the summer of the fifty-second year of Kangxi's reign, during this inspection tour beyond the Great Wall, the thirteenth prince was once again taken by Kangxi's side.

Forty-seven years ago, Emperor Kangxi would bring the thirteenth prince with him on his annual tours as a sign of his favor.

This year, the thirteenth prince has enjoyed even greater favor. With the deposed crown prince and the eldest prince no longer around, he has become the emperor's most favored prince.

Several older princes were left in the Forbidden City. Apart from the thirteenth prince, Kangxi only brought along a few younger princes, the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth princes.

But how much of Kangxi's sincerity was in bringing the thirteenth prince along this time remains unknown.

Because there were still several children to take care of in the mansion, Heyue did not go with them.

Thirteen had only been gone to the frontier for a few days when Hongjiao suddenly fell ill. The imperial physicians were consulted for several days, but he still did not get better and remained in a daze, unable to wake up, with a fever on his forehead.

Based on the symptoms, it's just a heatstroke, which is not a big deal in the 21st century.

However, in ancient times, such a place could be deadly for a child like Hongjiao.