Chapter 45 (Continued)
After sending a large group of imperial physicians to take care of Hongli, Hongli quickly woke up and was kept in the Hall of Mental Cultivation by Emperor Yongzheng, where the father and son recuperated together.
Therefore, Yongzheng inevitably said a few words to Hongli, blaming him for not taking care of his health. But the relationship between father and son visibly became closer.
Because Yongzheng woke up, the news no longer needed to be hidden, and others learned that the emperor had also been infected with the plague, but had already recovered.
Meanwhile, news spread that the Fourth Prince had contracted the plague while caring for the Emperor and was kept in the Hall of Mental Cultivation to recover. The Fourth Prince's reputation for filial piety spread, and people gained a deeper understanding of his favor with the Emperor.
Where is Hongli?
He had been in a coma for three days, but there was still a lot of government work to be done. Yongzheng couldn't stay idle and continued to process memorials even while ill. But now he had developed a new habit: asking about Hongli's whereabouts.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is studying in the side hall. He said he hasn't done his homework for several days and is afraid he'll forget it, so he's thinking of reviewing what he's learned."
Su Peisheng served a cup of tea and replied with a smile.
Yongzheng smiled, but his brows furrowed slightly. "You're still ill, why are you in such a hurry to read?"
"In my humble opinion, the Fourth Prince not only resembles you in appearance, but also in diligence and eagerness to learn. You yourself were still reviewing memorials even while you were ill."
Upon hearing that Hongli resembled him, Yongzheng was naturally pleased and laughed, "Grand Eunuch Su, are you trying to interfere with my affairs?"
Su Peisheng quickly smiled apologetically, "How could this servant dare? It's just that the imperial physician said that you are not fully recovered yet, and it would be best if you didn't overexert yourself. This servant is only doing this because I care about you."
"You, you..."
Yongzheng smiled and shook his head, then put down the memorial and instructed, "Have someone keep an eye on Hongli, but not for too long. At most half an hour, he should come out and walk around."
"Yes, this servant understands."
After Su Peisheng left, Yongzheng's smile gradually faded, and he called out coldly, "Xia Yi."
"Your servant is here."
From an inconspicuous corner, a plain-looking eunuch with a barely noticeable presence emerged.
"Investigate how Consort Guan contracted the epidemic."
"Yes, sir."
After Xia Yi left to carry out his orders, Yongzheng leaned back in his chair, turning his prayer beads, his expression cold and calculating. He was inherently suspicious and didn't believe that contracting the plague was entirely a coincidence. Although he was angry with Zhen Huan, he knew she wasn't the source.
It's unclear whether this whole affair was aimed at Consort Wan and he was accidentally implicated, or whether it was targeting the Emperor and Consort Wan was just a scapegoat.
...
"My lady, it's time to take your medicine."
Huanbi carefully carried the medicine bowl to Zhen Huan's bedside. Seeing her lying on the bed silently shedding tears, she gently comforted her, "Your Highness, please don't cry. Anger harms your health, and you're still not well. Please drink your medicine properly. Once you're better, we can have Imperial Physician Wen help you recuperate. Maybe you'll get better."
"It's beyond repair."
Zhen Huan shook her head, choking back tears. Knowing Wen Shichu as she did, she knew he wouldn't have seemed so troubled if there had been even the slightest chance of recovery. She gently touched her lower abdomen, her voice trembling with sorrow, "Huanbi, I can never be a mother again."
"My lord."
Huanbi's eyes also reddened, and she looked at her sadly.
Huanbi, always impulsive, was as reckless as ever, boldly guessing: "My lady, why is there no plague in other parts of the palace? Why is it that only in our Suiyu Pavilion, and only you, my lady, have contracted the plague? Someone must be jealous of your favor and is deliberately trying to harm you! My lady, you must get better quickly and not let them have their way!"
Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan, unusually, perked up. Judging from Huan Bi's expression, she knew Huan Bi was just guessing, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Suddenly, a surge of strength welled up within her, supporting her to live on and seek revenge.
"You're right." With Huanbi's help, Zhen Huan sat up and drank the medicine in one gulp.
"How are Liu Zhu and Xiao Yunzi doing?"
At this moment, Zhen Huan remembered to care about others. The epidemic lived up to its reputation for spreading from one person to another, and the entire Suiyu Pavilion was affected. Except for Huanbi and some cleaning eunuchs, everyone else fell ill.
Huanbi has been busy taking care of Zhen Huan and managing the overall situation these past few days, and she looks visibly haggard.
"Don't worry, my lady. After taking the medicine, everyone is almost fully recovered."
"That's good." Zhen Huan nodded, which only deepened her suspicion that others had harmed her. Otherwise, how come she was the only one who lost her fertility when everyone else had contracted the plague? She wouldn't believe excuses like being physically weak or not having recovered from her previous illness.
She will definitely find out who targeted her. Was it Consort Hua?
...
"My life... has been so meaningless..."
Qi Yuebin sat alone in the empty hall, chuckling softly. Looking at the sunlight streaming in through the window, she felt a surge of desire and reached out to touch it, but her fingertips froze just before she could make contact.
"never mind……"
Qi Yuebin smiled, picked up the small wine glass on the table, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Your Majesty... We are surrounded by enemies... Yuebin is waiting for you down below..."
After murmuring the last sentence with a smile, Qi Yuebin slumped onto the table, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, and slowly closed his eyes.
"Squeak"
Large swaths of sunlight streamed in through the pushed-open door, falling on Qi Yuebin. Su Peisheng walked in with a strange expression, checked her breath, and nodded to the small room behind him, "Let's go."
Upon returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Su Peisheng bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Duan has departed."
Yongzheng gripped the beaded string tightly in his hand, closed his eyes, and ordered in a deep voice, "Spread the word that Consort Duan has passed away."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, everyone learned that Consort Duan, who had been ill for a long time in Yanqing Palace, had passed away, and all the loyal servants in the palace had followed her. The Emperor was furious, feeling that the palace staff had neglected Consort Duan. Therefore, he had many palace staff members killed, especially those from the Imperial Household Department, who were purged in large numbers.
For a time, everyone in the palace was filled with anxiety and acted with extreme caution.
Upon receiving the news at Yikun Palace, Nian Shilan was stunned and somewhat dazed, unable to believe that Qi Yuebin had passed away so suddenly.
"Your Majesty..."
Faced with Songzhi's concerned gaze, Nian Shilan shook her head, "I'm fine, I just didn't expect..."
Qi Yuebin's death was too sudden, and coupled with the Emperor's series of actions, Consort Hua did not believe that Consort Duan had died of illness. Ever since learning that the Emperor had been infected with the plague by Zhen Huan, Nian Shilan had been somewhat fearful and uneasy.
She acted rashly in the heat of the moment, but it involved the Emperor. It's not that she hadn't considered this at all, but now that it had happened, Nian Shilan couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She didn't care about finding out about her, but she was afraid of implicating the Nian family. Just as she was feeling annoyed, Consort Duan arrived.
This made it hard for her not to overthink things. Could it be that Qi Yuebin had also made a move? And even against the Emperor? But why would Qi Yuebin target the Emperor?
The more Nian Shilan thought about it, the colder her fingertips became, and a greater sense of dread arose in her heart. She couldn't help but think of the boy she had miscarried at six months; Qi Yuebin was indeed the one who handled it. But if Qi Yuebin wasn't the mastermind, who else could command her...?
Nian Shilan couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. "Songzhi, go and investigate. I need to know exactly how Qi Yuebin died."
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