Chapter 67 The Emperor Passes Away
The slender piece of paper was placed over the candle flame and lit. Black smoke rose, and the flames quickly grew wildly upwards from one corner of the paper.
With a flick of his wrist, Hongli sent the paper floating in mid-air completely engulfed by flames. The words "Emperor" and "fear" that flashed across the paper quickly turned into a pile of black ash and fell to the ground.
A gentle breeze blew outside the window, and the ashes on the ground instantly vanished without a trace.
“Tsk,” Hongli chuckled, speaking casually, “Then please let Father Emperor pass away.”
...
Shortly after the celebration banquet, in August, the Emperor suddenly promoted Prince Chang to Prince Chang and assigned him to the Ministry of Revenue, citing his good performance in handling affairs; and promoted Prince He to Prince He and assigned him to the Ministry of War.
In September, the Emperor granted Consort Qi and Consort Yu the same privileges as Imperial Noble Consorts, and divided palace power into three parts: one part for the Empress, and one part for each of Consort Qi and Consort Yu.
In October, the Emperor caught a cold, but recovered under the careful care of Consort Wan. The Emperor promoted Consort Wan to Imperial Concubine Wan, and out of consideration for the Empress's headaches, allowed Imperial Concubine Wan to take over some of the palace power held by the Empress.
In November, Empress Dowager Uya fell ill, and the Emperor ordered Prince Bao to perform filial duties on his behalf, temporarily relinquishing all his duties to serve the Empress Dowager. Shortly afterward, Prince Xun's military power was revoked, and he was ordered to continue his filial duties at the Empress Dowager's bedside.
"Mother, I'll feel better after I finish my medicine."
"Yes, Grandmother, please drink your medicine properly and you will get better soon."
Yunzhen and Hongli sat smiling by Wuya's bedside and fed her medicine.
Uya smiled weakly and leaned against her youngest son's chest. "Alright, I'll drink my medicine."
After watching her finish her medicine, Yunzhen helped her lie down carefully, covered her with a blanket, and gently comforted her, "Mother, you should rest well. Hongli and I will watch over you outside."
"good."
With a smile on her lips, Uya slowly closed her eyes.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Yunzhen and Hongli exchanged a glance before quietly leaving. They didn't notice that after they left, Wuya opened her eyes again, her eyes filled with worry and solemnity.
After dismissing all the palace servants, the two walked to the small garden of Shou Kang Palace. Yunzhen took a deep breath and couldn't help but ask, "The Empress Dowager's illness..."
Hongli shook his head, his face showing a hint of reluctance and sadness. "No, Wei Lin has investigated carefully. The Empress Dowager had given birth to children in succession in the past, and her body was already depleted. Now... she has reached the age to do so."
Upon hearing this, Yunzhen's eyes instantly reddened. He hastily wiped his face and let out a long sigh. "Fine, it's not right for Mother to watch brothers fight and fathers and sons kill each other. Hongli, I thank you on Mother's behalf. You're right. Wait a little longer, just a little longer..."
“Fourteenth Uncle…” Hongli sighed, “If I could, I really wouldn’t want to come to this.”
“I know, this isn’t your fault,” Yunzhen patted his shoulder. “Hongli, the fourth prince has no tolerance for others. Sooner or later, he was bound to come to this. Don’t be soft-hearted. The emperor comes first, then the father. He’s not just your father, but the emperor himself.”
"Bamboo Breath".
After Yunzhen and Hongli left, Wuya weakly called out, and Zhuxi rushed over upon hearing the sound, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Uya helped her sit up again, gazing at the green shoots struggling to emerge from the snow-covered branches outside the window. She closed her eyes slightly. She had abandoned her fourth son once when he was born, so now, as she was about to leave, it wouldn't matter if she abandoned him again.
"Zhu Xi, the snow came so early this year. I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for spring."
"Your Highness, no, the princes all said that you will get better after taking the medicine."
Thinking of Yunzhen and Hongli, Wuya shook her head with a smile, "There's no need to comfort me. I know my own body. In this life, I'm already content with having a good son and a good grandson... Zhuxi."
Uya tightened her grip on Zhuxi's hand and looked straight at her: "So for the sake of my son and grandson, I can't just die in vain."
“I’ve made many choices in my life, and I’ve never regretted any of them. I won’t regret this last one either. So, Zhuxi, please help Yixiu; she’s too slow…”
"Your Majesty!"
Zhu Xi looked up in alarm, unable to believe what she had heard. But when she met the Empress Dowager's calm eyes, Zhu Xi's heart sank. The Empress Dowager was serious.
“Zhu Xi, Yunzhen and Hongli are both good children. They shouldn’t have their bodies stained with blood. I should do this. A life for a life, I should bear this karma.”
...
On December 23, the Empress Dowager, who had been bedridden for nearly two months, passed away. The Emperor issued an edict posthumously honoring her as Empress Xiaogongren.
During the Empress Dowager's funeral, the Emperor was overwhelmed with grief and eventually collapsed before her coffin. The imperial physician diagnosed that excessive grief had triggered a pre-existing illness, and he soon fell seriously ill, with his death imminent.
According to the imperial physician, the emperor only has a couple of days left. Everyone was filled with anxiety and fear. They never expected that not long after the empress dowager was gone, the emperor would be gone too.
The high-ranking concubines and important officials of the imperial family had been waiting in a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, ready to hear the emperor's last words.
Soon, Yongzheng summoned everyone.
"Throughout my life, I have devoted myself to the cause of the Qing Dynasty. Now that my time is coming to an end, I must entrust this vast land to you."
"Hongli, you must...you must govern the country diligently, care for the people, and not fail my expectations or the legacy left by our ancestors."
Hongli nodded heavily, his voice steady and powerful: "Father, rest assured, your son will do his utmost to uphold your will, safeguard this great Qing dynasty, and ensure that the people live in peace and prosperity, so as not to fail the expectations of Father and our ancestors."
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile of satisfaction, but his gaze towards Hongli was filled with complex emotions.
He then slightly raised his finger, signaling Su Peisheng to present the edict of succession for the confirmation of the imperial clan and ministers in the hall.
After confirming that everything was correct, Yongzheng weakly said, "Let me have one last talk with Hongli."
Upon hearing this, the others obediently withdrew from the main hall, but many cast worried glances at Hongli.
Lying on the bed, Yongzheng saw everything clearly and couldn't help but chuckle. He had never paid any attention to it before.
"Su Peisheng, you may also step down."
Meeting the Emperor's all-seeing gaze, Su Peisheng felt a lump in his throat and bowed, "Yes, this servant... takes his leave."
"Father Emperor."
"come over."
Yongzheng beckoned Hongli to sit down by the bed, took a deep look at Hongli's outstanding profile, and smiled, "Indeed, you are not like me."
Hongli raised his eyes and calmly met his gaze. There was no trace of panic or fear in his eyes; instead, there was a subtle, fleeting hint of surprise.
"Is breaking through the illusion a gift from death?"
Yongzheng laughed even more heartily, "This is the real you, isn't it? From the inside out, you are indeed nothing like me. I was once tricked into being the Qin Er Shi who pointed at a deer and called it a horse."
As he laughed, Yongzheng's laughter faded. He had formed some understanding of his impending death, but he lacked the strength and courage to inquire about the truth. Although Hongli, judging from his current state, would likely tell him, he no longer wanted to know.
Let him keep some beautiful imaginings in his heart.
However, he still felt somewhat resentful, and couldn't help but ask, "Was I not good to you? Wasn't I a loving father to you?"
Hongli raised an eyebrow and curled the corners of his mouth. "Yes, but Father, aren't you making amends to your younger self through me? Ultimately, the person you treat kindly and the person you love are your former self."
Yongzheng smiled and said, "You see things quite clearly..."
"Naturally, just like how Father Emperor loved Empress Chun Yuan, you also love the figure who would defy the world for you and love you wholeheartedly, and the perfect image of yourself that she sees in her eyes."
Yongzheng closed his eyes and did not deny it.
"I have had a shallow relationship with my parents and distant brothers in my life. I am all alone. Naturally, I can only love myself... Hongli, will you be a good emperor?"
Feeling his body gradually losing temperature, Yongzheng skipped the unpleasant topic and asked one last question.
Because he was alone and only loved himself, he was well aware of the extent of his suspicion. The reason he had treated Hongli well all these years was not only because Hongli was good at pretending, but also because he had never truly sensed any covetousness or importance that Hongli had for the throne.
Sometimes, even Emperor Yongzheng felt that the dragon throne was less important to Hongli than the cat and dog beside him.
His life will be judged by posterity, but the one thing he couldn't let go of was the Qing Dynasty. He had worked hard all his life to prove himself a good emperor, and naturally didn't want the country to fall in Hongli's hands.
Meeting Yongzheng's determined gaze, Hongli nodded, "Don't worry, I will."
Yongzheng's eyes gradually became unfocused, and his breathing became weaker and weaker, but his gaze remained fixed on Hongli. Seeing the seriousness in Hongli's eyes, he finally lost his breath.
Finally, with a faint sigh, Yongzheng slowly closed his eyes, ending his controversial life.
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