Epilogue of Chapter 199
[Host, are we leaving this world?]
Watching Yinreng leave, 555 jumped onto Yinzhen's shoulder, ["I'm a little reluctant to part with little Honghui..."]
"It won't be that quick. The ending of a story always needs some blank spaces and regrets to make it last and unforgettable."
Yinzhen smiled and patted 555's fluffy head. After all, he was a successful emperor, and "death" still needed to have some sense of ritual.
【The master is wise!】
556 jumped out, eager to prove its presence. Even if it wasn't very useful, at least it could be a decent lackey; surely its owner wouldn't abandon it in the next world?
...
Just as Yinzhen said, in the following years, while he was on high alert, outwitting and outmaneuvering his brothers to keep his health condition a secret, he also vigorously developed the political and economic system, putting the Qing Dynasty on the fast track and showcasing its glorious prosperity.
In the fourth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the ban on maritime trade was lifted, and maritime trade was vigorously developed. With accumulated achievements, the Ninth Prince, Yun Tang, who had already been promoted from a Prince of the Second Rank to a Prince of the First Rank, led his troops to expand his business empire overseas.
In the fifth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, after years of trial planting and optimization, high-yield crops such as corn and sweet potatoes began to be promoted nationwide under the leadership of Crown Prince Honghui.
In the sixth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, Prince Yu, Yun Tang, returned from overseas with a large amount of wealth, bringing news that the island nation possessed abundant gold and silver mines. Consequently, with Prince Dun, Yun Tang, as the commander-in-chief, and Prince Zhi's son, Hong Yu, and Prince Li's son, Hong Xi, as his deputies, they led a navy that had been trained for many years and conquered the island nation in one fell swoop.
In the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, seemingly having tasted the success of conquering island nations, the Qing army began to expand its territory in all directions. Yunzhen went north and subjugated the Burut and Sak; Yunzhi went west and conquered Afghanistan, Sikkim, and Bhutan; Yunyou went south and added Burma as a vassal state; Yunsi toured the east and, with only his silver tongue, instigated internal strife in Korea, elected a new king, and placed all of Korea's domestic affairs and royal power in the hands of the Qing.
In the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign, just when everyone was about to relax after everything was looking up, a minor cold suddenly took hold, exposing Yinzhen's already fragile health condition, and he fell seriously ill.
"How is my brother?"
Yunzhen hurried along, his face still bearing the marks of time. Ever since receiving the news, he had ridden back at breakneck speed without a moment's rest. He didn't even bother to wash up before heading straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
At this moment, a large number of people had gathered outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and everyone's expression was grim.
Yinzhi shook his head with difficulty, showing no trace of the high spirits he had displayed not long ago. Ever since Yinzhen fell ill, he hadn't had a good night's sleep, living in constant fear, and his face looked extremely pale.
"Your Majesty is still not awake. Imperial Physician Wang just prepared the medicine and sent it in."
Upon hearing the keywords "Imperial Physician Wang" and "medicine," Yunzhen couldn't help but glance sideways. In fact, for the past few years, everyone had been curious about what kind of medicine Wang Hesheng had concocted. However, seeing that the Emperor had maintained good health, they assumed it must indeed be beneficial, and gradually gave up the search.
But who would have thought that something would suddenly go wrong? At this moment, the brothers waiting outside the palace gate could only pray that the royal physician's medicine would take effect as soon as possible.
"Squeak"
The doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation opened, and Wang Hesheng, with white hair and carrying a medicine chest, walked out with a serious expression and two deep vertical lines between his brows.
"How about it?"
A group of people rushed forward anxiously.
"His Majesty has taken the medicine and should wake up soon."
Wang Hesheng answered truthfully, but what he didn't say was that this medicine could only wake the emperor up now.
But concern can cloud judgment. When everyone heard that Yinzhen could wake up, they breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously ignored other bad possibilities.
"Go and tidy up. When the Emperor wakes up, don't bring anything dirty into the room."
Yinreng's brows relaxed slightly as he turned to look at his brothers' disheveled appearance. He quickly gave them instructions, not wanting Yinzhen to worry.
"Yes, yes, yes, Second Brother is right."
At this moment, no one refuted him; everyone hurried to the side hall to tidy themselves up.
At that moment, Yixiu and Honghui were keeping watch by Yinzhen's bedside.
"Mother, Father will be alright."
Honghui stared intently at Yinzhen's thin, pale face as he slept, unsure whether he was trying to comfort Yixiu or convince himself.
"Yes, His Majesty will be alright. Physician Wang said he'll wake up soon..."
Yixiu's eyes reddened as she tried to control her emotions, hoping that Yinzhen would wake up.
The mother and son kept their eyes fixed on Yinzhen, not missing a single movement. Soon, they noticed with delight that Yinzhen's fingers were trembling slightly.
"Honghui, your father's finger moved, didn't he?"
"Yes, Father's finger moved..."
Both of them were very excited, and their voices suddenly grew louder. The sound reached the outside of the hall and the ears of the anxious people who were waiting. One by one, they hurriedly dressed and rushed to Yinzhen's bedside, where they joined Yixiu and her son in looking expectantly at Yinzhen.
Yinzhen's eyelashes trembled slightly. Everyone clenched their fists, held their breath, and watched as he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze still somewhat unfocused.
"emperor!"
"Father, you've finally woken up."
"Brother..."
Yinzhen was sick for half a month and then fell into a coma for three days. Everyone worried for half a month and was anxious for three days. Finally, when he woke up, they were all very excited and surrounded Yinzhen.
Honghui gripped his hand tightly, unable to hold back any longer, tears streaming down his face: "Father..."
Yinzhen moved his hand, his eyes vacant, and spoke somewhat slowly: "Honghui, why aren't you lighting the lamps?"
The joyful atmosphere in the Hall of Mental Cultivation vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly silence. Honghui waved his hand in front of Yinzhen's eyes in disbelief, only to find that Yinzhen's gaze remained empty and unfocused.
"Father..."
Honghui choked up and couldn't say anything.
Yinzhen seemed to have just come out of a deep sleep, and his mind started working again. In just a moment, he put on a weak smile of relief: "Don't cry, it's not a big deal."
"Imperial Physician!"
Awakening from immense shock and grief, Yunzhen sprang to his feet and rushed outside, searching for someone: "Where is the imperial physician? Wang Hesheng!"
"fourteen……"
Yinzhen was too late to stop him, and being unable to see, he couldn't stop him either. He tried to raise his hand, but found that he was powerless and couldn't move at all.
Feeling a hot tear fall onto the back of his hand, Yinzhen opened his mouth helplessly, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say. He could only softly call out, just like every time before: "Honghui..."
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