De Shun, who had accompanied Yinreng for more than 20 years, was a servant, but besides Tong Wanyan, he was the person who had been with Yinreng the longest.
He watched his own crown prince grow from a young, proud, and ambitious boy to a confident and poised official, and eventually mature and steady, manipulating power and people's hearts.
This excellent crown prince devoted himself wholeheartedly to the peace and prosperity of the Qing Dynasty, working diligently and never daring to make the slightest mistake. He also deeply respected and admired his father and never had any thought of usurping the throne. In fact, to avoid arousing his father's suspicion, he proactively reduced his association with important officials, leaving opportunities for meritorious service to his younger brothers.
The Crown Prince was completely devoted to the Emperor, but how could the Emperor treat his Crown Prince like this?
De Shun held the whisk in his hand, his nails worn smooth, yet he managed to dig deep nail marks into his palm.
Yinreng stared blankly at the broken brush in two, still holding the brush in the same position, motionless.
"Your Highness," De Shun couldn't help but call out softly.
Yinreng's blank eyes moved slightly, looking the same as usual, yet different.
He sat in the chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time, like an old monk in deep meditation.
De Shun dared not make another sound to disturb him. A servant should be taciturn and steady. Being too clever would make one forget one's duty.
“Throughout history, when emperors choose a crown prince, it is mostly out of genuine affection,” Yinreng said.
The whisk in De Shun's arm trembled.
De Shun hesitated, but Yinreng remained silent.
After a while, De Shun, who was standing in the shadows behind, thought that the Crown Prince had fallen asleep when Yinreng stood up.
"But throughout history, countless crown princes have been deposed, and their fates have been tragic."
"Since it's right next to my bed, how can I allow others to snore? Why bother setting up a target, wasting time and effort, only to destroy it one day?"
"Go to the Crown Princess's residence."
De Shun stood for a long time, and his legs and feet went numb.
He felt a sharp pain all over his body with every step he took, but it was nothing compared to the dense, throbbing pain in his heart.
Yinreng spoke calmly, but what he heard was a heart-wrenching lament of blood and tears.
"Where is Master Tong?" De Shun asked boldly.
Yinreng pursed his lips, and the worry and anxiety in his eyes instantly turned into decisiveness.
“She’s timid, don’t let her worry,” Yinreng said.
Just before reaching the Crown Princess's courtyard, Yinreng stopped in his tracks.
"Let's go to Nanyuan," Yinreng said, turning back.
Judging by the time, Shi Xiuzhu, who was about to greet the Crown Prince, went outside the door, but waited for a long time without seeing him.
He frowned: "What is the Crown Prince dawdling about again? It's only a few steps. Could it be that he suffered some humiliation somewhere and is here to play tricks on me?"
"Go out and see why the Crown Prince hasn't arrived yet. He should have come knocking so early; something must have happened to him on the way." Shi Xiuzhu's expression was worried, but there was something off about what he said.
The servants who were closest to the door quickly opened it a crack, bowed, and slipped out.
"The Crown Prince has turned back to the South Garden." The eunuch, who hadn't seen a single person when he went out, returned with a bitter face after making some inquiries.
The Crown Prince comes and goes as he pleases, showing no respect for their master whatsoever.
Although he dotes on his concubine, he should still give the Crown Princess the same respect.
I've never seen a concubine's servant in a household who is more prestigious than the servants of the main wife.
The young eunuch didn't serve Shi Xiuzhu, so he couldn't fathom Shi Xiuzhu's intentions. He only assumed that the Crown Princess's friendship with Consort Tong was a helpless situation caused by the Crown Princess's lack of favor.
The young eunuch looked indignant, though he appeared quite loyal; he was pleased with his master but annoyed by him.
Shi Xiuzhu lowered his eyes, straightened his neatly ironed, wrinkle-free sleeves, and turned back into the house.
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