In less than half an hour, Yinti, accompanied by Lady Jueluo, who had changed into the court attire of a Prince of the First Rank and his consort, entered the palace together.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi was preparing for dinner when Liang Jiugong entered with his head bowed to report that Prince Heshuo and his wife had arrived.
"Your Majesty, the Prince and his wife are kneeling outside," Liang Jiugong reported to Emperor Kangxi in a low voice, his head bowed.
Kangxi was taken aback. He looked at Liang Jiugong and said, "Is dinner ready? Bring it in. I'm hungry."
When Liang Jiugong saw that Kangxi was ignoring the matter of Prince Heshuo, he understood and quickly said, "Yes, this servant will go and tell them to bring it in."
By the time Kangxi's imperial meal was brought into the Qianqing Palace, the Prince of Heshuo and his wife had already been kneeling for half an hour.
Before long, the news that the Prince Heshuo and his wife were kneeling at the entrance of the main hall of the Qianqing Palace spread throughout the inner palace.
Inside Zhongcui Palace, Consort Hui was on tenterhooks. She had no appetite for dinner and anxiously asked her maid, Huijuan, "How is it? Has the Emperor not let them in yet?"
Huijuan lowered her head and said timidly, "No, the Prince and his wife are still kneeling over there."
Consort Hui's eyelids twitched, and her face showed even more anxiety. Finally, as if she had made a decision, she suddenly flung the handkerchief in her hand and said, "Huijuan, come with me to change! I'm going to the Emperor!"
"Your Majesty!" Huijuan looked at Consort Hui in surprise, but quickly lowered her head again.
"I'll swallow my pride. I only have one son, Yinqi," Consort Hui said.
Huijuan dared not delay and immediately helped Consort Hui change her clothes and do her makeup. Consorts of her rank had their own specific court attire and accessories.
After Consort Hui finished dressing, she took Huijuan's hand and left Zhongcui Palace.
Meanwhile, Prince Heshuo and Lady Gioro remained kneeling on the bluestone of the main hall of the Qianqing Palace. Lady Gioro, being pregnant, was gradually becoming unable to hold on any longer.
"Fujin, you should get up and go to Mother's palace. I'll just kneel here by myself," Yinti said, seeing that Jueluo Shi was in some discomfort.
"No, I cannot leave you at this time. You are doing something so foolish; it will only hurt Father Emperor's feelings," said Lady Jue Luo.
Liang Jiugong walked out of the door and headed straight for the two of them who were kneeling.
"Father-in-law, is Father Emperor willing to see me?" Yinti asked Liang Jiugong, who was approaching, eagerly.
"Oh, Your Highness. You should go back. The Princess Consort is pregnant; we mustn't let anything happen to her. His Majesty wants you to return!" Liang Jiugong said with difficulty.
Yinti had thought that Kangxi would finally be willing to see him, and he had been holding onto a sliver of hope, but Liang Jiugong's words deflated him like a punctured balloon.
"Father-in-law, please go and talk to Father again. Tell him that the Prince was confused for a moment and that's why he did such a wrong thing," Jue Luo Shi said, refusing to give up.
"My lady, this old servant is merely relaying a message. The Emperor has already said he will not see the Prince. What can this old servant say?" Liang Jiugong had watched Yinti grow up and witnessed their wedding.
"Father-in-law, no, Father is just angry with me for a moment, isn't he!" Yinti exclaimed in disbelief.
Just as Liang Jiugong was about to speak again, he saw Consort Hui helping a palace maid walk into the palace gate.
"This servant greets Consort Hui!" Liang Jiugong immediately paid his respects to Consort Hui.
Yinti turned around and saw Consort Hui walking over. As if he had seen a savior, he crawled on his knees to Consort Hui and said, "Mother, I really know I was wrong. Please go and beg Father."
Consort Hui looked at her son, who was over thirty years old, and felt a pang of pain in her heart. Suppressing her reluctance, she had no choice but to raise her hand and slap Yinti across the face.
*Smack!*
A sharp, clean slap landed squarely on Prince Yinqi's face. Everyone present was stunned.
"Please punish me, Mother! Mother, you are right to punish me!" Jue Luo Shi cried first, and then kowtowed towards the entrance of Qianqing Palace.
"Madam, you must be careful, you're carrying a little prince!" Liang Jiugong said hurriedly when he saw Jue Luo's condition.
"Quickly, grab her!" Consort Hui immediately shouted to Liang Jiugong.
Yinti was beaten and fell to the ground. Seeing his wife looking like she was about to faint, and then seeing his mother walking towards the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, he felt a stream of hot tears flow down his face.
He, Prince Yinqi, achieved early success, distinguishing himself in battle before the age of sixteen and being enfeoffed as a prince before the age of twenty-five, making him a role model for all the princes. But now, he was left here by Kangxi, unable to advance or retreat. His pregnant wife had to kneel with him, and his mother had beaten him, yet he had to endure the pain to plead for mercy.
"Father! Your son was wrong! I beg you to punish me!" Yinti suddenly raised his neck, shouted towards the Qianqing Palace, and then kowtowed to the ground.
Liang Jiugong led Consort Hui into the Qianqing Palace. Emperor Kangxi was having dinner in the left side room. Yinti's words had just reached his ears, causing him to pause eating for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Consort Hui greeted Emperor Kangxi as she entered the left side room.
Emperor Kangxi was somewhat dazed when he saw Consort Hui arrive. He came to his senses and did not want to speak, but considering that she was the first to serve him, he said, "Rise."
Consort Hui refused to get up, saying, "Your Majesty, I am guilty! Please punish me!"
"What crime have you committed?" Kangxi asked.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty of failing to properly educate my son!" Consort Hui said. "Prince Heshuo has shown no gratitude to his father or his brothers, and has actually done such a thing. He deserves to die ten thousand times over!"
Emperor Kangxi was somewhat disheartened by Consort Hui's words. Speaking of educating children, it should be the father's responsibility, shouldn't it? Yes, he too was guilty! "If a child is not properly taught, it is the father's fault!"
"Rise, if we're talking about how to educate your son, isn't I, your father, even more guilty?" Kangxi said.
"That's not what I meant. Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state every day; you are the emperor of all the people. How could you possibly have time to teach him alone? It is all my fault. Please punish me, Your Majesty," said Consort Hui.
Kangxi looked at Consort Hui, whose beauty had faded, yet the affection he felt for her still lingered in a corner of his heart. He recalled the time when he had just assumed power, when Empress Hesheli, Consort Hui (Nara clan), and Consort Rong (Majia clan) had been by his side.
"What crime have you committed? Get up!" Kangxi stood up from the imperial table, walked to Consort Hui, and helped her up. After all, she was a woman who had borne him children. Although her beauty had faded, Kangxi was not the kind of person who would forget past affections.
"Your Majesty! Lady Jueluo is pregnant. Can you spare her?" Consort Hui asked, her eyes filled with tears.
"Liang Jiugong, convey my decree: escort the Grand Consort, Lady Jue Luo, back to Zhongcui Palace to rest," Kangxi said.
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