Lanqin, observing Wanyan's words, realized she wouldn't give up until she saw Kangxi. Why was she suddenly in such a hurry to show concern? Lanqin suspiciously circled Wanyan a few times. After all, she was a mother of two now, no longer the willful and arrogant little girl she used to be. Had she become more sensible?
"Good child, is Honghui's injury any better?" Consort De asked with concern.
"It's much better, but my vision is still a little blurry in that eye." A hint of resentment flashed in Wanyan's eyes when she mentioned her youngest son.
"Your mother has accepted your kind intentions on behalf of your father. Why don't you go and see him this afternoon? We can go after your father has taken his afternoon nap." After thinking for a moment, Consort De agreed.
"Yes, then I'll trouble you here, Mother." Wanyan obediently sat down on the other side of Consort De, glancing at Lanqin and her daughter with a hint of jealousy in her eyes. Previously, the Fourteenth Prince was greatly favored by Consort De, and Wanyan herself, as the Fourteenth Prince's wife, was a frequent visitor to Yonghe Palace. However, in recent years, things seemed to have changed.
The rivalry between the Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince has now become public. The way Lady Wanyan is watching Lanqin and her daughter so intently is actually a sign that she's somewhat afraid her mother-in-law will favor her eldest son's family.
Consort De knew perfectly well what was going on. That's why she had just asked Lady Wanyan to stay and then went to see Emperor Kangxi, probably to try and balance the relationship between her eldest and youngest sons.
Lanqin glanced at Consort De a few times and noticed the worry in her eyes. She thought to herself: Sure enough, it's painful for a mother to favor one side over the other. They are both her own flesh and blood!
Meanwhile, after the Fourth Prince finished processing the day's memorials with several Grand Secretaries in the Cabinet, he and Longkodo tacitly walked out of the room together. The two naturally had different reasons, and since they were uncle and nephew, their relationship was close, so no one found it strange.
"Uncle, why don't we go to Changchun Palace? That's where my stepmother lives; I'd like to see it," the Fourth Prince said, gazing at the mythical beasts on the corner of the palace roof in the distance. He also recalled the days he spent under the care of Lady Tongjia, when he hadn't done anything wrong. Lady Tongjia was a bit strict, but she was still very kind to the Fourth Prince.
Longkodo, seeing that the Fourth Prince had said this, naturally agreed. He noticed that Kangxi's health was deteriorating day by day, and naturally began to consider cultivating a good relationship with the heir. Longkodo observed that the Fourth Prince was the most likely successor; having served Kangxi closely, he understood Kangxi's thoughts to some extent. Although no heir had been officially designated, the will had already been written and placed behind the official document. Longkodo wondered who the name on it would be. He felt that no one was more likely than his "nephew."
The two strolled along the bluestone path, keeping close to the red walls because of the strong sun. When they arrived at Changchun Palace, they found it quiet all around. Because both its previous and current owners had died prematurely, the palace remained uninhabited and empty, though it was regularly cleaned and maintained as it had been during the reign of the late empress.
The fact that the Fourth Prince and Longkodo appeared here at the same time is understandable. One came to mourn his stepmother, and the other came to mourn his elder sister; it makes perfect sense.
The Fourth Prince and Longkodo knocked on the gates of Changchun Palace. The old woman who was guarding the gate immediately opened it upon seeing the two of them. The two entered the palace, which had been empty for more than ten years, and stood silently on the steps in front of the main hall.
The Fourth Prince recalled the days when he was only ten years old and lived under the care of Lady Tongjia. His position was somewhat awkward then; he was raised in the Empress's palace, but not her biological son, yet he was different from the other princes. However, the Crown Prince had already been established, so his status seemed somewhat like that of a "backup plan." Therefore, he studied and wrote with all his might, hoping to please his Empress Mother and Father Emperor.
"Are you thinking of your elder sister?" Longkodo asked, noticing the Fourth Master's silent expression.
"My mother's voice and smile seem to still be right before my eyes. It has been almost twenty years since she passed away," the Fourth Master said solemnly.
“My elder sister was also unfortunate to not live to see Prince Yong’s current state,” Longkodo sighed.
"Uncle, if my stepmother were still alive, what would she want me to do?" Fourth Master asked.
Longkodo straightened up, looked around, and said, "Why don't we go in and take a look at my elder sister's memorial tablet?"
The Fourth Prince followed Longkodo inside and entered the main hall where the memorial tablet of Empress Tongjia was enshrined. On the altar, seasonal fruits and various pastries were still neatly arranged as before. There wasn't a speck of dust on Empress Tongjia's tablet, indicating that it was regularly cleaned.
“Your Highness, if it were my elder sister, she would definitely want you to be that person. Because she put so much effort into raising you,” Longkodo said.
The Fourth Prince recalled that when Lady Tongjia was alive, she had indeed raised him with great care. If she were still alive, he would be the legitimate heir, and even if the deposed crown prince was deposed, he would be the rightful successor.
"Uncle, I heard that Father has already chosen his successor, right behind the Zhengda Guangming Bian?" the Fourth Prince said in a deep voice.
“That’s right. But nobody knows the name on that will,” Longkodo said.
"If we go and take a look, we'll find out," Fourth Master said after a moment's thought.
Longkodo straightened up again, and said with a little excitement, "If Your Highness is so, I will do my best to help you."
The Fourth Prince glanced at Longkodo and said before the memorial tablet of Empress Tongjia, "If my uncle helps, then we can achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Longkodo nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he wanted to speak but hesitated. He glanced at Empress Tongjia's memorial tablet again and asked, "If the name on it isn't Your Highness, what should Your Highness do?"
Fourth Master had been thinking about this question. Although he really wanted to see it, what if the name on it wasn't his?
Beneath the memorial tablet of Kangxi's third empress, the two most powerful men at the time stared at each other without uttering a word.
"If it is not my name, then it can only mean that Father has a better candidate in mind. In that case, I will only do my best to support the new emperor. I have no other intentions," the Fourth Prince said, word by word.
Longkodo's eyelids twitched; this was not what he wanted to hear.
"What should Uncle do next?" Fourth Master naturally noticed Longkodo's hesitant expression.
“If it weren’t for Your Highness, I think no one would be more suitable. If it were the son of the Xin Zhe Ku, I would be the first to object. If it were the Fourteenth Prince, I would also think it unacceptable,” Longkodo said firmly.
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