Not long after Nian left, the sky outside suddenly darkened, as if it were about to collapse. The damp air made it feel oppressive and suffocating. The sky was covered with dark clouds, but not a single drop of rain fell. Lanqin felt as if something was blocking her heart, sensing that something was about to happen. Looking at the leaves of the trees outside being blown to pieces, she felt uneasy.
In the middle of the night, Lanqin tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
The maid on night watch was startled awake. Rubbing her eyes, she got up and closed the window for Lanqin while turning around and asking, "Consort, why aren't you asleep yet? It's past midnight. Are you still worried about what happened during the day?"
Qin muttered to herself, "Hmm, I don't know why, maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like something big is going to happen tonight..."
The maidservant walked to the bedside and tucked the quilt around Lanqin, smiling as she comforted her, "Consort, you must trust the Prince. With the Prince around, even the biggest problems can be overcome. You should go to sleep early..."
Lanqin remained silent, silently praying, and went to sleep with unease in her heart.
With a few booming sounds, lightning flashed across the sky, and after an echo, large raindrops poured down instantly. Accompanied by the lightning, the sky seemed to have been cleaved open, and the rain fell in disarray.
A clap of thunder startled Fourth Master awake from his sleep, and he sat up in a cold sweat.
Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks came in response.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Changchun Garden reports that the Emperor's old illness has suddenly flared up and is quite serious. They have sent word that Your Highness must come now..." The messenger, soaked in rain, rushed in to report.
The Fourth Prince's head jolted, a sense of unease rising within him. Without a second thought, he grabbed his outer robe and, while putting it on, asked, "How is His Majesty's condition now? Has the imperial physician gone there yet? Has His Majesty notified anyone else to go?"
Su Peisheng quickly helped the prince put on his shoes and tidied his accessories.
The guard outside continued, "He was fine during the day, but suddenly fell ill at night. The imperial physician was by his side the whole time. As soon as the emperor regained consciousness, he urgently summoned several princes and ministers..."
Fourth Master opened the door, and a gust of cold wind carrying rain rushed in, biting to the bone. The night was momentarily illuminated by lightning, then plunged back into darkness. Fourth Master's heart sank, and he rushed out with his head down.
When they arrived at Changchun Garden, several key ministers of the Kangxi Cabinet were waiting outside, whispering amongst themselves, their faces grim and their brows furrowed.
Upon seeing the Fourth Prince, they hurriedly bowed. The Fourth Prince ignored them and rushed forward to inquire about Liang Jiugong. He looked at Kangxi, who was sleeping on the couch, with a heavy expression and remained silent.
The Fourth Prince asked softly, "Eunuch Liang, how is Father Emperor?"
Liang Jiugong gave the Fourth Prince a meaningful look, frowned, shook his head slightly, and leaned forward, saying, "Reporting to Prince Yong! The imperial physician has been here for quite some time and is still taking the Emperor's pulse. The Emperor has been eating little lately, mostly wanting to sleep, and doesn't want to have a nighttime attack. This… sigh…"
The Fourth Prince dared not disturb the imperial physician's diagnosis inside, so he could only stand outside and wait with everyone else.
Before long, several princes and nobles from the capital arrived one after another, and Longkodo also hurried in. The torrential rain outside intensified, with flashes of lightning and thunder. Everyone exchanged grave glances, occasionally offering words of concern for the Emperor's condition, sometimes checking on the imperial physician inside, and sometimes gathering in small groups to whisper amongst themselves…
This was the most anxious and uneasy night of the Fourth Master's life, filled with contradictions, hesitation, tension, and panic...
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