When the Thirteenth Prince returned with the Fourteenth Prince, they saw the Seventeenth Prince waiting for them at the gate of the Forbidden City.
Fourteenth Prince was taken aback at first, then regained his composure and glanced coldly at Seventeenth Prince. Seventeenth Prince stepped forward with a worried expression, first glancing tentatively at Thirteenth Prince, before bowing and saying, "Fourteenth Brother, you're back!"
The Fourteenth Prince seemed not to hear, tilting his head back with a sullen face, looking completely unconcerned: "Seventeenth Brother has certainly landed a good job!"
One sentence left the seventeenth brother speechless and extremely embarrassed.
Thirteenth Master came to the rescue, saying with a dark face, "Seventeenth Brother is better than some people. He should just stay in his place and do what he's supposed to do!"
"My elder brother has decreed that we take Fourteenth Brother to Changchun Garden to pay our respects at the Emperor's altar..." Fearing that the two would start arguing on the spot, the Seventeenth Prince quickly relayed the Fourth Prince's order. Sure enough, upon hearing the name of the Emperor, the Fourteenth Prince immediately entered the city without saying a word...
Upon arriving at Changchun Garden, the Fourteenth Prince ignored the two rows of guards standing like nails and continued walking inside until he saw ministers such as Longduo Ke, at which point he slowed down. Everyone turned around, first in surprise, then whispering among themselves. Although the Fourth Prince hadn't explicitly stated the Fourteenth Prince's whereabouts, everyone with discerning eyes knew that he had most likely been captured and brought back. They couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.
The mourning banners for Emperor Kangxi fluttered in the wind, and the Fourteenth Prince felt a pang of grief and a wave of dizziness, as if the world before him was spinning rapidly.
Fourteen quickened his pace and ran towards the house.
Kangxi's coffin was in the middle of the room, surrounded by curtains, white screens, and white mourning clothes. A cold wind blew by, and a chorus of sobs filled the air.
The fourteenth prince shouted, "Father, your son has returned!" Then, he suddenly threw himself in front of the coffin and wept bitterly.
No one dared to step forward to comfort him, and no one spoke. At this moment, the Fourteenth Prince's wailing could be heard throughout the entire Changchun Garden: "Father, wake up! The Fourteenth Prince is back! You were fine before I left, how could you just leave like that? Wake up and look at your son! Didn't you say you were waiting to come back? But now you're lying inside."
The Fourteenth Prince's outburst caused the grief that everyone had barely managed to suppress to erupt once more, and cries of sobbing filled the air...
When Consort De heard that the Fourteenth Prince had returned and only went to Changchun Garden to mourn the late Emperor, but had not come to the palace to pay his respects, she had a bad feeling. Ignoring everyone's obstruction, she went directly to the Fourth Prince's palace. Before the Fourth Prince could pay his respects, she pushed open the door and coldly questioned him.
"Your Majesty! Where is the Fourteenth Prince?"
The Fourth Prince's face turned pale, as if he was about to explode, but he held back and said with a smile, "Empress Dowager, the weather is so cold, you should rest well in Yonghe Palace. You don't need to worry about the affairs of the court!"
Seeing that the Fourth Prince had changed the subject, Consort De roared, "Where is the Fourteenth Prince? Did you do something to him?"
The Fourth Prince, his face grim and fists clenched, said respectfully, "Empress Mother, my fourteenth brother is reflecting on his mistakes at the Prince's residence. I advise you not to interfere too much!"
Consort De gave a bitter laugh and pointed at the Fourth Prince, saying, "He's your own brother! How could you treat him like this? You're already on the throne, what more could you want? Release him now! Issue an edict to release him!"
Consort De pleaded frantically, but the more she did so, the angrier the Fourth Prince became, and he gave Consort De a cold look.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
