Consort De was initially overjoyed to learn that the Fourteenth Prince had been released by the Fourth Prince, believing that the Fourth Prince had come to his senses and forgiven the Fourteenth Prince. However, she was soon informed that the Fourteenth Prince had also been sent to the Northwest by the Fourth Prince, and she was so angry that she lay in bed for several days without eating or drinking.
The palace maids, at their wits' end, watched helplessly as Consort De grew increasingly thin, sometimes even unable to speak. They ran tearfully to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to beg the Fourth Prince for help. When the Fourth Prince learned of this, he flew into a rage, and Su Peisheng had the tea tables and chairs in the hall replaced three or four times.
Su Peisheng secretly went to bring Lanqin over, because at this time only Lanqin could persuade the emperor.
When Lanqin arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she saw a complete mess on the ground!
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Your Majesty's mother is just confused for a moment. Once she understands, she will naturally know Your Majesty's difficulties," Lanqin said, tidying up as she comforted him.
Suddenly, he cried out "Ouch!" as he accidentally cut his finger while picking up a shard of porcelain.
Fourth Master disregarded everything else and rushed to Lanqin's side. He held Lanqin's hands and examined them closely, urgently shouting, "Who told you to do this! Su Peisheng, why don't you call someone in to clean up!"
Those outside, unaware of the situation, thought something terrible had happened and panicked. They ran out to summon the imperial physician and scrambled in to see what was going on. All they saw was the Fourth Prince dramatically holding up Lanqin's fingers, shouting anxiously.
Lanqin had only a tiny bloodstain on her finger, barely noticeable unless you looked closely, but no one dared to say anything.
At this moment, Fourth Master's entire attention was focused on Lanqin's fingers. Su Peisheng couldn't help but admire Lanqin in his heart; her tactic of diverting attention was truly brilliant.
Lanqin could tell from Su Peisheng's expression that he had misunderstood. She never expected that her carelessness would solve their big problem.
He was both angry and amused. Oh well... at least the Fourth Prince wasn't so angry anymore...
Once the Fourth Prince had calmed down, Lanqin began to comfort him: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry with your mother. She is, after all, an elder, and besides, Your Majesty knows her temperament..."
"I've already backed down. I didn't punish the Fourteenth Prince; I only exiled him, and I'm still providing him with good food and drink. What else could the Empress Dowager possibly be dissatisfied with?" The Fourth Prince's tone was still harsh, but much better than before.
Lanqin held the Fourth Prince's hand and said with heartache, "Your Majesty, I understand your good intentions, and so will the Empress Dowager."
"Empress Dowager is unwilling to move the palace because she wants to force me to release the Fourteenth Prince. Now that I have done so, she is still not satisfied. Now, not only is she not moving the palace, she is also threatening me with a hunger strike. I haven't even held my coronation ceremony yet, and she is already doing this. What do you think I can do?" The Fourth Prince became angrier as he spoke. Lanqin was afraid that the Fourth Prince would get angry again, so she quickly chimed in.
“Your Majesty, if you trust me, please let Lanqin try to persuade the Empress Dowager…” Lanqin looked at the Fourth Prince earnestly. The Fourth Prince thought for a moment with concern, about to refuse, but Lanqin said firmly, “She is our Empress Dowager. Your Majesty certainly doesn’t want anything to happen to her. It’s not a solution to keep things at a stalemate. Let Lanqin give it a try…”
Fourth Master hesitated, but there was no other way at the moment. Besides, Lanqin always had many ideas, and perhaps she could really resolve the estrangement between the mother and son. Fourth Master had no choice but to agree.
The Ministry of Rites began preparations for the Fourth Prince's coronation ceremony, but Consort De refused to move to Cining Palace, casting a shadow over the Fourth Prince's heart!
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