"It's just a memorial service for the late emperor, how dare you spout such nonsense? Be careful you don't get a beating!" Lanqin scolded.
“This servant has served Your Highness for so many years, and although I am not very clever, I can still figure these things out. The Emperor’s intention in sending the Fourth Prince to pay respects to the late Emperor is quite clear,” Baoqin said.
“Alright, these are things we can only say among ourselves, and we can’t say them in front of others, not even Sister Song or Sister Wu!” Lanqin said.
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will not say anything more," Baoqin quickly replied.
Lanqin nodded and continued to walk forward, supported by the two maids.
However, in a corner unseen by them, stood a master and servant who happened to overhear the conversation between Baoqin and Lanqin.
"My lord!"
"Were they just saying that the Emperor sent the Fourth Prince to pay respects to the late Emperor?" Lady Fucha whispered, staring at Lanqin's retreating figure.
"Yes, that's what I heard," the palace maid Qiuju said to Lady Fucha.
"Heh heh, finally I have a gift to curry favor with Her Majesty the Empress," Empress Fucha said with a sneer.
“But we don’t know if Her Majesty the Empress is in Jingren Palace right now!” Qiuju said.
"The Empress isn't marrying off her own daughter; she'll only show her face briefly and won't stay long," said Empress Fucha.
After the Fourth Prince dealt with Lady Wuya, he did not reward Lady Fucha in any way, nor did he even send anyone to deliver a message. This made Lady Fucha feel somewhat uneasy.
The two, master and servant, headed towards the Empress's Jingren Palace.
"What did you say?" The Empress looked at Empress Fucha in disbelief, because what she had just said was too shocking.
After hearing what Empress Fucha said, she was so stunned that she couldn't speak for a long time, just staring blankly.
My pulse quickened, pounding against my heart. It felt like something was about to burst out of my chest. My heart felt like it had plunged into a lake in the dead of winter. The bone-chilling cold made my hands tremble uncontrollably, shaking like withered leaves clinging to branches in the autumn wind. A voice inside me screamed, "How could this be? How could this be?"
The Empress understood the Fourth Prince's intentions perfectly. Since the Fourth Prince had already sent Hongli to pay respects to the late Emperor, it meant that Hongli would be the future Crown Prince, because only the Crown Prince could perform this duty on behalf of the Emperor. Although the Empress was unwilling to admit it, the facts were undeniable...
Seeing that the Empress seemed about to collapse, Lingxiu quickly supported her from behind, saying worriedly, "Your Majesty, perhaps there is still a chance for things to turn around. Please don't let anger overwhelm you and harm your health..."
"Historically, only the future crown prince can replace the emperor in offering sacrifices to the late emperor..." the empress said slowly and sadly.
Empress Fucha's face turned completely pale. She suddenly stood up and exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty, do you mean that His Majesty has already decided to pass the position of Crown Prince to Hongli?"
The Empress gritted her teeth and nodded slightly, her heart filled with hatred, but even more so with despair for the Fourth Prince.
Lady Fucha shook her head in disappointment, refusing to believe it: "No, no, the Emperor has always acted differently from others, and besides, as long as the position of Crown Prince is not decided, there will always be changes..."
The Empress closed her eyes, propped her head up with her hand, and it took her a long time to recover before she said somberly, "I also hope that His Majesty was just saying that..."
Empress Fucha, relying solely on the Empress, naturally echoed, "Your Majesty is the Empress and the Emperor's principal wife, and Hongshi is the Emperor's eldest son. No matter what, the position of Crown Prince should belong to Hongshi..."
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