Honghui's body was placed in an ice coffin and kept in a secret room in the main courtyard. It is said that the Fujin (principal wife) refused to allow anyone to hang white banners or hold a funeral, insisting on waiting for the Fourth Prince to return. The only person with the right to enter the palace was naturally Consort Li. The next day, she changed her clothes and went to the palace to see Consort De, informing her of the tragic news of Honghui's death.
Upon hearing this devastating news, Consort De's cup, which she had brought to her lips, suddenly slipped from her hand.
The death of her eldest son was something Consort De knew all too well. She stared at Consort Li kneeling below, her gaze turning unusually sharp.
Consort Li didn't want to report to Consort De, but the consort had gone mad and was guarding Honghui's body every day, refusing to bury him. The Third Prince fell ill shortly after arriving. She had been staying by her son's side, but now she had no choice but to see Consort De about Honghui's matter.
"Li, how exactly did Honghui drown?" Consort De's eyes pierced Li Consort's body like daggers.
She had lived in the palace for most of her life, and she had lost count of how many children had died there. Even she, who had always been favored, lost her sixth prince at a young age! There was never a death without a reason; the passing of every little life had various reasons that could not be clearly explained.
"Your Majesty, the First Prince drowned after falling into Bixin Lake while skateboarding in the garden." Li felt a deep unease; she dared not look up at the Consort De, seated in the main seat, as if those eyes could see through everything. Li feared that if she met those eyes, she would reveal the secrets of her heart.
"Skateboard? What is that? I've never heard of it before. Does such a thing even exist?" Consort De stared at Lady Li's face, carefully observing every change in her expression.
"Your Majesty, it's a kind of toy. People stand on it and slide forward very quickly. The First Prince and the others have been playing this game for several months now. Your Majesty, if it weren't for this, the First Prince wouldn't have fallen into the lake for no reason," Li said meaningfully.
"I have never heard of such a thing as entertainment. Where did it come from?" Consort De continued to ask.
"It was made by Consort Niu. It was she who made these strange things." Lady Li glanced quickly at Consort De and said in a low voice.
"Princess Niu? That Niu Gulu Lanqin?" Consort De frowned, finally shifting her gaze from Lady Li, as if trying to recall Lanqin's appearance. After all, they had only met twice, and Consort De could hardly remember what Lanqin looked like.
"Your Majesty, it's such a pity about the First Prince. I watched him grow up, and now he's gone. The Third Prince witnessed his brother's drowning and has been in bed with a fever for a day, crying incessantly. I really don't know what to do," said Lady Li, wiping away her tears while secretly observing Consort De's expression. "The Fujin is so pitiful. She's been staying by the First Prince's body all day. I had no choice but to come to see Your Majesty. Now that the Fourth Prince is not here, I don't know what to do. As the Fourth Prince's eldest son, the arrangements for the First Prince's funeral and burial will have to wait for the Emperor and the Fourth Prince to return before a decision can be made!"
Consort De sighed heavily and said to the nanny beside her, "Go quickly and have someone deliver the news of Honghui's death to the Emperor as soon as possible. It shouldn't take more than half a day."
When Consort Li heard Consort De give such an order, she was puzzled: Wasn't the Emperor on a tour of the Yellow River? How could he not receive the news within half a day?
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