The steam made Lanqin's face look rosy. She changed into the new clothes sent by the Imperial Household Department, which made her look exceptionally beautiful and charming. The Fourth Prince came out of the water later than her, and Lanqin personally dressed him. Halfway through dressing him, the Fourth Prince hugged her around the waist.
"Your Majesty, stop fooling around, please put your clothes on first," Lanqin said.
The Fourth Prince pretended not to hear, and after yawning half-jokingly, said, "I'm tired."
"You can't just sleep like this even if you're tired!" Lanqin coaxed for a long time, and after being taken advantage of by the Fourth Master, she finally helped him get dressed.
The two sat on the couch drinking tea. Lanqin picked out a few important matters in the harem and talked about them. In the end, she hesitated and stammered.
Lanqin recounted everything about Ulanara, including how she had someone force the emperor to abdicate and how she used a hairpin to harm Cui Niang. Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's forehead veins bulged. "I knew it! She wouldn't stop!"
"Look at the good things she's done, look at the good son she's raised! Selling out the country for personal gain, how many Qing soldiers have lost their lives? It's infuriating! I was right, Ulanara is immoral and should have been deposed long ago!" The Fourth Prince seemed quite angry, and he finished speaking without even taking a breath.
"After much deliberation, I've decided to depose this Empress. This time, you're not allowed to stop me." The Fourth Prince said, scratching the back of his head as he looked at Lan Qin.
The topic of deposing the empress came up again from the Fourth Prince's mouth. This time, Lanqin did not stop him as she had last time. She gently shook her head and said, "Your Majesty is worried about the instability of the court. Your Majesty should think it over carefully."
The Fourth Prince embraced her with satisfaction: "Only you are thinking of my future like this. But I have already made up my mind, so you don't need to worry."
Lanqin feigned shyness, and the Fourth Prince continued, "Hongshi is imprisoned in the Dali Temple. I intend to imprison Ulanara as well, and let the Dali Temple investigate the wrongdoings they have committed. If they are found to have done wrong, I will absolutely not tolerate it."
"Especially Hongshi, I must punish him severely." The Fourth Prince pulled Lanqin towards the bedside. "I want all the princes to know that such acts of treason are absolutely unacceptable!"
The Dali Temple has always been known for its clear distinction between rewards and punishments, and it is not afraid of powerful figures. This time, having received the Emperor's order, it is certain that it will be able to investigate the matter thoroughly, and whether it is Hongshi's affair with foreigners or the "good deeds" that Ulanara has done in the past, all of them will come to light.
Fourth Master sat upright on the bed, his eyes devoid of light, clearly lost in thought. Lanqin did not disturb him, but quietly watched him from the side, fanning him.
The Fourth Prince sat there for a long time, when suddenly a single sentence jolted Lanqin awake: "Ulanara has been by my side for many years, why would she stab me in the back?" Hongshi could be said to have been bewitched by foreigners, but what about Ulanara? She was in the harem and was the noble mother of the nation. How could she have made such a grave mistake as raising grain prices and delaying military operations in the northwest?
“Your Majesty, it’s because of jealousy.” Lanqin shook her head and sighed, recalling what Ulanara had told her. “Jealousy can drive a woman mad.”
"She has long been unworthy to be Empress, and this matter is decided. Even if there are still people who dare to speak up for her, I will not hesitate to speak up." The Fourth Prince and Lanqin exchanged glances.
Having said that, the Fourth Prince was tired and went to sleep first. Lanqin slept beside the Fourth Prince, knowing that this time, the Ulanara clan had absolutely no chance of turning the tables.
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