The birthday banquet was drawing to a close. Outside, the lights were bright and the red reeds swayed in the breeze. Inside, wine cups were clinked and children and grandchildren were having a good time. The fourth master, who had drunk quite a bit, was also flushed, but the smile on his lips had not faded.
After the food was finished and the candles were covered in layers of wax, the Fourth Master left his seat, and the birthday banquet came to an end.
Fourth Master drank a few more cups; after all, he was getting on in years and was feeling a bit tired. He slumped over the table, slightly drunk.
"Someone, His Majesty is tired. Help him to rest." Lanqin ordered her servants, and seeing the Fourth Prince's exhausted body, a worried look appeared on her face.
The weight of the vast empire rested on his shoulders, and his diligent work in governing the country was exhausting. Lanqin felt a pang of sympathy for him.
"It's getting late, the banquet is coming to an end. Hongli and Mingyu, please stay. The rest of you may leave." Lanqin announced the end of the birthday banquet, leaving only Hongli and Mingyu behind.
"Yes." Seeing that the Empress Dowager had left the two of them behind, Hongli and Mingyu hesitated for a moment, but still reported back.
Lanqin's makeup and hair were still on, and wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner inside the room.
"Your Majesty, Prince Bao has arrived."
"Okay, let them in." Lanqin straightened up, listening to the footsteps getting closer.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Hongli stepped forward and kowtowed.
"Come, sit down." The maids offered seats and then withdrew.
"Hongli, the reason I summoned you here today is to have a look at your body, the Emperor's body," Lanqin said, enunciating each word clearly.
"What's wrong with Father Emperor's health? What's wrong with Father Emperor?" Hongli hesitated, seeing that Father Emperor was in high spirits and in a good mood at the birthday banquet.
"Don't panic. Since the year before last, His Majesty's health has been deteriorating. He's been busy with court affairs, and his temperament has become somewhat eccentric. He often sits still for long periods of time," Lanqin said, unable to help but sigh.
"How could this be? Father's health is so serious, yet I didn't notice. I am truly unfilial." Hongli was very annoyed, knowing that his father was a strong-willed person.
"His Majesty has not told anyone else, and he forbade me to tell you, but after thinking it over, I think it's best to tell you this." Lanqin advised Hongli, seeing his worry.
Incense smoke drifted from the burner, and the two men, their brows furrowed, discussed the Fourth Master's health in detail.
“That’s right! Does Your Majesty remember the Taoist priest who treated Uncle Thirteen? He was a highly skilled doctor. Why not summon him to treat Father Emperor?” Hongli slapped his forehead, his eyes filled with joy.
Lanqin looked at the pavilions of the Forbidden City and shook her head.
Why not?
Lanqin got up and left her seat.
“Your thirteenth uncle abandoned worldly affairs to live in seclusion in the mountains, but your father is the emperor. How could he abandon this country?” Lanqin explained to Hongli.
A gentle breeze from outside disturbed the smoke from the incense burner, and the smoke swirled around Lanqin's skirt.
Upon hearing this, Hongli was speechless and stood there blankly. As the sons and grandsons of the royal family, they had to bear heavy burdens; this was their destiny.
"Alas, life is unpredictable; we can only do our best and accept our fate." Lanqin walked to the door, looked at the city wall, and thought that getting out might not be possible.
After Hongli left, Lanqin sat before the mirror, having her jewelry removed piece by piece by the maids. This was the real her; she had come here knowing everyone's fate. But she was not God, and the thirteenth prince still died in the early part of the thirteenth year of Yongzheng's reign.
At the beginning of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, Thirteenth Prince wholeheartedly supported Fourth Prince and did many things. He was then imprisoned in Yangfeng Alley for several years by the late emperor, which depleted his health. He also worked hard in the struggle for the throne with Eighth Prince's faction. He thought he could live in seclusion in the mountains, but unexpectedly, he died in the early part of the thirteenth year of Yongzheng's reign without any warning.
Lanqin looked at herself in the mirror. No one can change the course of history. She was here, so she should just accept her fate.
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