The next day, just after the Fourth Prince finished his morning court session, Su Peisheng reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Nian has passed away."
The Fourth Prince felt a sharp pain in his chest, a feeling he hadn't experienced in many years. He immediately ordered, "Prepare the carriage for Yikun Palace."
In November of the third year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, Lady Nian finally succumbed to the toxins in her body and passed away at Yikun Palace.
According to etiquette, the imperial physicians and maids all knelt on the ground, and the maids were all crying, waiting for the Fourth Prince's decision.
Upon hearing the news, the Fourth Prince rushed over and saw Consort Nian lying on the bed. He never expected that this woman would actually die. She had been with him for half his life. Although he had never truly fallen in love with her, she had given birth to two princes for him, and now she was dead.
The Fourth Prince sat on the bed, held Consort Nian's cold hand, looked at her lifeless face, and slowly recalled when Consort Nian first entered the mansion.
Lady Nian became increasingly jealous, and the reason he married her was primarily because she was Nian Gengyao's sister. Moreover, with the appearance of Lanqin, the Fourth Prince knew he had never loved this woman. However, in his vast harem, only Lanqin was the one he truly loved.
Out of respect for the deceased, the Fourth Prince no longer held her past mistakes against her. He gently said to Consort Nian, "I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I won't harm your family."
Lanqin also received the news and was rushing to Yikun Palace. On the way, Lanqin kept lamenting that she still couldn't get the information from Fucha about what poison Nian had been poisoned with, which ultimately prevented her from being saved.
Lanqin arrived at Yikun Palace, and the entire palace was filled with the sound of weeping.
Lanqin saw Fourth Master sitting by the bed, and she went over and put her hand on Fourth Master's shoulder.
Looking at Consort Nian on the bed, Lanqin couldn't help but sigh, "She still passed away."
The Fourth Prince said to Su Peisheng, "Draft an imperial decree to give Lady Nian a grand funeral."
The news of Consort Nian's death spread quickly, and the jailer told Nian Gengyao about it.
Upon learning of his sister Consort Nian's death while in prison, Nian Gengyao collapsed to the ground in despair. He couldn't believe his sister was gone so suddenly; hadn't she just been conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort? How could she die so abruptly! He wasn't overly saddened by Consort Nian's passing; his mind was preoccupied with his own future. He had thought he could use Consort Nian's influence to make a comeback, but all his illusions were shattered, leaving him struggling to accept it.
With Consort Nian dead, the Nian family's greatest lifeline was gone. Suddenly, the great tree fell, and the ministers who had previously harbored resentment towards Nian Gengyao began to submit memorials impeaching him one after another, completely forgetting how timid they had been when Consort Nian was conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort, fearing Nian Gengyao's retaliation. It was truly a case of everyone pushing a wall when it's down.
The Nian family was suddenly in the eye of the storm.
The memorials impeaching Nian Gengyao were all suppressed by the Fourth Prince. He had just promised Consort Nian that he would not make things difficult for his family, so he could not take action against Nian Gengyao yet.
During the morning court session, the Fourth Prince ordered all civil and military officials not to mention this matter for the time being.
All the civil and military officials submitted memorials, all wanting to completely eliminate the Nian family at this time.
The Fourth Prince said, "Consort Nian has only just passed away, and you are already so eager for me to deal with Nian Gengyao. Do you want future generations to say that I have no regard for past favors?"
When the civil and military officials heard what the Fourth Prince said, none of them dared to speak anymore, since no one dared to accuse him of such a crime.
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