"Perhaps Father Emperor's regrets are not in the court, but elsewhere!" Lanqin reminded him.
"Other places?" Fourth Master pondered.
"Father Emperor ascended the throne at the age of eight, making him a young emperor. How could he not feel fear at such a young age? I have heard that Emperor Shizu left with a monk back then?" Lanqin asked.
Fourth Master was startled, and the look in his eyes became noticeably deeper.
That incident was a top-secret matter within the Qing court, forbidden to anyone to inquire about. However, it was common knowledge that Emperor Shunzhi had renounced worldly life because of Consort Dong'e's death! Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was heartbroken. Although Emperor Kangxi never mentioned that past, did he not harbor any longing for his father?
"Master, the water is getting cold, I don't want to wash anymore!" Lanqin slowly scooped water for Fourth Master from behind with a spoon.
Fourth Master suddenly snapped out of his reverie.
After cleaning themselves up, the two went to bed together. The Fourth Prince's remaining desires had been extinguished by Lanqin's words. His entire focus was now on Kangxi's trip to Mount Wutai. If Emperor Shunzhi was indeed at Mount Wutai, then Kangxi's purpose in going there was to see Shunzhi!
When the Fourth Prince thought of this, his heart almost skipped a beat! Why would his father, the Emperor, go to see Emperor Shunzhi, his own grandfather, at this moment?
However, this was a matter of great importance concerning the selection of an heir! After the deposed crown prince, the question of who should be appointed as the crown prince had always been a major issue hanging over everyone's heads, concerning the fate of the Qing court.
Thinking of this, Fourth Master was instantly wide awake! He sat up abruptly.
Lanqin hadn't actually fallen asleep either, so she naturally woke up when the Fourth Master made that noise!
"Master, what's wrong?" Lanqin wasn't actually sleepy; she had clearly slept too much during the day!
"I suddenly remembered something. Qin'er, I have something to tell you now, and you must never mention it to anyone. It concerns my imperial grandfather!" the Fourth Prince said.
Lanqin's heart skipped a beat. The mystery that had been speculated on by many historians was finally going to be revealed by a real historical figure. How exciting!
Lanqin also jumped up, picked up her small pillow, placed it on her arched knees, and prepared to listen to the Fourth Prince's late-night talk about how Emperor Shunzhi saw through the world, how he only loved beauties and not the country, and how he went from being an emperor to a monk!
“Master, speak. Qin’er will never tell anyone, not even Buddha!” Lanqin said.
Seeing that Lanqin still had the mind to joke, Fourth Master couldn't help but smile, his fondness for her growing stronger. This woman always manages to surprise him!
"Actually, I learned about this from my great-grandfather, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. I was very young then, still living with Empress Tong. I didn't see my mother often, but I frequently visited the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager with Empress Tong. Once, while I was playing there, I overheard the Grand Empress Dowager saying that although she was the most noble woman in the world, she also had some of the greatest regrets in her life. She lost her mother when she was young, her husband when she was young, and almost lost her son in her old age. Although her son wasn't really dead, what difference was there between him and him being dead when he ran off to that kind of place!" Fourth Master seemed to be recalling Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's words at that time.
"It is said that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's birth mother was just a lowly slave girl. Giving birth to her did not elevate her status; instead, she was plotted against by the Grand Consort at a young age. When Emperor Taizong of Qing passed away, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was only twenty-five years old. When Emperor Shunzhi had that incident, she was only fifty years old." Fourth Prince continued, "Although the Grand Empress Dowager was the most noble woman in the world, she experienced far more suffering than ordinary women. She encountered almost all three of the greatest misfortunes in life. As for Emperor Shunzhi's incident, she said that although he was not dead, it was almost the same as being dead." Fourth Prince added.
"Does Your Majesty mean that Emperor Shunzhi, as the Empress Dowager said, went to a certain place and did not actually die?" Lanqin asked.
"Yes, that's how I think it is. As for where Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty went to become a monk, our ancestors never said. Today, you mentioned Father Emperor's regrets and that he is going to Mount Wutai. I think Father Emperor may really be going to see my ancestors." Fourth Prince said excitedly.
Lanqin's eyes widened as well. The fact that Emperor Shunzhi had become a monk at Mount Wutai was finally confirmed by the Fourth Prince!
"Qin'er, I think Father Emperor's trip to Mount Wutai is not just to ease his longing for the ancestral laws, but for something more important. The ancestor is no longer here, and the only thing he can discuss with him is the Imperial Ancestral Law." The more Fourth Prince thought about it, the more convinced he became.
"Does Your Majesty mean that Father Emperor is going to ask Emperor Shunzhi about the important matter of establishing an heir?" Lanqin was also excited.
"Indeed, what else could possibly make Father Emperor want to go to Mount Wutai? It must be something of great importance concerning the fate of the Qing Dynasty," said the Fourth Prince. "Ever since the Crown Prince was deposed, the Third Prince imprisoned, and the Eighth Prince demoted, Father Emperor's thoughts have become increasingly unpredictable. Currently, the one causing the most trouble around Father Emperor is naturally the Prince of Heshuo. But if Father Emperor were to appoint him as heir, it seems unnecessary for him to consult the ancestral laws. Therefore, I believe Father Emperor will not appoint the Prince of Heshuo this time," the Fourth Prince said.
Lanqin couldn't help but admire the Fourth Prince's keen political acumen; what he said made a lot of sense. Kangxi had never truly intended to appoint the Prince of Heshuo as crown prince. Lanqin knew that the deposed crown prince had been reinstated by Emperor Kangxi in November of the 48th year of his reign. That meant there were only eight months left until now. No one had expected Kangxi to reinstate the Second Prince as crown prince. But just two years after his reinstatement, the crown prince was deposed again. However, by then, the Prince of Heshuo had already been reported by the Third Prince for allegedly cursing the crown prince and the emperor in his residence, and Kangxi had sent him to the Imperial Clan Court.
"My lord, whether you are destined for the position on this trip to Mount Wutai depends on you. Qin'er believes you have the ability to take on that high position, but some things depend not only on ability but also on luck and opportunity," Lanqin said. At this moment, she still thought the Fourth Prince should not act rashly. Kangxi had not completely given up on the Crown Prince, and any actions or words detrimental to the Crown Prince would incur Kangxi's displeasure. The Fourth Prince's many actions showed that he was a man who respected his elder brothers and cared for his younger brothers. At the New Year's banquet, he took the initiative to respectfully depose the Crown Prince, took care of the disabled Seventh Prince, and looked after the family of the Thirteenth Prince, who had been exiled to Yangfeng Lane.
Although Emperor Kangxi has not yet reacted to what the Fourth Prince has done, all of this has reached Kangxi's ears.
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