With red eyes, Hongli ran all the way back to the Yong Prince's residence. The gatekeeper rushed to greet him, but seeing Hongli's condition, he didn't know what had happened. He simply opened the door and shouted inside, "The Fourth Prince is back... the Fourth Prince is back..."
Lanqin was restless while waiting at the mansion. When she heard Hongli's name from afar, she hurriedly ran out and happened to be there to greet him.
Hongli looked up at Lanqin, tears welling up in his eyes, and threw himself into Lanqin's arms, unable to calm down for a long time.
Lanqin stroked Hongli's hair tenderly. Hongli in her arms looked haggard, and his swollen eyes showed that he had been crying for a long time and was still trembling.
Lanqin regretted sending Hongli to Changchun Garden to gather information, leaving him to face Kangxi's death alone. She hugged Hongli tightly and murmured comforting words, "It's alright, it's alright..."
Hongli raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears, and cried to Lanqin, "Mother, my grandfather is gone... I watched him pass away..."
Lanqin and her maidservant had no choice but to help Hongli back to his room. After he sat down, they gently patted him and said, "Hongli, your imperial grandfather has gone to the Pure Land. He has achieved perfect merit in his life. You don't need to be so sad..."
"Mother, Grandfather was so good to me, I can't bear to leave him. Even when he was dying, he kept praising me to Father..." Hongli thought of the scenes before Kangxi's death and was really sad. "Grandfather was always sick. I should have spent more time with him. I really regret that I only found out at the end that Grandfather's health had deteriorated so much..."
Hongli angrily pounded his fist, while Lanqin tenderly pulled him close, saying, "Child, it's not your fault. Why blame yourself like this? Your grandfather will be very pleased to know your filial piety..."
Hongli continued to weep, crying as he said, "Hongli is unfilial, Mother Hongli is unfilial..."
Lanqin knew that Hongli had suffered a blow and could not find words to comfort him, so she could only hug him and cry together.
It took them a long time to recover from their grief. Lanqin wiped away her tears and, seeing that Hongli had calmed down, cautiously asked, "You're back. Where's your father?"
Hongli then remembered and replied, "After Grandfather passed away, Ninth Uncle insisted that Eighth Uncle preside over the ceremony. Lord Longduo said that Grandfather left a will in the Qianqing Palace, so Father, along with several uncles and ministers, went to the Qianqing Palace. I slipped away to tell Mother about the news from Changchun Garden. Father told you not to worry, as he probably won't be back for a while..."
Lanqin seemed lost in thought, but she composed herself and smiled to comfort Hongli: "I know, your father will definitely handle everything. We'll just wait and see. Don't be too sad, or your grandfather in heaven will be sad too..."
Hongli held back his tears and nodded firmly.
After comforting Hongli and letting him rest, Lanqin knew that the news of Kangxi's death had been sent back immediately. She knew there was still time to prepare, so she turned to the maids and nannies and instructed them: "Go to each room and inform them that the Emperor has passed away. Start preparing mourning clothes and have everyone in the mansion start making preparations..." Upon receiving the order, the maids immediately rushed to each room and courtyard.
Lanqin felt a weight lifted from her heart. When she was alone, she would gaze longingly towards the gate, hoping to see Fourth Master soon. Knowing that Fourth Master was likely in dire straits and surrounded by dangers, she could only clasp her hands in prayer and silently pray that history would not repeat itself and that Fourth Master would return safely.
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