The news of Hongli's suicide was like a chilling wind, sending shivers down people's spines.
The palace maids whispered among themselves, the guards looked solemn, and even the autumn sunlight seemed to be shrouded in gloom.
Niohuru was sitting in the Buddhist hall of Jingren Palace chanting sutras, the prayer beads in her hands sliding one by one across her fingertips.
Suddenly, the palace doors were flung open, and the personal maid stumbled in, her face ashen: "Your Majesty! The Fourth Prince... the Fourth Prince, he..."
The rosary snapped with a "crack," the beads scattering to the ground. Niohuru slowly raised her head, a hint of foreboding flashing in her eyes: "Explain yourself!"
The palace maid knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "The Fourth Prince...is dead in prison!"
Niohuru swayed, as if all her strength had been drained away.
Her lips trembled, but no sound came out; only tears silently streamed down her face.
A moment later, she suddenly burst into laughter, a shrill and manic laugh: "What? Impossible! My Hongli will not die!"
She suddenly stood up, knocked over the incense burner in front of the Buddha, and scattered ashes all over the ground.
"It was Lin Yun! That bitch must have killed my son!" she screamed hysterically, grabbing the scriptures on the table and tearing them to shreds.
The palace maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, not daring to raise her head.
Niohuru stumbled out of the Buddhist hall, running barefoot on the cold stone bricks, constantly calling out Hongli's name.
Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were rumpled, making her look like a madwoman.
The news quickly reached Yanxi Palace.
Lin Yun is teaching Zhao Hua and Hong Yao to read.
Chunlan rushed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, Niohuru... has gone mad."
Lin Yun's hand trembled slightly, and the ink spread a small patch on the paper.
She put down her pen and sighed softly, "Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine her?"
Chunlan nodded: "The imperial physician has already gone. He said that she suffered a shock that damaged her mind and spirit, and he's afraid... she won't recover."
Lin Yun was silent for a moment, then said to the wet nurse, "Take the child downstairs."
After the child left, she stood up and straightened her clothes. "Prepare the sedan chair. I'm going to see the Emperor."
---
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Yongzheng was reviewing memorials, his brow furrowed.
Su Peisheng tiptoed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine requests an audience."
Yongzheng put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his temples: "Let her in."
Lin Yun entered the hall, bowed, and said directly, "Your Majesty, Niohuru has gone mad."
Yongzheng's gaze darkened, and he tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "I understand."
Lin Yun observed his expression and said softly, "The imperial physician said that she suffered too much shock and may not recover. I was thinking, should we arrange for someone to take care of her?"
Yongzheng sneered: "She failed to educate her son properly, and now she is reaping what she sowed. She has no one to blame but herself."
He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Lin Yun. "These women in the harem are always fighting and scheming against each other. I find it annoying."
Lin Yun didn't reply, she just stood there quietly.
A moment later, Yongzheng suddenly turned around and looked at her intently: "Yun'er, why don't we move all the women in the harem to the Western Six Palaces, and you can live in the Kunning Palace? When the children grow up, they can also be moved to the Eastern Six Palaces."
Kunning Palace was the Empress's main palace. Empresses of the Ming and Qing dynasties would stay in this palace for their weddings.
Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. Was the Emperor... revealing his hand?
She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said softly, "Your Majesty, Hongli has just passed away, and Niohuru has gone mad. Making changes in the palace at this time may cause unnecessary gossip. Perhaps... we should wait a few days before discussing it."
Yongzheng stared at her for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly, "You're always so sensible."
He walked back to his desk, his tone softening, "Fine, I'll do as you say."
Lin Yun bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Yongzheng waved his hand: "Go back and rest. I still have memorials to review."
Lin Yun left the Hall of Mental Cultivation and looked up at the sky.
The autumn sun was still shining brightly, but she felt a chill in her heart.
Life is unpredictable; one wrong step can lead to another. No matter how much you scheme and plot, what will it all amount to in the end?
---
Back at Yanxi Palace, Daiyu was waiting for her by the plum grove.
Seeing Lin Yun's tired expression, Daiyu stepped forward and said softly, "Your Highness, are you tired? I've brewed some calming tea, would you like to try some?"
Lin Yun smiled and took her hand: "Yu'er, you're so thoughtful."
The two walked side by side through the plum grove, the fallen leaves rustling softly under their feet.
After hesitating for a moment, Daiyu finally spoke up: "Your Highness, I heard... something happened at Jingren Palace?"
Lin Yun sighed softly, "Yes, Niohuru has gone mad."
A hint of pity flashed in Daiyu's eyes: "She is a pitiful person too."
Lin Yun shook her head: "There are some things that we outsiders cannot know. The Emperor is not a heartless person. Treason is a capital offense, and even the extermination of nine generations of one's family would not be too much. Alas..."
Daiyu nodded thoughtfully.
Lin Yun suddenly stopped and looked at her seriously: "Yu'er, in this deep palace, it's good to be kind, but you also need to know how to protect yourself. Some people don't deserve sympathy."
Daiyu met her gaze and solemnly said, "Your Majesty's teachings will be etched in my heart."
Lin Yun smiled and reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear: "Let's go back and drink your calming tea."
---
As night fell, the candlelight in the Hall of Mental Cultivation remained bright.
Yongzheng put down the last memorial and rubbed his aching temples.
Su Peisheng promptly offered a cup of ginseng tea: "Your Majesty, you should rest now."
Yongzheng took the teacup but did not drink it; instead, he stared blankly at the flickering candlelight.
After a long silence, he said in a low voice, "Su Peisheng, tell me... have I been too harsh on Hongli?"
Su Peisheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince plotted rebellion first, and you have already done more than enough."
Yongzheng gave a bitter smile: "But he is still my son after all."
Su Peisheng didn't dare to reply, and just stood there quietly.
Yongzheng put down his teacup and said in a low voice, "Issue my decree that Hongli be buried with the rites due to a prince and posthumously granted the title of Dorobele. Also... since Niohuru is already mentally unstable, move her to the Western Six Palaces to recuperate. Assign her special care and do not neglect her."
"Yes, sir." Su Peisheng acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Yongzheng stood alone in the hall, gazing at the night outside the window, squinting as he thought about what Bai Riyun had said.
Yun'er is right; it is not advisable to cause any major disturbances within the palace at this time.
But one day, he will allow her to rightfully move into Kunning Palace as Empress.
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