The imperial edict announcing the appointment of the crown prince spread throughout the court and the country, and the attitudes of the court officials quietly changed.
Although Crown Prince Hongyao is only thirteen years old, he is already the future heir apparent. If one can be on good terms with him, the family's wealth and status will be guaranteed.
Immediately, everyone urged their children and nephews to cultivate a good relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince.
Even the scions of noble families who usually looked down on Hongyao were now extremely respectful to him, their eyes full of flattery.
Hongyao was fully aware of this, but remained silent.
He continued to get up early every day to read and practice martial arts, and followed Zhang Tingyu and Ortai to learn the way of governing the country. His words and deeds became more and more composed.
The court officials, seeing this, were even more convinced that this Crown Prince was no ordinary person.
---
Early that morning, after Emperor Yongzheng finished his morning court session, he had just sat down in the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review memorials when a palace maid from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility rushed in, knelt down, and said in a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, the Empress... has fallen into a deep sleep and will not wake up!"
Emperor Yongzheng paused, ink dripping onto the memorial, spreading a glaring red.
He suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically: "What do you mean by 'sleeping forever'?"
The palace maid prostrated herself on the ground and wept: "Your Highness did not get up this morning. We thought Your Highness was tired, so we did not dare to disturb you."
But after 7 a.m., there was still no movement. Upon entering, they found the Empress… the Empress seemed to be asleep, and they couldn't wake her no matter how they tried!
Emperor Yongzheng's heart tightened, and disregarding his composure, he strode toward the Kunning Palace.
Hongyao was studying in a side hall when he heard the news. The book in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and he hurriedly chased after the messenger.
Inside Kunning Palace, Zhaohua was already kneeling before Lin Yun's bedside, weeping bitterly.
She gripped Lin Yun's hand tightly, her voice choked with emotion: "Empress Mother, please wake up... don't frighten Zhaohua..."
As Yongzheng stepped into the inner palace, his gaze immediately fell on the bed.
Lin Yun lay there quietly, her face serene, her breathing even, as if she had simply fallen into a deep sleep.
Her eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her cheeks, her lips were the same color as usual, and there was even a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, just like when she was asleep.
"Yun'er?" Yongzheng called softly, reaching out to stroke her cheek.
It felt warm to the touch, but there was no reaction.
He shook her shoulders harder, but Lin Yun remained motionless.
Hongyao arrived shortly after, and upon seeing this scene, all color drained from his youthful face.
He knelt before the bed, grasped Lin Yun's other hand, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I've come. Please open your eyes and look at me..."
Zhaohua raised her tearful eyes and looked at Yongzheng: "Father, what's wrong with Mother? Why can't we wake her?"
Emperor Yongzheng frowned, his mind racing with countless thoughts.
He remembered that Yun'er had mentioned that the effects of the spiritual spring water were slowly disappearing. Could it be that... Yun'er was going back to the Heavenly Court, or perhaps she had gone to another world?
No, impossible...!
He suppressed his panic and ordered in a deep voice, "Summon the imperial physicians! Bring everyone from the Imperial Medical Academy here!"
Soon, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy arrived with a group of imperial physicians and took turns examining Lin Yun's pulse.
Strangely, the pulse was steady and strong, showing no signs of illness.
The imperial physician knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress's pulse is normal, and there is nothing wrong with her body. We... really cannot find the cause of her illness."
Emperor Yongzheng's face darkened: "If the cause of the illness cannot be found, then why won't he wake up?"
The imperial physicians looked at each other, none of them daring to answer.
The hall fell into a deathly silence, except for Zhaohua's sobs, which were exceptionally clear.
Hongxi and Hongsheng stumbled in and saw their mother lying motionless on the bed. They panicked and knelt before the bed, crying, "Empress Mother, what's wrong? Wake up and look at your sons!"
Yongzheng closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, he had regained his imperial majesty.
He ordered in a deep voice: "Issue the decree to immediately summon all eminent monks and Taoist priests in the capital to the palace to perform rituals for the Empress!"
Outside the palace, the imperial concubines rushed over upon hearing the news, but were stopped at the gate.
Some were genuinely worried, while others were secretly delighted; the myriad aspects of human nature were all contained within these palace walls.
Inside Kunning Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated Lin Yun's pale, paper-like face.
She lay quietly on the bed, her eyes closed, as if she had fallen into an endless sleep.
Yongzheng sat by the couch, holding her hand tightly, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.
The imperial physicians were at a loss and could only kneel to the side, their foreheads pressed to the ground, not daring to make a sound.
"Your Majesty, the Empress's pulse is stable and there is nothing seriously wrong, but why she is in a deep sleep and cannot wake up is something we are truly unable to determine..." the head imperial physician said tremblingly.
Emperor Yongzheng frowned, his voice low and icy: "Useless! What use are you to me? If anything happens to the Empress, you will all come to me with your heads!"
The hall was deathly silent, with only the occasional soft popping of the candlelight.
Yongzheng's gaze never left Lin Yun's face, as if he wanted to find a trace of awakening between her brows.
However, Lin Yun's breathing was even and weak, as if she were isolated from the world.
The next day at the Qianqing Palace.
The officials stood solemnly, but the emperor was nowhere to be seen.
Crown Prince Hongyao, dressed in court robes, stood below the imperial steps, his youthful face displaying a composure beyond his years.
He looked around at the assembled officials and slowly began to speak: "Father Emperor is worried about the Empress's affairs, so he has suspended court today. I will temporarily handle state affairs on his behalf."
The assembled officials looked at each other in disbelief, their hearts filled with shock.
The crown prince is only thirteen years old. Although he is intelligent, it is inevitable that people are worried about him suddenly taking on such a great responsibility.
Zhang Tingyu stepped forward first, bowed, and said, "Your subject will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's command."
Hongyao nodded slightly, his gaze firm: "If any of you gentlemen have any proposals, please present them one by one."
His voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
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