Consort Tong has been ill for two months, and news from the imperial physicians suggests that her time is likely to come in the next couple of days.
During the time when Consort Tong was seriously ill, Emperor Kangxi was unusually quiet and abstinent. After learning from the imperial physician that his cousin was only a couple of days away, Kangxi finally took out the imperial edict to bestow the title of empress and stamped it with his seal.
"Liang Jiugong, tomorrow take some men to Jingren Palace and read this imperial edict aloud."
Liang Jiugong: "Yes, Your Majesty."
The next day, the imperial edict appointing her as empress shocked the entire harem.
Seeing that Consort Tong was on her deathbed, she still managed to get the Emperor to make her Empress at the very last moment. She really had the ability.
After the previous empress died, everyone thought the emperor would make Tong a new empress, but the emperor only made her an imperial concubine, and for many years he never mentioned making her an empress again.
Everyone in the harem thought that the emperor would no longer have the idea of making an empress, but who knew that Consort Tong would get her wish before her death!
Moreover, being conferred an empress title before death is not the same as being posthumously conferred one.
When Yinzhen learned of this, he was also shocked. This matter was quite relevant to him. There was a fundamental difference in status between the adopted son of the Imperial Noble Consort and the adopted son of the Empress.
He can now be considered half a legitimate son.
Consort Tong... or rather Empress Tong, after being bestowed the title, suddenly seemed to regain some spirit. Empress Tong could sense that she was probably experiencing a final burst of energy before death. She said to Granny Shun, "Granny, do you think His Majesty still has some affection for me?"
It's hard to say what Granny Shun was thinking, but at this moment, Granny Shun only hoped that the princess she had watched grow up could pass away peacefully.
"Of course, His Majesty has always been thinking of you! During the time you were ill, His Majesty repeatedly instructed the Imperial Hospital to take care of you. Also, these days, the Emperor has not chosen any concubines; his heart is with you."
Empress Tong knew there was some exaggeration in these words. As Kangxi's bedmate, how could she not know that he was a heartless man? Well, not heartless, but simply incapable of romantic love!
The beautiful memories of her youth, now tinged with a more romanticized view of her past encounters after hearing what was not entirely true from Granny Shun, have become even more cherished by Empress Tong.
“Granny, my life is short, but I’ve trapped myself. After I’m gone, if you want to leave the palace, you can leave; if you don’t want to leave, you can stay and help me take care of Yinzhen from time to time. That child is sincere, and I didn’t cherish our mother-son bond.”
"Your Majesty is talking nonsense again. You will be alright."
Consort Tong gave a wry smile: "The old nanny is just deceiving herself again..."
Empress Tong kept talking and then fell asleep without realizing it.
Looking at her sleeping mistress, Granny Shun's eyes instantly reddened, and she couldn't help but shed tears. Her poor princess! Why couldn't she have a good ending!
The next day, Yinzhen came to pay his respects to Empress Tong. Granny Shun said, "Fourth Prince, please wait a moment, Her Majesty has not yet gotten up!"
"Then I'll wait here."
Granny Shun instructed someone to prepare tea for Yinzhen before entering Empress Tong's bedchamber.
Granny Shun also found it strange. Usually, the Empress would have already gotten up by this time, but today it was indeed a bit late. Granny Shun wanted to see what was going on, so she went to the bedside and found that the Empress was unusually quiet today.
Suddenly, Granny Shun was startled. She put her hand under the Empress's nose, then her legs suddenly went weak, and she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed, "Help! Her Majesty the Empress is dead!"
Yinzhen also heard the noise. Although he knew this day wouldn't be long, hearing the news of his adoptive mother's death still felt unreal to him. He felt lightheaded, sad, and confused, with all he could think about was how good Empress Tong had been to him.
News of Empress Tong's death spread from Jingren Palace throughout the entire palace and then beyond. Instantly, people inside and outside the palace dressed in mourning for the newly appointed empress.
When Consort De of Yonghe Palace heard the news, she dismissed all the servants in the room, leaving only one confidante. She couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What an unlucky woman. She has the fate of an empress, but unfortunately, she doesn't have the life to enjoy it."
Yesterday, when Consort De learned that Lady Tong had been made Empress, she was so angry that she ate half a bowl of rice less. But today, upon hearing that Lady Tong had died, she was overjoyed.
The dead can never win against the living, and only then did Consort De feel that the dark cloud that had been pressing down on her for over ten years had finally dissipated.
If it weren't for maintaining her image as a gentle and considerate person in front of Emperor Kangxi, Consort De would have wanted to celebrate in a grand manner.
Consort De was secretly pleased, but she still had to put on a show, especially since Empress Tong was her former mistress. She had to "send her off" properly, didn't she?
The empress's funeral lasted for almost half a month before the somber mood in the palace dissipated.
Emperor Kangxi did not set foot in the inner palace for half a month, which could be considered as giving Empress Tong dignity. Half a month later, Emperor Kangxi chose a concubine, and the matter of Empress Tong was indeed over.
But while others could get through it, Yinzhen could not.
His current situation is rather awkward.
On the surface, he was Empress Tong's adopted son, which made him half a legitimate son, but since he was an adopted son, he was not a legitimate son at all.
Moreover, Empress Tong is deceased and cannot protect him.
Furthermore, he was Consort De's biological son, but Empress Tong had been dead for half a month, and Consort De had not sent anyone to inquire about Yinzhen, not even to make a show of it.
It was as if Consort De didn't remember ever having given birth to such a son.
After emerging from the grief of his adoptive mother's death, Yinzhen realized his predicament, which was naturally unpleasant. But what could he do? He was now just a bald prince. Although he seemed noble, in the square Forbidden City, he only had the right to make decisions within his own princely quarters.
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