Since the beginning of spring on the 28th, the Imperial Noble Concubine's health has been fluctuating, and it was not until the summer that she showed some improvement. However, the good times did not last long. After June, the disease came back again. In less than half a month, she was already on the verge of death.
Recently, Yinzhen has not come to the Shangshufang for several days. It is said that he asked Kangxi to move to the side hall of Chengqian Palace to take care of him, and he stayed there almost day and night without leaving.
Because of the Imperial Noble Consort's illness, Kangxi was obviously in a very bad mood recently. Not only did he punish several servants who made mistakes in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for trivial matters, he even lost his temper in the court. For a time, everyone in the court and the harem was in a panic.
"Khan Ama, you should eat something. You didn't eat a single bite at noon. If you don't eat now, how will your body bear it?"
Among all of Kangxi's children, Yinreng was the one he valued the most and loved the most. Looking at his son who was anxiously following him, even though he was upset and had no appetite at the moment, he couldn't bear to reject his feelings. However, the delicious food that he thought tasted good in the past now tasted like chewing wax, but it was not much better either.
"I haven't seen Yinzuo for several days. What has he been busy with these days?"
It is no wonder that Kangxi would ask this question. In recent years, Yinzuo has been favored by Kangxi and can be said to be a frequent visitor to the Qianqing Palace. It is almost unheard of for him to not show up in the Qianqing Palace for a few days like this.
"My sixth brother should be in Chengqian Palace right now. I heard that he's been running to Chengqian Palace as soon as he leaves his study. I think he's worried that my fourth brother might be alone and have wild thoughts, so he wants to go over and spend more time with him."
To be honest, Yinreng was quite envious of Yinzhen at this time. Although his biological mother, Concubine De, had a bad attitude towards him, he had never lacked maternal love over the years. His adoptive mother had only had him as her child over the years, so she must have cared deeply for him. And now, when he was most heartbroken, he had a brother like Yinzuo who was born of the same mother and was willing to devote his heart to him. On the contrary, he was alone, second only to the emperor and above everyone else...
"Well, Xiaoliu is a good person. When you have time, go to Chengqian Palace more often and keep an eye on it for me. Also, take care of the fourth child. There's chaos going on there right now, and the fourth child is stubborn. I'm afraid he won't say anything if he's wronged. As for the Imperial Concubine... well, forget it..."
If we were to say who in the harem Kangxi felt guilty towards, it would undoubtedly be the Imperial Noble Consort. The Imperial Noble Consort was from Kangxi's maternal family. She was not only his cousin, but also his childhood playmate. The two of them grew up together and had a close relationship, needless to say.
The distinguished birth brought the Imperial Noble Consort a high status, but it also doomed her to never have children of her own in her life. Kangxi was her relative and her husband, but he was also the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He was unwilling and would not allow his harem to produce another prince whose status and position could be comparable to that of his crown prince. This was the reason why he had hesitated for so many years and did not change the jade butterfly for Yinzhen.
The knife hanging over your head will always fall one day, even if you don't want to face it, but that day will still come. On July 7, the 28th year of Kangxi's reign, at the hour of Hai, the Imperial Noble Consort's condition suddenly worsened. Kangxi was not in the palace at first, but after hearing the news, he rushed back to the palace late at night and stayed in Chengqian Palace without leaving.
On July 9th, the Imperial Noble Consort had been in a coma for two days and had not woken up. All the doctors in the Imperial Hospital gathered in Chengqian Palace but were helpless. Kangxi knew that the Imperial Noble Consort might not have much time left, so after much deliberation, he followed his inner thoughts and issued an edict to enthrone the Imperial Noble Consort as empress, hoping that this action would make his empress blessed by heaven. However, things did not go as he wished. Just one day after Kangxi issued the edict, on July 10th, at the time of Shen, the empress, who had not yet been enthroneed, died in Chengqian Palace.
After Empress Tong's death, Kangxi was deeply saddened. He stopped attending court for five days and wore mourning clothes. He also ordered other concubines and princes to wear mourning clothes as well. On July 11, the late empress's coffin was placed in the main hall of Chengqian Palace.
After Yinzuo learned of the Queen's death, he immediately rushed to Chengqian Palace with his men. In the chaotic crowd, he saw Yinzhen, who was kneeling in front of the Queen's coffin with a wooden expression. However, this time, he did not say a word to comfort Yinzhen. Firstly, he did not know what else to say besides "my condolences" at this time. Secondly, he knew that this was ultimately Yinzhen's own hurdle. Even if it was difficult, he had to go through it alone. All Yinzuo could do at this time was to accompany him by his side so that he could look back and see him when he was most sad.
Kangxi was a cruel emperor after all. The only kindness he showed to the empress was to let her become his wife before her death. However, he did not show any pity for Yinzhen, the child whom the empress loved. While Yinzuo was heartbroken, he could almost imagine how difficult Yinzhen's life would be in this palace in the future. A child who was only twelve years old, lost the protection of his mother, and was not favored by his father. This palace has always been a place where the powerful are flattered and the weak are bullied. How good could the adopted son of a dead empress have a life?
Not long after, the late empress's coffin was moved to the Xiandian outside Chaoyang Gate. The depressed atmosphere in the palace since the empress's death finally eased a little. In addition to Yinzhen, Yinzuo and others also resumed their work in the Shangshufang.
In addition to leaving the palace to pay homage to his mother during the day, Yinzhen also had to catch up on the lessons he had missed in the evening. When Yinzuo went to see him one time, he saw Yinzhen silently crying over a purse. In order to prevent him from having wild thoughts alone, he shamelessly squeezed into Yinzhen's yard and even skipped classes for several days to accompany Yinzhen out of the palace several times. Kangxi turned a blind eye to this, and it was not until December 20th that everyone had a chance to breathe after the late empress's coffin was buried in the imperial mausoleum.
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