Hongli called out repeatedly, but Yonglian remained unresponsive, his eyelids tightly closed, never to open again.
At that moment, Hongli even wondered if this was all a dream, and if he was just dreaming of Yonglian leaving, and that Yonglian was actually still alive and asleep.
Hongli subconsciously clenched his fingers, the pain was clear and intense, but he did not "wake up" and remained in the same scene.
In other words, Yonglian... is really gone!
The lotus flowers picked from the Old Summer Palace were still vibrant and beautiful, but Yonglian's life ended there. He was only eight or nine years old! He hadn't even seen the beauty of the world before he was gone!
Hongli was filled with regret, lamenting that he hadn't taken Yonglian with him. Perhaps if Yonglian had gone to the Summer Palace, he could have escaped this calamity.
The child he had always ignored suddenly vanished before his eyes, and boundless regret slowly consumed him. Hongli felt his heart clenching, and the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe.
He desperately wished that God would give him more time to make up for what he owed Yonglian, but God simply didn't give him that chance. Yonglian left without warning, and he didn't even have time to see his child one last time.
I vaguely remember that he was going to the East Warm Pavilion. Before leaving, he told Yonglian to sleep for a while, saying that he would come over to have dinner with him after court the next morning.
Yung-lien agreed and even said he wanted to drink shrimp porridge.
These were the last words he spoke to Yonglian. Hongli never imagined that it would be their last farewell!
Hongli, as a father, spent little time with his child and showed little care. Witnessing such a separation of life and death, he was already in so much pain. As a mother, Yuying poured all her hopes into Yonglian. She thought that Yonglian would grow up safely and healthily after surviving the smallpox vaccination. She thought that this legitimate son would be able to shoulder heavy responsibilities in the future. Who would have thought that Heaven would be so cruel, severing their mother-son bond with a single stroke!
She wasn't afraid that Hongli didn't favor her, because she still had Yonglian by her side. Now that Yonglian has also left her, what does she have left?
Recalling the events of today, Yu Ying felt more and more uneasy. "Yong Lian was fine at first, but as soon as Yong Huang returned to the palace, he died. Wasn't it Yong Huang who brought this upon him? I told him he was destined for a tough life, but the Emperor didn't believe me."
While Hongli was grieving, he suddenly heard this and immediately flew into a rage, "Who told you that Yonghuang has returned to the palace?"
Before leaving, Yu Shan suddenly told him that she wanted Yong Huang to stay at Zhang Sanying Palace near Mulan Hunting Ground and not return to the palace for the time being.
He had asked her the reason at the time, but Yu Shan did not explain it clearly. She only said that it was to keep Yong Huang away from trouble, just in case.
Hongli had thought it wouldn't be that serious, but now that Yonglian was gone, the Empress was actually blaming Yonghuang. Fortunately, Yushan had the foresight to prevent Yonghuang from entering the palace.
“Yonghuang sprained his ankle and is still recuperating at the temporary palace. He hasn’t returned yet. He’s been away from the palace for the past few months. How could he be bringing misfortune to Yonglian?”
Yonghuang didn't come back? Yuying was speechless for a moment, unable to speak for a long time.
Already grieving, Hongli became even more indignant. "You've been taking care of Yonglian in the palace for the past two weeks, so you should be well aware of his condition. The imperial physicians have already said there's no way to save him, and even the renowned physicians are only trying their best and can't guarantee they can save Yonglian. You know this perfectly well, so why do you insist on pushing the responsibility onto an innocent child? Is this the only way you can find some solace?"
Yu Ying was speechless, but she was still indignant. She couldn't understand why God was so cruel to her. "Why are her children alive and well, while my children have left me one after another? What did I do wrong?"
Hearing the Empress's words with his own ears, Hongli could hardly believe that such words could come from the mouth of a young lady from a noble family.
"Yu Ying! You are also a mother, and an empress, the mother of the nation. You feel resentful because other children are safe and healthy. Do you wish for something to happen to Yu Shan's child as well? How could you utter such vicious words?"
With a heart full of sorrow, Yu Ying raised her tearful eyes and looked at Hongli with resentment, "Anyway, Your Majesty, you only care about Su's children and have never liked Yonglian. Whether Yonglian lives or dies, you don't care at all."
Witnessing Yonglian's death was heartbreaking for Hongli, and she actually said he didn't care? Such unfounded speculation only fueled Hongli's anger.
"What are you doing now? He is my own flesh and blood. When have I ever mistreated him?"
"Then why did you take Yonghuang to Rehe but not Yonglian? You said Yonglian was the legitimate son and shouldn't be playful, but those are just excuses. The real reason is that you don't like Yonglian. Even though he's the legitimate son, you've never taken him seriously. Yonglian admires you so much, yet he's never had a place in your heart!"
Yu Ying knew many things perfectly well, yet she still had to deceive herself and comfort her child. Now that Yong Lian was gone, all of Yu Ying's hopes collapsed in an instant. She was in a state of complete collapse, speaking without thinking, in a daze, and unable to understand what she was saying.
Hongli's forehead veins throbbed, his knuckles trembled, and he almost raised his hand to slap her, but seeing that Yonglian was still lying in the tent, he really didn't want to lay a hand on his birth mother in front of Yonglian. He only turned his cold face to Yuying and warned her sternly.
"The person I dislike is you, I have never despised Yonglian! Yonglian's body is not yet cold, I do not want to argue with you, but if you continue to spout nonsense, do not blame me for being impolite!"
After giving the warning, Hongli resolutely turned around and ordered the palace servants to prepare the funeral for the Second Prince.
After this incident, Hongli lost all interest in attending court and announced a five-day suspension of court sessions. Since he could not make amends during his lifetime, he could only hold a grand funeral for Yonglian so that he could rest in peace.
Upon hearing this devastating news, the Empress Dowager wept uncontrollably, heartbroken. She personally went to Changchun Palace to see her grandson one last time.
The Empress Dowager loved this grandson dearly. Now that Yonglian had died young, the Empress Dowager was heartbroken and wept bitterly. The Empress was already suffering, but she still had to comfort the Empress Dowager and tell her to take good care of her health.
Wiping away her tears, the Empress Dowager choked back sobs, saying that Yonglian was the legitimate son who unfortunately died young, and should be posthumously named Crown Prince.
Upon hearing this, Hongli frowned.
He did feel guilty towards Yonglian, but Yonglian was already gone, so what was the point of posthumously conferring the title of Crown Prince?
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