Whether you truly understand someone has little to do with how long you've known them. Some people can be together for years but still never truly understand each other's nature; all they see is a mask.
“You only care about your rules and never consider Yonglian’s thoughts. Just because of a Taoist’s words, you’ve been obsessed for so many years, forbidding him from interacting with Yonghuang. You even forbid Rongyu and Yongzhang from speaking to each other. Apart from Yongcheng, Yonglian has no one to talk to.”
You selfishly robbed him of his brotherly affection, confining him to your side day and night, setting rules and prohibitions for him. You always felt you gave him the best of everything, but never considered how oppressed he was!
Don't all parents hope their children will succeed? Yu Ying believes this is perfectly understandable. "He is your only legitimate son, so of course I have to be strict with him and make him the best child. Is that wrong?"
“It’s right to be strict with his studies, but don’t forget that he’s still a child. Yongzhang can play in the mud as he pleases, but Yonglian can’t. Apart from reading, practicing martial arts, and painting, he can’t have his own hobbies. You think he’s of noble status and shouldn’t do those vulgar and boring things. You even demand that he compose poems and paint when he occasionally strolls in the Imperial Garden.”
He can only obey your demands, never argue. You see this as obedience, but in reality, you've already smoothed out his edges, turning him into the person you want him to be. The price is the loss of happiness.
Hongli's words greatly puzzled Yuying. "Your Majesty, you are so busy every day and don't pay any attention to Yonglian at all. How do you know these things?"
“These are all things he told me last night. He probably knows that his days are numbered, so he spoke his mind.”
Previously, Hongli did not understand Yonglian's true thoughts. Whenever he had free time, he would accompany Yushan and her son, and he almost never went to Changchun Palace. He rarely had the opportunity to see Yonglian. Only when he occasionally went to the Imperial Study to inspect the situation would he inquire about Yonglian's studies.
That was all the connection between father and son. Last night was probably the most they had ever talked, and it was then that Hongli truly understood the child's inner world.
Yonglian's father was the emperor and his mother was the empress. However, his mother had too high expectations of him and was very strict with him, while his father often neglected him. He seemed to have the most noble status and the best of everything, but in reality, he had nothing. His heart was desolate and he did not feel any warmth.
Hongli didn't consider himself a good father, and Yuying had never truly understood Yonglian, yet she was so self-righteous that Hongli couldn't stand it anymore and told her everything.
Yu Ying found it hard to believe, because Hongli's words completely overturned her understanding of her son.
“I am his mother. He should be saying these things to me. Why has he never told me?”
"What's the point of saying it? All you'll say is that he's the legitimate prince, different from ordinary people, and should work hard to win his father's favor."
That's because he doted on Madam Su and her son. Yu Ying couldn't compete with Madam Su, so she could only urge her son on, "If you had shown him even a little more care, I wouldn't have been so strict with him."
Hongli did not refute Yu Ying's accusations, but there were some things he needed to clarify.
“I have failed in my duty, but why didn’t I come to Changchun Palace? It’s because you planted spies in Jingren Palace, because you are superstitious about the words of Taoist priests.”
The Taoist priest said that wearing a peace talisman and staying away from Yonghuang would ensure his safety, and Yonglian did so. Why then did the talisman fail to save his life? If the Taoist priest's words were so effective, would everyone in the world seek out peace talismans and live to a ripe old age?
Hongli's barrage of questions left Yuying speechless; she truly couldn't understand where things had gone wrong.
“My son is so well-behaved and usually has no major health problems, so why did he suddenly fall ill and become so sick? I didn’t mean to put pressure on him; I was just trying to do what’s best for him! Why can’t he understand my good intentions as a mother?”
The shock caused Yu Ying a heartache and a headache. Unable to catch her breath, she suddenly blacked out and fainted.
Startled, Dongling rushed to help, calling out several times without response. Then, anxiously, she said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has fainted!"
Seeing this, Hongli remained indifferent, still standing with his hands behind his back, showing no intention of approaching to show concern. He coldly ordered, "Send the Empress back to Changchun Palace and summon the imperial physician to treat her."
After the palace maids helped the Empress away, Hongli turned around and saw that Yonghuang's face was already covered in tears, filled with self-reproach.
"Father, should I have come? The Empress doesn't need to be so angry."
Now that Yonglian is gone, from this day forward, Hongli will no longer consider Yuying's feelings.
"You don't need to care about the Empress's attitude. I said you can see her, so you can see her. If you have anything you want to say to Yonglian, you can say it. I'll go out first and wait for you outside."
Even though Yonghuang was just a child, Hongli was willing to respect him and give him a chance to say goodbye.
Before him lay Yonglian's golden coffin. A vibrant life had suddenly passed away, and Yonghuang could not accept it, as if the scene of Yonglian speaking to him was still yesterday.
I still remember that before he left for the Summer Palace, Yonglian found him and gave him a sandalwood lotus seedpod. He didn't dare to accept it and politely declined. He also told Yonglian not to look for him again.
Yonglian's smile faded, replaced by disappointment. Just as Yonghuang turned away resolutely, Yonglian suddenly called out to him.
“Brother, I know you are worried about my mother and that’s why you don’t dare to talk to me. This lotus seedpod is under this tree. If you like it, you can take it with you. If you don’t like it, then… then so be it. I won’t force you.”
Yonghuang endured it again and again, but in the end he did not turn around and continued to walk forward.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
