The Eighth Prince was released after being imprisoned for a few days. The Emperor stripped him of his title, and now he is just an ordinary member of the imperial family. His official duties have been suspended, and he is now unemployed at home, having to start all over again.
In this turmoil, the Nalan family was the one that was actually affected on the surface. Mingzhu's idea of a peaceful end was ultimately a pipe dream. He was given a cup of poisoned wine, and the Nalan family was leaderless and was immediately divided up. Overnight, it lost its former glory.
Yinzhi was not mistreated in the Imperial Clan Court. Prince Yu treated every nephew and niece equally; he simply didn't show any special favor. Upon returning to his own residence, he stepped over the brazier to ward off bad luck, and what he saw was his wife, her eyes filled with tears yet forcing a smile, and the child in his arms.
Hongwang was well-mannered. When he saw him looking over, he called out "Father" in a childish voice. The Eighth Prince picked him up and bounced him around before going to the main courtyard with his wife, leaving Nalan and her several concubines behind.
Perhaps it was true love revealed in times of hardship, because the Eighth Prince's wife felt that she and Yinzhi had become much closer, as if they had returned to the time when they had just gotten married, when it was just the two of them and no one else.
Now, besides the two of them, there's also Hongwang, this little troublemaker.
The Eighth Prince's wife liked this child, if he hadn't grown up looking more and more like Nalan.
Yinzhi took some time to visit Nalan's courtyard, and the two sat facing each other in silence.
"You betrayed me?" Yinzhi was somewhat confused. He had given Nalan enough respect and affection, and the two had a son. During his days at the Imperial Clan Court, he carefully reviewed the recent events and realized that he had overlooked a very important aspect.
Ever since the incident that occurred in the mansion, Yinzhi had wondered if there was an internal traitor and had conducted an internal investigation, but to no avail.
Looking back now, it was all foreshadowed. If it weren't for the collusion of the women inside and outside, Tao'er wouldn't have been taken away so easily.
Nalan looked up at Yinzhi, her eyes flashing with hatred: "Eighth Prince, do you know what is the most unforgivable thing for a mother?"
"It's like taking the child away from her."
"Guo Luoluo is jealous and infertile. I gave birth to your child, and what happened? She just casually took the credit. That's my child. Why should she raise it?"
"You know how terrified I am. Just thinking about my Hongwang struggling to survive under that vicious woman every day makes me want to tear her apart."
“I was so desperate, I begged you for mercy many times, but you didn’t care about my son and me at all. What does it matter whether Hongwang lives or dies? You will have many more children, hahahaha.”
“My surname is Nalan. You didn’t just find out, did you?” Nalan calmly sipped her tea. “I would not regret dying. But you must take good care of Hongwang, my lord.”
“Perhaps this is your only child.” After Nalan finished speaking, Yinzhi’s heart stirred.
"What do you mean?"
"It means exactly what it says." Nalan said no more.
Yinzhi gave her a strange look, not wanting to say anything more to her. Anyway, with the Nalan family gone, she, as a concubine, had no value anymore.
Back in his study, he summoned the royal physician to take his pulse. The physician took a long time to say, “Your Highness, your pulse suggests that you have taken some kind of potent medicine, which has damaged your health.”
"What effect?" Yinzhi had the worst possible thought.
"This servant's medical skills are lacking; it may be causing some problems with having children." The physician felt his life was in danger. He had discovered such a secret, but as a servant of the Eighth Master, keeping quiet was never an option for him.
With a gloomy face, Yinzhi dismissed him. In private, he sought out many famous doctors and spent a lot of money to have them examine his pulse anonymously. In the end, he confirmed that he would not have any more children.
"Nalan!" It must be her doing. Yinzhi stormed to her courtyard, only to find the bedroom door tightly shut.
When the servants in the room saw that Yinzhi was coming in a menacing manner, they wanted to stop him and warn their master. However, the most respectable maid was kicked in the chest, and no one dared to provoke him.
Yinzhi pushed open the door and smelled a strange odor. Looking up, he saw a person hanging from the rafters. The servants quickly lifted the person down and found that he was already lifeless.
Yinzhi was surprised that the person who had been talking to him yesterday was gone today, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
He instructed his servants to tidy up Nalan's appearance carefully, when he suddenly noticed a note left on the dressing table.
"Eighth Prince, I am guilty and must take my leave first. Take good care of Hongwang and be well!" These two short lines were written hastily and in very messy handwriting.
Yinzhi sighed, put away the note, and went to discuss with Lady Guoluo the arrangements for Lady Nalan's funeral.
Upon hearing that Lady Nalan had committed suicide, the Eighth Prince's wife was not as happy as she had imagined. Other women would inevitably come to the Eighth Prince's residence sooner or later. With Lady Nalan as a shield, and with her son in her grasp, she was a scapegoat for so many others—how could she have died like that!
"Give her a proper burial." If she were still alive, Yinzhi would have tormented her quite a bit, but now that she has died so resolutely, he feels a great deal of reluctance.
Perhaps, it was she and this royal palace that drove her to her death.
I still remember when Qing'er first entered the manor, she was such a bright and gentle person.
******
January of the 48th year of Kangxi's reign
The emperor frequently summoned the deposed crown prince. At first, it was just the two of them alone. Later, when Kangxi summoned officials, he began to openly meet with Yinreng and would even occasionally ask for his opinion.
More often than not, court officials would see Emperor Kangxi and his son playing with Prince Hongzhao; the child became much more interesting after he could talk.
Emperor Kangxi would also remark that the current Crown Prince had broken free from the influence of witchcraft and returned to his former gentle and polite nature, serving as a model for princes. He even said that he dreamed of the Empress Dowager, Xiaozhuang, who asked him in the dream, "How is Baocheng?"
After these preparations, during a morning court session, Emperor Kangxi raised the issue of establishing an heir apparent.
"Gentlemen, which of my princes do you think is capable of undertaking such an important task?"
Everyone looked at the first prince standing in the row. For some time, it had been Prince Cheng who led the way, but today it was Yinreng. He was not wearing the crown prince's robes and was dressed in ordinary clothes. He stared at everyone without changing his expression.
To Kangxi's surprise, quite a few people recommended the Eighth Prince, including important officials such as Ma Qi, Aling'a, and Orondai, who jointly submitted a recommendation. Kangxi remained silent on the matter.
Some ministers, who had guessed Kangxi's intentions, tentatively recommended the removal of the crown prince. Kangxi's attitude softened, and he nodded in agreement.
Given this, the court officials understood the emperor's intentions perfectly, and they all began to sing his praises and create momentum for the removal of the crown prince.
That month, the crown prince was successfully reinstated, and at the same time, Kangxi also promoted the titles of all the princes.
Yinzhen was granted the title of Prince Yong, Prince Cheng was promoted to Prince Cheng, the Fifth Prince was granted the title of Prince Heng, and those from the seventh to the thirteenth in rank were all granted the title of Beile, and the fourteenth was Beizi.
The difference was that this time, the procedures for the reinstatement of the crown prince were simplified in accordance with Kangxi's wishes, and Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace with his family.
"I'm back again," Yinreng murmured to himself. "This time, Father Emperor, it's a fight to the death!"
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