Before she could finish speaking, tears streamed down her face like pear blossoms in the rain, making her appear even more frail and delicate, evoking pity from all who saw her.
Although Emperor Kangxi felt sorry for him, he also had his own political considerations and the same favoritism he showed towards Crown Prince Yinreng.
"Cousin, don't think too much. Once you're better, I'll naturally give you everything you need. You should take good care of yourself now; Little Fifteen still needs her mother."
Empress Tong could not believe these words came from Emperor Kangxi's mouth.
She didn't believe the imperial physician hadn't told her the truth, even though he clearly knew that she and her child wouldn't live much longer.
This is like rubbing salt into her wounds.
If she finds out about this, even if she dies, it's impossible for me to do it for her.
These words were so damaging that Empress Tong's face quickly turned even paler, and her face flushed with anger, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Empress Tong took two deep breaths to avoid dying of anger immediately, and said weakly.
“Cousin Emperor, I have nothing to do here. If you have other important matters to attend to, please go ahead and take care of them. Come visit me again in the evening.”
Empress Tong didn't want to see Kangxi for even a moment longer. Regardless of whether his words were intentional or unintentional, they chilled her to the bone.
This path is blocked now, but she still has a backup plan.
With the help of the wet nurse, he struggled to finish the medicine. Empress Tong then quickly sent someone to invite the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, over.
His opening statement was like a bombshell.
"Little Si, when you contracted smallpox, do you know who did it?"
"She is your biological mother, Consort De, of the Uya clan."
Not to mention the expression on the face of the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, who was standing next to him.
Duofu, sitting under the bed, had an expression that said it all along. He had guessed from the beginning who had caused the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, to contract smallpox.
Among them was Consort De, of the Uya clan, but Duofu felt that Empress Tong was probably also involved.
Even if they didn't do it themselves, they were definitely fanning the flames from behind.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, stared directly at Empress Tong, neither dodging nor avoiding her gaze.
“Mother, you need to have evidence to support your statement.”
"Your subject knows that Mother and Consort De do not have a very friendly relationship."
Empress Tong smiled, and the wet nurse stuffed all the evidence that had been found back then into the Fourth Prince's arms.
"Fourth Prince, don't disbelieve me. These are all evidences. Her Majesty wouldn't wrong anyone."
Empress Tong gestured for the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, to come forward, looking at him with tender eyes.
"I'm telling you this not to ruin your relationship, but because it's the truth. If you don't believe me, you can look it up yourself later."
Seeing that the Fourth Prince Yinzhen still didn't believe her, Empress Tong decided to take drastic measures.
"Your father did not agree to change your imperial genealogy. He was afraid it would hinder his crown prince. He didn't think about you at all."
"If I die, you, at your age, will definitely have to go back to your biological mother."
"Think about it, your own mother has just been promoted to the fourteenth prince. She doesn't have any time left to care about you, not to mention what happened back then."
"If she could be so cruel to her beloved sixth prince, how much more so to you, her eldest son whom she is not close to?"
"Furthermore, she despises me. Think carefully, if you go back to her side, will you have a good life?"
Empress Tong spoke at length, then lay weakly on the soft pillows, her eyes fixed on the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, not wanting to miss a single expression on his face.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, was indeed somewhat panicked and didn't know what to do.
He is only an eleven or twelve-year-old boy, though he understands the cruelty of the harem.
However, under the protection of Consort Tong, he did not see much of the dark side.
His servants treated him with utmost respect, except for the occasional grievance he suffered at the hands of Crown Prince Yinreng.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, is now almost convinced that the smallpox incident that year might really be related to Consort De.
"Mother, you'll be alright."
Empress Tong smiled genuinely this time and reached out to pat the head of the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.
"Don't talk nonsense. I know my own body."
"Your mother will definitely make arrangements for you and will not let you go back to your wicked mother's side."
"Even your mother can't bear to part with it."
The madness hidden deep in Empress Tong's eyes was astonishing.
She will find them one by one. Even if she dies, she still has the Fourth Prince.
What she cannot do, her father and brothers will surely help her to do.
After hearing Empress Tong's words, the Fourth Prince Yinzhen was in a daze, not knowing where he was or when he had returned to his room.
---
The wet nurse, her face filled with sorrow, carefully placed the fifteenth prince beside Empress Tong's bed, holding him in her arms.
"Your Majesty, why are you doing this? In the end, the Fourth Prince is not worth your distress. You are still making plans for him while you are ill."
Empress Tong interrupted the wet nurse sternly, staring at her intently.
"After I leave, you will go and serve the Fourth Prince. Not only will you be able to take care of the Fourth Prince for me, but you will also leave a way out for yourself, Granny."
The wet nurse quickly shook her head.
“This old servant is unwilling. If Your Highness dies, this old servant will stay in Chengqian Palace for the rest of my life and will not go anywhere else.”
A hint of tenderness flashed in Empress Tong's eyes as she spoke to the wet nurse in a coquettish tone.
“How could I bear to let my nanny serve me for the rest of my life? I arranged for her to go to the Fourth Prince’s side, not only to take care of him for me, but also to help me take revenge in the future.”
“Now His Majesty can’t even see my son and me. He’s nothing compared to his precious son. Maybe he even played a part in the death of my last child.”
Upon hearing this, the wet nurse looked at Empress Tong with shock in her eyes and nodded when she saw her.
His straight back suddenly bent over.
"My empress, why has your life been so miserable? How could His Majesty treat you like this?"
"Back then, it was His Majesty himself who proposed to you, promising to treat you well. That's why the Master allowed you to enter the palace. Who would have thought?"
"His Majesty doesn't care at all about the childhood friendship they had back then."
"The year he had smallpox, the palace was terrified, but our master personally brought him back and took care of him..."
The wet nurse spoke with tears streaming down her face; how could she have imagined this?
Now that his own princess is about to die, the Emperor, for the sake of his precious crown prince, is unwilling to grant the princess's small wish.
It's just changing the imperial genealogy of the Fourth Prince, not making him the Crown Prince. Why all the fuss? It's true that emperors are all hard-hearted.
Empress Tong looked at the wet nurse who was crying even more sadly than herself and couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
She carefully held the little fifteen in her arms, her face already flushed red, her breathing weak. She didn't know if her poor child could make it through the night.
The imperial physicians had already surrendered; they had no way to help and dared not use any methods.
Otherwise, if the young prince were accidentally killed, it would be a crime that would implicate nine generations of his family.
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