On the fifth day, Yinzhen still hadn't returned.
The people in the manor are getting restless.
The Princess Consort frowned deeply in the main courtyard. She had originally intended to submit a memorial to the palace requesting an audience with Consort De, but she was horrified to discover that there was no way to send messages to the palace now.
Even at the palace gates, the Infantry Commander's Office strengthened its guard, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.
Suddenly, the capital city was filled with a tense atmosphere.
Honghui and Hongqing had originally planned to go to the teahouse to listen to storytelling together. The two boys, who were only a teenager, walked down the street and noticed that there were far fewer street vendors.
Honghui rarely went out, but Hongqing was experienced.
"Old Zhang, the guy who sells sugar paintings, isn't out setting up his stall! And why isn't the mutton king's shop open either?"
Hongqing originally wanted to take his friends to try these delicious foods and show off, because not every prince could run around like him.
However, many of the familiar vendors were not there when he came out today, which prompted him to complain and put him in a terrible mood.
"I don't know what's wrong with today. It's like they all agreed to do this. Even the braised pork rice stall that's open in the wind and rain is closed."
Honghui was quick-witted. His father hadn't been heard from in the palace for the past two days, which worried his mother. He also noticed that the atmosphere in the mansion was a little different.
Therefore, Honghui's comforting him was also a test.
"It's alright, we can eat something else. Is there some kind of rumor circulating in the capital lately? These street vendors must have gotten wind of it, otherwise why would they all stop setting up their stalls as if they had agreed to do so?"
Hong Qing gave a dismissive "tsk".
"What information could they possibly have? Who could possibly be as powerful as the Aisin Gioro family?"
Honghui pursed his lips and continued, "That's true. Third Uncle has a wide circle of friends and is very knowledgeable. There shouldn't be anything he doesn't know."
Hongqing pouted.
“My father is formidable, but his temperament is unpredictable. He used to be incredibly kind to me, listening to everything I said, but now he's become strict again, wishing he could beat me eight times a day.”
Honghui smiled and said, "What, did you get beaten up again?"
"Of course! It's just breaking a few inkstones, what's so special about them? He chased me for three streets with a whip, how embarrassing! But I haven't seen Father for several days, I wonder where he's off to have some fun again."
At this point, Honghui's expression suddenly changed, but Hongqing was still unaware. She put her arm around Honghui's shoulder and walked forward, quite pleased with herself.
"My father isn't home, so no one's watching me anymore. Shall we go to the casino today? Let's see what it's like?"
Honghui was preoccupied and quickly waved his hand, "Never mind, there's nothing much to see today. I'll go back first and we can stroll around after they've all set up their stalls."
Hong Qing's eyebrows drooped immediately, but he wasn't one to dawdle, so he could only nod.
"Alright, alright, then we'll wait until next time. Let's see how I deal with that mutton king when he sets up his stall."
Honghui rushed back to the manor, thinking he would have a good talk with his wife.
My third uncle hasn't returned home for several days! Does that mean all the uncles and elders have been summoned to the palace?
Honghui suddenly became very afraid. Although he was a descendant of the emperor, his feelings towards the palace and the Forbidden City were no different from those of ordinary people. He was terrified of the imperial power.
Under imperial power, everyone is equal; we are all just ants.
He couldn't explain why, but when he passed the palace gate and saw that there were more than twice as many guards patrolling back and forth as before, his heart began to pound wildly, like a drumbeat.
The crimson palace gates seemed to have turned into a vortex black hole, and those who were sucked in could not get out.
This thought made his legs go weak, and he couldn't speak. He practically fled to the main courtyard.
However, he did not see his wife.
Granny Fu simply settled him in a side hall. Seeing that he looked strange, she had someone bring him a bowl of hot milk to drink in order to calm him down.
Back in familiar surroundings, Honghui's heart calmed down. After drinking a bowl of steaming milk, he felt much better, and his eyes returned to normal.
Honghui's thoughts returned to normal, but his voice was still somewhat hoarse.
"Is Mother receiving guests?"
Granny Fu nodded and replied, "Yes, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princesses have arrived. The Master is with them and instructed that you should rest for a while if you return."
Honghui nodded, his mind racing with thoughts.
Did Uncle Thirteen and Uncle Fourteen also enter the palace?
What exactly happened in the palace?
Thirteenth Prince's wife, Zhaojia Yunchun, was also asking. She was extremely flustered and thought of visiting her sisters-in-law to ask, but to her surprise, the residences of her older brothers were all closed to visitors, and only the residence of the Fourth Prince was still open to visitors.
Upon entering, they discovered that the Fourteenth Prince's wife, Lady Wanyan, was also there.
Then she understood. Fourth Sister-in-law was also planning to close the door to guests, but she couldn't very well kick the two of them out, since Fourteenth Brother was her own brother and Thirteenth Brother and Fourth Brother had always been close.
The fourteenth princess, Lady Wanyan, was the daughter of Luo Cha, a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a Commandant of the Cavalry.
Wanyan's ancestor was Emperor Shizong of Jin, and her stepmother was also from the Aisin Gioro clan. She was born with a brave and martial spirit and was always proud and arrogant. Unlike ordinary women, she never believed in the idea of a husband being the head of the household. On the contrary, she particularly looked down on the naive appearance of the Fourteenth Prince.
The fourteenth prince was impetuous and had always favored gentle and demure women; this is how his concubine, Shushu Jueluo Wanhe, was so greatly favored.
In the Fourteenth Prince's mind, no one could challenge his authority as the Imperial Prince, not even his wife. The entire world belonged to his father; he didn't need to bow down to anyone, and everyone else should treat him with utmost respect.
In his eyes, Wanyan was unruly and particularly stubborn, so the couple was always in a state of mutual loathing.
However, when the Fourteenth Prince had this incident, it was actually Wanyan who was most worried and anxious.
Just like in the Thirteenth Prince's household, Consort Liu Jia and Consort Guarjia, who had been demoted to Gege, were both favored. At this moment, the only one who could step forward and be extremely anxious was the Thirteenth Prince's wife, Zhao Jia Yun Chun.
The three women were exchanging information among themselves. Wanyan spoke first: "Five days ago, all the princes received imperial edicts to enter the palace, and then there was no news from them. Now the palace is under strict security. I heard from my father that all the soldiers at the Infantry Commander's Office have been recalled and are working two shifts a day."
Zhao Jiayun Chun chimed in, "My sister-in-law from my maternal family also sent word that the grand court assembly has been suspended, and His Majesty didn't even attend court this morning."
The three women looked at each other in bewilderment. They hadn't even attended the grand court assembly; something serious must have happened in the palace.
Could it be that something happened to His Majesty?
Or is he the Crown Prince of Yuqing Palace?
Only these two have such weight.
Regardless of who it is, if something happens to them, it will shake the foundation of the Qing Dynasty.
Yan Hua's expression was solemn.
“My dear sisters-in-law, there is something going on in the palace, but no one knows the details. We must guard the rear and not cause any trouble for the princes in the palace. So when you get back, you must guard the gates and not spread any messages, or you will bring trouble upon yourselves.”
Finally, one more sentence was added.
"You gentlemen will definitely be safe; that's His Majesty's own son."
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