Return of the Pearl

The Twelfth Prince smiled self-deprecatingly, a smile filled with bitterness and helplessness, like a flower trembling in the cold wind. He slowly said, "The Empress Dowager is dead, and my grandfather's family has all passed away. Now, I am left alone in this vast palace. I feel like a caged bird, bound to this small world, unable to break free."

He paused and continued, "What's more, Your Majesty, your favor is only given to Consort Xian. You never seem to care about us princes and princesses. Not to mention us, even the other concubines can't feel your care. Your Majesty, please fulfill your wish and let me leave this palace to find my own freedom, okay?" At the end, there was a hint of pleading in his voice, and his eyes full of bitterness and helplessness looked straight at Qianlong, which made people feel pity.

Qianlong then slowly turned his gaze to the twelfth prince. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, which was a mixture of guilt, helplessness and pity. He slowly said, "So, are you blaming me?" His voice was low and hoarse, as if carrying endless fatigue and vicissitudes of life.

The 12th Prince hastily shook his head anxiously, as if he was afraid that even a little delay would lead to Emperor Qianlong's misunderstanding. He said anxiously, "No, Your Majesty, thunder and rain are all the grace of the Emperor. I understand this very well.

Your Majesty, your heart belongs to only one person. It is difficult for other people to truly enter your heart or get close to you. This is not your fault, Your Majesty, and of course it is not our fault. The fault is that we were unfortunately born in the royal family.

"I have no desire for that position. I only want to be an ordinary commoner, longing for my own freedom. I really dare not blame you, Your Majesty. But the pain and helplessness in my heart, how can you truly know and experience it? If I continue to stay in this palace, I will only feel that life is worse than death. Please, Your Majesty, grant me your wish!"

At the end of his speech, the Twelfth Prince's voice gradually became low, just like the fading afterglow, filled with endless melancholy and sorrow. His eyes were full of confusion and helplessness, and that look made people feel pity and sigh, as if they could feel the unspeakable pain and struggle deep in his heart.

Qianlong stood there quietly, as if time had frozen in that moment. After a moment's silence, his deep and magnetic voice broke the silence, slowly ringing out, "Have you really thought it through?"

The Twelfth Prince's face was filled with determination. He nodded solemnly, his clear eyes gleaming with resolve as he spoke slowly, word by word, "This son has thought it through clearly, Father Your Majesty. And this son truly asks for nothing, needs nothing. I only hope to travel light and away from the confinement of this deep palace. That would be enough for me."

Qianlong's brows were furrowed tightly, and the deep lines on his face seemed to carry countless worries and thoughts. The trace of worry and thought between his brows seemed to condense thousands of thoughts, lingering for a long time.

After a long pause, he slowly began to speak, "Since that's the case, I'll give you a share of my inheritance from my private treasury. Think of it as my share of property. You must not refuse. You must understand that no matter what, you are my son. I give everyone a share of my inheritance, though some may receive more, others less. Do you understand the profound meaning of this?"

When the twelfth prince heard this, he had no intention of refusing, but said respectfully: "I have taken note of it. Thank you, Father." His voice was full of obedience and respect, and his humble posture seemed to express his loyalty and respect to Qianlong.

Qianlong was unable to suppress the strong feeling of reluctance in his heart. He slowly opened his mouth again and said, "I have decided to allocate some more manpower to you to give you a helping hand. As for the places you yearn for, from now on, you can go as far as the sky allows and fish can swim. I will grant you the freedom you have longed for, so that you can freely pursue your dreams and goals." His words were full of love and understanding for the twelfth prince, and his affectionate eyes were full of trust and support for him.

Upon hearing this, the twelfth prince's face was filled with excitement. He knelt and kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude. Then, he took a step forward and said in a voice full of sincerity and expectation, "Father Emperor, may I hug you?"

As soon as these words came out, Qianlong felt a wave of melancholy. He was not only a majestic emperor, but also a father. Why was it so difficult for a son to embrace his father? He also fell into deep thought, wondering why the distance between them was so great, and perhaps he himself could not explain the reason.

Qianlong slowly walked forward and gave the twelfth prince a warm hug. At that moment, time seemed to stand still and everything became quiet and silent. After a long time, Qianlong slowly loosened his hand and whispered softly in the twelfth prince's ear, "If you feel tired outside and want to go home, I will always be here waiting for you. I announced that I was exiling you to the imperial mausoleum, but in fact, I left you a way out. If you want to come back in the future, you can do so at any time."

After hearing what Qianlong said, the twelfth prince felt a warm current surge into his heart, and his heart was suddenly filled with emotion and gratitude. His originally clear and bright eyes now welled up with crystal tears, as if they were about to burst out at the next moment.

He knelt on his knees without hesitation, leaned forward, and kowtowed heavily on the cold, hard ground with his forehead, making clear and loud sounds, one after another, continuously. Each kowtow was filled with his deep respect and gratitude to Qianlong.

The twelfth prince kowtowed and said in a trembling and excited voice: "Your son thanks the Emperor! Thank you so much for your great grace! I will keep it in my heart and never forget it!" After saying this, the twelfth prince slowly raised his head, looked affectionately at Qianlong who was standing not far away, then turned around resolutely and left with firm and powerful steps.

At this time, Qianlong was still standing quietly there, motionless. His deep and sharp eyes were always closely following the figure of the twelfth prince who was walking away. His eyes revealed a complex emotion, including relief, reluctance, and a trace of indescribable concern.

The twelfth prince's back became smaller and smaller in Qianlong's sight, slowly becoming blurred and finally disappearing at the end of the distance. However, although the figure could no longer be seen, it seemed to be deeply imprinted in Qianlong's heart and could never be erased.

At this moment, Qianlong's heart was like a turbulent sea. All kinds of thoughts rushed in like the tide, intertwining and entangled with each other, making him a little overwhelmed for a moment. Recalling the bits and pieces of his past interactions with the twelfth prince, those beautiful times they had spent together seemed to be just yesterday, vivid in his mind. Thinking of this, Qianlong couldn't help but sigh slightly, with a hint of melancholy and emotion on his face.