Return of the Pearl

Qianlong held the bowl of chestnuts steadily in both hands and walked back to the inner hall step by step, slowly and leisurely. There, he saw Yun'er sitting quietly on the bed. Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, were staring intently at the picture book. She was so engrossed and completely immersed in it. It turned out that she was not resting at all.

Qianlong knew very well that his Yun'er was such a kind-hearted person. Perhaps she did this just to create an opportunity for herself and the twelfth prince to be alone together.

Qianlong gently put down the bowl of chestnuts. The bowl of chestnuts seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, making his movements extremely slow. After putting down the chestnuts, the emotions in his heart were like a surging tide, mixed and indescribable, and a trace of unspeakable sadness surged up.

He walked forward slowly, each step seemed to carry a thousand pounds of strength. He came to Xiao Yun's side and gently embraced Xiao Yun in his arms. His chin rested lightly on Xiao Yun's head, like a wounded little bird finding a warm nest.

His voice was filled with endless melancholy and loss, and he murmured, "Yun'er, the twelfth prince told me that this palace is a cage to him, a world that binds him. He longs for freedom, and I agreed to it. Every word he said seems to hurt my heart. Do you think the other princes have the same idea?" His voice was full of helplessness and sadness, as if he was confessing the pain deep in his heart to Xiao Yun.

At this moment, Xiao Yun deeply felt the sadness surging like a tide in Qianlong's heart. She could understand the helplessness and heartache that Qianlong felt as a father. At this moment, Qianlong seemed to have shed the aura of a superior emperor and turned into an ordinary father who was about to lose his son.

Xiao Yun hesitated several times, wanting to say something, but he felt that at this moment, no matter how many words he said, they would seem so pale and powerless, and so useless.

So, she gently held Qianlong's hand. That hand was so warm that it seemed to give Qianlong strength. She slowly placed Qianlong's hand on her abdomen and said softly, "I don't know about other children, but I am sure that our child will never want to escape from the palace. To her, this is not a cage, but a warm home."

Xiao Yun's voice was like a gurgling stream, clear and moving. Her eyes were full of determination and tenderness, as if she was conveying a kind of power to Qianlong, a power that could comfort his soul.

Qianlong's mood, at that moment, became bright, like the sun shining through the clouds. Yes, he and Yun'er would soon have a child of their own. That was his hope and his reliance!

Qianlong gently stretched out his hand and picked up the bowl of chestnuts. The chestnuts seemed to still carry his concern and love, trembling slightly in the air. He picked up the chestnuts one by one, his movements extremely careful and gentle, as if he was protecting the most precious treasure in the world.

Every time he fed a chestnut into Xiao Yun's mouth, his eyes were filled with endless tenderness and love. That gentle look seemed to be able to melt all the ice and warm all the coldness in the world. His eyes were like a clear spring, flowing with affection and attachment, as if he wanted to convey all the emotions in his heart to Xiao Yun through the action of feeding the chestnut.

There was a subtle trace of tenderness hidden in that gentle gaze, as if telling of his endless love and care for Yun'er. His eyes were tightly locked on Yun'er, as if Yun'er was his whole world. There was only Yun'er in his eyes, and everything else was no longer important.

After all the plump and round chestnuts were fed into Xiao Yun's mouth, Qianlong did not issue the usual glaring edict. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, took a deep breath, and said, "Xiao Luzi."

At this moment, Xiao Luzi hurried in from outside with quick and flustered steps. His footsteps were a little heavy, and every step seemed to step on people's heartstrings, making a dull sound, waiting for Qianlong's instructions!

Qianlong's tone was as firm as iron. It seemed to burst forth from the depths of his soul, carrying an irresistible force. He issued an order without question: "Twelve Prince, leave immediately to guard the imperial mausoleum. Tomorrow morning, he will be escorted by the guards from the palace."

This decree struck the air like a heavy hammer, sending shockwaves through the air. Upon hearing this, Xiao Luzi couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise and confusion. He stared at Qianlong with wide eyes, disbelieving, wondering to himself: The Twelfth Prince had just met the Emperor. Could it be that he had displeased him in some way? However, when he thought carefully, he couldn't find any clues.

Although his heart was filled with doubts and confusion, Xiao Luzi did not dare to say much. He knew that the emperor's majesty was inviolable, so he respectfully accepted the order and left. His slightly trembling figure seemed to tell of the waves in his heart.

When Xiao Yun saw this, a look of heartache suddenly appeared on her face, as if she saw her beloved suffering great pain. She slowly reached out her hand, picked up a piece of exquisite pastry, and gently put it into Qianlong's mouth.

Her eyes were full of worry and concern, and her watery eyes seemed to hide endless worries. She whispered, "Once you issue this decree, people who don't know the truth will probably say you are heartless." There was a hint of resentment in her voice, as if she felt sorry for Qianlong.

Qianlong naturally understood the deep meaning contained in Xiao Yun's words. He raised his head slightly and looked at the distant horizon. A complex and tangled emotion surged in his heart. Nara had just passed away, and her body was still cold, but he was so eager to deal with the twelfth prince. This made those who didn't know the truth naturally think that he was a heartless and ungrateful person.

But is what people in this world believe truly the truth? Is what they see truly the true nature of things? Qianlong's heart was filled with a mixture of helplessness and determination. His brows knitted slightly, his face a look of deep thought. He seemed to have a thousand words in his mind, but he didn't know where to begin.

He was struggling and conflicted in his heart, making a painful decision. He knew that there were some things that he had to do, even if he would be criticized or misunderstood, but he could not retreat or hesitate.

He turned his head and looked at Xiao Yun gently, with a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in his eyes. That tenderness flowed in his eyes like a gurgling stream, making people feel warm.