Return of the Pearl

Qianlong walked towards Yonghe Palace with steady steps. On the way, his eyes were cold and sharp, and he whispered an order, "An Yi, warn the midwives and palace maids who deliver babies, let them know what to say and what not to say. If there is any mistake, they will be severely punished! And give them some extra silver as a reward!" An Yi took the order and left.

That night, Yongqi was on pins and needles in Yonghe Palace, his heart tightly entangled with anxiety. He paced back and forth constantly, each step filled with anxiety and worry, as if the ground would be left with deep marks by his steps.

His brows were tightly furrowed, with an inextricable sorrow condensed between his brows. The anxious expression made his face look extremely solemn. He looked out the window from time to time. The dark night sky seemed to be mocking his waiting, making him feel more and more that time was unbearable.

He kept rubbing his hands, his palms were full of sweat, as if he wanted to grasp that glimmer of hope, but didn't know where to start. His heart was full of contradictions and struggles. He was looking forward to hearing news of his brothers' victory, but was also afraid to hear any bad news.

Time passed minute by minute, the sky began to turn white, but Yongqi still hadn't received any news. He became more and more anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, fidgeting. The torment of waiting almost made him collapse.

Qianlong arrived unexpectedly and visited Yonghe Palace in person. When he gently pushed open the door of Yongqi's room, the sound seemed to break the silence of the night and the peace in Yongqi's heart.

"It's so late and you haven't gone to bed yet. Who are you waiting for?" Qianlong's voice rang out in the air, like a low muffled thunder, causing Yongqi's heart to tremble violently.

Yongqi heard Qianlong's voice suddenly coming from behind him, and the teacup in his hand slipped involuntarily, fell to the ground in an instant, and shattered into countless tiny pieces. The crisp shattering sound was particularly harsh in the quiet night.

The Emperor's appearance instantly made Yongqi realize that Yongsheng's plan had failed. At that moment, an indescribable fear and uneasiness welled up in his heart. However, he tried his best to hold on and asked calmly, "Emperor, why have you come to your son's place so late at night?"

Qianlong sat in the main seat, his expression filled with endless vicissitudes and helplessness. "Just now, Yongsheng and Yongyan raised an army to force the palace, intending to rebel. Do you know what happened to them?"

Yongqi swallowed hard, his voice becoming a little stammering. "Father...Father, I don't understand what you're saying. I don't know. Father, you've always treated them well. How could they do such a thing?"

Qianlong snorted coldly, his voice filled with endless anger and disappointment. "Why are they plotting a rebellion? Don't you really know?"

Yongqi bit his lip tightly and shook his head slowly, as if he was trying to deny something, or to hide his inner panic. "I don't know."

A trace of helplessness and sadness flashed across Qianlong's face. He slowly said, "You went to Zhongcui Palace in the middle of the night to meet and discuss with the two brothers. I know everything."

As soon as these words came out, Yongqi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His body began to tremble uncontrollably. He instantly lost his balance and knelt on the ground, "Father, please forgive me, your son..."

Qianlong raised his hand to interrupt him, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Then do you know why I kept this a secret and even allowed these two brothers to lead their troops into the palace?"

Yongqi's thoughts at this moment were tangled like a tangled mess. He really couldn't figure out what Qianlong was thinking. His originally clear eyes were now full of confusion and bewilderment. He could only stammer out these three words, "Your son doesn't know." There was a bit of helplessness and helplessness in his words, and his voice trembled slightly due to nervousness.

Qianlong looked at the completely different Yongqi in front of him, his heart filled with emotion, "That's because you are both my sons. I have wanted to give you chances time and time again, but you didn't know how to cherish them. It's the same for them, and it's the same for you."

Yongqi naturally understood that the Emperor's words just now clearly wanted him to tell the truth, but he had missed this opportunity. At this moment, he could only kowtow and beg for mercy. The sound of his forehead hitting the ground was particularly clear in the silent night, as if it was the outpouring of his endless regret...

Yongqi's head kept hitting the ground like pounding garlic, each time with determination and regret. The force was so great that blood flowed out of his forehead, staining the ground in front of him red. However, he seemed unaware and was still mechanically repeating this action, as if only this could slightly alleviate the fear and anxiety surging like a tide in his heart.

Qianlong's heart seemed to have turned into a cold and hard rock, without the slightest warmth or emotion. He looked at Yongqi quietly, with a complex look in his eyes, including disappointment and anger. "If I had known this would be the outcome, why did you do it in the first place? Yongqi, I really want to know, now that Yongsheng and Yongyan have been shot to death by my order, what should I do with you?" Qianlong's voice rang out in the empty palace, like a dull thunder, exploding in Yongqi's ears.

As soon as these words were spoken, Yongqi felt like he had been hit hard. He collapsed to the ground and stopped kowtowing. He stared blankly at Qianlong, his eyes full of despair and helplessness. "Father, I really know I was wrong. Please give me another chance..." His voice trembled with deep pleading.

Qianlong looked at Yongqi who was in such an embarrassed state, but he did not feel a trace of pity in his heart. "I also want to ask, how have I wronged you? Why did you kill your father and the king?" There was some anger in his voice, and his eyes were burning with anger.

Yongqi clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. He could feel the stinging pain in his palms, but it was far less than the pain in his heart. His heart was filled with unwillingness and resentment, "Father Your Majesty, I just don't want to be inferior to others. I want that chair. I just want to be with mother... I know I was wrong. I am just jealous. I am jealous that you dote on Concubine Xian so much and attach so much importance to her child. Will Concubine Xian give birth to a prince or a princess?" His voice was full of pain and struggle.

When Qianlong heard that Yongqi was still concerned about the gender of the baby in Yun'er's belly, he couldn't help but shook his head, "Yun'er gave birth to a princess, so why are you doing this?" His voice was full of helplessness and sighs.

Yongqi laughed at himself after hearing this. "Yeah, why bother? So many lives were sacrificed, and in the end it was a girl." The laughter was filled with bitterness and helplessness, echoing in the silent palace, making it seem even more desolate. His heart was filled with regret. He knew that everything was irreversible. He had lost too much, too much...

At this moment, Yongqi's heart was like a turbulent sea, with all kinds of emotions intertwined, making him feel extremely painful and confused. He regretted his actions, regretted his greed and ambition. He wished so much that time could go back and let him make a new choice. However, all this was just wishful thinking...