Return of the Pearl

Yongqi knew that pleading was futile. He was doomed to die today. He slowly raised his head and looked at Qianlong. His once bright eyes were now dim, filled with despair and relief. His voice was low and hoarse, "Father, can you let me choose the way I want to die?"

Qianlong looked at Yongqi kneeling in front of him with mixed feelings. A complex look flashed in his eyes, including helplessness, regret, and a hint of imperceptible heartache. Finally, he nodded slightly.

Yongqi stood up slowly, his body swaying a little, as if a gust of wind could blow him down. "Father Your Majesty, can I ask you one last favor?" There was an unspeakable bitterness in his voice.

Qianlong was silent for a moment, his eyes fell on Yongqi, as if he wanted to see through his heart, "Speak." His voice was a little low.

Yongqi's voice was choked with sobs, "Please, Father, let my mother out of the cold palace." His eyes were full of expectation, staring at Qianlong closely.

Qianlong naturally knew what he was asking for. A trace of disappointment flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure. "The only grace I can give you is that you and your son leave together. There is no way I can let her out. After all, she almost harmed my tenth princess." There was a hint of unquestionable majesty in his voice.

Yongqi smiled self-deprecatingly, that smile full of bitterness and helplessness, "It seems that what the emperor cares about most in his heart is always Concubine Xian and her child. Well, please, father, let us go on the road together, at least we have a companion. I want to go to the cold palace to see mother again, please grant me that." His voice was filled with deep attachment and reluctance.

After hearing this, Qianlong's heart was filled with complicated emotions. He sighed slightly and finally agreed. The guards took Yongqi to the cold palace. His figure gradually walked away, leaving behind only sadness and loneliness.

On the way to the cold palace, Yongqi's heart was in turmoil. He recalled every moment he spent with his mother. Those warm scenes kept flashing in his mind and then gradually became blurred.

His heart was filled with regret. He regretted what he had done, his greed and ambition. When he arrived at the cold palace, Yongqi saw his haggard mother, and he could no longer hold back his tears. He hugged his mother tightly, feeling her warmth, his heart filled with endless sadness.

Yongqi seemed to have lost his soul, and kept repeating "I'm sorry". After years of immersion in the palace, although he was not extremely intelligent, he was definitely not stupid. When he saw the guards escorting him here, he knew in his heart that he had finally let his mother down and did not listen to her words.

Afterwards, the mother and son exchanged a few words and resolutely chose to hang themselves. They ended their lives in the same way, so they could accompany each other on the road to the underworld. After the guards confirmed that they had no signs of life, they turned around and went back to report to Qianlong.

When Emperor Qianlong heard the news, he simply ordered people to bury them properly, but he did not let them be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

When Qianlong returned to Jianjia Palace, Xiao Yun was still in a sweet sleep. Qianlong and Xiao Jian took turns teasing the child in the side hall with loving faces. It seemed as if all the beauty in the world was concentrated between them and the child. The wet nurse stood by, watching this heartwarming scene, but could not intervene for a while and could only watch quietly.

Concubine Chun in Jingyang Palace secretly rejoiced that her Sixth Prince had never been competitive or fighting. In one night, three princes died one after another, but her Sixth Prince was safe and sound. This made her feel fortunate, but also a little worried about the future.

Yongrong had never had much close contact with the other princes, and the relationship between them was relatively distant. When he heard that Yongsheng and Yongyan dared to lead troops to rebel, he was filled with shock and surprise, and could not believe that such a thing actually happened.

Not long after, the news that the fifth prince Yongqi and his mother Hai committed suicide together in the cold palace was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard. Yongrong stood quietly in front of the window, watching the morning light shine through the window lattice, sprinkled on the window bit by bit, making the originally dim window lattice bright and warm.

This night was truly full of twists and turns and turmoil. First, the Imperial Noble Consort gave birth to a princess after many hardships, bringing a glimmer of joy to the dull palace. Then, the news of the princes' rebellion came, like a gust of wind, sweeping the entire palace and making people terrified.

While in the hunting ground, Yongrong had already seen all of this clearly. He knew very well who the emperor father cared about most. From that moment on, he no longer fought for those illusory things, and no longer forced those glories that did not belong to him. Instead, he chose to retire quietly, do his job well, and live a simple and peaceful life.

Facts have proved that his choice was correct. However, in Yongrong's heart, he still could not remain indifferent to the death of several brothers. A ripple still arose in his heart, with a trace of unspeakable sadness and emotion.

He knew clearly in his heart that even if the imperial concubine gave birth to a daughter this time, he would definitely not be the heir to the throne. He only needed to do the things instructed by his father peacefully, and he would be able to gain a foothold in this palace.

Yongrong silently looked at the scenery outside the window, with an inexplicable emotion welling up in his heart. The life in the palace was like the light and shadow in the morning light, unpredictable and full of endless unknowns and challenges, but he was ready to welcome the arrival of all this.

Yanxi Palace

When Concubine Ling heard the news of Yongqi's suicide, her thoughts surged like the tide. In this deep palace, there seemed to be no real secrets. She naturally knew that Yongqi had been very close to Yongsheng and Yongyan recently. The two of them had just been shot to death by the emperor, and Yongqi committed suicide right after that. This really made people unable to help but imagine.

At this moment, Concubine Ling had to secretly feel fortunate that she had no son, otherwise, even living a peaceful life would have become a luxury. Having a daughter was also good, and her Seventh Princess grew up under the Empress Dowager's care, so she would surely have a good home in the future. As long as she and the Ninth Princess behaved themselves, the Emperor would probably not make things too difficult for them.

The other concubines who hadn't given birth to a prince also had mixed feelings in their hearts, secretly thanking themselves for not having a son. Otherwise, they would have been burdened by a son and even their lives would have been in danger. Isn't Hai the best example? Even if she was sent to the cold palace, she could not escape the fate of death.