Return of the Pearl

Concubine Chun's mind was as clear as a mirror. She knew clearly that what An Yi said was not a lie. This was absolutely true and solid evidence. She slowly closed her eyes, clenched her hands tightly together, and her knuckles turned white. She slowly said, "I did it. I am worried that if she gave birth to a prince, it would endanger my Sixth Prince. As long as the baby in her belly cannot be born, the throne will definitely belong to my Sixth Prince."

Concubine Chun confessed every detail, including the source of the poison and who had assisted her.

An Yi presented the confession to Qianlong. The moment Qianlong saw the confession, his face turned ashen, like the sky before a storm. His eyes widened, filled with shock and anger, and his gaze seemed to be able to pierce through people.

His teeth were clenched, making a creaking sound, and the veins on his forehead bulged out like twisted earthworms. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from excessive force, and the veins on his arms bulged as if they were about to burst. His chest heaved violently, his breathing became rapid and heavy, and he seemed to be enveloped by an invisible rage that could erupt at any time.

Qianlong slammed the table, and the sound exploded in the palace like thunder, as if it would collapse the entire palace. "Empress Chun is so audacious that she dared to murder the royal heir. Strip her of her title, demote her to a commoner, and bury her alive! After she dies, pull out her body and throw it into the imperial garden to grow flowers and use as fertilizer!" After he finished speaking, Xiao Luzi turned and left like a gust of wind.

Qianlong looked at An Yi again and said coldly, "Send Concubine Chun back to Jingyang Palace." An Yi obeyed the order and floated towards Concubine Chun like a ghost.

When Concubine Chun saw An Yi again, she felt a strong sense of uneasiness in her heart. She knew that the moment of judging her fate had come. However, before she could say a word, she was knocked unconscious by An Yi in a lightning speed.

When Concubine Chun woke up again, she found herself back in Jingyang Palace. She was a little dazed, as if she was in an illusory dream, but before she could come back to her senses from this short-lived beauty, Xiao Luzi appeared in front of her like a ghost with the emperor's order.

Concubine Chun looked at Xiao Luzi, her heart filled with despair. Xiao Luzi read out the decree with an expressionless face: "The Emperor has decreed that Concubine Chun has murdered the royal heir and shall be demoted to a commoner and buried alive immediately!" After hearing this, Concubine Chun felt like being struck by lightning. Her face instantly turned as pale as paper and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, dragged her out of Jingyang Palace and took her to a remote place. A huge pit had been dug there, and the smell of damp earth emanated from the bottom of the pit, as if it was the call of death.

Concubine Chun struggled desperately and cried out, but it was all in vain. She was ruthlessly pushed into the pit by the guards. Mud began to fall on her like raindrops, burying her body bit by bit, and fear surged into her heart like a tide.

The mud gradually covered her face, and her breathing became more and more difficult. She opened her mouth hard, trying to breathe in a breath of air, but all that came in was the smell of mud. Her eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness, and tears flowed in the mud.

The mud continued to pile up, and Concubine Chun's struggle became weaker and weaker. Her consciousness gradually became blurred, and her eyes became dark. Finally, she stopped breathing in the pain of suffocation, and her life gradually disappeared in the mud, leaving only sadness and sorrow.

After Concubine Chun passed away, she still could not find any peace. Xiao Luzi followed Emperor Qianlong's order and dug her lifeless body out of the soil, and ruthlessly used it as fertilizer to nourish the beautiful flowers.

After learning of Concubine Chun's actions, the Sixth Prince's heart was filled with pity and sorrow. His eyes were filled with helplessness and pain. He couldn't understand why his mother would harbor such inappropriate thoughts. He lamented in his heart, why couldn't his mother enjoy her later years in peace? Not even a complete body remained. Compared to her, Nara at least had her twelfth brother to collect her body, but he never even had the chance to collect his mother's body.

So he secretly inquired under which flower his mother was buried. When he finally found out the exact location, he walked heavily to the imperial garden and solemnly paid homage to the place where the flower was.

After doing all this, he slowly returned to the palace, an unspeakable sadness spreading in his heart. However, he did not have any resentment in his heart. He understood that this was his mother's own choice, and everyone had to pay the price for their actions and bear the corresponding consequences.

From then on, the harem seemed to be under a spell and fell into a tranquility without any disturbance. The Sixth Prince seemed like a different person, acting more low-key and reserved.

Time flies, and before we know it, Qianlong's birthday is quietly approaching. At this special moment, the entire palace is shrouded in a tense and exciting atmosphere. Every corner of the palace is filled with a busy atmosphere. The concubines, palace maids, and eunuchs are all like hardworking little ants, busy and orderly preparing for Qianlong's birthday.

They carefully selected precious gifts and meticulously carved every detail to decorate the palace magnificently. The dazzling jewels, gorgeous silks, and exquisite delicacies seemed to express their deep respect and blessings for Qianlong. In this busy and prosperous scene, Qianlong's birthday is about to begin a magnificent curtain, and a grand celebration is about to be staged in this deep palace.

Xiao Yun's belly was bulging high, like a towering mountain standing between heaven and earth. She was on the verge of giving birth. The imperial physician had asserted that it would happen in the next few days, but the exact day was as elusive as the misty clouds.

On the day of Qianlong's birthday, when he was sitting in the court and discussing state affairs with his ministers, he suddenly felt a sharp pain like a tearing pain in his abdomen. The familiar feeling was like a surging wave, overwhelming him again. He was anxious and did not care about anything else. After dealing with the affairs of state at lightning speed, he rushed back to Jianjia Palace like an arrow.

As expected, Yun'er had started giving birth. The palace maids were all surprised. Before they could send anyone to invite the emperor, he had already returned to the palace.

How clever and shrewd Xiao Luzi was! He immediately said, "The Emperor and the Empress are truly in perfect sync!" With just these words, everyone's doubts were dispelled.

Xiao Luzi had served Emperor Qianlong for many years, so how could he not notice something was wrong with him? However, he was extremely intelligent and knew what to say and what not to say. The midwife in charge of the birth was still the same one who had delivered the Tenth Princess last time. She was familiar with the job and felt more at ease using her.