Return of the Pearl

Xiao Yun stood quietly in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, like a steadfast statue. He did not choose to leave, but silently guarded beside Qianlong.

Qianlong sat upright on the dragon throne, his brows tightly furrowed like a small hill. He reviewed the mountain of memorials on the table with a focused expression. From time to time, he shook his head gently, his action full of helplessness and worry; from time to time, he sighed slightly, as if the boredom in his heart could not be dispelled.

Seeing this, Xiao Yun's heart was overwhelmed with concern. He slowly moved forward, each step filled with worry for Emperor Qianlong. He said softly, "Hongli, don't worry too much. Everything will be fine."

Qianlong raised his head and looked at Xiao Yun, with a barely perceptible sense of relief flashing in his eyes. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a bitter smile, "I know, but the state affairs are too complicated, and I am a little overwhelmed." As he spoke, he rubbed his forehead gently. The action seemed a little weak, and a trace of fatigue involuntarily emerged on his face, as if he had experienced the vicissitudes of life over a long period of time.

Xiao Yun slowly reached out and gently grasped Qianlong's hand. His grip was neither too strong nor too weak, yet filled with concern and encouragement. His gaze was as firm as a rock as he looked directly at Qianlong and said solemnly, "Hongli, you are the ruler of all people. As long as you persevere, you will surely overcome these difficulties."

Qianlong felt the warmth from Xiao Yun's palm, and a powerful force suddenly surged in his heart. He smiled and patted Xiao Yun's hand, "With you by my side, I feel very safe."

The two of them smiled at each other, their smiles were as warm as the spring breeze, and there was a warm light shining in each other's eyes. In this Yangxin Palace, time seemed to have really stood still. Only the friendship between them was like a gurgling stream, flowing slowly, nourishing each other's hearts, making this space full of warmth and beauty.

An Yi quickly started investigating the rumors in the harem. His figure was as agile as a ghost, and he moved quickly in the harem, not missing a single corner, and carefully searching for any possible clues. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and he would not miss any abnormality.

However, these rumors seemed to be cast by magic, flying lightly as if they had wings, and spread to every remote corner of the harem in the blink of an eye. There were so many people in the harem, which made An Yi's tracking work extremely difficult, like looking for a needle in the vast ocean.

Although An Yi had found all the suspects on the surface, those who were hiding in the dark and had no evidence made him feel helpless for a while, as if he was stuck in a quagmire and unable to escape.

In desperation, An Yi could only choose to secretly monitor everyone in the harem. He observed everyone's words and deeds intently, not missing any subtle changes, hoping to find some useful clues. His heart was full of firm belief that no matter how great the difficulties were, he would find out the source of these rumors and restore peace and tranquility to the harem.

Finally, after going through untold hardships, An Yi found some crucial evidence. He did not dare to stay for a moment and immediately rushed back to the Yangxin Palace in a panic to report this important discovery to his master.

Qianlong looked at the densely packed names on the list, and the anger in his heart surged like a volcanic eruption. He was uncontrollable. His face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm, as if water could drip at any time. His eyes were burning with rage, and the anger and disappointment intertwined together, making people afraid to look at him.

Qianlong couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself, "These people are truly ridiculous. Do they think I won't punish them just because they have so many mouths? Such wishful thinking!"

He knew that this time he had to respond with a thunderous force; otherwise, how could he intimidate the numerous concubines and noble ladies in the harem? Thinking of this, his eyes grew sharper, like a sword unsheathed, filled with firm determination and unshakable faith. He already had a clear plan in mind: to make those who spread rumors pay a heavy price.

Qianlong's mind was as clear as a mirror. He knew very well that since ancient times, rumors were like weeds that could never be burned out. They spread tenaciously and were difficult to completely curb.

Because the greed and desires in people's hearts are like ghosts that haunt him endlessly and are difficult to eradicate, rumors follow him like shadows and never stop. Faced with this helpless reality, he can only find another way to seek a solution.

When all those involved in the case were found out one by one, he had already made a firm decision in his heart. He would catch all those involved in the case, from concubines to palace maids, one by one in front of everyone in the palace. Under the gazes of the concubines in the harem who were either terrified, curious, or worried, he would impose the most severe punishment on these people.

Qianlong's face was raging with rage. His eyes, as big as copper bells, seemed to be spewing fire. The veins on his forehead bulged out like a serpentine earthworm. He shouted in rage, "Xiao Luzi, pass the order! Concubine Gong Lin, you dare to spread rumors and cause chaos in the palace. Fry her in the oil pan! Ming Changzai, Zhang Guiren, and Ping Yingying, these people are guilty of heinous crimes and shall be executed by slow slicing!"

Also, remember, all the concubines in the harem, including the Empress, except Yun'er, must be summoned to witness the execution. Also, all the palace maids who participated in the rumors will be torn apart by five horses. Make sure the concubines in the harem witness this tragic scene with their own eyes!"

When Xiao Luzi heard the decree, he was so frightened that his whole body began to tremble like a sieve and he couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. The cold sweat instantly soaked his back like a flood.

He looked at Qianlong in horror, his eyes full of shock and fear, as if he had seen the most terrifying scene. Over the years, the emperor had never been so ferocious. This time, everyone in the harem was probably really scared out of their wits. The fear followed them like a shadow, making everyone feel as if they were in endless darkness and unable to escape this terrible fate.

Xiao Luzi, carrying the imperial edict, led the guards and walked steadily towards the harem. He knew very well in his mind that the reason why the emperor issued such an edict was entirely because Concubine Xiao was caught up in rumors. In the harem, rumors were common.

However, the emperor has never used such a powerful method. In fact, the deterrent effect of this method is undoubtedly the best, but it may damage the emperor's own reputation. After all, such a method is indeed a bit extreme.

In fact, Xiao Luzi was also worried. After all, the emperor has always been very careful about his reputation for many years. But this time, although he was worried, he did not make any attempt to persuade him.

Because he understood the emperor, understood his thoughts, and was well aware of the emperor's deep affection for Concubine Xiao, all he could do was to convey the order and strictly implement it. He also sincerely hoped that the concubines in the harem could restrain themselves and no longer harbor hostility towards Concubine Xiao. Otherwise, they would only be seeking their own destruction. It must be said that Xiao Luzi inadvertently revealed the truth. It turned out that he was the person who lived the most transparent and honest life in the harem.