Return of the Pearl

In the magnificent and solemn palace of Prince Heshuo Heqing, Hong Zhou was struck by lightning when he learned the tragic news that Altai was ruthlessly killed in Shandong. The news was like an extremely heavy hammer, which hit his chest with a thousand pounds of force, and his already uneasy heart was instantly swallowed up by the endless sea of fear.

His brows were tightly furrowed, twisted into a deep knot. The tangled lines seemed to be a deep mark of his inner worries and fears. His eyes became empty and confused, full of anxiety and helplessness, like a child lost in the dark, unable to find the direction, and could only be swept away by the tide of fear and continue to sink.

Hong Zhou was restless and paced back and forth in the room anxiously. His rapid and messy footsteps seemed to be a true reflection of his inner panic. His hands were clenched into fists, his nails dug deep into his palms, and spots of scarlet blood oozed out, but he was completely unaware, as if only this could slightly ease the fear surging in his heart like a tide.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, which slowly slid down his cheeks like crystal pearls. Each drop of sweat was filled with his inner fear and anxiety. His face was as pale as a piece of white paper, without a trace of blood. His lips trembled slightly, revealing the extreme fear and panic that he could not suppress.

Qianlong's majestic and stern face and his sharp eyes like an eagle kept appearing in his mind. Those eyes seemed to be able to penetrate his soul and leave him nowhere to hide. Every time he thought of Qianlong, a bone-chilling chill surged in his heart, making him tremble involuntarily, as if he was in a world of ice and snow, surrounded by endless cold and fear.

He frowned tightly, and the knot between his brows was like an insurmountable mountain, as if it was the most direct manifestation of his inner worry and resentment. His eyes were full of deep disgust and hatred towards Qianlong. His gaze was like two burning flames, with raging anger swirling in them, as if to turn Qianlong into ashes in an instant.

He thought bitterly to himself, "Since he was little, the Fourth Brother has always been loved and favored by the Emperor's father and grandfather. Wherever he is, the others are like being suppressed in a dark abyss, unable to find a ray of light or a chance to make a name for themselves.

In terms of origin, the fourth brother is undoubtedly the worst, so why did he end up on the throne? Why can't I do the same? He always puts on a hypocritical front, pretending to care about all of us and show genuine affection. Humph, such hypocrisy that it's disgusting! He's such a good person, why doesn't he just give up the throne to me?

"I wasn't prepared yet, but the Shandong incident suddenly broke out. I originally wanted to let the fourth brother die in Shandong, but I didn't expect that Altai, who was more trouble than success, would let the fourth brother return to the capital alive!"

In this emotional atmosphere of extreme fear and resentment, Hong Zhou resolutely made a risky decision. He took heavy and slow steps, moving towards the study step by step. After entering the study, he picked up a pen and waved it on the paper as quickly and violently as the wind, writing furiously and eloquently, writing a letter with fierce words.

After finishing the letter, he looked extremely solemn. He handed the letter to his personal guard solemnly and ordered in an unquestionable and tough tone: "You must send this letter overnight as quickly as possible. You must ensure that it can be delivered safely and accurately!" The guard accepted the order respectfully, not daring to be negligent in the slightest, and then turned around and left quickly.

Hong Zhou's eyes followed the guard's retreating figure, and he silently prayed in his heart: "Success or failure depends on this one move! If I succeed this time, I will have the hope of ascending the supreme throne and realizing my grand ambition of unifying the world. But if I fail, it means paying the painful price of my life. But now there is no other choice, I can only fight with my back to the wall and fight with all my might!"

At this moment, the study was so quiet that it was terrifying, as if even the air was stagnant and no longer flowing. Being in it made people feel suffocated. In this silence, it seemed as if even the air was worried about Hong Zhou's fate, filled with deep worry and endless anxiety.

At the same time, Qianlong was staying leisurely in the inn, completely immersed in a leisurely atmosphere. He sat in the room calmly, his leisurely posture seemed to blend with everything around him. The warm and soft sunlight shone through the window and gently fell on his body, as if covering him with a layer of golden gauze, adding a bit of warmth and tranquility.

During this period, Qianlong, with his extremely keen insight, almost instantly noticed something unusual about Xiao Yun. His eyes were as bright and sharp as torches, tightly focused on Xiao Yun, filled with deep concern and endless doubts.

He frowned slightly, a trace of worry between his slender brows, and thought to himself, "What's wrong with Yun'er? Why is she always so drowsy and looks so listless?"

Then, he made a prompt decision and without hesitation ordered his men to quickly summon the imperial physician to conduct a detailed diagnosis of Xiao Yun. His voice was firm and powerful, without the slightest hesitation or delay, as if Xiao Yun's condition made him extremely anxious and he could not wait any longer.

After a while, the imperial physician hurried over. Qianlong watched the imperial physician anxiously taking Xiao Yun's pulse. His eyes were filled with full of anticipation and uncontrollable nervousness.

During that long yet short wait, Qianlong's heart seemed to be gnawing at by countless ants, and he was eagerly awaiting good news. When the imperial physician finally diagnosed that Xiao Yun was more than two months pregnant, Qianlong's face suddenly blossomed like a spring flower, and instantly he broke into a smile as bright and dazzling as the sun.

That smile was so sincere and pure, so joyful, as if it could melt all the ice and snow in the world. His eyes sparkled, flashing with endless joy, and the corners of his mouth were raised high, outlining a graceful and charming arc. That brilliant smile was like a ray of warm sunshine, spreading to every corner, making everything around him bright and beautiful.