Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

As soon as Zhang Tingyu left, Yihuan arrived.

Jinzhong stopped her from entering, "Empress Shufei, please let me go in and inform her, Your Majesty..."

"Why is Shu Fei here?" Hongli asked.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I really couldn't stop Concubine Shu." Jinzhong knelt down immediately.

This was not the first time that Jinzhong failed to stop someone. Hongli was used to it. He asked Jinzhong and Xihe to leave and let Yihuan stay.

He thought that this time she wanted to ask him to bring the Tenth Prince back to the palace just like before. Just when he was about to make up an excuse to deceive Yihuan, Yihuan bent her knees and knelt down.

"Yi Huan, you..."

Hongli turned around and saw Yihuan with disheveled hair and tears on her clothes. She kowtowed and begged earnestly, her eyes red.

Yi Huan said, "I beg the Emperor to send troops to help the Junggars annihilate Dawachi and welcome Princess Hengchu back to the palace."

Finally I lost my patience.

Hongli took two steps back in disappointment, and his gentle eyes instantly became sinister.

Ling Li said, "Shu Fei, if I remember correctly, you haven't said a word for the Queen Mother since you entered the palace. Why are you concerned about Heng Chui now? Don't you know that concubines in the harem are not allowed to participate in government affairs?"

Of course Yihuan knew.

But for the sake of the Tenth Prince, she had to help Zeng Huan and Heng Chui, but she had no choice.

"Your Majesty, I really have no other choice. I heard that the Tenth Prince is seriously ill. As his mother, I am really worried. I went to ask the Queen Mother for help. Aunt Fujia said that the Queen Mother is worried about Princess Hengchu's affairs. I wanted to see you leave the palace and go to Prince Zhen's mansion, but you are also worried about Junggar's affairs..."

Hongli was annoyed, "So you come to force me?"

Yi Huan lowered her eyes, tears trickling down her cheeks. She whispered, "I dare not."

After a long pause, Hongli sighed softly, turned around, and helped Yihuan up. He placed his hands on Yihuan's shoulders and said with some remorse, "Yihuan, I was too harsh in my words. Don't take it to heart. I've really put all my focus on the former court lately, and I've paid too little attention to our Tenth Prince. He's ill, and I can't visit him. In that case, please go to Prince Zhen's mansion to see him tomorrow morning for me."

Seeing Hongli relax, Yi was so happy that she cried.

She threw herself into Hongli's arms like a child and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hongli hugged Yihuan and said lovingly, "You, you're still so crybaby even at your age. Now, go back and get some rest. Otherwise, you won't have the energy to see our son tomorrow."

Yihuan hurriedly thanked him and returned to the palace.

As soon as she returned to the palace, she asked Xihe to sort out all the baby swaddling clothes she had embroidered during this period, and prepare to take them with her to Prince Zhen's mansion tomorrow.

It's a pity that God does not follow people's wishes.

Before daybreak, Prince Zhen's palace sent someone to the palace to announce the death.

"You bastards, how did you take care of the Tenth Prince? How could a simple cold take his life? It must be because you didn't take good care of him."

Hongli was furious and kicked him.

The young eunuch was kicked for no reason and fell backwards, sliding several meters away. His spine hit the pillar heavily, but he did not dare to shout.

He immediately got up from the ground and knelt upright. Because of the pain, his forehead was covered with sweat and even his lips turned white. He lowered his head, his body trembling with fear, and even his voice trembled. "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the Tenth Prince is already weak and can't stand the slightest cold. This servant... this servant..."

"You still dare to quibble? Jinbao, go to Prince Zhen's mansion and send those who serve the Tenth Prince to the Ministry of Punishment."

Jinbao responded without delay and went to Prince Zhen's mansion immediately.

Yihuan was completely unaware of this. She had risen bright and early, overjoyed to see the Tenth Prince. Lanqi and Yanwan were also happy for her, bringing some baby supplies for her to take out of the palace. When Lujun heard about this, she quickly brought two of the palace's best wet nurses and a nanny to Prince Zhen's mansion to take care of her.

Hongli came hurriedly.

Yihuan thought he had something to tell her.

But she soon realized something was wrong, and even the smiles on Lan Qi and the others' faces disappeared.

Yihuan supported Hongli's arm and asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Is there something you want to say to me?"

Hongli looked at Yihuan seriously, frowned, and said, "Shufei, you'd better not leave the palace."

Yihuan's eyes, which were full of tenderness and joy, became dim at this moment. When all expectations were shattered in an instant, only endless loss and frustration remained.

She grabbed Hongli's sleeve tightly and said, "Why? Your Majesty, didn't you promise me? Or did I do something wrong?"

"You're right." Hongli touched Yihuan's face.

Yanwan frowned and looked at Lanqi helplessly.

"Yihuan, our tenth prince... has passed away." Hongli lowered his eyes and said with heartache.

Hongli's deep voice reached their ears like thunder, shocking everyone's rationality to pieces.

Lujun's expression suddenly turned extremely ugly, and the look she gave Yihuan became obscure and difficult to read. "Why is this so sudden? Is this an emergency? Could the Emperor have made a mistake?"

Yihuan was unwilling to accept this fact and struggled to leave the palace, but Hongli held her tightly. Fearing that Yihuan would lose control and do something extreme, Lanqi and Yanwan hurried forward to stop her from leaving the palace.

Yihuan screamed with all her might, her voice filled with pain and despair, like the light before dawn. Finally, she felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground.

The hardest thing to endure in the world is separation from loved ones.

No matter how bad the Tenth Prince was, he was still Hongli's child. Their father-son relationship was only a few months, and Hongli never took a good look at him when he was born. Now that his soul has passed away, Hongli can't remember the Tenth Prince's face in his mind.

He didn't even have time to give him a name.

After returning to the Yangxin Palace, Hongli picked up his pen and wrote on the paper, "Yongyan, as his father, is sorry for him in this life. I only hope that he will be safe and happy in the next life and be a healthy child."

He called Jinzhong and Jinbao and drafted another imperial edict.

The tenth prince was buried next to Yonglian's tomb.

After receiving the news, Fu Jia immediately informed Zeng Huan and brought another imperial edict, "Empress Dowager, this is terrible. The Tenth Prince has passed away."

Zeng Huan paused, but quickly regained her composure. Raising children in the palace was never easy, and with the Tenth Prince in poor health, it was normal for him to die young. She had long since become indifferent to life and death. Stroking the cat's fur, she said calmly, "Does Yihuan understand?"

"Empress Shu knew about it, but she couldn't accept it for a moment and fainted. Concubine Cheng and Concubine Ling are with her now. It's just that..." Fu Jia paused for a moment and continued, "The Emperor has already asked Jin Bao to issue an order, deciding that Princess Hengti should marry Dawachi."

"What?" Zeng Huan stood up suddenly, and the cat that was originally lying on her legs fell down. The cat shook its body, called out twice, and jumped out of the window directly.

Knowing that Zeng Huan would find it difficult to accept, Fu Jia could only advise: "The princess has a hard life, but we have no choice but to accept the emperor's will. Queen Mother, please don't get too angry."

Zeng Huan was speechless and sat down slumped. She knew that Hongli would not send troops easily. She originally wanted to use people from the previous dynasty to put pressure on him, but she didn't expect all this to happen so quickly. If Hengti knew that her beloved royal brother had abandoned her, she might do something to hurt herself.

"The Emperor is truly resourceful, even using his own sister to secure his throne. Then I pray that all his concubines give birth to princesses for him. That way, if there's any movement in the previous dynasty, the princesses can be married off to secure his throne."

Zeng Huan was just saying these words out of anger, when suddenly an idea flashed in her mind and she thought of Lan Qi.

She had agreed to be her hidden agent, but why didn't Lan Qi say a word to plead for Heng Ti? Was she using her to win favor? Or did she have other tricks up her sleeve?

"Fujia, go find Concubine Cheng for me."

"Yes."

Fu Jia bowed slightly and left the Cining Palace.