Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Night fell, the stars dimmed, and the wind seemed to hold its breath. Silence reigned within the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the only sound seemingly the gentle sway of leaves in the breeze. This eerie stillness was chilling.

Hongli took a nap.

When he woke up, Jinzhong and Jinbao were nowhere to be found. He only saw a figure standing outside the house. Perhaps due to his age, Hongli squinted to see that it was a woman. She was wearing tattered clothes, and her face was wrinkled from thinness, making her look like an old witch.

Hongli stood up and shouted, "Who's outside?"

"Your Majesty, I haven't seen you for so long, I'm afraid you've forgotten me."

It took a long time for Hongli to recognize the person in front of him.

It’s Ruyi.

His brows were furrowed, and his expression changed from nervousness to displeasure. He sat back in his seat, rubbed his sore brows, and said calmly: "Shouldn't you be in Yikun Palace? Why are you here? Where are the guards? I will punish them."

Ruyi said nothing, just stood in the distance and looked at Hongli.

This was her husband. He had said he loved her, doted on her, and would spend the rest of his life with her. But the man who had once claimed to love her the most had actually destroyed her. Ruyi was filled with resentment. She wanted to ask Hongli why he had treated her like this. So she drugged the guards and made her way to the Yangxin Palace.

It had been a long time since the Yikun Palace had received any clothes or money from the Imperial Household Department. This was the most beautiful and appropriate dress she could find. But despite this, when Hongli saw her again, there was no tenderness or love in his eyes, only disgust.

"Your Majesty, I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you very much. Don't you want to talk to me?"

Ruyi looked at Hongli with full anticipation.

Hongli said calmly, "I am tired. If you are alright, please return to Yikun Palace."

Of course, Ruyi wouldn't be so stupid. If she went back, Hongli would definitely have people reinforce the gates of the Yikun Palace. If she wanted to escape next time, it might not be so easy.

Ruyi walked forward slowly, saying as she walked, "Your Majesty, have you met our Yongji? He is so well-behaved and sensible. He is your legitimate son, but why did you send him away? How scared would he be if you sent him to the Old Summer Palace alone..."

Yongqi...

If Ruyi hadn't mentioned it, Hongli would not have remembered that he had a son in the Old Summer Palace.

In the past, Jinbao would come to report on Yongqi's food, clothing, housing and transportation, but Hongli would always be perfunctory and send Jinbao away with a few words. In his last memory, Yongqi was still unable to speak at the age of five and even needed a nanny to help him urinate.

Hongli was ashamed of having such a son, so over time he was unwilling to hear any news about Yongqi.

Seeing that Hongli's response was mediocre.

Ruyi couldn't help but run to Hongli, pointing at his nose and yelling, "Hongli, do you have any heart? Yongji is our child. He is so young, why did you send him to the Old Summer Palace? What if he gets bullied? Who will add clothes and cook for him when he is cold or hungry? Hongli, you are so hypocritical..."

As soon as the voice fell, Hongli stood up and gave Ruyi a loud slap, roaring: "Bitch, who told you to talk nonsense here?"

Ruyi was exerted with force and fell out due to inertia.

Hongli was not relieved.

Whenever he saw Ruyi, he would think of the affair between Ruyi and Ling Yunche behind his back, and he would raise his leg and kick Ruyi without any hesitation.

Ruyi was already weak and didn't have much time left to live. She was kicked several times by Hongli and the corners of her mouth were broken.

Hongli didn't sit down until he was tired of kicking.

Hongli sat on the stool and gasped for breath. Ruyi looked at him straight with hatred in her eyes.

She slowly got up, stood up straight, and said, "Your Majesty, when the Third Prince broke off my engagement, you came to me and said you would marry me and protect me in the future. But why has everything changed now?"

Hongli rolled his eyes. How dare this woman say that? She was flirting with another man behind his back. What man in the world could tolerate his wife's infidelity?

Ruyi suddenly pulled a small knife from her bosom and, with her fingers curled, plucked the bamboo chopsticks from her hair. Instantly, the tangled locks flew loose. She grabbed a small clump, pressed the knife against it, and with a gentle flick, the hair snapped off. Ruyi then held her short hair high in the air, saying calmly, "Hongli and Qingying were once married. Now, I am severing our marital bond by cutting off my hair, and at the same time, paying tribute to the departed Hongli and Qingying..."

What is Ruyi saying?

Are you crazy?

Hongli's palms were already clenched into fists as big as sandbags beneath his sleeves. He was clearly alive and well, yet Ruyi cursed him to death, even talking about offering a memorial? Did she really think she and her family were too long-lived?

Manchus were not allowed to cut their hair unless there was a national mourning.

I didn't expect Ruyi to be so bold as to cut her hair? Since she doesn't care about her hair so much, why not just get rid of it?

Hongli was so angry that his whole body was shaking. He shouted with all his might, "Don't think I will let you go just like this. Since you don't take care of your hair, why don't you have it at all?"

Jinzhong walked in from outside.

Seeing Ruyi there, Jinzhong still bowed, "My Master."

Hongli snorted coldly, "Jinzhong, have this bitch sent back to Yikun Palace and have all her hair pulled out."

"Ah?" Jinzhong looked up at Hongli in disbelief.

Hair is the most important part of a woman, so why would Hongli suddenly give such an order? However, when Jinzhong saw the mess on the ground, he understood.

As Ruyi was dragged away, she kept shouting, "Your Majesty, you can't do this to me. I am the Queen, the wife who will live and die with you, Your Majesty..."

Ruyi's last words reminded Hongli that he wanted to depose the queen.

Finally, he ordered Jinbao to go to Yiku Palace with him to retrieve the four copies of Ruyi's imperial edicts.

The next day, she used Ruyi's story to warn the concubines in the harem to behave themselves.

Not long after, good news came from Yongshou Palace again.

Yan Wan gave birth to another chubby son. In an instant, Yan Wan became one of the most favored women in the entire harem.

With three sons and one daughter, all raised by her side, Yanwan was overjoyed.

She had previously hoped to change her fate through Hongli, but was later bullied by Yuyan. Yanwan, in turn, yearned for power and trampled under her feet those who had bullied her...

But since she had children, Yan Wan no longer thought about anything else. She only hoped that her children would grow up safely.

"Mother..."

Five-year-old Yongyan ran in from outside with a textbook in his arms.

"Fifteenth Prince, don't run, be careful not to fall..." Ju Rui and the wet nurse chased after him.

Hearing the sound of Yongyan's milk gurgling outside the door, Lanqi and Yanwan hurriedly put down their teacups.

"My son is here to greet my mother. Madam Cheng."

Lan Qi smiled and waved to Yong Yan, saying, "Good boy, what did the Grand Tutor teach you today?"