Chapter 354: Chapter 354

"Your Majesty, you're really..."

An Ning's expression was utterly indescribable.

So while ordinary people might scheme against their fathers, this one specialized in digging fatal pits for his own sons!

Let her sort this out—meaning, just as Consort De received the edict to care for the Fourth Prince, she immediately learned that her own biological son had knelt until he fainted because of his foster mother.

Just ask—who wouldn't break down facing this?

Not to mention how humiliating this situation is for a mother.

With this delicate timing, if things go wrong and Consort De really gets stuck in her thoughts, believing the Fourth Prince couldn't bear returning to her, a mere consort, after losing his noble-born foster mother, and that's why he couldn't withstand the blow, then that would truly be...

And based on her understanding of Consort De over these years, the possibility above isn't small at all.

Although she's generally presented herself as gentle, considerate, and understanding over the years, in reality, this woman has quite a stubborn streak in certain aspects.

"How could I have known before this..."

The person across from her said with a darkened expression.

Honestly, such an awkward misunderstanding, especially happening right in front of his beloved consort—even Kangxi, who considered himself someone who rarely showed emotions, currently looked rather displeased.

Of course, for an emperor, could his edict possibly be wrong? Could the timing possibly be unfortunate?

For instance, right now, after a brief moment of awkwardness, this lord's expression had clearly returned to normal.

An Ning stole a glance:

She estimated he was probably still annoyed that the Fourth Prince's drama came too rashly and at an inopportune time!

Tsk, without considering that the Imperial Noble Consort had been gone for over half a month—a child just over ten years old suddenly lost his mother, his biological father didn't show much care, and he had no clear belonging for so long, of course he'd feel anxious!

Plus with all the gossip from people around him...

It wasn't surprising he acted somewhat excessively temporarily.

Unable to resist feeling sympathy for the unfortunate Consort De and the Fourth Prince, and to avoid adding fuel to the fire, An Ning ultimately swallowed the words "If you had issued the edict earlier, none of this would have happened..."

Instead, she put down her chopsticks, looked up at him:

"Since the Fourth Prince is , won't Your Majesty go see him in person?"

With one glance guessing what she was thinking, Kangxi casually said with a light glance:

"Perfect, A-Ning shall accompany me then..."

When the group arrived at the Princes' Residence, it was exactly mid-morning. The originally not very spacious Western Fifth Compound was already crowded with brothers who had come to visit.

Seeing the imperial carriage approaching from afar, the palace servants guarding the main gate hurried forward to announce.

Although she had managed palace affairs for years, as a young consort, this was one of An Ning's rare visits here. Her first impression remained—cramped. People said the Crown Prince's Yuqing Palace was small, but actually this Princes' Residence wasn't much better.

Especially now with this group of imperial princes, along with their followers crowded here in a massive heap.

Absolutely ridiculous! If not for her status and this matter falling somewhat within her duties, An Ning nearly turned around and left.

Fortunately, after diagnosis by the imperial physician, the Fourth Prince was indeed not seriously ill and had woken up early.

It's just that his complexion was frighteningly pale, accentuated by his noticeably thin figure, giving off even stronger vibes of a pitiful soul.

Probably because he woke up early and had already learned some details from others.

Look at this unfortunate situation—even the brothers led by the Crown Prince showed faint sympathy on their faces.

Especially Yin Tang, who was only about six years old. Spoiled by Imperial Consort Yi since childhood and not yet skilled at hiding emotions, he practically had "Ah, Fourth Brother is so unlucky!" written all over his face.

It was only after seeing An Ning that he finally managed to tear his gaze away from his unfortunate fourth brother. His eyes brightened as he stared for a while, eventually whispering quietly to his good brother the Tenth Prince beside him:

"Tenth Brother, did you notice? As soon as Consort Chen Mother arrived, our entire room brightened up!"

The Tenth Prince nodded blankly.

Well, at such a young age they already appreciate beauties—and His Majesty's consort at that. Behind them, the Fifth Prince was utterly terrified by these two audacious boys, quickly pulling them both behind him.

Didn't they see how even Eldest Brother and the others ahead didn't dare glance more than necessary?

But it did seem brighter...

Unaware of what the two young ones were thinking, after simple inquiries, just as the group prepared to leave, they saw Yin Zhen on the bed—originally weak—suddenly prop himself up, speaking hoarsely to the newcomers with difficulty, word by word:

"Reporting to the Emperor, although the Empress was not my birth mother, she raised me since childhood and cared for me diligently over the years. Although I am grateful for my birth mother's life-giving grace, I cannot forget the Empress's nurturing righteousness. Being unable to repay her kindness already fills me with guilt and unease..."

*cough cough cough*...

"I beg the Emperor to permit me to keep vigil before the Empress's spirit during these final days, to fulfill my filial duties..."

In the small room, the young man's voice was exceptionally clear.

As his words fell, the entire room instantly fell into complete silence.

Kangxi, who had been about to leave, stopped walking, his authoritative gaze fixed firmly on the other. Just as the Fourth Prince on the bed grew anxious, after a moment, Kangxi finally spoke slowly:

"If you wish to be thorough, do as you will..."

As these words fell, Yin Zhen's face paled further, but he still barely suppressed the sourness welling up in his eyes.

As the imperial carriage departed, everyone in the room who had been tense finally relaxed abruptly.

"Ah, Fourth Brother!"

The Crown Prince, who vaguely knew about this misunderstanding, stepped forward first, patting the person before him comfortingly.

The Eldest Young Master Yin Zhi snorted coldly and left with his people without looking back.

On the other hand, on the return journey, playing with a jade cup in her hand, An Ning was unusually silent.

Reflecting on the earlier scene.

She thought to herself that indeed, there were no fools in the imperial family—even the Fourth Prince, rumored to have been evaluated by Kangxi in his youth as having unpredictable moods, was no exception.

From detecting something amiss until now, probably less than a quarter-hour had passed, yet he had immediately weighed the pros and cons and found the solution most beneficial to himself currently.

No matter what, fainting before his foster mother's spirit, especially after the Emperor had already issued an edict...

At this bizarre and tight timing, if handled poorly, he would be seen as looking down on his low-ranking birth mother. In this era that emphasized filial piety, this would undoubtedly become a lifelong stain for an imperial prince.

However, since it had already happened, if he showed "filial devotion" to his foster mother but then quickly switched to being utterly devoted to his birth mother afterward, it would be no different from being two-faced and villainous!

Even more despicable.

The only strategy now was probably as currently displayed.

Showing extreme grief on the surface to prove that his previous actions weren't contempt toward his birth mother, but rather excessive sorrow over his foster mother's death, genuine difficulty letting go, leading to temporary emotional loss...

And definitely not fainting from shock after receiving the edict.

But doing so meant that for a long time afterward, this Fourth Prince would have to be the greatly filial son of Empress Tongjia...

Ah, indeed, weighing advantages and disadvantages was a required course for imperial family members, even for a ten-year-old child.

Who knows what Consort De, as the biological mother, truly felt in her heart!

Remembering that all this originated from a misunderstanding, An Ning glanced at the person across from her who remained completely composed and couldn't help but click her tongue.

To leisurely savor tea after digging such a huge pit for his own son—truly unmatched.