The Crown Prince Consort's Investiture

The Crown Prince's funeral Crown Prince affair, with temples in the Capital striking their bells ten thousand times. A desolate atmosphere pervaded the Forbidden City and beyond.

Emperor Jingshun set aside a separate palace to serve as the Crown Prince's mourning hall.

The Crown Prince Consort wept bitterly before the mourning hall. Those who heard it were heartbroken.

Lin Yunwan couldn't help but soften upon hearing this, and took Qi Zaijun to persuade the Crown Prince Consort.

During the vigil that night, Lin Yunwan tired that she couldn't stay awake any longer and took Qi Zaijun to rest for a while.

Qi Lingheng said in a low voice, "You guys go ahead. I'll go check the open flames outside."

After all, he is the Crown Prince, his elder brother. As the younger brother, he should pay attention to such important matters.

"Um."

Lin Yunwan, her eyes red from staying up all night, carried the nearly asleep Qi Zaijun to a side hall where she slept for a while.

Less than an hour later, Eunuch's shrill voice rang out. "The Crown Prince Consort... the Crown Prince Consort has committed suicide..."

Lin Yunwan suddenly woke up with a start.

Qi Zaijun woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes, and asked, "Mother Consort, what's wrong?"

Lin Yunwan covered his eyes, helped him lie down, and frowned, saying, "... You continue to sleep. Don't come out if you hear any noise, understand?"

"Good."

Lin Yunwan handed the child to Cuiqin and went out to check. The Crown Prince Consort collapsed in front of the Crown Prince Consort's coffin.

The people in the palace were terrified.

Lin Yunwan, who was in charge of the overall situation, instructed people to first summon the imperial physician, then have the Palace Maids tidy up the Crown Prince Consort's clothes and appearance, and help her to a place where she could rest.

They sent someone else to find Qi Lingheng.

"The imperial physician hasn't arrived yet?"

Lin Yunwan touched the Crown Prince Consort's hand, and her heart turned cold.

"Coming, coming..."

When the Crown Prince died, the imperial physicians dared not leave the palace, for fear that Emperor Jingshun would be too grief-stricken and make a mistake.

But late at night, things can happen suddenly, and it's possible to not make it in time.

Less than half an hour later, the imperial physician finally arrived. He was barely dressed when he hurriedly took the Crown Prince Consort's pulse, his face grim. "... Your Princess Consort, the Crown Prince Consort committed suicide by poison."

Lin Yunwan asked in astonishment, "He wasn't killed in the accident?"

"No."

This is with a death wish!

Qi Lingheng arrived, Lin Yunwan quickly went out to tell him, "... The Crown Prince Consort has gone with the Crown Prince. Go and tell Imperial Father and Empress." If someone else tells him, Emperor Jingshun will probably be even more heartbroken.

"Alright." Qi Lingheng instructed A Fu, "Go and inform the Crown Prince Consort's family." He then hurried off to see Emperor Jingshun.

Emperor Jingshun couldn't sleep at all. Upon hearing that his daughter-in-law had also passed away, he felt a pang of grief and uttered only two words: "Gift a lavish funeral."

The Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort were buried in the Imperial Mausoleum at the same time, which took about a month.

Summer has arrived in the Capital in the blink of an eye.

Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan observed a six-month mourning period for the couple, wearing plain clothes and abstaining from meat. They also rarely went out to receive guests unless there was a valid reason.

Qi Zaijun, on the other hand, frequently visited the palace.

Because Emperor Jingshun's health was deteriorating, only when he was near the emperor would the emperor's complexion improve noticeably.

"Imperial Grandfather, why are you unhappy again?"

Emperor Jingshun was tired, feeling his eyes were getting blurry, so he stopped reviewing memorials and took Qi Zaijun for a walk, asking with a smile, "How did you know I was unhappy?"

Your hair has turned quite a bit white.

Emperor Jingshun smiled and said, "I'm not unhappy, just a little... a little..."

"Some what?"

Qi Zaijun had feelings for his Imperial Grandfather and wanted to know why he was unhappy.

Emperor Jingshun smiled wryly, "I feel somewhat guilty."

Qi Zaijun thought for a moment, "Because of my uncle and aunt?"

"Um."

"Then, Imperial Grandfather, you should talk to Jun'er. Jun'er will help you calm down. Jun'er is the best at helping people with their worries. Whenever Imperial Grandmother is unhappy, I can always cheer Imperial Grandmother up."

This kind of thing can't be explained to a child.

However, Emperor Jingshun still wanted to say something, "Your eldest uncle was my eldest son by his principal wife. Although he was born with poor health, I still made him the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, your eldest uncle did not have this good fortune; his health deteriorated further as he grew up. He also did not leave you with one or two cousins."

"That's fine... If they really stayed, it would be a hassle anyway."

Qi Zaijun already understood a little. "Imperial Grandfather, do you like my Imperial Father and me a little more?"

Emperor Jingshun laughed, tapped his forehead, and said, "Just keep it to yourself, don't say it aloud."

Qi Zaijun clutched his forehead, his face contorted in pain.

Emperor Jingshun suddenly smiled bitterly and asked, "Does Jun'er also feel that I am biased?"

Qi Zaijun said sadly, "What's the use of you favoring Jun'er? You've got gray hair yourself, can you even see that Jun'er has gray hair too?"

Emperor Jingshun was stunned and said, "I cannot."

Qi Zaijun said, feeling wronged, "But you've already seen Uncle's white hair."

Emperor Jingshun was stunned.

He never felt that he was biased. He doted on his eldest son for more than ten years and raised him himself. He also only favored Qi Lingheng for more than ten years. In fact, when Qi Lingheng was twelve or thirteen years old, he banished him from the Capital because of the matter of the Crown Prince 'Crown Prince wet nurse.

Even when his eldest son was alive, he never stripped him of his status Crown Prince.

Although... in his heart he had already decided that Qi Lingheng would be the successor to the Crown Prince.

"Jun'er is right. There are some things that no one can do perfectly. I am the emperor, but I am also just an ordinary father."

Qi Zaijun said with a grin, "Imperial Grandfather, how about Jun'er dye my hair white for you to see?"

"No. I don't want to see you with gray hair." Emperor Jingshun touched his temples and said, "I have enough gray hair already, you're nothing to worry about."

Six months after the Crown Prince's death, Emperor Jingshun's mood gradually returned to normal.

But as he gets older, his hair is turning increasingly gray.

A year later, in accordance with the wishes of the court officials, Qi Lingheng was made Crown Prince, Lin Yunwan was made Crown Prince Consort.

"Ahem... I am not feeling well and wish to spend some comfortable days with your Empress. From now on, you Abbot the administration of the court."

Emperor Jingshun intends to relinquish power.

Qi Lingheng was already familiar with government affairs, and at his age, taking over government duties was not difficult for him.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Their wedding in Jiangqian was far simpler than the Crown Prince's grand wedding.

The ceremony for bestowing titles upon the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort was exceptionally grand.

That day, Lin Yunwan got up before dawn to change her clothes and put on makeup.

By the time they returned to the Crown Prince's Residence, it was already dark.

She slept all day, and when she woke up, Qi Zaijun was right in front of her. "Mother Consort, Mother Consort, Mother Consort. Congratulations!"

Lin Yunwan said, "You're so grown up now, you can't just run into my room like that anymore."

Qi Zaijun said he knew, and then asked mysteriously, "Mother Consort, guess who's here?"

"What time is it?"

Cuiqin said it was past noon.

Lin Yunwan rubbed her temples, thinking, "I slept really long." "Who's here?"

Qi Zaijun exclaimed excitedly, "My maternal uncle and maternal uncle's wife are here!"

Lin Yunyi and Xu, newly married, came to the Crown Prince's Residence to congratulate the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort on their new appointment.

Lin Yunwan hadn't had a proper look at her younger brother and sister-in-law yet, but she immediately perked up and said, "Hurry up and help me with my hair and makeup. Why didn't you wake me up? You've kept Young Madam waiting for so long."

Cuiqin smiled and said, "Your Crown Prince Consort, it's the Crown Prince's idea. The Prince and Nanny Lü are entertaining guests right now."

Even after so many years of marriage, he remains as attentive and considerate as ever.

Lin Yunwan sat comfortably in front of her dressing mirror and smiled, "Go tell the Crown Prince that I've gotten up."

Cuiqin sent a maid away, while Qi Zaijun stood beside her, a purse at his waist.

Lin Yunwan casually touched it, and inside was a Jade Thumb Ring! It was the one left behind by the late Crown Prince Qi Ling Yi.

"How did this end up with you? Didn't you return it to your uncle?"

Qi Zaijun then complained about how the thumb ring ended up back in his hands. He said his Imperial Grandfather had pressed his head down so hard it hurt!

Lin Yunwan only just found out about this, so she instructed him, "Keep it safe, don't leave it lying around."

Qi Zaijun said, "It's because my Imperial Grandfather likes it, and I wore it to please Imperial Grandfather."

Lin Yunwan called over his maid and gave her some instructions.

Then she went to see Xu. She was not particularly beautiful, but she was likable at first glance, gentle and graceful like a flower.

They had lunch together, but Xu was still quite reserved.

As he was leaving, Lin Yunyi quietly asked Lin Yunwan, "Elder Sister, how is your sister-in-law?"

Lin Yunwan smiled, "You've always had excellent taste."

Lin Yunyi said, "Of course."

He took Xu back with him, and Xu asked nervously, "Is the Crown Prince Consort really...?" She had only heard about it before and did not believe the rumors outside were true at all.

Lin Yunyi said seriously, "You mustn't spread this around. My Elder Sister is now the Crown Prince Consort; it would damage her reputation."

Xu swore, "I will absolutely not tell, my husband, please believe me."

Lin Yunyi held her hand and said with a smile, "I didn't say I didn't believe you, why are you swearing anything?"

Xu smiled with her head down; the young couple were newlyweds, their feelings for each other were at their peak.

In the Crown Prince's Residence, Lin Yunwan summoned A Fu and asked, "Have you still not found Lady Guo?"

A Fu said, "No. But we have some clues. It seems that a shop is selling the unique face powder that the lady has."

Lin Yunwan quickly instructed A Fu to follow the clues to find the person.