Chapter 43 Snow is Falling, the Capital is under Martial Law

The next day.

As dusk fell.

Hongli was lying in Haitang’s embrace, playfully twirling a strand of her raven hair—which cascaded like a waterfall before him—with his right hand.

Haitang was not asleep, nor had she blown out the lamp. Instead, she massaged Hongli’s right arm, smiled gently at him, and then looked up at the shifting shadows outside the window as snow began to fall. "Master, it is snowing," she said.

"Hmm!"

Hongli glanced at the calendar once more.

He confirmed that today was the thirteenth day of the eleventh lunar month in the sixty-first year of Kangxi.

He did not know what the situation was currently like at the Changchun Garden, nor whether the Kangxi Emperor had passed away.

Ever since Princess Shushen had come and gone, the outer areas had been placed under strict martial law, prohibiting anyone from wandering about freely even during the day.

From high-ranking princes and grand ministers down to peddlers and commoners, under the strict orders of the Gendarmerie Command, not a single person dared to venture out at will. Even wedding processions and funeral rites were ordered to return home and await another day.

Consequently, all communication of news was practically severed.

Even the Eighth Prince’s Mansion, which was adjacent to the Prince Yong’s Residence and usually bustling with activity, had suddenly grown dead silent.

Hongli simply sat up.

Seeing this, Haitang looked at him. "Master?"

At that moment, Lady Niohuru also lifted the bed curtains from the outer room. "What is the matter?"

"Since I cannot sleep anyway, I might as well continue copying the Buddhist scriptures."

"My lady, do go back to sleep," Hongli said.

"Very well!"

Haitang acknowledged, draped a garment over her shoulders, and got up. First, she helped Hongli put on his robe, then walked over to the desk, took up a hairpin to trim the lamp wick, and dropped a few water droplets into the dry inkstone.

As the ink stick descended and ground against the stone, the clear water within instantly turned murky.

Lady Niohuru did not return to sleep either; she too threw a garment over her shoulders, picked up some needlework, and came to sit beside Hongli.

Hongli glanced at her.

"I am just taking advantage of the light to shake off some sleepiness."

"Although it feels much quieter outside than usual, my heart simply cannot settle," Lady Niohuru said with a smile.

Hongli smiled faintly and said nothing more.

At a time like this, it was hardly surprising that everyone within the Prince Yong’s Residence was on edge.

For once a new emperor ascended the throne—regardless of who it might be—the fates of everyone in the Prince Yong’s Residence would undergo a drastic transformation.

This shift would be far greater than any routine change, such as who received the favor of attending the master's bedchamber or which father, son, or brother received a promotion in rank.

The shadows on the window grew increasingly dense.

The number of characters in the Buddhist scriptures flowing from Hongli’s brush continued to multiply.

Suddenly!

The sound of hurried hoofbeats seemed to ring out right outside the gate. Lady Niohuru put down her needlework, lifted the curtain herself, and peered outside.

"An imperial decree! The Eighth Prince, Yinsi, is summoned to enter the palace immediately!"

Hongli also paused his brushwork, hearing a loud, resonant voice echo from not far away.

...

Inside Prince Yong’s study.

The barking of dogs still pierced the fathomless night.

Hongshi, placed under house arrest here, grew all the more restless because of it.

The paper before him, meant for copying Buddhist scriptures, remained as pristine and white as the earth outside, without a single mark upon it.

Without even picking up his brush, he leaned toward the window and demanded of Su Peisheng, "Su Peisheng, where has my father gone?"

Su Peisheng replied, "This servant does not know!"

"It is impossible that you do not know!"

"You dog of a servant, do not think that just because my father trusts you, you can afford to look down on me."

"Remember this: no matter what the outcome turns out to be, I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

"Therefore, you must answer honestly!"

"Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to destroy you!"

Having lost his composure, Hongshi began to curse Su Peisheng furiously.

Suppressing his anger, Su Peisheng smiled faintly. "Please calm your anger, Third Prince. This servant truly does not know, and the Fourth Master does not like those around him asking things they ought not to ask."

Hongshi suddenly changed his tone. "I beg of you, Eunuch Su, Master Su. If you do not tell me where my father is, how can I set my mind at ease and copy these Buddhist scriptures here?"

"This servant truly does not know."

"Then surely you can tell me the situation over at my Eighth Uncle's place?" Hongshi asked again.

Su Peisheng chuckled dryly. "Third Prince, you jest. How could this servant possibly know what is happening at the Eighth Prince's estate?"

"You cannot possibly not know! You are the most trusted eunuch by my father’s side. In the past, leave aside Eighth Uncle's affairs; even whatever Eighth Aunt did, you were always able to report it to my father in a timely manner," Hongshi rebuked angrily.

Su Peisheng did not answer, merely saying, "It is late, Third Prince. You should rest early."

"Whether I rest or not is none of your concern!"

"If you hadn't blocked me, I would have already shown my face before Eighth Uncle by now!" Hongshi retorted with vexation.

Then, just as he was about to use Su Peisheng to vent his spleen once more, he heard the sudden sound of hurried hoofbeats from outside.

The barking of the dogs ceased in coordination at that moment.

"An imperial decree! The Eighth Prince, Yinsi, is summoned to enter the palace immediately!"

Shortly thereafter, Hongshi too heard the announcement summoning old Eighth Yinsi into the palace.

"Eighth Uncle has been summoned into the palace... Could it be that the throne is to be passed to Eighth Uncle, or is it to carry out an imperial edict naming Fourteenth Uncle?"

"I wonder what my father is actually doing at this moment. If he is still off burning incense and praying at some temple, then in the future, the entire Prince Yong’s Residence will truly have to rely entirely on me to hold it together!"

Hongshi muttered these words to himself, speaking in a voice only he could hear.

"That would be wonderful indeed!"

"All these years of endurance have not been in vain after all! Even if Hongli has rendered meritorious service, he is merely a Beizi; but I can at least inherit the position of Prince Yong! An iron-capped princehip is something I can still strive for!"

As he spoke, Hongshi grew increasingly excited, pacing rapidly around the room before shouting toward Su Peisheng outside, "Old thing, hurry up and let me out!"

Su Peisheng gave no response.

...

Upon hearing the announcement summoning Yinsi into the palace, Hongli did not dwell on it and simply continued copying the Buddhist scriptures.

"Indeed, where could the Fourth Master be right now?"

Lady Niohuru took the initiative to ask at this juncture.

Hongli smiled; in truth, he had already deduced where Emperor Yongzheng was currently located.

Yet he still said nothing.

He had to maintain a composed demeanor in front of Haitang.

For he knew that Haitang might well report all of this to the Primary Consort, who would in turn convey it to Yongzheng.

Thud, thud!

At that moment, urgent knocking sounded at the door.

Before long, a young eunuch walked in and announced, "The Fifth Prince and Lady Geng beg an audience."

Lady Niohuru glanced at Hongli before saying, "Show them in!"

"Understood!"

A short while later.

Lady Geng and Hongzhuo entered, holding hand-warmers.

Upon entering and seeing that Hongli was still copying Buddhist scriptures, Hongzhuo was extremely astonished. "Fourth Brother, you are still writing these? I thought you would have been asleep by now."

"Praying for the blessings of Khan Mafa is a duty one cannot slacken in."

"What brings you and the lady here so late at night?" Hongli asked.

Without waiting for Hongzhuo to speak, Lady Geng asked anxiously, "Did you hear that sound just now? His Majesty has summoned the Eighth Prince into the palace!"

"We heard it. We do not know whether only the Eighth Prince was summoned, and unfortunately we do not know where the Fourth Master is right now, nor is it appropriate to go ask the Primary Consort," Lady Niohuru replied.

Lady Geng looked somewhat disappointed. "So you do not know where the Fourth Master is either."

At this point, Hongzhuo even took the initiative to ask Hongli, "Fourth Brother, do you really think we don't need to rush to curry favor with Eighth Uncle?"

"Didn't I say before?"

"Wait and watch how things develop! Besides, I believe Khan Mafa will not pass the throne to Eighth Uncle." Hongli stated calmly.

Lady Geng was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. "Fourth Prince, mind your words! Beware of listening walls. If Eighth Uncle finds out later—if he truly becomes the emperor, it will ruin your own future prospects!"

At the same time, Lady Geng hurriedly covered Hongzhuo’s mouth, fearing he might utter something untoward as well.

At that moment, the sound of horse hooves rang out once more.

"An imperial decree! All Princes of the Blood, Beiles, Beizis, Dukes, Imperial Sons, Imperial Daughters, Imperial Grandsons, Imperial Granddaughters, Consorts, Inner Ministers, Grand Secretaries, Military Commanders, and Ministers are to immediately enter the fasting quarters to face the Emperor!"

The faces of everyone present turned pale.

For had it not been an event as grave as the Emperor nearing his final moments, so many people—regardless of inner court or outer government, men and women alike—would never have been summoned all at once.