Shi Wenjing fell silent for a few seconds upon hearing the news.
"Prince Qing is dead? When did this happen?"
Lin Zhenfei and Lin Zhenfan looked shocked upon hearing this.
"Master, Second Master, this matter also happened not long ago," the guard replied.
"Did the people in the palace clarify how Prince Qing died?" Lin Zhenfan asked, puzzled.
"I asked, and she said that for now, all they know is that Prince Qing died unexpectedly. They don't know the specific cause of death," the guard answered truthfully.
"Died unexpectedly? So, Prince Qing met with an untimely end?" Lin Zhenfei chuckled coldly.
"Does the Empress know Prince Qing is dead?" Lin Zhenfan suddenly asked.
"I heard that His Majesty has already notified the Empress immediately. The Empress has been temporarily unsealed for three days by His Majesty to handle Prince Qing's funeral matters," the guard replied.
"Alright, I understand. You may withdraw," Lin Zhenfei waved his hand impatiently at the guard.
Prince Qing's death was a significant blow to Lin Zhenfei. He had watched Prince Qing grow up, and although he deliberately maintained a good relationship with him, he treated Prince Qing better than his own sons. Now that Prince Qing was dead, it was likely that only the Empress and he felt the deepest sorrow.
Lin Zhenfan, however, felt little for Prince Qing. He had been at the border with his troops when Prince Qing was just born and rarely returned to the capital. He had met Prince Qing only a handful of times, so Prince Qing's death felt like that of a stranger to him.
"Eldest Brother, should we go to Prince Leng's manor now?" Lin Zhenfan asked in a low voice, frowning.
"Prince Qing is dead, and Prince Qing's manor must be in chaos. Let's visit tomorrow. Sigh…"
Lin Zhenfei sighed deeply and rubbed his temples. His head was aching more and more.
He wasn't sure what was happening to him lately; his head would hurt intermittently. He had never experienced such a problem before. He wondered if it was due to the many recent events around him causing his constant irritation.
"Alright! We'll visit tomorrow then," Lin Zhenfan agreed, nodding.
Afterward, the two brothers sat in the garden, gazing at the dark night sky in silence for a long time.
At this moment, Lin Zhenfan spoke up again, "Eldest Brother, who do you think killed Prince Qing?"
"Who do you think would dare to lay a hand on Prince Qing?" Lin Zhenfei asked instead of answering.
"His Majesty, Prince Leng, Prince Ning, Prince An, Prince Ji, Prince Xian, Prince Shou, and some of the consorts in the harem are all possibilities," Lin Zhenfan said slowly.
"The most likely suspect is Prince Leng, because Prince Qing and Prince Leng's manor have had long-standing animosity. A few days ago, Prince Qing also had a conflict with the consort of Prince Leng, so Prince Qing's death is very likely related to Prince Leng's manor. If Prince Qing was indeed killed by Prince Leng, His Majesty will surely suppress this matter," Lin Zhenfei replied without hesitation.
"Yes, what Eldest Brother says makes a lot of sense," Lin Zhenfan agreed.
"Second Brother, you are not feeling well. You should go back and rest. We will see the situation at Prince Qing's manor tomorrow," Lin Zhenfan said, looking at Lin Zhenfan, who was sitting in a wheelchair, with concern.
"Alright!"
Lin Zhenfan nodded and then instructed his subordinates to push him back to his residence.
The next day, just as the eastern sky began to lighten, the Empress arrived at Prince Qing's manor.
By then, the servants at Prince Qing's manor had already dressed the deceased Prince Qing in his burial clothes, tidied his appearance, and placed him in the coffin.
The Empress approached Prince Qing's coffin, reached out to touch his face, and murmured, "Yao'er, you are gone, and your mother has nothing left. Although you were idle and unmotivated when you were alive, always indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, making your mother very angry, now that you are gone, your mother..."
As the Empress spoke, she couldn't help but cry out loud.
Ever since she learned of Prince Qing's death last night, her tears had not stopped. Her only good eye would likely be blinded within a day or two from all the crying.
"Your Majesty, please compose yourself! You cannot cry anymore."
Xiao Anzi, standing beside the Empress, saw her tears flow like a bursting dam and tried to comfort her.
Unexpectedly, the Empress cried even more sorrowfully.
She continued to weep until Prince Shou and his wife, along with Princess Changle, arrived at Prince Qing's manor to pay their respects. However, the Empress did not look up at Prince Shou's family of three, perhaps out of shame, or perhaps in a disagreement with Prince Shou.
"Mother, my fourth brother is gone. You must take care of yourself."
Although Prince Shou still harbored some resentment towards the Empress for what she had done to him in his childhood, at this moment, the Empress was a mother who had lost her beloved son. Seeing her heartbroken expression, he could not bring himself to hate her.
After speaking, without regard for whether the Empress would acknowledge him, he, along with the Princess of Shou and Little Changle, bowed three times before Prince Qing's coffin, offered an incense stick, and turned to leave Prince Qing's manor.
After Prince Shou left, the Empress finally looked up in the direction he had departed.
"Your Majesty, Prince Shou and the Princess of Shou have already left," said Xiao Anzi from the side with a sigh.
Alas...
He truly couldn't understand. The Empress clearly wanted to mend her relationship with Prince Shou, but she was afraid that Prince Shou would not forgive her, leaving her in great internal conflict.
Shortly after Prince Shou left, the Lin brothers also arrived at Prince Qing's manor.
When Lin Zhenfei saw the Empress, lost in her grief and sitting mournfully beside Prince Qing's coffin, he felt a deep sense of empathy.
"Eldest Sister, are you alright?"
At this moment, Lin Zhenfei did not address her as Empress but called her Eldest Sister, as he had done in his childhood, making the address more affectionate.
Hearing the voice, the Empress slowly turned her head, her eyes vacant as she looked at the Lin brothers.
"You are here?" the Empress's voice was weak and powerless.
Since learning of Prince Qing's death last night, her once jet-black hair had turned completely white overnight. Wrinkles had appeared all over her face, her complexion had become sallow, and she looked as if she had aged decades in an instant.
Seeing the Empress's transformation, the Lin brothers were stunned on the spot.
"Eldest Sister, you... how have you become like this?"
Lin Zhenfei struggled to hold back his tears. Recently, both he and the Empress had experienced the pain of losing their children. He was still tending to his own wounds and had no idea how to comfort the Empress.
"Heh heh! Do I look very ugly now? Have I destroyed the beautiful image you held in your hearts?" The Empress suddenly gave a desolate smile.
"No, no, Eldest Sister, you are still the most beautiful Eldest Sister in our hearts," Lin Zhenfei said, his tears beginning to fall uncontrollably.
At that moment, he recalled how, in his childhood, the Empress had protected him and Lin Zhenfan, skillfully contending for power with their father's concubines. Back then, their Eldest Sister had been so majestic and imposing!
But now, why had she become like this?