Rebirth: The Fourth Lady Wants to Lie Down

The early morning sun lazily sprinkled on the front yard of Soetu's mansion in the capital, casting mottled shadows on the stone road, and an unusual tension filled the air.

Yinzhen, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with a stern face, stood in the courtyard. Beside him were officials from the Dali Temple who were neatly arranged in distinctive armor. Their eyes were sharp and their silence revealed an irresistible majesty.

Soon, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and Soetu, a once powerful official, walked into the front yard with heavy steps.

He looked up at Yinzhen, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, and then he bowed and saluted: "Fourth Beile, your humble servant Soetu greets you, may you live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years."

Yinzhen nodded slightly and returned the greeting along with the Dali Temple official beside him, but his expression remained cold.

Suo Etu stood up, his eyes wandering between Yinzhen and the Dali Temple officials around him, and asked in confusion: "Fourth Prince, why did you... bring so many people to visit my humble home? Not to mention that I was supposed to be accompanying the emperor in Hangzhou, this sudden visit really makes me panic."

Yinzhen did not hesitate at all, his eyes were sharp, and he said directly: "Lord Suo'etu, this prince is here on the orders of Emperor Kangxi. According to investigation, you are suspected of taking advantage of your position to embezzle and accept bribes, buy and sell official titles, and even wantonly plunder the people's wealth. Your behavior is bad and has a very bad influence. Today, I have come to arrest you and bring you to justice."

Upon hearing this, Soetu's face suddenly changed and his eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe his ears: "What?! This is simply slander! I, Soetu, have been loyal all my life, how could I have ever done such a thing? Someone must have framed me!" He was very emotional and his voice echoed throughout the front yard.

Yinzhen remained unmoved and said in a cold voice: "The Dali Temple will judge the right and wrong. There is no need for you to say more, sir. Just follow me to the Dali Temple and everything will be judged impartially." After that, he waved his hand and signaled the officials of the Dali Temple to come forward.

Seeing the officers and soldiers of the Dali Temple approaching, Soetu was startled and shouted hurriedly: "I am the prince's uncle, who dares to be rude!" He tried to intimidate everyone with this identity, but the officers and soldiers of the Dali Temple looked embarrassed and slowed down their pace.

Seeing this, Yinzhen frowned and spoke in a more severe voice: "Before the imperial law, everyone is equal, regardless of their relationship or status. Lord Suo Etu, do you think this status can be your golden ticket to avoid death?"

His eyes were like lightning, scanning the whole place, and finally fell on Suo Etu. "As for the evidence and the will, you will know it when you arrive at the Dali Temple. Come, take him away!"

Seeing this, Suo Etu knew that the situation was hopeless, but he was still unwilling to surrender and struggled desperately, shouting that he was wronged. However, with the joint efforts of the officers and soldiers of the Dali Temple, he was finally escorted away, leaving the front yard in a mess, and the tension and anxiety in the air had not yet dissipated.

Yinzhen looked at Soetu's receding back, feeling mixed emotions.

……

As the night deepened, in a corner of the capital, the turmoil in Soetu's mansion was quietly spreading to the depths of the Forbidden City.

Yinzhen's arrival was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples. In a corner that no one noticed, a clever servant hurriedly set foot on the road to the palace, aiming directly at the prince's palace.

In the prince's study, the flickering candlelight illuminates a warm and peaceful scene. The prince, dressed in casual clothes, is concentrating on painting, outlining the landscape in his mind stroke by stroke.

On the table, the rice paper was as white as snow, waiting for the ink to fall. Beside him, a young eunuch Yuanlu with a delicate appearance stood quietly, his eyes revealing a calmness and delicacy beyond his age.

"Oh, the ink is dry." The prince whispered to himself, put down the brush that was about to dry up, and naturally reached out to take the ink cup next to the inkstone.

At this moment, a hand as delicate as a bone sculpture appeared quietly and grabbed the pen first with an elegant and natural movement.

The prince raised his head suddenly, and his eyes met those clear eyes. He was instantly attracted by that pretty face, and forgot words for a moment.

"What...is your name?" The prince finally found his voice, with a hint of imperceptible tenderness and curiosity in his voice.

Yuanlu was startled by this sudden question and paused slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

Although he had a premonition in his heart, he still felt a little nervous when he really faced this moment. "Your Highness, my name is Yuanlu." His voice was clear and pleasant, like a stream in spring.

Upon hearing this, the prince silently repeated the word "Yuanlu", with a strange light flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, he quickly pulled Yuanlu to sit on his lap, and gently covered Yuanlu's hands with his hands, stroking them carefully, as if feeling the delicacy and softness.

Yuanlu felt the prince's actions and his face flushed. He struggled slightly and said coquettishly: "Your Highness, this..."

Although his voice was small, it was filled with shyness and resistance. He tried to use his chest to resist the prince's approach, but his strength seemed so insignificant in front of the prince.

The prince mistook Yuanlu's resistance as a sign of shyness, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. Instead of restraining his movements, he became more intimate. He guided Yuanlu's hand and slowly explored downwards. The atmosphere in the study room instantly became subtle and hot.

As time went by, a secret that no one knew about unfolded in the study. The flickering candlelight illuminated the intertwined figures of the two, and the air was filled with a faint ambiguity and affection.

The noise in the house gradually became indescribable, and it was not until a long time later that everything returned to calm, leaving only the occasional chirping of insects outside the window, witnessing this unknown love affair.

All this happened while the situation in Yinzhen and Soetu's mansions was changing, becoming another unknown secret history in the Forbidden City.