Chapter 14

Chapter 14

As the lamps were lit, Changchun Garden was brilliantly illuminated.

Outside the Qingyuan Study, numerous guards maintained strict defenses. Inside the hall, however, only Liang Jiugong and a black-clad figure were present, standing and kneeling respectively in front of the soft couch.

Emperor Kangxi slowly turned the jade thumb ring on his left hand, his tone calm and unperturbed.

"Are the cnidium monnieri and ylang fragrance truly harmless to the body?"

The black-clad figure replied concisely, "The Empress Dowager consulted the Imperial Physician, and I have also verified it many times outside the palace. It is guaranteed to be harmless."

Emperor Kangxi closed his eyes and chuckled softly, "Then use more of it to ensure that Uya Shi gets her wish."

Before the Fourth Brother ascended the throne, he had a cold and indifferent nature, and his family had few descendants, causing constant concern.

After ascending the throne, the Fourth Brother, to show filial piety and demonstrate his sincerity in adopting Hong Xi, still refused to favor anyone.

Kangxi, in truth, felt more dissatisfaction than contentment about this.

He was not an intolerant father; even if the Fourth Brother had offspring, he intended to make Hong Xi his successor, which would not be difficult.

After a while, Liang Jiugong asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, shall we rest?"

Emperor Kangxi did not move, only asking the still-kneeling black-clad figure in a calm voice, "Has he left the Hall of Mental Cultivation at night these past few days?"

The black-clad figure replied, "The Imperial Guard is currently in use. I dared not follow too closely. In recent days, he visited the Yongshou Palace and, today, the Changchun Palace, but did not enter the artificial hill."

When Yinzhen ascended the throne, the Imperial Guard, which would later become notorious, was only in its infancy and could not handle significant matters.

After his ascension, it was Kangxi who secretly ordered the secret guards to discreetly share their expertise.

Over the course of a year and a half, the Imperial Guard had indeed matured to the point where even the secret guards could no longer easily get close.

Kangxi understood his son's temperament.

The opportunity to ascend to the heavens was a double-edged sword. It was not a major issue if the Fourth Brother privately found a place to vent his grievances or indulge in some secret joy. Kangxi chose to pretend not to know.

Kangxi sighed, reflecting that the Fourth Brother, much like Yinreng, had experienced little hardship despite his noble birth.

Unlike Kangxi, who at the age of three, due to his father the emperor's love for his first son, the Rong Prince, being ill, was exiled from the palace for a year, left to fend for himself without any word from his family, experiencing both cold and warmth.

Even after becoming emperor, Kangxi had to endure reprimands from his grandmother, deceit from his ministers... Ao Bai even dared to kill a minister in front of him.

During the pacification of the Three Feudatories, Kangxi used himself as a pawn to soothe the harem, enduring so much hidden grievance that he could no longer count.

He believed himself to be an enlightened ruler, capable of adapting to any role, except for arrogance.

Now, a year and a half later, the Fourth Brother had finally matured. It seemed as though those twenty-odd years had been wasted.

However, recalling yesterday, when Yinzhen calmly and gently led his brothers to receive his teachings, Kangxi suppressed his sigh.

He asked again, "Has Ma Wu confessed what his plans are regarding the ninth brother?"

The black-clad figure bowed lower, "I have failed to gather more information; I only discovered that Lord Fu Cha is tallying the accounts and secretly repaid the silver owed to the national treasury."

Kangxi's phoenix eyes, remarkably similar to Yinzhen's, opened slightly, causing his brows to lift imperceptibly, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

Without needing to hear more from the secret guard, having been a monarch for decades, Kangxi immediately understood his son's intentions.

Is he trying to become a vengeful spirit or something?

He actually went as far as to ruin his own brother, nearly to the point of death.

His dissatisfaction finally boiled over.

He had told the Fourth Brother before that things would work out if they were handled slowly, and that he should take his time. But this rascal treated those words as if they were nothing.

With Cao Yin, the trusted official, overseeing the tax revenues from Jiangnan, the issue of an empty treasury will eventually be resolved. Couldn't he have been more patient?

A newly enthroned emperor should focus on bestowing favors, not on settling old scores...

Thinking of this, Emperor Kangxi sighed silently again, recalling Crown Prince Yinreng. If that child were still alive, he wouldn't have to bear such heavy burdens.

While the Fourth Brother is diligent and decisive, he tends to be overly meticulous.

His rigid, black-and-white thinking, combined with his impatience, might work for a minister, but for an emperor, it could spell disaster.

If he continues to act ruthlessly, gaining a reputation for cruelty, who would still be willing to serve him?

"Have someone slow down the work at the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, but make sure no one notices," Kangxi mused slowly, humming lightly.

"Pass a message to Consort Uya, and have her assign some good-looking female officials to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"Instead of wasting time on trivial matters, why not give me more grandchildren, so I don't feel so constrained?"

Liang Jiugong and the shadow lowered their heads even more, pretending they hadn't heard those words.

*

The issue of offspring was not only a concern for Emperor Kangxi.

After returning from Changchun Palace, Yinzhen's expression was far from pleasant.

Hong Yun was about to turn six, the age to start attending the Imperial Academy, but he could barely walk steadily, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

Instead of showing motherly love, Lady Li seemed to deliberately have the wet nurse and eunuchs take care of Hong Yun.

When he arrived, she thrust her chest against his arm and wept bitterly, but not once did her eyes turn towards Hong Yun.

Yinzhen was both worried about Hong Yun's health and annoyed by Lady Li's lack of clarity.

She had already allowed Hong Pan to die due to her neglect, and Princess Huai, whom she raised, was also sickly until she was sent to Yongshou Palace for over a year to recover.

The more he thought about it, the more Yinzhen resolved that Lady Li should not bear any more children.

As soon as he sat down at the imperial desk, Su Peisheng handed over the report regarding the tutor arrangements for Hong Yun.

"Doctor Tang has examined Hong Yun, and there are no serious concerns."

"Additionally, ministers from the Southern Study have submitted a report. Lord Zhang Tingyu's elder brother, Zhang Tingzan, is highly knowledgeable... and excels in Confucian classics."

"Lord Chen Tingjing of the Wenyuan Library is skilled in the eight-legged essay, Lord Xu Qianxue of the Hanlin Academy excels in calligraphy and painting, and Lord Wang Hongxu is proficient in mathematics..."

Yinzhen pinched the bridge of his nose and gently interrupted Su Peisheng, "Leave it for now, and have Lord Tang continue teaching the fifteenth prince and the others."

Recalling the frail condition of the second prince, Su Peisheng softly responded with a yes.

After a pause, Su Peisheng perked up and smilingly replaced his master's tea.

"The Empress Dowager has been informed by Miss Shuning about the message from His Majesty to Cining Palace. A good remedy from Lady Qi's family has been arranged, and Niuheru Jingyi will deliver the tonic soup after the Thousand Autumns Festival banquet."

"Has the Qi family been investigated?" Yinzhen gave Su Peisheng a brief glance, and only after seeing Su Peisheng nod did he ponder further.

"The Niuhuru family? Which one?"

"The second daughter of the legitimate wife of Lord Alinbao, the Deputy Minister of War," Su Peisheng quickly explained. The Niuhuru Alinbao is a branch of the Niuhuru clan.

"Her great-grandfather was a cousin of Lord Ebilu, and the relationship with the ducal mansion is still passable."

The Duke Niuhuru Mansion had already produced one empress and one imperial noble consort, so it was unlikely another empress would come from the family. There were no suitable daughters from the main line to enter the palace.

However, many from the Niuhuru clan were of use, and this Niuhuru Jingyi was the most suitable, which was why she was forced by her family to enter the palace.

Yinzhen was relatively satisfied with Geng Shuning's efficiency.

He lazily picked up a formal report and flipped it open, "Tomorrow, have someone subtly mention in the Empress Dowager's presence to send Gua Jia and Geng Jia to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Although he loathed Geng Shuning, her reckless rush into the Qingyu Pavilion was an unexpected surprise.

Yinzhen's dark thoughts and secrets, which he couldn't share with anyone, suddenly had an outlet, which was more satisfying than drinking alone.

Even though Yinzhen's desire to kill her had never subsided, there was a hidden sense of indulgence within.

Instead of killing that bastard outright, it would be better to torment her slowly, and when the day came that he completely controlled the world, he would give her a quick death to make up for the slap he had endured.

Su Peisheng cautiously observed the emperor's expression, unsure of the Emperor's thoughts.

Gua Jia would inevitably be brought into the imperial harem because of the future posthumous title of the crown prince.

As for Geng Jia Shuning... that ancestor had no intention of going to the palace.

Thinking this, he carefully added a word.

"The Empress Dowager originally intended to have Miss Shuning come. Miss Shuning, being thoughtful, recommended Niuhuru Jingyi to the Empress Dowager because the nanny said this Jingyi is good at bearing children."

Yinzhen frowned slightly and glanced sideways at Su Peisheng.

"You meddling dog, always presuming to guess my thoughts," he thought. Did he care if that wretch crawled into his bed?

Su Peisheng, frightened by this glance, shrank his neck and forced a dry laugh, "This slave is unsure how to assign duties to the two girls."

Yinzhen coldly spoke, "Gua Jia will serve tea. As for that bastard... whatever the Empress Dowager is worried about, have her do just that."

Su Peisheng: "..." Does this mean you want that ancestor to find a way to send the palace ladies to my bed?

But in the past, older nannies handled such matters. Even if this ancestor had a romantic mind, she was still an innocent maiden.

If anyone was to be sent, it should be herself to the imperial bed, right?

Su Peisheng didn't dare ask any more.

Since ascending the throne, the emperor's thoughts had become increasingly inscrutable, and he couldn't guess, nor did he dare to.

*

If Yinzhen knew what Su Peisheng was thinking, he’d probably have him flogged.

His greatest interest in Geng Shuning was to see her head roll off.

At least, that's what Yinzhen thought before going to sleep.

Yet, late at night, within the golden bed curtains, everything changed.

His disgust, irritation, and even fury towards Geng Shuning remained unchanged, so when he gripped her slender waist, his force was so brutal it was as if he wanted to break her in two.

Her plump cheeks flushed with varying shades of crimson, glistening with beads of sweat that made her beauty stand out even more.

Her full lips, with a pronounced cupid's bow, parted slightly, emitting soft, pleading cries of "Spare me, Emperor."

How could he possibly show her mercy?

He wished he could tear her apart!

Even Yinzhen couldn't understand the source of his intense hatred.

Perhaps it was the embarrassment of being found hiding in the dark, brooding in secret, or the frustration of not being able to confront her lies, or the uncontrollable violence that surfaced in front of her...

These tangled emotions erupted into a slap, just as it had before.

The tingling at the corner of his lips turned into sparks of frustration, which were inadvertently swallowed amidst the gnashing of teeth, igniting a fire of desire within him.

At some point, their clothes were torn and discarded beyond the slowly moving curtains, and all sounds became fragmented, no longer complete.

The strength Yinzhen had secretly built in the wrestling arena made every muscle taut and sharp, as if intent on stirring up even the deepest parts of his troubled heart.

The frail woman trembled, her hands pushing against him, but each push only fanned the flames further.

Yinzhen's resentment deepened, transforming his annoyance into unreasoning desire.

He glared at her more intensely, her fragile form like a taut bow, her pleas pulling the string to its breaking point.

Finally, the wretched woman lost the strength to beg, which only left him with a bit of regret.

In truth, he hadn't had enough time on this archery field...

*

It was still deep into the night, with just over an hour before the Emperor would rise for morning court. Guard Zhao Song nodded off, dozing while on duty.

Half-asleep, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried gasps and movements from inside the hall, followed by a 'bang,' as a teacup shattered on the floor beside the bed.

As the chief steward of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Su Peisheng wasn't required to stay up at night to attend to the Emperor.

After his master fell asleep, he would soak his feet in a side room, eat something, and get a good rest, so he'd have the energy to follow the Emperor around during the day.

Just as usual, he was halfway through his sleep when he was abruptly shaken awake by his godson.

Before he could lash out in anger, Zhao Song whispered urgently, lowering his voice, "Father-in-law, the Emperor rose in the night and... soiled the imperial bed. He's called for you to attend to him."

Still groggy, Su Peisheng sat up, quickly tidied himself, and rushed to the sleeping chambers, his mind not fully clear yet.

Soiled the imperial bed?

Was the Emperor... wetting the bed?

The moment he stepped into the sleeping chambers, Su Peisheng froze for a moment, then it suddenly clicked.

Good heavens, the Emperor had been deprived for too long, and it had... overflowed.

With so many Empresses in the harem, for the Emperor to end up like this... to preserve the Emperor's dignity, this must remain a secret.

As soon as he entered, Su Peisheng swiftly instructed Zhao Song.

"Discreetly fetch some water from the tea room, and wash the Emperor's sleeping clothes yourself."

"Everything's been taken care of. Clean the bed linens and pour fresh tea; have someone clean it up tomorrow morning."

Zhao Song hurriedly agreed.

Su Peisheng personally cleaned the emperor, replaced the bed linens on the imperial bed, and helped his majesty lie down.

As he gazed at the emperor's cold, darkened face, Su Peisheng gently and carefully lowered the bright yellow curtains.

Before he could relax, a cold, low voice came from inside the curtains—

"Since she's so eager to serve the Empress Dowager, she can stay in Cining Palace and not move. Replace her with someone else."

Su Peisheng felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that his majesty truly had no goodwill toward Geng Jia Shuning.

He asked in a low voice, "Should we ask the Empress Dowager to arrange for her to be sent away earlier?"

Yinzhen suppressed his simmering frustration, silently gazing at the dragon embroidery on the top of the bed curtain.

Send her away, so she can live as a carefree young widow?

Fat chance!

Su Peisheng heard an extremely faint cold laugh from within the curtains, and then everything fell silent.

A sudden chill ran down Su Peisheng's spine. He dared not ask again.