Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The end of the Empress Dowager's longevity celebration completely put to rest the lingering effects of the great disaster from the 42nd year of Kangxi's reign.

The once-quiet political waters in the capital began to churn.

Although the Retired Emperor rarely saw anyone in Changchun Garden, he sat firmly behind the scenes, manipulating court politics.

The new emperor was no wallflower and had boldly changed many rules in the court.

While there were no overt conflicts between father and son, in the eyes of court officials and imperial clansmen, there were undercurrents of tension.

Everyone had their own judgment, and the shrewder ones weren’t in a rush to pick sides, preferring to watch the father and son’s power play from the sidelines.

With the new emperor having no heir, it was anyone's guess who would ultimately inherit the throne.

As for the second prince, Hong Yun?

He hadn’t even been admitted to the Upper Study, so no one took him seriously as a contender.

Now, with the influential Tong family entering the fray, the good show became even more interesting to watch.

By the end of June, for three straight days after court, Tong Guowei knelt outside Nine Continents Clear View, requesting an audience with the emperor, but was turned away each time.

Tong Guowei had no complaints, but he knelt outside Nine Continents Clear View, refusing to leave, and eventually knelt until he fainted.

Longkodo rushed out of the Imperial Guard’s duty rooms, carrying his father on his back all the way back to the Tong family’s estate, with many witnesses in the capital spreading the news widely.

The next day, the Retired Emperor issued an imperial decree, posthumously elevating the former crown prince Yinreng to the title of Emperor Duanhe.

At the same time, the Grand Empress Dowager issued an edict, bestowing upon the former crown princess Gua Jia the title of Empress Duanhe and granting her residence in Jingyi Garden adjacent to Changchun Garden, to be visited by the current empress and consorts in the rear palace.

Though it was said to be the Grand Empress Dowager's decree, everyone knew she was someone who didn't interfere in matters, and it was clear this was the will of the Retired Emperor.

Once these two decrees were issued, the entire court was shocked.

*

For the emperor to seek the Retired Emperor's decree in posthumously honoring the former crown prince was one thing, but for the Retired Emperor to directly issue a decree was quite another.

The former showed the emperor's open heart and brotherly respect, while the latter indicated the Retired Emperor's dissatisfaction with the current emperor.

Even Yinxiang, who usually thrives on chaos, was spooked, staying holed up in his mansion and avoiding public appearances, only privately discussing with Yin'e.

"The old man favors the Tong family like they’re his own, while treating the Fourth Brother like a stepson! What’s his endgame?" Yinxiang, recalling his humiliating departure from Qingyuan Study, couldn't bring himself to believe it.

Stroking his chin, he pondered, "Is he forcing the Tong family to take sides with Hong Xi?"

The Retired Emperor couldn't truly live as long as a turtle, and now by making decisions for the Tong family, the more forceful he was, the less room there was for reconciliation between the Tong family and the emperor.

This way, the Tong family could neither choose nor would they choose the emperor's offspring, leaving them with no option but to push Hong Xi to the throne with all their might.

Yinxiang gloated inwardly, feeling sorry for the Fourth Brother's constrained position as emperor.

Yin'e wasn’t concerned with these matters, leisurely sipping his wine and munching on peanuts with a simple smile.

"The old man has never thought highly of Fourth Brother for a day or two; what does it have to do with us?"

"When the Tong family sends gifts again, Ninth Brother, don’t accept them. Let’s just sit back, stir the pot, and get our work done smoothly—maybe we’ll even snag an iron-cap prince title."

Yinxiang thought about it and laughed, tossing a peanut into his mouth, chewing noisily.

"Don't say that; it's the fools who see things more straightforwardly."

"Jiangnan will be sending tax silver to the capital in October. If we handle the second prince’s funeral arrangements, the credit will be ours, and we should also secure as much silver as we can."

Yun E: "..." He couldn’t be bothered to comment on what his ninth brother said; real fools see everyone as foolish.

*

Upon receiving the news, Empress Dowager Wu Ya Shi was so enraged in the Changchun Immortal Pavilion that she smashed several sets of teacups and slapped the table so hard that the tortoiseshell flew off.

"That year, they forced me to trade my son for rank, causing the emperor to harbor resentment. I have endured tears and blood for decades, yet his heart remains cold. And now, not a word can I say about it!"

"Not only did they bully me, but even after Zhen has become emperor, they still let the Tong family ride roughshod over us, defecating on our necks. The Retired Emperor is simply..."

Geng Shuning, hearing these vicious words, knew something was amiss.

Two wet nurses, pale-faced, failed to stop her before she could finish. She had no choice but to rush forward, falling to her knees before the Empress Dowager, hoping to scare the rest of the words back into her mouth.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!"

What she wanted to say was 'shut up,' but her position prevented her from speaking so bluntly. Even direct advice might enrage the old lady.

She could only lie at the Empress Dowager’s feet, racking her brain for a gentle way to persuade her, "Although His Majesty appears gentle..."

Heaven forgive her for lying through her teeth.

"He is also very steady..." Spit!

"And extremely filial..." She felt like growing a longer nose!

She really couldn’t continue praising him, so she quickly got to the point.

"But His Majesty is your son, and naturally follows in your footsteps. With such depth of character, he must have his own plans and would never allow himself to be bullied."

"Why don't you wait and see? There's been no word of His Majesty's great anger. Perhaps the Emperor has something else in mind."

After all, this man still had the nerve to urge Geng Xue to repay him. Ever since he brought Tong Siya into the garden, Geng Shuning felt that he was up to no good.

Even without a clear understanding of the outside situation, she had a strong intuition that this lord would never suffer a loss.

No matter how wild the unofficial histories might be, they only speak ill of the Fourth Lord’s reputation, but never suggest that he is as meek as a bun, allowing anyone to bully him.

Empress Dowager was startled by Geng Shuning's sudden action and found herself both amused and exasperated, her annoyance with the Tong family fading considerably.

"You seem to understand the Emperor better than I do. It's a pity not to have you serve before His Majesty."

Geng Shuning: "..." A pity I can't die old in the palace?

She could only lower her head, feigning shyness, while carefully flattering the wealthy lady.

"Your concern for His Majesty is touching, but matters of the front court will be handled by others. The Tong family can only kneel before you, can't they?"

"Why not have Nurse WuYa send some mung bean and pumpkin ice to His Majesty? If it pleases you, it will surely please His Majesty as well."

Most importantly, it would cool his temper!

Don't let this scoundrel hold a grudge and come back to trouble her again.

Uya Shi was finally persuaded by Geng Shuning, losing the last bit of her anger.

The little girl is right.

Even if the Retired Emperor continues to favor the Tong family and posthumously promote Yinreng for their sake, just like the Heseri clan back then, the dead remain dead and can't change anything.

Now, every single member of the Tong family has to kneel before her and act subservient.

But outwardly, they maintained the appearance of a mother-son relationship, still fuming and exchanging cold hums.

"You’re quite the delegator. Why don’t you go yourself?"

Geng Shuning really wanted to roll her eyes. The rich lady had everything going for her, except for her relentless matchmaking for her son.

She lowered her gaze, feigning disappointment, and softly suggested, "Should we avoid upsetting the emperor right now?"

"If Nanny Wu Ya delivers it and a female official takes it to him, it would be better than letting a woman from the Tong family monopolize the opportunity, right?"

Nanny Wu Ya felt much better.

Indeed, Garudai and Jingyi were both getting older. It would be better to have them serve sooner, sparing the Fourth Brother from favoring someone unfortunate who couldn’t conceive even with the use of cnidium monnieri and ylang fragrance.

*

Not only were Yinxiang and Yinrui privately discussing this, but even the advisors of powerful princes like Cheng and An were eagerly waiting to see the emperor lose his temper.

No emperor could tolerate this, right?

Strangely, Yinzhen remained remarkably composed in court, only lightly suppressing the discussion about the posthumous promotion ceremony in the Ministry of Rites, not even listening.

Returning to Nine Continents Clear View, the attendants were too scared to breathe heavily, yet he seemed more relaxed than usual.

After reviewing the formal reports, seeing the green bean and pumpkin shaved ice presented by Garudai, Yinzhen graciously ate a few mouthfuls.

Once everyone had left, putting down the bowl, Yinzhen asked Su Peisheng knowingly, "What kind of rumors about me are circulating again?"

Su Peisheng grinned, bringing in a short and unremarkable palace maid.

If Geng Shuning were here, she would have been shocked.

The maid vividly mimicked the voices of the empress dowager and Geng Shuning, relaying every word of their conversation in the imperial bedroom without missing a single detail.

Yinzhen's almond-shaped eyes sparkled with amusement, "Gentle, steady, and filial? I knew she... Hmm, in front of me, she wouldn’t dare let me know."

A softie in every way, yet with a stubborn mouth.

Not willing to be a Shangqin Mama, she still arranged for someone to serve on the imperial bed for him.

Su Peisheng smiled obsequiously, "A young lady, shy and wary of her own mistakes, would naturally be hesitant. But once she realizes how broad-minded you are, Your Majesty, she'll come to understand."

Yinzhen sneered inwardly.

He believed in being stubborn yet soft-hearted, but shy and hesitant? He couldn’t quite buy it. A woman daring enough to scheme and set him ablaze with desire—Su Peisheng really had some nerve.

However, since she disliked the Tong family, there was no harm in granting her wish.

*

Twisting his face, Yinzhen promoted the Tong attendant in Wuling Chunse to a noble consort.

The crowd waiting for the emperor to react strongly to the Retired Emperor's decree: "..."

What? The Retired Emperor slapped you on one cheek, and you’re offering the other cheek?

Who knew the emperor could be so adaptable and patient?

Before the Tong family could celebrate, the emperor successively favored Gualjia Garudai and Niuheru Jingyi, promoting them to attendants and granting them residence in Wanfang Anhe, adjacent to Wuling Chunse.

The emperor, who had never set foot in the rear palace since ascending the throne, stayed overnight at the Queen's Rugu Hanjin on the first day of July.

The following night, he stayed at Tianran Tuhua, where Mao Pin, née Song, resided, and then at Tantan Dangdang, where Consort Qi, née Li, lived.

He also visited Ning Guiren, née Wu, at Xinghua Chun Guan and summoned Garudai and Niuheru Jingyi to Jiu Zhou Qing Yan several times.

Even the Curved Courtyard with Breezy Lotus Ponds, where several attendants lived, rarely saw the emperor’s visit.

On the fifteenth, Yinzhen stayed overnight at the Queen's place again.

Within half a month, the rear palace was in full bloom, and the consorts and concubines went to Rugu Hanjin every morning to pay their respects, smiling more brightly than the flowers.

The once-quiet garden was now buzzing with activity.

Geng Shuning had overheard plenty of gossip from the female officials at Changchun Garden, picking up all sorts of tidbits.

Today, the main lady Qi went for a boat ride on the lake, and tomorrow, Attendant Su was catching butterflies again. Even Ning Guiren started sending soup to Jiu Zhou Qing Yan...

In her heart, she mocked, either he doesn't indulge at all, or he goes all out, and with his weak constitution, isn't he afraid of kidney deficiency? Tsk~

It was fine to mock in her heart, but Geng Shuning knew that this "dog" had many ears and would never gossip with others.

She pretended to know nothing and focused on heading to the kitchen.

*

The Summer Palace was a garden constructed only after the emperor's ascension.

The servants in the palace were all arranged by the emperor himself, and the guards at the various palace gates were also his men, making it much harder to inquire about or pass messages than in the main palace.

But before long, not only did Geng Shuning hear a lot of gossip, but even the lowest-ranking sweeping servants knew—

Even a few low-ranking consorts were summoned to Jiu Zhou Qing Yan for an audience, while Tong Guiren, residing in Wuling Chunse, which was akin to a desolate cold palace, never once caught a glimpse of the emperor's face.

The message was almost openly sent out of the Summer Palace.

This grand drama was becoming more exciting, and the powerful in the capital sighed inwardly, quickly preparing wine and food to see how the Tong family would react next.

In reality, the Tong family had no intention of reacting at all.

For Tong Guowei, with the new emperor's ascension, the Tong family was no longer the maternal family of the emperor. If they couldn't seize the opportunity to align themselves while the Retired Emperor was still around, by the time the Retired Emperor passed away... it would be too late to even catch up.

The previous incidents were merely a method to test the Retired Emperor using Tong Siya's situation and to gauge the new emperor's strength.

They had already achieved the desired outcome, and a branch's legitimate daughter was dispensable, even if she were to die.

The main branch and branches of the Tong family had no shortage of ladies to send into the palace; they just hadn't had the opportunity since the emperor hadn't called for an imperial selection.

Even though the Retired Emperor had slapped the emperor's face on behalf of the Tong family, they knew that if they weren't foolish, they should keep a low profile at this time.

When Hong Xi was truly designated as Crown Prince, that would be the time for the Tong family to exert their influence as the "Tong Half Court."

They planned carefully and remained exceptionally low-key in the court, not even pressuring the Ministry of Rites to urge the emperor to confirm the posthumous title ceremony of Emperor Duane.

After touring the rear palace, Yinzhen seemed to recall the matters of the court.

Longkodo was repeatedly reprimanded by the emperor for leaving his post to escort Tong Guowei out of the palace and for being insufficiently respectful in the emperor's presence, among other reasons like favoring concubines over his wife. Finally, he was ordered to return home for reflection.

In the Dazheng Guangming Hall, in front of the entire court, Yinzhen no longer remained silent and directly confronted Tong Guowei.

"If Uncle’s health is still frail, he should rest at home. Would I deny him that?"

"Even if your memory is poor, to the point where you can barely remember which way the gate of the Yuanming Garden faces, I have not forgotten the nurturing grace of Empress Dowager Xiaoyi. I must ensure Uncle's well-being and will invite several imperial physicians to treat you."

"Uncle should recover soon. Even if you cannot stand in the court hall, spirited and ready to share my burdens, at least when you return home, don’t just think of yourself as an uncle; fulfill your duties as a father."

"If Uncle thinks I am being unfair, I apologize. Perhaps I should take you to see Grandfather and ask him to send a nursemaid to your house, so you won’t keep making a fool of yourself there."

Dong Guowei was flushed with embarrassment by the Emperor’s cutting remarks, which were strikingly similar to those of the Retired Emperor.

The court officials and royal relatives, who had been silenced, now understood that even if the Dong family was favored by the Retired Emperor, they could never dare to strike the Emperor.

When it was time to prostrate themselves on the ground, weeping and wailing, no one would dare to put on a show.

At this moment, even the most stubborn Yunshen kept his head down like a turtle, silent in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and dashed out as soon as the court session ended.

Everyone standing in the court, whether genuinely foolish or pretending, sensed that the Emperor was confronting the Retired Emperor, openly expressing his dissatisfaction.

Compared to the straightforward edicts of the Retired Emperor, the Emperor’s response, constrained by filial piety, was... relatively mild, yet it still carried the foreboding of an impending storm.

*

After the court session, as they returned from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Nine Continents in Tranquility, Su Peisheng, who knew the inside story, served in the hall, speaking in hushed tones.

"Your Majesty, shall I have someone prepare the carriage?"

The Emperor had scolded the Dong Guowei and his son; he should at least give an explanation to the Retired Emperor, right?

Even if it’s just for appearances.

Yinzhen sat at his desk, picked up the secret report sent back by Yunxiang, and said coolly, "No need. Father has been an emperor for many years; he knows what I am doing."

In the past, Yinzhen’s strategies and tactics often stemmed from his perspective as a minister, which led to his frequent impatience and anger.

He truly understood and grasped a principle from the last time Emperor Kangxi scolded him at Changchun Garden.

Even if the old man looked down on him and couldn't let go of power, once he chose him as emperor, the old man knew when to do what.

What the old man wanted was his retaliation, even teaching him step by step... to completely overthrow the mountain of the Retired Emperor.

In this aspect, he was luckier than his second brother.

As long as the Qing Dynasty was stable, every move of the old man would never be swayed by personal preferences; both thunder and rain were the grace of the sovereign, as well as the shackles of the ruler.

But that's what it means to be an emperor; some grievances the Imperial Father could bear, and so could he; the real hardships had yet to come.

Yinzhen was more concerned about the disaster in Henan.

In the secret memorial sent by Yunxiang, there was a detailed report of local officials covering for each other, entangled with powerful clans, exploiting the people, and showing no regard for the lives of the common folk.

The three-inch-thick memorial, which only covered less than ten days, was not the whole story. The more Yinzhen read, the colder his expression became.

The secret agents accompanying Yunshu and Yunxiang also sent confidential letters.

The two men reached Henan in just ten days and faced no fewer than five assassination attempts in the short span of a dozen days.

Yinzhen didn't get angry over matters in the court, but now, seeing the amounts of embezzlement and evidence of collusion between officials and merchants... a raging fire burned within him, almost making him lose control and want to slaughter all these corrupt officials!

But he knew he couldn't.

At least not as an emperor who hadn't fully taken control of the court.

With a 'thud,' he slammed the memorial onto the imperial desk, pinched the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes to calm himself, suppressing his anger.

Focus on the major offenders and let go of the minor ones. To address the corrupt officials in Henan, we can't touch the lower-level officials, but we can confiscate the property of the Henan governor.

We need a suitable candidate to take over as governor and gather evidence from the inside to dismantle the entrenched relationships.

Since the disaster has occurred, reducing taxes is imperative.

Royal Father once had the idea of standardizing the Ding silver tax amount but hadn't implemented it.

If we were to implement it, Henan would be a good place to start. The new governor must be someone intelligent and flexible.

Yinzhen opened his eyes and turned to Su Peisheng, "Send my urgent imperial edict to call Tian Wenjing, the magistrate of Yizhou, to the capital as quickly as possible."

Yizhou is relatively close to Henan prefecture. Currently, the only person we can use is Tian Wenjing, who has just taken office as magistrate of Yizhou.

Pausing, Yinzhen frowned again, "Never mind, let me think some more."

Tian Wenjing is meticulous, upright, and thorough. He could handle investigating corrupt officials, but when it comes to flexibility, he falls a bit short.

Moreover, Yizhou is an important jurisdiction of Zhili. Yinzhen would prefer Tian Wenjing to take over the position of Zhili governor, a trusted aide of Royal Father.

However, aside from Tian Wenjing, he couldn’t immediately think of anyone else suitable for the task.

"Have Zhao Song relay a message to Li Guangdi, the Minister of Personnel, to recommend someone who is clever and adaptable. It doesn't matter how many, just get the formal report to me as soon as possible," Yinzhen ordered in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Peisheng hurriedly agreed, but he had his own thoughts.

Old fox Li Guangdi, slippery as ever, if the message isn't clear, the recommended person might not meet Your Majesty's expectations.

Moreover, according to the intelligence from the Imperial Guard, Li Guangdi is ruthless. The people he recommends are likely just as corrupt as those in Henan.

But Su Peisheng didn't dare say this.

The Imperial Guard had already reported the information, and Your Majesty was aware. It wasn't for a eunuch to worry about.

Yinzhen indeed knew Li Guangdi's character, but he really couldn't find a suitable candidate for the moment, which only made him more irritated. He simply put down the report and asked for Buddhist scriptures to copy.

After copying a few lines, Yinzhen paused with the brush in his hand and looked at Su Peisheng, who was carefully attending to him, with an ambiguous expression.

"Almost twenty days."

Su Peisheng was startled and instinctively responded, "Your Majesty is referring to..." What is almost twenty days?

He wracked his brains, struggling to understand, and his eyes inadvertently shifted to the Buddhist scriptures.

Just now, while immersed in state affairs, Chief Eunuch Su almost slapped himself.

How could he have forgotten her?

Su Peisheng quickly bowed, "This servant will remind Miss Shuning."

Yinzhen sneered, "No need. Pushing won't work. If she can hold her ground, there are two open positions for female officials at Nine Continents Clear View. They can fill the positions."

Su Peisheng inwardly cursed again.

Nanny Chen had reported back that the little ancestor now had the Empress Dowager's favor. If they tried to bring her over, the Empress Dowager would likely be the first to object.

If they offended the Empress Dowager to get her here and the harem found out, would she still have an easy life?

Why isn’t she in a hurry?

At the moment, the emperor was clearly not someone who could be provoked. Even the words in the Buddhist scriptures seemed to carry an edge of irritation, and Su Peisheng had no desire to test the strength of his own neck.

Outside the hall, Su Peisheng had been pacing like an ant on a hot stove for quite some time. Gritting his teeth, he finally decided to send a message to that little ancestor.

After all, he couldn’t just march up to the Empress Dowager and demand someone—what did he think, that he was important enough?

*

Coincidentally, Geng Shuning was also copying scriptures at that moment.

It was the *Sutra of Great Vows*, and the words also carried a sense of impatience.

There were so many things from her past life that could impress the Fourth Master.

Geng Shuning was well aware that if she could just produce glass, penicillin, or cement, the Fourth Master would be astonished and might even elevate her above Zhou Cheng, placing her on a pedestal.

Then she wouldn’t have to worry about growing old and dying in the palace.

The problem was... which decent planner knew how to do these things?

As a liberal arts major, she only knew that glass contained minerals, penicillin... was something that mold produced, and cement had limestone. Beyond that, she was completely in the dark.

She did know about soap, though. During an event for a client making handmade soap, there was a segment on traditional soap-making.

She had planned to impress a wealthy client but hadn’t gotten around to it.

But soap wouldn’t be of much use to the Fourth Master. At best, it would make his face cleaner and him more presentable.

As the days went by, Geng Shuning was becoming increasingly anxious.

She didn’t know that Su Peisheng had already sent someone to Changchun Garden, and she was too restless to continue copying scriptures.

Throwing down her brush with a puffed-up expression, she rested her head on the low table and began to tap it rhythmically.

If only she could have some alcohol, she might be able to think of something... what to do?

Despite his icy demeanor in history books, he had a surprisingly short temper. If he lost his patience, who knew what he might do?

As her head throbbed from the tapping, Geng Shuning regretted her harsh words to Geng Xue.

She could always apologize, but why had she let herself brag so much?

Cow?!

She suddenly sat up straight, her legs, which had been crossed, bumping against the low table, causing her to gasp in pain, but her eyes lit up.

Smallpox was a dreaded scourge throughout the Qing Dynasty.

She had once organized a lecture at a university where a professor mentioned that as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, there were stories about cowpox that could prevent smallpox.

However, these stories were treated as miscellaneous tales and not clearly recorded.

It wasn’t until a folk doctor named Zhu, during Emperor Kangxi’s reign, rediscovered these stories and included them in his writings.

Geng Shuning couldn’t sit still any longer. She rubbed her knee, jumped up, and rushed out.

She asked nanny Zhou for leave and, while it was still daylight, hurried toward the Four Delights Study.

It wasn’t the Qianlong era yet, and the princes were still studying at the Qunfang Academy and living at the Bitong Academy. These places didn’t exist yet; they were just swamps and empty fields.

The only imperial princes studying now are the four princes between the ages of fifteen to eighteen. The Water Garden behind the Changchun Garden was prepared as the place for the princes to study, and a library was built next to it.

Otherwise, running between the Qunfang Academy and Changchun Garden would be exhausting.

It only took her the time it takes to burn an incense stick to reach the Four Delights Study.

Like the Jingren Palace, which houses the imperial library, as long as you had enough silver to tip the eunuchs guarding the door, female officials of the sixth rank and above had the qualification to enter the library and borrow books.

Geng Shuning wasn’t short on silver; she just hoped the Four Delights Study had enough books for her to find what she needed quickly.

Her chance to leave the palace freely hinged on this.

While Geng Shuning searched the bookshelves for Tang and Song dynasty miscellany, a young eunuch sent by Su Peisheng delivered the message to Geng Xue.

By the time the lamps were lit, Geng Shuning, drenched in sweat, returned to the duty room with a stack of books, feeling reasonably satisfied.

Before she could settle in, Geng Xue stammered in, delivering the grim news from Nine Continents Clear View.

If this had happened just a few hours ago, Geng Shuning would have been on the verge of panic.

But now, seeing the books she had worked so hard to bring back, Geng Shuning finally let herself enjoy a rare moment of satisfaction.

She didn’t look at Geng Xue, slowly sat down, drank a few sips of warm water to moisten her throat, and then, with a deliberate tone, spoke.

"Rome wasn’t built in a day. When to go and pay respects, I have my own arrangements."

"Tell him that if he’s not satisfied, I’ll gladly offer up my own hide!"

Geng Xue was speechless.

*

By bedtime, in Nine Continents Clear View, as Yinzhen had just lain down, the message that was relayed startled him into sitting up again.

He threw the questions he wanted to ask but didn’t dare to ask at Su Peisheng.

"Is that fool tired of living?"

What gives her the nerve?!

Su Peisheng was speechless. Who was he to know?