Chapter 49

Chapter 49

The Qing Dynasty was governed by the principle of filial piety. Yinzhen calculated the timing and returned three days before the Thousand Autumns Festival of the Empress Dowager.

Before his return, he secretly sent a plea for forgiveness to the Empress Dowager, hinting at what would happen after he came back to the palace.

At the main gate of the palace, the Empress Dowager’s tears were partly due to being shocked by Yinzhen’s sickly appearance, but more so because she was reenacting her old skills from when she was still Consort De.

In reality, Yinzhen’s injuries were not as severe as they appeared; they were mostly the result of endurance.

The Empress Dowager “fainted from shock” and, out of concern for the Emperor’s health, issued an imperial decree canceling the grand celebration of the Thousand Autumns Festival. This meant there was no need to invite the retired emperor from the Chunqiu Court to the palace banquet, avoiding potential conflicts between the new emperor and the ministers.

This carefully staged display of maternal love and filial piety was planned before Yinzhen returned to the capital.

On the day of the Thousand Autumns Festival, early in the morning, Geng Shuning, who had been attending to the pale-faced Yinzhen, accompanied him to the Changchun Immortal Pavilion.

Supported by Zhao Song and Su Peisheng, Yinzhen, in front of the imperial concubines and princes, presented a large number of birthday gifts brought back from Jiangnan to the Empress Dowager, and weakly knelt to apologize, which served as a birthday tribute.

Because Yinzhen had been eating well for the past two days, his sickly appearance had to be retouched by skilled secret guards.

As he came out of the Nine Continents Clear View Hall, Yinzhen, with powder caked on his face, looked at Geng Shuning with some hostility.

In the Chunqiu Court, both the Grand Empress Dowager and the retired emperor sent birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager. Yinzhen, trembling, joined the lively gathering at the Changchun Immortal Pavilion for a while.

Not staying long, Yinzhen “half-fainted” and returned to the Nine Continents Clear View Hall, where he was energetically looking for trouble with Geng Shuning.

He really couldn’t forget that night in the royal tent when Geng Shuning outmaneuvered him.

He had never been so humiliated.

This rascal’s temper had grown, and her words had become increasingly skilled at provoking him.

His seasickness wasn’t as bad as he made it seem, mainly due to the small feet of the courtesan.

When he was still a prince and sent on a mission outside the capital, he had seen real small feet and had developed a strong dislike for this perverse preference.

But by the window, not all of Yinzhen’s words were empty.

He had indeed realized some things, including the affection that had somehow arisen.

On the way back, Yinzhen came to a realization.

Focusing on a single consort wasn’t a significant issue and could save him a lot of effort, which could be better used on court affairs.

But as an emperor, he wouldn’t allow himself to be led by a woman.

He wanted her to stay willingly, to look at him with the same spark in her eyes again, and it couldn’t be just him who was emotionally involved.

He had said that Geng Shuning’s eyes wouldn’t lie, and after repeated reflections, Yinzhen realized.

That day in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Geng Shuning had used love as a pretext to deceive his promise and soft heart.

When someone is in love, their captivating apricot eyes wouldn’t always remain as calm as his.

The more Yinzhen thought about it, the more resentment he felt in his heart.

He had never been one to admit defeat since he was a child, and he believed his skills in singing, reciting, acting, and performing were no worse than this scoundrel's.

Yet unexpectedly, her half-truths and sweet talk had once again fooled her.

Was this fox a performer in a past life?

By the time Geng Shuning came in to change the tea for the third time, Yinzhen, with a cold face, didn’t look at her and only faintly ordered,

"It's too hot, bring another cup."

Geng Shuning had no intention of indulging his bad temper and gently replied, "Your Majesty, this is cold-brewed tea."

Yinzhen lifted his eyelids to glance at her, "Too cold, change it again."

Geng Shuning didn’t move, still smiling sweetly, "I beg Your Majesty's pardon, the Imperial Physician said your spleen and stomach are weak, and it's not suitable for you to have very hot water."

"Cold-brewed with Dendrobium officinale boiled in Jade Spring water, it's especially good for reducing internal heat and suitable for your health."

Yinzhen, after she finished, acted as if he hadn’t heard a word and only sneered, "Geng Shuning, are you disobeying an imperial order?"

The servants in the hall, Su Peisheng and Zhao Song, along with the two other attendants, were all frozen in fear, not even daring to run away.

The previous day, they had run away with trembling legs, and when the emperor was left speechless by this ancestor, each was rewarded with five lashes, a lesson they remembered well.

Thinking about it, Su Peisheng felt that while his back had just recovered, his bottom started to ache again.

If they were allowed to lift their heads, their heads would probably be shaking like a rattle from the torment of these two ancestors.

At this moment, they dared not move, ears perked up, waiting to hear Geng Shuning retort.

But Geng Shuning didn’t say anything, only knelt in front of the imperial bed, her apricot eyes looking up at Yinzhen, misty and quiet.

Yinzhen's attention was fully on the memorial, not looking at her at all.

The memorials were secret ones delivered by Gao Bin and Lin Fu.

In the Jiangnan area, several members of the Duanhe Party had been captured, and one of them had been turned, ready to be divided and conquered; Gao Bin had acted swiftly.

The Shanxi governor, Gali, who was not on good terms with his mother, also had room for manipulation, but they would wait until the secret guards found evidence.

In Henan, things were moving a bit slower; Geng Jia De Jin had just discovered the beginnings of a corruption ledger from the governor Su Nahai and was closely watching him.

Everything was rapidly progressing according to Yinzhen's plan, which put him in a rather good mood, giving him more leeway to tease the little fox by his side.

"Mute again?"

"Shall I give you a few lashes to help you find your tongue?"

Geng Shuning remained silent.

Only when Yinzhen gave her a cold sideways glance did Geng Shuning pout, her voice so soft it made Su Peisheng and the others feel uneasy.

"Whatever you say, Your Majesty, this servant is just waiting for Your Majesty's punishment!"

"As long as it's good for Your Majesty's health, even if you want Shuning's head, Shuning is willing."

You sly devil, I give up.

Yinzhen had a mouthful of frustration stuck in his throat and shifted his gaze to Su Peisheng. "Dog servant, do you expect Us to personally escort you out?"

Su Peisheng: "..." Damn it! If you have the ability, take it out on Geng Shuning!

He lowered his head, waved his hand, and quickly led everyone out.

Lying on the bed pretending to be sick, Yinzhen flipped over and sat up. He stretched out his long arm and easily pulled Geng Shuning into his lap, holding her in a dominant position.

"Do you enjoy kneeling so much?" He stared at Geng Shuning with a half-smile. "Should We follow Geng female official's advice and be more harsh? Do you feel Our affection for you?"

Geng Shuning gritted her teeth, thinking, it's you who likes to kneel, your whole family does!

She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, but refused to yield with her words.

"The palace most taboos the emperor developing feelings. If you want me dead, why not just issue an imperial decree?"

Yinzhen gently stroked her delicate form. "Is loving you a harm? Then why do you go to such lengths to leave the palace?"

Geng Shuning pushed him away. "You are an enlightened ruler and should understand that women become useless when entangled in emotions. If your heart is clouded by foolishness, you wouldn't be worth Shuning's affection."

Yinzhen sneered. "You always have a way of justifying yourself. When it comes to sophistry, We indeed fall short compared to you, unworthy of the title of 'Ba Liang'."

Geng Shuning choked on her words and secretly glanced at him. Seeing that the fire was stoked just right, she appropriately backed down, her tone softening.

"Well, I'm serving by Your Majesty's side!"

"If you don't let me leave, how dare I leave the palace~"

*

After managing to get through a difficult situation, during the evening when she finished changing Yinzhen's wound dressing and wrapping the bandage, being so close, Yinzhen's itch urged him to find fault again.

"We heard that when you were by Our mother's side, you enjoyed accompanying the Empress Dowager with laughter. But in front of Us, you only know how to anger Us, and you still dare to say you love Us."

"Do you know what happens when you deceive an emperor?"

Geng Shuning sighed inwardly, rolling her eyes internally. Here we go again.

These days, Yinzhen had found countless reasons to pick on her. Normally, she would have lost her patience by now.

But she wanted to leave the palace. The best way was to stoke this dog's fire to the extreme, then use her prepared method to soothe him and seize the chance to leave.

If he truly calmed down, the difficulty of her leaving would be no less than ascending to the heavens, and she'd have to shed several layers of skin.

The shops outside the palace were already prepared, and the newly acquired servants were nearly trained. All that was left was for her to go out and inspect.

She needed to finalize the final details, discuss with the Chen and Qi families on how to deal with external investigations, and establish a method of contact to stabilize this intelligence line.

Geng Shuning bit her tongue lightly, tied the last piece of bandage, and hummed softly into Yinzhen's ear.

"Why don't you mention how the Empress Dowager treated this humble servant?"

"By the Empress Dowager's side, I wasn't subjected to harshness, nor was I troubled multiple times a day, and endless rewards were carried into my room..."

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at Yinzhen. "Most importantly, the Empress Dowager never overstepped boundaries, keeping this future nun's mind unsettled."

Yinzhen: "..." Does she really intend to become a nun?

The sweet scent gently wafted around his neck, turning the itch in his heart into an unbearable heat.

Especially in their intimate position, the thin fabric of her summer clothes barely separated their skin, making him ache inside and out.

She muttered a few curses under her breath. Yinzhen impatiently gripped the back of her neck, his voice laced with frustration.

"Do you think I'm tempting you? Aren't you afraid I'll make you lose control?"

Geng Shuning thought to herself, if that's the case, you might as well stock up on good food and wine for me. I wouldn't refuse it.

Before he could kiss her, Geng Shuning, using her injury as an excuse for difficulty in movement, swiftly dodged to the side where her injury hampered her mobility.

A mischievous smile spread across her face as she looked at Yinzhen, whose handsome face was slightly darkening. Her slender, white fingers gestured in the air near his wound.

"Your Majesty, stop teasing me. If I remember correctly, the assassin injured your shoulder, not your head."

Sick enough to miss his own mother's birthday, yet he could somehow sleep with a woman while barely conscious... unless his mind is addled and he thinks everyone else is a fool.

Clever people know when to hold back their words. Yinzhen was amused by her veiled sarcasm and stood up to catch her.

"To punish you for your insolence, I can still manage despite my injuries!"

Geng Shuning, frightened, ran outside in a hurry, almost covering her backside.

"I'll have someone bring supper over. Your Majesty is seriously ill and can't get out of bed, so don't push yourself."

She didn't believe this bastard would dare to let others see the heavily injured emperor jumping around.

*

When Geng Shuning left the emperor fuming in the hall again... still without his clothes on, Su Peisheng really felt like offering incense to Geng Shuning.

Serving this ancestor was better than serving those in the grave. Su Peisheng was truly impressed.

He had never seen someone so unafraid of death... and the emperor really couldn't bring himself to kill her.

At this moment, recalling the time on the journey to the south of the Yangtze, when he was caned by the emperor for picking that courtesan, Su Peisheng didn't feel wronged at all.

He deserved it. That courtesan couldn't compare to this ancestor.

The emperor was too benevolent. He really should have given him more than ten strokes!

While Su Peisheng was lamenting inwardly, Geng Shuning had already returned to Yingfei Pavilion.

As soon as she entered, she collapsed on the soft daybed by the window, her legs weak, holding her chest like Xishi, her furrowed brows reflecting her racing heart.

Pushing him to the limit wasn't easy.

She was well aware of the harsh historical assessments of the Fourth Master and the adage that accompanying a monarch was like living with a tiger.

Especially with the sudden move by the retired emperor and the empress dowager, which ruined all her plans, she was reminded of how cruel the world could be.

If it weren't for her urgent need to leave the palace, she wouldn't dare to dance on the edge of a blade like this. It was safer to coax people as she had done before.

Geng Shuning poured herself a cup of cold tea, gulping it down to calm her racing heart, the flush on her face taking a long time to fade.

Her actions were already a blatant display of taking advantage of favor, yet the emperor had never truly lost his temper with her. Was this the indulgence of the cold-faced King of Hell?

It had to be said that the idealized image of her former idol still had its charm. She found herself wavering.

If he could truly keep his promises and let her do as she pleased, staying in the palace might not be so bad.

However, before Geng Shuning could let that wavering ripple in their battle of wits, several major events occurred in the Yuanmingyuan.

In early July, the second prince, Hong Yun, suddenly developed a fever in the upper study, his life hanging by a thread.

The imperial physicians were stationed in the Water Garden on standby. Consort Qi fainted from crying several times, and Hong Yun never regained consciousness, passing away on a rainy night.

Just a few days later, Noble Lady Ning and Consort Mao somehow collided by the newly built Small Garden by the Flowing Stones.

Noble Lady Ning started bleeding, and Consort Mao lost her baby. Even the Imperial Guard couldn't determine who was responsible.

Su Shi, who had recently miscarried, soon became pregnant again. Her pregnancy was unstable, and she had to use moxibustion to protect the fetus even in the hot summer.

Only Ning Chuge, who had been faithfully serving the Empress, remained in Rugu Hanjin and rarely ventured out. Her pregnancy was quite stable.

The third prince, born to Niu Shi, became the only surviving prince of the Emperor, aside from Crown Prince Hong Xi.

After discussing with Yinzhen, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree promoting Niuheru Jingyi to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

The Emperor personally bestowed her the title "Xi" and ordered her to reside in Chengqian Palace, the most respectable palace in the Eastern Six Palaces, except for Jingren Palace.

This familiar title felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Geng Shuning's head, snapping her back to reality.

Yinzhen was deeply grieving the loss of his son, and neither of them had the energy to argue, especially not Geng Shuning.

If Niuheru Jingyi became the historical Consort Xi, and if history realigned with the official records, staying in the palace as a special presence by Yinzhen's side would be tantamount to courting death.

She couldn't guarantee that she would be able to keep her pregnancy, give birth to a son, and compete with the third prince. Fighting for the Emperor's favor and engaging in palace intrigues for her child's sake would trap her in the same unbearable cycle that Geng Shuning couldn't bear.

But this wasn't the biggest issue. Not long after, turmoil also arose in the court.

*

The rainy summer was most feared for floods.

As soon as Yinzhen could get up, his first order was to send Yinyou to inspect the breach at the Yongding River with officials from the Ministry of Works.

However, just after Yinyou passed Tianjin, an urgent eight-hundred-mile report was sent to the capital. Due to heavy rain in the Zhuozhou area, the dam was breached, causing a flood.

Yinzhen, despite not having fully recovered, hurriedly sent orders to Yinyou, instructing him to oversee the disaster relief efforts on-site.

He worked day and night with his court officials, dealing with ministers and imperial clansmen who had been paying lip service to previous decrees, exhausting himself both physically and mentally.

There were times when they couldn't even have meals, and the lights in Nine Continents Clear View were kept on all night for many nights.

Geng Shuning also put aside her thoughts and stayed alert to serve, fearing that Yinzhen would exhaust himself to the point of collapse. The Empress Dowager would not spare her either.

By this time, the Jinmen Sluice had been constructed in Zhuozhou.

She overheard some ministers saying that due to the dam's damage, the pressure on the Jinmen Sluice increased, causing sediment to accumulate. If they couldn't go to repair it in time, the flood might spread to Tianjin and even threaten the capital.

Yinzhen and his ministers discussed how to quickly carry out disaster relief, prevent waterborne diseases, and repair the Jinmen Sluice and the dam.

Fearing for Yinzhen's health, Geng Shuning decided to bring some food, including baozi and chicken rolls, directly into the imperial study.

For those who were extremely hungry, eating a few cold ones to stave off hunger was better than fainting from starvation.

Once the Emperor had eaten, his temper flared like a powder keg, and angry roars could be heard from within the hall from time to time—

"Holding a position without doing the work, and still daring to submit a memorial? Issue an imperial decree to behead them on the spot! Have the local governor assist Yinyou in disaster relief!"

"The court has been allocating funds to repair the dams for years. How long has the bloodshed by the Yongding River been dry, and yet these scoundrels can't be controlled? They all deserve to die!"

"I don't believe you know nothing about this. Now you're begging for mercy? If they dare to prevent the waterborne disease, I'll spare their two families!"

Before the flood in Zhuozhou could be resolved, heavy rains hit the capital, compounding the disaster.

An urgent memorial was sent from the Huguang region.

Only then did the court learn that floods had struck Huguang since June. The Huguang Governor, Irgen Gioro Manpi, fearing imperial retribution and its impact on his retirement, had concealed the information.

Half a month passed, and the floods in the two provinces of Huguang could no longer be hidden. Too many people had died, and with the high temperatures, a plague had broken out, infecting even the local garrison.

Yinzhen almost lost his breath and fell into a faint, becoming so anxious that he developed a high fever that very night.

Even Emperor Kangxi was alarmed and had himself carried into the Yuanmingyuan to take charge on Yinzhen's behalf.

Emperor Kangxi issued an urgent imperial decree, dismissing Manpi from his post and appointing Shi Wensheng, the Governor of Guangdong, as the new Governor to oversee disaster relief on the spot.

While Emperor Kangxi was in charge, Geng Shuning attended to Yinzhen at his sickbed.

Looking at the man whose lips were blistered from fever, she hesitated for a long time but finally couldn't resist her soft heart.

It wasn't just him she felt compassion for, but also the people affected by the disaster.

"Your Majesty, I remember some methods to treat the plague. Would you like to hear them?" she asked softly from the edge of the imperial bed.

She was somewhat uneasy, as this was bordering on involvement in state affairs, and she didn't know if the Emperor would accept it.

This time, Yinzhen wasn't harsh with her. Too weak to be sharp, he held Geng Shuning's hand with unusual strength.

"In front of me, you can say anything. I will protect you no matter what," he said, his voice hoarse but sincere, his eyes more intense than ever before.

"As long as I live, I will stand in front of you and never let you down."

Geng Shuning was deeply moved. She stood up abruptly, her vision darkening, but she hurried, in a fluster, to the daybed.

Adversity often brings out emotions that shouldn't arise. She had once faced her wavering feelings calmly, but now... she was suddenly afraid of wavering.

She didn't want to think too much and hurriedly wrote down the epidemic prevention methods she could remember that might be useful here.

He quickly got out of bed and, ahead of Emperor Kangxi, issued a decree to Cao Yin.

He ordered him to gather doctors from the Jiangnan region to assist in treating the plague in Huguang.

The imperial guard left with a manual on plague prevention.

At the same time, Yinzhen issued a decree to Wei Tingzhen, the Governor of Jiangnan, ordering him to assist the Huguang garrison in guarding against unrest in the Yunnan-Guizhou region.

Seeing that Yinzhen's decrees were appropriate, Emperor Kangxi, as Emperor Emeritus, relinquished control of state affairs, yielding the imperial desk where important state affairs were handled.

Emperor Kangxi had seen many storms like this and remained more composed than Yinzhen. He even took the time to observe Geng Shuning, who was serving Yinzhen.

During their conversation that night, Kangxi couldn't help but nod in approval.

"Gengshi is quite capable. I had thought her rather timid before, but now, she seems able to handle matters well. She deserves a higher rank."

Yinzhen was silent for a moment, coughing softly, his hoarse voice first accepting his father's compliment.

"Thank you, Royal Father, for your guidance. She is indeed excellent. The plague prevention manual came from her grandmother, Lady Qi, who had inherited it from an Imperial Physician of the previous dynasty. The late Lady Qi recited it, and Shu Ning recorded it for posterity."

Kangxi raised an eyebrow. "Recited?"

Yinzhen remained expressionless. "Yes, Qi Chong'an from the Ministry of Revenue is her uncle. She has a remarkable memory, never forgetting what she sees or hears—it’s likely due to her family lineage."

Emperor Kangxi smiled and nodded at Yinzhen. "And yet you still want to send her out of the palace? You should bring this bloodline into our Aisin Gioro family!"

"If I hadn't acted decisively, you'd be squandering a valuable asset!"

Seeing Yinzhen still hesitant, Kangxi laughed and scolded, "It's just a woman. If you’ve already taken her, why hesitate?"

"Even if you want her to stay by your side, just give her the title of Imperial Lady-in-Waiting. That's all."

"What I dislike most is how you fuss over trivial matters. When it's time to act decisively, you fall far short compared to your second brother."

Yinzhen looked up at Kangxi. "Is that why you tied Hongxi to the Tong family, allowing Li Guangdi to act behind the scenes?"

During those three days when Yinzhen was 'seriously ill,' Kangxi hadn't allowed Hongxi to intervene in state affairs.

Yet, in recent days, the various ministries in the front court had been overwhelmingly busy. Through Li Guangdi, Hongxi had gone to the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries to reassure the ministers and establish the prestige of the Crown Prince.

Hongxi hadn't reported this to his father and had stayed in the Changchun Garden until court was in session.

It didn't take much to guess who had given Hongxi the confidence.

Kangxi wasn't surprised by Yinzhen's accusation. "Do you remember how I dealt with Yinreng back then? I'm not letting you down now. Do you think I don't know why you're so anxious this time?"

It was because he lacked capable people. With so many issues at hand, he couldn't even get information from outside the capital, being deceived by corrupt officials.

Where were the people?

They had been sent to Jiangnan, Shanxi, and Henan. The number of secret guards around Yinzhen had significantly decreased.

Kangxi believed that to grow, one had to solve problems one by one. The Fourth Brother needed a challenging obstacle more than Yinreng did.

He was no longer fixated on Hongxi inheriting the throne, but if Yinzhen couldn't even handle Hongxi, Kangxi wouldn't be able to rest in peace.

"The edicts you issued earlier stirred up chaos both within and beyond the capital. You took a big step, but what was the result? In the face of such natural disasters, you still fell ill."

"If I weren't alive, what would happen then?"

Yinzhen, his face pale, knelt on the ground. "Royal Father!"

Kangxi waved to stop his explanation. "I know what you're planning to deal with, which clans, which banners. But don't forget, the Eight Banners are the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. Don’t risk breaking the vase while chasing after the rat."

"As an emperor, if you want to do something, I won't stop you. But without solid evidence, I can't just stand by and watch."

"Being an emperor isn't easy. Suffering some grievances isn't a big deal. I've told you many times, patience brings resolution. Think about it carefully."

Yinzhen remained silent for a long time and bowed his head before Kangxi. He had been too hasty with Jiangnan and Shanxi.

He had thought he had everything under control, but the successive disasters had revealed his shortcomings.

His expression gradually became more solemn. "Your Majesty's teachings are not forgotten. Your son will remember your wisdom and think thrice before acting."

After a pause, he looked up. "Geng has had some unusual experiences. If she fails to handle her responsibilities, she would not be suitable to stay in the palace."

Kangxi raised his eyebrows. Was Yinzhen concerned about Geng's position, intending to give her a higher rank or even keep her outside the palace?

Having said so much today, Kangxi hesitated but decided not to continue scolding.

"Handle it as you see fit."

"But let's be clear: if you dare to do anything that threatens the stability of the empire, don't blame me for being ruthless when the time comes."

Emperor Kangxi did not stay the night at Nine Continents Clear View; since it wasn't far, he returned to Changchun Garden under the cover of night.

Only after he left did Yinzhen rise from the ground.

Perhaps his body was too weak, for he stumbled midway as he tried to stand, almost falling down.

Pale-faced Geng Shuning ran out from behind the screen to support him.

Her legs were weak from Emperor Kangxi's intimidating presence, but remembering how Yinzhen had spoken up for her just now, she gritted her teeth and summoned every ounce of strength to help him into the bedchamber.

However, as they reached the imperial bed, her strength gave out, and Yinzhen accidentally fell on top of her.

The room was silent for a moment, and the two, now pressed together, exchanged a long, intense gaze. Their eyes were filled with turbulent emotions, yet the atmosphere was unexpectedly tender.

After a long pause, they spoke in unison—

"Never leave my side again!"

"Please let me leave the palace, just once!"

Yinzhen: What?!

Geng Shuning: No way!