Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Qing Shu and Qiao Jing had not been by Geng Shuning's side for long.

Her trust in them was far less than what she had in Qiao He and Qingfang.

Previously, Qiao He had been seriously injured while saving Zhang Penghe and had been recovering for two months. Although she had nearly healed, she had not come to serve because Geng Shuning had entered the imperial garden.

Originally, Geng Shuning planned that if the Empress Dowager continued to ignore her and she were to bring her into the palace, Qiao He would naturally wait at the Shenwu Gate and follow her in to serve.

After discovering that something was wrong with Qing Shu, Geng Shuning began to frequent the Changchun Xian Guan, using the pretext of gaining the Empress Dowager's favor to delay any action against the third prince.

In secret, Geng Shuning instructed Nanny Chen's brother to pass a message to Qiao He, asking her to secretly enter the garden and investigate the informant behind Qing Shu.

"How does the mistress determine that Qing Shu has turned against us?" Before Qiao He arrived, Qingfang asked seriously.

If Qing Shu really had a problem, this matter should also be reported to the Imperial Guard, and the message needed to be urgently transmitted to the imperial palace.

Geng Shuning replied frankly, "If she were the Emperor's person, she would never use the third prince as a bargaining chip."

The fourth prince had few offspring, and the secret guards trained by him would not dare to lay a hand on the royal heirs.

Qingfang found it reasonable and immediately had the message sent out.

Geng Shuning was quite satisfied with her father's tactics.

It was hard to say how many new secret guards had joined the Nine Guards and how many were truly useful.

She requested the Chen family to send another confidential letter to Geng Jia De Jin, as her father had ambitions regarding the maternal clan and should have to pay for it. She would not let anyone take advantage of her for free.

In this way, Qingfang kept a close eye on Geng Shuning's daily life and Qing Shu, while Nanny Chen was responsible for watching the Changchun Xian Guan and the outside movements.

Qiao He entered the garden but did not reveal herself, secretly investigating every move of Qing Shu.

The urgent confidential letter sent to Geng Jia De Jin brought back his guarantee that he would thoroughly investigate everyone related to Qing Shu and sent a secret agent into the palace.

There were not many, only four in total.

One was the little eunuch who had delivered the message to Geng Shuning last time, a eunuch raised by an old eunuch saved by Geng Jia De Jin when he was serving in the imperial court.

Both father and son were in the service of the Geng family. Another was a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department, and a nanny from the Imperial Kitchen Bureau who understood medicine. The reasons they served the Geng family were more or less the same.

With Geng Jia De Jin's ambitious and scheming nature, there might be others, but he specifically wrote on the paper—

"Within the palace, only these four can be trusted, and they can be used as death-bound agents if necessary."

Geng Shuning was quite satisfied, as currently in the garden, there were only the little eunuch and the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department.

In early August, before the Empress Dowager prepared to return to the palace with her entourage, with the secret help of these two, there was a flurry of activity inside and outside the palace, and the investigation results about Qing Shu were soon placed in front of Geng Shuning.

The results of the investigation shocked both Qiao He and Nanny Chen, who looked particularly pale when they came to deliver the message.

Geng Shuning frowned. "Is Qing Shu a distant branch of the Wanliuha clan?"

She was no longer the naive newcomer when she first entered the palace and had learned a little about Manchu surnames.

The Wanliuha clan was originally part of the Plain Yellow Banner's bondsmen, which is now the Bordered Yellow Banner's bondsmen, with the banner's master being Emperor Kangxi.

There was also the Definite Consort in Emperor Kangxi's harem, who gave birth to the twelfth prince, Yun Tao, and her brother was Tuoheqi.

Thanks to Tuoheqi's competence, the main branch of the Wanliuha clan was elevated in status, becoming official servants of the imperial family. However, the clan members remained bondservants, and many of them worked in the palace.

"Putting aside whether Qing Shu is connected to... aren't all the secret guards orphans and beggars?" Geng Shuning asked Qiao He in confusion.

"How was she selected into the Imperial Guard?"

Qiao He explained, her face pale, "Before joining the Imperial Guard, she was indeed an orphan, surnamed Zhou, called Zhou Xiaowu."

Fortunately, Geng Jiadejin was meticulous enough to uncover her status as an orphan.

To pay for her father’s medical treatment, Qing Shu’s family had pawned their inner-city home and land. After her parents passed away, she was left to wander the streets.

Being a distant branch, she had no close relatives, and the main family was unaware of her situation.

Qing Shu was recruited into the Imperial Guard at the age of seven, back when the current emperor was still the Fourth Prince.

The implications were deeply alarming.

Was it true that the retired emperor had planted spies in all his sons’ households to keep tabs on them?

*

Geng Shuning wasn’t surprised; history said that Emperor Kang and Emperor Shizong were both control freaks as rulers.

She asked, "Since you've discovered that Qing Shu harbored malice towards the third prince and the fourth prince, haven't you found out who she was secretly in contact with?"

Nanny Chen shook her head, "It was just some lowly maidservant."

Geng Shuning silently gasped; the person behind this not only wanted to sever the Fourth Master's lineage but also eliminated their own subordinates without hesitation. This was extremely ruthless.

Given the meticulousness of the actions, it seemed like the retired emperor's handiwork, but why would he want to sever his son's offspring?

Qiao He lowered her voice, stepped forward, dipped her finger in the cool tea, and traced the character 'Tai' on the low table.

Then, she pointed upwards, "The retired emperor has always treated this prince differently from the previous one, perhaps to secure this prince's position more firmly."

Qing Shu mentioned wanting to block the third prince from the throne; the fourth prince was likely just collateral damage.

Geng Shuning had a gut feeling something was wrong. "Old Master isn’t like that."

Nanny Chen and Qiao He silently looked at Geng Shuning, clearly having a different opinion but not speaking up.

Geng Shuning couldn't explain to them how much Old Master Kang valued his offspring; some people in this world died too early.

In official history, Yinti was cursed by witchcraft, and Old Master Kang imprisoned him, yet the rebellious prince lived to a ripe old age after being deposed and reinstated twice.

Perhaps because he lost too many sons early on, Old Master Kang never killed a single imperial heir.

Deep in thought, Geng Shuning instructed, "Qiao He, please convey my message to Chunqiu Garden. Say that my gratitude gift is ready, and it's time to thank the retired emperor. Ask if he is willing to meet me."

Better to ask the old master directly to clear things up instead of tiptoeing around, afraid of breaking a precious vase.

*

Before any word came from Chunqiu Garden, the Empress Dowager had given Geng Shuning the silent treatment for a month before suddenly summoning her.

Geng Shuning had been going to Changchun Xian Hall daily to pay her respects but hadn't seen anyone.

After hearing from Nanny Zhou, she hurried to Changchun Xian Hall with a wrinkle-removing beauty cream and her homemade foundation.

With the empress position now vacant after the blue friend left, Geng Shuning knew she had to act.

To survive in the palace from now on, it was necessary to please this mother-in-law.

Geng Shuning didn't mind getting close to the wealthy Empress Dowager either. The Empress Dowager was not difficult to deal with. As long as she saw her, with her eloquence, it would be easy to please her, wouldn't it?

However, she didn’t expect that in the main hall of Changchun Pavilion, it wasn’t just the Empress Dowager present.

Before she could even sweeten her voice, she noticed the long-sick Empress sitting below.

She barely choked down her surprise, took a few steps forward, and respectfully greeted them.

"Sui Ning wishes the Empress Dowager long life and health, and greets the Empress respectfully!"

The Empress Dowager hummed coldly. "I heard that the time you spend praying in the chapel is less than the time you spend idling in Changchun Pavilion. Is this how you offer blessings to the imperial family?"

Ulanara smiled and persuaded the Empress Dowager, "Imperial mother, please calm your anger. It's possible that Sister Sui Ning, having spent so much time at the estate, isn't accustomed to praying in the Water Garden's chapel."

"When she enters the grand chapel in the Cining Palace, Sister Sui Ning will get used to it."

The Empress Dowager’s tone turned slightly cold. "Even if you pray sincerely in a dilapidated temple outside the city, you should still offer incense three times a day and transcribe Buddhist scriptures. It’s just that your heart isn’t in the right place."

Ulanara gave Geng Shuning a helpless look and continued to gently advise.

"Imperial mother, don’t blame Sister Sui Ning. She is still young and worried about her missing husband. It’s understandable that she might not be so thorough."

Geng Shuning lowered her head and calmly listened to the two of them ganging up on her, feeling a bit more playful in her heart.

No one told her to rise. Fortunately, Geng Shuning had been trained at the estate; otherwise, performing this kneeling ritual would be torture. The Imperial Household Department trains young palace maids by slowly wearing them down.

The Empress appeared gentle, but each word was designed to provoke. She didn’t seem like the bodhisattva-hearted mistress that others spoke of.

The dynamics between women were very subtle.

Geng Shuning could sense that the Empress Dowager was harsher and even somewhat disgusted by her compared to when she first arrived a month ago.

As for the Empress… she also harbored malice towards her. Could it be reasonably guessed that the Empress Dowager’s attitude was influenced by the Empress’s instigation?

Geng Shuning knew a bit more about the virtuous first wife of the Fourth Prince than others.

Historical records mentioned how Emperor Shizong’s treatment of her and the first prince was particularly harsh. Not only was there no posthumous title, but even the funeral arrangements were kept minimal. It was Qianlong who did the honorable thing.

This led to speculation in unofficial histories and among many fans of the Fourth Prince that the First Consort must have done something to displease Emperor Shizong.

For example… the Fourth Prince’s offspring were so scarce that they could only pick the best from a group of underwhelming candidates.

A flash of insight crossed Geng Shuning’s mind. Could it be that the Empress was the one who contacted Qing Shu to harm the third and fourth princes?

If Geng Shuning’s people were found to have harmed the imperial heir, she would not survive.

She always felt that this wasn’t the style of the former Emperor, but rather the tactics of the women in the harem.

But how did the Empress manage to bribe Qing Shu? Geng Shuning couldn’t figure it out no matter how much she thought about it.

"Sister Sui Ning?" Ulanara gave Geng Shuning a look filled with cold superiority, which quickly shifted to pity.

When Geng Shuning looked up, she saw the Empress Dowager watching her coldly.

The Empress spoke gently, "Sister Sui Ning, please rise. Were you just now thinking of your missing husband?"

Geng Shuning nodded slowly. "Yes, last night I dreamed that my husband died in the southern regions, leaving me only a considerate mother-in-law and an obedient son. I’m feeling a bit unsettled… please forgive me, Empress Dowager and Empress."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress: "..."

Both of them felt like they had been hit with a gut punch, feeling somewhat uncomfortable as if they were being criticized indirectly.

Lady Wu Ya snorted coldly and looked at Geng Shuning with a hint of mockery. "They say dreams are the reverse of reality. I brought you here today to tell you that your husband has been found, so you can rejoice."

Huh?

Geng Shuning was stunned, not having expected this. She almost blurted out a question about whether the husband was alive or dead.

Fortunately, her mind was still sharp, and she immediately put on an expression of surprise and joy, standing up abruptly.

"My husband is still alive? This is fantastic news!"

"Do you know if the Empress Dowager has discovered where my husband is? I must hurry and tell my mother-in-law the good news, and we can go welcome him back together."

Once out of the Old Summer Palace, she would find that bastard and make him feel what it’s like to be in Wu Dalang's shoes.

The Empress smiled and explained, "It's my nephew, Xingde. He went to Shanxi some time ago to procure medicine for Huai Ge. By coincidence, he met a security escort agency that mentioned Liang Chen."

"General Liang was swept away by the floods in Huguang and lost his memory, remembering only his name. A Shanxi merchant saved him and took him back as a guard."

"My nephew, Xingde, remembered General Liang's name, and upon inquiry, it turned out to be him. So, we arranged to have General Liang brought back. He should arrive in the capital in two days, and we've sent a message to the garden."

Geng Shuning: "..." Is the Empress treating her like a fool?

Ulanara Xingde, the historically infamous grand prince consort, was despised by Emperor Shizong for causing the death of the Grand Princess.

This guy's courage was as thick as molasses.

The secret guards reported him as violent and lustful, with many maidservants dying under his cruelty, all hushed up by the State Duke's family.

Right, so every coincidence in the world happens to the Ulanara family, huh?

Geng Shuning was cautious. "Sui Ning is grateful for the kindness of the State Duke's mansion and Young Master Xingde."

She turned to the Empress Dowager, hesitating for a moment. She had originally planned to take this opportunity to request leaving the palace for a 'family reunion,' but something felt wrong.

The Empress's enthusiasm made her uneasy.

A month in the Old Summer Palace had been more exhausting mentally than an entire year elsewhere. There were too many things she couldn't figure out.

If the Empress didn’t want her with Fourth Master, killing her wouldn’t need to be this complicated.

Killing a chicken... I mean, if you're going to be sneaky, why make it so convoluted?

On one hand, they were framing her for attempting to harm the imperial heir, and on the other hand, they were finding her 'husband.' Was the plan to reunite the Liang family for a collective burial?

Lady Wu Ya suddenly spoke. "Sui Ning, you should return to the General's mansion first. I will inform the retired emperor and arrange for your mother-in-law and son to be brought to the General's mansion to reunite with General Liang."

She looked at Geng Shuning meaningfully, her words laced with a warning.

"Since you are married, you should behave properly. You're not young anymore. It's time to serve your husband well and provide the Liang family with an heir."

"The rumors about the star of ill omen haven't been completely suppressed yet. For the sake of the imperial family's reputation and the Liang family, I will assign some nannies to serve you. You shouldn't leave the mansion until the child is born."

Geng Shuning: "..." Alright, she finally figured one thing out. The Empress Dowager was planning to place her under house arrest and completely sever her relationship with her boyfriend.

Her face remained composed as she bowed her head and knelt. "Sui Ning will follow the Empress Dowager’s instructions. Thank you for your consideration. I will go back and prepare to return to the mansion."

The queen, who had been smiling at Geng Shuning, spoke up again.

"No need to rush. It's a joyous event that General Liang has been found. Why should you be in such a hurry to return?"

"In two days, I will also be accompanying the Empress Dowager back to the palace. Why don't we travel to the capital together? That way, the Empress Dowager and I can properly meet them. Does that sound good?"

Geng Shuning raised her eyebrows. Even without evidence, she could almost be certain that the queen was planning to make a move against the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince.

If she wasn't around, who would take the blame?

Geng Shuning gave a shy smile and subtly nodded. "Sui Ning will follow the queen's advice."

Lady Ula Nara reminded the Empress Dowager, "You promised to support Sui Ning. After all, Governor Geng is not in the capital. We'll need to trouble you to keep an eye on things and ensure Sui Ning's comfort."

Lady Wu Ya frowned slightly and nodded lightly. "Very well, it will also complete the karmic connection between Sui Ning and me."

It would also make it clear that she, as a superior, acknowledged the contributions of those under her.

Before lunch, Lady Ula Nara returned to her palace. As soon as she entered the main hall, she stumbled.

*

Cuiwei quickly helped her sit down. "My lady, Concubine Su has come to pay her respects. I've sent someone to take her to see the Second Princess."

Lady Ula Nara sipped some warm tea and smiled weakly. "Good. Has the task I gave to the Sokorolo family been completed?"

Cuiwei nodded. "We've received confirmation from the Crown Prince's mansion. The witnesses and evidence are all prepared. We're just waiting for the returned 'General Liang' to help Sui Ning County Princess escape, so we can catch them red-handed."

Lady Ula Nara's smile became gentler. "And the Third Prince and Fourth Prince?"

Cuiwei hesitated. "My lady, should we really make a move against the two princes?"

"As for Sui Ning County Princess, it's manageable. But Qing Shu is from the Wanliuha clan. If something goes wrong, there will be no turning back."

If they harmed the imperial heirs, the entire Ula Nara clan might not survive.

Lady Ula Nara suddenly fell into a fit of coughing, her pale, thin cheeks flushed red, and a hint of crimson appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Cuiwei panicked. "My lady! I'll go fetch the Imperial Physician!"

Lady Ula Nara tightly grabbed Cuiwei, her vision darkening, but her smile grew more serene. "No need to fetch the Imperial Physician. I know my own body," she laughed softly, despite her weakening condition.

"The Ula Nara family has benefited from me all their lives but has never helped me. If something goes wrong, it's their fate."

With a naivety that didn't match her age, she looked at Cuiwei. "I can't let Honghui be lonely underground. Sending his brothers to join him in death will surely make him happy."

Everything was prepared.

She would make Geng Shuning's life worse than death, ensuring she and the emperor could never be together, forced to painfully distance themselves from each other.

She would cause the emperor's hard-earned son to die young, forcing him to hand over the empire to the wolf-hearted crown prince.

She would make the emperor watch as his beloved empire faced internal and external troubles, never knowing peace again, and make him bitterly regret everything, his heart aching day and night.

She eagerly looked forward to the day when he would bitterly regret everything, his heart aching day and night.

It was close. Lady Ula Nara trembled slightly as she downed a bowl of ginseng chicken broth, her flushed, thin face glowing with an eerie excitement.