Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Yinzhen's face turned livid, and he restrained himself, scolding in a low voice, "You dare to say such nonsense, do you not value your life?"

After finishing copying the scripture, Geng Shuning was momentarily stunned by his words and ceased her playful behavior.

Not expecting Yinzhen to say such a thing, Geng Shuning pondered for a moment, then calmly took a few steps back. Her clear black-and-white eyes looked at him, and her emotions gradually settled.

Yinzhen was momentarily transported back to the scene in the Hall of Mental Cultivation when Geng Shuning told him it was snowing.

The emptiness and bitterness in his heart at that moment were still vividly remembered by Yinzhen.

This rekindled feeling made Yinzhen restless. He stood up, approached Geng Shuning, and grabbed her arm.

He looked down at her for a long while before hoarsely saying, "Sui Ning, let's not fight. Can we talk properly?"

Every time they quarreled, it was like two hedgehogs hurting each other, leaving someone emotionally scarred.

With a sigh, he held Geng Shuning as they settled back onto the kang. He removed the cumbersome headscarf, revealing her long, smooth black hair that cascaded down.

Yinzhen's uneasy heart gradually calmed, and he softened his tone, "I remember that day in the Palace of Eternal Longevity—"

Yinzhen suddenly paused, unsure of how to continue.

Since childhood, being manipulated by others had made him accustomed to doing more and speaking less, keeping his emotions hidden. He had even forgotten that there was a time when he used to chatter and annoy others.

That night, when Ula Nara fainted from anger, Yinzhen felt anxious for the first time, and Geng Shuning did not misunderstand.

However, after Ula Nara woke up, Yinzhen refused to turn back and directly left the main hall, which made Geng Shuning particularly concerned.

After coming out, she asked Yinzhen, "Are you sad for the Empress?"

Geng Shuning could be jealous, but she could understand.

After all, they had walked side by side for over a decade. Even losing a dog would be painful, let alone a wife who had once been trusted and had raised children together.

But Yinzhen only changed the subject and asked a question that angered Geng Shuning.

He asked, "Sui Ning, you won't make me suffer like she did, will you?"

Geng Shuning did not answer him either. At dawn, when Yinzhen went to handle court affairs, she retreated to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

It had been almost two months.

Yinzhen could come at any time, but he knew Geng Shuning did not want to see him, so he waited.

Geng Shuning also knew that Yinzhen was waiting for her in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Even Zhao Song would occasionally reveal some news about the master not taking care of himself, trying to evoke her pity, but she paid no attention.

Today, Geng Shuning's behavior was a signal, a sign that she was willing to reconcile.

*

Geng Shuning did not respond to Yinzhen's words, only asking, "Why have you come today?"

Yinzhen could sense Geng Shuning's anger, feeling somewhat helpless and more confused.

Somehow, he had originally come to deal with the little fox, but now his heart trembled, and he could not bring himself to say it.

He pondered and slowly said, "I came to settle accounts with you."

Geng Shuning was stunned. Does this fool have such a low survival instinct?

Since they confirmed their relationship, they have mostly been affectionate and haven't really had a serious fight. Their arguments were all before they got together, and they were quite exhausting.

Geng Shuning, for once, held back her temper, wanting to communicate properly with him. And now this jerk wants to settle scores with her?

Fourth Master realized he had misspoken as soon as the words left his mouth. He quickly restrained my darling who was about to jump up and hastily explained—

"What I meant was, I know you want to settle scores with me, so I came to hear you out."

Geng Shuning scoffed, shoved him away, and moved to sit elsewhere.

Just now, she wanted to talk properly, but he refused. Now it's too late.

"Then let's start with Yongshou Palace! You still owe me an explanation, don't you?"

Fourth Master knew he couldn't avoid it. He calmly placed his hands behind his back, twisting the ring on his thumb, trying to hide all his embarrassment.

He lowered his eyes, not looking at Geng Shuning, "I... feel like I've failed."

Geng Shuning was even more stunned. Fourth Master feels like he's failed?!

Oh right, historically speaking, Fourth Master was known to be quite sensitive, especially during his youth. His mother's favoritism always left him unable to let go.

In the official history, at this time, he was still a prince. Although ascending the throne made him grow a lot, given his age, it's normal for him to have some foolish thoughts that align with his sensitive nature... or not!

She was genuinely curious, "Where do you think you failed?"

Geng Shuning's wide-eyed stare made Fourth Master take a deep breath, slightly anxious. He had to stand up and walk to the window, pushing it open to let the cold wind in, dispersing his embarrassment.

Admitting one's helplessness is not uncommon for an emperor.

But for him, as a man, admitting his failure was truly humiliating.

He turned his back to Geng Shuning, his voice hoarse, "When I married Ula Nara, she was only thirteen, not even having her first period. She was more like a younger sister than a wife."

"At that time, she... was somewhat naive, pampered by her family, and lacked much skill. She tried hard to appear virtuous, but in reality, she couldn't even maintain the demeanor of a proper wife. I had to help her to manage the inner court."

Geng Shuning actually didn't want to hear about his past. It wasn't jealousy, but a kind of... annoyance.

She was frustrated by the years she hadn't been a part of, which left an indelible mark in Fourth Master's heart.

Yet, she couldn't ask him to erase these marks. Fourth Master was just such a cold yet deeply sentimental man.

Fourth Master didn't notice Geng Shuning's irritation and continued in a low, hoarse voice—

"When she was pregnant with Honghui, I was tricked by Yunxiang into drinking too much. There were people from Li Shi in the front courtyard, and she took advantage, soon becoming pregnant."

"At that time, I..." Fourth Master closed his eyes with difficulty, "I didn't understand what love was. I just wanted a peaceful and stable inner court, with more descendants to catch the old master's eye."

"So I ignored the turmoil in the inner court and didn't see the conflict between Ula Nara and Li Shi. In the end, Honghui had a difficult birth, and Hongpan was born prematurely."

Without Fourth Master saying it, Geng Shuning had seen similar plots in novels and TV dramas. The two women were fighting for the special place of the eldest son in Fourth Master's heart.

"Later, Ula Nara was judged by the Imperial Physician to be unlikely to conceive again. At that time, I had just received the first task from my father that he assigned to me alone, and I wasn't in the mansion."

"When I returned from disaster relief in Shandong, Hongpan had passed away, and Li Shi was making a fuss. Ula Nara... calmly suppressed Li Shi's fuss and even pushed me to Li Shi to comfort her."

Fourth Master wiped his face, "I don't know when Ula Nara stopped crying in front of me and became an impeccable virtuous woman."

"But I think it must have been countless times when she was sad, and I was completely unaware, not giving her any support..."

"Later, I realized and indulged her more, knowing her methods were underhanded but only reprimanding her lightly without taking firm action."

He turned to look at Geng Shuning, his face still showing traces of embarrassment.

"I didn't help anyone in the inner court, believing I was being fair, and I gave Ulanara the honor befitting a principal wife."

"But she committed these wrongdoings because of countless resentments and grievances in her heart, and for these mistakes—I might bear a large part of the responsibility."

He indeed had long lost any so-called affection for his first wife.

From the moment he knew Ulanara had harmed their children, he completely gave up any possibility of a harmonious relationship.

The reason he gave Ulanara face was because he was indifferent to romantic relationships and had established the Imperial Guard to control the inner court, not wanting unrest in the inner court to become ammunition for his enemies.

And Ulanara's reputation for virtue was more beneficial to him.

Watching Ulanara drive herself into a corner, Yinzhen suddenly realized that from beginning to end, he had never been a good husband or father.

His wife hated him to the point of wanting to destroy the empire he valued most, his offspring were still few, and his mother never loved him as her own son.

He opened his mouth, struggling even more to speak: "I fear..." repeating the same mistakes.

Geng Shuning interrupted him expressionlessly, "You think the death of the Empress is your responsibility, and you feel guilty towards her?"

"Are you afraid your indulgence will make me the next person you feel guilty about?"

This guy has a black-and-white mindset, to put it bluntly, it's the inferiority complex caused by his upbringing, feeling unworthy and in need of comfort.

But... what to do, she can't be that gentle, understanding flower.

Instead, a hint of mockery appeared in Geng Shuning's eyes, and her words became sharp—

"In a marriage, it's about mutual support, as you said, you are indeed not a qualified husband."

Whether in official history or unofficial, the evaluation of Fourth Master Yinzhen in terms of love is scum, no doubt.

Even the renowned Xiao Nian Gao, whose family perished entirely.

"But as the Fourth Consort, as the Empress, she didn't put her mind to the right path, didn't think to communicate with you, was self-righteous, and engaged in schemes against each other in the inner court, harming herself and her children, which is the root cause of the current outcome."

This was a self-destructive cycle of conflict, those who harm others will always be harmed.

"I have no right to judge the rights and wrongs between you." In fact, she thinks both are seriously ill.

"If you think all this is your fault and plan to take it as a lesson, to restrict the next Empress, using past experiences to prevent future guilt—"

Geng Shuning suddenly stood up, facing Yinzhen eye to eye: "Then you are not worthy of my love, nor fit to be my husband."

Yinzhen frowned: "You again..."

"I'm not talking nonsense!" Geng Shuning coldly interrupted him, "Don't you know how I talk nonsense?"

Yinzhen: "..." He knows, which makes him even more anxious.

He feels this little fox is slipping from his grasp, and he has no way to keep her.

Geng Shuning thought for a moment, first pouring him a cup of tea, "After saying so much, take a sip first, then listen to me."

Yinzhen silently sat at the table, stroking the edge of the tea cup, his gaze not leaving Geng Shuning.

The next moment, he was glad he hadn’t taken a sip of tea, or he would have choked for sure.

Geng Shuning said, "Your Majesty knows the story of Empress Wu Zetian, right?"

Yinzhen was speechless; the plaque forbidding the harem from interfering in politics still stood in front of the Jiaotai Hall.

If this scoundrel harbored ambitions to become like Wu Zetian... Yinzhen's heart sank, and his gaze turned cold and complex.

He knew he couldn’t protect her.

Geng Shuning wasn’t surprised to see Yinzhen suddenly calm down. If an emperor didn’t have this level of vigilance, he would have been killed by others long ago.

She continued, "What I want to talk to Your Majesty about today is not the great achievements of Wu Zetian as an empress."

"Emperor Taizong suppressed Wu Meiniang because of a rumor, which instead fueled her competitive spirit, leading her to win over Li Zhi’s heart and seize the Li family’s empire."

"I don’t have the grand ambitions of Empress Wu. In fact, as you know, I can’t even hold a candle to her political acumen." Geng Shuning was well aware of her own political insensitivity.

"But when it comes to methods for ensuring national peace and prosperity, I believe I know more than Empress Wu."

The giants whose shoulders she stood on were far greater than those of the Tang Dynasty, completely on a different level.

Under Yinzhen’s complex gaze, she spoke bluntly, "If Your Majesty wants me to be the empress, I can tell you right now that I will not be confined to the harem."

"I won’t interfere in state affairs, but I want to have my own prestige, just like all the men in this world, to elevate the status of women, and to do many things that defy the norms of the world."

Her once-hidden pride could no longer be concealed, transforming into a blazing light that shone directly into Yinzhen’s eyes.

"If you marry me and act like a coward, only lamenting your failures after the fact, then the court officials will probably devour you."

Yinzhen clenched his teeth in anger; he wanted to devour this scoundrel right now. When had he ever cried over a handkerchief!

Geng Shuning snorted, "If I were you, I would also reflect on myself and choose a wife who suits your... ahem, your temperament."

Ula Nara wanted small affections; if she had married an ordinary court official, her life would have been much happier.

Unfortunately, she married into the imperial family but didn’t have a strong enough heart.

Geng Shuning had thought it through clearly over the past month.

She walked to the door, opened it, and let the cold wind from the window and doorway wake Yinzhen up.

She lifted her chin and smiled as brightly as she had beside Ula Nara’s bed.

"You know what I want. Consider whether you can meet my demands."

"If it doesn’t meet your requirements for an empress, let’s part ways early. I’ll return to the position of Lady Feng’en and remain your secret advisor."

From the moment Geng Shuning uttered her first cutting remark, Yinzhen knew today wouldn’t end well; this scoundrel was bound to infuriate him.

Sure enough, she dropped one bombshell after another, making him want to pin her down and teach her a lesson.

No matter how much they argued, as the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, he would naturally be more cautious and suspicious, but these things could be reconciled over time.

But this scoundrel kept wanting to retreat, to become a widow in someone else’s house, which made Yinzhen particularly frustrated.

With a dark expression, he strode over and closed the door, using a clever technique to tuck the little fox, who was still looking fierce, under his arm and pressed her back onto the kang.

Now it was Geng Shuning’s turn to feel the heat, her eyes wide as she fought against his grip.

"Didn't Your Highness say we should talk properly, and that a gentleman uses his words, not his hands?"

Yinzhen laughed in anger, leaning down to suppress her struggles, biting her ear fiercely.

"Try saying 'let's go our separate ways' again! I've spoiled you too much, and now you're completely out of control..."

"Stop it!" Geng Shuning continued to struggle with all her might, panting as she interrupted him.

"If I don't wake you up, you'll still think of yourself as a pitiful loser!"

"The Emperor I know has always been resolute, unshaken by anything, tackling problems with the utmost calm and precision!"

"If you can't solve the problem, eliminate the one who caused it. What's the use of moping around!"

Yinzhen: "..." It makes sense, but it makes me want to beat the little fox even more.

But the pent-up frustration suddenly dissipated, probably showing on his face, making his cheeks slightly warm.

He relaxed completely, turning over to let Geng Shuning take the upper hand.

Yinzhen buried his head in Geng Shuning's neck, his voice muffled.

"Ning'er, I'm not afraid of you becoming the next Ula Nara, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you, that I'll end up hurting you..."

He couldn't imagine losing Geng Shuning or how he would cope. Over the past month, he had imagined it countless times, each time shocked by his own panic.

Truth be told, his initial affection for Geng Shuning wasn't all that profound. He even thought of favoring her solely because it was convenient, feeling that this little rascal suited his heart better than others.

But just as he didn't know when Ula Nara started to change, he didn't know when all his thoughts and feelings became irresistibly drawn to this rascal, sinking deeper and deeper.

As Buddhism teaches, love breeds fear. He understood, and dared not think further.

Geng Shuning tilted her head, resting on his shoulder, pouting and mumbling, "As if I'd let anyone push me around like the Empress. Who do you think you're underestimating?"

The Empress almost single-handedly destroyed the Aisin Gioro family's empire, didn't she?

She believed she was sharper and more ruthless than Ula Nara, and wouldn't just go down without a fight.

She poked Yinzhen's chest hard, "From now on, Your Highness, you're mine and mine alone. If you try anything like what happened with Consort Qi, you'll end up like Prince Yinzhi of Cheng!"

Yinzhen: "..."

Geng Shuning continued poking, "If there's no favor to fight for, the harem won't have so much filth. They'll all have to buckle down, and I'll make sure they're too busy to cause any trouble."

Even through the thick coat, Yinzhen felt the pain from her poking. He knew how much anger she had been holding in.

Heartache and guilt tangled together, prompting him to gently take Geng Shuning's hand.

"Our future Empress has already figured out how to manage the palace affairs?"

Geng Shuning didn't answer him. With her hand held, she raised her head and bit him.

"You can't manage the harem well either, so why ask!"

"Instead of brooding and wallowing, you should focus on how to protect me from the court's intrigues."

Yinzhen's heart, empty for over a month, was now filled by the little fox's scratching, kicking, and shouting.

He hadn't slept well for many days, and now he felt a bit drowsy.

Holding Geng Shuning and turning her over, Yinzhen tightly embraced her in his arms, gently kissing her forehead.

"I know I was wrong; I will change."

"Tomorrow, Mother will likely summon you. Since Sui Ning already has plans, why not start overseeing the palace duties first?"

He was now more clear-headed than ever.

The little fox he wished to spend his life with was unlike any other woman in the world.

She was not a creeper clinging to the dragon pillar, but a phoenix platform standing alongside it.

As she was solidifying her foundation in the harem, he should also quickly clear the obstacles for her, pushing forward the new policies that needed to be implemented in the court, setting the stage for her to shine.

*

After their conversation, all conflicts were resolved, and without sweet words, their relationship grew even closer.

This made them both reluctant to part.

Before the third watch, urging Yinzhen to hurry back to change for the court session, Geng Shuning promised that once she dealt with the Empress Dowager, she would immediately go to the imperial presence to make her moves.

Unexpectedly, surprises always come quicker than plans.

Before the Empress Dowager could summon her, the chapel welcomed someone Geng Shuning had never expected.

Geng Shuning, rarely stuttering, asked, "Who, who has come?"

Qiao He was also puzzled: "My lady, it's nanny Wuyunna from the Grand Empress Dowager's side, bypassing the Empress Dowager, directly requesting an audience with you."