Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Exiting the western city gate and heading into the outer city, the hot spring palace was about a hundred miles away, reachable by carriage in a little over two hours.

Before lunch, Geng Shuning and Yinzhen arrived at the south gate of the palace, which was used for daily movements.

Geng Shuning was expecting to see a really impressive hot spring palace.

In her past life, there were only restoration drawings of the destroyed hot spring palace, divided into the front palace and a central area with four sections to the east, west, and north, spanning three mountain peaks, which was very spectacular.

But upon getting off the carriage, Geng Shuning was as disappointed as if she were seeing the Old Summer Palace for the very first time.

This place was at best like the large mansions you see in TV dramas, divided into front and back sections, with only the courtyard walls being golden tiles and red walls.

It wasn't far from the Changping palace they had passed on their northern tour, and the corner towers of that palace could still be vaguely seen.

Yinzhen tapped Geng Shuning's cap, "What are you spacing out about?"

Geng Shuning whispered her doubts, "This place doesn't seem very big. How did the retired emperor manage to stay here with his consorts and Empress Xiaozhuang back then?"

Both Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong were known for having many consorts.

The Empress Xiaozhuang Geng Shuning mentioned was Empress Xiaozhuang, and with the then Empress Dowager, it must have been quite crowded.

Yinzhen shot Geng Shuning a warning look; the place wasn't large, but it wasn't a place for the little fox to talk nonsense.

If the retired emperor heard, he might take offense.

But he still explained in a low voice to Geng Shuning, "This is a place for recuperation, focusing on gathering energy and calming the spirit. It's rare to bring consorts here; it's mainly for the emperor and empress."

In fact, the entire area of Xiaotangshan belonged to the imperial family, with many large and small estates, all surrounded by guards.

If consorts did come, they would stay at nearby estates, similar to the one Geng Shuning had previously lived in.

The hot spring palace, located in a humid and hot area, required a lot of money to keep the palace in pristine condition.

Neither Emperor Kangxi nor Yinzhen were extravagant emperors, and neither had thought to expand the palace.

Yinzhen added, "When you mentioned accompanying Empress Xiaozhuang and the Empress Dowager, they mostly went to the South Garden in the past. Later, with the gardens and the Mulan hunting grounds, the South Garden was abandoned."

Geng Shuning felt a bit jealous; in her past life, she was from the south and didn't know much about ancient northern architecture.

Now hearing this, it seemed that Daxing, Changping, and Shunyi all had palaces, as well as gardens and hunting grounds; the imperial family had a lot of real estate.

Seeing Geng Shuning pout, Yinzhen, as if knowing what she was lamenting, raised an eyebrow to broaden her knowledge.

"To the west of the capital, in Fangshan, there is the Huangxinzhuang palace, a resting place for the western mausoleum, with beautiful scenery. I can take you there during the spring sacrifice."

Geng Shuning, thinking about the bumpy carriage ride, was somewhat reluctant.

But now was not the time to refuse Yinzhen's kindness, as she still needed his support later.

She just smiled and brushed it off, then followed Yinzhen through the main gate of the palace into the palace.

After entering, Yinzhen led the way, bypassing the front palace through a side corridor and entering the rear palace.

Geng Shuning felt the scale wasn't large compared to the Forbidden City and the two imperial gardens, but in reality, the palace wasn't small, with side halls to the east and west.

The front hall had been expanded after the retired emperor abdicated, separating into two large halls for the emperor and the retired emperor to use respectively.

The rear hall is only used by the Grand Empress Dowager, consisting of the main hall and the east and west side halls, with the rear hall replaced by hot spring pools.

Since there is no need to divide the east and west halls, it is more spacious compared to the front, with many flowers planted on both sides. Thanks to the hot springs' warmth, the longevity orchids and cinerarias are in full, stunning bloom.

Behind the main hall, clusters of wintersweet trees cast dense shadows.

As Geng Shuning walked along, she estimated that it was only about five or six times larger than her own hot spring manor.

In the rear main hall, the Retired Emperor, leaning on a luohan bed, caught a glimpse of his serious fourth son and the curious, unperturbed Geng Shuning through a crack in the window.

He snorted lightly through his nose; this bold girl's audacity was indeed as great as the secret guards had reported.

Although Geng Shuning did not feel anyone watching, she inexplicably felt a chill on the back of her neck in the warm palace.

She quickly curbed her curiosity, tucked in her neck, and followed Yinzhen to the hall's entrance.

Nanny Wuyunna smiled and gave a respectful curtsy to Yinzhen, "Your Majesty and County Princess Sui Ning, please hold on a moment. This old servant will go in to report."

Yinzhen politely gestured to help her up, "We will wait for Nanny."

After a short while, Nanny Wuyunna came out smiling, but her words were not as Yinzhen had hoped.

"The Grand Empress Dowager says that Your Majesty has had a tiring journey and should go to the front to soak in the hot springs to relieve fatigue. Please let County Princess Sui Ning come in alone to talk."

Yinzhen's heart clenched, but his face stayed calm, and he stood his ground.

"Please, Nanny, go in and report again. It has been a long time since I last saw the Empress Dowager, and I wish to pay my respects."

"After traveling so far, it wouldn't be right to rest without first paying my respects to the Empress Dowager. If word got out, the censors would surely criticize me for lacking filial piety."

Nanny Wuyunna hesitated, inwardly amused, just as the Retired Emperor had predicted.

She reluctantly moved aside, "Then, Your Majesty and County Princess Sui Ning, please come in."

Yinzhen steadied himself and turned to signal Geng Shuning to mind her manners.

He had anticipated this before coming; he feared that his father was also with the Empress Dowager.

Geng Shuning thought her boyfriend was taking a moment to reassure her not to be nervous, blinking her eyes, she reassured him back.

She signaled with her eyes that she was best at charming wealthy women, this was nothing—oh!

There was also an old man!

Seeing Emperor Kangxi's half-smiling expression, Geng Shuning immediately lowered her head and became serious.

She had thought it would be like with the Empress Dowager, where the Retired Emperor only strategized behind the scenes, letting the wealthy women trouble her.

Now he was personally involved? Geng Shuning clicked her tongue in her heart, it seemed that Emperor Kangxi was the real obstacle to her becoming empress.

*

Yinzhen led Geng Shuning, and together they knelt to pay respects to their elders.

"May the Grand Empress Dowager be at peace!"

"May the Retired Emperor be at peace!"

The Grand Empress Dowager sitting at the head looked like a wealthy old lady from an ordinary family, even appearing not much older than the Empress Dowager.

Her eyes were sharp and clear, belying her age, and they sparkled with curiosity.

After Yinzhen and Geng Shuning finished their greetings, she gently gestured for nanny Wuyunna to help them rise.

Liang Jiugong immediately brought over a round stool.

*

Yinzhen sat down, and Geng Shuning very naturally stood behind him, looking as obedient as a lamb, without any hint of impropriety.

However, the Grand Empress Dowager glanced at the retired emperor with a smile and immediately spoke a series of Mongolian words that Geng Shuning couldn't understand.

Geng Shuning remembered that in every novel or TV drama, it was said that this old lady was proficient in Mongolian but not in Chinese or Manchu.

She momentarily zoned out, forgetting this detail.

Her English was decent, but she didn't know Mongolian. This lady might not be so easily impressed...

"Does the Empress Dowager compare this girl to the Grand Empress Dowager?" the retired emperor snorted, interrupting Geng Shuning's thoughts, followed by even more cutting remarks than his son.

"Aren't you afraid the Grand Empress Dowager would rise from her coffin in anger to scold you? I've never seen such a bold and reckless girl."

Geng Shuning: "..." Well, the wealthy lady praised her for being amazing, while Emperor Kangxi was responsible for undermining her.

"After years in the palace, she still dares to boast about wanting to be a flirtatious widow. If it weren't for those with clouded judgment stopping her, this girl would have been torn apart by the censors long ago!"

Geng Shuning: "..." She felt somewhat embarrassed. That was just her initial thoughts when she first arrived. She had already paid the price for it!

"Fourth Brother wanted to take her in, but this girl didn't know better and left the palace, claiming to have important business with Fourth Brother in the south, and even found herself a husband."

"Empress Dowager, tell me, how can such a bold and reckless woman compare to the Grand Empress Dowager?"

Geng Shuning silently cursed the Aisin Gioro family in her heart.

In any era, men can't stand capable women and can't bear to see them have any freedom. In future generations, they would have been beaten up.

The Grand Empress Dowager was a content and carefree old lady. Given her past circumstances, if she weren't content, she wouldn't have lived to this day.

Unlike in the novels, she wasn't only proficient in Mongolian. Having been in the Qing Dynasty for so long, she could understand Manchu, though she didn't speak it well.

After listening to the retired emperor, she laughed softly.

She teased the retired emperor in Mongolian, "When Auntie was young, she wanted to elope with Mergen Daicing, but later found his words unpleasant and ran back halfway."

"According to Sumalagu, at a grand palace banquet, Auntie even danced with him in front of Taizong by the bonfire, which made Taizong and Mergen Daicing whip each other in anger."

Mergen Daicing was the Mongolian title bestowed upon Dorgon by Taizong. In northern Mongolia, people were accustomed to calling him by this title, and few called him Dorgon.

The Grand Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with a hint of nostalgia: "If this girl is truly as Xuanye described, she does resemble Auntie, especially in her liveliness, like Auntie before she entered Shengjing."

Emperor Kangxi: "..." He had no idea the Grand Empress Dowager had such a bold past. Sumalagu had never mentioned it.

Yinzhen knew a bit, having overheard it from Yun Tao, who was raised by Sumalagu, when he was a child.

Comparing it this way... he was in a better situation than Taizong, shouldn't he be content?

At least this little fox wasn't physically in one place but mentally elsewhere.

Geng Shuning listened to the long string of gibberish, feeling somewhat confused.

But seeing the retired emperor looking as if he had been choked and Yinzhen also appearing somewhat helpless, she didn't need to understand what the Grand Empress Dowager said to know it was definitely praise.

Women of beauty understand each other; otherwise, the two men wouldn't have such expressions.

Geng Shuning secretly flashed a charming smile at the Grand Empress Dowager, her dimples appearing by her lips, revealing two rows of small white teeth, which made the Grand Empress Dowager laugh heartily, and even nanny Wuyunna couldn't help but laugh.

The Grand Empress Dowager, unusually, switched to Manchu and slowly said, "I wasn't wrong, this girl is delightful!"

The Emperor Emeritus glared at Geng Shuning with annoyance, "What are you grinning at? Did you understand?"

Geng Shuning slightly lowered her head and responded crisply, "Your Majesty, Sui Ning did not understand, but she knows she is blessed by the immortals and has the fortune to be connected with the imperial family, so she must be praised!"

"Sui Ning does not speak Mongolian, so she can only express her sincere gratitude for the Grand Empress Dowager's praise!"

Everyone: "..."

Emperor Kangxi murmured in amazement, "I only knew that Fourth Prince was blinded by infatuation, but I didn't know you liked someone with a face thicker than the city walls."

Geng Shuning lowered her head even further, conveniently allowing her to roll her eyes. If she hadn't been thick-skinned, how could she survive after suddenly being thrust into a feudal society?

As long as she lived well, what did it matter if she lost face? Kangxi, on the other hand, cared about face, leading to an empty national treasury where even rats wouldn't visit. Was he proud of that?

Yinzhen choked for a moment, then maintained his composure and joked, "Your son thinks that both the Grand Empress Dowager and Sui Ning make good points."

No one mentioned why the Grand Empress Dowager had suddenly summoned Geng Shuning today, but the atmosphere was very harmonious with all the laughter and chatter.

However, Emperor Kangxi couldn't stand Yinzhen diverting the matter so casually.

He suddenly dropped his relaxed demeanor and asked Geng Shuning seriously, "Do you know why you were called here today?"

Yinzhen's hand, which was turning a ring, paused, and he lowered his eyes, not looking at Geng Shuning.

He knew that the more he showed his regard for Geng Shuning in front of the old master, the more dangerous it would be for the little fox.

Moreover, he believed that Geng Shuning wouldn't be like other women, trembling and too scared to say anything in front of the old master.

As he expected, Geng Shuning respectfully but frankly shook her head, "Your Majesty, nanny Wuyunna said that the Grand Empress Dowager wanted to see the new favorite who had been married to the Emperor, and that's why Sui Ning came."

"But seeing Your Majesty here, Sui Ning no longer knows the reason. Please enlighten me!"

Emperor Kangxi chuckled, "You are quite frank! I ask you, is Fourth Prince planning to depose the Empress and make you the new Empress, influenced by you?"

"Does even the Empress not match up to you, a twice-married woman from the Geng family?"

Geng Shuning raised her head, her eyes showing surprise and innocence, "Sui Ning is terrified, not understanding what Your Majesty means."

Emperor Kangxi's gaze grew sharper, "In front of me, you still dare to feign ignorance?"

Geng Shuning stepped forward and knelt before the Emperor Emeritus, "Sui Ning is bold, not feigning ignorance."

"It's just that even a woman like Sui Ning, who knows nothing about politics, understands that if the Emperor were to depose the Empress, it would surely be for the sake of the empire."

"Given Your Majesty's understanding of the Emperor, you should know that the Emperor is not someone who can be swayed by women. Otherwise, the Empress wouldn't have made such a mistake in desperation. What does this have to do with Sui Ning?"

She boldly raised her head, meeting Emperor Kangxi's cold, scrutinizing gaze, her words bolder than her actions.

"To let Your Majesty know, Sui Ning is very pleased with her titles as Lady of Grace and County Princess, and has long revealed her own ambitions, not necessarily insisting on marrying the Emperor, right?"

Even if she liked Yinzhen very much, if she really had the chance to be a free and easy widow, able to embrace both sides, it wouldn't hinder her from achieving her ambitions. She guaranteed she wouldn't even blink before dismissing Fourth Master.

With that one sentence, she darkened the expressions of both men.

Only the Grand Empress Dowager laughed particularly loudly.

She even patted her leg and exclaimed to Wu Yunna, "This girl should come to our grasslands!"

"If she were my Abu's daughter, she might even become a female Taiji, and my Abu could bring a few men into the tribe as sons-in-law, saving my useless brother from inheriting the tribe."

Wu Yunna: "..." That makes sense, but Your Highness, perhaps you should glance at the Emperor and the Crown Prince's expressions?

Emperor Kangxi and Yinzhen suddenly felt a bit relieved that this troublemaker spouting nonsense couldn't understand Mongolian.

Emperor Kangxi concealed the coldness on his face, speaking more gently, but with a hidden edge.

"Are you saying you don’t want to be the Empress?"

Geng Shuning smiled sweetly, not taking the bait.

"Your Majesty, Sui Ning doesn’t mind being the Empress or a County Lady. As long as life is comfortable, isn’t that enough?"

"But I dare not hide from Your Majesty, Sui Ning is grateful for the Emperor's favor and has a bit of cleverness, willing to devote herself entirely to the Emperor, fulfilling the destiny given by the immortals."

Yinzhen's expression visibly softened, and a faint smile even appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The longer he spent with Geng Shuning, the more he realized how wild her heart was.

In her dreams, she had seen too much, and this little fox never let go of her bold dreams of soaring high and wide. It was for him that she was willing to stay.

Emperor Kangxi shot a glance at his disappointing son, who couldn’t even handle a woman and was instead easily swayed by this girl’s words, showing none of his father’s skills—useless!

The more this happened, the more he became wary of Geng Shuning.

He always felt that Fourth Brother couldn't handle this little girl, and if this continued, it might lead to disaster for the Qing Dynasty.

Even someone like Empress Wu was better; if it were someone like Empress Wei, he would have no face to meet his ancestors in the afterlife!

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly, "I understand your meaning. You shall stay at the hot spring palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, fulfilling Fourth Brother’s filial obligations."

"Whether it’s deposing the Empress or mourning, your current status makes staying in the palace awkward. When the time is right, with your filial service to the Empress Dowager, entering the imperial harem would be more appropriate."

A moment later, Yinzhen and Geng Shuning spoke in unison—

"Your son believes this is inappropriate!"

"Sui Ning will follow Your Majesty's command."

Yinzhen frowned, staring at Geng Shuning in disbelief.