Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Although Yinzhen repeatedly told Geng Shuning to avoid the front hall as much as possible, and she nodded eagerly, both of them knew it was impossible not to go to the front hall.

The old man's judgment would come sooner or later.

Geng Shuning stayed, not only to enter the palace under the pretext of serving the Empress Dowager but mainly to gain Emperor Kangxi's recognition of her qualifications to be the empress.

This matter, no matter how kind the Empress Dowager was, she wouldn't interfere. Before Emperor Kangxi passed away, the old lady only listened to this old man.

After breakfast, Geng Shuning resignedly suppressed her inner wails, supported by Qiao He, and cautiously walked through the corridor connecting the rear hall to the front hall, as if treading on thin ice.

It must be said, walking on the high platform-like flowerpot shoes, moving slowly, indeed made her look more graceful and delicate from a distance.

This was probably one of the inherent flaws of the flowerpot shoes.

*

Geng Shuning swayed into the hall, carefully took a few steps forward, and slowly performed a squatting salute.

Emperor Kangxi glanced at her indifferently and finally praised her—

"Today you look more presentable, rise."

Geng Shuning breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Liang Jiugong.

The reason was that Qiao He couldn't enter the Emperor's hall, and the angle of the flowerpot shoes was awkward; without pressing her buttocks to the ground, she couldn't stand up.

To live up to Kang Shifu's praise, she hoped Liang Jiugong would be smart enough.

Liang Jiugong was momentarily stunned but, being the chief steward who had served in the imperial presence for many years, immediately sensed Geng Shuning's awkward situation. Holding back a laugh, he stepped forward to help her up.

After Geng Shuning sat down, Emperor Kangxi didn't look at her but leisurely flipped through an ancient book on Go endgames, comparing it to the chessboard.

For several days after the snow, the weather had been fine.

Early in the morning, sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a golden glow on the chessboard. Emperor Kangxi, sitting on the Luohan Couch, didn't look like a retired old man but still like a strategizing emperor.

Geng Shuning glanced at the ergonomic cushion fixed at an angle behind him and secretly thought, this touch of sophistication was her doing.

If Kang Shifu had any gratitude, he wouldn't make her sit on the cold bench for too long, or she would definitely burn all those pretentious design sketches later.

As soon as she thought this, Emperor Kangxi, without looking up, calmly said, "Are you cursing me in your heart?"

Geng Shuning's heart skipped a beat. Goodness, the old man was much sharper than his son.

She quickly lowered her eyes and replied, "Your Majesty jests. Sui Ning is just marveling at your majestic demeanor, no less than that of the Emperor, and wondering how I, Sui Ning, am worthy to lecture Your Majesty on scriptures."

"Hmm, having self-awareness is not a bad thing," Emperor Kangxi responded indifferently, sparing a glance from his focus on the ancient book.

Geng Shuning: "..." Though cursing inwardly, her smile remained flawless.

Emperor Kangxi's gaze returned to the ancient book, "I didn't call you here to lecture on scriptures."

"I called you here to tell you that I have sent Old Lady Liang and Dun'er back to General Feng'en's mansion. It's not right to leave the mansion empty."

Geng Shuning's thoughts raced. Kang Shifu wouldn't waste words on her; suddenly mentioning her godmother and Dun'er was for—

Her body stiffened suddenly.

Qiao Jing had hidden Old Lady Liang and her grandson in a safe house she had Chen Zhen purchase in advance. Due to the unstable situation in the capital and her sensitive status, for safety reasons, she hadn't brought them back.

The place is near Fangshan, quite an out-of-the-way spot.

Moreover, their identities were prearranged, and no matter who asked, they were always the grandmother and grandson living there.

This identity was arranged with the help of Prince Yunxiang, so there should be no mistakes.

Emperor Kangxi had them brought back, showing that her actions hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Furthermore, since Emperor Kangxi could send someone to bring back the grandmother and grandson, the truth about her so-called marriage could also be extracted by the old man.

Her adoptive mother wouldn’t dare to lie to the Emperor.

Geng Shuning pretended not to understand and reluctantly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for your arrangement, Your Majesty. It was Sui Ning’s lack of thorough consideration."

Emperor Kangxi sneered, "I don’t care how you charm Fourth Brother, there’s no need to say these useless things in front of me."

Finally putting down the ancient book, Emperor Kangxi looked coldly at Geng Shuning.

"Admit this farce in front of Fourth Brother, so he would be obsessed with bringing you into the palace, fearing you might run away."

"Admit to being a minister’s wife in front of Lady Wu Ya, making the harem drop their guard, eager to solidify this marriage, urging me to convert your merits into a title."

"Even if you can’t enter the palace, you wouldn’t end up in the family temple like the emperor’s other women, and could continue to live respectably as a County Lady."

"You’ve mastered the art of advancing by retreating, playing both offense and defense. Tell me, how can I trust a woman as cunning as you to enter the palace?"

Geng Shuning lowered her eyes, not rushing to answer, giving herself a few breaths to marvel in her heart.

Was she... that impressive?

In reality, she accepted the title of the Liang family’s daughter-in-law to avoid becoming her sister’s fate... Of course, it was also a kind of fun with her boyfriend.

But with Emperor Kangxi’s enlightenment, Geng Shuning’s mind was flexible, and this behavior immediately became noble.

Yes, she slowly raised her head, full of humility, "Your Majesty flatters me, Sui Ning only acted out of necessity to save her life, with no intention of seducing the harem."

She earnestly explained to the old man about his son, "You know, His Majesty has never been fond of women since his days at the prince’s residence, seeking only peace of mind to devote more time to you and the Qing Dynasty."

"Choosing the Liang family, Sui Ning only wanted to show loyalty. If the elders think I’m not suitable for the palace, I can still have a proper identity to continue serving His Majesty..."

So, she indeed played her tricks well, with a bit of divergent thinking and multiple purposes, a skill every top planner must have.

Just hear me out—if I can’t convince you, I’ll admit defeat!

Emperor Kangxi stared at her for a while, then suddenly changed the topic—

"Why did you save Zhang Penghe? He’s not Fourth Brother’s man, and he hasn’t said a good word about me or Fourth Brother."

Geng Shuning also regretted it; she shouldn’t have saved that old man.

She honestly explained, "Sui Ning heard that he is a good official, like Minister Jin Fu, who could save countless people living by the river."

Emperor Kangxi: "Aren’t you afraid of death?"

Geng Shuning said she was afraid, "But he is more useful alive than dead, just like Sui Ning, who didn’t have time to think much at that moment."

Emperor Kangxi was quite satisfied; this girl was smarter in some ways than the ministers in the court, such as talking nonsense and covering up with cunning words.

And some peculiar circumstances.

For example, the corn that had already been harvested once before is now being fully cultivated at the imperial estate and the estates arranged by the twelfth prince.

In another season, there will be enough seeds to continue cultivation in the capital and Zhili, and it will soon be promoted throughout the Qing Dynasty.

Before the northern tour, the rice breeding method sent over by Geng Shuning seemed quite reliable.

He had people pick out the tallest and fullest rice seedlings from the north and southern regions, which have been planted on the estate behind the hot spring palace.

The results are not yet visible, but the rice seedlings are indeed growing stronger than those in ordinary farmlands.

In terms of merit, she is indeed worthy of the role of empress.

But sometimes she is also quite foolish.

Emperor Kangxi and Liang Jiugong's discerning eyes have been honed over decades, and it's hard for ordinary people to hide their true nature in front of them.

Previously, Liang Jiugong thought Geng Shuning was simple-minded, and now Emperor Kangxi also senses it. Her reputation as a widow might not be as complicated as he thought.

This girl hardly understands human relations or political savvy, as if she came out of an orphanage, nothing like Empress Xiaozhuang.

Emperor Kangxi recalled the words of the Grand Empress Dowager and chuckled inwardly, thinking she probably only inherited her grandmother's boldness.

He couldn't understand how Geng Jia De Jin, with his cunning nature, and his stepmother, who was not particularly kind, could raise such a peculiar daughter.

Emperor Kangxi continued to ask, "In your opinion, what benefits would dethroning the empress by Fourth Brother bring to the former court, the harem, and the entire Qing Dynasty?"

Geng Shuning felt even more nervous. This was really not her forte. She only knew what benefits the dethronement would bring to her; what did the rest have to do with her?

But she couldn't say that. Geng Shuning tried hard to think and slowly replied.

"Your Majesty, in Sui Ning's humble opinion, dethroning the empress... could help His Majesty intimidate the court and also warn the harem to behave. With both the court and the harem stable, the Emperor can then implement policies that benefit the country and the people."

Emperor Kangxi was not entirely satisfied. He reminded her, "Do you know that since Fourth Brother ascended the throne, there has not yet been a selection of concubines?"

"At the latest next year, the selection is unavoidable, otherwise the Manchu, Mongol, and Han banners will no longer be stable."

The court is about to go to war. Without properly arranging the rear for the soldiers, and without giving them enough motivation, even the best generals can't lead a bunch of unmotivated soldiers.

"The dethronement of Lady Ula Nara and you becoming empress are two different matters. Not to mention how I see you, Fourth Brother does not need a wife who would hinder his efforts to stabilize the state."

Geng Shuning was slightly stunned for a moment. She might not be politically sensitive, and she lost her relatives early, but she has her own understanding of human relations through hard knocks, not completely clueless.

She tried hard to follow the thinking of a strategic plan, considering the benefits and impacts of the dethronement from the perspective of human psychology.

"After the dethronement, the stakes of Lady Ula Nara, Gua Jia, and Lady Sotoro can be redistributed. With the position of empress vacant, the selection of concubines will be fiercely contested by all families."

"In order to compete for power, the court officials will have no choice but to be more loyal to His Majesty... like my father, who is utterly loyal to the Emperor!"

"If they become imperial relatives in the future, these families will completely stand on the Emperor's side, serving him diligently."

Emperor Kangxi finally nodded, "Not a total fool."

Geng Shuning: "..." Thank you, my new brain is almost grown.

Emperor Kangxi added, "Do you know that the court is about to go to war?"

Geng Shuning was startled, not because of the impending war. When she went on the northern tour with Yinzhen, he did not avoid her, so she knew this war would not be delayed for long.

She was only surprised that Emperor Kangxi would mention this to her, "This... isn't this something Sui Ning isn't supposed to know about?"

The issue of deposing the empress can still be linked to the inner court, but war is purely a matter of state affairs.

The rule that the inner court should not meddle in politics was set by the old master and his father.

Emperor Kangxi scoffed lightly, "If you are completely clueless, how will you stabilize the inner court and the households of the civil and military officials for Yinzhen if war breaks out?"

"If Fourth Brother decides to personally lead the expedition, how will you advise him, and if you can't persuade him, how will you arrange his journey?"

During Emperor Kangxi's reign, he would occasionally discuss state affairs with the imperial concubines who had accompanied him in his early years.

He disliked the idea of the inner court meddling in politics, not because he wanted women to influence state affairs or interfere with the emperor's strategies, but because he didn't want the women of the inner court to remain completely ignorant.

Geng Shuning's view of Emperor Kangxi changed slightly.

It seems the old master isn't as feudal as she thought. After all, he was an emperor educated by Empress Xiaozhuang, so he still has some tolerance.

She hesitated for a moment and pointed out the key issue, "Are you telling me all this to make me understand that before this war is over, His Majesty cannot appoint a new empress?"

If the selection of concubines is the broad path for families to compete for the position of empress, then military achievements are the narrow path where the brave prevail in the struggle for the empress's position.

To motivate the soldiers to fight fiercely against the Dzungars, it would be more advantageous for Yinzhen to keep the empress's position as a tempting prize before the war is over.

But she didn't understand, "Do you not want me to become the empress, or do you not want me to enter the palace at all?"

If the empress's position is compared to a piece of meat, the prerequisite is that the emperor does not have a favorite who holds his heart.

Emperor Kangxi neither confirmed nor denied, only saying indifferently, "The highest position in the palace now is that of a consort. The position of noble consort would be sufficiently prestigious for the Geng family."

"Since you have ties to the imperial family, you will have more opportunities than other women. With Fourth Brother's temperament, he will eventually grant you the position of empress."

"To secure your place in the inner court and the imperial family, you can't just focus on the present. Your mother is an example."

Of course, he had heard from the secret guards about this girl's refusal to become a concubine.

If she chose to remain in the Liang family, since Liang Chen was likely dead in Huguang and even Shi Wensheng couldn't find him, he would let her be until the Qing Dynasty resolved its internal and external troubles.

Geng Shuning lowered her head and remained silent, feeling that her brain was still not developed enough.

Yes, if Yinzhen only wanted her, the positions of noble consort and empress would make no difference to her. She would eventually rise from noble consort to empress.

Or if her son could compete for the throne, she would become the most triumphant widow in the entire Qing Dynasty.

But this wasn't right; it brought her back to the starting point.

She would once again become entirely reliant on Yinzhen's goodwill, and all her efforts would turn into weights to keep a man's heart from changing.

It wasn't that the scoundrel would inevitably change his heart, but once she tolerated it, it would become the beginning of unfairness.

If the worst outcome occurred, and Yinzhen, for the sake of the empire, habitually sacrificed her and ignored her... this wasn't impossible for the diligent Fourth Master, and she would become even more pitiful than the Ula Nara clan.

Was Yinzhen worth her cutting off her own retreat with the position of noble consort? Geng Shuning couldn't figure it out for the moment.

Emperor Kangxi didn't expect Geng Shuning to come around immediately, "For now, stay by the Empress Dowager's side. Come see me again when you've figured it out."

Geng Shuning slowly raised her head, "What if I never figure it out?"

Emperor Kangxi picked up the ancient book again and said lightly, "Then I will use my methods to understand your connections and send you to the Liang family's ancestral tomb."

Geng Shuning wasn't intimidated by Emperor Kangxi. She even raised her head and, for the first time since entering the hall, looked directly at him without the confusion and timidity he had expected.

She flashed a radiant smile: "Since you acknowledge my connection with the imperial family, you should know that this is not something ordinary people can encounter. What I can do for the Qing Dynasty goes beyond what you see now."

"Perhaps Emperor Kangxi's methods... are sufficient to pry open anyone's mouth, but if I wish to die... oh no, I don't wish to die." She slowly stood up.

"In other words, if someone forces me to die, then I would offer myself as a sacrifice, sever the immortals' protection over the imperial family, and cause the Qing Dynasty's imperial dragon vein to be completely severed, making it impossible for the nation's fortune to continue. This is not an impossibility."

Without her as a variable, the Qing Dynasty's fortune would not exceed three hundred years, and it would become the beginning of a disgrace for the Chinese people throughout the ages.

The fall of the Qing Dynasty is not necessarily a bad thing, but even in her dreams, Geng Shuning does not want the people of this timeline to endure so much suffering. It all depends on whether this old man can be tricked!

Knowing the official history, Geng Shuning spoke with unwavering certainty and boldness.

With the discernment of Emperor Kangxi and Liang Jiugong, neither detected any sign of her speaking nonsense.

This only deepened the murderous intent and anger in Emperor Kangxi's heart. He narrowed his amber phoenix-like eyes and sharply scanned Geng Shuning.

"Are you threatening me?"

"No..." Geng Shuning stepped forward calmly, "I am just—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she forgot she was wearing platform shoes and, out of habit, put too much pressure on her toes, causing her to fall to her knees with a loud thud in front of Emperor Kangxi.

"—telling the truth!!" The latter half of her sentence tumbled out as she knelt, accompanied by two streams of hot tears.

Ouch, did my knees just break? This act is really painful!

Emperor Kangxi: "..."

Liang Jiugong: "..."

Geng Shuning knelt so decisively and made such a loud noise that her earlier words, which were enough to get her beheaded, now seemed like she had spoken the truth with the courage of a dog and was kneeling to beg for mercy.

For a moment, both the master and servant were at a loss for words. Could this girl make her threats any more timid?