Chapter 111

Chapter 111

As Geng Shuning had anticipated, although they didn’t end up arguing, the two of them happily made their way to the imperial bed, achieving a harmonious connection from one end of the bed to the other.

However, the pleasure was so intense that Geng Shuning found it overwhelming.

Since returning to the palace, she had been busy tending to the Empress Dowager and sending prescriptions to the retired emperor residing at the Changchun Garden, not missing a single detail, including her own boyfriend.

During the half-month from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival, the recuperation time had been too short, and Geng Shuning hadn’t deeply felt the effects.

He worked tirelessly, and though his body was still healthy, he was particularly thin—so thin that rolling around with him was uncomfortable.

After indulging during the first half of the lunar new year, she hadn’t thought much about it.

But now, things had changed entirely. As soon as her little hands began to wander, she widened her eyes and pinched him several times.

He had actually gained some weight!

Though he still appeared slender in his clothes, his arms and legs now bore noticeable muscles, and there were abs, with faint lines guarding the ill-fated relationship, making it irresistible to stay.

Geng Shuning, breathless, couldn’t help but exclaim, “You now… um… are truly a feast for the eyes, no wonder… hmm, no wonder others desire you…”

Yinzhen basked in Geng Shuning’s affection, not in vain were the hours he spent sweating in the wrestling arena amidst his busy schedule.

Yet, he remained silent. The tangled emotions, feelings of inadequacy, and deep-seated sorrow within him, he didn’t want the little fox, her cheeks powdered, in his arms to know.

Yet, his birth mother was determined to destroy all he held dear. If he didn’t let the little fox know everything, perhaps in places he couldn’t see, she would get hurt or worse due to carelessness…

At this thought, Yinzhen held her so tightly, as if to merge her into his very being.

The moon illuminated the starry sky, causing it to shimmer, and bits of starlight fell, drifting into the curtains, evoking a mesmerizing melody.

Geng Shuning prided herself on her stamina; she could at least keep up with her boyfriend until the end before.

When exhausted, a half-day’s rest the next day sufficed.

But today, Yinzhen’s passion was unlike anything she had experienced before. Every time the moon appeared in the starry sky, it trembled.

Gentle yet with a hint of roughness, it made her even more overwhelmed. Tears fell one by one from the corners of her eyes, yet failed to soothe her hoarse cries for respite.

She turned over to escape—this man was too suited to be an antique dealer!

She couldn’t keep up; she was a slow and steady player~

But it was too late to run. Accompanied by Yinzhen’s low, hoarse coaxing, the whimpering little beast was embraced once more, sinking endlessly, climbing to the clouds again and again.

This time, Geng Shuning couldn’t accompany Yinzhen to the end. She didn’t even know when she had fallen asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, the curtains were drawn open by Qingfang, and the candles were already lit!

*

Geng Shuning was stunned for a moment. Touching her neck, her voice hoarse, she asked, “What time is it now?”

Could it be evening?

Had she slept the entire day?!

Qiao He, noticing the more intense scene within the curtains than usual, blushed slightly and quickly brought over the prepared mint honey water.

Geng Shuning took it and drank it all in one go, finally feeling some relief in her throat.

"Master, it's still before noon. His Majesty left word that he's busy today and might not make it back for lunch, so he asked you to wait and have dinner with him," Qingfang replied. This time, she didn't blush as she usually did while serving, only showing slight concern as she helped her master to her feet.

Yesterday, when the master acted so freely in front of Nian Gengyao, Qingfang sensed something was wrong.

Now, seeing the marks on the master's body—though they were nothing serious—but noticing the discomfort in her walk and the hoarseness of her voice that even honey water couldn't fix, made Qingfang's heart sink further.

Could it be that His Majesty was angry and took it out in the bedroom?

Yesterday, with officials and servants from the Imperial Household Department and other ministries present, if any unpleasant rumors got out, it would harm His Majesty's reputation.

If it leads to the master losing favor, those families the master had suppressed outside the palace and the consorts she had kept in check inside would likely tear her apart.

"Master, forgive me, but I must speak my mind," Qingfang couldn't wait to whisper advice to the master while serving her bath.

"No matter how strong a woman is, she must sometimes yield to her husband. You... don't feel wronged. The way of marriage is to give and take, isn't it?"

Geng Shuning, soaking in the bathtub to relax, found Qingfang's words odd and opened her eyes in surprise.

"Did His Majesty seem upset when he left this morning?"

"That's impossible!"

She always believed that intimacy shouldn't be one-sided; mutual pleasure brings greater happiness.

Last night, she was compelled by that scoundrel to take charge for a while, even resorting to tricks to get him to rest sooner.

Though it made him even more relentless, his expression grew more pleased.

Qingfang was taken aback and instinctively replied, "His Majesty seemed in good spirits, but yesterday you were quite close with Minister Nian... Chief Su specifically mentioned that before you returned, His Majesty crushed the string of Kynam Buddha beads from Yunnan."

Geng Shuning raised an eyebrow: "If His Majesty favored other consorts and I made a scene, do you think Su Peisheng would advise His Majesty to give in to me?"

Qingfang: "..." It's clear that wouldn't happen. Isn't it natural for the Emperor to show favor to his consorts?

Qiao He, bringing in the clothes the master wanted to change into, overheard Geng Shuning's words and pulled Qingfang aside.

She smiled: "I think Chief Su meant to let the master know that His Majesty cares for her but can't bear to vent his anger on her, trying to win favor for the master."

She teased: "Even if you were willing to yield, I think His Majesty wouldn't bear to."

Given their master's nature, yielding once would probably require ten acts of mischief to make up for the loss in her heart, and then it would be His Majesty's headache to coax her.

As long as His Majesty is clear-minded, he wouldn't make such a losing deal.

Qingfang hesitated to speak further. Although she was loyal to the master, after all, the master served the Emperor...

"Qingfang, you should know that I am different from others. Not only would I not yield in front of His Majesty..." Geng Shuning stood up, letting Qiao He dress her, and gave Qingfang a meaningful look.

"Even in front of the Empress Dowager, or even the ancestors and the retired Emperor, I would not bow and scrape."

"If you can't get used to this, I can arrange for you to work outside the palace."

Qingfang's face turned pale, and she immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness: "This servant was mistaken. This servant wishes to serve the master and begs for another chance."

"Just this once," Geng Shuning casually pulled her up. "Unless necessary, don't kneel to me. The loyalty I want isn't in formality."

*

When Qiao Jing served Geng Shuning lunch, Qiao He took the opportunity to pull Qingfang into the tea room.

Avoiding others, Qiao He scolded Qingfang: "I used to think you were more perceptive than Qiao Jing. How did you suddenly become so confused?"

"Don’t you think about it? Our mistress is destined to stand equal with His Majesty. No matter how much the ancestors and the retired emperor dote on her, they cannot allow her to be overly favored, as it might affect the royal lineage."

"Even the Empress Dowager would not tolerate our mistress overshadowing her. You must be out of your mind!"

Qingfang stomped her feet anxiously, "That’s not what I meant. I’m afraid that if our mistress is too assertive in front of His Majesty, over time, those in the rear palace... might exploit the situation!"

It’s often said that women use softness to overcome hardness. The consorts in the rear palace, even the servants who aspire to gain favor, probably spend their entire lives studying the art of 'softness.'

Now that His Majesty and our mistress are on good terms, but what about in the future?

Qingfang wanted to advise our mistress to balance strength with softness, not to be too stubborn...

Qiao He unceremoniously interrupted her thoughts, "What if the Grand Empress Dowager, the retired emperor, and the Empress Dowager trouble our mistress?"

"Do you think our mistress needs servants who side with them to accuse her, or servants who are loyal to her, ready to follow her orders?"

Qingfang was once again taken aback.

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Remember our mistress’s demands on the nine guards at the hot spring manor."

"Qiao Jing is still worried about not earning our mistress’s trust. If you make another mistake, you might not be able to stay."

Qingfang’s face turned even paler, instantly realizing the magnitude of her mistake.

She was advising our mistress based on the norms of ordinary women.

But the lady we follow is clearly unlike any other woman in this world, which is why she has won His Majesty’s favor.

If our mistress gradually becomes like other women... she would truly lose His Majesty’s favor.

Qingfang slapped herself, "It’s all my fault. The other day, while on duty at the Six Bureaus, I overheard some officials and protocol officers talking, and it influenced my thinking. I won’t dare to do it again!"

Qiao He frowned, "The Six Bureaus? Do you remember who said it?"

Qingfang hesitated, "They were just talking privately in the duty rooms, not noticing me... or pretending not to see me."

She then realized something, clenched her teeth, and turned to leave, "I brought Rong Hui from the imperial front with me. She knows who it was. I’ll go ask her now."

Rong Hui, who had been trained by Su Peisheng and served at the imperial front for several years, had an excellent memory and immediately told Qingfang.

There were four people in total: Nala, the official from the Imperial Clothing Bureau; Tatara, the protocol officer from the Imperial Household Bureau; Chen, the official from the Imperial Kitchen Bureau; and Xitala, the protocol officer.

Of course, after informing Qingfang, Rong Hui immediately reported to Su Peisheng.

*

Before Qiao He and Qingfang could consult Nanny Chen, Su Peisheng returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Mistress Sui Ning, I know who the gossips are. There’s no need to send anyone to investigate, or it might tip them off."

Geng Shuning raised an eyebrow, "Chief Su, why not tell me who they are?"

Su Peisheng was a bit embarrassed, "His Majesty has instructed that he will personally tell you after dinner."

Geng Shuning instantly understood—it was the Empress Dowager again.

After Su Peisheng left, Nanny Chen came forward to serve and, upon learning that Qingfang had been misled, frowned deeply.

"Mistress, the officials of the Six Bureaus are all wives from prominent families of the Eight Banners, and they have connections to many influential people."

"Nala’s husband’s family, the Shumulu clan, is related to Empress Dowager Xiaoyi. Chen’s family is from the Chenjia clan, and her husband is from the family of the third-class duke, Zhongqin Gong, of the Sotoro clan. The Zhongqin Gong’s residence is the family home of His Majesty’s sister, Princess Wenxian."

"As for the Tatara and Xitala ceremonial officers, their backgrounds are also quite remarkable. The Tatara clan was once the personal maidservant of Empress Dowager Xiaokangzhang, and Xitala's mother was the wet nurse of Empress Dowager Xiaoyi."

If it's these individuals, it almost involves the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the late Empress Dowager Xiaoyi.

Once this matter is brought up, it directly challenges the dignity of several elders, making it quite difficult to handle.

Geng Shuning couldn't help but admire the Empress Dowager, "Our Empress Dowager, when she was still the Virtuous Consort, had quite extraordinary methods."

She even managed to recruit the relatives and personal maidservant of Empress Dowager Xiaokangzhang as her own people, and even placed her own people around Empress Dowager Xiaoyi... tsk tsk, no wonder she gained Emperor Kangxi's favor, even giving birth to five children, with three surviving.

*

When Yinzhen returned, he saw Geng Shuning propping her chin with her hand, tilting her head and looking at him with an expression as if watching a monkey.

Yinzhen sighed helplessly, "What mischief are you up to now?"

Geng Shuning giggled and approached, pulling him to sit on the couch, "I just wanted to see if Your Majesty's wisdom comes from the Empress Dowager or the Grand Emperor."

She drawled teasingly, "If it's from the old man, then there's nothing to worry about. The Grand Emperor has always been wise and mighty."

"If it's from the Empress Dowager, I might have to worry for myself. Don't suddenly do something shocking when you get older..."

Yinzhen's face darkened, and he scolded half-heartedly, "How dare you! How can you speak so irreverently of your elders!"

Besides, in this rascal's mind, does the old man really seem wiser and mightier than him?

Su Peisheng quickly led the servants out to stand guard.

Taking advantage of the empty hall, Geng Shuning crossed her arms and snorted.

"If the elders are kind, I will naturally respect them. But if they don't act as elders should, even bullying me and my husband, why should I respect them?"

Yinzhen was silent for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose, his expression unreadable, but his voice sounded weary.

"Your impatience, who does it come from? Can't you wait until after dinner, and I'll explain it to you slowly?"

Geng Shuning: You always say I'm like you, so who else could it be?

Seeing her blinking her apricot eyes at him, Yinzhen couldn't help but laugh, his mood slightly easing as he pinched her cheek.

"It's actually not that complicated. My mother hates me. As long as I suffer, and preferably die early, she will be satisfied."

Geng Shuning was puzzled, "But when I was at... Shoukang Palace and Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager I met was nothing like this personality?"

"She seemed quite concerned about Your Majesty, knew how to weigh things properly, and handled matters appropriately. How could she..."

At Shoukang Palace, she was referencing the original body's memories, but at Cining Palace, she had personally interacted with Empress Dowager Lady Wu Ya.

She had genuinely enjoyed being close to the wealthy lady, thinking that the historical accounts of the Empress Dowager and her eldest son not getting along were just rumors, at most some difficulty in communicating with each other.

But at some point, the Empress Dowager seemed to have flipped a switch, suddenly becoming twisted, as if she had become a different person.

Yinzhen explained in a low voice, "My mother originally gave me to Empress Dowager Xiaoyi to raise, thinking she could exchange it for a consort position and raise a prince by her side. Little did she know, the Emperor only granted her the title of Noble Consort."

Empress Dowager Xiaoyi had explained that if Lady Wu Ya became pregnant, the Emperor would promote her.

To go from a lowly concubine to a consort in one leap, given how stingy the old man was with promotions, it was obvious it wouldn't happen.

But Lady Wu Ya felt that Empress Dowager Xiaoyi had deceived her, and thus harbored resentment. She used the people she had placed around Empress Dowager Xiaoyi to contact Yinzhen, speaking ill of Empress Dowager Xiaoyi and trying to turn him towards her.

Yinzhen was still young then, living in Chengqian Palace. What could he possibly do?

Hostile toward Empress Dowager Xiaoyi?

Lady Wu Ya was only a noble lady and couldn’t take him back to raise him; his situation would have only become more difficult.

"I told this to my mother... she was so angry that it caused her to go into premature labor, giving birth to Little Six. Later, when Yinzhuo's health was poor, she believed that Empress Dowager Xiaoyi had instructed me to harm my own brother."

As Yinzhen spoke, his expression grew more distant.

The bribed maidservant always said that Lady De had to conceal her motherly feelings and had many helpless situations for his future, feeling heartbroken and distant toward him.

At that time, he was deeply heartbroken and would secretly find ways to see Lady Wu Ya to ease her pain of missing her son.

But Lady Wu Ya never expressed her love for him; every time she saw him, it was more about probing for information about Empress Dowager Xiaoyi.

She even used him to sabotage Empress Dowager Xiaoyi's favor, causing Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaoyi to become increasingly cold toward him.

Yinzhen had believed that his mother loved him deeply but found it difficult to express, as he was the same, always doing more and saying less.

But after Little Six and Fourteen were born, seeing how Lady Wu Ya doted on her sons and how she used him to plan for Little Six and Fourteen, he realized it wasn’t the case.

"Once, Yun Ti made a mistake, and the Emperor was very angry. I took the punishment for him to shield him from the Emperor's wrath, but my mother didn’t see it that way. She even thought I wanted to harm my second brother."

Yinzhen recalled with a stoic expression how he had gone to Yonghe Palace to explain, fearing his mother’s misunderstanding, and overheard Lady Wu Ya’s hysterical words in the corner.

"If it weren’t for him, how could I have been ridiculed for selling my son for glory! The one who deserves to die the most is him, not my dear Little Six!"

"Now he doesn’t even want to spare Little Fourteen. I should have smothered him at birth, to prevent him from becoming a monster who doesn’t know filial piety and brotherly love!"

"Tong Siya took one of my sons away and even killed my Little Six and Little Seven, preventing me from being promoted to Noble Consort by the Emperor, yet he openly gets close to the Tong family at palace banquets, making me, his mother, feel unbearable!"

Nanny Zhou counseled her, "Sixth Prince was killed by Ninth Prince. Fourth Prince and Ninth Prince are like oil and water; he knows good from evil."

"Moreover, Fourth Prince didn’t hit Fourteenth Prince hard, but he spared him from the Emperor’s punishment, which was kind..."

As for the Noble Consort, only Lady De herself believed so. Nanny Zhou thought that given Lady Wu Ya’s status as a bondservant, being promoted to Consort was the limit.

As for the Uya clan not being able to attend palace banquets, Yinzhen, having been raised by Empress Dowager Xiaoyi, respectfully raised a few cups in toast to Empress Dowager Xiaoyi’s father at the banquet, which wasn’t a big deal. Nanny Zhou didn’t even have time to say it.

Lady Wu Ya exclaimed—

"He wishes Zhen’er dead to steal his brother’s name! I don’t have such a son!"

Geng Shuning looked shocked, like an old man on the subway staring at his phone. What did she mean by stealing his brother’s name?

Which one was it, didn’t the Empress Dowager know?

But Geng Shuning was curious, "In Manchu, your name and Fourteenth Prince’s name are written the same. How could there be such a mistake?"

With the memories of her original body, Geng Shuning knew that Manchu distinguishes words by pronunciation, and the writing and pronunciation of Zhen and Zhen are the same.

Yinzhen, who had been gloomy from the memories, suddenly smiled, stroking Geng Shuning’s head with a mix of helplessness and admiration—

"My Ning’er is truly clever. This is why my mother has been targeting me more and more."

Huh?

Geng Shuning felt like the man was patting her head like a dog, because she was more confused than a dog.

Yinzhen chuckled, "Do you know that Sixth Brother’s name, Zuo, is the Zuo of the nation? My mother thought the Emperor intended for him to replace Second Brother as the Crown Prince."

Not only did the Empress Dowager think this way, but some court officials, and even Emperor Yongzheng, had such speculations, which is why Yinti often encountered many mishaps and passed away prematurely.

Yinzhen knew this was just baseless talk. Yinti was neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir, and his health was poor. It would be insane for the old master to pass the throne to him.

This was merely a father's heartfelt wish for his sickly son, and he even intended to adopt him to his childless seventh brother, Prince Chun Longxi, hence using this character to signify importance.

The court officials and even Emperor Yongzheng spread such baseless rumors, simply to use them to undermine Prince Zhi Yinti, who was fiercely competing with Emperor Yongzheng at the time.

Only Lady Wu Ya believed it deeply, planting seeds of resentment in her heart.

She resented Yinzhen for causing Yinti's premature birth, resented the son of Consort Yi for frightening Yinti into illness, and even more resented Empress Dowager Xiaoyi for using palace rules to prevent all Imperial Physicians from going to Yonghe Palace to save her noble son...

She harbored an immense amount of hatred, and it wasn't until Yinzhen ascended the throne that this hatred finally found an outlet.

The smile on Yinzhen's lips turned into a bitter one.

"When my mother was pregnant, I told her that I could not distance myself from Empress Dowager Xiaoyi, partly due to her subtle guidance, but also because..."

He turned his head to look out the window, quickly spinning his prayer beads, and reluctantly admitted—

"I was too stubborn back then. Ever since my mother was pregnant with the sixth child, she no longer sent me snacks or clothing, nor did she pass messages to me. Occasionally, she saw me only to inquire about Empress Dowager Xiaoyi's activities... I was jealous and chose an inopportune time to say some harsh words."

In fact, he was not only jealous but also resentful and unwilling.

Why, as a child of the same mother, was he only used by her?

Even as a child, he could see how tenderly his mother looked at her belly and how much she valued that child, a warmth he had never experienced.

But no matter the reasons, he had indeed done wrong.

To an emotionally unstable pregnant woman, his own mother, saying that he would not choose his birth mother and would not distance himself from her rival foster mother, causing her to go into premature labor due to anger, was something he could not argue against.

So in the years that followed, no matter how many excessive things Lady Wu Ya did in private, he silently endured them as penance for his sins.

Yinzhen calmed his emotions and said calmly, "When I ascended the throne, my father's health was failing, and he did not appear at the coronation ceremony. The edict of succession was written in Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese scripts, in three copies, and read three times."

"In the Manchu and Chinese versions of the edict, my name and Yunti's name were pronounced exactly the same. At that time, my mother's expression changed, but because she was still at Changchun Garden due to ceremonial protocol, I did not notice it immediately."

"After I brought her back to the palace, gradually, through nanny Zhou, I learned that she and nanny Wu Ya both believed that I had usurped the throne from the fourteenth prince, and that the old master was too ill to choose me, this... heartless and ungrateful individual."

Geng Shuning: "..." For the first time, she was so dumbfounded by someone, with too many points to criticize, there was no place to begin.

Yinzhen even calmly analyzed, "Fortunately, my father was still living. If he had died when I ascended the throne... perhaps my mother would have gone insane right in the palace, and I would not have been surprised at all."

Geng Shuning was even more: "..." It must be said, Fourth Master, you hit the nail on the head!!