Chapter 112

Chapter 112

In the official history, after Yinzhen ascended the throne, Lady Uya, who was posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Renshou by her own son, gave the Eighth Prince's faction and court officials who were at odds with Emperor Yongzheng an opportunity to attack him for his illegitimate ascension with the statement, "It was not what I had dreamed of, for my son to inherit the throne."

Now, her boyfriend, who seems to have been blessed by the heavens, calmly and sorrowfully analyzes the situation without missing a beat, making Geng Shuning feel... a bit heartbroken.

How to put it?

Yinzhen has always been the type to speak succinctly and bluntly, often leaving others speechless, and being a prince... honestly, Geng Shuning thinks he had a bit of a "youthful angst literature" vibe when he was young.

Even though he wasn't loved by his father or mother, Yinzhen was at least the adopted son of the Imperial Noble Consort, and his birth mother was favored, so the palace servants dared not neglect him. He was raised in luxury and privilege, and no one dared to give him setbacks to help him grow.

Under such circumstances, the biggest setback he faced came from his birth mother, whom he had high hopes for. Being a child, he spoke without restraint... It's not that he was without fault, but it's understandable.

As for the Empress Dowager, listening to her, Geng Shuning feels she is even more like a spoiled child than Yinzhen.

This is not hard to understand. The Empress Dowager was the only consort of Emperor Kangxi who was not a selected palace maid.

She entered the palace at fifteen, gave birth at eighteen and was granted the title of Noble Lady, became a Concubine at twenty, and was promoted to Consort at twenty-two. Her rapid rise in the Kangxi era was like a rocket, making her the center of attention.

Before entering the palace, as a lady of the Uya clan, she was pampered at home. Although she entered the palace through a minor selection due to her status as a bondservant, the Uya clan had considerable influence in the Imperial Household Department, so she didn't suffer much.

After gaining Emperor Kangxi's favor, coupled with her own cunning and occasional emotional intelligence, she suffered even less.

Such a woman, raised in a greenhouse, is naturally self-centered. When things don't go her way, she blames everyone else, as if the whole world has wronged her.

*

Yinzhen made a mistake, and even though Consort De repeatedly refused to raise him, he still had to endure all the grievances and treat his birth mother with respect.

Even though Lady Uya hurt him repeatedly, he had to maintain a facade of peace, or else he would be deemed unfilial.

And what did the Empress Dowager do for Yinzhen?

As a low-ranking consort, under the strict palace rules of the Qing Dynasty, she couldn't raise her own son. It was her own choice to use connections to enter the Chengqian Palace.

Even if Empress Dowager Xiaoyi hadn't raised Yinzhen, it wouldn't have been her.

Because her son refused to be her spy in the Chengqian Palace, she treated him like an enemy.

Even after Yinzhen ascended the throne, there was little pretense of affection. She used Yun Ti as a barometer, judging everything based on her whims.

But Yun Ti didn't even feel wronged. Was she really concerned about her younger son, or was she using this to vent her dissatisfaction with Yinzhen?

Geng Shuning asked Yinzhen, "Did she treat the Ula Nara clan and Consort Qi the same way?"

She suddenly remembered some unofficial histories that claimed Consort De chose Han military banners for her sons as a way to express her dissatisfaction with them.

She was also said to have been harsh towards the Fourth Prince's consort from the Manchu Eight Banners, which led to the consort's early death due to depression.

Yinzhen remained silent for a long time, and the answer was self-evident.

Su Peisheng quietly entered to light the candles, glancing hesitantly at them. Seeing Geng Shuning wave him off, he sighed softly and went back to guard outside.

Su Peisheng, who had served Yinzhen since childhood, also knew how much his master had suffered.

When Yinzhen spoke again, his voice was hoarse: "It was my fault..."

Geng Shuning impatiently pinched his cheek: "There should be limits to making amends. Are you sure the Empress Dowager isn't becoming more and more excessive because of your endless concessions?"

Yinzhen was stunned for a moment, then reached out to hold Geng Shuning's hand. "The Emperor also said something similar to me."

It's just that Emperor Kangxi wouldn't say it so explicitly.

After all, the Empress Dowager had borne his children and was a woman he had particularly favored, with lingering affection between them.

Emperor Kangxi only advised Yinzhen that some words between close relatives should not be kept hidden in the heart; if hidden for too long, they would turn into a thorn that could never be pulled out.

Geng Shuning understood and said, "So the old man is indeed wiser than you, huh?"

Before Yinzhen could glare at her, Geng Shuning shook his hand and asked again, "The Empress Dowager used to like me a lot, but it seems that since I left the palace, she has changed her attitude towards me."

"I guess it's because at that time, she started to realize you had feelings for me, right?"

She took Yinzhen's hand as if it were her own, propping it on her face, leaning against his side, and continued to speculate.

"If anyone would tell the Empress Dowager, Consort Xi is one, and Ula Nara clan is another, they led the Empress Dowager to believe that the Emperor, for my sake, wanted to follow the path of Tong Gui Taifei, which made her dislike me even more."

The Empress Dowager was particularly concerned about others saying she sold her son for glory, and she despised Tong Siya. Yet, due to her long-standing image of gentleness and intelligence, she couldn't say anything, and it's no wonder she became twisted after bottling it up for so long.

"Later, when I followed you south, it seemed like I was going to follow the path of Donggo Shi, and I ended up winning the favor of the Grand Empress Dowager, which made the Empress Dowager, who couldn't gain the Grand Empress Dowager's favor, even more jealous and resentful."

Not to mention, Yi Taifei openly spoke for her, so it's safe to say that Geng Shuning had almost stepped on all the Empress Dowager's sore points. Who else would the Empress Dowager go after if not her?

If Geng Shuning, supported by the Grand Empress Dowager and Yi Taifei, were to be granted a high position, the Empress Dowager would be reminded of Empress Dowager Xiaoyi, who once overshadowed her, and seeing Yinzhen would remind her of her own 'shameful' past...

Yun Ti is no longer involved; he is doing well as the Great General King in Qinghai. The Empress Dowager has gone mad for her own reasons.

Yinzhen: "..." The little fox has covered it all, and he has nothing to add.

But Geng Shuning does.

She looked up at Yinzhen with a smile, "Moreover, I also did not enter the palace through the selection process. But if I were to be granted a high position, even become the Empress, it would turn her past favor into a joke and her current position as Empress Dowager would become gossip fodder."

What the Empress Dowager prides herself on the most is her past favor, and what she cannot let go of is that she is not the Empress Dowager, but merely the Empress Dowager.

If Geng Shuning becomes an exception, and with the Grand Empress Dowager pressing down, the poor Empress Dowager can't even lose her mind, tsk tsk~ just a little twist, no biggie, right?

Yinzhen became even more helpless, "I had requested the title of Empress Dowager for my mother, but my father had declared early on that he would not appoint another Empress, which is why Empress Dowager Xiaoyi and Wenxi Guifei would..."

If the title of Empress Dowager were to be granted now, both Tong Siya and Niohuru Shi would lose their minds.

Currently, the Empress Dowager is the most esteemed woman after the Grand Empress Dowager. After Emperor Kangxi's hundredth year, Yinzhen could also grant her the title of Empress Dowager. After careful consideration, Emperor Kangxi would never agree to grant the title of Empress Dowager.

Yinzhen firmly held Geng Shuning's hand, "I will not let my mother continue like this. Yun Tao will keep tabs on the Imperial Household Department. The spies my mother controls aren't limited to just these few; it will take time to investigate slowly."

"After the investigation is clear, I will order the release of a group of people from the Imperial Household Department to retire from palace service during the Grand Empress Dowager's Thousand Autumns Festival, to amass blessings for her."

"Once all the spies my mother can use are removed, I will ask my father to have her reside permanently in Changchun Garden. After that, she won't be able to harm you anymore."

Don't blame him for passing the buck to the old man.

Due to filial piety, even knowing what the Empress Dowager has done, Yinzhen indeed can't do much. Whose wife it is, let the husband deal with it; as a son, he can't do anything.

Geng Shuning: "..." It's clear they're cut from the same cloth.

She lifted her face from Yinzhen's palm, leaned close to the corner of his mouth, and gently kissed him, "If she can't do anything to me, what about the harm she's done to you? Just let it go?"

"What if the old man... in the future, she enters the palace again to trouble our couple? Will you still choose to give in?"

Yinzhen fell silent again, this time for a shorter period.

He was no longer the sensitive and sharp child who longed for his mother's love; he was now the ruler of the Qing Dynasty, and no one could harm him anymore.

So he simply smiled faintly, leaned down to kiss Geng Shuning on her lips, gently nuzzled her, and was incredibly tender.

"Don't worry, thanks to Ning'er's care, the Emperor is in good health, and I won't always be swamped with court and border troubles."

"Once the Dzungar problem is settled and the court is cleaned up, I will have the time to make my mother understand that no one is more suitable to be the emperor than me, and she cannot do as she pleases."

There are many ways to control the Empress Dowager, such as the Uya clan, the tenth prince, and the glory she enjoyed during her lifetime... As long as Yinzhen is determined, he can eventually make the Empress Dowager behave.

But now Yinzhen has more important matters to attend to.

His previous moves were already bold, and this year's selection of concubines was quite different from before, leaving the court on edge like startled birds. It's not the right time for any big moves now.

And Yun Ti is far away in Qinghai, crucial in the fight against the Dzungars.

Previously, Yinzhen wanted to call Yun Ti back to the capital, but due to ongoing minor disturbances from the Dzungars and the defection of some troops led by Gali, Yun Ti couldn't return. Now it's even less appropriate to move him.

As the emperor, Yinzhen can handle temporary setbacks and wait for the right time.

He just doesn't want his little fox to be scared and anxious.

After saying what needed to be said, Yinzhen felt a great weight lifted from his heart and smiled more freely.

Yinzhen pulled Geng Shuning up and said with a smile, "Let's have dinner first. I'm fine, and you don't need to be upset. Just be careful not to be alone, and I'll protect you."

Geng Shuning thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Your Majesty's word is as good as gold. I naturally feel safe entrusting my safety to you."

This made Yinzhen feel even better. Before, the little fox was reluctant to let him protect her, but now she finally agreed.

This even boosted Yinzhen's appetite.

*

During the late spring chill, the weather was unpredictable. The day was filled with constant cold winds, and the temperature suddenly dropped. So Geng Shuning decided to serve a hot pot with fish and lamb.

It was flavored with peppercorn oil and evodia oil, and the spicy taste floated in the milky white broth, enhancing the appetizing aroma.

Thinly sliced lamb rolls, marinated beef, and fish slices as thin as cicada wings, along with various greens warmed on the kang, old tofu, and fried dough twists... were all dipped into the pot. Before he knew it, Yinzhen had eaten until he was full.

Only when he noticed that the dragon-patterned belt was a bit tight did Yinzhen feel slightly embarrassed and put down his chopsticks, ordering Su Peisheng to bring some digestive tea.

Geng Shuning, however, didn't eat much. She felt a vague ache in her heart, unsure whether it was heartache for Yinzhen or empathy for his situation.

She deeply understood the feeling of not being favored, even being abandoned.

Although she wasn't as unfortunate as Yinzhen, in her previous life, she was always being abandoned and losing things.

That's why she idolized Fourth Master, striving desperately, never believing in emotions, only in the bright life brought by career and money.

She also wanted everyone to see that she could live better than most people, better than... the grandson her parents and grandmother had hoped for.

She had always cared about her grievances, allowing herself to be willful, reckless, stubborn, and even sentimental because of them. But this man... he had no other way to deal with things except to swallow his pain.

Once, a colleague warned her that feeling sorry for a man was the beginning of a woman's misfortune.

But when Yinzhen kissed her so tenderly on the corner of her lips and comforted her gently, without mentioning the sadness and desolation in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in her heart.

Alright, feeling sorry for her man was nothing to be ashamed of.

If this scoundrel dared to make her unhappy, she would make sure he couldn't perform!

After coming to a realization, seeing Yinzhen rubbing his stomach and sitting awkwardly beside her drinking digestive tea, she felt both a pang of heartache and the urge to laugh.

But she truly wasn’t the type to comfort others, fearing that her words might come off as harsh, she instinctively averted her gaze, looking towards the window that was opened to air out the room.

Suddenly, she noticed a few strands of snow-white falling outside the window. Geng Shuning’s eyes widened, and she quickly got up and walked to the window.

In mid-March, it was snowing again? It really is the Little Ice Age!

Yinzhen was startled by her abrupt movement, "What—"

Before he could finish, Geng Shuning ran over, pulled him up, and started heading outside, "It’s snowing outside, come on, come on, I’ll accompany Your Majesty for a walk!"

A little romance in the snow, and hearing her constant expressions of love, should be enough to comfort this dog-like boyfriend, right?

She turned her head and smiled brightly at Yinzhen, who was reluctant to be pulled along, "Shall I accompany you to listen to the snow?"

Yinzhen: "..." You say, who is accompanying whom?

Having just finished the hot pot and still sweating, going for a walk in the snow now would surely lead to catching a cold!

*

Normally, with Yinzhen’s temperament, he would have nagged Geng Shuning until she banged her head against him, admitting she was wrong.

But today, for some reason, Yinzhen didn’t feel like scolding, and let her excitedly call for a cloak and rush out the door for a walk in this rare snowy night.

Honestly... acting on impulse, it’s really hard to have any romance.

After all, it was already late spring, even if the weather was abnormal, it wouldn’t be a heavy snowfall.

The snowflakes, like grains of salt, didn’t last long before turning into a light drizzle.

Apart from the cold, dampness, and strong wind, there was no romance, just sleet that couldn’t be blocked by an umbrella, splattering their faces.

They hadn’t walked more than a mile before they sheepishly returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, washed up, and sat facing each other drinking ginger soup.

Yinzhen’s mood actually improved at this moment, as he teased Geng Shuning, "Ning’er, did you hear the sound of the snow? I heard it, howling so loudly it hurts my ears."

Geng Shuning glared at him, "That’s the northwest wind; are you frozen silly or just getting old and confused?"

Su Peisheng and Qingfang: "..."

Forget it, their hearts really couldn’t take this kind of dialogue; better to go out and guard, lest they see something they shouldn’t.

When there was no one left in the hall, Yinzhen leisurely set down the broken white jade porcelain bowl of ginger soup, stretched out his long arm to move her onto his lap.

Geng Shuning also set down her bowl, giggling and dodging.

"Master, spare me; we’re both stuffed. You should conserve your energy, or you’ll age faster, haha~"

Yinzhen gritted his teeth, silently stood up, ready to show her his youthful vigor from the wrestling arena.

This little rascal, if not disciplined for a day, would tear the roof off.

Su Peisheng and Qingfang were guarding outside, and not long after, they heard the familiar, ambiguous sounds from inside.

This wasn’t strange; what was strange was that the moaning and panting inside didn’t last the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before abruptly stopping, with no further movement.

Su Peisheng was stunned. What, their master... was he too tired from last night, underperforming today?

Qingfang was also hesitant, having just made a mistake at noon. Should she go in to serve now, or wait a bit longer?

While the two of them were outside, giving each other the side-eye and silently cursing, there was nothing steamy going on inside.

Yinzhen and Geng Shuning were still decently dressed, one sitting and the other standing, narrowing their eyes at each other with a mix of danger and subtlety, then they both blurted out at the same time—

"What did you just say?"

"Do you need my help, Your Highness?"

Huh?

Yinzhen sneered, this little brat really needs to be taught a lesson!

Just as Su Peisheng and Qingfang were about to bring in some water, before they could even say a word, they heard even louder noises coming from inside.

The two of them were like, "..." Is this how married couples usually act?