Chapter 119

Chapter 119

After finishing her meal, Geng Shuning did not rest immediately, instead waiting for Yinzhen.

The forced march to Ulan Butong would take just ten days, and she found it impossible to sleep.

About her earlier agreement with Yun Ti, it would be better to come clean on her own. If Yinzhen were to find out from someone else, given how he is, even if he didn't get furious, he would surely send her back to the capital.

But whether Yinzhen trusted her or not, she couldn't leave.

She didn't know much about warfare to begin with, and without up-to-date information, even with knowledge of the official history, it wouldn't help.

Emperor Kangxi waged three campaigns against the Dzungars, ultimately driving Galdan to take his own life by the Yantu River, dealing a heavy blow to the Dzungars and pushing them back to the northwest desert, keeping them subdued for nearly ten years.

Although Yinzhen took the throne earlier than recorded in official history, Tsewang Rabtan expanded northward into Tibet and southward into the northern desert, seeking to unify Mongolia and Tibet, making Ili his capital, aspiring to become the emperor of the Mongol Empire. He moved quickly.

This hit Fourth Master right in the ego.

In history, the old master had picked Yun Ti as the general, using his military skills to thoroughly crush the Dzungars, almost obliterating their stronghold.

Had Yun Ti not been called back to the capital and locked up, his troops might have pushed all the way to Ili, and the Dzungars might have been history by then.

Later, because of Yinzhen's excessive caution and worry, involving himself in everything and being too suspicious, the Dzungars kept pretending to surrender and playing weak, ending in a crushing defeat at Hoton Nor, the most disastrous battle since the founding of the Qing Dynasty.

According to unofficial histories, after this battle, almost every household in the capital's Eight Banners hung white banners, forcing the Qing Dynasty to shift from offense to defense, a humiliation that wasn't resolved until the Qianlong era, an utter disgrace.

*

The more she recalled, the more serious Geng Shuning's expression became.

When Yinzhen finished discussing matters with Princess Gulun Chunxiao's consort, Tseren, and the Qing generals, he walked around to the back and saw Geng Shuning leaning by the small window, looking deeply troubled.

He couldn't help but recall the words Geng Shuning had spoken during their argument earlier in the day, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart, realizing that she had indeed suffered much because of him.

He knew how wild the little fox's heart was, and her many astonishing talents. If not by his side, the entire Qing Dynasty would become her sky to soar freely.

It was precisely for this reason that he found himself increasingly unable to resist indulging her, willing to support her in any endeavor, as long as it wasn't a dead end.

But even a caged little fox could be unhappy, and yet he could no longer let her go.

Yinzhen silently sat behind Geng Shuning, gently pulling her soft body into his arms. "I spoke wrongly earlier today. Ning'er, keep this debt for me... for me to remember. When we return to the capital, you can settle the score with me, alright?"

Geng Shuning's heart stirred slightly. The scoundrel was speaking as her boyfriend, which made her nose tingle again.

She asked hoarsely, "Can I settle the score however I want?"

"However you want. It's my fault for keeping you confined in the palace, I owe you much..." Yinzhen kissed her hairline, giving her an exceptionally clear promise.

But this promise only amplified the three parts of grievance she had feigned earlier into ten, making her eyes redden once more.

When someone understands your grievances and cherishes them, it always makes one feel a bit more delicate.

She lifted the curtain, sticking her head out, trying hard to blink away the moisture in her eyes.

This kind of genuine sentimentality was something she didn't want others to see, but her voice softened nonetheless.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to ask me why I went to see the Fourteenth Prince?"

Yinzhen's arm around her tightened, pausing for a few breaths before he sighed lightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"If you want to tell me, I'll listen. If you don't, I won't probe anymore."

Geng Shuning sniffled softly and abruptly turned to face Yinzhen.

"Aren't you worried I'm involved with the fourteenth prince?"

Yinzhen was momentarily speechless, his expression puzzled as he gently stroked the back of Geng Shuning's head, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face.

"You're the craftiest one, you rascal. I can't fathom how you can be so surprisingly naive at times."

"You said you wouldn't be a concubine, wouldn't share a husband with others. What could possibly tempt you in the fourteenth prince's inner court?"

Geng Shuning: "..." Isn't that a little too harsh?

He cupped Geng Shuning's face earnestly: "You can question whether I trust you enough, but Ning'er, you can't think the person you love is a fool, can you?"

Geng Shuning: "..." She's the one who's foolish.

She puffed out her cheeks, wrapped her arms around Yinzhen's waist, and leaned in with a muffled voice.

"Can't you just admit you trust me?" After a pause, she asked again—

"Did you send the secret guards to follow me just to keep me safe?"

Yinzhen's tone was calm, "If I wanted to have you watched, I'd know exactly how many words you exchanged with Yun Ti. Why would I be upset?"

Geng Shuning sat up straight and glared, "Do you not trust me?"

Yinzhen's expression grew even calmer: "I trust you, but that doesn't mean I won't feel jealous when you're close to other men. You said it yourself—I'm not broad-minded when it comes to you, and that's true."

Geng Shuning pressed her lips together, unable to suppress the smile in her eyes. What kind of magic potion did this man drink?

After being so awkward, how did he suddenly become so eloquent?

She took a deep breath: "Then, my lord, what if I meddle in court politics?"

Yinzhen thought for a moment, "My rule is, don't keep anything from me."

He wasn't as wary of the inner court interfering in politics as his father was. He only cared about whether the outcome was beneficial to the empire.

"I trust you wouldn't do anything to harm the Qing Empire, but the court isn't as simple as you think. If outsiders found out, you'd be in serious danger."

Geng Shuning asked softly again: "What if I hide things from you for your sake and the Qing Dynasty's, and telling you would only make you worry?"

Yinzhen sensed something subtle and simply pulled Geng Shuning onto his lap, pressing his forehead against hers, his gaze probing deeply.

When Geng Shuning felt uncomfortable and tried to push him away, he chuckled, his face showing a hint of the emperor's pride.

"I'm not as fragile as you think. I'd rather control all unfavorable factors than be blindly protected by you."

"Ning'er, I am the ruler of the Qing Dynasty. Protecting the people and the empire is my duty. Just speak your mind, I can handle it."

This little fox really isn't one to beat around the bush.

Yinzhen was almost certain that regarding this battle, the little fox must have seen some unfavorable outcome in her dreams.

Finding Yun Ti, she probably discussed something related to this battle.

He felt anxious, his heart heavy, but he remained steady.

In this world, no father can outlast his son. The Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven, he didn't believe in fate, but rather in the principle that man can conquer nature.

However, as soon as Geng Shuning spoke, Yinzhen was profoundly shocked in a way he had never experienced before.

*

Geng Shuning said, "I didn't tell you the full truth before. In that dream of Zhuang Zhou, among other streams of time and memory, I might only remember fragments, but regarding the Qing Dynasty, I remember most of it."

It's hard not to remember, with TV dramas, novels, textbooks... the most detailed is the last feudal dynasty in history, anyone can casually comment on the Qing Dynasty.

The matter of time travel is too bizarre, she would never tell anyone, but the dream of Zhuang Zhou can be elaborated upon.

Since her boyfriend didn't disappoint her, she hugged Yinzhen's neck, leaned close to his ear, and almost whispered a bombshell.

"When I was in the Cining Palace, I was bedridden for several months, not just because of illness, but also out of terror."

"In the dream, I saw that the Qing Dynasty would not last three hundred years, pass through twelve emperors, become a colony of foreigners, causing over thirty years of blood and tears for our Chinese people, remembered in later generations."

Yinzhen suddenly hugged her tightly, with such force that Geng Shuning's face instantly turned pale, and she muffled a groan with her hand over her mouth.

What she said today must not be leaked.

*

Yinzhen obviously knew the seriousness, instinctively loosened his grip, quickly placed her on the soft daybed, and immediately stood up and walked out.

"Su Peisheng, tell everyone to step back ten steps!"

"Zhao Song, go tell Lin Fu to surround the imperial carriage, no one is allowed within a mile radius!"

Su Peisheng and Zhao Song didn't dare to ask more, the master's voice was so tense it made them anxious, fearing something big had happened, they quickly complied and cleared the area around the imperial carriage.

Yinzhen returned, looking at Geng Shuning who was grimacing and rubbing her waist, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to ask first, silently turned back, and fetched some medicinal oil.

"I was too shocked just now, I hurt you, keep this in mind, let me apply some medicine for you first, okay?"

Geng Shuning wasn't angry, even somewhat pleased.

A normal person hearing what she just said would most likely think they met a lunatic, or someone who had lost their will to live.

Yinzhen was so shocked he didn't even stutter, indicating he fully believed her words.

This trust made her restless heart feel like it had anchored in the right harbor, very comforting.

She obediently let Yinzhen apply the medicine, neither of them had any romantic thoughts, quickly tidied up, and lay down behind the curtains.

Yinzhen had calmed down and asked the most crucial question: "Was the beginning of the Qing Dynasty's decline this battle?"

Actually, he couldn't say he completely trusted Geng Shuning, it wasn't in his nature.

But all of Geng Shuning's previous actions proved she indeed had something extraordinary, especially this expedition, she had been acting strangely from the start, though she thought she hid it well.

The closer to the battlefield, the more restless the little fox became, couldn't sleep well at night, waking up in a panic, tossing and turning for a long time before falling asleep.

Most importantly, she always took his pillow, curled up hugging it to sleep, couldn't even be pried away.

Yinzhen privately asked Qiao He, who also didn't know, only said it was a sign of insecurity, which made him even more meticulous in having people care for her, otherwise Lin Fu wouldn't have noticed her meeting with Yun Ti in time.

Lin Fu also reported: "Sui Ning's complexion is still normal, but the Fourteenth Prince seems unsettled, almost missed the stirrup while mounting the horse."

Yun Ti had been riding horses since he was six, as steady as walking on level ground, hadn't used stirrups to mount since he was thirteen, let alone miss one.

All signs indicated that the little fox was struggling, afraid that telling the truth would make him see her as a monster, risking her life.

He hugged Geng Shuning who was lying in front of him and assured, "Whatever you know, you can tell me, I can also swear by the fate of the Qing Dynasty and the throne, no matter what you tell me, I will never harm you in the slightest."

Geng Shuning softly hummed in acknowledgment and quietly voiced the thoughts she had prepared in her mind.

"Whether it's related to this battle, I can't say for sure. I really don't understand warfare." The history here is different, and she couldn't confirm either.

"But... the Dzungars were not destroyed until the next dynasty. The prolonged tug-of-war with them drained an immeasurable amount of energy and resources from the Qing Dynasty, causing suffering to the people. It also led the next emperor to become arrogant and complacent in his later years, with each generation worse than the last..."

A flash of killing intent appeared in Yinzhen's eyes: "Who is the next emperor?"

Geng Shuning hesitated for a moment, then quietly raised her head, "I'm not entirely sure either. I only dreamed of the era name being Qianlong. In my dream, Your Majesty hasn't ascended the throne yet."

She was wary of Consort Xi and the third prince, but she wouldn't conflate Niohuru Shi and Qianlong with them, as the timelines didn't match.

But some things could still be said.

"However, I clearly remember that in my dream, you were old and reckless, neglecting your health, working tirelessly, and only reigned for a short thirteen years before collapsing in front of the imperial desk."

Yinzhen's body stiffened for a moment: "..."

Now he understood why Geng Shuning had been so insistent on making sure he ate on time and always had the Imperial Physician check his pulse.

He took a deep breath: "Are you saying that my imperial expedition won the battle but didn't cripple the Dzungars?"

Geng Shuning: "I really don't know about that, but I've already told the fourteenth prince, and I also shared some... less honorable tactics for winning battles."

Like forging imperial edicts, for example. She couldn't help but secretly cover her bottom, hesitating whether to reveal everything, feeling her backside wasn't entirely safe.

Yinzhen didn't bother to dwell on the subtlety in her tone and pressed on: "What else do you know about this battle and the Dzungars?"

Geng Shuning hesitated even more, "Because Your Majesty micromanaged every detail of the war... the soldiers were constrained, and in their eagerness for merit, they acted rashly. The Qing Dynasty once suffered a devastating defeat against the Dzungars at Hetongbo, leaving a stain in history. Does that count?"

Yinzhen almost couldn't catch his breath, his head buzzing.

He wasn't afraid of being criticized to his face, but if his name was tarnished in the history books, it would mean he had failed as an emperor. That was beyond what he could bear.

Geng Shuning quickly tried to soothe her boyfriend, speaking softly, "Most emperors have both merits and faults, after all."

"In my dream, there were also historical records stating that you implemented a series of new policies, resolved the issue of southwestern chieftains' separatism, and extended the Qing Dynasty's lifespan by two hundred years!"

With a *crack*, Yinzhen crushed the ring in his hand, his face ashen. This flattery had backfired spectacularly.

Did future generations believe the Qing Dynasty was destined to last less than a hundred years?

How much of that was his fault?

Suppressing the bitterness in his throat, he forced himself to remain calm and asked, "Tell me more about what mistakes I made and what new policies I implemented. Take your time, don't leave anything out..."

*

That night, neither of them slept well.

Geng Shuning was exhausted but was kept awake by her boyfriend's relentless questioning about things she couldn't elaborate on due to timeline discrepancies.

As for Yinzhen, knowing the fate of the Qing Dynasty and his own role in it was not something easy to accept.

Of course, he didn't believe everything Geng Shuning said.

Her dream of Zhuang Zhou was too far-reaching and too sensational.

Geng Shuning simply said, "Not only do you not believe it, but I've also been doubting whether that dream of mine was just a nightmare or if the immortals, moved by the suffering of the people and considering my merits across lifetimes, gave me a special warning."

"So, don't blame me for being bold. I did something that I can't tell you about now. If the dream is true, you'll find out eventually. If it's just my paranoia... I'll tell you then, and I'll accept whatever punishment you give me."

In the past, with Yinzhen's controlling nature, knowing that this matter was of great importance and the answer was right before his eyes, he would have used every means to figure it out.

But Yinzhen sat up all night, watching Geng Shuning as she fell asleep clutching a pillow, the candlelight highlighting the dark circles under her eyes, waking up several times uneasily and then falling back asleep. He didn't ask.

He didn't dare to ask, afraid that he couldn't resist interfering, and also wanting to know, that dream... how much of it was true, how much was false.

If it were true, no matter how difficult it was for him, he would use his own life to extend the Qing Dynasty's reign for several hundred more years!

*

After Geng Shuning opened up about the matter, she was relieved of a huge burden and became much more cheerful than when they first set out.

The last attempt, the argument, the honesty, made her completely let go of all the unease in her heart, settling down, and she spent her days trying various ways to nourish the busy Yinzhen.

Meanwhile, the Anbei General of Guihua City, Aisin Gioro Yanxin, received the imperial decree and rushed from Guihua to Ulan Butong, where he and Borjigit Tseling listened to orders before the emperor.

After days of deliberation with Zhang Tingyu, Chen Tingjing, and others, Yinzhen finally decided on the battle plan upon arriving at Ulan Butong.

Breaking from his earlier plans, he withdrew the decision to have the general report the battle situation to the emperor at any time, only ordering Lin Fu to send out some secret guards to monitor the battlefield situation.

At the same time, Nian Gengyao reported the movements of Tsewang Rabtan.

They were not only sending troops from Hotan but also splitting their forces into two, one part heading towards Qinghai from Hotan, and the other towards Ulan Butong.

Ulan Butong, located at a crucial point between Tibet and Northern Mongolia, is only seven hundred miles from the capital. With a surprise attack, they could reach the capital in just five days.

This area, once seized by the Dzungars, was later reclaimed by Emperor Kangxi.

Now Tsewang Rabtan wanted to use his knowledge of Ulan Butong to ambush the imperial carriage, strike the morale of the Qing Dynasty, and capture the most important areas of Northern Mongolia including Ulan Butong and Chahar in one fell swoop, engaging the Qing Dynasty in a prolonged war.

In mid-August, Yinzhen ordered the division of a hundred thousand troops, including those stationed north of Shengjing, into three routes.

By the end of August, the eastern route, led by General Sabusu of Heilongjiang with fifty thousand troops, set to ambush Tsewang Rabtan's forces north of Ulan Butong.

Come early September, Yun Ti took command of the western front in Qinghai, with Zeng Shou and Nian Gengyao commanding thirty thousand troops, setting out from Ningxia heading north, aiming to capture Hotan, attack Ili, and force Tsewang Rabtan to flee south.

The central route, led by Yanxin and Tseling with twenty thousand soldiers, directly targeted the Dzungar stronghold, aiming to capture the ten thousand troops led by Tseling.

Tseling, unable to withstand the assault, quickly abandoned his horses, scattering the remaining eight thousand cavalry into smaller groups, lurking in the snowy expanses, occasionally raiding smaller tribes in Northern Mongolia for provisions.

By mid-October, heavy snow fell in Northern Mongolia, and the Dzungars and the Qing Dynasty clashed dozens of times, each with victories and defeats, but never engaging in a direct confrontation.

The Dzungars were busy preparing winter provisions, and many Qing soldiers, unaccustomed to the harsh cold, fell ill.

Both sides paused their offensives, with Tsewang Rabtan hiding in Tibet and Tseling's whereabouts unknown.

Yanxin and Tseling marshaled their troops to protect the imperial carriage, moving north to station at Ulan Butong, a pivotal Central Asian trade hub once occupied by the Dzungars.

Yinzhen understood that this temporary peace would last no longer than the year's end.

After the New Year, at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when the Dzungars' provisions were most scarce, the Qing Dynasty was different.

Following the promotion of imperial rice and wheat, reports of a bountiful harvest had been coming in since September, significantly lifting the spirits of the Qing troops.

The overlooked beans, yielding as much as imperial rice and equally nourishing, also brought many surprises to the soldiers on the expedition.

Due to the selection of talents and new policies, the Ministry of Revenue was not short of silver, and the Imperial Household Department was not short of manpower. Provisions and medicines suitable for warfare were well prepared and continuously sent to Ulan Butong and Qinghai.

As long as the Qing soldiers adapted to the cold environment, the Dzungars were bound to lose this battle.

If Tsewang Rabtan did not want to sit idly by and wait for death within the Qing's encirclement, he would inevitably lead his troops in a desperate fight.

Yinzhen ordered the army to report the battle situation and the soldiers' training status to the emperor every three days.

This move was not to interfere with the military layout; he just wanted to know as soon as possible what bold move his little fox had made.

Geng Shuning informed Yinzhen she'd confirm it once major battles commenced.

Neither she nor Yinzhen expected that just as they entered the twelfth month, with the Dzungars still quiet, the secret guards dispatched by Nian Gengyao's office returned with news.