Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Yun Ti was momentarily dazed upon hearing the Empress Dowager's question, as if lost in thought.

Of course, he remembered.

If it weren't for remembering this incident, he wouldn't have harbored dissatisfaction after his elder brother ascended the throne, unable to truly accept his brother's authority and unable to suppress his own ambitions.

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Back then, the Uya clan spared no effort to have me enter the palace to serve the late emperor. I've told you before, it was because an eminent monk told your grandfather that I had the destiny of a phoenix. The child I bore, named 'Zhen,' would be of unparalleled nobility, destined for greatness."

"The monk didn't specify which character, and at first, I thought it referred to your fourth brother. But he turned his back on us, showing no regard for the bond between mother and son or between brothers, shamelessly currying favor with the Tong family, causing us so much suffering over the years!"

Before Yinzhen ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager had never told anyone about this, and those in the Uya clan who knew kept their mouths tightly shut, even in their dreams, never letting it slip.

Because even the most foolish person understood that if this matter were known, her position in the palace would become untenable, and it would involve a struggle for the throne with the crown prince. If discovered, it would mean certain death.

Yinzhen's birth was entirely ordinary, but when Yun Ti was born, there was thunder and lightning, howling winds, and the birth was exceptionally difficult, making it clear that this child was special.

Yet, after this child was born, he only cried a few times before opening his eyes. Hearing the terrifying commotion outside, he instead smiled, clearly unusual.

She was convinced that Yun Ti was the child the eminent monk had spoken of, the one of unparalleled nobility, destined for greatness. Compared to Yinzhen, the unfilial son she could raise herself, Yun Ti naturally held her favor.

From the very beginning, the Empress Dowager had given up on Yinzhen, doing everything she could to have the late emperor choose the character "Zhen" as the name for her fourteenth son, believing it would bring him good fortune.

To the outside world, the Empress Dowager claimed it was due to lingering fear from Yinzhen's death, insisting on a name that symbolized auspiciousness to protect her youngest son's life and ensure his longevity.

This character had no connection to the empire, and Emperor Kangxi didn't pay it much mind, especially after the crown prince was established. The taboos surrounding the characters "Zhen" and "Zhen" became less significant, so he agreed.

Even Yun Ti initially thought his name was a sign of his mother's affection for him, until he was ten years old and accompanied Emperor Kangxi on a northern tour to Shengjing to pay respects to Emperor Taizong.

Yun Ti had been doted on by Emperor Kangxi since childhood, and his personality was particularly wild, often sneaking out of the palace to explore. He once sneaked out of the Shengjing imperial palace with a young eunuch to go "incognito," where he encountered an old monk.

The old monk looked at him with great astonishment and insisted on pulling him into a dead-end alley to speak, causing the accompanying eunuch to nearly think the old monk was a kidnapper and call for help.

Yun Ti clearly remembered, amidst his own wariness, the old monk chuckled and shook his head. With a speed too fast to react, he lightly tapped twice, and the eunuch fainted.

Even with Yun Ti's boldness, he was still a child and was so frightened he nearly burst into tears, but the old monk, perhaps fearing to draw attention, seeing him on the verge of tears, did not approach further. Instead, he left a few words with a sense of helplessness, saying—

"Young master, you possess an aura of nobility, a destiny of unparalleled greatness, but I foresee strife among brothers, where one's gain is another's loss, eroding the blessings of your lineage."

"If you wish to preserve your destiny, you must understand it, follow it, and cherish it, and do not act impulsively, for if you lose your way, sudden calamity may arise."

"This humble monk has a karmic connection with your ancestors, and I offer you six true words at the cost of my own lifespan. Do not forget them, do not forget them!"

Afterward, the old monk chanted a Buddhist mantra, turned, and left, quickly disappearing into the crowd, leaving Yun Ti in a state of shock.

When Yun Ti returned to the northern tour group, he immediately told the nanny Zhou, who had been sent by the Empress Dowager to serve him, about the encounter with the old monk.

That nanny Zhou, now known as nanny Zhou, immediately sent people to search for the eminent monk, but they never found any trace of him, as if he had vanished into thin air.

After Yun Ti returned to the capital, the Empress Dowager had her father focus the search around Shengjing, putting great effort into it, but all they heard was that a wandering monk had passed away in the imperial temple in Shengjing two days after Yun Ti encountered the eminent monk.

*

Since he was just a wandering monk, it didn't attract much attention, but Uya Weiwu inquired about the appearance of the wandering monk and felt it somewhat resembled the eminent monk who had once appeared in the Uya clan. Not daring to stir up more trouble, he hurried back to the capital and reported the matter to the Empress Dowager, who was still known as Consort De at the time, and the matter was kept secret.

The Empress Dowager was both delighted and alarmed—delighted that her son indeed possessed the fate of an emperor, yet alarmed that her eldest son was a calamity.

She immediately silenced all those who knew the truth.

The young eunuch had long since met his end in a dry well, but Nanny Zhou, being still useful and tactful, had sent her family to be watched over by the Uya clan, allowing her to remain by the Empress Dowager's side to serve.

From then on, the Empress Dowager became even more convinced that Yinzhen had not only caused the death of her younger siblings but also stole Yun Ti's fate, sparing not even the youngest brother!

The Empress Dowager said in a hushed, urgent tone, "He harbors deep resentment toward me, his eyes only on that enchantress of the Geng clan, showing no mercy to his maternal family. Even I have been sent to the palace to be suppressed... Think about it, what compassion could he possibly have for you, his younger brother!"

"I had Consort Xi feed Consort Qi a fertility potion, secretly sending word to Consort Xi to catch her in an affair with her cousin, ruining her reputation. Now, with no son and the Li family in decline, she has no choice but to obey Consort Xi."

"Gua Jia, having given birth to the Duanhe Empress, finds herself in an awkward position at court and is not hard to win over. Gua Jia is a clever woman."

"Consort Xi is even more manageable. She drugged me, and I have kept both the witnesses and evidence. Once exposed, even if she manages to save her life, her and the third prince's future will be forever ruined."

"I fear that with time, if Niohuru Shi notices something amiss, there might be a mistake. Now is the perfect time for us to act!"

Yun Ti's heart pounded, his eyes widening in shock, and he blurted out, "Mother, are you planning to kill the Emperor?"

With the Emperor's current control over the court and the support of his father behind him, success would be difficult. If discovered, both he and his mother might not survive.

"This can't happen..." Yun Ti immediately protested.

The Empress Dowager patted Yun Ti's hand, "My son, do not worry. Your mother is not a fool and would not do something so foolish."

Even if that disloyal son were to die, there are still the third prince and the Fourth Prince.

Even without the two younger princes, the old man is still alive, and with so many sons and their considerable backing, it is uncertain whether Yun Ti could ascend the throne.

After serving Emperor Kangxi for so many years, she had come to deeply revere him and would not take reckless risks.

"We only need to ensure that that schemer of the Geng clan can no longer stay in the palace, forcing the Emperor to kill her himself... At the very least, she must die outside the palace. That disloyal son, consumed by desire, will surely be devastated and unable to focus on court affairs."

"We'll join forces with Consort Xi to make her son the Crown Prince, and let Niohuru Shi figure out how to deal with that disloyal son... Once the third prince ascends the throne, we can then control Consort Xi and establish you as the Regent."

With Yun Ti's current military achievements and the Emperor's father's past affection for him, as long as it does not threaten the throne and even benefits the empire, Emperor Kangxi will not oppose it.

Her eyes held a mix of calm and madness, "If Dorgon had not been manipulated by a woman, whether Emperor Shizong could have ascended the throne would have been uncertain."

"I know, Zhen'er, you won't be swayed by women. With proper planning, once the old man passes, it will be your time of unparalleled nobility!"

She had plenty of leverage over Niuheru Jingyi and had long made arrangements both inside and outside the palace.

Once Emperor Kangxi dies, with inside and outside coordination, eliminating a young child and a foolish woman would be simple.

What the Empress Dowager did not tell Yun Ti was that the eminent monk had predicted her fate was to rise like a phoenix, but Emperor Kangxi refused to make her Empress, and that disloyal son did not grant her the title of Empress Dowager, making her a laughingstock among the Beijing nobility, a great humiliation.

Luckily, she still had her younger son. With Yun Ti's filial piety, once he ascends the throne, she will surely become the Grand Empress Dowager, the most revered woman of the Qing Dynasty, immortalized in history!

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager's gaze at Yun Ti grew even more intense.

"I've already set things up inside the palace. Outside the palace, it is not yet time to alert the enemy. While you are still in Beijing awaiting your rewards, first find a way to kill Geng Jia De Jin, then tarnish the Geng clan's name. I will handle the rest."

"Once you return to Qinghai, quickly suppress Nian Gengyao and Zeng Shou, and take control of the military. When the time comes, immediately lead your troops back to the capital!"

Yun Ti was so taken aback by his mother's intensity that he instinctively stepped back, opening his mouth but finding himself at a loss for words.

It was undeniable that the future the Empress Dowager painted was indeed tempting, and the chances of success were not low. The allure of the throne was too great.

But... Yun Ti thought of the time he had met Geng Shuning on the hill, which at least helped him suppress his impulse and forced him to remain somewhat calm.

Dealing with Geng Shuning wasn't difficult; the hard part was ensuring she didn't discover any clues.

Because of that letter and Geng Shuning's prior knowledge of military matters, he was still alarmed by her keen awareness of information.

If Geng Shuning discovered the involvement of the Empress Dowager and himself behind the scenes, and whispered in the emperor's ear, the charge of fabricating an imperial decree would be a hidden danger.

Imperial power must not be coveted by others. No matter the reason, if an imperial prince dares to exercise the emperor's authority and uses an imperial decree to plan military achievements, it is not impossible for the emperor and his father to condemn him to eternal ruin.

Yun Ti frowned, deep in thought. He even began to question whether Geng Shuning had approached him because of his military prowess and his status as the emperor's brother, or if she had already been guarding against him and his mother.

"Zhen'er? Fourteen!" The Empress Dowager interrupted Yun Ti's distraction with displeasure, "Why are you still hesitating?"

"Even if you can stand to see your mother bullied by that unfilial son, are you willing to watch that beast steal your destiny and harm you eventually?"

Yun Ti remained silent for a moment, his expression grim, but he still shook his head with difficulty.

"Mother, this matter is not as simple as you think. The emperor has personally led a victorious campaign and implemented new policies that benefit the people, firmly securing his throne."

"Moreover, the extent of the emperor's secret service is unknown to all. His ruthlessness is clear to you, mother, and the emperor's father is equally unyielding. I am now a father myself and truly don't need to take this risk."

Seeing the Empress Dowager's face turn pale with anger, Yun Ti immediately knelt down, holding her hand and whispering words of advice.

"Mother, with my military achievements, I will eventually earn the title of Iron Hat Prince. The emperor's father... will also pass on someday."

"At that time, whether you want to leave the palace and live a carefree life with my support, or have me compel the emperor to make you Empress Dowager, it will be easier than taking such a risk. Please wait a little longer, alright? Your son promises not to let you endure this grievance forever."

The Empress Dowager abruptly withdrew her hand and glared coldly at Yun Ti.

"Wait? Wait until Aisin Gioro Yinzhen has full power and can confine me wherever he wishes?"

"Or wait until that vixen becomes empress and brings those detestable minions to flaunt their power before me?"

"Or wait until the emperor's father is gone, and the emperor has no more restraints, even if it means reducing your maternal family to commoners, no one would dare to comment?"

She was so angry that her chest heaved, glaring coldly at Yun Ti and scolding, "It seems I have raised you too naively!"

"How foolish must you be to place your hopes on that cold, heartless, and unfilial son!"

Yun Ti was scolded pale but still insisted.

"Mother, even if he has no affection for us, as long as he doesn't want to be impeached by the censors or cursed by history, the Qing Dynasty governs with filial piety. Once I establish myself firmly in Qinghai, I can make him dare not act rashly!"

The Empress Dowager gasped a few times, closed her eyes, and held her forehead, her face full of desolation.

After a while, she sighed heavily, opened her eyes, and nodded with a pale face.

"If you don't want to, then forget it. You've always had strong opinions since you were a child, and I can't force you. As long as you are well, even if I am laughed at to death, I can at least close my eyes in peace."

Yun Ti was moved, his eyes anxious, "Mother..."

"Alright, go back to the palace banquet. Your emperor father is still in the palace. During your time in the capital, serve well in front of your emperor father. At least leave some affection, which can also make your brother more wary of you."

"Go." The Empress Dowager waved her hand, got up, and headed to the bedroom, "I'm tired, I need to rest for a while."

*

After Yun Ti left, nanny Zhou sent Xu Chang to see him off and went into the bedroom to serve the Empress Dowager.

As she approached the bedroom door, she heard the sound of something breaking, which startled her.

She steeled herself and stepped inside, only to see the teapot and teacups by the bedside smashed to smithereens, and even the small table had been kicked over.

The Empress Dowager sat on the bed, her face twisted in fury, with several torn handkerchiefs at her feet.

Nanny Zhou didn’t dare call for help, so she quickly cleaned up the mess on the floor herself and brought fresh tea to serve.

"Your Majesty, please, you must calm down. No matter what, you must take care of your precious health..."

The Empress Dowager least wanted to hear the words 'precious health' and snapped, "Shut up! Do I need you to remind me?"

What precious health was she supposed to have? After all, she was just a concubine, aged and withered, and her husband wouldn’t spare her a glance anymore.

So what if her son became emperor? Since childhood, he had been breaking her heart over other women!

Empress Dowager Xiaoyi had been extraordinarily noble since she entered the palace, and taking her son away was as easy as a passing comment.

And her? She had been sweet and accommodating to the late emperor, but she was only a consort.

That woman had basked in every honor imaginable, and even in death, she was posthumously honored as empress the day before she died.

The few women who were at odds with her at least had filial sons, and their families could still support them, keeping their status intact.

Especially Guo Luoluo, who was still honored as a noble consort at such an old age. In contrast, she, the Empress Dowager with no rightful claim, was only equivalent to a noble consort and couldn’t even lead the silkworm ceremony.

Even if the old emperor died, she would still have to plead with that ungrateful son to make her the Empress Dowager.

If she died early, she could only be posthumously honored. Even if she lived long, she would have to live under her son’s favor, completely humiliating!

How could Lady Wu Ya, who had always believed she was destined for greatness and had been proud all her life, accept this!

The Empress Dowager, seething with anger, struggled to contain her frustration for a while before coldly calling Nanny Zhou over.

"Yun Ti is a fool, but I can’t just sit back and do nothing. You need to leave the palace in the next few days and take my edict to Bai Qi..."

Her son was too much of a fool, so she had to take matters into her own hands both inside and outside the palace.

For the sake of planning for Yun Ti, she had suffered so much humiliation over the years, making enemies left and right, and even her own family now subtly blamed her for being foolish.

Giving up now would be worse than dying!

When Yun Ti was pushed to that point, he would have no choice but to strive, and no one could stop the honor of Wu Ya Malu.

*

Because it was a victory celebration banquet, except for the Empress Dowager who left early, no one dared to say anything inappropriate. The Qianqing Palace was filled with scenes of joyous celebration and praise.

The clinking of cups and mutual flattery lasted for a long time before it finally subsided.

By the time Yinzhen and Geng Shuning returned to the Yangxin Hall to sleep, it was already past midnight.

Both of them had been exhausted from the long journey and the strenuous efforts of entertaining the ladies and the imperial clansmen and ministers in the evening.

Neither had the energy to say much, and they fell asleep together as soon as they lay down.

At noon the next day, when Geng Shuning got up, her head was throbbing slightly from the few glasses of wine she had been forced to drink the night before while being flattered by several ladies.

Qiao He came over with honey mint water to serve, "Your Highness, Nanny Chen is waiting outside. Would you like to have a meal first or..."

Geng Shuning rubbed her temples, "It’s still chilly, don’t let Nanny Chen catch a cold. Let her come in."

She had no appetite, and probably because Yinzhen had held her tightly last night, her whole body felt stiff.

When Nanny Chen entered, she noticed that her mistress's complexion was unusually pale, with faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that Geng Shuning was utterly exhausted.

With reddened eyes, she stepped forward to pay her respects, "Mistress, accompanying His Majesty on the campaign must have been truly arduous. The Chen family has a set of health-preserving recipes that can relax the bones and relieve fatigue. I'll have someone fetch them right away. Why don't you take a bath first, and I'll give you a massage with aromatic oils? How does that sound?"

Geng Shuning gestured for Qiao He to help Nanny Chen up, "Let's discuss important matters first. Later, when the Emperor is free, we can do it together."

Nanny Chen: "..." It seems the mistress isn't tired after all.

She didn't press further, sitting down on the embroidered stool and softly reporting, "Qingfang has probably already informed you about the situation in the palace, so I won't elaborate."

"But quite a few interesting things have happened in the capital recently. Please allow me to share some gossip with you."

She caught a cold a few days ago and used the opportunity to leave the palace to recuperate, gathering information about the capital's situation, and had just returned.

"Earlier, you were puzzled as to why Consort Qi, née Li, was taking fertility-enhancing prescriptions, making people wary of her schemes against His Majesty, but Consort Qi has been inactive, and I haven't uncovered anything."

"Coincidentally, the Li family, not long after you left the capital, had their official positions stripped and moved to the capital."

Nanny Chen lowered her voice: "The Chen family has been secretly keeping an eye on the Li family and discovered that Bo Dun, a cousin from the family of the former Prince Zhi's wife, Yiergenjueluo, has been in contact with the Li family."

"The Chen family thoroughly investigated and discovered that Consort Qi's father, Li Wenye, had a half-sister who was taken in by a wealthy family, which is a branch of the Yiergenjueluo family."

"Previously, the two families had no contact, but after Consort Qi entered the palace and was granted the title of consort, they began to interact secretly. Bo Dun... is of the same generation as Consort Qi, two years her senior."

Geng Shuning understood, her expression turning subtle, "Are you saying Bo Dun is Consort Qi's cousin?"

Nanny Chen nodded: "Exactly, not many know about it. His mother passed away early, and he was raised by other concubines."

"If it weren't for Chen Lui, who has friends from all walks of life, we wouldn't have uncovered this."

"Bo Dun is a third-rank guard, previously on duty in the palace. It's unclear if he met Consort Qi, but with this information and further investigation in the palace, my brother has uncovered some things."

"Consort Qi's previous actions against you, much of the information was leaked by Bo Dun."

Geng Shuning pondered, stroking her chin, "What does this have to do with Consort Qi taking fertility prescriptions? Does she have the audacity to cause chaos in the palace?"

Even if she were to have an affair, without the Emperor's cooperation, Consort Qi wouldn't dare to produce a child.

Nanny Chen, being older and more experienced, had some ideas, "Given Consort Qi's past favor, if she sought an audience with His Majesty, there would always be opportunities for something to happen, like that time in the Qianqing Palace..."

Seeing Geng Shuning raise her eyebrows skeptically, Nanny Chen added, "Or perhaps, in the loneliness of the deep palace, Consort Qi took a wrong turn, intending to take contraceptive prescriptions but was tricked into taking fertility ones, which is also possible..."

Geng Shuning pondered, at the palace banquet, Consort Qi was low-key, while Princess Huaike was high-profile. Perhaps Consort Xi also knew about this and had a hold over Consort Qi?

She then asked, "What about Niohuru Shi and Gua Jia, the Constant Attendant? Any movements?"

The words spoken by the Fourth Prince at the palace banquet couldn't have been without instruction. If it was Gua Jia's doing, what was her motive?

Nanny Chen: "The Niohuru Duke’s mansion shows no abnormalities. The Duke's legitimate daughter has accumulated enough merit and is awaiting rewards. The Duke himself spends his days riding horses, bird-watching, and drinking, as usual."

After a pause, she patted her forehead, "Oh, Gua Jia's father has passed away. Minister of War, A Linbao, paid a condolence visit."

With Gua Jia's father deceased, and only female family members at home, A Linbao wouldn't visit unless there was a reason.

Apart from paying condolences as a minister to the father of a palace consort who was at odds with his own daughter, there was nothing unusual.

Geng Shuning pondered, Garudai was a rational person who prioritized interests. If Consort Xi and Gua Jia joined forces, what could they promise her?

The situation in the capital was becoming more and more intriguing. Because of Consort Xi's actions, Geng Shuning vaguely began to entertain the idea of securing the position of Empress.

She felt that her head didn’t seem to hurt as much anymore, and with a faint smile, she asked again, "What about Guo Luoluo?"

Nanny Chen replied, "Noble Consort Yi keeps to herself. The Prince of Xiang and the Prince of Dun have a good relationship with the Geng family's master, and Guo Luoluo has also shown goodwill toward him. They've been interacting quite a bit lately."

"It's not just Guo Luoluo," Nanny Chen added with a smile.

"The Nian family also has intentions to befriend the Qi family. Fucha and Donggo Shi both have connections in the Six Boards, and their relationship with the Geng family's master is getting better and better."

Fucha Maqi is an old fox—he's a pro at reading the minds of those in charge and has never made a mistake.

Donggo Shi is inclined to align with the Emperor, and using indirect means to save the nation is also a strategy, which Geng Shuning is not surprised by.

Finally, she asked, "What about the Duke of Wu's mansion and the Uya clan's mansion?"

Nanny Chen said, "The Duke of Wu's mansion also has a palace candidate. They donated a large sum of money to the Ministry of War and ordered all the estates of the Duke's mansion to plant imperial rice. Other than that, they've been laying low."

"As for the Uya clan's mansion..." she hesitated for a moment, "there's nothing unusual, except that the third master of the Uya clan has been spending time with the third young master of the Tong family. The two often go hunting together but keep a low profile in the capital."

Geng Shuning raised an eyebrow. The Uya clan and the Tong family have gotten together? That's the most unusual part!