Chapter 125

Chapter 125

The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiaoyi didn’t get along, and the feud between the Uya clan and the Tong family was common knowledge among the capital’s residents.

The Empress Dowager’s younger brother and Longkodo suddenly had some interactions... Wait, wasn’t Longkodo under house arrest without special permission?

Nanny Chen quickly replied to her mistress’s question, “The Empress Dowager stayed at Mount Wutai for half a year and then went to Changchun Garden to pay respects to the retired emperor. She tearfully recounted a dream about the late Empress Dowager Cíhé and learned that her family’s younger generation had made mistakes, crying incessantly.”

“Moved by thoughts of his birth mother and hearing of Duke Tong’s grave illness, the retired emperor lifted Longkodo’s ban, fearing he would pass away with regrets.”

Geng Shuning let out a frustrated laugh. The Empress Dowager, using her wits and swallowing her pride, was indeed adaptable.

Everyone knew she was at odds with Empress Dowager Xiaoyi, but no one doubted her respect for the retired emperor’s birth mother.

If Fourth Master inherited his pettiness from his mother, then with the Empress Dowager’s temperament, would she care about Empress Dowager Xiaoyi’s father and younger brother? Ridiculous.

For the Empress Dowager to team up with the Tong family just to target her would trivialize her own hardships. This must be aimed at the throne.

She murmured, “The Empress Dowager must have nerves of steel.”

Nanny Chen thought, “Who could argue with that?” Her expression grew more worried. “Mistress, should this matter be reported to the Emperor? Given your position, it’s hardly fitting for you to confront the Empress Dowager...”

The Empress Dowager is an elder, and her erratic behavior is downright frightening.

Even as Empress, openly opposing the Empress Dowager could get you dethroned, let alone now when you haven’t even ascended to the throne.

Geng Shuning scoffed, “No need. His Majesty knows what’s up.”

The intelligence agency isn’t just a decoration.

She smiled playfully, “Besides, I’m supposed to be the future role model for women everywhere. How can I take action against my future mother-in-law? Do I not care about my reputation?”

Nanny Chen and Qiao He exchanged glances: “...” Speaking of which, what exactly is your reputation?

Even Qiao He, puzzled, couldn’t guess her mistress’s thoughts and asked, “So, Mistress, you can’t just sit back and let the Empress Dowager come after you, right?”

“With the Empress Dowager’s status, once she personally takes action, you...” You might not even survive!

Geng Shuning had already figured out how to handle this wealthy woman she’d served for over a year when she first took action against the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager might seem crazy, but those close to her knew she was sharp and cunning.

But she also had weaknesses. This Empress Dowager, though deceitful and audacious, genuinely believed in Buddhism.

Geng Shuning changed the topic, “Qiao He, take Qiao Jing and have the nine guards look into which families A Linbao’s kin are cozy with.”

“Nanny Chen, you know the palace dynamics better. Find out who Consort Xi’s palace is connected to, both above and below the table.”

Qingfang anxiously asked from the side, “Mistress, what about this servant?”

The updates she provided after her mistress’s return paled in comparison to Nanny Chen’s. She had previously made the mistake of being misled and blindly advising her mistress, her heart truly uneasy.

Geng Shuning said matter-of-factly, “You will naturally serve by my side.”

“You’ve been in the palace for so long, surely you’ve built some connections?”

Qiao He and Qiao Jing were never as socially adept as Qingfang. Qingfang was better suited for managing palace affairs and handling tasks.

The first step to becoming the Empress is naturally to know and use people well.

Qingfang immediately relaxed her expression, "Mistress, rest assured, if this servant fails to handle the tasks you've assigned, I wouldn't have the face to continue serving by your side."

She didn’t boast about her abilities or claim to have built many connections, but her tone hinted at significant progress.

Geng Shuning praised her, "I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Qingfang. When it comes to being thoughtful and reading people’s emotions, we could all take a page from your book."

Qiao He and Qiao Jing, who were guarding the door, smirked upon hearing this.

Seeing Qiao He teasingly puffing her cheeks at her, Qingfang couldn't help but blush, yet she grinned widely.

"This servant is not as good as the mistress says..."

Geng Shuning interrupted her modesty, "No, Qingfang, you’re exactly as good as I say. Right now, there’s a tricky job that only you can pull off."

Qingfang’s heart sank, and she straightened up. "Mistress, just say the word. This servant wouldn’t hesitate even if it meant risking her life."

Geng Shuning's eyes curved into a smile, "No need for risking your life, you just need to help me purchase some straw, lychee branches, white wine, and vinegar into the palace. Make sure no one except the Nian Gan Chu notices."

Nanny Chen and the others were baffled but didn’t dare ask, as their mistress often did things that left them scratching their heads.

Qingfang figured these items wouldn’t be hard to get—she could bring them in through the West Gate.

She asked lightly, "How much does the mistress need?"

Geng Shuning smiled even more brightly, "Ah... let's start with about ten dan (approximately 500 kg)."

The group was speechless. Over a thousand pounds?

You might as well turn the palace servants and guards into deaf-mutes!

Geng Shuning couldn't explain; she needed to extract sodium carbonate, baking soda, and alcohol, which would mostly be lost in the process.

To make a big impact, this amount was actually minimal.

Qingfang’s happiness lasted less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before she left, her face sour.

Geng Shuning then instructed Qiao He, "We could learn a thing or two from Consort Xi’s way of winning people over. There’s truth in the saying, ‘There’s strength in numbers.’"

"Once you’re out of the palace, head to the Qi and Geng families. Pass a message to my uncle and father for me. It's time we start cultivating alliances with those we should."

*

The Emperor's triumphant return to the capital, having annihilated the Dzungars, overshadowed even the achievements of the late emperor's three campaigns against the Dzungars. The court was eerily quiet.

Everyone was busy with promotions and rewards for the selected palace maids, leaving little room for drama.

But the women in the inner court couldn't sit still.

Having been out of favor for years, they watched Geng Shuning climb higher, even turning the Hall of Mental Cultivation into a home with the Emperor. Their hearts burned with envy.

With Geng Shuning back in control of palace affairs, everyone felt trapped under her thumb, more stifled than ever.

Given the Emperor’s favor towards Geng Shuning, the consorts and concubines could easily see that the Emperor would eventually elevate this wretch.

The position of Consort might not even be enough; perhaps it would be Imperial Noble Consort... or even Empress.

Would there be any hope left for the rest of them?

Consort Xi's Palace of Eternal Harmony and Consort Qi's Palace of Eternal Spring were bustling with activity every day, and even the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility was becoming increasingly lively.

*

On the surface, the inner court seemed calm, but beneath it, under the pretense of visits and courtesies, gossip flowed daily before the Empress Dowager, Consort Qi, and Consort Xi.

This was exactly what the Empress Dowager wanted to see.

This time, she didn’t stay behind the scenes. Whenever Geng Shuning’s name came up, she couldn’t help but frown, sigh, and eventually get fed up.

In just half a month, countless pieces of porcelain were replaced in the Cining Palace.

Afterwards, the Empress Dowager summoned Geng Shuning several times for conversations.

Geng Shuning was tied up in the back hall of the Yangxin Hall and only managed to pay her respects once with Yinzhen, using the excuse of serving at court, and then never paid attention to her again.

Coincidentally, shortly after Yinzhen and Geng Shuning left the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager fainted, leading the Imperial Physicians to declare her condition critical.

Even the Grand Empress Dowager was shaken.

Fortunately, Imperial Physician Chang and Imperial Physician Zheng, who served the Grand Empress Dowager, were highly skilled and saved the Empress Dowager’s life using acupuncture and potent medicine.

The Empress Dowager’s critical condition was a big deal and spread fast.

Rumors spread that Geng Shuning had joined the imperial expedition, spent over half a year among men, losing her purity and being suspected of stirring up trouble in the palace.

It was also said that the Empress Dowager fell ill from worry over the Emperor, but the Emperor ignored it and even shielded Geng Shuning, letting her act boldly in front of the Empress Dowager.

This wasn’t entirely a rumor.

Geng Shuning had indeed gone to the battlefield and spent over half a year among men, and she ignored the Empress Dowager’s calls for discipline.

To many old-fashioned scholars and censors, this was a sign of promiscuity and infidelity.

Along with the Emperor’s obvious infatuation and unfilial actions, the censors couldn’t stay silent and kept impeaching, pressuring the Emperor to handle Geng Shuning.

With the Uya clan’s mansion and Tong Siya scheming behind the scenes, even Minister Geng had to step back from the court’s scrutiny and pretend to be sick at home.

*

That afternoon, Yinzhen was fuming after reading the memorials and returned to the Yangxin Hall with a dark face.

Seeing Geng Shuning still kneeling cheerfully at a low table, fiddling with plant ash, he felt a bit helpless.

"Before, I worried you’d be too impulsive and reckless. Why are you so chill this time?"

Geng Shuning innocently turned her head to look at him, "The Empress Dowager wants to mess with me. What else can I do besides hiding behind Your Majesty?"

She couldn’t just go over and slap her twice or curse the Empress Dowager to the high heavens, could she?

If she dared to do that, the censors would immediately crash into the pillars, forcing her to join them in death.

Yinzhen looked at Geng Shuning with a scrutinizing gaze and suddenly tapped her forehead.

"Speak properly. I always feel like you’re hiding some bad intentions, planning to do something extraordinary."

Sometimes he could even hear this little rascal laughing in her sleep at night.

The Empress Dowager wanted to make her life in the palace unbearable, even at the cost of tarnishing his reputation, which gave Yinzhen a headache.

Faced with the Empress Dowager’s aggressive ill intentions, how could she still laugh?

Although the court was now under his control, the principle of not punishing the masses was also quite frustrating for him as the Emperor.

He wasn’t afraid of Geng Shuning causing trouble; he was afraid she would hold it in and make him anxious.

Geng Shuning pouted, "Isn’t it better than holding in a bellyful of anger?"

Yinzhen rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat down beside Geng Shuning, casually pulling her into his arms.

"The matter of Yun Ti falsely issuing an imperial decree, I haven't dealt with him yet, but it's not suitable for me to intervene directly..."

He and Yun Ti had never been on good terms, and things could escalate.

Geng Shuning asked, "Does Your Majesty want me to contact him and pressure him to persuade the Empress Dowager to back off?"

Yinzhen indeed thought so.

Geng Shuning's eyes held a mocking glint, "Lately, the Fourteenth Prince has been holed up in his mansion, not even stepping foot in the Changchun Garden. Do you think he's aware of what the Empress Dowager is up to?"

"If he's aware, do you think he'd even meet with me?"

Some court officials genuinely believed Geng Shuning was a seductress and wished to see her heart burned.

But most court officials and ministers were not like that.

When the Emperor was at the height of his power, they risked his wrath to impeach Geng Shuning, certainly not because they wanted to cut their own lives short.

Recalling the past glory of the Tong family, what the Uya clan's mansion and Tong Siya had done, it wasn't hard to guess.

With such a big stir, would Yun Ti not know? Hmph...

Though it's unclear what the Empress Dowager is aiming for, she's nearly lost her life in this struggle, for whom?

Both the Uya clan's mansion and the Tong Duke's mansion are exerting so much effort, their goal must be no small matter.

If she died, the one most affected... Geng Jia De Jin would only account for half, and only this man before her would be truly heartbroken.

Yun Ti didn't want to shoulder the heavy crime of betraying the Emperor and vying for the throne, so he feigned ignorance and stood aside. Once things were settled, he would have to accept the benefits his mother bestowed upon him, and it wouldn't be his fault.

It's said that the Fourteenth Prince is not very clever, impulsive, and easily swayed. If that were true, he wouldn't have become the Great General King.

He's actually quite smart.

Hearing this, Yinzhen's expression grew colder.

His birth mother wanted to harm the woman he loved and even wished for his death, while his brother coveted the throne, showing no brotherly affection.

He was truly a born loner.

Not letting Geng Shuning notice his distress, Yinzhen gently stroked her hand.

"Originally, I wanted to wait for the anniversary of Uku Mama's death and use your previous method to reveal a divine sign, to elevate you to the position of Empress... but now you've been wronged first."

The things in Zhuang Zhou's dream couldn't be spoken of.

Yinzhen knew well that this world was wary of tales of gods and spirits, even the old man didn't dare reveal too much, leaving this little fox unrewarded for her merits...

Geng Shuning smiled and kissed Yinzhen's chin, interrupting his pained expression.

"I'm not wronged. The Empress Dowager is teaching me that if I want something, I have to fight for it myself."

Yinzhen raised an eyebrow at her, saying firmly, "You've already thought of a way to deal with her, but you won't tell me?"

Geng Shuning neither confirmed nor denied, "When Your Majesty goes to war, do you reveal your strategies to others?"

Yinzhen held her face-to-face in his arms, narrowing his eyes, "Every day I suffer in pain, and in your eyes, am I just an outsider?"

Geng Shuning: "..." What's the point?

"Can you promise you won’t get curious and have someone try it behind my back?" Geng Shuning confidently poked Yinzhen's chest.

"Or can you promise you won’t use this chance to push your own agenda?"

Yinzhen: "..."

He wasn’t actually mad at Geng Shuning, but she had been busy with some unknown things for days and hadn't been close to him.

His gaze darkened a little, and he took the opportunity to lean down and rub against her lips, tempting her.

"Have I ever not done what you told me not to, huh?"

"Mmm... stop using your good looks on me." Geng Shuning was kissed until her whole body went soft, mumbling.

What she was planning could ruin the Empress Dowager’s reputation. Who could say he wouldn’t cave for his mom or get spooked by all that supernatural stuff?

Even though his touch had sent her over the edge, with all kinds of entanglements, Geng Shuning still refused to relent.

After being pushed so hard, Geng Shuning tearfully accused, "What good would telling you do?"

"When it came to fighting the Dzungars, I knew I wasn’t cut out for it, so I stayed out of it. Now, as the dutiful son, you’re useless here. This is my battlefield, can't you learn from me?"

Yinzhen paused, feeling oddly conflicted, "You think I'm not capable?"

No one had ever called him out like that before, making him feel even more wronged than when facing the Empress Dowager and Yun Ti.

He lowered his head and kissed Geng Shuning, "My bad, there are still a few things I can handle..."

Geng Shuning’s heart sank, immediately wanting to make amends, "No need... mmm~"

In a moment of thoughtlessness, she blurted out the wrong thing, leaving Geng Shuning not only without a chance to speak but also unable to get up for dinner.

To make matters worse, Yinzhen woke her up early the next morning.

"You promised me, remember?"

Geng Shuning angrily kicked him, "If my brain stops working, you’ll be the first thing I forget!"

Yinzhen chuckled, "Would you really?"

As Su Peisheng and the others looked on in their usual silence, Geng Shuning turned and went to the bathroom, leaving him with only an angry backside.

After breakfast, she puffed out her cheeks, scribbled a letter, tossed it to Qiao He, and lazily ordered—

"Go, deliver this letter to the Fourteenth Prince's residence, let His Majesty see if his own brother is aware."