Chapter 128

Chapter 128

On the way to Anyou Palace, although the noble ladies and consorts behind her were extremely anxious and puzzled, whispering and discussing non-stop, the Empress Dowager remained exceptionally calm, even exuding the grace she once had when she dominated the imperial harem.

Back then, the Empress Dowager, despite her humble origins as a bondservant, managed to surpass Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Consort Yi, thanks to her calm and gentle nature.

She even wore a faint smile on her lips, gently stroking the dagger in her sleeve, estimating the time, she guessed Nalan Yue Min had likely submitted the memorial by now.

Through a spy from the Nara clan, the Empress Dowager had obtained evidence of Nalan Yue Min's involvement in imperial examination fraud during his tenure in Jiangnan, ensuring he would comply.

The female officials from the Cining Palace, who had connections with various families in the capital, had not seen her, and even if they had, it would have been too late to stop her.

This filled her with immense satisfaction.

That unfilial son, indulging a lowly seductress to suppress her and plot against Yun Ti, relied solely on the favor of the Grand Empress Dowager and the retired emperor.

As the birth mother of the emperor, in this Qing Dynasty where filial piety governed the state, she was not someone who could be easily bullied.

The emperor, who was born from her flesh and blood, as long as she was willing to sacrifice herself, she would have unshakable confidence, something even the Grand Empress Dowager and the retired emperor couldn't suppress.

*

"I, your humble consort, have acted recklessly, failed in educating my son, and repeatedly hindered him out of familial affection, allowing the reputation of unfiliality to spread throughout the world, shaming the past grace of the retired emperor..."

"...The entry of an unfaithful and unfilial person into the palace may lead to confusion of bloodlines, and I fear it will destroy the clarity of the empire and hinder the foundation laid by our ancestors. This is not the fault of my son, but rather my own foolishness and lack of education, shaming my virtuous reputation."

Nalan Yue Min, holding the bright yellow memorial, suppressing the fear in his heart, his slightly trembling voice echoed in the Dazheng Guangming Hall—

"Reflecting on my merits and faults, I am ashamed to face the trust and respect of the previous harem masters. Today, I resign as Empress Dowager and will inscribe scriptures with my own blood in the ancestral temple to atone for my son's sins, hoping our ancestors will not hold grudges and will bless the imperial lineage, awakening the emperor's virtue..."

Geng Jia De Jin was dumbfounded, his vision darkening, yet no one found his reaction unusual.

What kind of place was Anyou Palace?

It was equivalent to the Fengxian Palace in the Forbidden City, the ancestral temple of the imperial family, where the tablets of all the Qing Dynasty's imperial ancestors and the Buddha were enshrined.

It symbolized the ancestors receiving enlightenment from the Buddha and seeking the Buddha's blessings for the Qing Dynasty, serving as a place of worship during the Yuanmingyuan era.

Not to mention the despairing Geng Jia De Jin and the cold, stiff Yinzhen on the white jade steps, even the Han ministers below looked grim, feeling the Empress Dowager was causing chaos.

Was there anything they couldn't handle in the court?

The Empress Dowager, using such methods, had even disregarded her own dignity, making these ministers feel utterly useless.

The military officials were even more confused, unable to imagine how the famously gentle Empress Dowager could act so fiercely.

Nalan Yue Min's superior, the Left Censor-in-Chief Nalan Kuixu, turned pale.

Having inherited his father Mingzhu's intelligence, he had been cunning for most of his life, and in just a few more years, he could retire as a cabinet minister, restoring the glory of the Nalan clan.

Just a few more years, after a lifetime of being a hunter, he had been blinded by an eagle, leaving Nalan Kuixu no choice but to curse inwardly.

Nalan Yue Min was the younger nephew of Consort Hui's maternal family.

Although he had never shown great talent, he was relatively upright and his literary skills were somewhat renowned in the capital, which had caught Nalan Kuixu's attention.

Previously, Consort Hui had personally intervened, pleading with him.

She hoped that Nalan Kuixu could promote Nalan Yue Min, to provide more support for the current Prince Zhi, Hong Yu, so that he wouldn't be bullied by Yinti's stepmother, Lady Zhang, and her son.

Nalan Kuixu and Consort Hui were related within five generations, and his father had always supported the previous Prince Zhi, making it impossible for him to refuse such a request, so he brought Nalan Yue Min to his side.

No one expected that this usually thick-browed and honest-looking person would side with the Empress Dowager and dare to stab the hearts of the Emperor and the retired Emperor on such a significant day.

This fellow's literary talent was not wasted at all; he eloquently expressed the Empress Dowager's intentions so clearly that even the military officials could understand.

The implication was that the old lady had given birth to an unfilial son, seduced by a vixen, who dared to disrespect her openly, truly unworthy of the legacy the old man had left behind.

The Empress Dowager no longer wanted the title of Virtuous Consort conferred by the old man, nor did she care for the title of Empress Dowager conferred by her son. She threatened to commit suicide in the ancestral temple, letting the ancestors and the Buddha witness.

Either she dies swiftly, and her son is disgraced, becoming a laughingstock.

Or her son quickly comes over, eliminates the seductress to quell her wrath, and sees if he dares to forget his mother after getting a wife!

At least that's how the military officials understood it, several of them grimacing in discomfort.

E Lundai slapped his forehead: "This is a ruthless move; we mustn't let the old man get too upset, otherwise the Emperor's reputation will be tarnished, indeed the most vicious... tsk tsk, what's the point?"

After he finished, even Fahai, who disliked him the most, couldn't help but nod, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

The Empress Dowager's move was indeed cutting off the fuel to extinguish the fire... no, it was directly disrupting the status quo.

She wasn't threatening others, but directly risking her own life, rushing to the Anyou Palace in the name of atoning for her son's sins. No matter the perspective, it's a mother's love, and no one can say it's breaking face.

Even the Grand Empress Dowager and the retired Emperor, as elders and masters, can they stop a mother from loving her son, risking her life to rid her son of the femme fatale by his side?

Now, openly submitting a memorial during the morning court session, removing all pretense, she wants to bring this matter into the open, and must give the Empress Dowager an explanation.

This is even more extreme than a censor crashing into a pillar, leaving the censors at a loss for words.

The civil and military officials all cowered, tightly closed their mouths, and watched the Emperor with fear, waiting for him to speak.

*

Yinzhen's face remained impassive, the depression and anger in his chest almost burning away all his reason, wishing he could end his own life before his mother, saving himself from sorrow.

He understood that the Empress Dowager lacked maternal affection for him; there have been shallow mother-son relationships in every dynasty. He had been sad as a child but had already gotten used to it.

But Yun Ti had already confessed to several crimes serious enough to warrant execution and was confined to his mansion, finding it nearly impossible to even reach Qinghai.

Even if Aisin Gioro Yinzhen died, Yun Ti would not become the Emperor.

This made Yinzhen somewhat confused, what was the Empress Dowager's goal?

Just for her own temporary pleasure, disregarding her family and descendants?

Struggling to suppress the metallic taste in his throat, Yinzhen knew this was not the time for deep thought, nor was there time for careful consideration.

He took a deep breath, clenched his back teeth, and ordered, "The Empress Dowager must have some misunderstanding about me. We shall proceed to Anyou Palace, where my ministers and I will apologize to the Empress Dowager and ask her to return to the hall to celebrate her birthday!"

No one dared to say more.

Including Nara Yuemin, who had just loudly read out the memorial, only lowered his eyes to avoid the devouring gaze of his superior, trailing behind the imperial procession as they hastened to Anyou Palace.

*

Without Yinzhen's orders, Su Peisheng quickly reacted, lagging a step behind the imperial procession and the ministers, urgently and repeatedly instructing Zhao Song.

"Quick! Send someone to Changchun Garden to report to the retired Emperor, avoid disturbing the Grand Empress Dowager, call the Imperial Physician to Anyou Palace, and arrange for Lin Fu to invite the Fourteenth Prince into the garden!"

"Xiao Chengzi, you quickly return to Nine Continents Clear View, instruct Sui Ning to conceal herself in the secret passage, don't let anyone find her! Later, see how the Emperor arranges, ensure she does not act rashly, and do not let her show her face."

Today marks the Thousand Autumns Festival, coinciding with the Empress Dowager's birthday, the birthday star is the most important, no one dares to risk incurring the Empress Dowager's wrath, it's clear the Empress Dowager really knows how to pick the day.

If in Anyou Palace, the Emperor's explanation does not satisfy the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager really risks her life, the young mistress might not survive, and words can kill.

We'll have to leave the garden for now to lay low, find someone to take the fall, and find a way to sneak back into the palace later.

In any case, the Geng family's days of living in luxury are over.

Su Peisheng was so stressed his head was pounding, and he didn't have the bandwidth to pity the Geng family. He quickly called over a secret guard disguised as a eunuch.

"Get to the Ministry of Justice fast, find a death row inmate who looks like Sui Ning, and prepare some oil and dry firewood. Keep it under wraps!"

The secret guard immediately complied, slipping away to avoid being seen and darting out of the Yuanming Garden through a side path.

*

Once everything was set, Su Peisheng bolted to catch up with the imperial carriage.

By the time he reached the Anyou Palace entrance, he had to be at the Emperor's side, ready to serve, so no one would notice his absence.

But as soon as he reached the Anyou Palace entrance, Su Peisheng saw Geng Shuning waiting off to the side with Qiao He and Qingfang.

At the sight, even Yinzhen's hands, clasped behind his back, trembled, and Su Peisheng's face turned pale.

What's she doing at the Anyou Palace?

Isn't she supposed to be at the Nine Continents Clear View?

Even if she heard the news, why would she show up now?

*

Is she trying to get herself killed or what?!

Yinzhen didn't give a damn what the officials thought. He stormed over and glared at Geng Shuning.

"What are you doing here? Haven't you caused enough trouble? Get back to the Nine Continents Clear View, now!"

Geng Shuning bowed, her face unreadable, but her voice steady.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's misunderstanding today is all my fault. I'll explain everything to our ancestors to calm the Empress Dowager."

Yinzhen was so furious his head spun, and his vision blurred. He wanted to shout at this fool to wake her up.

There's no misunderstanding! The Empress Dowager just wants to ruin everything he holds dear, pushing him and his loved ones to their deaths.

She's already gone mad!

What's the use arguing with a lunatic?

Seeing Yinzhen's pale face, Geng Shuning blinked at him behind the backs of the civil and military officials and whispered in her own defense.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. The truth will prevail. I have a clear conscience. I can't let the Empress Dowager misunderstand. Some things need to be clarified sooner or later."

Yinzhen frowned deeply. Hearing the distant sound of the ceremonial whip, he knew that the old master had also been alerted, and there was no way to make Geng Shuning leave now.

Even a heart-of-stone emperor like him felt a mix of absurdity and helplessness at this moment, leaving him at a loss for words.

"Stay behind me. Don't say a word. I'll handle it." With his heart sinking to the bottom, Yinzhen surprisingly calmed down, his hoarse voice regaining some composure.

No matter what the Empress Dowager plans to do, if he can't even protect his own woman, it's better to hand over the Qing Dynasty's empire to someone else sooner.

*

He collected himself, turned around expressionlessly, and stood respectfully with the ministers to welcome the arrival of the retired Emperor.

For the Empress Dowager's birthday, Emperor Kangxi didn't need to appear in person. He only needed to have Liang Jiugong deliver an edict praising the Empress Dowager for her past contributions.

Just as he finished drafting the edict, the usually steady Li Dequan rushed into the hall and reported the incident of the memorial presented at the Dazheng Guangming Hall, as well as the Empress Dowager's absurd act of bringing noble ladies and palace consorts to witness her suicide. Without exaggeration, the retired Emperor thought he was hallucinating when he heard such an outrageous story.

Never in history has a mother done such a thing... well, although there have been cases in the common folk where mothers have pressured their sons, in the dignity-conscious imperial family, there has never been such an Empress Dowager.

To have encountered this is truly rare.

The woman he favored, whom he allowed to bear a son and personally enfeoffed as a consort, giving her this opportunity to make the Aisin Gioro family a laughingstock in history?

What a fine mess.

Emperor Kangxi trembled as he touched his broken leg, feeling that heaven had been too 'kind' to him.

Now, standing before Yinzhen, Emperor Kangxi coldly glanced at Geng Shuning behind him, at a loss for how to evaluate this mother and son pair, and left only one sentence.

"If you make the Aisin Gioro family a laughingstock over a woman, you don't deserve to be emperor."

Yinzhen agreed, calmly saluting, "Today, I will definitely explain myself to my father and mother. If this matter cannot be resolved, I will voluntarily abdicate to someone more capable."

The ministers were terrified; Geng Jia De Jin was on the verge of fainting.

Now, forget about being a royal family; whether the Geng family could even survive after today was another matter.

Everyone was in a dream-like state of shock and panic, no better off than the noble ladies and consorts brought into the Anyou Palace by the Empress Dowager.

Except for Geng Shuning, who remained calm.

She lowered her eyes, calmer than Yinzhen and more silent than the ministers, showing no sign of panic, as if nothing had happened.

Yinzhen was too concerned to think clearly, but Emperor Kangxi now had some insight.

He wouldn't feel the same heartache for this girl as his son did. If sacrificing her life could solve the problem, he wouldn't hesitate to kill Geng Shuning.

Therefore, he calmly noticed Geng Shuning's composure, and from his understanding of this girl... she must have a way to deal with it.

So Emperor Kangxi didn't scold Yinzhen much; he just tapped his wheelchair.

"Let's discuss this inside!"

As they bypassed the screen wall and approached the hall, the expressions of Emperor Kangxi and Yinzhen grew even grimmer, and the ministers couldn't help but hold their breath.

Several noble ladies and consorts who couldn't enter the door fainted and were being attended to by servants, not daring to leave.

All the women standing at the door and inside looked particularly pale, as if their souls had left their bodies, staring at the front where the Bodhisattva and ancestral tablets were enshrined.

The Empress Dowager knelt there, cutting her finger with a dagger and writing a long passage of blood scripture on the spread-out scroll.

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand to stop everyone's greetings, had someone carry him into the hall, and asked the Empress Dowager in a deep voice—

"Lady Wu Ya, do you realize what you're doing?"

Hearing the commotion, the Empress Dowager paused, turned around while kneeling, and calmly saluted Emperor Kangxi.

Due to blood loss and her plain clothes, her face looked particularly haggard at this moment, appearing somewhat ethereally fragile.

She said softly, "Your Majesty, I have considered my actions today repeatedly, but I truly have no other choice. I cannot stand by and watch the emperor go down the wrong path, so I must do this."

Emperor Kangxi's face grew colder, suppressing a sneer in his throat.

She certainly had no other way; she was too capable!

He had never imagined that a woman would dare to force the emperor in such a manner.

But logically and emotionally, neither he nor the Grand Empress Dowager could really scold the Empress Dowager for doing her duty as a mother.

The Empress Dowager paid no heed to Emperor Kangxi's cold expression, lifting her head to look at Yinzhen with a rare kindness and calm.

"Yinzhen, whatever happens because of what I do today, I accept it willingly."

"Even if I die, it has nothing to do with you. I just hope you’ll wake up and stop making mistakes."

Yinzhen gritted his teeth and knelt down, "I don’t understand, Mother. There must be a misunderstanding. Please explain!"

The Empress Dowager did not look at Geng Shuning, merely lowering her eyes, "Then tell me, can a palace maid come back after leaving, according to the rules?"

"And can women fight in wars, according to Qing law?"

Yinzhen calmly replied, "No, but the Geng family has our ancestors’ blessing. They’re not just ordinary servants."

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, "Fine, then tell me, as emperor, can you favor one person so much that the rest of the palace feels ignored?"

"Even if the Geng family has done well, you don’t have to bring her into the palace. Now, everyone knows the third and fourth princes are too young, and the throne’s future is unclear. Yet you turn a blind eye. Do you deserve the trust of the Aisin Gioro ancestors?"

Yinzhen had anticipated this question from the Empress Dowager and remained calm.

"Since I became emperor, we’ve faced disasters and border conflicts. I’ve been too busy with the court to focus on the palace. Once things calm down, I’ll handle my duties properly."

"As for Geng Shuning, she’s an Imperial Attendant. Serving me is her job. She’s not the same as a consort."

The Empress Dowager sneered, "Nice try. Do you think I haven’t seen the palace records? If she’s not a consort, why is she in your bed?"

"Plus, she’s been your favorite for three years but has no children and has lost her virtue. How do you think the other consorts feel with her by your side? How can the court respect you?"

"I gave birth to you—maybe I owed you from a past life. I worked hard to raise you, and I can’t just sit back and do nothing."

"But you ignore everything I say. Is this how an emperor should show filial piety?"

"In front of our ancestors and the gods, ask yourself. Are you really fit to rule?"

"With your actions, you are not what I expected. Even if I have to give up my life today, I’ll make up for your mistakes!"

Geng Shuning had been mentally munching on metaphorical sunflower seeds, seemingly obedient and silent, but actually thoroughly enjoying the drama.

Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, which were quite in line with official history, and seeing Emperor Kangxi's green face next to Su Peisheng, she quickly bit her tongue, afraid she might laugh out loud.

It seems that no matter whether the old man is alive or not, it doesn’t stop the Empress Dowager from leaving behind famous quotes!

Yinzhen was not flustered. He had vowed to protect Geng Shuning and would not retreat.

He gazed steadily at the tall golden statue and the rows of ancestral tablets, his voice firm and composed.

"I have searched my conscience countless times. Above, I am worthy of my father's trust; below, I am worthy of the people."

"Since my ascension to the throne, though I may not have my father's brilliance and martial prowess, I believe I have been a competent ruler. I have both merits and faults, but I have no regrets in my heart."

He looked at the Empress Dowager, his eyes calmer than hers, even tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Mother, in your eyes, I have never been able to satisfy you. But a little personal affection should not have escalated to this point."

"Today, you can use your flesh and blood to force me to kill Geng Shuning. Tomorrow, will you use your own safety to force me to break my father's vow not to establish an empress and make you the Empress Dowager?"

"Or will you force me to abandon the empire and make Yun Ti the crown prince? What do you truly want? Just say it. Even if you want my life, I am willing to repay you with my flesh and blood."

Not only could the Empress Dowager threaten with death, but Yinzhen could also resort to the same extreme measures.

As an emperor, as a son who had never been loved by his mother, he would never allow the Empress Dowager to manipulate him.

Even if it meant going through the underworld, it would never happen!

The Empress Dowager was not surprised by Yinzhen's words. Although her son was not likable, she still understood him to some extent.

She shook her head expressionlessly, "You don’t understand the lengths a mother would go for her son, which is why you dare to question me."

"Empress Dowager, the crown prince, or even the throne—these are things I care nothing about. I just don't want to watch you betray the empire that our ancestors fought so hard to establish."

She sliced her finger again with a dagger, ignoring Emperor Kangxi and Yinzhen, and continued to write her blood scripture.

As for the Empress Dowager, after today, for the sake of the imperial family's dignity, given Emperor Kangxi's ruthlessness, she might be expunged from history.

As for the crown prince and the throne, Yun Ti had disappointed her too much and had betrayed his own destiny. She no longer cared.

Her life had already turned into a colossal farce.

So, with her suppressed phoenix fate, she cursed Geng Shuning, that wretched woman, to die a miserable death, ensuring that this father and son would never find peace even in death.

No matter how ruthless the old man was, he couldn’t possibly kill everyone present. Rumors would surely spread.

She wanted to turn the imperial family into a laughingstock, to be ridiculed by the world for eternity!

*

Emperor Kangxi also knew that today’s spectacle could not be concealed. There were too many imperial clansmen and ministers present, so he simply let the mother and son confront each other openly.

The more they spoke, the fewer would dare to spread the tale.

Seeing Yinzhen lower his head and draw a dagger from his boot, clearly intending to fight to the death with the Empress Dowager.

Regardless of whether there was any affection between mother and son, as a son, he couldn’t stand by and watch the Empress Dowager harm herself, nor was he willing to back down and stop her.

Emperor Kangxi was exasperated by his son’s stubbornness, which always seemed to surface at the worst possible time.

He glared at Geng Shuning in the corner, "Geng Shuning! Today’s events are all your doing. Don’t you have anything to say?"

After saying this, he suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, recalling that he had posed this question in the throne hall before. He couldn’t help but sigh—this girl had talent, but she was nothing but trouble.

Geng Shuning had been chattering outside the palace gates earlier, but once inside, she fell silent, hiding in the corner and secretly using a handkerchief to powder her face, making herself look pitiful.

Her so-called explanation was not meant to be voiced aloud.

Hearing Emperor Kangxi finally lose his patience and question her, Geng Shuning knew her moment had arrived. She swayed unsteadily, then stepped forward with righteous resolve, kneeling—

"Sui Ning has nothing to say, only to pray that the gods and ancestors open their eyes, see the Empress Dowager’s blood scripture, and grant a divine sign to clear His Majesty and Sui Ning of all accusations!"

The Empress Dowager sneered, "If the gods hear your words and grant any sign, they will surely punish you, you star of ill omen!"

Geng Shuning clenched her teeth, her voice trembling, "Sui Ning is no star of ill omen! The Empress Dowager may burn the blood scripture, and Sui Ning is prepared to face the judgment of the gods and ancestors!"

The Empress Dowager believed in Buddha, especially in the grand chapel of the Cining Palace, where she had received divine revelations. That was why she had the confidence to cause such a scene today.

Hearing this, she immediately ordered someone to bring a fire starter and, without hesitation, set the blood-written scripture ablaze. With blood-stained hands, she clasped them together and bowed reverently—

"May the Buddha grant a clear sign and punish this calamitous star!"

As soon as her words fell, terrified screams erupted from the doorway and beyond the hall.