Chapter 134

Chapter 134

As soon as Yunxiang saw Guo Luoluo, he felt a sense of foreboding.

He was all too familiar with his sister-in-law's notoriously difficult personality, who wouldn't hesitate to cause a scene when her temper was up.

If she hadn't deeply offended the deposed empress earlier, Guo Luoluo wouldn't have made such a swift exit to Mount Wutai as soon as the fourth brother took the throne.

Was she here to stir up trouble during the mourning period?

Yunxiang couldn't quite grasp his sister-in-law's temperament; this distant cousin of his was even more formidable than the Duanhe Empress and the Ula Nara clan.

Yunxiang wasn't alone in this thought.

When they arrived at the palace gate and got off the carriage, many noticed Guo Luoluo being respectfully escorted to the front by Hongwang.

Some onlookers, who had been dreading a long day of kneeling, suddenly perked up and hurried inside, eager not to miss the spectacle of this infamous shrew from the capital causing a stir.

Those aligned with the Geng family frowned at the sight of Guo Luoluo, and even the neutral faction shared similar expressions of concern.

The former worried that the wife of the late Prince Lian might stir up trouble, while the latter feared she might act disrespectfully, regardless of the occasion, making her, as the widow of the late Prince Lian, a tricky situation to handle.

Despite six years on Mount Wutai, Guo Luoluo's temperament hadn't changed since she left the capital.

Though everyone watched her, she held her chin high, ignored Hongwang, and strode into the palace with an air of disdain.

Su Peisheng, too, got wind of the news and promptly reported it to the Emperor.

Naturally, Geng Shuning was informed as well.

So when she excused herself from the Cining Palace, claiming she needed to use the restroom, only to be cornered by Guo Luoluo in the garden, she wasn't surprised.

Guo Luoluo sized up Geng Shuning and cut straight to the chase, "You're the Geng clan? Let's go to the pavilion over there and talk."

Qiao He and Qingfang stepped protectively in front of their mistress, urging her not to go.

The wife of the late Prince Lian was no pushover; she was known to act on impulse, and rumors had it that she'd even clashed with the wife of Prince Yinzhi of Cheng in the palace years ago.

Geng Shuning smiled and shook her head at the two, intrigued to hear what this infamous wife from her past life had to say.

*

In the late summer heat, the two chose a well-ventilated pavilion to sit down.

No sooner had they sat down than Guo Luoluo bluntly asked, "So, you're the one who charmed the Emperor into deposing the Ula Nara clan?"

Geng Shuning: "...This matter is related to me, but it has nothing to do with me seducing the Emperor. It's not something that can be explained in a few words."

Guo Luoluo nodded, even more bluntly, "I don't care to hear your nonsense. I came today to see if you, who drove the Empress Dowager to her death, still have the audacity to stay by the Emperor's side without showing any remorse."

"If you act as if nothing happened, the imperial consorts and the imperial concubines, out of their long-standing affection for the Empress Dowager, won't stand by and watch."

Qiao He and Qingfang's faces turned red with anger.

Just when they thought they were rid of the Empress Dowager, those imperial concubines had nothing better to do than to act as obstacles again. Will it ever end?

Geng Shuning was amused.

This Guo Luoluo reminded her of a colleague from her previous life who worked in event execution, always speaking with blunt efficiency.

She asked, "What kind of remorse are you expecting? Who can prove that I drove the Empress Dowager to her death?"

"If they really thought I could drive the Empress Dowager to her death, they wouldn’t be living their good lives and deliberately seeking trouble."

She smiled and poured a cup of tea for Madam Guo, "Thank you for sharing all this with me, Madam. You didn’t summon me here today just to chat about these matters, did you?"

"Do you think I’m here to cause trouble? Even though I dislike you, the opportunists, I’m not foolish enough to risk my neck for no reason," Madam Guo sneered, raising her particularly bold eyebrows.

"No need to speculate about my motives. Just because you told me not to pay respects to the Ula Nara clan, I won’t make things difficult for you. I was just curious and came to take a look."

If Geng Shuning hadn’t resembled the kind of seductive woman she despised, and if she hadn’t been different from the Ula Nara clan’s fake virtue, she wouldn’t have bothered saying so much to Geng Shuning.

With that, she stood up and prepared to leave without hesitation.

As she reached the steps of the pavilion, she paused, turned around, and looked meaningfully at Geng Shuning.

"I like you, so here’s a bit of advice. With your status, the position of Empress might not be so easy to attain. Be careful not to end up dead in the palace; that wouldn’t be amusing."

Qiao He and Qingfang paled, sensing the subtlety in her words. Could it be Consort Xi, née Li? Or maybe Consort Qi, or even Consort Mao...

Geng Shuning never wasted energy on internal conflicts and had no interest in participating in the harem’s power struggles. Her plans were nearly complete, and she had much to attend to.

As Madam Guo descended the stairs to leave, Geng Shuning called out to stop her.

"Madam, you’ve had your say, but I haven’t. I can’t let you leave like this."

Madam Guo turned around with a mocking smile, her eyes filled with disdain.

"I am the wife of the Iron Hat Prince. No matter your rank, you’re merely a palace maid. I didn’t even demand a bow from you, and yet you dare to threaten me?"

Geng Shuning’s expression remained unchanged, "The Iron Hat Prince of An was demoted to a Duke, and the current Prince Lian is but a young lad. Do you think I dare?"

Madam Guo’s face darkened, and she sneered as she walked back into the pavilion and sat down.

"I didn’t want to make things difficult for you, but you’re the one who started it. So tell me, what can you do to Prince Lian’s mansion?"

Geng Shuning poured another cup of tea and smiled at Madam Guo without responding.

"Earlier, Madam was placed under confinement multiple times at Wutai Mountain, and the temple kept a close watch on you. Have you ever wondered how news of the deposed Empress reached you, and how you slipped back into the capital so easily?"

"Do you truly believe no one knows you sneaked off to the imperial concubine’s tomb and uttered treasonous words before the Ula Nara clan’s grave?"

Yinzhen went on an expedition last July, and in August, the Ula Nara clan passed away in Jingyang Palace, her body sent to the edge of the imperial concubine’s tomb in a thin coffin.

As a disgraced imperial concubine, the Duke of Wu’s mansion didn’t even dare to make a scene, only secretly erecting a slightly better tombstone for the Ula Nara clan. Not everyone knew about this news.

Yet Madam Guo received the news at Wutai Mountain.

Learning that the Ula Nara clan was dead and that the capital was becoming increasingly chaotic, she saw it as a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation. She gladly avoided the monks at Wutai Mountain and slipped back into the capital half a year ago.

She arrived just before the imperial carriage returned from the grand campaign, as Lin Fu had already reported.

As the wife of the late Prince Lian and the granddaughter of the deceased Prince An, Madam Guo hadn’t committed any obvious wrongs, so her return to the capital wasn’t a crime, and few knew about it, which is why it caused a stir at the palace gates.

In the past, this eighth wife was the most flamboyant.

Madam Guo was stunned, "Was it you?"

Geng Shuning shook her head, "No, I just whispered a few words in the Emperor’s ear, had the Imperial Guards turn a blind eye, and coaxed you into staying in the capital."

Guo Luoluo: "..." She has a blessed appearance, but in the end, she's still a fox spirit.

Her gaze turned even colder, "You don't think that just because Ula Nara is dead, I would stand by your side, do you? A bondservant like you isn't worthy of my support!"

At Wutai Mountain, Guo Luoluo had also been controlling the situation in the capital.

With He Zhuo by her side, she had engaged in many activities detrimental to the Emperor, such as secretly colluding with the Dzungars.

She sought nothing else; there was nothing in this world worth her concern anymore. She was simply unwilling to accept defeat.

Yin Shi was more suited to be emperor than the power-hungry Crown Prince, but fate was unfair, having him die alongside the foolish eldest and second princes, allowing Fourth Brother to take advantage.

If Yin Shi were still alive, it's uncertain who would have ended up on the throne.

She couldn't bear to watch the insincere and unfeeling Fourth Prince become the ruler of the world. As long as she could cause trouble for the Emperor, she was happy to scheme.

To some extent, Yunxiang was not wrong to think she was ill. From the day Yin Shi passed away, she had been ill, a sickness she could never recover from in this lifetime...

Geng Shuning watched Guo Luoluo, interrupting her thoughts.

"Don't speak so absolutely. Even if you and those behind you support the third prince to ascend the throne, allowing Hongwang to manipulate the court, you would still be confined to the small plot of the inner court."

"Consort Xi's temperament won't allow others to climb over her head. If Hongwang had the ability to usurp the throne, his birth mother is still alive. How much filial piety could he have for you?"

Seeing Guo Luoluo's face darken, Geng Shuning's words became even sharper.

"Even if you became the Empress Dowager, the most revered woman in the world, in the history books, you would only leave behind a surname."

"The glory given to you is evidence of Yin Shi's betrayal. If I were you, I would be so angry I could spit blood underground. What good does all your scheming do for you?"

Guo Luoluo looked at her coldly, "And what can you offer me?"

Geng Shuning replied straightforwardly, "I can place you above all other women, second only to one, not as the granddaughter of the late An Prince, nor as the daughter of a disgraced official or someone's principal wife and mother!"

"I can let you, by your own abilities, make the name Guo Luo Luo Ying Hui remembered for generations, not as anyone's appendage!"

Guo Luoluo was both angered and stunned by Geng Shuning's words, annoyed at the belittlement of her status, yet struck by the future Geng Shuning painted.

But Guo Luoluo was not one to be easily intimidated.

She had thrived in the An Prince's mansion as the daughter of a disgraced official, managed to control Yin Shi, making him indifferent to other women, and even had He Zhuo continue to serve her after his master's death. She was no fool.

The arrogance and domineering seen by outsiders were merely her means to secure her footing. Duanhe Empress and Ula Nara were dead, yet she was still alive and well.

She put away her fierce expression and calmly asked, "How do I know you're not lying?"

Geng Shuning appreciated such directness.

In this world, it's not easy to encounter a few she-wolves; two have already died, and she truly didn't want to miss the last one standing.

She didn't mince words, "With your intelligence, if I were lying, when the truth comes out, a jade vase cannot withstand the rubble. There's no need to deceive you."

"As long as you can prove your worth, it won't be long before you can place yourself on the most glorious stage in the capital. I await with open arms."

As Guo Luoluo turned to ponder the flowers and plants outside, she noticed Zhao Song peeking from a corner.

Knowing Zhao Song was a favorite in the imperial court, she was slightly surprised at the Emperor's concern for Geng Shuning.

Although it was known that Geng Shuning was favored, no one expected the Emperor to be so protective of her, as if she were the apple of his eye.

When Prince Lian's mansion and the Fourth Prince's residence were still neighbors, the Emperor had never been so attentive to any woman.

She gave a thoughtful glance at Geng Shuning, who was quietly sipping her tea.

Even Yin Shi couldn't have managed this. Now, Prince Lian's mansion was nothing more than a place of sorrow for her, with nothing worth lingering over.

This wasn't the time for long talks, so she nodded quickly.

"Alright, I'll prove my worth to you. But if you fail to keep your promise, I won't let you off!"

With that, she didn't wait for Geng Shuning's response and directly stood up, leaving the pavilion.

Qiao He and Qingfang were both stunned.

Qiao He frowned, "Mistress, the Eighth Prince's wife has a difficult temperament. Who knows when she might turn on you. Please reconsider!"

Qingfang also chimed in softly, "Many incidents in the capital before were linked to the Eighth Prince's wife. I fear she might appear submissive to you but actually be two-faced..."

Geng Shuning stood up with a smile, "I want her to be a blade, cutting a bloody path for women throughout the Qing Dynasty."

"As for whether the blade might cut my hand, let me tell you this: as long as the benefits are enticing enough and irreplaceable, the blade will never dare to turn inward."

Zhao Song, eavesdropping, heard every word clearly. Without revealing himself near Geng Shuning, he rushed back to the Cining Palace and whispered what he had heard to his master, who was keeping vigil.

Yinzhen knelt beside Yun Ti, watching him carefully in case he caused a scene. Upon hearing the report, he simply waved his hand dismissively, saying nothing more.

Some tasks are better delegated. Raising a few sharp blades was necessary.

*

The difficulties Guo Luoluo had kindly warned about soon arrived.

Emperor Kangxi issued an edict: due to the scorching weather and the depleted imperial treasury after the recent war, it was unsuitable to be lavish. The Empress Dowager's body would remain in the Cining Palace for only seven days before being moved to the Huangxinzhuang Palace as a temporary resting place.

Yun Ti would keep vigil for his mother until she was buried in the imperial mausoleum, after which further arrangements would be made.

Although the Empress Dowager had not been formally titled as such, she was still the Empress Dowager. Apart from Noble Consort Yi, who was in charge of the funeral arrangements, Noble Consort Tong, Noble Consort Hui, and Consort Rong, along with other high-ranking consorts, came daily to the Cining Palace to mourn.

Aware that mourning was required for only seven days, compared to the twenty-seven days of mourning for Empress Xiaozhuang, everyone was relatively composed in the first few days.

By noon on the seventh day, Noble Consort Tong suddenly came down with heatstroke, suffering from headaches and nausea, yet she refused to leave, insisting on mourning in the Cining Palace.

The noble ladies and ministers lauded her dedication.

Noble Consort Hui glanced around and seized the moment to speak, "I heard the Emperor is busy with state affairs during the day and keeps vigil in the Cining Palace every night. Why isn't Female Official Suining here?"

Consort Rong smirked and raised her voice, "She's an Imperial Attendant, naturally serving at the imperial court. Perhaps she comes at night."

Noble Consort Hui shook her head disapprovingly, "The Emperor isn't short of attendants!"

"Even Noble Consort Yi and Noble Consort Tong, who are elders, mourn daily. I heard Female Official Suining has the destiny of a true phoenix, yet she shows no filial piety. How could she ever be fit to be Empress?"

The others present agreed.

After all, the deceased deserved respect. A woman who won't even feign mourning can hardly be a true phoenix, let alone aspire to the throne.

Noble Consort Tong weakly tried to stop them, "Don't speak carelessly. If the gods hear, they may chastise us for our lack of devotion, and it could affect the nation's fortune!"

Noble Consort Hui sneered, "I don't believe in true or false phoenixes. If she were truly destined to be Empress, she would eventually call the Empress Dowager 'mother.' Is it fitting for her to cling to the Emperor on such a day?"

Consort Rong nodded, "Let's not cause any embarrassment. It's better to have this female official go and keep vigil, so that Empress Xiaozhuang can see for herself whether this is a true phoenix or not. Don't you all agree?"

As they were putting on their act, suddenly there was an impolite, loud sneer.

"If Empress Xiaozhuang acknowledges the true phoenix, then the Empress Dowager would be considered false."

"It's not even past the seventh day yet, and you're already disrespecting the Empress Dowager in front of her coffin. Aren't you afraid her ghost will come to settle accounts with you tonight?"

Everyone inside and outside the hall, hearing the commotion, was stunned.

Outside the hall, those kneeling and mourning, including but not limited to imperial princes, ministers, and imperial clansmen... each and every one of them was speechless.

The wife of the former Prince Lian speaking up for the emperor's favorite?!

Yunxiang rubbed his ears, looking dazed, "Eighth Brother's wife, this..." Is she really sick?

She must be out of her mind!

She, who thinks she's the noblest and looks down on everyone, is actually speaking up for a female official from a bondservant background?

"Am I hallucinating?" Yun'e was also shocked, pinching himself hard.

"It doesn't hurt at all..."

"Ouch! You pinched me!" Yunxiang clutched his side, gasping in pain, and kicked Yun'e hard.

But Yun'e didn't care, just strained to see the drama that had just started inside.

Such shocking drama is rare!

Others were similar to him, all straining their ears to listen as Consort Hui was the first to angrily speak up.

"Guo Luoluo, you're being disrespectful! When elders are speaking, where do you get the right to interrupt..."

"Enough! You still think you're Yin Shi's foster mother, manipulating Consort Liang, making our whole family serve your son as servants?"

Guo Luoluo never feared burning bridges with others. Once she decided on something, she dared to do anything.

"All of you, elders who show no respect, don't even look at where this is. Speaking of which, none of your ranks are higher than a titled female official. What face do you have to talk nonsense here!"

"The emperor hasn't spoken yet, but you're already showing off. If you have the guts, go to the Changchun Garden and say it, see if the emperor will pay any attention to you!"

"You're just bored and looking for trouble, picking on Female Official Suining. Why don't you also copy some blood scriptures and ask Buddha who you think you are?"

Yunxiang and his brothers almost couldn't hold back their laughter, biting their tongues hard. This was not the place to laugh.

But considering it, Guo Luoluo's sharp tongue, only Noble Consort Yi and the eighth wife have honed it. It's really satisfying to hear!

Consort Rong, furious with Guo Luoluo, stood up in grief and indignation—

"This is outrageous!"

"You, a junior, being so harsh to your elders, uttering harsh words in public. I will go to the Changchun Garden and ask if the emperor will manage this or not!"

Guo Luoluo was not afraid at all, even deliberately moving her position.

"Please go ahead, and while you're at it, ask the emperor if the elders are unkind, harsh to the juniors, sowing discord in public, tarnishing the imperial family's reputation, will the emperor manage it or not!"

"Snort—" Someone finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

Yunxiang held Yun'e down, and the brothers both buried their faces in their chests.

Except for Yunzhi, Yunqi and the others were doing much the same, fearing that someone might see them or that Yun Ti, who had fainted, might suddenly return and give them a few punches.

Consort Hui and Consort Rong were nearly fainting with rage.

When it came to the slow, deliberate undermining of someone, they had spent many years in the deep palace and were sure they wouldn't lose to anyone.

But they feared this kind of reckless individual, who feared nothing and would curse like a fishwife. They really couldn't handle it and couldn't afford to lose face.

Seeing the situation turning bad, Noble Consort Tong let out a soft moan and feigned a faint, asking to be carried away to avoid losing face to Guo Luoluo.

Su Peisheng soon appeared at the hall's entrance, his expression downcast.

"This is a place of mourning; noise is forbidden. Any disrespect or offense to the late Empress Dowager's coffin is a grave crime."

"If anyone breaks the rules again, this servant must ask the honored ones to return whence they came and await the judgment of the Emperor and the late Emperor!"

He looked indifferently at Consort Hui and Consort Rong: "The two Consorts must be weary. This is no place to rest. By His Majesty's order, please go to the side hall to mourn."

Consort Hui and Consort Rong seethed with hatred!

They had finally seized an opportunity to stir up everyone, hoping to have Geng Shuning leave the palace before the Empress Dowager was sent to the Huangxin Zhuang Palace, to prevent her from growing closer to the Emperor.

Yun Ti, who might have intervened, had fainted and been moved to the side hall. Noble Consort Yi, who would have spoken up for Geng Shuning, had gone to consult with the Imperial Physician and was absent from the hall.

There could hardly have been a better moment.

The last person they expected, Guo Luoluo, actually spoke up for Geng Shuning. Wasn't she the one who looked down on the Emperor's line the most?!

Consort Hui and Consort Rong glared daggers at Guo Luoluo, but seeing her unmoved, they could only grit their teeth and retreat to the side hall in shame.

With Guo Luoluo's intervention, even those with much on their minds could only bite their tongues, and no one dared to argue with her.

*

When Yinzhen received the news, he regarded Geng Shuning with a particularly complex expression.

"How... did you convince the eighth brother's wife?"

Even someone like the Ula Nara clan, renowned for her virtue, had been so incensed by Guo Luoluo that she had thrown things in the mansion more than once, yet she couldn't win an argument with this sister-in-law who was even fiercer in a fight.

When Guo Luoluo departed for Wutai Mountain, Yinzhen had breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Ula Nara clan and Guo Luoluo would clash and cause unrest in the palace.

Such a troublemaker had actually been subdued by this rascal...

Geng Shuning looked up and saw Yinzhen staring at her, so she blinked at him triumphantly.

"My way with words could raise the dead, and it's just a matter of sweet-talking a woman!"

She was particularly pleased with Guo Luoluo's efficiency and felt so at ease that she couldn't help but feel a bit smug.

"With all my skills in persuasion, if I weren't a woman, you men wouldn't stand a chance!"

Yinzhen looked at her coolly: "Alright, when we get married, I'll be waiting for all your skills, and I'll let you be on top all night."

Geng Shuning: "..." Your mother hasn't even passed her seventh day of mourning yet; is this kind of talk appropriate?!