Chapter 135

Chapter 135

In early July, the Empress Dowager's casket was moved to the Huangxinzhuang Imperial Retreat.

Yun Ti, who was escorting the casket, took his family and voluntarily requested to guard the Western Tombs, causing quite a stir among those in the capital familiar with his temperament.

Even Yunzhi, who had been idling away in his mansion, couldn't help but rush to the Changchun Garden to persuade his mother to stop stirring up trouble.

The Emperor showed no mercy even to his own younger brother, so how could he possibly show leniency to his half-siblings?

Although it was known that Yun Ti had forced his way into the imperial court and even brandished weapons in the Emperor's presence, which was indeed no small offense, the old saying still held true.

"While the old patriarch is still alive, Fourth Brother can be merciless. He spared the life of the fourteenth brother, but we brothers have set many traps for Fourth Brother in the past..."

"If you keep stirring up trouble, I'm afraid I won't even have the chance to care for you in your old age!"

Consort Rong was thoroughly alarmed by her son.

Her strained relationship with her daughter-in-law was already public knowledge, and the third prince's wife, Donggo Shi, hadn't visited the Changchun Garden to pay her respects in a long time.

If anything were to happen to her son, even if she fought tooth and nail to benefit her birth family, they wouldn't support her in her old age—she was already a member of the Aisin Gioro family.

After being persuaded by Yunzhi, Consort Rong immediately shut her doors to visitors and stopped concerning herself with her birth family's involvement in palace politics.

Consort Hui, however, still had the energy to cause trouble, not for her birth family but mainly for her own grandson, hoping he could ally with the third prince.

But before she could devise any new ways to irritate Geng Shuning, shortly after the autumn harvest, an imperial edict suddenly circulated in the court.

The Emperor, following the Empress Dowager's decree, conferred the title of "Superior Lady Yinghui" upon the former wife of Prince Lian, Guo Luoluo, and tasked her with overseeing the merit verification of the selected palace maids in the three palaces.

The Manchu and Han Eight Banners families in the capital were all baffled.

By seniority and rank, the title of "Superior Lady" should never have gone to Guo Luoluo. There were many women of higher virtue and more illustrious family backgrounds, at least not the daughter of a disgraced official.

Moreover, the highest rank in the palace at that time was only that of a consort, and the anniversary of the deposed empress was approaching, with no successor in place. Who was she representing?

The most absurd part was that everyone knew that while the Emperor and the former Prince Lian had been close in their youth, as they grew older, their discord became evident through their respective families.

How could the Emperor appoint Guo Luoluo to act on behalf of the Empress?

Disapproving voices in the court aside, those women who relied on their seniority or had familial ties with Guo Luoluo and the former Prince An immediately flocked to Prince Lian's mansion.

They wanted to know on what grounds she had been granted such a title, and even if they couldn't find out... at least they could use their numbers to pressure Guo Luoluo into securing some benefits for their daughters in the palace selection.

From Guo Luoluo's perspective, these people either had forgotten her reputation in the capital from earlier years or had never had any brains to begin with.

She, an orphan, who had even dared to confront the elders in the palace, thought they could pressure her with seniority and blood ties?

What a pipe dream!

Guo Luoluo decisively called for her servants, armed with large sticks, and pushed them out of the gate.

She stood between the two lion statues, holding a cup of tea to moisten her throat, and delivered a scathing rebuke without missing a beat.

"When it was time for you to speak, you were all mute, as if your tongues had been soaked in wine. Now that you see benefits, you swarm into our mansion. I spit on you!"

"If you want to know why I was granted the title of Superior Lady, have the guts to go to the imperial presence and ask, or even barge into the Changchun Garden! If you're not sure how hard your heads are, I'd be happy to test them with these sticks!"

"Disrespecting your elders doesn't work with me. In terms of rank, I outrank you. I don't make you kneel because I don't want you dirtying my floor. Do you really think I don't know about the filth in your mansions?"

"Try coming to my door again, and if you provoke me, I'll expose everything, making the whole capital buzz with gossip!"

From the previous shows of force by Consort Hui and Consort Rong, it's clear that the women of various households at this time value their reputations.

The intricate verbal battles, wrapped in a facade of gentleness and grace, are something every woman is adept at. They are accustomed to a life of comfort and luxury, but they are not used to dropping the pretense and engaging in public shouting matches.

Especially those who came to the door, many of whom are quite elderly and hold the status of family matriarchs at home, can't bear the shame. Some fainted on the spot, and from then on, they hid their faces, fearing that people would remember which family they belonged to.

Others, without a word, turned red-faced and left in a huff, wishing they could run away faster.

Afraid that if they walked too slowly, they might get beaten, and who knows how long it would take to regain their dignity.

*

After the scene at Prince Lian's mansion, everyone put on a calm front.

As for the court? Sorry, but there really were censors who stood up to denounce the so-called "women meddling in men's affairs," saying that women should not appear in public. But another grandson of Guo Luoluo was not to be trifled with.

Prince of Xiang, Yunxiang, along with his younger brother Yun'e and their elder brother Yunqi, the imperial clansman, verbally lashed out at the opposition, posing three pointed questions—

"Who else should handle the selection of the palace maids if not women?"

"Do you want to intrude into women's private quarters every day to ask questions?"

"Have you no shame, you old lecher, still trying to bring a few into your own household?"

The censor was so angry he could only fume and glare, unable to outshout Yunxiang, and could only repeatedly mutter about impropriety, tearfully begging the Emperor to intervene.

Yinzhen succinctly stated, "Old Ninth may speak bluntly, but he's not wrong. Before you impeach, first present a convincing proposal, and I will support justice, not favoritism."

The civil and military officials: "..." Look at the smug face of the Prince of Xiang, no one buys that, not even a fool!

But though they thought it, no one really dared to make a fuss.

It's no use being unruly; Guo Luoluo was formidable even when she was just a prince's wife, more daring than anyone, and now that she's a high-ranking lady, who dares to cross her?

As for the Prince of Xiang, needless to say, he's a reckless troublemaker who could even pick a fight with a dog, and at his age, he can still throw a tantrum in the Spring Garden. Is there any reasoning with him?

Within half a month, the newly appointed Lady Yinghui, with the cooperation of the Imperial Clan Court managed by Yunqi, swiftly finalized the verification results of the ninety-seven selected palace maids with the highest merit. The results were stamped with the seal of the Ministry of Rites and posted as a red list outside the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

Shuntian Prefecture already had the authority to oversee the provincial examinations, with Confucian professors and low-ranking instructors in the government office.

Right next to the red list, they set up a booth to explain the origins of these selected palace maids' merits to the passing people and the Manchu and Han Eight Banners families who came to inquire.

"The female officials of the Yanhui Pavilion, totaling nineteen, prepared a large number of fine stoves, fine charcoal, and thick cloth. For this alone, after verification, the highest merit was seven thousand two hundred, and the lowest was three thousand five hundred."

"One tael of silver equals one point of merit. The fine stoves are now the cheapest at two qian each, and the fine charcoal is three for two wen. These good winter items, distributed to the needy citizens of the Qing Dynasty, have reduced the number of people freezing to death in the capital by tens of thousands in a year!"

...

"And this official school lady, who donated twenty-seven official schools, also donated thousands of carts of grain when the court was at war, and heaps of silver were carried directly to the Ministry of Revenue, all to make our lives better!"

"Do you all know what official schools are? They are places that teach people skills, better than the Ci'an Hall, not only teaching literacy but also the six classical arts and the virtues, appearance, skills, and speech of women. If you learn well, you can change your family's status!"

...

"These selected palace maids of the Chu Xiu Palace, although they are seeking good marriages, have also done many good deeds!"

"Look, the Shumulu selected palace maid ranked ninety-seventh has a merit of four thousand nine hundred. All this silver has been exchanged for imperial rice and grain seeds, which have also been distributed to the people!"

...

With Confucian scholars composing the texts and instructors wielding wooden megaphones, they tirelessly publicized the contributions made by the ninety-seven selected palace maids to the Qing Dynasty.

At present, the people were struggling financially, and even the few coins needed to listen to storytelling in tea houses were too much for most.

The instructors' presentations were far more engaging than the storytellers', quickly drawing continuous cheers from the onlookers.

Geng Shuning had not rushed to make too many changes earlier, as she followed Yinzhen on his southern and northern tours, getting a real sense of the nation's plight and realizing that the low productivity forced a more measured approach.

Many of the things she had introduced earlier required time to be digested, and without this digestion, any attempt at change would be futile.

Now, three years since she introduced the exquisite charcoal and stoves, and with grain and cloth gradually spreading across the Qing Dynasty, she wasn’t a bodhisattva performing good deeds without seeking recognition; she wanted everyone to know that women's capabilities were not inferior to men's.

As for whether the families of these selected palace maids had contributed, who knew? If they were willing to scheme, then let them be the men behind successful women.

The efficiency of Guo Luoluo pleasantly surprised Geng Shuning, who wished there were more like her.

Upon hearing this, Female Official Suining, who could freely enter and leave the palace with her imperial waist token, rolled her eyes at Geng Shuning, showing little respect.

"My skills are not innate; they were taught by my Nanny Chen. If you want my skills, select more ambitious palace maids, and I'll train them for you."

Of course, Guo Luoluo was no bodhisattva either. Seeing Geng Shuning's eyes light up, she smiled even more brightly.

"Of course, if my achievements are sufficient, the title of Female Official Suining won't be enough; at least call me Madame Yong."

Geng Shuning: "..." The character 'Yong' was part of the national title; this woman was even more daring than she was.

However, Guo Luoluo's words indeed opened her mind.

In her previous life, she had assistants; it made no sense that in this life, approaching the pinnacle of what women could achieve, she wouldn't have a few secretaries.

Qiao He and others, who came from the secret guards, were stronger in martial arts than ordinary guards, but when it came to using their brains, even the most detail-oriented Qingfang couldn't match Nanny Chen.

As for her Female Official Suining... well, she wouldn't humiliate herself.

It was wiser to seek out suitable talents to bring to her side and have specialized nannies and ladies train them.

Before the first snow fell, the news about the merits of the selected palace maids had spread widely in the capital region and even in Henan, Shandong, and Jiangnan, becoming a widely celebrated story.

*

Why so?

Because the selected palace maids, whose merits (credits) had been verified without error—nineteen from Yanhui Pavilion, thirteen from Shufang Studio, and sixty-five from Chuxiu Palace—with the highest merit being fifty-two thousand and the lowest four thousand nine hundred, all were unexpectedly rewarded generously.

The top palace maid with fifty-two thousand points was from Yanhui Pavilion, and the second with exactly fifty thousand points was from Shufang Studio, coming from a distant branch of the family of Ninth Prince's wife, Donggo Shi, and the wealthy Su family of Jiangnan.

The former, following the Ninth Prince in business, invested all her earnings into the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, essentially purchasing credits with silver.

The latter, though a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan, did not directly donate silver but converted it into rice, cloth, and other supplies from Jiangnan, which were donated to the court.

Moreover, the Su family's maternal relatives were the Gu family, one of the prominent figures from the remnants of the previous dynasty.

The Su family and their maternal relatives often provided free lessons to the public in government schools and even distributed enlightenment books widely, establishing many charitable halls to shelter orphans and beggars, garnering them a stellar local reputation.

The day after Guo Luo Luo Ying Hui submitted the list of selected palace maids to the palace, the Emperor's decree arrived, and even the Su family in Jiangnan received an urgent message.

The selected palace maid named Donggo Xiangtong was granted the title of Third-Rank Palace Command Female Official, awarded a red book and an iron contract, allowing her family to reduce their punishment by one degree.

Su Wenqin, far away in Jiangnan, was also granted the title of Third-Rank Palace Command, awarded a red book and an iron contract, allowing his family to reduce their punishment by one degree, and was promoted from the Han White Banner to the Han Army Plain Yellow Banner.

Other selected palace maids, totaling thirteen individuals with ten thousand merits each, were all appointed as fourth-rank inner court female officials.

Nine individuals, each with eight thousand merits, were appointed as fifth-rank female historians.

Forty-two individuals, each with six thousand merits, were appointed as sixth-rank record-keeping female officials.

The remaining ones, each with four thousand merits, were appointed as seventh-rank ceremonial female officials.

All female officials could choose to be directly granted marriage or enter the palace to learn the rules in the Bureau of Rites and serve their masters for three years.

Those who complete three years will have their rank promoted by one level upon marriage, or they can remain in the palace, advancing by merit to titled female officials, with no upper limit.

*

Once the palace's decree was issued, from the capital outward, the Eight Banners families across the Qing Dynasty were in an uproar upon receiving the news.

Especially those who ignored the rules, families unwilling to spend money, or those who looked down on the lower class and did no practical work, were filled with regret.

They had no idea that selecting a palace maid could bring such benefits.

In the past, the status of the lady of the family in Manchu households was high, as entering the palace could benefit the family.

But most banner families were realistic; selecting a palace maid at best meant becoming a consort, and palace life was tough, with many being dismissed and marrying off.

Out of over eight thousand selected palace maids, more than two thousand were chosen, and the rest married off.

Among the remaining selected palace maids of the three palaces, after reporting to the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court, several hundred had already given up their status and were dismissed to marry off.

But now, selected palace maids can enter the palace as female officials, receive iron-clad certificates, be granted marriage with their rank, and even be promoted to a higher banner!

Who could have dreamed that selected palace maids could achieve so much, even marrying into the lowest-ranking noble families, they would still be imperial clansmen!!

Even families who don't value the certificates but value banner promotion, who wouldn't want to join the Plain Yellow Banner, the emperor's household!!!

For a time, the status of the ladies in Manchu and Han Eight Banners households rose even higher.

Even ordinary banner families who favored sons over daughters dared not mistreat their daughters, as this was a real ladder to the heavens.

As for the northern Mongols, there was no immediate reaction, not because of late news, but because daughters in the Mongol Eight Banners already had high status.

But after receiving the news, various tribes were restless, and the northern Mongols valued the palace's female official positions.

Once they entered the palace as female officials, if they caught the emperor's eye or were granted marriage to Manchu Eight Banners' imperial clansmen and powerful families, their tribes' fortunes could improve.

Unfortunately, the Mongol Eight Banners' selected palace maids lacked full merits, partly due to neglect and partly due to fighting the Dzungars.

After learning of the decree, the northern Mongol tribes immediately sent envoys to the capital.

In the Board of Ritual, Yunxiang and Yun'e were swamped; even Khorchin envoys came to the Changchun Garden to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, seeking inside information on earning merits.

When Emperor Kangxi learned of this, he instinctively looked toward the Yuanmingyuan, remained silent, and then laughed.

He asked Liang Jiugong, "Guess, was this the girl's idea or Fourth Brother's?"

Liang Jiugong, who had served Emperor Kangxi all his life, dared to speak more and joked, "Your Majesty must have known the answer, whether it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat."

"In my opinion, the mice are running into the cat's nest, and the prosperous era Your Majesty hopes for is near!"

Emperor Kangxi laughed and scolded Liang Jiugong for being sly, "Are you looking at my old age and already paying respects to Fourth Brother and his wife's dock, waiting for that girl to support you in your old age, right?"

Liang Jiugong's heart stirred; this was the first time the master had mentioned the couple.

He quickly put on an innocent expression, "This old servant won't go anywhere but Changchun Garden! Wherever Your Majesty goes, this old servant will follow. If anything were to happen to Your Majesty... this old servant's life would lose all meaning."

Emperor Kangxi gazed thoughtfully at the snow drifting down outside, stretched slightly, and let out a soft chuckle.

"Who said I’d spend my whole life in Changchun Garden? I must take a good look..." to see if the empire he’d protected for most of his life would ever know true peace and prosperity.

Liang Jiugong caught the hint, his expression shifting subtly, but he simply smiled, bowed, and silently replaced Emperor Kangxi’s tea.

*

With something exciting on the horizon, the days flew by.

Geng Shuning had just finished getting to know all seventy-three selected palace maids who were willing to serve as female officials in the palace, and before she knew it, it was already the twelfth lunar month.

She pulled Guo Luo Luo Ying Hui back and forth between the Hall of Mental Cultivation and Shufang Zhai, rearranging Shufang Zhai to create a space for teaching the secretaries—well, female officials.

Once the plan was underway, she realized she was short-handed, wishing she could clone Guo Luoluo eight times over.

They had to promote the Linglong stoves and Linglong charcoal, as well as the newly woven woolen carpets, and organize the eager selected palace maids to hand out Laba porridge to the people.

They also had to hand out monthly allowances to the consorts in the rear palace and the New Year's gifts to the servants. Even Guo Luoluo was too exhausted to muster her usual sarcasm.

Yinzhen struggled to find time with Geng Shuning.

By the time he woke up, Geng Shuning was still in bed. When he returned from court, Geng Shuning had already left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When he returned at night, Geng Shuning was busy sketching blueprints, and once done, she’d collapse into bed without much conversation.

After two months of this, Yinzhen had had enough.

Just after Laba, after dinner, he snatched Geng Shuning’s blueprints and tossed her onto the imperial bed.

Geng Shuning was left disoriented.

Though it didn’t hurt, tumbling into the quilt left her bewildered.

"What are you doing, my lord? I was sketching a foot-powered plow. Spring is just a few months away, and time is tight..."

Yinzhen trapped her in his arms, "You always have a set of principles when advising me, but why don't you know how to rest yourself?"

"Important matters are never-ending. You are busy every day, have you forgotten something?"

Geng Shuning lay in his arms, tilting her head and rubbing against his chest... Hmm, it's been several months since we last... Could it be that this man has developed chest muscles?!

She had also been abstinent for several months. After eating so well before, being close like this made her heart itch.

The grand plans for the people's livelihood in her mind were instantly forgotten, and playful thoughts emerged from her clear apricot eyes, looking at Yinzhen with a watery gaze.

"My lord, do you feel neglected by me? Well, I kept myself busy because I was afraid I couldn't control myself and make the emperor commit an unfilial act. Don't mistake my good intentions."

Within a hundred days of the Empress Dowager's death, all weddings and funerals were prohibited.

As a filial son, one must mourn for a year. If a child were accidentally conceived, it wouldn't just be a scandal; it would be recorded in history.

Otherwise, how could the flamboyant Qian Xiaosi change the three-year mourning period for his father to twenty-seven days? It was to avoid ruining his reputation.

Although sleeping together wouldn't hurt as long as no one outside found out and no life was created.

But Geng Shuning didn't want to drink too much contraceptive soup, as it could cause uterine coldness. Her boyfriend's family really had a throne to inherit, so it was better to have children early.

Yinzhen lowered his head, looking at the little fox who spoke righteously but whose face lingered on his chest. He wanted to laugh but was also stirred by her antics, finding it hard to control his restlessness.

He took a deep breath, pulled over the quilt, and wrapped Geng Shuning up like a rice dumpling, patting her bottom through the quilt.

"Behave. I just wanted to have a chat with you. You're even busier than I, the emperor, and don't even have time to share a meal with me."

Geng Shuning wriggled discontentedly, "Isn't it because I want to establish myself quickly so as not to trouble you in the court?"

With the previous turmoil caused by the Empress Dowager in Anyou Palace, being conferred the title of empress wasn't too difficult.

But if it were a grand wedding to establish her as empress, given her years in the palace and the significance of being empress, it might not be easy.

In simple terms, being conferred is more akin to being legitimized, while being established as empress truly means being the principal wife, and the prestige of the empress's clan is different. Just consider the disparity in prestige between the Hesheri clan and the Niohuru clan.

Once the grand wedding takes place and the Ula Nara clan is deposed, Geng Shuning would be considered half a founding empress, and the Niohuru and Tong Siya clans would be the first to oppose.

Unless she has merits that are beyond dispute, for the court, it's merely about the people living happily and healthily.

This has always been her goal; she must achieve notable merits in areas such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation before the edict to establish her as empress is issued.

As she pondered, Geng Shuning's thoughts unconsciously drifted back to the rake bicycle she had been drawing...

So when Yinzhen spoke again, she didn't catch his words at first.

After a long moment, she looked up dazedly, her eyes wide, and asked, "What did you say?"

Yinzhen pinched her cheek in playful punishment, "I said, I've already instructed the ninth to submit a memorial at tomorrow's morning court session, proposing the matter of establishing you as empress."

Geng Shuning anxiously propped herself up on his chest, "But I haven't prepared..."

Yinzhen pressed her back into his arms, "Ning'er, when I was at war, you stood by me through wind and snow. Now, you can't shut me out. I want to face the storm with you."

Perhaps the words were too heartwarming, or perhaps her boyfriend's body heat was sufficient, Geng Shuning felt warm all over, turning into a heavy sourness at the tip of her nose.

She hugged Yinzhen's waist, deeply moved: "Wuwu... my lord, I want to bear your children!"

Yinzhen: "..." That's crossing species; he really can't do that!