Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Yongzheng
The man opened his mouth pitifully and drank the medicine. Wan Ning threw the prepared plums into his mouth.
After helping him take the medicine, Wan Ning sat by the window mending shoe soles without saying another word to him.
"Madam Gui, please bring the bedding and move the couch away. Place a small bed in the place. Separate the step-out bed from the small bed I sleep on with a thick curtain."
Outside the door, Yan Jin was filled with mixed emotions. Although he could not sleep in the same bed with his wife, at least he was in the same room with her.
It has been a long time since I had the opportunity to set foot in the main courtyard of the concubine's house.
All traces left by the Eighth Master in the main courtyard of the Lady had been cleared away at some point, not even a pillow for resting was left.
Yan Jin's eyes rolled around, thinking that if he repainted the main courtyard of the concubine's house with traces of the master, maybe the master would be remembered by the concubine and awaken her affection for the prince.
"Yan Jin, you will sleep there from now on!" Aunt Gui pointed to the north courtyard.
"Ah, Ma'am, just give me a seat. I'll bring the bedding over in a minute."
"I just wonder if the things that the Eighth Master sent to the Concubine's main courtyard before could be sent back? It would be more convenient for Master and Concubine to use them."
Nanny Gui's face immediately turned stern. "Yan Jin, put away your little thoughts. As servants, we have no right to compete with the master and his wife on matters between them."
Yan Jin shrank his neck and said with a wry smile, "Yes, yes, you're right."
....
At the end of June, the Crown Prince was reinstated. On this day, Chu Xian was preparing to go to the Eighth Prince's Mansion to visit Wan Ning in person, but was surprised to hear that the Crown Prince and his wife were visiting.
If only the Crown Prince came, Chu Xian, as a female member of the harem, would not have to attend, but the Crown Princess came along, which clearly showed that she wanted her to attend as well.
Chu Xian changed her clothes with gritted teeth. When she stepped out from behind the screen, she saw the Fourth Master standing outside the screen, extending his hand towards her.
"What are they doing here? Humph, it must be up to no good!"
Yinzhen held Fu Jin's hand tightly, caressing it tenderly, and said calmly: "When the enemy comes, we will fight them; when the water comes, we will block it with earth."
The couple came together to the flower hall in the front yard.
"Fourth brother, I have come here today to apologize. I have wronged you in the past, and today I have brought your second sister-in-law with me to apologize."
"Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, I apologize to you two." The prince bowed and kowtowed in a humble manner.
"Sister-in-law, thank you for your mediation on behalf of the Crown Prince." The Crown Princess took Nara's hand affectionately and pretended to be grateful.
Chu Xian greeted politely: "I'm glad that my second brother and sister-in-law are safe and sound."
For a time, brothers were respectful to each other, and sisters-in-law lived in harmony.
Chu Xian was keenly aware that the prince's gaze would fall on her from time to time. She endured the nausea and waited until the prince and his wife left.
Back in the inner courtyard, Chu Xian was stunned by the sound of cups and plates smashing coming from the study. The Fourth Master was very perceptive and could see what the Crown Prince was thinking.
Time passed and it was the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 45th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi.
The six-year-old Hongzhou sat on a persimmon tree and picked bird eggs, while the six-year-old Hongli sat under the tree and watched.
Eight-year-old Honghui stood on a tree branch picking persimmons with a basket.
Chu Xian poked her head out of the study and called out softly, "The prince is back home~"
"Run, Father is back!" Hong Zhou stepped on the servant's shoulders and jumped down from the tree.
The three brothers rushed into the study like a gust of wind, grabbed the Zizhi Tongjian and pretended to study hard.
Chu Xian poked her head out from behind the screen to take a peek, and immediately burst out laughing.
"Zhu'er, you're holding the book upside down."
The fifth prince, Hong Zhou, is simply the reincarnation of a naughty monkey. Among the three children, he is the least attentive to his studies and gives the fourth master the most headaches.
Chu Xian, however, was extremely indifferent. As long as the children were healthy, she, as a mother, could accept their mediocrity.
Even if Hong Zhou does nothing, he will have two brothers to take care of him and will never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of his life.
"Mother, you, you, you! You lied about military intelligence again!" Hong Zhou put his hands on his hips and jumped up and down in anger.
"I'm not afraid of Ama. Even if Ama really comes, I won't be afraid. I dare to sit on Ama's shoulders and read. I like to read books upside down."
For some reason, his fourth brother Hongli, who was sitting opposite him, kept winking at him.
Chu Xian raised her eyes and saw the Fourth Master walking into the study with a stern face.
"Bang!" The ruler slammed heavily on Hong Zhou's desk, and the little guy immediately dodged and hid behind Chu Xian without any backbone.
"Mother, help me."
"Asshole! If you like reading books backwards, I'll punish you by making you recite the 35th and 63rd chapters of Zizhi Tongjian backwards today."
The naughty kid who was so arrogant just now immediately tucked his tail between his legs and sat at his desk to study hard.
Chu Xian pursed her lips to suppress a smile, picked up the sewing basket on the bamboo stool, sat under the window to sew, and looked up at the child and the Fourth Master from time to time.
Every time she looked up, she would meet the Fourth Master's gaze, and he happened to be looking at her too.
At this time, Nanny Chun was standing outside the window. Chu Xian put down her needlework and walked outside the study.
"Fujin, the Eighth Lady sent someone to ask when it would be convenient to demolish the wall. She's afraid it would disturb the young princes' studies."
Chu Xian was delighted: "When you smash the wall at lunchtime, I'll smash it too. Go tell the Eighth Lady, I'll cook for her myself and invite her to come over for lunch."
Nanny Chun exclaimed with joy. She hadn't seen her good friend Nanny Gui for a long time. Now they could knit together and chat about family matters again.
In the study, Yinzhen pursed his lips and spoke slowly: "Today and tomorrow we will go to Baiwang Mountain to practice horseback riding and archery. Set off immediately."
"Ah Ma Ah Ma, Eighth Aunt is coming to have dinner. I want to have dinner with her. I miss her so much."
Hong Zhou had sharp ears. When he heard the nanny say that Eighth Aunt was coming to dinner, he immediately became very angry. "Zhu'er, boys and girls don't sit at the same table when they're six years old. Your mother has something personal to say to your Eighth Aunt."
The Fourth Master thoughtfully gave time to her and Wan Ning. Chu Xian felt guilty and hurried into the small kitchen to prepare snacks and food for the four of them to go hunting in Baiwang Mountain.
Just after noon, Chu Xian said goodbye to the Fourth Master and the children. There was a sound of someone smashing the wall outside. Chu Xian raised her hand, and Xian Rong swung a hammer and smashed the wall at the same time.
As the rumbling sound of collapse occurred, Chu Xian and Wan Ning stood in front of the dusty hole in the wall and smiled at each other.
"Wan Ning, is the Eighth Master okay?"
When the Eighth Master was mentioned, Wan Ning rolled her eyes.
"Don't even mention it. That guy is really good at pretending. He pretended to be sick for five years, making me work like a slave for five years. I found out last night and threw him out of the main courtyard with his bed."
"Xian'er, both the doors of our yard must be locked, and servants must be sent to guard them." Wan Ning raised her leg and crossed the narrow alley.
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
"What are we having for lunch today? When I heard you were cooking it yourself, I wished I could fly over here."
"Just order whatever you want. The Fourth Master and the children went hunting at Baiwang Mountain these past two days, so it's just you and me at home."
"Xian'er!" Wan Ning suddenly stopped in her tracks, her face solemn. "Xian'er, the other day, I was resting when I vaguely heard Yan Jin talking to that person behind the screen. I couldn't hear it clearly, but it seemed to be related to His Majesty's dragon body."
"That man is a scheming man. He feigned illness for five years without a flaw, but he happened to reveal his true colors last night. From what I know about him, there must be something important that forced him to reveal his true colors."
"Early this morning, he rushed to Changchun Garden. His Majesty has been staying in Changchun Garden these days. There must be something else going on."
"From what I know about Yinsi, he's always been accustomed to weighing the pros and cons. There must be something more important than me in Changchun Garden, which is why he abandoned me again."
Wan Ning's tone was lost.
"Xian'er, I think something is wrong. Let's hide the young princes first. Then tell Prince Yong to send someone to Changchun Garden to investigate."
The Fourth Master has been living in seclusion in recent years, avoiding court affairs as much as possible. Therefore, Chu Xian is even more indifferent to worldly affairs and doesn't even know that Emperor Kangxi is in Changchun Garden.
At this moment, Chu Xian stood up with shock in her eyes. She suddenly remembered that Emperor Kangxi died in Changchun Garden in history.
The crown prince was deposed six years earlier, and now Emperor Kangxi is recuperating in Changchun Garden, a full fifteen years earlier.
From this moment on, history was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, deviating from its predetermined trajectory, and she completely lost the ability to predict history.
"Xianrong! Tell the prince about this immediately."
Xianrong took the order and just stepped out of the door when Su Peisheng rushed towards her and the two almost bumped into each other.
"Fujin, the prince has just gone to Changchun Garden and ordered you to go to the Thirteenth Prince's residence immediately and go to Fengtai Camp with the Thirteenth Prince's wife to meet up with the Thirteenth Prince. If the prince does not come to pick you up personally, you must not leave Fengtai Camp."
"Where are the young masters?" Chu Xian was shocked.
"The young princes have been sent to the Fengtai military camp by the prince himself." Su Peisheng put his hand on the sword at his waist, his eyes occasionally falling on the Eighth Lady and the servants behind her.
There is only one last step left, and there must be no chaos. The prince has issued a secret order that if the Eighth Concubine makes any unusual move, she will be killed without mercy.
Chu Xian almost subconsciously dodged and stood in front of Wan Ning.
The most important military power in the capital at the moment is the Fengtai Camp and the Infantry Commander's Office. There are 48,000 elite soldiers stationed in the Fengtai Camp outside the capital, led by the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang, who is responsible for the defense of the capital.
The military forces within the city of Sijiu are under the control of the Nine-Gate Infantry Commander's Office, who commands 20,000 elite soldiers. The current commander of the infantry is Longkodo.
These two most important armies near the capital are not all firmly controlled by the Fourth Master.
The Fourth Master thought it over carefully. She was not on good terms with Tong Jia, and the Tong family would definitely take advantage of the chaos and use the guards to kill her and the children.
"Madam Chun, send someone to inform Concubine Song to go to Fengze Camp with me."
"Wan Ning, come with me! Let's change our clothes and disguise ourselves before leaving the capital."
"good!"
The two of them hurriedly changed into simple Han women's clothes and left through the corner gate of the Eighth Prince's residence.
When Fang returned to the main courtyard of the Eighth Lady, Yan Jin came running over in shock: "Lady, the Eighth Master sent a servant to pick you up. You must leave the Fortress immediately and go to the West Mountain Camp."
"And Fourth Lady, you can go with the young princes." Yan Jin lowered his head.
Wan Ning stared at Yan Jin thoughtfully, then suddenly dodged and protected Xian'er behind her.
"Don't think I don't know what Yinsi is up to. I won't go! And the Fourth Lady and her son won't go and fall into his trap. Get out of here!"
"Fujin, the Eighth Prince has ordered you to prioritize the overall situation. The servants are waiting outside for you and the Fourth Fujin and her son." Yan Jin threatened in a deep voice.
"Fuck the overall situation, just get him out!"
Wan Ning pushed Yan Jin away and pulled Xian'er towards the stable.
"Fujin!" Yan Jin cried out in pain. The thing that the Eighth Prince was most worried about had happened.
The Eighth Concubine was actually like a sheep falling into the tiger's mouth and was abducted by the Fourth Concubine to the Fengze military camp.
The two of them, along with the disguised Thirteenth Lady's family, left the city gate and headed non-stop to the Fengze military camp.
Less than half an hour after Chu Xian left, a group of men in black jumped over the high wall of the West Garden into the inner quarters of the palace.
Not long after, Tong Jia picked up her sword and kicked open the door of the main courtyard of the concubine's house, but the courtyard was empty.
"Damn it! Go ask my father if he's sealed the city gates. Immediately search the Eighth Prince's Mansion. If you find that bitch Guo Luoluo, kill her immediately!"
"Have you found the Song family and those three evildoers?"
Seeing the servant shaking his head, Tong Jia was so angry that she cut down the broken tree in Nara's yard with a sword.
Chu Xian and her group left the city from the west gate separately. Fang rode his horse onto the official road outside the city, and the city gate behind him closed instantly.
Several of the Thirteenth Prince's concubines were mixed in with the crowd and had no time to escape.
The Thirteenth Lady was whispering with a servant on the side.
Chu Xian and Wan Ning looked at each other and fell silent at the same time.
Every family has its own problems, and it just so happened that the concubines who were trapped in the city and had no time to leave had all given birth to illegitimate sons for the Thirteenth Prince.
How could such a coincidence happen?
"Madam, the city gate is closed." Song was dressed in coarse linen clothes, her eyes full of gratitude. In the moment of crisis, Madam did not forget to help her. She will always remember this life-saving grace in her heart.
How could she not see through the Thirteenth Lady's plan? She was glad that the Lady did not abandon her at the moment of life and death.
If Fu Jin left her in the palace today, Tong Jia would definitely use the power of her natal family to kill her in the chaos.
"Hurry up and go to Fengze Camp to meet up with the Thirteenth Prince." Chu Xian spurred her horse and whipped it. Not far behind her, the Flying Guillotines were fighting with a group of agile men in black.
"Xian'er, news has come out from Changchun Garden that the Crown Prince is forcing the emperor to abdicate and plot a rebellion!"
"I want to go to Changchun Garden to find Yinsi!" Wan Ning turned her horse's head and rushed to Changchun Garden anxiously.
Chu Xian's heart was in her throat. She gritted her teeth and whispered to Mrs. Song and Mrs. Zhaojia, the Thirteenth Consort, "Sister-in-law, Mrs. Song, you two should go to Fengze Camp immediately. Mrs. Song, you and your Thirteenth Consort should take good care of the young princes."
"Madam, I will definitely fulfill my mission." Song nodded solemnly.
After Chu Xian finished speaking, she turned her horse around and caught up with Wan Ning.
The two of them hid in the deep forest a mile away from Changchun Garden until late at night. Chu Xian couldn't wait to let the Blood Dropper find a way to sneak into Changchun Garden.
The Flying Guillotines found two sets of palace maid uniforms, and half an hour later, Chu Xian and Wan Ning joined the team that was heading to Changchun Garden to deliver Yuquan Mountain spring water.
There were heavy guards along the way in and out of Changchun Garden. Chu Xian and Wan Ning used disguise potions and were not worried about their true appearance being discovered.
But when Chu Xian saw the prince's trusted eunuch Ling Pu standing in front of the palace gate and checking people entering the garden, she was still worried.
Why is Ling Pu interrogating the servants who entered the garden? He must be lying in wait for her to fall into his trap.
"Xian'er, they must be looking for someone or something important. We only see people entering the garden, but no one leaving."
Wan Ning reminded in a low voice.
"Let's go in first."
The two successfully sneaked into the garden. Chu Xian and Wan Ning pushed the water cart towards the Lion Garden.
There was a guard post every five steps and a sentry every ten steps along the way, and the two men didn't dare to raise their heads.
"We want to see Khan Ama, what on earth is the prince going to do? We are Khan Ama's sons, so why can't we see Khan Ama? Is the prince going to kill all of us brothers?"
The tenth prince shouted at the top of his voice.
"No rush. Let's wait until the fourth, eighth, and thirteenth brothers arrive, as well as the fourteenth brother." The prince's sinister voice came from the Lion Garden.
"Prince, if you want to kill me, then go ahead. My fourteenth brother is far away in the northwest leading the troops. Even if he rushes back day and night, it will take him three or four months." The Ninth Prince said angrily.
"What? I am the crown prince and should be the regent. What do you think, my ninth and tenth brothers? All of you, kneel down!"
Everyone was silent and prostrated themselves at the prince's feet.
On the other side of the wall, the Crown Princess sat in the palace, with the princes' wives and their children prostrating themselves at her feet.
The only ones missing were the fourth prince's wife and her son, the thirteenth prince's family, and the eighth prince's family.
"Have you found Nara's mother and son?"
"Reporting to the Crown Princess, they...they have already fled to the Fengze Camp and reunited with the Thirteenth Prince."
"How can this be possible!" The Crown Princess was furious.
Instead of catching what he should have caught, he caught a bunch of useless pieces.
Chu Xian and Wan Ning looked at each other, followed a group of palace maids, and continued to move deeper into Changchun Garden.
The closer they got to Emperor Kangxi's bedroom, the more difficult it became to walk. The two were even forced to be searched, have their hairpins and jewelry removed, and change into brand new palace maid uniforms before they were allowed into the inner hall to serve.
As soon as she stepped into the inner hall, Chu Xian held her breath. The whole hall was filled with smoke, and lamas and Taoists were sitting in front of the dragon couch chanting scriptures.
Liang Amu and Li Dequan were kneeling in front of the dragon bed, helping the dying Emperor Kangxi take medicine.
Behind the two of them were the descendants of the Hesheli clan who were in the court. They all looked ferocious, dressed in armor, with their long swords drawn and stained with blood.
Chu Xian picked up the golden basin with coiled dragon pattern and knelt beside Liang Amu.
Liang Jiugong took the hot handkerchief handed to him by the maid with a dejected look. Suddenly, the clumsy maid's fingers trembled slightly. Liang Jiugong lifted his eyelids to take a look, then quickly lowered his eyes.
"Let them stay and serve His Majesty."
Liang Jiugong looked at the East Palace attendants indifferently: "You have killed everyone. Why not kill me and Li Dequan as well? We have been pampered in the emperor's presence and haven't done the delicate work of serving tea and water for a long time."
The bearded man in the lead nodded, waved his hand, and left four palace maids to serve.
Li Dequan glanced at Liang Jiugong meaningfully, then suddenly said quietly, "These two will follow me and serve me, and the other two will follow you. You go down and rest first, and come back tomorrow at noon."
Liang Jiugong's eyes were full of fatigue. He uttered a word in a hoarse voice, raised his hand and took the two thin palace maids to the west side hall to rest.
As soon as they stepped into the inner hall, Wan Ning stood guard at the door, while Chu Xian and Liang Amu took two steps at a time and hid behind the screen.
"Xian'er, to cut a long story short, Amu has a life-threatening item. You must take it out of Changchun Garden immediately and go find Prince Yong. Go quickly."
"Amu, what are you going to do? If the prince can't get what he needs, he will definitely kill you."
"The Crown Prince doesn't dare to touch me. If Li De and I were both dead, the Crown Prince would be guilty of regicide and patricide, a name he would be infamous for. He doesn't dare."
Liang Jiugong quickly took off his knee pads, knelt in front of Xian'er, and tied a pair of knee pads on little Xian'er's knees.
"Xian'er, give this to Prince Yong. Make sure you give it to Prince Yong. Don't leave anything behind."
Chu Xian guessed that there must be an imperial decree of succession hidden in the knee pads. Before she could continue asking, hurried footsteps were heard outside the window.
Liang Jiugong lay down on the couch, and Chu Xian knelt in front of the couch, pretending to serve Liang Amu by massaging his legs.
Wan Ning quickly grabbed the teacup and walked towards Liang Jiugong slowly.
With a bang, the palace door was knocked open.
Two powerful eunuchs rushed into the hall. Liang Jiugong slowly stood up and sneered, "Why? Can't I let this servant serve me?"
One of the eunuchs with a long face stood with his hands on his hips, his triangular eyes darting back and forth across the faces of the three men.
"I'm not saying no, but you can't close the doors and windows tightly. You must let me see what you do in the hall."
Liang Jiugong sneered and lay back on the couch: "You little dog slave, haven't you eaten yet? Your paws are worse than a dog's."
"This slave deserves to die."
"You clumsy fool, go to the back hall and wash your clothes."
"Master Liang, please spare my life. This servant deserves death. This servant deserves death."
"Get lost!"
The two servants were driven away by Liang Jiugong, who then noisily asked someone to send another clever servant.
Chu Xian and Wan Ning came to the back hall nervously.
As soon as she stepped into the back hall, Chu Xian looked around anxiously. At a critical moment of life and death, Liang Amu would never say nonsense.
There must be something deadly hidden in the back hall.
In the narrow back hall there was only a well, a few wooden basins for washing clothes, and a thick bright yellow rope used specifically for drying imperial items.
"Xian'er, there's nothing here. The floor tiles have been pried open and inspected, and the red paint on the beams has been scraped off. What exactly are we looking for?"
"Rope." Chu Xian murmured, moving closer to the bright yellow silk rope that was two fingers wide.
"The thing must be hidden in the rope core." Wan Ning was overjoyed, but suddenly stopped in her tracks: "Who!"
Chu Xian quickly cut the silk rope and wrapped it around her waist under her clothes.
"Fourth sister-in-law, give me the thing!" The voice of the Eighth Master came from the Tanmu cabinet behind him.
A strange little eunuch's face suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Seeing that it was the Eighth Master, Chu Xian did not hesitate any longer, but untied the silk rope one circle at a time, and sure enough, she saw the bright yellow silk mixed in the center of the rope.
After unfolding the silk, Chu Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was indeed the imperial edict of succession.
However, this edict only has the Mongolian part.
The edict of succession is written in three languages: Manchu, Mongolian and Chinese. The three copies together constitute a complete edict, and none of them can be missing.
Chu Xian guessed that there must be two more imperial edicts hidden inside the kneepad.
At this time, Mr. Ba had already taken out a dagger and rushed towards Chu Xian with a ferocious face.
At the critical moment, Wan Ning stepped aside to block Chu Xian and said, "Yinsi, kill me and ascend the throne over my corpse."
"Wan'er! Don't you want to be the queen? I can make you the queen!" Yinsi roared in pain.
"The throne and I cannot have both. If you want the throne, I will immediately commit suicide and die in front of you."
"Wan Ning!" Chu Xian's eyes were filled with horror. Wan Ning had already smashed the medicine jar and was holding the sharp fragments against her neck.
"Xian'er, go into the closet and find the secret passage. Go quickly, go." Wan Ning cried.
"Don't push me any further, I'll just kill myself. Out of sight, out of mind."
"Yinsi, if you want me to be killed today, come and rob me."
"I'm begging you only once in this life, can you please firmly choose me just this once, just this once, don't leave me again, please... please..."
Wan Ning sobbed in pain, pushed Chu Xian into the secret passage in the cabinet, and turned around to block the cabinet door.
"Xian'er, hurry up and leave! Do you want to kill me too? Go!"
"Okay." Chu Xian responded with tears in her eyes, turned around and rushed into the dark secret passage.
After Xian'er walked away, Wan Ning threw the blood-stained porcelain piece away and sat down dejectedly in front of the cabinet door.
"Eighth Prince, I owe you my life. You can kill me or chop me up, it's all up to you."
"Who allowed you to hurt yourself!" Yinsi was angry and anxious, and crushed the blood-stained porcelain pieces with his foot.
"From today on, your life belongs to me, you are mine!" Yinsi hugged his beloved tightly.
Forget it. You can't have both the country and the beauty. Even if my fourth brother ascends the throne, what good will it do? My fourth sister-in-law, Nara, is more troublesome than Wan Ning, and my fourth brother will definitely not have a good end.
Yinsi could only comfort himself helplessly.
The fourteenth brother is leading an army of 100,000 to the northwest, and the fourth brother may not be able to hold on to the throne.
On this side, Chu Xian was running wildly in the dark secret passage.
The Fourth Master once told her that there was a secret passage leading to Wanshou Mountain near the Lion Garden.
How did Mr. Ba know about this secret passage?
Without time to think, Chu Xian ran frantically in the secret passage in a panic.
Suddenly, someone hugged my waist from behind.
"Xian'er, it's me."
Chu Xian was about to scream, but when she heard the words, she whimpered and turned around and threw herself into the Fourth Master's arms.
"Master, the will, the will of Emperor Kangxi. Liang Amu handed the will of Emperor Kangxi to me. The new emperor is you, you."
Chu Xian stuffed the imperial edict in her palm into the Fourth Master's hand and anxiously took off her knee pads.
"Also, the Manchu and Chinese imperial edicts are inside the kneepad. Master, hurry up and leave."
Su Peisheng stood to one side, holding a flickering sheep-horn lantern, his eyes full of joy: "Congratulations to His Majesty, and to the Queen."
"Your Majesty, everything is ready. All you need is the imperial edict that will allow you to ascend the throne. You delivered it just in time."
"Where is the jade seal? And the military token?" Chu Xian asked.
"It's already in my pocket." Yinzhen said calmly, feeling very proud.
"That's good, that's good. So what should we do now? The Crown Prince has trapped His Majesty in Changchun Garden. Also, why did the Eighth Master know about this secret passage? This secret passage is not safe. Let's go."
"It's Chai Yu. Chai Yu took refuge with the Eighth Master before he died." Seeing the panic-stricken look on Fu Jin's face, Su Peisheng hurriedly spoke to comfort her.
"Xian'er, the Flying Guillotine will escort you to the Fengtai military camp. When I return triumphantly, you will be the queen."
"I don't want to be the queen. I want you and the children to be safe. And Wan Ning and Liang Amu, nothing can happen to them either."
"Okay, I promise you." Yinzhen hugged his wife tightly.
"And Eighth Master...if you can let him go, just spare his life." Chu Xian was worried that Fourth Master would cause trouble and attack Eighth Master.
If something happens to the Eighth Master, Wan Ning will definitely not be able to bear the blow.
"oh."
Sensing the Fourth Master's momentary hesitation, Chu Xian became anxious and hugged him tightly, crying and begging, "Master, please spare the Eighth Master's life. I'm begging for Wan Ning. The Eighth Master cannot die."
Yinzhen sighed helplessly: "Yes, but only save his life."
In a hurry, Chu Xian didn't have time to think about the hidden meaning of the Fourth Master's words. She nodded repeatedly and followed the Flying Guillotine out of the secret passage.
As the sun was setting, he arrived at the Fengze military camp with a heavy heart.
Song took very good care of the three little princes. When Chu Xian came, the little princes were practicing calligraphy under Song's instruction.
After coaxing the little princes to sleep, Chu Xian and Song sat at the table and chatted.
"Song, are you afraid? If the prince is defeated, you and I will become traitors. If you are afraid, I am willing to let you go. From now on, you can hide your identity and find a good man to marry."
"Madam, I am not going anywhere. Wherever you are, that is my home. I am willing to serve you till my death. It is nothing more than a knife. At worst, I will continue to be loyal to you in the underworld."
Chu Xian nodded with full eyes: "Okay, then from now on, you and I will share honor and disgrace."
"Fujin, you don't have to be so pessimistic. The prince is a man of great strategy and wisdom. Perhaps you will be blessed with great fortune and our family will be able to live in the Forbidden City."
Song was worried that Fu Jin would be scared, so she suppressed her fear and worry and comforted Fu Jin in a gentle voice.
Chu Xian smiled without saying anything: "If there is such good fortune, there will definitely be a place for you in the Forbidden City."
"Then I will accept Madam's good words."
As he was speaking, he suddenly heard the rapid sound of bells.
The sound of bells rang out simultaneously from the ancient temples among the mountains, and Chu Xian fell down on the rose stool.
It was only the 45th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, but Emperor Kangxi had passed away 15 years earlier.
"The funeral bells are ringing, the emperor has passed away! The emperor has passed away!" Song sobbed and crawled on the ground.
Before everyone could observe a moment of silence for the late emperor, the sound of loud war drums could be heard again in the military camp.
Chu Xian instantly tensed up and stood up in fear. The winner and loser would soon be decided.
If the prince's troops arrive, it means that the Fourth Master has been defeated.
"Song, if it's not the prince who comes later, can you lead the young princes out and hide their identities? From now on, they will be your children."
"Fujin, but what about you? Where are you going?"
"I want to go and accompany the prince. I promised him that I would never leave him in this life." Chu Xian drew out her sword tremblingly.
Outside the tent, Yinzhen was wearing armor, but his heart was completely soft.
Su Peisheng's nose felt sore when he heard this, and he hurriedly pinched his throat to remind him loudly: "Your Majesty has arrived!"
When Chu Xian heard Su Peisheng's voice, she burst into tears of joy.
"We won, we won, Madam...Empress, the Emperor is here to pick you up." Song was ecstatic.
Chu Xian covered her mouth with her hands and laughed while crying.
The tent door was flung open, and the Fourth Master took off his armor and ran towards her quickly. Chu Xian threw herself into the Fourth Master's arms with tears in her eyes.
"Long live, long live, long live!"
There were cheers of "Long live the army" coming from the military camp.
"Long live the Queen." Su Peisheng was the first to raise his arms and shout.
"Long live the Queen, long live the Queen."
Chu Xian was so frightened by the earth-shaking shouts that she hid in the Fourth Master's arms.
She became more and more uneasy. From this moment on, she was no longer the wife of Prince Yong, but the Empress of the Qing Dynasty.
Every word and action had to be recorded by historians in the daily records of the emperor and empress. His shoulders felt heavy, and at that moment, it seemed as if he was put in unbearable shackles, suffocating him.
After returning to the palace, the Fourth Master immediately went into the palace to preside over the national mourning.
Logically speaking, there was no need for the concubines in the Qiandi Palace to rush into the Forbidden City, but the Fourth Master brought her and the children into the Forbidden City.
"Xian'er, the Forbidden City is safer." Yinzhen's face was solemn.
He had just ascended the throne and was not yet firmly seated on the throne. He had to keep the most important person in his life by his side so that he could feel at ease.
"Are you worried about Longkodo?" Chu Xian asked in a low voice.
Seeing the Fourth Master nod silently, Chu Xian no longer hesitated, quickly packed her luggage, and went to the Forbidden City with the Fourth Master that day.
The concubines had not yet moved to the palace, so Chu Xian and her mother and son were temporarily arranged to live in the Yangxin Palace.
The harem was in chaos, and Chu Xian had to deal with the affairs of the harem first.
"Empress Dowager, Concubine De...she refused to accept the title of Empress Dowager and would not move to Ningshou Palace. She even cursed His Majesty as a traitor in Yonghe Palace."
Su Peisheng came to report with a sad face.
Chu Xian frowned and sneered, "Go to the Fourteenth Prince's house to get Fourteenth Prince's old clothes, and burn them to ashes in front of the Concubine Dowager. Don't say anything."
"If she continues to make trouble after the clothes are burned, immediately bring the Fourteenth Prince's wife and the legitimate son to Yonghe Palace."
Su Peisheng's brows relaxed, and soon, Concubine De came angrily to demand an explanation.
"Nara! You slut! I am the emperor's biological mother, I am the empress dowager! Believe it or not, I order Yinzhen to depose you immediately!"
Chu Xian calmly picked up the teacup and said, "Empress Dowager De, didn't you refuse to be crowned Empress Dowager? You didn't want to move to Ningshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided. Where did the Empress Dowager come from?"
"You! Move the palace, move the palace immediately! I want to move the palace! Nara, if you dare to harm Little Fourteen and my grandchildren, I will fight you to the death!"
"Madam Chun, please send the Empress Dowager to move to Ningshou Palace." Chu Xian didn't have time to continue to argue with Concubine De.
The harem is in chaos, and she must put it in order as soon as possible to avoid worrying the Fourth Master.
After dealing with Concubine De, Concubine Rong and Concubine Hui came to request to move out of the palace to spend their remaining years in peace.
Concubine Rong was fine, but Concubine Hui's biological son, the eldest prince, was still imprisoned in the clan house. Emperor Kangxi issued an edict that the eldest prince must not leave the clan house unless he died.
Chu Xian hesitated for a moment and decided to hand Concubine Hui over to the Eighth Master for support. After all, the Eighth Master had a closer relationship with Concubine Hui.
Chu Xian did not let Concubine Yi move to the Ninth Master's house to live out her days as she wished, but instead asked the Fifth Master to bring Concubine Yi to his house to take care of her.
All the servants around the concubines were replaced to avoid complications.
After dealing with the concubines, Chu Xian began to deal with the more difficult female members of the Qiandi Palace.
Tong Jia from Xiyuan is the most troublesome, after all, she is not one of the Fourth Master's female relatives in the harem.
"Empress, something terrible has happened. The Tong family has joined forces with the court officials to request an imperial decree to enthrone the woman from the Western Garden as empress."
"Hehehe..." Chu Xian was amused by Tong Jia's shamelessness.
How dare she ask for such a high price?
If she behaved herself, the Fourth Master, for the sake of Empress Xiaoyi Ren's upbringing, would certainly allow Tong Jia to have a place in the harem and settle down.
"What did His Majesty say?" Chu Xian gritted her teeth in anger.
"Your Majesty has executed several of the most vocal Tong family members. Just now, the Thirteenth Master's Fengze Army Camp has entered the city to take over the defense of the Nine Gates."
"Don't pay attention to it." Chu Xian sneered.
On a warm spring day, Liang Amu stood under the corridor with his hands in his pockets, basking in the sun.
The old man couldn't sit still, and Chu Xian wanted him to retire, but the old man insisted on staying by her side and working for her.
The eunuch who once served as the chief of the Forbidden City is now one of her most popular figures.
With Liang Amu's help, Chu Xian had the harem firmly under her control in just two days.
"Xian'er, A-Mu has a godson named Li Yu, who is fifteen years old and a smart little fellow. Could you please help him find a future?"
"Your servant, Li Yu, pays respects to the Empress."
"Amu, just tell me where you want Li Yu to work. We're family and there's no need to be so formal." Chu Xian always felt that the name Li Yu was very familiar, but she couldn't remember it for a moment.
"Can I go and serve the Fourth Prince?"
Chu Xian raised her hand and dismissed the servants. At this time, only she and Amu were left in the corridor.
"Why is it the Fourth Prince?" Chu Xian was curious. A'mu never did anything in vain.
"Xian'er, Amu privately thinks that the Fourth Prince is a good person." Liang Jiugong smiled.
Chu Xian was stunned for a moment. Amu had served the wise and capable late emperor for decades, so his vision was naturally sharp.
"Then go and serve Hongli."
"Amu, I'm very worried. If my children are also involved in the fight for the throne in the future, it will be a hundred times more tragic than it is now. They are brothers and Sanri, and they are truly blood relatives from the same mother."
The smile on Liang Jiugong's lips froze. "Xian'er, you need to understand one thing. The royal family is ruthless. King is king, minister is minister, father is father, son is son. King and minister come first, then father and son."
"But no matter who the new emperor is, you are the sole empress dowager, enjoying the highest honors. You only need to treat the three princes equally. Otherwise, if you bet on the wrong one, it will definitely affect your relationship with the new emperor."
"But all three of them are my most precious treasures, and none of them can be missing."
Chu Xian looked painful and remained silent for a long time.
.....
Within two days, with Longkodo being executed, no one in the court dared to mention the concubine Tonggiya as the queen.
However, Empress Dowager Uya started to act up again, bypassing the Fourth Master and making Uya Gege the Imperial Noble Consort.
The queen was still alive, but the imperial concubine stood beside her, as if she was cursing the queen to die young.
The Fourth Master acted decisively and executed Uya Gege on the pretext that she had overstepped her bounds.
With the execution of Uya, everyone saw the important position of Concubine Ulanara in the heart of the new emperor, and no one dared to provoke her anymore.
The Fourth Master cleared all obstacles on her way to becoming Queen, and Chu Xian ascended the throne of Queen effortlessly.
The old people in the Qiandi Palace were given titles one after another. Song, who was on good terms with Chu Xian, was promoted to Consort Mao and was granted the title of Changchun Palace.
The Fourth Master still took into consideration the kindness of Empress Xiaoyi Ren in raising him, and did not kill all the Tong family. He granted Tong Jia the title of concubine, the title of Qi, and allowed her to live in Yonghe Palace.
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