Inside Yikun Palace, Consort Nian lay on an embroidered couch, her face as pale as paper, with a damp cloth covering her forehead.
The hall was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Several imperial physicians had just left, leaving only the personal maid, Emerald, to serve her.
"Your Majesty, please drink some medicine," Emerald said softly, carefully holding a bowl of dark brown medicinal soup.
Consort Nian suddenly waved her hand, knocking the medicine bowl to the ground with a crisp shattering sound. "Get out! All of you, get out of here!" Her voice was hoarse, but her eyes burned with fury.
Jade was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The imperial physician said that your anger has affected your heart, and you need to rest..."
"Rest in peace?" Consort Nian sneered, struggling to sit up. "I'm confined to this Yikun Palace, unable to even leave the palace. How can I swallow this insult!"
She had planned it all out perfectly; she only wanted to embarrass Lin Yun in public when she paid her respects.
The spice laced with musk wasn't expected to work immediately.
Who would have thought that the vile woman would discover it first and even report it to the Emperor, catching her completely off guard. The Emperor was furious and publicly reprimanded her for "inappropriate behavior in front of the Emperor," punishing her by confining her to her quarters to copy books.
Thinking of this, Consort Nian's nails dug deeply into her palms. She was the sister of the dignified General Nian; how could she have ever suffered such humiliation?
"Jade," she suddenly spoke, her voice icy, "go to the Qianqing Palace and tell the Emperor that I have fallen ill."
Jade raised her head, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes: "Your Majesty, the Emperor said that during your confinement..."
"Go when I tell you to!" Consort Nian interrupted sharply. "Tell her I'm seriously ill, with a persistent high fever, and the imperial physicians are helpless!"
Jade dared not say another word and quickly withdrew.
Consort Nian leaned alone on the couch, gazing at the intricate coffered ceiling of the palace, her heart filled with resentment.
She couldn't understand why the Emperor's attitude towards her had changed so drastically in just a few months.
She used to be the most favored woman in the Fourth Prince's harem, and the Emperor would spend at least ten days a month in her room.
Since the emperor ascended the throne, he rarely visited the inner palace. She originally thought it was because he was busy with state affairs, and since everyone else was also unable to see the emperor, she didn't take it to heart. Who knew that a shameless woman would suddenly appear and bewitch the emperor completely.
Your Majesty! You've completely forgotten all our past affections!
"Could it really be because of that vile woman?" Consort Nian muttered to herself, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes.
She didn't believe it. The Emperor was always calm and composed; how could he be so infatuated with a mere merchant's daughter? Lin Yun must have used some kind of sorcery!
"Your Majesty..." Emerald's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Consort Nian sat bolt upright: "What did His Majesty say?"
Jade lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "His Majesty only said... 'I understand.'"
"What?!" Consort Nian couldn't believe her ears. "Just those three words?"
Jade nodded tremblingly: "Eunuch Su's message is that the Emperor is currently reviewing memorials and has no time..."
"Slap!" Consort Nian slapped Emerald across the face. "Useless! You must have misspoke!"
Emerald covered her face and knelt on the ground, tears streaming silently down her face, but dared not argue.
Consort Nian's chest heaved violently, and her vision went black for a moment.
She had thought that feigning illness would at least elicit a shred of pity from the Emperor, even if it was just to send a royal physician to examine her. But now, the Emperor wasn't even willing to put on a show!
"Lin Yun..." she gritted her teeth as she uttered the name, as if she wanted to chew it up and swallow it.
---
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Yongzheng put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his temples. Su Peisheng tiptoed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, someone from Yikun Palace has come again, saying that Consort Nian's condition has worsened..."
Without even looking up, Yongzheng said, "Didn't I already say 'I understand'?"
"But what about Consort Nian..."
"Reveal my imperial decree," Yongzheng coldly interrupted, "have the head of the Imperial Medical Academy examine her. If she is truly ill, treat her properly; if she is feigning illness, tell Lady Nian to recite the *Admonitions for Women* fifty more times."
Su Peisheng felt a chill run down his spine and quickly agreed before leaving.
Emperor Yongzheng picked up the memorial again, but he couldn't concentrate on reading it.
With the vermilion brush hanging over the paper, memories of my past life surfaced in my mind.
To appease Nian Gengyao, he had to feign indifference towards Nian Xueyao. This man, who was supposed to be detached from worldly desires, was forced to be intimate with a woman he had no feelings for. In truth, which of the women in his harem did he truly desire? They were merely products of his father's weighing of pros and cons.
He put down his pen and rubbed his temples. In his previous life, the Qing Dynasty had strictly adhered to the separation of Manchus and Han Chinese, and excluded Han generals, resulting in a scarcity of capable and skilled commanders. By the time he ascended the throne, there was no one to rely on, and border wars broke out frequently, leaving him with no choice but to depend on arrogant figures like Nian Gengyao.
Looking back now, how ridiculous! The spinning machine that Yun'er presented has already benefited the people, and now she can help him reform the military. Why should the Qing Dynasty worry about not having good generals?
Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Yongzheng's eyes. Only an incompetent ruler would worry about his subjects rebelling all day long.
As the Prince of Aisin Gioro Yinzhen, having come to rule the world, he needed to be tolerant and have the courage to employ people.
The distinction between Manchu and Han is merely a narrow-minded view. Why not utilize the talents of Han people? Why not favor the virtuous women of Han people?
He should be a wise ruler who creates a prosperous era, not a mediocre ruler who is stuck in the past.
The wind outside the window stirred the curtains, as if responding to his thoughts.
Yongzheng rose and walked to the desk, taking out an envelope. It contained the structural diagram of a flintlock pistol that Yun'er had brought during the day, filled with practical wisdom.
This is the kind of woman he truly wants to spend his life with.
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