Chapter 374: Chapter 374
By the time An Ning put down her brush and hurried over, everything was already settled. Outside the imperial tent, a group of imperial physicians knelt on the ground, all with ashen faces.
Within moments, the entire Western Hills hunting grounds were heavily surrounded by the Imperial Guards.
"Your Majesty, please restrain your grief! I am also deeply sorrowful about Father Emperor's unfortunate passing, but I believe Father Emperor's spirit in heaven would not wish to see you overly distressed..."
Half an hour later, watching the Crown Prince approach surrounded by guards and ministers, dressed in his apricot-colored python robe, An Ning wasn't particularly surprised.
After all, the Eldest Young Master had been thoroughly disgraced, the Eighth Prince's insignificant forces had been completely dismantled by the Emperor through successive blows, and the Fourth Prince was still quietly building his strength. Who else but the Crown Prince could achieve this level of control?
Although the Crown Prince had been kept under Kangxi's close watch, making it difficult for him to develop his own power, if he truly had no capability, he wouldn't have been so feared and suspected by his father.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the approaching figure. His mental state didn't seem particularly stable at the moment!
Casually refusing the plain handkerchief he offered, supported by palace servants, An Ning subtly shook her head and said gently:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right!"
With perfect naturalness, Yinreng retrieved the handkerchief as if feeling no embarrassment whatsoever, quickly nodding in agreement. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the palace servants nearby:
"This journey will be rushed. Her Majesty is delicate, you must take good care of her!"
He didn't seem as gloomy and irritable as before now.
However, it really was...
Plans can't keep up with changes!
Sitting in the carriage on the return journey, An Ning couldn't help but think to herself.
"So... host, can you tell me now what medicine you gave Kang the Scumbag?"
The system couldn't help but ask cautiously.
"You're overthinking it. This time it really wasn't your host's fault!"
Actually, her original plan was to let him linger for a few more years, at least until the second deposition of the Crown Prince, when the Fourth Prince's power had grown somewhat, and Longkodo had taken control of the capital guards.
It wasn't that she had any particular issue with this Crown Prince, but these past years he had been repeatedly tormented by his father, combined with abnormal control. The fact that he hadn't gone mad already showed excellent temperament and exceptional tolerance.
As for his mental state... An Ning really didn't dare place much hope in that.
Who would have thought...
But then again, compared to history, his current situation was undoubtedly much better.
On the return journey, An Ning carefully calculated in her heart:
This lifetime, the Eighth Prince never gained momentum, the Eldest Young Master was more thoroughly disgraced, and over the years while she controlled the palace, although she hadn't given this Crown Prince too much convenience, she was still much better than the other consorts.
Even the Crown Prince's former milk-brother Lingpu never got the chance to control the Imperial Household Department.
Moreover, although Kangxi's desire to control the Crown Prince was still considerable this lifetime, it ultimately couldn't compare to the previous life.
There was actually one more thing An Ning didn't know: this lifetime, Yinreng realized much earlier than before how unreliable his unlucky uncle was. With eggs distributed in more baskets, naturally more could be preserved...
And for some reason, the Crown Prince this lifetime was undoubtedly more decisive and resolute.
Coupled with Kangxi's recent focus on investigating the Guwalgiya clan's power, all these factors combined to create today's "accident."
Forget it, thinking about Yongzheng's future "extraordinary performance" in military affairs, An Ning suddenly felt that the current situation was actually acceptable...
It was just the beginning of the 49th year of Kangxi's reign. Without the struggle for succession, plus the chaos of late reign negligence and rampant corruption, and with the Crown Prince being the legitimate heir, even if his temper was somewhat irritable, it probably wouldn't cause major trouble.
Having figured this out, An Ning quickly relaxed again, lying back down on the soft couch specially padded with several layers of cashmere blankets.
Hmm... ending early isn't bad either, saving her from that paranoid worry that if he left in haste, he might not be able to take her with him, and might leave behind some broken posthumous edict as insurance.
Subsequent events indeed unfolded as An Ning had anticipated. After the funeral ceremonies, the new emperor's ascension became inevitable.
Having been crown prince for many years, with numerous experiences of supervising state affairs, handling government matters and suppressing dissent in court came naturally to him.
As the legitimate heir, aside from his trusted aides who hadn't been purged by Kangxi earlier, the Crown Prince's greatest supporters were undoubtedly the Confucian scholars who had revered Confucianism since childhood and upheld the principle of primogeniture.
And An Ning, as the Empress Dowager, whether due to ritual propriety or political factors, received the very best of everything in Cining Palace after the funeral ceremonies.
Within just a few months, countless imperial tribute treasures flowed into Cining Palace like water.
At noon, lying in her soft large bed, An Ning couldn't help but hum happily - being Empress Dowager was truly wonderful!
Waking up naturally every day, no one dared to utter a word of complaint, not having to squeeze together with a bunch of grand imperial consorts, and not needing to watch anyone's expression.
It wasn't that she had any particular issue with this Crown Prince, but these past years he had been repeatedly tormented by his father, combined with abnormal control. The fact that he hadn't gone mad already showed excellent temperament and exceptional tolerance.
No wonder women in the harem fought so desperately.
Looking at the palace registers that had been sent back yet again, along with the Phoenix Seal, and then looking at the new emperor who came daily to... well, pay respects (though it felt more like mooching tea), An Ning lazily glanced at the new emperor opposite her from her reclining position on the soft couch, and immediately ordered the items to be presented again:
"Now that the central palace is properly established, harem affairs should, by principle, be handed over to the Empress. Keeping them with me is rather inappropriate!"
Lightly sniffing the faint cold plum fragrance in the air, Yinreng's tone was uncharacteristically mild:
"The Empress is rather dull-witted and has no prior experience handling palace affairs. In my view, these matters are better kept with Your Majesty."
Before An Ning could speak, he seemed to remember something, quickly set down his teacup, and said with a smile:
"Letting the Empress handle them temporarily isn't entirely impossible either. The weather has turned cold recently, and I heard that in earlier years Your Majesty particularly enjoyed visiting the Hot Spring Resort at this time. Although Father Emperor is no longer with us, I don't wish to deprive Your Majesty of such comforts.
How about waiting a few days, and I will personally accompany you there?"
This lifetime, the Eighth Prince never gained momentum, the Eldest Young Master was more thoroughly disgraced, and over the years while she controlled the palace, although she hadn't given this Crown Prince too much convenience, she was still much better than the other consorts.
The traveling palace was certainly more comfortable than the main palace, especially since it was her favorite hot spring resort. As one of the beneficiaries, An Ning naturally had no objections.
Besides, it would allow her to shake off some responsibilities.
After he left, An Ning immediately ordered the palace servants to deliver the palace registers and Phoenix Seal to Kunning Palace again, then settled back onto her couch and took out a book on astrology to read:
Chun Lan found it somewhat strange from the side:
"I've heard that since His Majesty ascended the throne, he basically hasn't set foot in Kunning Palace even on the first and fifteenth days of the month. And now even these matters... Your Majesty, what do you think..."
There was actually one more thing An Ning didn't know: this lifetime, Yinreng realized much earlier than before how unreliable his unlucky uncle was. With eggs distributed in more baskets, naturally more could be preserved...
"Enough, don't speak such nonsense!" An Ning scolded the talkative servant.
In her heart, An Ning wasn't particularly surprised.
To put it bluntly, although the person had changed and the circumstances were different, just like the Guwalgiya clan in the previous life, with a controlling father-in-law like Kangxi who had such outrageously strong control issues, it would be strange if the son and daughter-in-law actually had a good relationship.
Especially during the first deposition period, to avoid implicating her family and her young son, this Crown Princess...
Frankly speaking, compared to Kangxi, this new emperor's likes and dislikes were clearly more straightforward, even somewhat capricious.
However, harem matters had nothing to do with her. At her current status, others sought to please her - she certainly wouldn't bother racking her brains over such things.
Having heard this bit of gossip, An Ning quickly put it out of her mind.
It was just the beginning of the 49th year of Kangxi's reign. Without the struggle for succession, plus the chaos of late reign negligence and rampant corruption, and with the Crown Prince being the legitimate heir, even if his temper was somewhat irritable, it probably wouldn't cause major trouble.
"Your Majesty, are you aware that before his passing, Father Emperor had people search for a secret medicine from the previous dynasty? It's said to take effect extremely quickly while causing very little pain, reportedly used for consorts who were to be buried alive with the emperor..."
"Your Majesty, who do you think Father Emperor originally intended to use this medicine on?"