Chapter 111: A Startling Shock

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Yan Yan leaned stiffly against Ninth Master’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, and was suddenly filled with a wave of emotion. What exactly was their relationship? Was this merely a halftime break, or a reluctant reconciliation?

After an unknown length of time, Ninth Master clasped Yan Yan’s somewhat cold hand, then immediately let go with a hint of reproach: “You really don’t let me worry about you at all. It’s freezing out here—why aren’t you wearing a cloak? Standing in the courtyard like this, hurry up and come inside with me.”

He tugged at her hand, intending to lead her indoors, but Yan Yan did not move. Her large, black-and-white eyes stared at him in stunned silence. Ninth Master stopped as well, looking at her with concern.

“What’s the matter? Still giving me the cold shoulder?” Ninth Master stood before her, head bowed slightly, gazing deeply into her eyes. Yan Yan pressed her lips together but said nothing. She did not want to be caught again in the delicate, dreamlike web Ninth Master had woven, nor did she wish to endure the long, turbulent struggle for favor alongside him.

At that moment, a sudden realization struck her. Her eyes widened as a vivid image flashed through her mind: Ninth Master trapped in a small, confined space, destitute and broken, tormented to death. Something clenched her chest. Yes, this man before her was a venomous snake—Ninth Master, the infamous loser of the historical contest for the throne, ultimately renamed and imprisoned behind high walls until his death.

Even her own son, Hongzheng, had been confined for decades in history. The thought made Yan Yan tremble uncontrollably; her face grew pale. Ninth Master looked at her, puzzled, then took a large step forward, gazing at her anxiously. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Startled, Yan Yan recoiled as if from a venomous sting, eyes wide with terror. Ninth Master’s expression darkened instantly, anger flashing in his gaze. He suddenly gripped her by the neck, hurt deeply, and said, “Don’t refuse the wine and then force me to make you drink the penalty!”

Yan Yan’s terrified gaze met his, the choking sensation at her throat and the oppressive weight on her mind screaming warnings. She had everything upside down. She was no different from those foolish time-traveling women who lost themselves in delusions. No, she was even worse. At least those women always remembered Ninth Master’s tragic end, but she had completely forgotten, as if it had nothing to do with her.

Her eyes widened as tears fell silently. Ninth Master stared into those eyes for a long moment, clenched his fist, and finally released her, turning and leaving. Yan Yan slumped to the ground, utterly drained, still trembling. Cui’er wanted to approach and say something but held back.

That night, Yan Yan had a terrifying dream: Ninth Master and Hongzheng plunged into an abyss so deep that no matter how much she cried out, no one responded. She woke drenched in sweat, curled beneath the covers, trembling through the long night.

The next day, Yan Yan’s fever surged fiercely. Cui’er anxiously wanted to seek out Ninth Master but was stopped by Yan Yan. She had begun to dread seeing him. Knowing his fate, knowing her son’s fate—could she truly stand by and do nothing?

Or should she confess openly to Ninth Master and urge him to distance himself from Eighth Prince, to cling instead to Fourth Prince? But if Ninth Master asked why, what could she say? Yan Yan felt the need to think, to calm herself thoroughly and consider everything carefully.

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Perhaps fortune favored Yan Yan, for just as her fever began to ease, Ninth Master left the capital, accompanying Emperor Kangxi on a southern inspection tour. Yan Yan was stunned upon hearing the news. In her memory, Ninth Master was not supposed to participate in this journey. Had history changed?

Not only Yan Yan was puzzled—Eighth Prince was equally baffled. Kangxi, who had always traveled only with the Crown Prince and Thirteenth Prince, had unprecedentedly brought Ninth Master along this time. Not only that, but he had also been entrusted with an important task: investigating grain production in Jiangnan to see if Ninth Master’s vision for building new rural communities could be applied there.

Naturally, Eighth Prince was magnificently jealous.

Since childhood, Eighth Prince had been close to Ninth Master and, by extension, to Tenth Prince, who shared Ninth Master’s upbringing. However, Eighth Prince always believed he had little in common with the noble-born Ninth and even more aristocratic Tenth Prince. The reason they loved and followed him was not their shared origins but his competence. He was more capable than the shrewd but impractical Ninth Master and the reckless Tenth Prince. This ability earned their unwavering loyalty, as well as the support of the Guoluo clan and other members of the imperial family.

But now, Ninth Master seemed to have suddenly awakened. Over the past couple of years, he had taken on more responsibilities than Eighth Prince, even earning more imperial favor. If this continued, would those who had long followed Eighth Prince’s lead begin to change their hearts?

Eighth Prince sighed deeply in his study, prompting Eighth Consort, who had brought his supper, to pause in surprise. He waved her over. “Didn’t I tell you to go to bed? Why have you come back again?”

“Are you upset, my lord?” Eighth Consort placed the wontons on the table, sat beside Eighth Prince, and took his hand with concern.

Eighth Prince smiled and shook his head. “Not upset, just a bit troubled by the tasks Ninth Master has assigned me.”

Eighth Consort laughed. “What does your cousin want you to do?”

Eighth Prince chuckled. “What else? His business affairs—handling the money shops is easy enough, but I’m utterly baffled by the Nine Flavor Shop and the vegetable stand. Also, Ninth Master asked me to look after his favored concubine carefully. Sigh...” Eighth Prince feigned a sigh.

Eighth Consort looked thoughtful. She knew well that Eighth Prince disapproved of Ninth Master’s habit of favoring concubines while neglecting his wives. Now that Ninth Master had entrusted this task to him, Eighth Prince’s irritation likely deepened.

“I don’t understand business, but I can certainly care for a favored concubine,” Eighth Consort smiled. “Don’t worry, my lord. Tomorrow, I’ll visit Ninth Mistress and also pay respects to that favored concubine.”

Eighth Prince patted her hand, pleased. The young couple happily ate their supper together.

The next day, as Yan Yan’s fever finally subsided, she heard a commotion outside Qimeng Garden. Surprised, she looked at Cui’er, who looked awkward and said hesitantly, “Eighth Consort came, but the small guards at the gate said that without Ninth Master’s written order, only the Emperor’s decree is valid—no one else’s word counts.”

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Yan Yan immediately understood. With Eighth Consort’s proud temperament, she certainly would not tolerate being blocked by a mere servant. Yan Yan slowly rose. Cui’er’s face changed, and she hurriedly said, “Madam, you must not let anyone enter. Ninth Master is protecting you.”

Yan Yan smiled. “I know. I just want to see the excitement. It’s been so dull lately—any little fun is welcome.” She sounded playful, but in truth, she wanted to hear what Eighth Consort was saying outside. After all, she still had the crucial task of driving a wedge between Ninth Master and Eighth Prince, so she intended to make good use of Eighth Consort.

After several days of inner turmoil, Yan Yan finally made up her mind. Whether or not she had fallen in love with Ninth Master, and regardless of whether Ninth Master had wasted her feelings, out of gratitude for how well he usually treated her, she could not just watch him jump blindly into the mire. Besides, the deposed Crown Prince had not yet arrived—there was still time.

As Yan Yan ambled toward the courtyard, the quarrel outside had quieted considerably. Apparently, Eighth Consort had given up trying to get in. Yan Yan felt a bit bored and was about to turn away when she heard Eighth Consort call out, “Ninth Mistress, have you made up your mind about what I told you? You must bring those two children out quickly...”

Her words were abruptly cut off by Dong’e, who whispered, “Let’s discuss this back inside!” Then hurried footsteps followed. Yan Yan felt a chill run through her body and looked at Cui’er in shock.

No one knew when Nurse He had appeared behind the two women, but upon seeing Yan Yan’s expression, she quietly said, “Madam, rest assured, Eldest and Second Princes are Ninth Master’s sons. Wherever they are taken, no one will dare harm them.”

Yan Yan’s eyes flickered in surprise. What did Nurse He mean? Did these people truly intend to take Hongzheng and Hongzhang away? No, such a thing must never happen—not with her consent.

She barely remembered how she got back to her room. After sitting there in a daze, she urgently told Cui’er, “Go, have the wet nurses bring the children up. Tonight, I will personally stay with them.”

Cui’er was stunned, realizing Yan Yan must have been terribly frightened. After all, if the matriarch insisted on raising Eldest and Second Princes, there was no room for refusal. Cui’er secretly thought Ninth Master might agree, too—after all, in the Qing dynasty, a mother’s status rose with her sons.

So Cui’er did not argue and turned to leave. But Yan Yan grabbed her tightly and whispered many instructions in her ear. Cui’er looked at her in surprise. “Madam, is it really that serious?”

“Do as I say. It’s better to be prepared than caught off guard,” Yan Yan replied firmly, her eyes shining with an unusual light—the very embodiment of the saying: though women may be gentle, they become unyielding as mothers.