Man-made and Natural Disasters (Part 1)

  The hierarchy of the imperial palace is strict, and the supervision and restraint on eunuchs, palace maids, and low-ranking officials are even more severe. Rumors like this can appear and spread widely, mostly because they have been authorized by some master. Otherwise, they would not be able to survive. What allows them to emerge and influence their movements is only power and interest, with complex relationships intertwined. One misstep, and it's a difference of heaven and earth.

  Rumors of favoritism did not affect Wu Zetian's treatment of her. On the contrary, the Empress and Consort Xiang were kind to her and often summoned her for conversation.

  She got along well with Yunzhu and the two princesses, was interested in their tea parties and occasional horseback riding activities. When she mentioned it to Hongdian intentionally or unintentionally, he smiled: "Fourth sister is not bad, you have time to hang out with them more, there are rules in this palace, even if you come to Dryan San often, it won't take up much of your time, I can't accompany you all the time, don't get bored."

  "Where will be suffocated, I talk to my mother every day and it's not bad." Hai Kuo Zhen personally helped him change his clothes, thinking that the master had a good impression of Si Niang, and was also optimistic about being close to her. These days have shown that Si Niang is indeed a good person to get along with, elegant but not arrogant, gentle but not flattering, warm and generous, fair in her actions, giving people a sense of reasonableness and obedience, she can be said to be the most excellent woman he has ever met.

  Yu Pin Geng Shi is also a good mother-in-law, and in the palace, she's a rare straightforward person. In order for her to quickly adapt to life in the palace, she explained all the complex relationships within the palace clearly. Although she had understood some of it before her own wedding, after all, it's not as thorough as someone who has lived by the emperor's side for decades, from the imperial villa to the imperial palace.

  In short, the Empress and Xi Fei are people who cannot be offended, one is Hong Xiu's birth mother and the other is his adoptive mother, he must show filial piety to both of them, absolutely cannot get involved in their disputes. And the future mistress of this palace is actually the fourth lady Fucha Yunzhu, getting along with her will not go wrong.

  "Mother also has her own life habits, you can't disturb her all day." Hongyue is very familiar with his birth mother and it can be said that their personalities are similar, they don't have a dead heart, and they know how to find pleasure in life. "You shouldn't always do needlework, I heard that doing it for too long is bad for your eyes..." He said somewhat uncomfortably.

  Her face flushed with a delicate red glow as she felt sweetly touched by his concern, her bright eyes darted a quick glance at him, filled with tender affection. "I understand."

  "Cough," Hong Yu was moved by her glance, his heart racing, and he almost hugged her, but she dodged him with a twist of her body and scolded: "Don't you see what time it is? Aren't you going out?"

  He was innocent, "Just a kiss, I still have to go to the Qianqing Palace for the banquet." After finishing, he sneaked out with a smile, leaving Hai Kuo Zhen standing there with a red and white face...

  "Empress, the zongzi and gifts you ordered have been prepared." reported Hongjuan, the personal palace maid.

  "Alright." Hai Kuo Zhen took a deep breath, calming herself down and said: "You and Zi Ou get ready, come with me to Qian Xi's second residence." A few days ago, she heard the two princesses mention that last year during Dragon Boat Festival, Si Jie's zongzi was incredibly delicious, so they asked Si Jie to make it again this year... She wanted to try it out and see how good it tasted.

  Hai Kuo Zhen, who was also very confident in her own zongzi, brought two palace maids and carried the finished zongzi through the imperial garden to Qian Xi's residence.

  Passing by Floating Emerald Pavilion towards Qin'an Hall, a loud noise suddenly came, followed by another cry of surprise...

  "Is someone falling into the water?! Reacting belatedly, Hai Kuo Zhen stopped in her tracks and said: 'Did you guys hear that?'"

  Hong Ying and Zi Xuan exchanged a glance, nodded. Hai Kuo Zhen hesitated for a moment, turned around and ran quickly towards the source of the sound, saying: "Go and call someone."

  Hong Ying followed closely, on the other side was a lake, she knew how to swim. Zi Xiu ran towards the guards at the palace gate, shouting "Someone's fallen into the water!"

  Floating Emerald Pavilion and Clear Rui Pavilion, one in the east and one in the west. To the south of the pavilion, a single-span stone bridge was built over a pool of emerald water, where elegant water lilies and golden fish swam about, now flailing about due to the struggles of someone who had fallen into the water. Following closely behind Hai Kejin, Hong E saw the person in the water with a huge belly and exclaimed loudly, "Isn't that Hai Guiren?" How could she, who was almost ready to give birth, end up here and fall into the water? Where were her attendants and palace maids?

  "Save people first." Hai Kuo Zhen said to her.

  Hong Niang nodded, moved her hands and feet, jumped into the water, pulled the person out of the water surface, but because of Hai Gui Ren's body type that was even more clumsy than ordinary people and her uncooperative struggle, she seemed to be somewhat unable to catch her breath.

  Don't try to save others and end up losing your own life, Hai Kuo Ren herself didn't know how to swim, she just stood on the bridge and shouted: "Hai Gui Ren, don't struggle! Hong Juan, hold on a little longer, Zi Xiu will call for help soon——"

  Her words were prophetic, and before half a moment had passed, sure enough, a group of guards came rushing over, leaping into the water to rescue the person. As soon as the person was rescued, various eunuchs, wet nurses, palace maids, and imperial physicians emerged one after another. Seeing that her own wet nurse, Wu Shi, had also arrived, Hai Kuo Zhen hastily instructed Zi Xiang: "Quickly help Hong E support herself back to the house to change into dry clothes and drink some hot ginger soup, don't catch a chill!"

  The Hai Gui Ren who was carried away had imperial physicians and her palace maids attending to her, so she didn't have to worry.

  Qian Xi's two places are no longer possible, Hai Kuo Zhen let Wu Niangniang reorganize the first birthday gift and zongzi she had prepared for Yong Huan and send them again. She returned to her room to think carefully about what happened, with a faint premonition in her heart.

  As expected, he was soon summoned to Jingren Palace.

  Yongzheng, who had hastily returned from the Qianqing Palace banquet to change his clothes, was also there, quietly listening to the Empress's questions. Of course, he couldn't ask anything, it just so happened that he passed by and couldn't ignore her.

  "You may withdraw." Yongzheng saw that she was reverent and not as at ease as Yunzhu when facing him, with admiration and respect hidden in her heart and eyes. He waved his hand at her. Palace secrets were not suitable for juniors to know.

  Hai Kuo Zhen An let out a sigh of relief and hastily bid farewell. The oppressive feeling the Emperor gave her was too strong, staring at her made her not even dare to breathe.

  He was a bold and kind-hearted person, and Yongzheng was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law, although he didn't like her as much as Yunzhu. He turned to the empress and said: "Investigate thoroughly, if you can't find out, then don't interfere in palace affairs from now on." He understood that this incident wouldn't be done by the empress and Xi Fei, the child in Hai Guiren's belly wouldn't affect their interests at all. Even if Hai Guiren gave birth to a prince, it wouldn't pose a threat to Hongli.

  However, it's hard to guarantee that from a young age, he had clearly experienced the meaning of "the heart of a woman is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean" and "the most poisonous thing in the world is a woman's heart". The women around him were never what they seemed. It would still be necessary to have someone secretly investigate.

  "I obey your orders." The empress's spirit was stirred, she knew this was the last chance he gave her, she must do well, for the future of the Ula Nara family, for her own posthumous honor... She didn't have many days left.

  After a tiring day, Emperor Yongzheng received news from the Palace of Gathered Elegance that Empress Dowager Chongqing had given birth to a little princess and deeply felt that he was in conflict with the "Dragon Boat Festival".

  Hongli's eldest son, his only grandson Yongheng was born on the Dragon Boat Festival last year, but he is a bastard grandson, and he didn't take it to heart, thinking that this birthdate would not pose a threat to his legitimate grandson. But this year he was depressed again, what a good day, Hai Guiren also suffered a setback on this day, if it wasn't for the coincidence of Laowu's wife passing by, I'm afraid it would have been one dead and two injured!

  After hearing that Hai Gui Ren was not doing well, he furrowed his brow and said: "Let Jin Wu Shi take care of Ning Pin, have her properly look after Yin Shi and the young princess."

  "Hush." Su Peisheng took the imperial edict and the rewards for Hai Guiren to Yanxi Palace.

  The Empress Dowager woke up from her coma to learn that she had given birth to a daughter, which was very disappointing. Then, she heard that Wu Zetian, who lived in the Palace of Prolonged Joy, had been promoted to Imperial Consort and was ordered to "take care" of herself and her daughter. She was both angry and hateful, and before she could even drink her medicine, she fainted again.

  In just five days after giving birth, Hai Gui's wife, Yin Shi, passed away due to excessive fright, difficult labor and poor postpartum care.

  The little princess was born after a lot of trouble and wasn't as healthy as other babies. The birth mother had passed away, so it wasn't a problem for anyone to take care of her. The problem was that Yongzheng was afraid this late-born daughter would also be raised poorly like his other daughters. If Yin Shi were still alive, he wouldn't have been worried about the girls being neglected, but since she had passed away, he didn't want to leave the child in Wu Shi's care. Wu Shi was too cunning!

  He recalled Fu Hui's gradually improving body and with a wave of his hand, he temporarily moved the wet nurse and the palace maid who took care of the princess to Qian Xi's second residence, letting Yun Zhu take care of her first. He felt somewhat guilty in his heart, if it weren't for the critical moment of the northwest war, he would have summoned Hong Li back earlier, she might have had her own child by now... Thus, pearls, agate, coral and silk were bestowed upon her again, and a large quantity of tonics was also rewarded.

  The duck that was about to be eaten just flew away like this, and Wu's wife was so angry that she tore up quite a few handkerchiefs.

  "Master?"

  "It's nothing!" Wu looked at the newly delivered decorations from the Imperial Household Department and said calmly: "I was too impatient and offended the Emperor. However, it's not proper for the young princess to be raised by the Fourth Concubine, I can wait."

  And not to mention how Ning Pin regretted, Yunzhu faced the newborn baby who had been born for only a few days and was speechless. Gege Fucha Fulinga cried bitterly while holding Yonghuan, and after another two days, Su Daren, who entered the palace with Hai Guiren Yinshi at the same time, also died of illness.

  Yunzhu listened and remained silent, Hai Guiren's fall into the water was indeed planned by Su Shiying, but she knew more clearly than the Empress that what had infuriated Yongzheng was that the mastermind behind Su Shiying was actually Prince Hongxi of Zheng family in Changping, Beijing.

  "I'm not good enough for him?!" When he said this, Yongzheng's expression was somewhat sorrowful. In his life, there were not many people who had been treated with kindness by him, but every one of them had let him down. And Hongxi was no ordinary person, not to mention that he was the eldest grandson whom the previous emperor still cared about before his death, and also a banner for stabilizing the imperial throne among the royal relatives. If Hongxi were to be mistreated, others would only say that this emperor intentionally wanted to get rid of the direct descendants of Aixinjueluo who threatened his position, without thinking about Hongxi's treacherous and disloyal heart.

  She let out a sigh, and it was only when she saw this scene that Yunzhu reluctantly accepted the task of taking care of the little princess. This Emperor Yongzheng is indeed as tragic as he is in history, she has never seen him live a carefree life.

  Even now that Yongzheng's relationship with his relatives has eased greatly, he wouldn't have dealt with Hongxi unless he was driven to desperation. Yunzhu had lived in the palace for two years and gradually came to understand the king's helplessness; in the end, this matter would only result in clearing out Hongxi's ears and eyes from within the palace.

  Of course, Yongzheng's tolerance of Hongxi was more out of political consideration, and he may not have had much affection for him in his heart. Sometimes, tolerance is indulgence, just like Zheng Zhuang Gong Ke Duan Yu Yao. After all, the monarch is still the monarch, and power cannot be usurped by others.