Chapter 40: Kangxi

  Inside the Qianqing Palace of the Forbidden City, the imperial physician knelt on the ground. The Kangxi Emperor sat on a heated kang with yellow silk cushions, his hands resting on the kang table, and looked around sternly, "Is there any danger to the life of the Empress Dowager?"

  "In response to Master Wan's words, the ginseng presented by Miss Li has a thousand years of spiritual energy, which is a rare spiritual root. After taking the medicine, Empress Dowager will surely recover."

  "Spirit root?"

  The imperial physician hastily explained to Emperor Kangxi what the spiritual root was, citing classics and showing off his knowledge. He was completely different from when he had no strategy in front of the Empress Dowager's illness earlier. Emperor Kangxi patiently waited for him to finish speaking, then directly asked: "Is there any medicine left after using the spiritual root?"

  The imperial physician shook his head and said, "The thousand-year-old ginseng was taken out of the jade box, its spiritual energy dissipated. The Empress Dowager's body is heavy, she uses a lot of medicine, only a few spiritual whiskers are left."

  "Being able to save the Empress Dowager, and protect our ancestors, I am fully satisfied." The Kangxi Emperor was overjoyed, due to the Empress Dowager's improved condition, and burst into loud laughter: "Reward, reward Li Dequan for his meritorious service, Li...Li what..."

  "Wansuiye is Li Ziqing." Li Dequan reminded on the side, "She is the granddaughter of Zhongyong Gong Shu Mu Luojin Haha and entered the palace with Anqin Wang Laofujin. After the Empress Dowager came to, she kept her in the palace."

  "Zhongyong Gong... Jihai..." The Kangxi Emperor pursed his lips, "It's been a long time since I've heard this name. Is he still around?"

  The imperial physician hung his head in shame, as if he wanted to sew up his ears, listening to the emperor's words. He was not satisfied with Zhongyong Gong, but Zhongyong Gong's second son, Shu Mulu Zhiyuan, had risen rapidly and returned to Beijing. Even if he had talent, it would be impossible for him to rise from a seventh-rank official to a high-ranking third-rank official in just over a decade without anyone's support. The Zhongyong Gong mansion had long since faded from the imperial court, and it was said that Shu Mulu Zhiyuan had a straightforward temperament and was not liked by the old duke. For over ten years, he was ignored, so how did Shu Mulu Zhiyuan rise to prominence? No one was holding him back, and it's not easy to navigate the official world.

  "Long live the master! It was Li Zhiqing who used ginseng to save Zhongyong Gong back in the New Year."

  "Li Taizhen, didn't you say that Linggen is hard to come by?" Emperor Kangxi asked slowly, "Does Li Zhichen still have ginseng?"

  "Replying to Your Majesty, according to Miss Li, it is the last thousand-year-old ginseng."

  The disappointed look of Emperor Kangxi flashed by, "You go down, if the condition of Empress Dowager changes again, I will take off your hat."

  "Ah."

  The imperial physician bowed his head and backed away step by step, until he exited the door. Emperor Kangxi's eyes were deep and profound, "Li Dequan, what is going on with the Zhongyong Gong Duke Mansion? How could Li something have a thousand-year-old spiritual root?"

  "Long live Master, I really don't understand, Li Zhiqing is only eight or nine years old, and shouldn't have the spiritual root of Ren Shen."

  "What's going on with the spies? Have I become deaf and blind? Are they all just freeloaders?"

  Li Dequan knelt down with a thud, "Long live the master, calm your anger, it was an intelligence oversight, no one expected that apart from Master Zhīyuǎn, there would be another unexpected person in the Duke's mansion."

  "Hmm." Emperor Kangxi's hand formed a fist and knocked on the kang table, "The Zhongyong Duke's mansion is to be put under surveillance again."

  "Buzz."

  Li Dequan quietly withdrew, and the Kangxi Emperor shook his head and sighed: "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager." The Kangxi Emperor fell silent, and with no heart to review the memorials, he sank into deep thought. The Qianqing Palace was quiet and still, the palace maids and eunuchs stood with their heads bowed, afraid of disturbing the emperor's thoughts.

  About half an hour later, Li Dequan came in again and reported: "Your Majesty, Shu Mu Lu Zhiyuan was first beaten black by Zhongyong Gong, and then was slapped by the old lady."

  "Oh, let's talk about it."

  Li Dequan saw that the Kangxi Emperor's interest was piqued and said, "It is said that it was because of a family matter, Zhongyong Gong couldn't reason with his son, so he used corporal punishment to discipline him, as for Old Madame..." Li Dequan glanced at the Kangxi Emperor, unable to discern any unusual emotions, and lowered his voice: "It's because of Li Zhiqing's spirit root ginseng..."

  "He opposed giving ginseng to Empress Dowager Cixi?"

  "It's not entirely up to the Emperor." Li Dequan shook his head repeatedly, "Those who reported back from Lord Zhiyuan's side said that he was afraid of aftereffects on the spiritual root. Even if there were no aftereffects, it would be extremely difficult to obtain a ginseng like this, and it should be presented to His Majesty for him to decide."

  The implication is that Li Ziqing and the old lady went to Anqing Wangfu with a thousand-year-old ginseng, rushing straight to Cining Palace, bypassing Emperor Kangxi, who was quite displeased. Kangxi said: "Was he beaten by his stepmother?"

  "Yes, I was beaten ten times. The servant heard that the Duchess was so angry that she became ashamed. Zhī Yuǎn thought that the old lady should not have left Li Ruò in the palace."

  "It's done." Kangxi waved his hand, and Li Dequan immediately shut up. Emperor Kangxi picked up the imperial brush to review the memorial, just when Li Dequan thought that His Majesty would no longer pay attention to this matter, Kangxi suddenly said: "Reward the wife of Zhongyong Gong with ten pieces of brocade, and posthumously confer a title on Li..."

  "Li's Zhiqing." Li Dequan reminded again, it seems that saving the Empress Dowager didn't give Li Zhiqing any status in front of the Emperor, on the contrary... Li Dequan dared not think deeply, serving by the side of the Emperor, whatever the master says, just listen to it, the holy mind is unpredictable.

  Her father was a successful candidate in the imperial examination.

  "Ah."

  The Kangxi Emperor's hand holding the pen paused, "Order someone to investigate where she got this spiritual ginseng from. At such a young age, she possesses such a rare treasure and doesn't even know how to cherish it, what an unfortunate person."

  "Ah."

  "Shu Mu Lu thought far ahead, he...". The Kangxi Emperor put down his imperial brush and tried hard to recall the appearance of Zhiyuan, whom he had seen from afar during the morning court session. His face was blurry, and he could only get news about him through the people arranged below. "I must find an opportunity to see him, Zhiyuan's beating was not in vain."

  Li Dequan deeply believed that the clever ones would only be loyal to the emperor, worried about the illness of the Empress Dowager, but not acting rashly, considering all aspects, mature and stable. Li Dequan saw the meaning of the Emperor's words, if Shu Mu Lu Zhiyuan conformed to the holy mind, he would definitely entrust him with important tasks. The matter of Li Zhi presenting ginseng was something that couldn't be hidden, nor could Zhiyuan's beating be hidden. The emperor was accustomed to being high above, unwilling for courtiers to guess his intentions, but in some matters, the Emperor hoped that the courtiers and nobles would know who their master was, so as to entrust clever people with tasks.

  The imperial capital's Wangfu, the truly intelligent person is not just Shu Mu Lu Zhiyuan. Because Li Ziqing went to curry favor with the Duke's mansion, the Emperor would not look at her with favor. Moreover, the old lady of the Duke's mansion has fallen ill, and more and more people will come to ask for ginseng.

  Is he in charge of river embankment management at the Ministry of Works?

  Li Dequan replied: "Yes, Gongbu Tangguan is just below the Shilang."

  "An imperial edict was issued, ordering Shu Mu Lu Zhi to go and inspect the Yellow River dyke."

  "By order."

  The Kangxi Emperor continued to instruct: "Order the four consorts to take turns serving the Empress Dowager, order the princes to serve me in my illness."

  "By order."

  Kangxi issued several edicts in a row, making people confused. After Guwalgiya received the edict with Zhiyuan, Tunggiya and others showed sarcastic smiles on their faces. Zhicheng's face was secretly delighted. Guwalgiya coldly smiled and supported Zhiyuan back to the courtyard. Zhiyuan was puzzled: "Madam, is the Emperor being too good to me?"

  Guarjia almost stumbled, and in harmony with her husband, she guessed the deep meaning of the emperor's move. "Sir, is the Holy Heart not very good?"

  "Unclear and uncertain, my heart is uneasy."

  Guarjia Fu Zhiyuan collapsed, and advised: "The emperor will not openly confront the Empress Dowager, Master Jian is in the emperor's heart, with his talent and learning standing firm in the court, no need to be too cautious."

  "I've learned from my husband."

  Responding to your message, Zhiyuan's tolerance is not because he blocked the gift of ginseng, but since it was meant to be given, it should be given to Emperor Kangxi. Although Kangxi didn't want people to guess his thoughts, in some major matters, he still hoped for a minister who understood him. This would make things easier to handle and words wouldn't need to be minced. Zhiyuan is clever, and the powerful officials in the capital who can stand upright are also clever. I hope this explanation helps you understand that Zhiyuan has a solid foundation, which is conducive to Shuyao's comfortable life. Once again, it's an era where one's background and family are crucial.