[The Grand View Garden Chronicle of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 86: The Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem Vie for Each Other's Schemes, Using Feigned Reactions to Avoid Implication and Defile Themselves

Word Count: 9743

Chapter 86: The Imperial Court and the Harem Vie for Power, Using Deception to Avoid Suspicion and Defile

Themselves Now, let's talk about Feng Ziying. Today, he came to the garden to see his master, Prince Hongzhou. His original mission was
to have Feng Jie convey his message, in the name of Prince Hongzhou's residence, to specially invite Wu Qian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and a renowned expert in cardiology and pulmonology,
to the garden to examine Daiyu and, incidentally, to inquire after her health. In truth, he himself was quite uneasy, and his real purpose was to use this opportunity to strike up
a conversation with Hongzhou, pay his respects, and gauge the situation.

One incident involved a few days ago when Hongzhou was far away in Zhangjiakou. Feng Ziying had entered the garden alone and had just seen Qingwen, an
unfavored , bathing in the backyard. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful; the misty air made the path fragrant. He was instantly captivated
by her beauty and, unable to resist his lust, forcibly defiled Qingwen's virginity. Although he tried to console himself, knowing that the garden
was full of , the Jia family had a
history of corruption, Qingwen was a lowly, unloved slave girl, and the prince had a reputation for being foolish and incompetent, and that there were many sordid affairs in this noble household, he still harbored some resentment. However, when he visited the garden
several times on business, he saw Qingwen manage to control herself, remaining calm and composed,
acting as if nothing was amiss in her conversations and interactions. He suddenly began to look at this charming young maid with new respect.

One piece of news he had just received yesterday was that the current commander of the cavalry,
Lekesh , had led his troops into the Grand View Garden and sealed off the Tianxiang Tower. Although he had no dealings with Consort Qing, Hongzhou
had entrusted him with most of the affairs in the garden, and the sudden change in the assignment to someone else made him somewhat jealous. When
he inquired about the situation inside the garden from the gate, he overheard eunuchs and palace maids saying that "Young Sister You was framed; it was
Consort Qing who had an affair with an actor and then falsely accused Young Sister You." Although it was Hongzhou's order to deal with Third Sister You
, what if Hongzhou, in his noble nature, regretted it and blamed him? Third Sister You would have already been defiled by him
, which would be an unexpected disaster. Moreover, Hongzhou had not inquired about Third Sister You's matter, so logically he should
have already "dealt with" her. Yet, the young beauty was still being held in the dungeon of the Imperial Household Department, for his
pleasure day and night, and he hadn't been able to bring himself to kill her. This alone gave off a hint of "secret embezzlement." Hongzhou had always been
serious about matters of love and lust; how could he not have ulterior motives?

It just so happened that when he came to pay his respects and report, Nalekshi also came to visit, which he assumed was to report on the consequences of yesterday's raid on
Tianxiang Tower . The two naturally exchanged pleasantries for a while, both saying they had "nothing important to do" and
came together to pay their respects to Hongzhou.

Now that they had entered and sat down, seeing that Hongzhou showed no unusual expression and even explained to Lekesh that "Little Lekesh
is leading troops to defend the capital," Feng Ziying felt somewhat relieved. He then heard Hongzhou explain the situation regarding Xia Shouzhong from the inner palace.
Lekesh was a military general who had led troops for many years and was unfamiliar with the intricacies of officialdom and the palace, so he assumed he was not particularly cunning.
He then began to scheme for Hongzhou, frowning as he thought for a while before smiling obsequiously:

"Your Majesty knows me well; I've been suspicious since childhood. I only have a few absurd thoughts, which I suppose are just wild
imaginings … but I dare not hide them from Your Majesty. What I say is merely speculation, and I hope Your Majesty will consider
it drunken ramblings…"

Hongzhou laughed, "Just speak freely."

Feng Ziying lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, that Eunuch Xia is from the Qianqing Palace. His Majesty's health is not good,
and it's common for him to be cautious with his medicine. Why would he come all the way to the Grand View Garden to consult Your Majesty about such a trivial matter? From
Your Majesty 's tone and manner of speaking about him, it's clear he didn't come today for those small things… actually, what he said…" "
There are three things. The first is that His Majesty is still 'uneasy'."

Hongzhou frowned upon hearing this, taking it to heart. However, Feng Ziying seemed oblivious, continuing on
his own : "...His Majesty summoned you back to the capital a few days ago, with only one meaning: that His Majesty is well,
and the princes and nobles need not be alarmed, but continue with their duties as usual... However, things in the palace are unpredictable, and one cannot rely
solely on official edicts. Eunuch Xia's visit today, in fact, is primarily to convey a message to Your Majesty regarding the prescription:
His Majesty is still unwell, merely struggling to see his subjects..."

"The second point is actually about the prescription... I only have a superficial understanding of medical principles. But
logically , those old men in the Grand Council are extremely cautious; how could they dare say
that the prescription given to His Majesty by the Imperial Medical Academy was 'a potent drug'? How could they speak carelessly about medical treatment and medication? What if they added or subtracted
something, harming His Majesty's health?... Your Majesty, think about it, even Li Zhongcheng has come to the capital.
Wouldn't the Grand Council consult with him, the 'First Governor-General of the Qing Dynasty,' before approving this prescription? Thinking about it this way, the Grand Council's intention
wasn't that the medicine was too strong, but rather that 'the seriousness of His Majesty's condition must not be spread'... for this very reason..." The
officials, the people, and the court all need to be stable. This servant dares to assert that Li Youjie, upon his arrival in the capital this time, will likely not return to Liangjiang. He might
be appointed Governor-General of Zhili, or concurrently serve as Commander of the Infantry. Both are possible… The more this is the case, the more it subtly proves that His Majesty
… is unwell! Personnel matters are related to the political situation. This is different from last time. Last time, His Majesty was unwell and summoned the prince
to serve him, which was actually perfectly legitimate… This time, however, he insists on being secretly cautious, while repeatedly saying
“His Majesty is in good health,” which makes one think of something terrifying.”

Hongzhou listened to his analysis, which was quite reasonable, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
Nalekesh was completely confused but couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Just as they were waiting for Feng Ziying to say “the third point,” they saw Feng Ziying
becoming increasingly hesitant, rubbing his hands and knees with a smile.

Hongzhou thought for a moment and realized that it must be because Lekesh was there, which would be even more troublesome, so he found it difficult to speak.
However, he still needed to hear Lekesh's reply about the Tianxiang Tower matter, so he couldn't just dismiss him like that. He waved his hand and gently
comforted him, "It's alright, just keep talking... I'll just listen as if I'm just chatting idly, and if I say something wrong,
I'll forgive me..."

Feng Ziying glanced at Lekesh before smiling and saying, "Yes, thank you for your understanding
, Your Majesty... As for the third point... ... From what I heard, Eunuch Xia actually meant, 'I heard from the people around the Fourth Prince... that the Fourth Prince is going in to serve
.' Xia Shouzhong is a senior eunuch in the Imperial Palace. Even though eunuchs are naturally
fond of gossip, they wouldn't spread it around. What did the people around Prince Bao say? Even if they heard it,
how dare they come to you, Your Majesty, to bring it up?... The only possibility is that this isn't 'gossip,'
but something he deliberately said seriously..."

He couldn't continue, chuckling awkwardly as he rubbed his teeth. Hongzhou, however, already "understood." It
was indeed possible that Xia Shouzhong's visit today wasn't actually his own doing, but
rather a message delivered on behalf of Hongli, the fourth prince and the most powerful man in the Qing Dynasty. He, hiding in Zhangjiakou, was unaware of
Yongzheng 's condition, but Hongli, in the capital, was fully aware
. Now, his fourth prince was to "fulfill his filial duty" by going into the palace to serve him, naturally neglecting his duties at the Grand Council.
So what about his fifth prince? Also Yongzheng's son—should he go in? Or "go out"? Or continue
feigning illness in the Grand View Garden? If he were to go in to serve, it would be the proper duty of a prince. Hongli, without imperial decree,
could not reveal Yongzheng's illness, so sending a eunuch to "spread the word" to him, so that he could go in and fulfill
his filial duties, could be considered a gesture of his affection...

But having already considered this, thinking any deeper was like being behind closed curtains, with flickering candlelight, making it difficult
to speak out ... In this situation, did his fourth brother truly want him to enter the palace? Or
did he hope he would voluntarily come out to the Grand Council to handle some tedious political affairs for Hongli? Or... was even this
a test? What if...

Hongzhou's face turned pale at this thought. After a moment of contemplation, he knew that if he continued, it would be
inconvenient to "discuss" with his subordinates, especially Lekesh, a military general leading 8,000 elite
cavalrymen This would be too taboo. He raised his head, took a sip of tea from the covered bowl, smiled
wryly, and said, "Alright, Ziying, since Father is unwell, and I'm also troubled, let me think about it.
Let's put this aside for now... Little Lezi... let's talk about your duties first."

This Lekesh was actually an extremely shrewd person. Seeing that Feng Ziying was jealous and
was pretending to be Zhuge Liang or Liu Bowen, saying such taboo things to his master just to gain his
trust ; judging from his tone and the situation, his arrest of Liu Xianglian, the search of Bai Yuzhuo, the implication of Qin Keqing, and the closure of
Tianxianglou suddenly seemed like trivial matters. Hongzhou's tone suggested that he needed to settle
his own affairs first before discussing matters in secret with Feng Ziying. He was used to playing the stubborn and unruly Eighth Master,
and although he was uncomfortable inside, he refused to show it on his face. So he quickly gave a rough laugh and bowed, saying, "Yes, Master! Yesterday, this servant was ordered
by Master to search the items in Tianxiang Tower. This servant was personally trained by Master and knows how to behave properly
. Master has repeatedly instructed me to do so, and the soldiers sent were my personal guards. They would never dare to disturb the young ladies in the garden...
inside... hehe..." Although he was rough, he knew that this matter was not dignified for Hongzhou. He glanced at Feng Ziying and
felt a little awkward and didn't know how to speak.

Feng Ziying, ever the astute one, was about to rise and take his leave when Hongzhou stopped him, telling him "no rush."
Hongzhou was also concerned about the important matter Feng Ziying had mentioned, and grew slightly impatient, only sneering, "I'm
too lazy to ask for details now; just give me the conclusion."

Lekesh swallowed, paused, and then said with a change in expression, "Hmm...yes, Master. The troublesome
...letters, costumes, and tokens are all there. I've already interrogated that pretty-faced thief who sings opera in the military camp. He said he
gave some noble lady in the garden a playbook, a lewd play created by the Yuan dynasty, and there was some
poem I've found it; comparing the two, I know the truth...I'll present it to you later.
There are also several martial arts costumes hidden in the storeroom behind Tianxiang Tower...hehe...it's quite something that those two lewd
thieves such good taste, some are of Wu Song, some of Yan Qing..." "...What Zhao Zilong? More importantly, there's that slut's
gift list sent to the post station in the capital...and the letters. It's a wonder she managed to bribe the eunuchs and officials outside the post station. The letter
wasn't explicitly written, but the language was ambiguous, hehe...Master said she forged the letter, intentionally colluding with outsiders,
sending a fake letter into the garden. She's certainly not wrong. Because I don't have Master's order, I dare not interrogate her. Did she
give away other girls in the garden as gifts, engaging in adultery...this servant dares not speak recklessly."

Hongzhou's face flushed red and then paled, remaining cold for a moment before calmly saying, "Fine, your soldiers shouldn't be in the
garden anymore. They should all go out...go do whatever official business they need to do."

Lekesh was stunned. Last time, Hongzhou hadn't said how to deal with Consort Qing, so he could only order his soldiers to confine her
in Tianxiang Tower, providing her with food, clothing, and tea. Now that everything had been searched, how was he going to deal with her? He considered himself a boorish
man, and in his mind, this so-called daughter-in-law of the younger generation of the Jia family was not even a person. He couldn't help but
ask, "She's just a lewd and shameless woman who has been convicted of crimes and is still being watched by the eunuchs... Please tell me, Your Majesty,
how she be dealt with? Or would Your Majesty like to see her and let her explain herself?"

Hongzhou's forehead veins were bulging from hearing this. He coldly snorted and angrily said, "See her my ass! Explain herself my ass! Putting everything else
aside , just communicating with a man outside the marriage is a capital offense punishable by a thousand cuts! Tell the eunuchs to issue an edict to that slut for me.
Just two words: Do as you please!"

He even used the word "slut," which clearly showed that he was angry, but he couldn't quite understand the words "Do as you please."
Lekesh looked at Feng Ziying as if seeking help, but Feng Ziying dared not get involved in her master's affairs again.
She lowered her head and pretended not to hear anything, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Lekesh, being a military man,
was rough and didn't know anything about romance or tenderness. To him, women were nothing more than mules and horses. Hearing Hongzhou's anger
, he couldn't help but mutter:

"Master... that was a lowly slave. You are of noble birth, a golden branch and jade leaf, no need to get angry over her.
I 'll deal with her for you. I guarantee that this little slut will wish she were dead... In my camp, there are plenty of
ways to deal with such sluts. The brothers just returned to the capital after the war and are bored with nothing to do... Last year, I accompanied General
Azige to conquer several rebel villages in Nanchuan. The daughter of that clan chief was quite pretty, and General
Azige rewarded her with sex... She even dared to curse at the General and bite him. The General got angry and had sex with her all night, then asked me
to deal with her... Hehe, she fell into my hands... I'm a rough man, I don't have that much decency to talk to such a little wench.
I chopped off her hands and feet, poisoned her to make her mute, pulled out her teeth, tied her to a door, and let
the soldiers turn her over and over in each barracks for their 'midnight snack,' playing with her for five whole days before she died... Her body was completely ravaged..."
…

He only knew that Qin Keqing was Hongzhou's sex slave. Since she dared to be so disrespectful as to have an affair with an actor outside, and even encouraged
the other women in the garden to be given to that actor for his pleasure, Hongzhou must be extremely angry. Being a rough man, he wanted…
He spoke of military punishments for women, trying to provoke Hongzhou and vent his anger on his behalf.

Feng Ziying, listening nearby, lowered his head, pretending to look at the lotus-patterned bluestone floor
tiles, but inwardly shook his head, thinking that Lekesh's flattery might not be effective. His
master , the prince, though lustful and dissolute, wasn't ruthless; if he truly wanted to punish Keqing, he would surely
"stay away from the kitchen, afraid of the cries of cattle and sheep." Following the example of dealing with You Sanjie, he would simply say,
"Do as you please..." Besides, this Consort Keqing was different from You Sanjie, and not some
rebellious clan chief's daughter from afar. She had shared a bed with his master, and even if she were guilty, it would be
an "unjust reward" if he wanted to throw her to his servants for their pleasure. Why was he speaking of it so enthusiastically?
Wasn't he afraid of upsetting his master?

As expected, Hongzhou frowned, but he knew that Lekesh meant well, so he didn't say anything.
He just shook his head and said, "Enough, don't talk nonsense. I have my own arrangements... You did a good job on
this
mission. You found out the adulterers in the garden for me, so you should be rewarded... You should have more people to serve you in the capital region... You are a military man, so you should have a few more refined girls to keep you company and change things up... I
'll have the Dali Temple select a few young daughters from the families of scholars recently raided in Jiangnan and send them to you
... As for Qin Shi... Just do as I say... Just have the eunuch pass on a message to her...
It's just two words: Do as you please!!!" Lekesh had no choice but to bow and say, "This servant will come to pay his respects to Master another day," and then he retreated

awkwardly . 　　Seeing that his master remained cold, Feng Ziying knew that he was still unhappy about the matter, but he himself had something to hide and dared not reveal it, so he could only remain silent for a long time. But then Hongzhou said, "Continue... So, according to you, Father Emperor was unwell and worried about changes in the court, which is why he summoned Li Wei to the capital?" 　　Feng Ziying, feeling guilty, was afraid Hongzhou would pursue the question of whether You Sanjie had been deceived by Qin Keqing, so she quickly changed the subject, saying, "Yes... Your Majesty, think about it, who is Li Youjie? He's a direct descendant of our former Yong Prince's household. Although there are many governors and viceroys in the country, how many are as loyal as Li Wei? Putting aside everything else, just in terms of 'loyalty,' even if the Emperor, Your Majesty, and Fourth Prince... if others can't be trusted, how could they not trust him? ...Without His Majesty's permission, would the Grand Council dare to summon Li Wei to the capital at this critical juncture? Li Youjie is probably coming to take command of the capital's garrison this time. The Xiaoji Battalion, the Ruijian Battalion, the Xishan Battalion, and the Nine Gates Commander—I think, apart from the Imperial Guards, they might all be placed under his control." 　　"Then... Fourth Brother, he..." 　　"Fourth Prince is your own brother, so naturally he's close to you. Cough cough... Fourth Prince is on official business in the capital, while you, Master, are out there... cough cough... Fourth Prince is always closer to the Emperor. He's a prince who has been ordered to study governance. He has to manage state affairs in the Grand Council and also attend to the emperor's needs in the palace. He's fulfilling both loyalty and filial piety; it's not easy . We, as lowly officials, are all... haha... deeply grateful..." 　　Hongzhou sighed before saying, "According to you, I should go to the palace to attend to Father Emperor's health, so that Fourth Prince can rest I can be both 'loyal and filial'?" 　　Feng Ziying clicked his tongue in admiration, "Master, your heart is truly good. The Emperor is thinking of you, Fourth Prince is being supported, and you're also sharing the burden with your ministers..." 　　Seeing his hesitant expression, Hongzhou said, "You seem to have something to say?... Just speak. I 've already said everything. If I'm wrong, I won't hold it against you... Imperial matters are never easily resolved, and there's no reason for a mere servant like you to be completely right... It's just you and me here; I'm just listening. Speak freely of whatever you have to offer ." 　　Feng Ziying bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes... How could this servant dare to be so cunning in front of His Majesty? Please be understanding, Your Majesty. This servant has an idea... It's only right that Your Majesty enters the inner palace to serve His Majesty. However a formality; there's no real need for so many people. Besides, if His Majesty is even slightly unwell... then the inner palace..." "...Hmm...of course, it's troublesome...Now, whether one should enter the inner palace or remain in the Grand Council, it's unclear which is the 'major matter of the court' and which is the 'key location'..." 　　Hongzhou felt a chill run down his spine. With his magnanimity, the emperor's throne, coveted by everyone, was a chore for him; staying in the Grand View Garden, enjoying his princely status, indulging in pleasures, was what truly mattered, and he was unwilling to be involved in the struggle for the throne in the slightest. But now, Feng Ziying had spoken clearly: if Yongzheng was already in his final moments, his health clearly failing, staying in the Grand Council to handle state affairs and control the central would certainly be the most important thing; however, serving in the inner palace, so close to Yongzheng's bedside, might also be the "most important thing." These two "important matters" were both in the hands of his fourth brother, Hongli, and he couldn't spare the time. If he didn't attend the Grand Council, he feared losing control of the court; if he didn't enter the palace… what if a major upheaval occurred within the palace? The world would be turned upside down. Realizing this, he finally understood that Xia Shouzhong's purpose today was entirely to test his intentions on Hongli's . But going to the palace was wrong, not going to the palace was also wrong… what should he do? 　　Thinking of this, he became even more agitated, muttering to himself, "Then I'll just pretend nothing happened and stay in the garden ? But Father Emperor is unwell, and as his son, I must fulfill my filial duty..." 　　Feng Ziying, however, rose from the stool, bowed deeply, and actually knelt, saying, "Your Majesty's troubles... are my troubles. This servant is incompetent and cannot share Your Majesty's burdens. I only have one absurd thought, and it would be a sin to speak it out ... I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness first..." 　　"Get up... just speak..." 　　Feng Ziying barely managed to rise, but dared not sit down again, bowing deeply as he said, "If Your Majesty wishes to reassure the court, why not... make a mistake at this very moment?" 　　"Make a mistake?" 　　"Yes... Your Majesty, you think... Entering the palace is filial piety, staying in the Grand Council is loyalty. Now... should we really be both loyal and filial?... Of course, it's also appropriate for you to stay in the garden or retreat to a distant province... However ... this inevitably involves a sense of 'mindset'... Whether it's filial piety, loyalty, wisdom, or ability... at this moment, all..."

"It's not what a master should do. A master is a dashing prince, why not be dashing to the end? There are still those ignorant
fools , calling you a 'ridiculous prince.' Right now, let the court and the public, even the Emperor
and the Fourth Prince, see your 'ridiculousness.' Although you might suffer some losses now… in this situation, it might not be a bad strategy
."

Hearing this, Hongzhou fully understood and couldn't help but applaud Feng Ziying's cunning.
Feng Ziying had realized that he had no interest in the throne and wanted to avoid suspicion. Moreover, Prince Bao, Hongli, was a seasoned
political veteran and undoubtedly the de facto heir to the throne, carefully cultivated by two emperors. However, the Yongzheng era had its own rules:
a crown prince and heir apparent wouldn't be established until the emperor's death; at this moment, he was inevitably in the "eye of the storm
." Even if he garnered more of the qualities of "loyalty," "filial piety," "wisdom," and "ability," wouldn't
Hongli wary? Even if Hongli, having long held power and influence in the central government, didn't care about such things, how could such a large
court not have a few people who would risk everything to curry favor and seek fame and fortune? Yongzheng, always protective of him
and deeply devoted to his son, was particularly concerned. What if some ministers, followers, or even completely unrelated, reckless individuals tried to
submit

a memorial supporting his ascension? Wouldn't they be after these reputations of "loyalty," "filial piety," "wisdom," and "ability"? Conversely, what if he deliberately made a mistake at this time, allowing the censors to impeach him, inviting
ridicule from the civil and military officials, or even angering Yongzheng? Feng Ziying was being polite. The terms
"dashing prince" and "absurd prince" were clearly outdated; he was, in reality, a "licentious prince." He intended to
present a licentious image to the world, solidifying his reputation and prompting Emperor Yongzheng to issue an edict
reprimanding or even demoting him. Then, the court and the public, whether judging by the "imperial will" or the "comments," would abandon any such notion. If Yongzheng were to suddenly pass away, who would dare mention him , the "unworthy son" who
had recently been " severely rebuked by the late emperor"? When the new emperor ascended the throne, he could then offer kind words of comfort, bestow favors, and grant titles. Feng Ziying, "the guilty party, would be deeply grateful and eager to curry favor, basking in the emperor's boundless grace." Everything would fall into place, ensuring everyone's comfort and guaranteeing his own safety and wealth. 　　Thinking of this, he couldn't help but secretly admire Feng Ziying's meticulousness and skillful methods, but he refused to say it aloud. After pondering for a while, he smiled and said, as if "changing the subject," "Ziying, is Tong Keshuang still in charge of the Cold Palace?" 　　Feng Ziying bowed and said, "This servant works in the Imperial Household Department, but the inner palace has its own rules. The Cold Palace is a quiet place. The head eunuch is a fallen palace maid from Ximen, whose name this servant doesn't know, but his superior is indeed Tong Keshuang." 　　Hongzhou thought for a moment, and decided to play his part. He leered and said, "The other day, I had that fourth maid from the Jia family serving me ... oh... she's still young, so I haven't really used her yet... I overheard her talking about how her third and second sisters are both beautiful, but her eldest sister is even more stunning... Now I hear she's in the Cold Palace, suffering abuse. It's a pity... You should have Little Sula go to see Tong Keshuang and say it's my idea. The young ladies in "I'm lonely, so I'm going to invite her elder sister into the garden. Wouldn't it be a good thing for the sisters to meet?" 　　Feng Ziying immediately understood his "meaning" and thought it was a good "topic." Seeing his "acting to the end" look, she found it amusing and naturally played along, saying seriously, "Master... this is probably against the rules ..." 　　Hongzhou waved his hand and laughed, "What rules? My word is the rule. I am the Prince in charge of the three palaces . Can't I handle such a small matter?... You can have Tong Keshuang handle it! Do you think I, a dignified Prince He, a legitimate descendant of the Aisin Gioro clan, would break the rules just to let my female slave meet her family? Which censor in the court is so ignorant that he should be impeached... Let him try!" 　　At this point, the two of them didn't mention the name "Yuanchun" at all, only saying "Xichun's family," leaving room for "ignorance is no excuse" and "foolishness and absurdity." They just smiled at each other without saying a word. 　　Feng Ziying was truly satisfied with his mission accomplished today. He had only come to test the waters and curry favor, but he had ended up resolving his master's doubts and devising plans for such a "secret matter." Wasn't this far more trustworthy and intimate than Nalekeshi's "catching his master in adultery"? Moreover, in the end, he had somehow secured a stunningly beautiful "selected" woman for his master to enjoy. Besides, while others might not know, he was well aware that his master, preoccupied with matters of the heart, had long desired to have "four springs in bloom." However, while Yuan Chun had already been deposed and the matter was merely "punishing the remaining palace women," a serious offense could also be described as "adultery with the mother concubine," a blatant taboo. Even knowing Hongzhou's intentions, he had never dared to consent . But this time it was completely different. This time, Hongzhou was "deliberately breaking the taboo," not afraid of anyone finding out. He simply let Tong Keshuang handle it. If anything went wrong, the prince, who was currently "looking for a charge," would take the blame , and a few eunuchs would take the fall. He would be clean, and he would have done something important to avoid suspicion for Hongzhou . He could be said to have a spotless reputation. After saying a few more perfunctory words, he respectfully withdrew. 　　When Hongzhou saw that Feng Ziying had left, he was actually quite uneasy. One moment he was thinking about the treacherous political situation in the court, the next he was worried about the unpredictable situation in the palace, and then he couldn't help but think that Keqing actually dared to complain about the loneliness in the garden and have an affair with Liu Xianglian. He felt ashamed and wished he could call Nalekshi back and torture before he could feel relieved... 　　His expression was uncertain, and the four personal servants who came to serve him were also terrified and did not dare to tease him . After eating a few bites of snacks, he lost his appetite and was too lazy to go to any room to find a girl to rape. He lit sandalwood incense in Gu'en Hall to calm his mind and wanted to take a nap. Just then, Ping'er came in and hesitated for a moment. Jin Chuan, however realizing it was a serious matter, mustered her courage and forced a smile as she came in. She massaged Hong Zhou 's legs and feet before speaking softly, "Your Majesty is tired... But regarding Consort Feng, as Your Majesty instructed yesterday, we asked Lord Feng to invite a physician surnamed Wu, some kind of 'Dianzheng Taiyi,' from the Imperial Hospital... He has examined Miss Lin and also checked the pulses of several other ladies who are unwell. Consort Feng said that this is a high-ranking official of the third rank, not an ordinary doctor. They 've come all this way, which is very kind of them. We've prepared four kinds of gifts and served tea... We were just about to take our leave when we asked if Your Majesty would like to see him?"

Hongzhou then remembered that Feng Ziying's visit today to pay his respects and handle official business
was actually a "proper task" he had just mentioned yesterday when he had casually vented his anger and asked Fengjie to have Feng Ziying fetch the imperial physician. Unexpectedly, Fengjie and Feng Ziying were
quick and ; the order had been given yesterday, and by the time he met Xia Shouzhong and then Feng Ziying and Lekesh
this morning, the imperial physician had already entered, examined Daiyu, and was about to leave.

Under the Qing dynasty system, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy was an official, a fourth-rank "Director,"
followed by either side, and eighteen sixth-rank "Imperial Physicians" assigned to various departments. Below them were seventh-rank "Clerks," eighth-rank "
Medical Assistants," and ninth-rank "Doctors." Those at the "Clerk" level and above were considered influential figures in the capital.
Given the old regulations of the Jia family, being the residence of the Dukes of Ning and Rong, it was only
natural for ordinary people to consult with doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy if they wanted to request treatment. Only those of high rank could invite clerks or physicians. A renowned physician like
Zhang Youshi was already at the level of an "Imperial Physician," a sixth-rank official, and only
elders like the three Jia matriarchs and Grandmother Jia could formally invite him. Once invited, he would examine the main masters and then
"casually" examine younger members like Baoyu, Daiyu, and Fengjie—that was the proper etiquette. Conversely, now that Hongzhou had confined the Grand View Garden, and Fengjie, Keqing, Baochai,
and others had become servants of the prince, Hongzhou's illustrious status, incomparable to that of the Jia family in the past, allowed "Imperial Physicians" like
Zhang Youshi to frequently "serve" him.

However, since the Song Dynasty, the distinction between physicians and scholars had become blurred. The truly top-tier physicians and renowned doctors in the court and among the common people
were all scholars, disdaining to serve only in the Imperial Medical Academy. Therefore, during the Kangxi reign, to preserve
the prestige of these truly renowned physicians, a nominal position of "Third-Rank Imperial Physician" was created specifically to invite contemporary
masters of medicine to serve concurrently. These physicians were either high-ranking officials in ministries or regions, holding a nominal position for added prestige. These
"Imperial Physicians" were the true "Grand Physicians." Even when treating patients, they only examined the emperor, concubines, members of the imperial
family , princes, and first-rank officials. Ordinary second- or third-rank officials would have to send invitations and depend on
the mood of these masters. Today, we have invited Wu Qian, also known as Wu Liuji, a Hanlin scholar from the Bordered Blue Banner of the Han Army, who also served as
the Provincial Governor of Hebei. In the capital, he was already considered a rather prestigious official. If Hongzhou weren't one of the most
prominent , the son of Emperor Yongzheng, and of truly noble status, even a high-ranking official like a cabinet minister
wouldn't be so obligated to come and treat the servants in his household.

Thinking of this, Hongzhou felt it inappropriate to be too impolite, so he said, "In that case, please come over. I'll meet you and
express my gratitude."

Therefore, Ping'er quickly and respectfully invited Wu Qian into the Gu'en Hall for a conversation. Wu Qian was about to perform a full
kneeling ceremony Hongzhou quickly smiled and told him to rise and excuse the formalities, inviting him to sit to the side. Yuanyang even personally served him tea. Only then did Hongzhou
say,

"I am deeply grateful to Lord Wu... I was being presumptuous. It's just that this... this maid in the manor (he felt it
was impolite to call her a servant, so he simply referred to Daiyu as his maid) has been someone I've cherished since childhood
. She has always taken care of my needs, and her poor health has burdened me greatly... It was only the other day that my fourth brother said
Lord Wu is a master in this field, so I took the liberty of asking you to come and take a look... Now, what do you think... is it serious, and
how should it be treated?"

Although Wu Qian was a renowned physician in the capital and always considered himself superior,
he was still no match for someone of Hongzhou's stature. He couldn't accept such politeness from Hongzhou and repeatedly bowed and scraped.

How well he treated Daiyu remains to be seen; we'll have to wait for the next report to find out.

This is truly: A beautiful

woman in a small building, adorned with flowers and water

chestnuts, seeks her beloved's heart thread by thread .

Red silk and green embroidery adorn the disheveled face

, a desolate soul and broken zither. She

only hopes for a little spring rain and dew

, yet fears the raging storm and thunder.

Who knows that the prince is indifferent ,

plotting war deep within the imperial court?

(To be continued)

(Note:) Wu Qian was a real person, the chief imperial physician during the reigns of Yongzheng and Qianlong. He compiled
the last medical textbook of the Qing Dynasty and the most comprehensive medical textbook in ancient Chinese feudal history, *Yizong Jinjian*. Medical students
should know him; he is a figure to be memorized in ancient medical history. I'm borrowing his name here. Originally, I should have used
Zhang Shiyou as described in the original work, but considering that I wanted to show that "the Jia family could only afford to hire imperial physicians of this rank,"
while "Hongzhou could hire even higher-ranking imperial physicians," I slightly fabricated the ranks of imperial physicians in the Qing Dynasty. I
designated Zhang Shiyou, who treated Qin Keqing in the original work, as a sixth-rank "Imperial Physician," while borrowing the title of Imperial Physician Wu as a third-rank
"Dianzheng Dafu" to highlight Hongzhou's "ability" in this matter. This was also for the sake of Lin Daiyu's
health . This is necessary for the novel, and knowledgeable readers should not take it too seriously.

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[The Grand View Garden Chronicle of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 86: The Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem Vie for Each Other's Schemes, Using Feigned Reactions to Avoid Implication and Defile Themselves

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