You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 121 Kong Sizhen's Divine Assistance Helps Jiang Qingyun Finally Pass the Test!
Outside the Meridian Gate.

Just as Jiang Qingyun was about to mount his horse, he was stopped by the arriving guards.

"Imperial Censor Jiang, please wait. The Emperor has summoned you."

We've gone back to the same old path.

The guards walked in front, and I followed behind. The vast square was deserted, and with the sun setting in the west, the atmosphere was desolate all day.

The entire journey was speechless.

After passing through the Qianqing Gate, we entered the Qianqing Palace.

Jiang Qingyun looked up and was shocked to see that both Emperor Shunzhi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang were there. Even more shocking was that Kong Sizhen was also there. This woman had changed into a Manchu dress and looked dignified, virtuous, sweet, and obedient.

This world is too crazy.

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang spoke first:

"Get up and give me a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Qingyun only sat on half of the brocade stool, his hands on his knees, trying his best to suppress his domineering aura and pretend to be an honest person.

Emperor Shunzhi spoke.

"Jiang Qingyun, I am asking you a question. You must answer truthfully."

"Your Majesty, I never lie."

"Xie Sheng impeached you for colluding with the Ministry of Personnel, saying that you helped your subordinates obtain hundreds of official titles. Is that true?"

"Have."

Upon hearing this, Kong Sizhen almost lost her balance.

……

"Your Majesty, the Five Cities Garrison previously led the investigation and confiscation of treasonous items, bringing peace to the capital. My subordinates were loyal and worked under immense pressure. It would be unreasonable for me not to arrange a future for them."

"Where did you send them?"

"Leave the capital and go to work as a clerk, jailer, constable, squad leader, or registrar in a county government office in the suburbs."

Why was it arranged this way?

“My brothers are all rough men, illiterate and ignorant of rules, all they know is fighting and killing. It would be better to send them to work in the county government offices in the suburbs, so they can make some money on the side while they are on duty.”

Emperor Shunzhi actually nodded.

"Is it true that Xie Sheng impeached you for privately accepting bribes from subordinates?"

"Your Majesty, the New Year is approaching, and my brothers who are serving in the provinces are grateful and have come to give me New Year's gifts, which I have accepted."

"So Xie Sheng didn't wrong you?"

"I don't think this counts as accepting bribes; it's just normal social interaction."

Shunzhi nodded again.

Even Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded in agreement, agreeing that such money was acceptable to accept.

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang suddenly asked:

"Jiang Qingyun, did you have any past conflicts with Liu Zhengzong and Xie Sheng?"

"Your Majesty, I have no dealings with them whatsoever, and we are not acquainted at all. I am also puzzled as to why they would suddenly jump out to impeach me during the New Year, and even prepare a large group of evidence and witnesses."

"You really didn't know anything beforehand?"

"I swear to Heaven, I am still in a daze."

Shunzhi spoke:

"I believe what you say. If you had known beforehand, you certainly wouldn't have been in the mood to sit there eating and drinking so heartily. Liu Zhengzong and Xie Sheng are both former Ming officials who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and brought their old ways into our Great Qing. Shameless, hateful, and deserving of death."

"I also think he should be killed."

"Your subject requests to share your burdens, and I volunteer to kill someone."

Shunzhi neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply left out a comment.

"you can go now."

Jiang Qingyun readily kowtowed to take his leave and then happily departed from the Qianqing Palace.

……

Chief eunuch Wu Liangfu arrived quietly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prefect Soniso of Shuntian Prefecture has arrived."

"Your Majesty, I have some matters to attend to and must take my leave."

"Go~"

Taking advantage of the moment when Shunzhi also walked away, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang glanced at Kong Sizhen, who was sitting in an extremely dignified posture, and smiled.

"Girl, what kind of person did that Imperial Censor Jiang seem to you just now?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, he looks like an honest man." *chuckles*
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang couldn't help but laugh.

"It's a pity that this honest man is already married. Otherwise, I think you two would be a good match. Your age, appearance, and personality are all compatible."

Kong Sizhen lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang liked her more and more as she looked at her, and asked in a low voice, "Girl, do you want to stay in the palace?"

"Everything in the palace is wonderful—the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, even the Imperial Garden. But... I'm already engaged."

"Sigh~" Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sighed, "Girl, you are a good girl. Never mind, come with me."

……

Cining Palace.

The eunuchs brought in four large boxes.

"Your father will be leaving the capital after the Lantern Festival. I have prepared a box of clothes, a box of jewelry, a box of cosmetics, and a box of books for you. Take good care of yourself from now on. When you get married and have children, send me a letter so I can give you a gift."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

With tears in her eyes, Kong Sizhen rushed into Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's arms.

"Alright, alright, now that I've recognized you as my goddaughter, consider these gifts as a token of my acceptance of your new address."

"Thank you, godmother."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was pleased with Kong Sizhen's reaction.

She even hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should use some means to cause an accident to Kong Sizhen's fiancé, so that she could stay in the Forbidden City.

She really liked Kong Sizhen very much.

……

"Girl, I have something to ask you. Today, a minister impeached Jiang Qingyun for leading troops to besiege your father's soldiers. Are you aware of this?"

Kong Sizhen nodded.

"I know that my fiancé was there at the time."

"The two sides have started fighting?"

"I didn't hear him mention it."

"That's fine, that's fine."

"Your Majesty, I apologize to the court on behalf of my father."

“Girl, no need for that. It’s just a trivial matter. Even if a fight broke out, it wouldn’t matter. Soldiers fighting is nothing new. Come on, let’s go to the Cining Palace Garden to see the flowers.”

……

The Cining Palace Garden is located south of the Cining Palace.

It's just a few steps away.

As I walked into the small building, I saw a pot of flowers that had just bloomed.

Kong Sizhen inexplicably thought of the "honest man" Jiang Qingyun.

suddenly~
The silly, adorable Persian cat slipped out again, climbed onto her flowerpot-bottomed embroidered shoes, and started doing back-and-forth motions.

Kong Sizhen blushed slightly.

Unexpectedly, this scene appeared even more real to Empress Xiaozhuang, who liked it even more.

There's not much life in the Forbidden City. Whether people or objects, everything exudes a deathly aura—oppressive, dull, and boring. Her fondness for Kong Sizhen is the same as her fondness for the flowers and plants here; she admires the vitality they embody.

……

During dinner time, Emperor Shunzhi arrived at Cining Palace.

"My son, please pay my respects to your mother."

"sit."

Shunzhi took the rice bowl handed to him by a palace maid and waved his hand.
All the servants immediately moved far away.

"Fulin, what did Sony say?"

"Sony said he had been recuperating and did not know the specifics of the situation at the time. However, he brought the Prefectural Assistant Tong Guogang with him. This man told me that the clerks of Shuntian Prefecture had never seen Wu Yingxiong and Jiang Qingyun confronting each other with their troops; it was purely a rumor circulating in the streets."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded.

"Have you asked where these rumors came from?"

"Jiang Qingyun is a womanizer and frequents brothels. He may have met Wu Yingxiong."

"That's good, that's good."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang ate a few mouthfuls of rice, seemingly relieved.

"Fulin, I am relieved. You can give him an important position from now on."

"Thank you for the advice, Mother."

"Actually, you must have had doubts about him at some point, right?"

Shunzhi did not deny it, but simply smiled. After assuming personal rule, he matured rapidly, gaining a deeper understanding of politics and the human condition.

(End of this chapter)