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

Chapter 128 A Young Man of High Status Arrives at the Song and Dance Troupe

The understated Royal Clubhouse stands quietly not far from Donghua Gate.

"I have demolished all the houses within half a mile of the road to prevent anyone from hiding and to ensure Your Majesty's absolute safety. Not only that, I have also asked the Ministry of Works to cooperate in repairing the road from Donghua Gate to here. I have tested it, and it only takes 500 breaths on horseback."

Emperor Shunzhi was greatly shocked and then entered the guild hall that had been built just for him.

By this time, all the craftsmen had left, and the place had been cleaned up inside and out.

A tall monk, dressed in a patchwork robe, stood in the courtyard chanting scriptures aloud.

"My dear minister, who is this gentleman?"

“Master Tianji comes from Mount Wutai. He once traveled alone to seven provinces. He is a master of Buddhism, compassionate and loving. He is a true hermit. I invited him here, firstly to pray for blessings, and secondly to analyze my birth chart.”

"Whose birth chart are being analyzed?"

"The girls in the song and dance troupe who are incompatible with the Emperor in terms of their birth dates are not allowed to join."

"You believe in Buddhism?"

"I am a devout Buddhist."

"The Empress Dowager also believed, but she believed in the Yellow Sect."

.........

The monk Tianji suddenly turned around and looked at Shunzhi with a smile.

Shunzhi felt a sudden jolt in his heart. For some reason, he felt that the monk looked very familiar, as if they had a connection in a past life. He quickly put his hands together in prayer.

Only then did they continue into the guild hall.

Jiang Qingyun deliberately lagged behind a few steps to block the guards.

"Brothers, stop here, it's not convenient inside."

"Imperial Censor Jiang, is my family alright?"

"Of course you can, Steward."

"Hehe, hehehe, our house is open to all."

Wu Liangfu followed him inside; after all, a man without the right tools can't accomplish anything.

……

Feeling quite intrigued, Shunzhi removed his heavy dragon robe and the ornaments on his head, and changed into a relaxed open-fronted robe.

Walking on the expensive carpet, smelling the faint fragrance, and gazing at the erotic paintings on both sides of the corridor, his thoughts began to stir.

Once you get here, you already feel like you're taking a bath.

Faint music could be heard coming from ahead.

"My dear minister, what tune is this?"

"The poem 'A Beautiful Woman Accompanied by a Lonely Lamp' expresses the sentiment of a newlywed woman who does not want her husband to get drunk."

"Wonderful, wonderful."

Shunzhi couldn't help but laugh, but then his face turned cold.

It's understandable when you think about it. He got married twice and divorced once when he was 15, and he's even preparing for a second divorce. Who could laugh about that?
……

The heavy, brightly colored satin curtain was lifted, and a strong scent of hormones wafted out.

Two women walked gracefully towards them.

"Son."

Then, he pulled Shunzhi inside.

Shunzhi, as naive as a teenager, forgot his identity and unwittingly sat down on the modern Chinese-style sofa.

The satin curtain was lowered again.

The chief eunuch, Wu Liangfu, was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time.

"Imperial Censor Jiang, what did they call His Majesty just now?"

"Young Master!"

“Absurd, presumptuous, and foolish—these despicable scoundrels.”

As he was speaking, he tried to walk inside, but Jiang Qingyun, who was quick-witted and sharp-eyed, grabbed his arm.

"Chief Steward Wu, please don't disturb His Majesty. There are too many rules in the Forbidden City. How can His Majesty be happy? This is outside the palace. Don't make a big deal out of it."

Wu Liangfu's moods were unpredictable.

"What about security? What about the Emperor's security? Who will be responsible?"

Jiang Qingyun laughed, thinking to himself, "These are all my lyrics, my formula."

"Don't worry, Steward Wu. I will take care of all issues, including water, fire, and thieves."

"You, you, you're bewitching the Emperor! This is absurd, outrageous! The ministers will impeach you."

"Chief Steward Wu, if the Emperor likes it but his subjects don't, who do you think you are?"

Wu Liangfu was speechless.

After a long pause, he blurted out:
“Imperial Censor Jiang, if you were to cut it off now and enter the palace, with your clever mind, you would be the one to sit in my position as the Grand Eunuch.”

"No no no~"

Jiang Qingyun waved his hands repeatedly.

……

At this moment, Shunzhi felt as if he had ascended to a fairyland, floating on air. The 15-year-old emperor had never seen anything like this before. His two empresses, both from the Borjigit clan, were powerful and capable women of the steppe, skilled in archery and capable of bringing down geese with a single stroke.

Although Shunzhi's harem seemed to be large, after excluding the Mongol Eight Banners and the Manchu Eight Banners, only the Han Banners were barely acceptable.

However, the palace rules were strict.

The Qing dynasty attire was elaborate and heavy, with intricate patterns. The concubines in the Forbidden City wore such thick clothing that they could withstand a light arrow from 30 paces away, and their stern expressions were enough to make them sit in court at the Shuntian Prefecture.

She was clearly a 16-year-old concubine, but she looked like a 61-year-old veteran artist!

He was kind and approachable from the moment he opened his mouth; even stripped of his imperial robes, he remained a man of high moral character and prestige.

The act of sexual intercourse, which is clearly a charming and romantic affair, has been turned into a ritualistic process.

……

Lake Baikal.

A group dance that is neither entirely Chinese nor Western, based on ballet, its essence lies in the embroidered, tight-fitting white silk costumes and the synchronized high kicks.

"The Eight Banners in Battle"

An unconventional pink play, featuring eight bondservants dressed in the colors symbolizing the Eight Banners armor, short sleeves and shorts, twirling spears all over the place.

The elegant music "A Beauty Accompanied by a Lonely Lamp" gradually transformed into a lively and exciting dance accompaniment. In keeping with the rhythm of the music, the young artists of the song and dance troupe also gradually moved towards a lighter, thinner, and more intimate style.

The grand finale – "Beautiful".

Big is beautiful, many are good. Big and many, that is beauty.

The psychology of all 15-year-old boys in the world can be summed up in just two words: longing!
Emperor Shunzhi was no exception.

He was overjoyed, his eyes were glued to the screen, and he was delighted.

This echoes Freud's controversial view that the root of all problems is repression.

……

“Imperial Censor Jiang, I need to check what’s going on inside. The sound doesn’t seem right.”

"Steward Wu, do not look at what is improper."

"We're eunuchs, so the ladies of the palace don't even bother to hide from us when they bathe, hmph~"

Wu Liangfu angrily opened a crack in the door, and it would have been better if he hadn't looked.

"Ouch~"

"What's wrong, Steward Wu?"

"What's the difference between this and someone dressed like that in a public bathhouse?"

"Steward Wu, sit down and have some tea. Don't rush, let's have a chat."

"This servant is worried that I have misunderstood today's meeting of the Council of Princes and Ministers."

"Is there a meeting of the Council of Princes and Ministers today?"

"Correct."

"What time?"

"Shenshi 3:45".

It is now 15:00 PM.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Steward, to inform them. This is a very important matter; the Council of Princes is a crucial event."

"Why don't you go?"

"I am a man, so this is rather inconvenient."

……

Wu Liangfu was speechless. He gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and lifted the curtain to go inside.

"Your Majesty, it's time for you to return to the palace."

Emperor Shunzhi was engrossed in reading when he was suddenly interrupted, and one can imagine how annoyed he was.

"Go back to which palace?"

"Your Majesty, there is a meeting of the Council of Princes and Ministers today!"

Xu Fo, who was behind the curtain, was quite perceptive and immediately signaled to stop.

The music suddenly stopped, and a group of women quickly retreated backstage.

Emperor Shunzhi was furious and frustrated, so he reached out and slapped Wu Liangfu across the face.

"Why didn't you remind me sooner, you dog of a servant? Quickly, return to the palace."

While changing clothes.

Wu Liangfu secretly groaned.

"The rod is made of nine-times-refined iron, and was personally forged in the furnace by Laozi."

The Emperor is in a bad mood today; I've committed a grave offense.
As he was leaving, Shunzhi's eyes were red, his face was flushed, and his steps were unsteady.

"My dear Minister Jiang~"

"The minister is here."

"I will come again tomorrow."

"The minister obeys the order."

(End of this chapter)