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

Chapter 129 Bombarding the Central Government Offices
After the imperial procession left, the vast royal hall fell silent.

The girls, having successfully completed their performance, were still dressed and made up.
Meeting!
The young and handsome Imperial Censor Jiang sat at the head of the table to hold a post-event debriefing meeting.

"I hereby declare this a successful performance!"

"The song and dance troupe has made great contributions! I have decided to reward each member with 10 taels of silver and 1 bolt of brocade. Mama Xu and Director Bai will each be rewarded with 100 taels of silver."

After he finished speaking, he led the applause.

The girls' applause lasted for a long time.
……

Despite being surrounded by beauties, Imperial Censor Jiang remained remarkably calm, thanks to his recent unrestrained lifestyle, which had greatly increased his immunity to vulgar women.

After the meeting, a smaller meeting still needs to be held.

A closed-door meeting attended by only three people.

Xu Fo: A former famous courtesan from Jiangnan. Although her former allure has faded, her experience and discerning eye are still top-notch. She currently holds the honorary title of Master of Ceremonies. A true veteran!
Bai Yunshang: Born into an ordinary family of bondservants, he is now the head of a song and dance troupe, receiving the salary of a seventh-rank official. A young generation rising star~
Xu Fo was uneasy:

"My lord, I dare not accept such a generous reward."

"Why?"

"If an expert had seen the performance just now, they would have pointed their fingers at me and scolded me. Our dance troupe is mediocre in terms of figure, dance moves, and temperament."

Jiang Qingyun smiled.

They were just a group of ordinary bondservants, and they never expected to train a group of Liu Rushi.

Besides, what if we let Shunzhi eat too well at the beginning?
……

“Mother Xu, listen carefully, things are as they are now. I can speak on behalf of the Emperor. If I think it’s good, then it means the Emperor thinks it’s good too.”

"Yes."

Xu Fo and Bai Yunshang both felt a jolt in their hearts; no one had ever overstepped their bounds like Jiang Lang.

Jiang Qingyun, however, disagreed and continued:
"I've told you before that everyone in the song and dance troupe should be cut from the same mold—makeup, clothes, height, weight, and body shape should be as uniform as possible. If you're too fat, eat less. If you're too thin, eat more. Those who don't meet the requirements will be eliminated."

"Yes. But I'm worried that it might look too craftsman-like?"

"No. Madam Xu, imagine if someone in the troupe suddenly got sick, or if someone suddenly threw a tantrum and refused to perform, what would you do? Now, a hundred people are like one person, and one person becomes a hundred people. We can be replaced or replaced at any time. No one is indispensable."

Xu Fo suddenly realized.

The Imperial Censor was wary of a woman in the troupe becoming arrogant and spoiled, so from the very beginning, he completely blocked the possibility of the troupe producing an imperial concubine.

Baiyun didn't say much, but he listened very attentively.

……

Dinner was exquisite.

Pigeon and Eucommia soup, jujube, deer antler and mutton soup, sea cucumber and black-boned chicken soup, black-boned chicken, astragalus and wolfberry soup—served with a little bit of white rice.

In the song and dance troupe, everyone is restrained when eating, for fear of losing their livelihood.

After eating~
Jiang Qingyun and Bai Yunshang were alone in a room when Jiang Qingyun listened to her report on the "loyalty to the emperor and following Jiang" ideological education within the song and dance troupe.

Ideological education is crucial.
Very important~
It lasts for 45 minutes, but it can have a lifelong impact.

……

"My lord, the appointed time has passed, and the nine gates of the inner city are closed. Perhaps..."

"It's alright, I have a place to go within the city."

"This humble servant respectfully sees you off, my lord."

Bai Yun watched Jiang Qingyun leave; she was the figure Jiang Qingyun had pushed forward to take control of the song and dance troupe.

Her father and brother are now in charge of purchasing for the imperial court in Yangzhou Prefecture, and her sister is engaged to the son of a military officer in the Tongzhou Garrison.

In a family like this, loyalty will surely stand the test!

Curfew in the inner city!

The rules were strict, but Jiang Qingyun was the rule.

A secluded courtyard in Nanluoguxiang.

Knock on the door~
dong dong dong.

"Who is it? So late at night?" the old woman muttered as she opened the door. As soon as she opened it, her face lit up with a smile. "Oh my, young master, please come in! Quickly, someone boil some water, prepare some wine and dishes, and add more red candles to the room."

……

Under the warm candlelight~
Liu Zhangtai stood upright with his hands at his sides, his bald head gleaming, his appearance dignified and solemn, his features delicate and refined, his silhouette enveloped in a soft glow.

Although she wasn't a newcomer, Jiang Qingyun was still moved and grabbed her fair wrist.

Liu Zhangtai remained calm and dignified as always.

She said, with a hint of pleading, "Promise me, tonight you'll only use your mouth for eating and drinking. Okay?"

"Zhangtai~" "Hmm?"

“I ask you, what did the eminent monk Hanshan of Mount Tiantai of the Tang Dynasty say: ‘If someone slanders me, deceives me, insults me, laughs at me, belittles me, despises me, hates me, or stabs me, how should I deal with it?’”

Liu Zhangtai was taken aback, and blurted out:

"Just tolerate him, let him be, let him do as he pleases, avoid him, be patient with him, respect him, ignore him, and wait a few more years, then you'll see what happens to him."

"Your Buddhist heart is unstable; you still need to cultivate yourself. Kneel down."

"Yes."

Liu Zhangtai knelt on the prayer mat without saying a word.

Flowers are not flowers, mist is not mist.

They come at midnight and leave at dawn.

that is it.

……

The next day.

Having tasted bloodshed, Shunzhi returned to the song and dance troupe. Years of repression vanished, and all his youthful fantasies were fulfilled. His debauchery was beyond description.

The day after tomorrow.

Emperor Shunzhi visited again.

The day after tomorrow.

When Emperor Shunzhi arrived again, he was so engrossed in the pleasures of the courtesans that he could not extricate himself.

Jiang Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief. Shunzhi would eventually become Tongzhi. Imperial power was closer to him now.

Before I transmigrated, my senior once said: "Qingyun, many of your seemingly dirty tricks are actually the best for getting things done."

The senior was right.

……

On this day, the young eunuch arrived with his head bowed and eyes downcast.

"My lord, the Emperor has summoned you."

"Please trouble you, sir, to lead the way."

As he spoke, Jiang Qingyun slipped a small gold leaf to the young eunuch. This was the first time the eunuch had dealt with such a thing, and he was so startled that he quickly waved his hand.

"Can't, can't."

“Father-in-law, refusing this is disrespecting me. Please accept it.”

Jiang Qingyun firmly pressed down on the eunuch's hand, which refused, with an unquestionable air. At that moment, he was the true man in the eunuch's heart.

……

According to the internal management regulations of the song and dance troupe, afterwards, guests must be served a bowl of soup that has been carefully simmered for three hours.

Jujube, deer antler, and mutton soup!
Emperor Shunzhi drank it with great pleasure; the taste was just right.

"My dear minister, every time I come to this place, I feel as calm as still water."

"As long as the emperor likes it."

"Don't be shy, have a seat."

"Yes."

After Shunzhi finished the last sip of soup, Jiang Qingyun finally posed the final question.

"Your Majesty, what about my memorial regarding the reform of the administrative procedures of the central government?"

Shunzhi's eyes flickered.

"My dear minister, what is the ultimate goal?"

"Centralized power, highly imperial power."

……

Shunzhi remained silent for a while.

"My dear minister, I know your loyalty."

"Of all the officials in the court, only you dare to submit such a memorial that goes straight to the heart of the matter."

"Let me also speak frankly with you. The princes and ministers of the State Council and the vassal kings of the Han Army are, on the surface, my subjects, but in reality, they are shareholders of the Great Qing. When the Great Qing entered the pass, they had shares in it. They are not my slaves, nor are they people I can fight or kill at will."

"Therefore, once I implement reforms to the procedures of the central government offices, they will definitely oppose it fiercely. Perhaps on that day, even I will not be able to protect you."

(End of this chapter)