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

Chapter 210 Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang Ambushs Emperor Shunzhi

During this period, Emperor Shunzhi frequently summoned ministers, but he never went to the Cining Palace to discuss with the Empress Dowager "how to properly deal with the Prince Li's lineage".

Without hesitation or internal strife, Empress Xiaozhuang decided to fight back!
The famous critic Xiaoxiaosheng once said:
I observed many successful officials and businessmen around me during the Ming and Qing dynasties and came to a conclusion.

They have almost no internal conflicts, and they are rarely bound, pained, or entangled by the various emotions that are common to human beings.

In their world, there is only one person: themselves.

In their world, there is only one path: upwards.

In their world, nothing is irreplaceable. A wife can be remarried, a son can be born, subordinates can be recruited again, and clothes can be replaced when they are torn.

Internal strife causes pain, dulls the mind, and prevents one from seizing opportunities.

But how can everything in life go smoothly? Birth, old age, sickness, death, not getting what you want, being with those you hate, being separated from those you love, and the five aggregates are the eight sufferings of life. There are always one or two kinds of suffering that you can't escape.

Life is short, only a few decades.

Life is long, and hardships can come unexpectedly.

Therefore, people who are overly sensitive and emotionally rich are destined not to go far and will be hurt by themselves.

The fewer human attributes one has, the higher one's career attributes are.

The higher the player's attributes, the higher their career attributes.

The vast majority of these successful officials and gentry were ugly, wicked, and of little benefit to the world. Their private morality was terrible, and their public morality was even worse.

To them, "a slave to three masters" was not a slander, but a compliment. Because there were also slaves to four masters, five masters, six masters, and seven masters!
A very small number of people have upheld public morality and adhered to the bottom line, and we should praise them loudly.

For example, Liu Bang, for example...
……

"Someone is coming."

"The slave is here."

“Summon Li Shuaitai to Cining Palace.”

"Whoo."

Just as the eunuch reached the door, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang suddenly realized what was happening.

"Wait a minute."

"Queen Mother?"

"Never mind, I won't summon him. I will be hosting a banquet at Cining Palace at noon today. Please make a list of invited guests as follows."

"Whoo."

The list is finished~
The eunuch asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, there is still an hour and a half until noon. I'm afraid the imperial kitchen won't have enough time to cook some of the more complicated dishes."

"It's alright, nobody cares about the dishes today."

"Whoo."

noon.

The Cining Palace was bustling with activity, and guests were everywhere.

The eunuchs stood at the door, continuously announcing names:

"The newly appointed Prince Li has arrived."

"The newly appointed Prince Shuncheng has arrived."

"Sun Yanling, the Assistant Director of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War, has arrived."

"Princess Kong Sizhen has arrived."

"The Beile of the Left Wing Rear Banner of Horqin has arrived."

"The Prince of Chahar has arrived!"

~
Guests first kowtowed to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, who was standing at the entrance of the main hall to greet them, and then entered the hall after exchanging pleasantries.

There are more Mongolians now.

The sound was loud.

The atmosphere became lively.

The banquet was lively from the very beginning, with guests drinking and eating heartily. The imperial kitchen roasted a whole lamb on the spot, slicing it fresh.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stood up and raised her wine glass.

"I'd like to say a few words."

The hall fell silent instantly.

"Mandahai and Lekedehun were both loyal ministers of our Great Qing Dynasty and outstanding descendants of the Aisin Gioro clan. It's a pity they didn't live long. Fortunately, Heaven has eyes, and the two princes have successors. Chang'adai and Le'erjin, come here."

Chang Adai, who was already 11 years old, immediately stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed.

Lerjin was held in someone's arms, laughing heartily.

... Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang took out a jewel-encrusted dagger and gave it to Chang Adai.

"Young prince, grow up quickly and serve my Great Qing Dynasty."

"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's gift, but I am already grown up."

Children speak without restraint, and the people in the hall burst into joyful laughter.

"Is that so? Then let me test you: who is the most beautiful woman in the palace today?"

Chang Adai blinked his eyes.

"I think the Empress Dowager is the most beautiful woman in the world."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang laughed heartily, enjoying this rare moment of happiness. After all, what woman in the world could resist praise and jewels? Regardless of the other person's intentions, she was simply happy.

She asked the question in a different way.

"Besides me, who is the most beautiful?"

Chang Adai stood next to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, observing her from above.

"she!"

He was referring to Kong Sizhen, the daughter of Kong Youde, the wife of Sun Yanling, and the Heshuo Princess. She was like a white lotus flower, gentle, virtuous, and sensible.

Everyone nodded.

Kong Si's cheeks were flushed.

Sun Yanling smiled broadly, feeling proud and not at all offended.

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang offered Chang Adai a glass of wine and asked meaningfully, "It seems you have indeed grown up. When a man grows up, he must get married. Do you want to marry a wife as beautiful as her?"

Chang Adai immediately knelt down and said with a grin:

"Please, Your Majesty, arrange the marriage."

The atmosphere was harmonious, and everyone laughed heartily.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stood up:
"I have only two hobbies in my life: one, growing flowers; two, matchmaking. I've got my eye on this marriage. Has Abu Nai arrived yet?"

Abu, who had just been granted the title of Prince of Chahar, had a mother who was a favorite concubine of Huang Taiji.

After Ligdan Khan's death, his mother, pregnant with him, married Huang Taiji along with tribal cavalry as part of her dowry. Therefore, he was of extraordinary status from birth.

"I've heard that you have a cousin, Borjigit Uyun, who is still unmarried?"

"Yes, Queen Mother."

"Thank you for making this trip. I wish to marry her to Chang Adai as his primary wife."

"According to the order."

Abu Nai returned to his seat and continued eating meat.

The atmosphere inside the hall became even more lively, with several old Taijis from the Chahar tribe even playing the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and singing and dancing.

The marriage alliance between the Manchus and Mongols is wonderful; from now on, the Chahar Mongols will have another princess.

Only Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang glanced at Abu Nai several times unintentionally; she had long since discerned that this descendant of the Golden Family was an unruly and untamed individual.

……

Such a large commotion at Cining Palace could not be kept from Emperor Shunzhi.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet for guests. This is the list that I copied from the palace guards."

"Put it here."

"嗻"

Emperor Shunzhi glanced through the guest list, his face darkening.

In my heart silently:

Mother, you are openly telling the world that you will die to protect Prince Li. You have put me in a difficult position in front of the entire court.

Emperor Shunzhi studied Confucian classics and learned the art of rulership from a young age. Coupled with his intelligence, he matured rapidly after assuming personal rule.

He immediately saw through Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's intentions.

Invitation, bestowal of gifts, and betrothal.

The woman to whom the marriage was arranged also had a clever identity, possessing three identities: a member of the Borjigit clan, the daughter of a minor nobleman of the Chahar tribe, and the niece of Jirhalang's concubine.

If he continued to target Prince Li's faction, he would face fierce opposition from the banner princes, the Empress Dowager's faction, and the Chahar people. The Han officials would probably not dare to utter a word, and the Lower Five Banners would most likely not support him.

My chances of winning are very slim.

Shunzhi muttered to himself:
"Mother, are you planning to challenge me to a duel?"

(End of this chapter)