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

Chapter 219 Shunzhi's Increasingly Arrogant
Qianqing Palace.

"Everyone out! No one is allowed within 10 zhang (approximately 33 meters)."

After the eunuchs and palace maids filed away, Shunzhi glanced at Wu Liangfu, who was still standing there, and was quite speechless.

"Wu Liangfu, you go out too."

"The slave obeys the order."

Wu Liangfu left Qianqing Palace feeling wronged and bitter.

As they passed each other, Jiang Qingyun paid special attention to the eunuch's eyes, deducing that the shocking things he had done outside had not yet reached the palace.

He decisively dispatched troops to blockade all the streets of the capital, which naturally also blocked the intelligence transmission channels of the Thirteen Offices.

But~
If the agreed time has passed and the intelligence from all parties has not arrived, Wu Liangfu will realize that something is wrong, and then he will turn around and investigate where the problem lies.

There is a time difference here.

What I had to do was to shut him up before he could make that sharp, explosive noise.

……

"My dear minister, what are you thinking about?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I was lost in thought."

"It's alright. It's probably because the new government office is newly built and the paperwork is too tiring."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. That is indeed the reason, but I cannot entirely blame the hard work of my post."

"Oh?"

"The ten women bestowed by the Emperor are all charming, tall and short, plump and thin, each with their own unique beauty and charm. They are quite a sight to behold. I have become too infatuated."

puff~
Emperor Shunzhi smiled very happily.

Because apart from Jiang Qingyun, no other official dared to discuss such topics in front of the emperor.

"You are absolutely right, my dear minister. Beautiful women are indeed lovely, but they are a burden on the Han dynasty. I wholeheartedly agree."

"Your Majesty is vigorous and strong, a hundred times more robust than I am. I am thinking that once the affairs of the court are settled, I would like to ask Your Majesty for a post to go to Jiangnan."

"what are you up to?"

“Go down to the south of the Yangtze River, find a beauty, and bring her into the palace for the emperor’s amusement in his spare time.”

"Enough, enough. People will say I'm absurd."

"Your Majesty, do not listen to the nonsense of those Confucian scholars. They all pretend to be moral gentlemen, but in private they are more extravagant than anyone else. Qian Qianyi is a typical example. He married Liu Rushi, a famous courtesan of Qinhuai, even at his advanced age."

"I have heard of Liu Rushi's reputation for beauty. Isn't she quite old?"

"In your early thirties, I guess."

Emperor Shunzhi was slightly melancholy. In this era, being in one's thirties was considered quite old; for example, Mandahai died at the age of 31.

"My dear minister, what brings you to see me?"

"I have made progress on the matter Your Majesty instructed me to attend to."

"Have you already won over those banner lords and princes?"

"I dare not boast, but I'm about 7% sure."

"Say it!"

"The Council of Princes and Ministers shall be expanded to 27 members. All officials of the fourth rank or above in the capital, regardless of whether they are Manchu, Mongol, or Han, shall be eligible to be selected. Fourteen of them shall be appointed by the Emperor. Each person shall have one vote, and in case of disagreement, a show of hands shall be used to vote. I propose that from now on, whenever there are important military or national affairs in the court, the first day shall be submitted for deliberation, and the second day shall be decided in court. The court decision shall take precedence over the submission."

(To submit to the Council of State Ministers)
Emperor Shunzhi fell into deep thought, pondering the mysteries of the new system.

“My dear minister, in this way, I have essentially rendered the Council of Princes and Ministers powerless.”

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

"Stop flattering them. The question now is, will they even agree?"

“I visited them one by one and have already persuaded them.”

Emperor Shunzhi was greatly shocked.

"how did you do it?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to elaborate, lest I tarnish Your Majesty's reputation."

Shunzhi seemed to understand; he thought he understood.

To achieve your goal, you resorted to some dirty tricks, didn't you? You didn't want to put me in a difficult position, did you? If I didn't know, everything would be your doing, and those princes would be cursing me behind my back, wouldn't they?
Correct!
"...My dear minister, what about the banner chief system?"

Jiang Qingyun felt a slight sense of disgust, thinking to himself, "Your behavior is too unseemly. This is not how you play politics."

Besides, if I wiped out the entire opposition for you, I would become the only villain.

"Your Majesty, the banner chief system has a far-reaching influence; perhaps we can proceed gradually."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Have."

"Speak quickly."

"My initial idea is to recruit and install a group of commanders and deputy commanders within the Eight Banners, convey the imperial edicts directly to them, and let them directly manage the military affairs of the Eight Banners, thereby gradually undermining the military power of the banner chiefs."

Emperor Shunzhi rose and paced slowly in the hall, seemingly deep in thought.

Suddenly, he turned his head and said seriously, "My dear minister, the court has no capable prime ministers. You should strive to do your best."

After exiting Qianqing Gate~
Jiang Qingyun's brows furrowed with worry. Just moments ago, in the Qianqing Palace, he had actually smelled a scent of "the good bow being put away after the birds are all gone."

The main concern is to guard against the "flag," but we must also be wary of the "emperor."

This game is getting more and more dangerous.

……

Jiang Qingyun did not rush to leave the Forbidden City. Along the way, he kept encountering officials from the Inner Court, who would raise their sleeves and urge him to pay their respects from a distance.

From fearing me like a tiger to calling a deer a horse, it won't be long before things change.

Near Wuying Hall
After wandering around for a long time, Jiang Qingyun finally met the person he most wanted to see today—the Third Eunuch.

"This servant greets Your Excellency."

"No need, Third Eunuch. I'm asking you, where around here is a clean outhouse?"

"Please come with me."

The two of them made several turns and ended up in a secluded spot.

Jiang Qingyun looked around and feigned surprise, saying, "I was going to the outhouse. Where did you bring me?"

The three eunuchs straightened their clothes, bowed deeply, and clasped their hands in a respectful gesture.

"San Gouzi pays respects to his benefactor."

"Benefactor? What makes you say that?"

"You single-handedly supported the Nancheng Orphanage. You are the benefactor of us brothers and sisters. Your kindness is closer than a father, warmer than a mother, higher than the sky, and deeper than the sea."

San Gouzi knelt down with a thud and kowtowed loudly.

"So, you knew everything?"

"Yes."

"When did you know that?"

"Do you remember the time I went to your residence to deliver an imperial edict summoning you to the palace?"

"I remember you seemed to have run into a few acquaintances on the way."

“Yes, I lied back then, I didn’t dare to admit it. Since then, I’ve been keeping an eye on you. As you know, the palace is a big sieve, and if you want to find out, you can find a lot of information about you. About three months ago, I took advantage of an official business trip to go to Huaziying Hutong and then to the South City.”

At this point, the third uncle's eyes were already filled with tears.

"Benefactor~"

Jiang Qingyun sighed softly and reached out to help him up.

"Get up."

……

The third eunuch became agitated and pushed Jiang Qingyun's hand away.

"No! My benefactor, I still have something to say."

“I know you’ve always been wary of me, you’ve always looked down on me. I’m just a lowly eunuch, and I’m still trying to climb up the social ladder. My little tricks are nothing but trifles in your eyes. But I, San Gouzi, swear to God that I have absolutely no ill intentions towards you. I’m willing to go through fire and water for you.”

"My benefactor! My benefactor!"

(End of this chapter)