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

Chapter 229 Secret Meeting at Cining Palace

The fifth day of the first lunar month.

The streets of the capital remained deserted, with pedestrians hurrying by. Even when they encountered acquaintances on the street, they would only exchange glances before quickly moving on.

Historical records once documented a short story that took place in the Western Zhou Dynasty:

"King Li was tyrannical, and the people of the country slandered him. Duke Shao said, 'The people can no longer bear this fate.' The king was furious and obtained a sorcerer from Wei, who was ordered to monitor those who slandered him. If anyone was reported, they were killed. No one in the country dared to speak, and they communicated with each other through their eyes in the streets."

In terms of identity, the Manchus and the people of the capital were very similar, both being ethnic groups residing in the capital.

The Manchu bannermen of the Qing Dynasty never imagined that they would perfectly understand the feelings of the people of the Zhou Dynasty at that time!

That's what happens when you have a long history~
……

"Drive~"

Two knights traversed the streets and alleys.

One of them dismounted and carried a bucket of paste and a notice to paint the wall.

Another person, mounted on horseback, warily surveyed their surroundings.

During the Spring Festival, rebels from the Ninth Banner used extremely despicable means to assassinate Hailin, a young imperial guard from the Training Office. This matter has been widely publicized within the Infantry Commander's Office.

Unbeknownst to many, everyone's mindset had subtly shifted. The so-called Ninth Banner seemed to be real, not just a fabrication.

Several slogans with black characters on white paper have appeared on the wall at the entrance of the alley.

"Be vigilant, spies are among us."

"When five people travel together, there must be a spies among them."

"Expose the Ninth Banner and defend our Eight Banners."

They're having a great time putting them up.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came from deep within the alley.

The sudden sound of firecrackers startled the two of them. They quickly found the culprit, another snotty-nosed kid.

"Who gave you permission to set off the firecrackers?"

The snotty-nosed child was so scared that he cried.

His grandfather rushed out of the yard, bowing deeply and smiling obsequiously.

"Qidinghabulin greets Your Excellency."

"Those from the Bordered Blue Banner?"

"Yes."

"How many people are in the family?"

"Only five bites left."

The two knights looked at an old woman, a young woman, and two children who were standing silently in the courtyard.

Where is his father?

He died in battle in Changsha, Hunan last year.

The two knights' attitudes changed instantly.

"Old man, we also fought under General Dingyuan last year. Um, did you receive your family's pension?"

"The imperial court's kindness will not be diminished in the slightest."

Old Qi Ding's face was etched with the marks of time.

"Gentlemen, would you like to come in and have a bowl of water?"

……

As the two knights sat in the courtyard drinking water, they whispered a reminder:

"Habrin, don't set off firecrackers at your house anymore, or you'll be taken advantage of."

"Whoo."

"Don't travel in groups of five, as it's easy to be taken advantage of."

"Whoo."

"Quickly paste up the door god images that are given out with the New Year's gifts in the twelfth lunar month. This item can protect your family's safety."

"Any precision?"

"The Admiral said that having door gods means you're a compliant citizen, while not having them means you're a troublemaker. With door gods up, the Infantry Commander's office won't easily come knocking. Sir, we have official business to attend to, so we'll take our leave."

"Walk slowly."

Just walked to the door.

One of them asked again.

How old is this child?

"7 is old."

"That's not right, he looks about 10 years old to me."

Seeing that the old soldier did not understand, he added, "The Admiral has ordered that any soldier who dies under his command, if he has children or grandchildren over 11 years old, can be enrolled in the foster care system."

"Your entire family thanks the Great General."

Old Banner Chief Ding Habulin knelt down excitedly, tears welling in his eyes.

For us old Manchus, our lifelong hope is to don armor and go into battle, earn military merit, get paid, and have sons.

The general still has a good heart.

That day, he threw all the firecrackers in the house into the latrine, and then found the two door god portraits. The people in the portraits were neither Qin Shubao, nor Yuchi Gong, nor Zhong Kui.

Who does he look like? Habrin didn't recognize him either.

Even though his son was dead, life had to go on, and grandchildren still had to be born. Habrin felt that the greatest loyalty to the court was to have as many young soldiers as possible.

Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders; family members should cultivate their own fields.

……

The area around the Forbidden City.

A carriage drove into Xihua Gate under the watchful eyes of men in black, inside which sat the concubine of Prince Zheng, Jirhalang.

After registration, they were released immediately.

The two guards on duty continued chatting.

"There are so many guests at Cining Palace today."

"A storm is brewing, the wind is howling, this is bad."

"What?"

"Something big is about to happen in the palace."

"Shh, don't talk nonsense."

“I’m not talking nonsense. Don’t you feel that there’s something strange about the capital these days? One minute it’s the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the next it’s the Ninth Banner. People are all on edge.”

The guard, getting excited, patted the Entry and Exit Register.

"Do you know what this is?"

"what?"

"It was the Qianqing Palace's way of monitoring Empress Dowager Cining."

"Just shut up now."

The two finally ended their dangerous political maneuvering and stood at the palace gate, each with their hands on the hilts of their swords.

Half a mile away, two men in black, belonging to the detective department of the Infantry Commander's Office, passed by.

Half an hour later, a carriage also arrived at the Prince Li's residence.

……

Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang dismissed everyone around her and looked at the people in the room with a serious expression.

"Today, all those present are women of the Borjigit clan, all family members. Let me be frank, what exactly is happening outside?"

An unusual silence.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang shouted sternly, "Speak!"

"Empress Dowager, what exactly do you want to hear?" Prince Li Mandahai's widow stood up with a resentful expression.

"What do you mean 'what I want to hear'? I just want to know what's going on outside right now? You're all so scared you look like wilted eggplants."

"Empress Dowager, you are the Emperor's mother, the most honored woman in our Qing Dynasty. Is it really meaningful for you and your son to play the good cop and the bad cop in this performance?"

Everyone quickly tried to persuade him.

"Speak, let her continue."

Mandahai's widow was clearly a woman of strong character, and she went directly to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

"Killing someone is just a matter of a beheading! What, do you expect us to play along with your act?"

"What kind of show are you playing?"

"The Nine Gates Admiral led his troops into the Prince's mansion and killed the servants in front of my son and me. Do you dare say he wasn't acting on your orders? And you still pretend to ask me what happened outside? What are you playing at, you groundhog? Huh?"

"Insolence! You're being insolent!"

"I've gone too far! We all share the Borjigit surname, so why are you tormenting us like this? Why?"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang flew into a rage, grabbed her hair, and slapped her twice across the face.

The Cining Palace was thrown into chaos.

……

Just then, the eunuch outside the hall shouted loudly:

"The Emperor has arrived~"

The next second, Shunzhi strode in.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

His arrival was so sudden that the noble ladies in the hall quickly stood up and bowed.

"Greetings to the Emperor."

Shunzhi's gaze fell on the face of Mandahai's widow, whose nose was bleeding profusely.

"Empress Mother, what's going on?"

Mandahai's widow didn't dare to utter a sound. Just because she dared to throw a tantrum in front of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang didn't mean she dared to do the same in front of the Emperor. Shunzhi wouldn't tolerate her like that.

"It was I who did it."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang picked up the conversation, sat back in her chair, and quickly regained her usual composure and calmness.

“The Nine Gates Commander’s troops searched the Prince Li’s residence, which displeased her, and I just reprimanded her.”

(End of this chapter)