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

Chapter 233 The Forbidden City Prepares to Suppress Chiang Kai-shek

Jiangnan slowly turned his head, his face pale, covered in cold sweat, and his voice weak.

"Empress Dowager~"

He then fell down.

The crowd gasped in surprise.

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician."

In no time, Wu Yong, the Imperial Physician, arrived in a hurry and began his examination.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang: "How is it?"

"Your Majesty, this lady is pregnant and is exhausted, suffering from both qi and blood deficiency. She only needs to rest for a few days to recover and there is nothing to worry about."

"is it?"

"I have practiced medicine for decades and have some knowledge of pulse diagnosis, so I am sure I am not wrong."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded and ordered that the unconscious Jiangnan be placed in Yuxiu Palace, with the imperial physicians and eunuchs keeping him by her side at all times to provide proper care.

……

After everyone left, Cining Palace returned to its quiet state. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang closed her eyes and pondered for a quarter of an hour before finally making up her mind.

"Someone is coming."

“Summon Sony to see me.”

Fifteen minutes later~
Sony, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, hurriedly entered the palace. Although the mother and son were currently at odds, he still maintained sufficient respect for Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

"This servant greets the Empress Dowager."

"Sony, I request that you immediately seal off the palace and prepare for any contingencies."

"what?"

"Jiang Qingyun, the Commander of the Nine Gates, has been arresting Bannermen without authorization and sealing off the capital. His behavior is suspicious, and he is very likely to attack the Forbidden City."

Sony was greatly shocked.

"Your Majesty, wasn't Jiang Qingyun ordered to suppress the Manchu banners?"

"Whether it was done by imperial decree or not, you can ask the Emperor yourself."

……

Yuxiu Palace.

"Go and brew the medicine."

"Go open the window to let some fresh air in."

"Go add more charcoal."

"Go and pour me a cup of hot tea."

Wu Yong dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs who were serving him in one go.

Jiangnan's eyes cleared instantly, and he sat up from the couch.

"Second Uncle, this is extremely urgent. You must immediately send someone to the Infantry Commander's Office to tell my husband that the palace guards are deployed as usual, but the Empress Dowager's hostility is obvious, and the Emperor's side is uncertain."

"clear."

Kong Sizhen's actions were a lucky accident; she reminded Jiangnan that feigning illness was an option, and the news spread through the Imperial Hospital.

A quarter of an hour later.

Jiang Qingyun finally learned the news. He judged that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had seen through him, and Emperor Shunzhi had not yet seen through him, but that was only temporary. The truth could no longer be hidden.

An immediate mutiny would most likely be a slow death.

Is waiting any longer a possibility of acute death?
The emperor's favor is his sharpest sword, and politics is his most familiar arena. Unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Qingyun doesn't want to get involved in military affairs; people with the surname Jiang are not good at military matters.

How to do?
Suddenly, a slightly unfamiliar name came to mind—Abu Nai, the King of Chahar!

Correct!
The guard knocked on the door:

"General, someone outside requests an audience."

The visiting card handed over by the guard had delicate handwriting and a pleasant fragrance. Could it be from a woman? I opened it to take a look.

Huo, Kong Sizhen!
……

The heavy wooden door was opened from the outside by the guards.

"Please~"

Kong Sizhen, wearing a veiled hat and a cloak, walked in. At first glance, she looked like a female knight-errant, low-key and mysterious.

Jiang Qingyun sat behind a desk that was two meters long and one and a half meters wide, signing documents rapidly without looking up.

"Jiang Lang~"

A call that seeped into my very bones.

"Long time no see, please have a seat."

"I just came from the palace."

"Really? Please have a seat."

Jiang Qingyun casually pointed to a chair on the side. "You little brat, you think I'm in a hurry? I'm not. And you're the one who has to be."

Take it easy~
Sure enough, Kong Sizhen couldn't sit still after signing just two documents.

"Jiang Lang, it's been two years. How have you been?"

"I'm fine, it's just that my enemies in the court are always attacking me in the shadows."

"You've gone too far."

"Madam, isn't it inappropriate for you to visit so late at night?"

……

Having said that, there was no need to pretend anymore. Jiang Qingyun stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Kong Sizhen, gently stroking her face.

"Jiang Lang~"

The 21-year-old Nine Gates Admiral was always reckless in his actions. He took off his cloak and veil and threw them aside, and then pulled out his gold hairpin and tossed it away casually.

The gold hairpin is dangerous.

Kong Sizhen was both surprised and delighted.

"Jiang Lang~"

Jiang Qingyun didn't want to talk. With a push of his arm, the two-meter-long and one-and-a-half-meter-wide desk was completely emptied, and all the official documents were pushed to the ground with a clatter.

bang~
One hundred pounds were just thrown up there.

"Help."

"Help."

"Help me."

The guards outside the door remained motionless.

Jiang Qingyun was like a super-brave warrior, conquering cities and seizing territories with extremely cruel methods and violent approaches, his actions were vicious and beyond the reach of ordinary humans.

……

A long time~
"Jiang Lang, it's been two years, and you're still as bold as ever."

"how are you recently?"

"Thanks to the Empress Dowager's care and my husband's thoughtfulness, life is alright these days. But Jiang Lang, you might be in some trouble."

"Oh?"

"Jiang Lang, listen to me, this is what happened."

Kong Sizhen talked on and on for a quarter of an hour, providing detailed reasoning and a heartfelt analysis. After she finished, she looked at Jiang Qingyun with a fawning expression.

Do you believe I'm going to become Dong Zhuo?

"do not know."

slap~
Kong Sizhen was slapped.

"I am the most loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty. This slap is to remind you to remember."

"I believe you, I believe you."

"Go back."

"It's so late, it's inconvenient for me to go back, and besides, it hurts a lot for me to walk."

Jiang Qingyun thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case. There was no need to bully Sun Yanling of the Bordered Green Banner too much. So he arranged for him to wait in a small courtyard in the yamen and went out to make a move.

……

The streets were deserted.

The Infantry Commander's Office has been enforcing a strict curfew for more than half a month. Armed patrols that catch violators are beheaded on the spot, regardless of their identity or reason.

A vermilion gate.

Thump thump thump, thump thump thump.

The doorman inside was terrified. The banging on the door in the dead of night suggested that something even more ferocious than a ghost had come knocking.

He just opened the small window.

"Take it to your owner to see."

"Whoo."

The doorman ran into the inner courtyard carrying a golden seal.

Half an hour later, Abu Nai came over himself carrying a lantern.

Jiang Qingyun: "Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Distinguished guests are all here, which is more than I could ask for. Why would I disturb them? Come on, tonight, let's drink until we drop."

……

In the secret room.

The two sat facing each other, with wine and tea on the table.

"Last time Your Highness passed by the Infantry Commander's Office, I missed meeting you because my old injury had not yet healed. What a pity."

"Good things come to those who wait. Tonight, at our banquet, let us drink and chat happily."

"Your Highness, how about we substitute tea for wine?"

"Okay, okay, I know. You've run into a lot of trouble lately, haven't you?

"Yes. There is a group of despicable scoundrels in the court who are secretly attacking me. Your Highness, I need your help."

Jiang Qingyun spoke sincerely, saying he desperately needed Abu Nai's help. To ask for help, one must be sincere and understand the temperament of the Mongols.

Sure enough, Abu Nai smiled very happily.
"Jiang Anda, that's great, drink up!"

He forgot his promise to use tea instead of alcohol, a Mongolian proverb: you can't talk business without drinking.

"How does this grassland milk wine taste?"

"Sharp and refreshing, just like a Mongolian man."

"Good sir, you have good taste."

After drinking three bowls of wine, their relationship was officially established, and they became sworn brothers.

Abu Nai, holding a wine bowl, asked mysteriously, "Jiang Anda, have you ever heard of the Golden Family?"

(End of this chapter)