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

Chapter 261 Empress Dowager, make love to me~
Empress Xiaozhuang slurped up a large mouthful of white porridge, then chewed on a piece of dried radish.

"No!"

"I do not go!"

“I have already sent people to contact the palace. My foolish son finally knows who is loyal and who is treacherous. Girl, I will stay in the capital to contact loyal people from all sides and wait for an opportunity to kill the traitor Jiang.”

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang put down the empty bowl and grasped Hong Tao's hand.

"Girl, I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

"Your Majesty need not worry, I am his mortal enemy."

"But he is, after all, your man."

"No, he is the man who killed my father."

"What did you say?"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang looked shocked, and Hong Tao nodded solemnly.

"Girl, do you mean he murdered Hong Chengchou??"

"Yes."

"Do you have evidence?"

“Yes. Before my elder brother Hong Shiming took up his post as the Provincial Treasurer of Guangxi, he left a letter for his trusted family members. He instructed them that if he suddenly died one day, they should give the letter to me.”

"May I see it?"

Hong Tao shook his head.

“It’s burned, but I can recount it.”

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang clenched her fists, closed her eyes tightly, and squeezed out three words through gritted teeth.

"What a trick!"

When she opened her eyes again, she said with regret.

"Girl, actually, I have a very close personal relationship with your father, and I personally admire his talent."

……

It rained heavily.

The doors of Hall No. 13 were wide open.

"Prime Minister, let me hold the umbrella for you."

"Give me the umbrella. Go back and remember, the most important thing for a woman is her mouth."

"Don't worry, Chief Minister."

Qian Lihua bowed and watched Jiang Qingyun disappear into the rain.

……

It was raining and noisy.

Hong Family Courtyard.

The two sentries huddled in the gatehouse, occasionally climbing the ladder up the wall to make their routine observations. In this awful weather, they couldn't see or hear anything outside.

Then, suddenly, a loud bang.

The wooden door was knocked down, splashing water everywhere.

A squad of armored soldiers armed with swords and shields rushed in.

"Empress Dowager, run!"

The blade flashed, the screams stopped abruptly, the body was washed away by the rain, and the blood slowly spread.

Having dealt with the sentries, the armored soldiers who had been standing close to the wall filed in and entered the courtyard.

If you don't bring an umbrella on a rainy night, you'll get soaked and suffer from hypothermia!

Not carrying a knife on a rainy night could be life-threatening!
So, Jiang Qingyun held the oil-paper umbrella in his left hand and placed his right hand on the hilt of his knife, listening to the faint sounds of weapons clashing inside, and remained silent.

I didn’t expect it~
The Empress Dowager is incredibly audacious.

I didn’t expect it~
Hong Tao is incredibly audacious!
Can’t keep it!

……

The overwhelming numbers, coupled with the effect of a surprise attack.

All of Xiaozhuang's dozen or so Khorchin guards were killed in battle; not one fled, and not one begged for mercy.

"Halt and stand by."

Zhou Cang stopped the soldiers who were about to rush into the main room. He used the blade of his sword to pry open the door, then went inside and looked around.

Two women!
That's right.

He quickly backed out.

"Everyone stay put and stand guard. No one is allowed to enter or leave, and no one is allowed to ask any questions!"

Then, he ran out of the courtyard through the rain and walked to the Grand Secretary, who was holding a small embroidered umbrella with a bamboo handle in the rainy night.

"The Grand Secretary has been found."

"Is it her?"

"should be!"

……

Jiang Qingyun tossed aside the parasol and strode inside. He glanced at it once and instantly felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.

As the saying goes~
It’s not a waste of time to break through the iron shoes.

“Zhou Cang, go to Guild Hall No. 13 and tell Manager Qian that I’ve given her 15 minutes to dismiss all the servants with a large sum of money and vacate the premises now. From now on, Guild Hall No. 13 will be renamed Courtyard No. 13 and will no longer be open to the public. Also, find a sedan chair.”

"As ordered."

After giving his instructions, Jiang Qingyun picked up his knife and went into the house.

Rainwater streamed down their clothes, pooling on the paving stones. Xiaozhuang stood up, looking at Jiang Qingyun. Her expression was calm, without panic; there was even a hint of disdain in her eyes.

"Empress Dowager, extend your hand. If you resist, there are 500 men outside."

Empress Xiaozhuang's eyes showed a hint of anger, but she still did as she was told.

Jiang Qingyun used very clumsy movements to bind and gag him, and the process was rather awkward, which fully proved that he had not studied in Japan.

Throughout the entire process, he didn't look at Hong Tao once, as if he were dead.

……

"Everyone, turn around."

In the courtyard, the armored soldiers silently turned away.

Jiang Qingyun grabbed Xiaozhuang and stuffed her into the sedan chair, then lowered the curtain.

"Move it to Hall No. 13."

"As ordered."

Two soldiers carried the sedan chair, one in front and one behind, and disappeared into the rainy night. Jiang Qingyun accompanied them the entire way, ensuring that there were no mistakes, until the sedan chair was carried into the small building.

"lay down."

"You guys get out."

"As ordered."

Jiang Qingyun walked to the door and loudly addressed the soldiers:

"Brothers, you've worked hard. Each person who participated in today's operation will receive 10 taels of silver. Remember, this is hush money. For the next two years, no one is allowed to talk about any details of today's operation. Otherwise, you will be executed without mercy. Dismissed!"

"As ordered."

"Zhou Cang, set up more sentries in the vicinity."

"As ordered."

……

With everything arranged, Jiang Qingyun returned to the small building, locked the door, and closed the windows.

Qian Lihua hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Jiang Qingyun pulled her to a corner, whispered something in her ear, and Qian Lihua nodded silently, blushing as she went to the kitchen.

The private rooms on the second floor are luxuriously decorated and fully equipped with tables, chairs, and beds.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was somewhat alarmed.

"Jiang Qingyun, what are you going to do?"

"The night is long, and you are my prisoner. Why don't we open the window and have a good talk?"

hum~
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had a cold expression.

Jiang Qingyun poured himself a glass of wine.

"Your Majesty, here is a cup of poison. If you do not wish to live, drink it."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang remained silent.

"Your Majesty, I respect everyone's choice regarding their own life."

"If you find the poisoned wine too painful, I can arrange for a white silk ribbon."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang remained silent.

……

Half an hour later~
Qian Lihua placed two steaming bowls of chicken soup noodles on the table.

A small bowl was placed in front of the Empress Dowager.

A large bowl was placed in front of Jiang Qingyun.

Jiang Qingyun asked with her eyes: Did you drug me?

Qian Lihua blinked: It's done! A large quantity!
"Go out. Don't come upstairs unless I call you."

"Yes!"

Qian Lihua quickly left the room, and silence fell again inside.

Jiang Qingyun picked up the bowl and ate the noodles in a slurping motion, then got up and removed his armor, seemingly oblivious to everyone around him.

Empress Xiaozhuang could no longer maintain her previous composure and grace.

"What...what are you going to do?"

"Empress Dowager, you have two choices. First, drink the poisoned wine and die with dignity. Second, eat the noodles and make love to me."

……

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang could hardly believe her ears.

"You, you beast!"

Jiang Qingyun tossed his rain-soaked boots aside and slowly pulled out his belt.

"I will count to ten, and you must make a choice."

"You traitor Chiang Kai-shek, aren't you afraid of being infamous for a thousand years?"

"Ten, nine~"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang spoke with grief and indignation.

"I am the Empress Dowager of the current dynasty."

"What's wrong with the Empress Dowager? She's a woman too! Huang Taiji did it, Dorgon did it, Hong Chengchou did it, so why can't I?"

slap~
The belt lashed out hard.

(End of this chapter)