I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

Summer of the eighteenth year of the Shunzhi reign.

The willow catkins in Beijing have all drifted away, and the weather is getting hotter day by day, as if trying to evaporate all the gloom that has shrouded the Forbidden City for the past few months.

A seemingly ordinary carriage, but secretly escorted by elite guards from the Imperial Household Department, slowly drove into Zhengyang Gate in the capital.

Inside the car sat an elderly man with white hair and beard and a gaunt face.

He was dressed in the court robes of a first-rank Grand Secretary, his eyes slightly closed, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

It was none other than Hong Chengchou, the Grand Secretary who had just been ordered to return to the capital after being relieved of his post.

After several years, Hong Chengchou returned to the capital, and his feelings were a mixture of emotions.

His life was full of ups and downs, and he received both praise and criticism.

In the first half of his life, he was a pillar of the Ming Dynasty and the most trusted "bandit-suppression" sword of Emperor Chongzhen.

In the latter half of his life, however, he became a founding hero of the new dynasty, a traitor and collaborator nailed to the pillar of shame, forever infamous.

He had long been accustomed to the world's scorn and had long since become indifferent to the so-called fame in history.

I thought I would grow old and die slowly amidst the miasma of the South and endless military affairs.

Until a month ago, a secret letter from the capital, delivered by a confidant of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, completely shattered his stagnant state of mind.

The letter contained only one sentence.

"The emperor has arrived as a new ruler, and his bloodline will ultimately inherit the throne."

boom!

At that moment, Hong Chengchou felt as if his entire world had been shattered by those words!

Has Fu Lin died?

The newly enthroned emperor is... is actually himself and... and her son?!

That child I only saw once when he was an infant, and I thought I would have to hide in the shadows for the rest of my life!

And now, he's actually sitting on that supreme dragon throne?!

This...this is simply...how absurd! How cruel fate is!

Hong Chengchou sat in silence all night, thinking all night.

From initial shock and elation to later fear and unease.

This means that he, the great traitor whom all Han people cursed behind their backs, had actually become the current emperor's... biological father!

If this secret were to be revealed, it would be enough to bring down the entire Qing Dynasty, and even the entire world!

Therefore, Hong Chengchou immediately submitted a memorial, requesting to return to the capital for recuperation due to old age, declining health, and worsening eye disease.

I have to come back, I have to see it with my own eyes!

Look at the child who carries your blood, what does he look like now?

……

The carriage stopped in front of Hong Chengchou's residence.

Without taking a moment's rest, he simply changed into casual clothes, handed over his plaque, and requested an audience.

He wanted to see the emperor.

She longed to see... her own son.

What will that child be like?

Does he know about his background?

Will he... acknowledge me as his father?

A sense of trepidation, a feeling he had never experienced before, welled up in Hong Chengchou's heart.

However, the news that came back from the palace was like a bucket of ice water, completely extinguishing his burning passion.

"His Majesty is busy with state affairs and cannot see you today."

Meanwhile, inside the Southern Study.

Hong Xiguan looked at the audience plaque handed over by the eunuch, the three characters "Hong Chengchou" on it stung his eyes.

That old fox, he's back?

You still want to see me?

What a load of crap!

Hong Xiguan sneered inwardly.

He knew very well that Hong Chengchou was the biggest "minefield" in his life, a deep pit that could lead to his utter ruin at any moment!

Before she had enough power and truly took control of the government, any contact with Hong Chengchou could be seized upon by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, Aobai, and all those with ulterior motives in the world!

What would Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang think?

You little brat, you haven't even grown wings yet, and you already want to team up with your own father to sideline your own mother?

What will Ao Bai think?

Good! This false emperor is actually of Han descent! He can't wait to collude with Han officials! I'm going to purge the court of corrupt officials right now!

Therefore, Hong Xiguan had to show no interest in this so-called "biological father" whatsoever! He even had to exude the contempt and disdain that a Manchu emperor should have for a "traitor"!

Old man, don't blame me.

If you have to blame someone, blame your identity—it's just too damn embarrassing!

Before I can flip the table, it's best if we don't even exchange a breath of air!

Hong Xiguan didn't even look up. He waved his hand at the eunuch who came to deliver the message, using an annoyed tone.

"Why would I see a surrendered official? Just tell him, 'I'm busy, I don't have time!'"

So when Hong Chengchou presented his petition on the second, third, and fourth days, he received the same cold, even increasingly impatient, rejections.

Hong Chengchou finally understood.

It's not that I "don't have time to meet".

Rather, it's more like... "I don't want to see them," or rather, "I disdain to see them."

His passionate heart gradually cooled down.

Too……

He was the emperor, the emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

As for me, I am merely a surrendered official, a traitor.

How can he see me?

How dare he see me?

Not seeing each other is the best choice.

This child... is smarter and more... ruthless than I imagined!

A huge sense of loss welled up in my heart, but it was followed by a sense of relief.

As an emperor, one should be so decisive and ruthless.

Hong Chengchou sighed and went to Cining Palace to request an audience with Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

……

Emerging from the Cining Palace, Hong Chengchou appeared exhausted, his hunched back bent even more.

She herself was over sixty years old, while Zhuang Fei, the Empress Dowager, had gone from being in her thirties to being in her forties.

Time flies so fast, so fast that I feel powerless and no longer the same as I used to be.

For this reason, no indecent incidents ever occurred in the Cining Palace.

Both sides exercised restraint.

After a private conversation, Hong Chengchou took his leave of the palace.

He is a smart man.

I know what I should do.

Immediately, in May, Hong Chengchou submitted another memorial, earnestly requesting the emperor to allow him to retire and return to his hometown.

My life has been full of ups and downs, and I've fought for everything I needed to fight for.

I've thought about things I shouldn't have.

That brat Fulin thinks he's clever and wants to seize my military power, but little does he know that I have already laid a trap for him on his southern tour.

The news of the emperor's personal expedition was "accidentally" leaked to the Zheng family by me, which led to the emperor's death.

All of this was orchestrated by Hong Chengchou.

Now that his son has ascended to that supreme position, what more could he ask for?

My existence is a huge problem for him.

So, the last thing I can do for him is... to disappear!

……

Hong Chengchou's resignation was quickly delivered to the emperor.

Hong Xiguan looked at the memorial and felt a mix of emotions.

This old man... is quite sensible.

That's fine, it saves me from having to live in fear every day.

However, this old fellow is definitely not someone to be trifled with. Was Shunzhi's death really just an accident?

Given Hong Chengchou's power in the south and his own cunning, how could he not know Shunzhi's true intentions in going south? Could he have been involved in this?

Damn! I can't even imagine it, I can't even imagine it. Those old bastards, their hearts are filthy!

Hong Xiguan submitted the memorial, along with his own "opinions," to the Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's reply came down very quickly.

"allow!"

However, the imperial court encountered a huge problem in arranging "retirement benefits" for Hong Chengchou.

The council of ministers was in complete chaos.

Ao Bai slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke: "He's just a surrendered official, his hands stained with the blood of our Eight Banners! To let him return to his hometown alive is already an act of divine grace! He wants a title? Dream on!"

Suksaha retorted sarcastically, "Lord Ao is mistaken! Without Lord Hong's campaign in the south, how could our Great Qing have pacified the entire country so quickly? Such a meritorious official, if not rewarded, would surely chill the hearts of all Han officials in the land?"

Let them argue, let them argue! Like dogs fighting, they'll only end up with a mouthful of fur!

I'll just watch your performance quietly.

In the imperial court, after several rounds of debate, no consensus was reached.

In the end, it was Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang who made the final decision.

She proposed granting Hong Chengchou the hereditary title of "Third-Class Adahahafan," which translates to "Light Cavalry Captain."

A hereditary title that is neither high nor low.

This title was given in an extremely clever way.

Wow! Absolutely brilliant!

This old lady's balancing skills are simply superb!

When Hong Xiguan received the result in the Southern Study, he immediately understood its profound meaning.

By granting him a noble title, he silenced Suksaha and all the Han officials in the land.

The low rank appeased the emotions of Ao Bai and his Manchu nobles.

The most amazing thing is that, according to the Qing Dynasty's etiquette system, the title of Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain meant that after retirement, one could be exempted from the obligation to enter the palace to pay homage to the emperor during festivals!

Wow! It's like Bulbasaur eating Doritos and ending up in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – absolutely amazing!

This perfectly avoids the awkward scene of "father kneeling before son".

This also completely severed any possibility of Hong Chengchou and his "emperor son" meeting publicly, both legally and in accordance with etiquette.

Father, you don't need to bow to your son.

Son, you don't need to see your father.

From now on, we are ruler and subject, strangers.

This is your last and only "privilege" as the emperor's father.

Hong Xiguan looked at the imperial edict of investiture and was filled with mixed emotions.