The Empire will continue to win

Chapter 99 The professor enters the palace with a gun, and the empress is forced to give alms.

Looking at the young emperor, who seemed to be going crazy, Weng Tonghe quickly got up and looked around to make sure no one was listening before whispering, "Your Majesty, be careful, walls have ears."

After a long time~

Emperor Xuanwu said in a low voice, "Although I am young, I do not wish to follow in the footsteps of Li Xian and Li Dan."

My great nation is facing immense difficulties. We are beset by enemies on the outside, divided on the inside, and above us are two young and vigorous mothers.

I wish to rule personally but cannot, as I am hindered and restrained at every turn. In desperation, I can only repeatedly instigate Empress Dowager An of Jingren Palace and my sixth uncle, Prince Gong, to suppress the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

I've known since I was a child that my mother is a power-hungry person, and I absolutely cannot let her win.

Only when our mother loses miserably will she think: "Sigh, it's better to let my own son win than my sister. That's called choosing the lesser of two evils."

She's only 12 years old!

Seriously underestimated~

With tears welling up in his eyes, Weng Tonghe crawled forward on his knees and embraced the emperor's slender waist: "Your Majesty, we will win, you will definitely win."

Emperor Xuanwu, his eyes burning, helped up his wailing imperial tutor: "Master, lend me a hand!"

"Your subject is willing to give your life. In my lifetime, I am certain that I will witness Your Majesty's coronation as the Emperor of Asia and Europe."

"Right now, what I need most is military power! Minister of the Army Sheng Bao is my mother's dog, and Commander-in-Chief of the First Division Li Shaoquan is impossible for me to use. What do you think of Commander-in-Chief of the Second Division Senggelinqin? And what about Commander-in-Chief of the Third Division Ding Richang?"

After a moment's thought, Weng Tonghe said softly, "Senggelinqin is brave and fierce, but simple-minded. Although he was once a lackey of the two palaces, it's not impossible that he might suddenly come to his senses. Ding Richang is a smart man, so it's hard to say."

"Take the opportunity to cultivate a good relationship with Senggelinqin."

"Your Majesty, Shen Moqing is a man of foresight, shrewdness, and deep expertise in military affairs. Having been stationed in the capital region for a long time, perhaps..."

"Him~"

Emperor Xuanwu snorted coldly and looked at the imperial rifle hanging on the wall of his study, which was presented by Shen Moqing.

"To be honest, guns are very useful, but people aren't necessarily so."

"what?"

"He is also Mother's loyal dog. I have sent people to secretly express my goodwill to him many times. These days, I have been stationed at the command headquarters in the Forbidden City from morning to night. He has had many opportunities to swear allegiance to me, but he did not. I have given him a chance, and I will not give him another chance," the young emperor said bitterly.

"Your Majesty is wise," Weng Tongsu immediately changed his tune.

Yes, silence itself is an attitude. Silence is refusal.

"This man is blind and cannot see the future situation. Although he has some talent, he will not have a good end. Even if his family is wiped out and his reputation is ruined, it will be his own fault." Although Weng Tonghe admired Shen Moqing, he firmly stood with the emperor.

Cutting.

Make a decisive and just cut.

Xihua Gate.

Unaware that he had already been cut up, Shen Moqing slowly stepped off the carriage. He had deliberately chosen this palace gate at this hour, just to run into an acquaintance.

"Brother Zhang Xun~" Shen Moqing smiled and took out the token bestowed by the Empress Dowager, which allowed him to enter and leave the Forbidden City at any time.

"Oh, it's Brother Shen."

Zhang Xun, who happened to be on duty outside Xihua Gate, quickly came over, first took the sidearm that was voluntarily handed over, glanced at the gold seal, and then carefully inspected it inch by inch from bottom to top.

-

The palace was strictly guarded and governed by its own laws.

"Brother Zhang, if you're short of money, just let me know. Although my Shen family isn't a prominent family, we can take a thousand or eight hundred silver dollars anytime."

When Zhang Xun's hand touched her waist, Shen Moqing suddenly whispered.

Zhang Xun was taken aback, his eyes showing a hint of panic.

It's scarce, extremely scarce.

He married a particularly extravagant wife from his hometown. The dowry, the wedding, the house purchase—the money was spent like water, making the already impoverished family even worse off.

"We're like brothers, why didn't you say you needed money earlier? After you finish your shift, come to my house and ask my accountant, Lin Zhixiao, for a few hundred yuan to tide you over. No interest, no IOU. If you refuse again, I'll give you a good scolding." Shen Moqing spoke righteously, like an elder brother, then changed the subject, "I have urgent business and need to go to the palace immediately."

"Ah~ hurry up and go in." Zhang Xun, in his panic, only checked half of the way before stepping aside, waving his hand, "Brothers, let him through!"

"I'll definitely go."

"Hey hey."

Zhang Xun watched Shen Moqing's retreating figure, feeling deeply grateful.

As the saying goes:

Poverty makes people lose their ambition, and a thin horse has long hair. Who doesn't hope to have a few kind and generous older brothers who will lend them three or five thousand yuan without asking any questions, and they can't refuse to take it?

Although he successfully entered the palace, he was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. Walking under the red walls and yellow tiles, Shen Moqing felt inexplicably guilty and hurried along the base of the wall with his head down.

Why do you feel guilty?

Because he had a revolver hidden between his legs, the kind of .22 caliber small revolver that the Royal Hong Kong Police often carried in Hong Kong movies, with a short barrel and a small caliber.

Don't be fooled by its small caliber or short barrel; it can still kill within three meters.

Why would you do something so dangerous?

That's because Professor Shen knows very well that politics is dangerous and often involves many random factors.

Just in case...

What if you're in a meeting and someone suddenly bursts in and tries to grab your hand?

If such a thing really happened, I would silently pull out my little revolver from my crotch and shoot Empress Dowager An first, then Little Six.

If we're lucky, we'll soon have a peaceful and prosperous society.

That's how politics is; you have to have the mindset of a revolutionary, be willing to go all out, and dare to risk your life.

Professor Shen, with his legs crossed and toes pointing inward, sneaked into the Yangxin Gate.

The pretty eunuchs and palace maids all gave way when they saw him. It was common for Lord Shen to come and go, and the Empress Dowager was never angry.

As I walked to the grape trellis in the gongzi-shaped corridor, I ran into an old acquaintance.

"Wang Qianniang~"

Granny Wang was startled at first, then looked around before leaning closer and whispering, "The Empress Dowager is taking a nap in Yanxi Hall."

"Godmother, you've worked hard. Please keep this for tea."

The heavy gold Buddha pendant was successfully resold.

"Oh dear, no, no, how could I dare to call you your godmother? It would be too much of an honor for me." Granny Wang clearly hadn't read "Water Margin." She accepted the golden Buddha and whispered, "Unfortunately, Steward An is inside today."

"It's alright."

Is it alright?

Oh dear, Granny Wang was startled. She thought to herself, I want to hear what's going on.

Thinking that the country was in such a mess, there was nothing to be afraid of. Shen Moqing walked quickly to Yanxi Hall, pushed open the door and went in, turning right away without the slightest hesitation.

In a side room, on a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove).

The beautiful Empress Dowager Cixi sat in front of her dressing mirror, wearing only an apricot-white silk bodice with a gold-embroidered peacock pattern, revealing her smooth back.

She wore bright red silk trousers and had bare, naturally small feet with ten bright red toenails.

Her phoenix eyes were slightly closed.

An Dehai stood behind the Empress Dowager, massaging her shoulders.

"What are you doing here?"

When Empress Dowager Cixi heard footsteps, she opened her eyes in fright and instinctively crossed her arms in front of her chest, trying to cover herself.

"How dare you!"

An Dehai rushed forward, spreading his arms in an attempt to protect his master, but was pulled by a tremendous force, spun around and fell to the side.

thump~

He banged his head against the wall and immediately fainted.

Shen Moqing was puzzled. "I didn't use any force either."

That dead eunuch, that con artist, deserves to be shot.

Little did he know that Xiao Anzi was so frightened by him that her legs went weak.

After all, in broad daylight, what courtier would dare to barge into the Empress Dowager's bedchamber? Let alone feudal society, even in the modern era, a professor wouldn't dare to barge into a girls' dormitory like that.

Lao Shen walked over, his large hands casually resting on the bare shoulders. Instantly, the cold palms made the person shiver.

"What are you doing?"

He tried to get up, tried to break free, and even tried to use his imperial authority to override the professor.

-

Unexpectedly, Shen Moqing not only did not let go, but instinctively started a massage, whispering as he massaged, "Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened."

"What is it?"

"Ding Baozhen suddenly came to Beijing, intending to forcibly take over my factory."

With just this one sentence, a concise and to-the-point statement, Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly switched from a female mode to a political animal mode, truly an instinct ingrained in her very being.

How many soldiers did he bring?

"Did you let him force himself on you?"

Through the dressing mirror, Shen Moqing could see clearly that Lan'er's phoenix eyes were sharp and her facial features instantly tightened.

"Say something!"

"Ding Baozhen only brought a few dozen guards, and I drove them away. He said he was coming to the capital by imperial decree."

"I have never issued such an imperial edict before!" the Empress Dowager shrieked. "It must be my sister! I never expected that my sister would dare to summon his lover to the capital without my permission."

"As long as it's not a mutiny."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Instantly, Shen Moqing felt the Empress Dowager freeze. Sigh, the term "coup d'état" was unbearable for her; just hearing it made her numb.

Her shoulders were smooth and her collarbones were prominent.

Although she is not as tall as Lan'er in the manor, and her face is not as gentle as Lan'er's, she has a more mature look.

In the mirror.

One was dressed in a crisp military uniform, the other in a bellyband covering her body.

Shen Moqing hugged her from behind and whispered in her ear, "Empress Dowager, as the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain. How can the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Jingren Palace coexist? Even if you don't make a move, they will. Fight back!"

"I...I will listen to you."

His voice trembled slightly.

Six years without meat, poor thing. After being handled like this, she's already three parts like Jinlian and four parts like Niu Li.

Corner

Awakening, Andehai stared at the outrageous scene before him. "Master, shout for help and run! If you do that, I'll risk my life to hold off this madman, even if I'm hacked to pieces, I won't utter a sound."

"Eunuch An."

"You...you called me?"

"You will help the Empress Dowager with her hair and clothes," Shen Moqing said in an unquestionable tone. "The Empress Dowager will be wearing military uniform today."

Empress Dowager Cixi: "Bring Granny Wang here as well."

It's not easy for a woman to go out, and it's even more difficult for the Empress Dowager.

The first step: changing clothes.

Although male members of the United Empire often wear military uniforms on formal occasions, it is relatively rare for the Empress Dowager to wear military uniforms; it is not a skirt, but rather unisex trousers.

Shen Moqing watched intently.

If eunuchs can see it, why can't I, a professor? Is being a professor some kind of lowly status?

After a brief moment of shock, Granny Wang got used to it. If Wu Zetian could do it, why couldn't our mistress?

The second step: combing the hair.

-

An Dehai's hair-combing skills were superb; it only took the Empress Dowager Cixi a mere 10 minutes to transform her disheveled hair into a high-piled cloud of hair.

Finally, I did my makeup.

Experienced drivers know that it's best to leave makeup for last to avoid smudging your clothes.

A classic six-layer full face makeup routine includes water, liquid, lotion, cream, powder, followed by eyeshadow, mascara, blush, contouring, and more.

After half an hour.

Shen Moqing looked at the Empress Dowager, who had undergone a complete transformation, and couldn't help but marvel.

Good looks are also a fighting force.

The military uniform was crisp and straight, with level shoulders, a cinched waist, double-breasted brass buttons, and a high, taut bodice. The peaked cap was slightly tilted up, and paired with a pair of shiny, knee-high leather boots, the belt accentuating the slender waist.

Her phoenix eyes were as black as ink, with two parts charm, three parts heroism, four parts nobility, and ten parts longing.

This isn't the Empress Dowager at all; she's clearly Colonel Jiang Yilan from the Special Higher Police.

"What's wrong?"

"I only realized today that Your Majesty is not only exceptionally wise, but also the most beautiful woman in the world." Shen Moqing's praise was blatant and sincere; indeed, he had hit the mark with his flattery.

"Stop being so glib. Are you sure I'm going to fight my sister in this?" The Empress Dowager looked at herself in the mirror. It was her first time wearing a uniform, and she felt a mix of excitement and shame.

"Yes, Your Majesty, please come up to the stage and ring the bell."

"What?"

"This humble servant requests Your Majesty to ring the Universal Bell and convene a grand court assembly."

"Be serious, we're talking about serious matters. How do we defeat my sister and firmly control the personnel of Yanshan Heavy Industry?" The Empress Dowager actually laughed.

"I am serious."

As he spoke, Shen Moqing stepped forward and grabbed her soft hand, trying to temporarily entice the Empress Dowager with his lack of hormones, making her think more emotional, gradually eroding her guard, and lowering her bottom line again and again.

It's not greasy, but a test of taming.

"Why?" The spring-like smile vanished instantly from the Empress Dowager's face. Her pupils contracted sharply, and her facial features sharpened. "Do you know what the Grand Council means? Have you read the Imperial Charter?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Hey ~

The Empress Dowager still retained her rationality.

The taming test failed.

Shen Moqing felt a little regretful, and then began to explain.

Three minutes later.

"No, no, your idea is too risky. The Grand Council needs to convene representatives from all five levels, which is extremely risky. What if it backfires?"

"We will win."

"No, no, I can't let you be so willful. We can slowly fight with the Crown Princess, but the people's opinions may not align with ours. What if..."

Oh shit.

I, a dignified associate professor, can't even subdue you.

"You two go out first."

"Yes."

Granny Wang thoughtfully closed the door, knowing that with her master's long-awaited celibacy and Mo Qing being eighteen and in his prime, it was bound to be a stormy experience.

Only two people remained inside.

Taming Test 2.0 is now open!

Shen Moqing stretched out his arm and hugged Jiang Dazuo's slender waist, suddenly pinning him against the wall, but Dazuo's face was facing the wall.

"What are you doing?"

The professor remained silent, but instead raised his hand and slapped her buttocks repeatedly.

"How dare you!"

"How dare you!"

"You bastard, let me go!"

Little did they know that imperial power was only ten meters away, yet within ten thousand miles.

Shen Moqing hit her non-stop for a full minute, and with tremendous force. Damn it, trying to reason with a woman is the most idiotic idea in the world. What's wrong with the Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager is a woman too.

outside the house.

Granny Wang was eavesdropping, as was An Dehai. One's face was full of gossip, while the other's face was ashen.

"Steward An, we servants must keep our mouths shut."

"But he~"

"We servants have only one principle: we must always think of our masters. If our master says east, we go east; if our master says west, we go west. Don't you agree?"

Yes. But~

"As long as you don't get pregnant with a dragon's child, everything else is fine."

inside the house.

Empress Dowager Cixi was both angry and ashamed. She pushed the professor away forcefully and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"You are without ruler or mother, without manners or virtue, without shame!"

"You~you~"

Empress Dowager Cixi watched as Shen Moqing pulled a .22 caliber revolver from his loose riding breeches, swung it out of the cylinder, leaving only one bullet, and then spun it around.

???

"Empress Dowager, shoot me."

"6

'

"If you think I have ulterior motives," Shen Moqing offered the still-warm revolver, "you just pull the trigger and leave the rest to fate."

'

7

"Or I can load all six bullets."

"No, I want to know why you brought a gun into the palace? According to the law, it is a capital offense for a subject to bring a weapon into the palace." The Empress Dowager did not reach out to take the gun; her eyes flickered with a hint of wariness.

"The Crown Prince sent a telegram without authorization, and Ding Baozhen entered the capital without permission, almost forcibly taking over my gun factory. I was extremely anxious and suspected that there was a change in the palace, so I risked my life to bring guns into the palace."

"If there really is a mutiny, what can you do with just one gun?"

"Enough to kill Empress Dowager An, or commit suicide."

The most frightening thing was the sudden silence. The Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly reached out and took the light and small revolver. Without even looking at it, she casually tossed it aside and then threw it into her arms.

Don't drink hot food.

Shen Moqing was naturally not intimidated.

As the saying goes: "The spring scenery is beautiful on the purple path, and the music in the red chamber is intoxicating. How many times can one live like this? To not enjoy it is futile."

Unfortunately, the double-breasted military uniform was such a damn nuisance; it was all my own doing.

The vine twines around the tree, and the tree lets the vine twine around it.

They're entangled.

Suddenly, the Empress Dowager broke free of her restraints and took two steps back.

"The war in Liaodong is at a stalemate, and the capital cannot afford another mutiny and bloodshed. So, you intend to seize power through a grand court assembly, defeat your sister and Xiao Liuzi, and consolidate my sole position, is that it?"

"Yes."

"After this is accomplished, I will reward myself to you." The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with spring, sparkling with charm, exuding a myriad of allure.

"I think it's better now~"