After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

In fact, the funeral of Consort Dunsu was already extremely grand and honorable, which was rare since the Qing Dynasty entered the pass. Consort Nian was even the first Han Chinese consort of the Eight Banners, whose status was second only to the Empress.

The Ministry of Rites did not make any mistake.

However, this was the time when the Emperor was most grief-stricken, so it was not unjust for the Ministry of Rites to be blamed. After thinking it over, Ortai decided that he should at least draft a reprimand for "careless ceremonial procession".

It wasn't just the Ministry of Rites.

Several princes were reprimanded by the Emperor a few days ago simply for not wearing their official robes in time, who said they were "scheming and disrespectful to the Emperor by disrespecting the Imperial Noble Consort."

Not to mention those princes who had once competed with the emperor, even Prince Yi, the emperor's closest confidant, was ordered by the emperor to wear mourning clothes and was required to gather three times a day, morning and evening, with all the princes and officials.

These princes and a group of beile are now at Changchun Garden, waiting to send off the coffin of the Imperial Noble Consort.

The atmosphere inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation was oppressive.

A few starlight points out from the starry sky outside the window.

After arranging all the matters related to Consort Nian's funeral, the emperor, who was teetering on the edge of rage, said:

"How is Ning Baixuan?"

Su Peisheng lowered his head and said:

"It's still the same. The Princess Consort of Prince Duan has already tried to persuade him, but he still refuses to serve under the Emperor. She begs the Emperor to spare her younger brother's life."

Yongzheng scoffed, "I promised not to kill her brother, and I will not go back on my word. Let's wait. If he still refuses to bow his head after the Southern Dynasty is destroyed, he will be exiled to Ningguta. If he doesn't bow his head, we'll make him watch his own children and grandchildren bow their heads in the future. It's the same thing."

Liang Mo had many stubborn members who refused to shave their heads and change their clothes, and even hanged themselves.

But within ten years, these stubborn sons and grandsons all shaved their heads and prepared to take the imperial examinations to enter officialdom. This was not a big deal.

Ortai frowned and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this Ning Baixuan... or rather Ning Jiexiao... if Your Majesty cannot use him, it would be better to kill him. This man is extremely cunning and eloquent. If this man were to one day bewitch Prince Duan..."

Ortai hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Yongzheng retorted with a snort, "Does the third prince need anyone to bewitch him?"

Ortai immediately bowed and said, "Prince Duan and his wife have pulled back from the brink, their filial piety is commendable."

Yongzheng waved his hand, his expression somewhat displeased, and said only:

"Whether it's genuine filial piety or feigned filial piety will be revealed tonight. If things don't go as planned tonight..."

He said in a deep voice:

"Then execute the wife of Prince Duan, strip the third prince of his imperial lineage, demote him to commoner status, and as for Ning Baixuan... kill him as well. Once war breaks out, send his head to the Southern Dynasty."

Ortai quickly bowed his head and agreed.

The Emperor said that Li Wei had submitted a secret memorial, saying that this person was "the likes of Cao Cao and Zhu Wen." The Emperor had previously thought that Li Wei was just incompetent, which boosted the morale of others and diminished his own.

But now it seems that Li Jiaohua's words actually made some sense.

"Han Qing, Southern Dynasties,..."

Yongzheng pressed his finger on the table.

Since ascending the throne, three threats have kept him awake at night.

Han Qing is a deeply entrenched problem, but as long as the world is at peace and corrupt officials are suppressed, the Heavenly Principles Sect will not become a mere sesame seed or a Li Zicheng.

However, in the past twenty years, Han Qing, that traitor, has instigated five rebellions in various prefectures and counties. Although each rebellion has been suppressed, it has still been a truly terrifying experience.

Ten years ago, the other side even amassed an army of 20,000 in Henan to attack prefectures and counties, causing a stir in the capital and strengthening his determination to implement the land tax reform and replenish the national treasury as soon as possible.

If this villain can be eliminated, the Heavenly Principle Sect will be leaderless and no longer a threat. After being dispersed, they will be unlikely to recover for at least twenty years.

Only then could the Qing Dynasty move south with peace of mind and integrate the south.

As for the Southern Dynasty... this is the second threat.

If we can conquer Jiangnan this year, we can pacify the entire south by next year at the latest.

And the third threat...

The emperor on the dragon throne twitched slightly on his forehead and sighed softly. It was that General Fuyuan, who held sway over the northwest and had been making him restless.

However, at this time, Nian Gengyao should not act rashly.

The only option is to first pacify the south, remove the annually selected officials one by one, and then summon the other side to the capital.

At this time.

A series of footsteps sounded from the side gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Despite being a first-rank official, Mu Shu, the first-rank Minister of the Imperial Household Department, was exempted from the Emperor's duties tonight. Instead of wearing his official robes, he was dressed in a red hat and armor and went to the palace to request an audience.

Mu Shu's expression was solemn as he bowed respectfully.

"Because I am in full armor, Your Majesty, please forgive this servant for not being able to perform the full ceremony!..."

Emperor Yongzheng raised his hand to indicate that it was alright...

It was at this moment.

"boom--!"

A sudden explosion and a lot of noise came from the east!

The expressions of the emperor and his ministers in the Hall of Mental Cultivation suddenly turned serious, and they all turned their heads...

…………

The four gates of the imperial city.

At Dong'anmen.

The water clock in the palace dripped until the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

The Bell and Drum Towers of Beijing and the Shenwu Gate of the Forbidden City rang the fourth watch bell.

Inside the palace, the two eunuch watchmen, one holding a gong and the other a wooden clapper, cleared their throats, preparing to shout the unique fourth-watch announcement, "It's freezing cold..."

"kill--!"

The once quiet Dong'an Gate was suddenly filled with a deafening roar of battle cries!

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

In the darkness, one black object after another fell from the sky.

On the Dong'an Gate tower, the military commander in charge of guarding the palace gate was taken aback. He immediately waved his hand and ordered his men to sound the horn.

"Waaah—"

"Waaah—"

"Waaah—"

The deep, melodious sound of ox horns awakened the entire Forbidden City.

Within ten breaths, nearly a hundred guards behind Dong'an Gate would be armed with muskets and crossbows and climb the city wall to prevent anyone from attacking the city.

Within thirty breaths, nearly two hundred soldiers patrolling near Dong'an Gate would shout "Thieves, stop immediately!" and approach this direction.

In less than a hundred breaths, nearly a thousand garrison troops from the inner city to the east will mobilize and swarm towards this side, including at least three hundred cavalrymen armed with three-eyed muskets.

Within half a quarter of an hour, the Infantry Commander's Office in the north would issue a military order to mobilize at least three thousand men to slaughter all the ignorant and reckless traitors who dared to touch the tiger's whiskers.

……

In front of Dong'an Gate, as the third line of defense for the imperial city, there were sixteen sentry posts, with a total of 160 people on duty and patrolling in shifts.

These 160 people were all elites selected from the Bordered Red Banner and Plain Blue Banner.

All sixteen teams wore white armor, with eight teams having red trim on the edges of their armor and the other eight teams having blue trim on the edges of their armor.

Dong'anmen faces Dong'anmen Street, with shops on both sides and several hutongs around it.

When the shouts of battle suddenly rang out.

The soldiers guarding Dong'an Gate were immediately alarmed and shouted, "Enemy attack!"

"kill!--"

The sound seemed to come from all directions.

Strangely, the soldiers took off their crossbows and muskets and looked around, but there was no one in sight.

At the same time, several dark figures shot into the sky from several alleys in the pale moonlight.

As the shadowy figure ascended into the air, a faint red light seemed to emanate from it.

The red light grew stronger.

"Fire!" a guard shouted.

Only then did everyone realize that it had risen into the air.

...is some kind of firearm.