late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 3
October 1861, 8 Light Rain

Today is the day when Emperor Daxing was encoffined, and it was raining lightly, we knelt outside the palace of the Summer Resort to see Emperor Xianfeng off.

The situation in the palace became more and more tense, and the air was filled with silent gunpowder. Even on this day of crying, what I felt was not sadness, but an imminent coup d'état.

I know that in the near future, Concubine Yi will become the real master of the Qing Dynasty.

After the Daxing emperor was buried, the new emperor ascended the throne.

On that day, the six-year-old Tongzhi was sitting on a high dragon chair, while I was kneeling at the end of all the civil and military officials, listening to the eunuch read the edict.

Unsurprisingly, Xianfeng's empress was named Empress Dowager Mother, with the emblem of Ci'an, while Concubine Yi was the Empress Dowager of the Holy Mother, with the emblem of Cixi.

We had just finished kowtowing when the Emperor Tongzhi began to cry, and the little eunuch immediately stepped forward to coax him, but still to no avail. In the end, it was the Empress Dowager Ci'an who hugged Tongzhi and let him sit on her lap.

At this time, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager stood up and waved to the ministers, "The emperor's enthronement ceremony is closed, so let's go."

Before the voice of the Holy Mother Empress Dowager fell, a minister suddenly stood up, "I would like to report to the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces. Although the new emperor has ascended the throne, he is still young. I implore the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces to listen to the government behind the curtain!"

I followed his voice and saw that this man's face was square and upright, with a hint of grandeur.

Thinking about it, this person should be Dong Yuanchun.

After listening to Dong Yuanchun's words, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager was only slightly silent for a while, then waved her hand and said, "Let's leave today!"

With the empress dowager's words, everyone retreated one after another. Everyone's face was heavy and they didn't dare to say more.

I just walked outside the main hall when An Dehai chased after him and whispered to me, "Master Tang, the Empress Dowager is waiting for you in the Yanyu Building."

I nodded slightly, but remained calm, and walked outside as if nothing had happened. I didn't rush to the Yanyu Building until I left Sushun's surveillance.

In the Summer Resort, the Yanyu Building is a good place to enjoy the scenery, but unfortunately, the pond is already full of residual lotus. However, to the east of the Yanyu Building is a building that imitates the Mongolian scenery. Chic.

When I arrived at the Yanyu Tower, the Queen Mother was lazily leaning on the chaise longue, just like the first time I saw her.

I bowed slightly to her, but didn't kneel down, "Queen Mother, are you looking for me?"

The empress dowager's eyes flashed playful, but she didn't blame me, but said leisurely, "Actually, Dong Yuanchun already played yesterday, asking the empress dowagers of the two palaces to listen to the government behind the curtain."

"The emperor is young, so it's only natural for the empress dowager to listen to politics behind the curtain." I replied casually, but my eyes passed the empress dowager and landed on the palace gate not far away.

"However, some people don't seem to think so." The Holy Mother Empress Dowager said lightly again.

Her tone was very light, as if she was talking to herself. I knew that she must be in extreme fear now. After all, someone in the court had already said that she was going to kill her mother and keep her son.

Looking at this beautiful woman, my heart paused, and a bold idea came to me, maybe I can help her reverse the decline of the late Qing Dynasty.

Even if the trend of history cannot be changed, I hope that one less Chinese person will die and one less piece of territory will be lost.

"Queen, what kind of king do you think is a wise king?"

My question seemed a bit abrupt, and the Empress Dowager Mother was taken aback before slowly answering.

"A king who knows how to know people and take care of them."

The Queen Mother's answer was somewhat beyond my expectation. I thought she would say such grandiose words as the common people live and work in peace and contentment, and Qingyan of Kyushu.

"Why, Master Tang doesn't think so?" The Holy Mother Empress Dowager asked me back with a smile.

"No." I answered very simply, because I thought the same as her.

"So, can the queen mother know people well?" I continued to ask.

However, after I finished asking, I regretted it. I felt so stupid that I wanted to try to change the most authoritative ruler in the late Qing Dynasty.

"Master Tang, are you drunk? It is the emperor's right to know people well!"

The Queen Mother smiled and shook her head, picked up a cup of tea beside her, and handed it to me, "Have a cup of tea, wake up!"

I understood what the Queen Mother meant, so I shut up and stopped talking.

At this moment, a dagger suddenly appeared in front of me.

(End of this chapter)