Chapter 54: The Emperor's Worry: The Qing Dynasty Almost Lost Because of This Battle...

Xiao Tao helped Xiu Yu into the warm room. After closing the door, he finally spoke, "Empress Tong is different from other concubines. Logically, since she entered the palace to become the emperor's concubine, shouldn't she be like other concubines, thinking about how to please the emperor all day long?"

Xiu Yu said firmly: "She doesn't seem like that kind of person."

"Yes." Xiao Tao offered Xiu Yu a cup of tea and continued, "When I was serving in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, I saw other empresses being brought in for the emperor's bed in a warm sedan chair, but I never saw Empress Tong come. And..." She lowered her voice, "Even if the Emperor went to visit Empress Tong at night, he would always leave the Palace of Heavenly Purity early the next morning to practice martial arts and attend court."

"Oh?" Xiu Yu became curious: "According to you..."

Xiao Tao nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "From my perspective, the relationship between Empress Tong and the Emperor seems more like a pure cousin relationship. So, since the Emperor likes you, Empress Tong naturally doesn't dislike you. On the contrary, she's willing to be close to you."

Xiu Yu slowly waved the round fan in her hand and said with a smile, "So, this 'royal cousin' is worth making friends with?"

Xiao Tao shook his head again. "In the harem, it's probably just like the workplace back then. There are no permanent enemies, nor are there permanent friends. Although at the moment, this Empress Tong may indeed only regard the Emperor as a cousin, but in a few years, or even a few months, will she still see him that way?"

"Wow!" Xiu Yu's eyes lit up, and she said, "It turns out she's been in this harem for so long that her mind is clear now."

"I wouldn't say I'm clear-headed." Despite his master's praise, Xiao Tao remained somewhat shy. "It's just that Master and I are on the same page, sharing common interests. As a disciple, it's best to think ahead of Master in everything, to avoid him falling into traps. That way, life as a servant will naturally be easier."

"That's quite true. But..." Xiu Yu said, smiling, "You, back then, came here before you'd even been through the rigors of the workplace, and your master didn't have the chance to teach you the art of 'playing both sides.'"

Hearing Xiu Yu say this, Xiao Tao was a little skeptical: "Other project managers can get along with everyone, I've seen that before. But Master, you're a technical person, and everyone knows that when you get angry, your face can be as dark as Bao Gong! You can get along with everyone? I don't believe it."

Looking at his young disciple, Xiu Yu sighed, "I, too, have come a long way since I was young. Do you really think your master has low emotional intelligence and relies solely on technical skills to conquer the world? Back then, I also pulled suitcases for my boss."

"Huh?" Xiao Tao was still somewhat surprised. Her master, who was both handsome and capable, actually pulled suitcases for others. It was really hard to imagine.

Xiu Yu added, "When you met me, I was already the chief engineer. As the chief engineer of a project, how could I possibly tell you about the things that happened when I first started in the industry?"

Xiao Tao was a little confused: "But when I was on a business trip with you, you never asked me to carry your bag."

Xiu Yu patted Xiao Tao's shoulder and said with a smile, "People are very different. Some people, after achieving power, think about how to make up for all the losses they suffered before they came to power, while some people are willing to keep their true heart after achieving power. I, your master, happen to be the latter. However..." Xiu Yu frowned again, "This harem seems to be very different again."

Xiao Tao patted his chest and assured: "Master, don't worry. I grew up watching palace fighting dramas!"

"But this is the real Qing Dynasty harem." Xiu Yu walked to the front of the Duobao Pavilion, touched the bamboo flute, and said, "I touched it for a long time back then. This time, I don't know how long it will take. But fortunately..."

"Fortunately, the Emperor's heart is with you!" Xiao Tao spoke for Xiu Yu, saying, "No matter what the reason is, as long as this one thing remains unchanged, you can live peacefully in the Yikun Palace without having to worry about anything."

"Don't worry about anything?" Xiu Yu shook her head, noncommittal. "Think about the one in Kunning Palace, the biological mothers of several princes, and those princesses who entered the palace a few years earlier or with me. How many people are constantly watching Yikun Palace? Can you count them on your ten fingers?"

Hearing Xiu Yu say this, Xiao Tao couldn't help but shudder: "Have you thought so much?"

"It's always a good idea to plan ahead." Xiu Yu sat down on the couch, fanning herself again, her eyes filled with determination. "But don't be afraid. As long as you're willing to work hard, you'll always figure things out. I think the same is true of the harem."

On the other hand, in the Cining Palace, Xuanye slept on the couch for more than an hour before waking up.

Xiaozhuang was reading a book at the time. When she saw Xuanye wake up, she said, "Su Moer prepared some tea for you. Have a sip and wake yourself up."

Xuanye was still somewhat dazed. After getting up, he asked, "Madam, why is my grandson sleeping here with you?"

"You're just too tired." Xiaozhuang looked at Xuanye, her eyes full of kindness. "It's not your fault. The Three Feudatories War has dragged on for too long. It's already been seven years this year. Now that Shang Zhixin has surrendered, I don't think Wu Sangui can keep running for much longer."

"Yes." Xuanye sat cross-legged, looking at the memorial spread out on the tea table, and said with a smile: "Ma, it's really not easy."

"Yes, it was not easy." Xiaozhuang asked Xuanye to drink tea first, and then said, "The Qing Dynasty almost lost an emperor because of this war. It was not easy."

Xuanye choked up, "Ma, why do you always expose my grandson's shortcomings?"

"Su Mo'er isn't just someone else. If she doesn't constantly criticize you, Mama's afraid it won't be long before your arrogance comes out again." Empress Xiaozhuang rolled her eyes at Xuanye. "You're still young and impetuous after all. If it weren't for this memorial, and you already knew Shang Zhixin was going to surrender, why put on such an act, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from your heart?"

Xuanye winked at Su Moer who was standing next to Xiaozhuang, and prepared to call for help.

Su Moer took Xuanye's hint and said with a smile, "Princess, you know how difficult it has been for the Emperor these past few years. Receiving this memorial today, shouldn't it be a relief to finally put the heavy burden on your heart?"

"Are you two playing double-act again?" Although Xiaozhuang said so, Xuanye was her own grandson after all, so how could she not love him? "Forget it, today is a festival, you should just take a good rest. A day of rest won't bring disaster."

Xuanye said jokingly, "Even if the sky falls, there is still Mama to hold up her grandson."

Empress Xiaozhuang was speechless about her grandson who was sometimes out of tune. She waved her hand and said, "You are sober now. Go wherever you want. Don't stay here with me."

"Ma, why are you chasing people away again?" Xuanye lifted his robe and got off the bed: "My grandson's head still hurts."

"I don't treat headaches." Xiaozhuang made it clear she was trying to get rid of him: "You, go find someone who can treat headaches. Go to whoever you want!"

"Then..." Xuanye still bowed respectfully: "Grandson, I kneel down to greet you."

After Xuanye left the Cining Palace, Xiaozhuang said to Su Moer, "The Three Feudatories are really going to win this battle. It really did it for Xuanye."

"Your Majesty has done what he should do, and Princess, haven't you also done what you should do?" Su Moer said with a smile, "You are obviously very happy in your heart, but you refuse to show a single bit in front of His Majesty. I feel sorry for His Majesty."

"Look at him, he looks sad!" Xiaozhuang disagreed: "Xuanye, he needs to be tempered. He has to pass one level after another. He is just getting started."

Xuanye was in high spirits after leaving the Cining Palace. Although he did have a headache, the happiness in his heart could totally offset the headache.

"Liang Jiugong!" He called out loudly, his tone full of joy.

Liang Jiugong immediately said, "Master, please give your orders."

As Xuanye walked towards the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he ordered, "Go to the Yikun Palace and invite Princess Yu to the Palace of Heavenly Purity."

"I obey your orders!"

In the eastern warm room of the Qianqing Palace, when Xiu Yu came, Xuanye was with his back to her, looking at the map hanging on the wall.

Xiu Yu gestured for Xiao Tao to place the food box on the table. She walked over to Xuanye and looked at the map with him. She said, "Now, only the southwest is left?"

Xuanye snorted and said, "Southwest, I want to see how long Wu Sangui's luck will last." After saying this, he looked at Xiu Yu and asked curiously, "How come you also know about the Three Feudatories War?"

Xiu Yu smiled and said, "Don't forget, Yu'er's father is a captain. Although he is outside the Great Wall, people who love war will also pay attention to the war. What's more, the Battle of the Three Feudatories was so exciting."

"Wonderful?" Xuanye didn't understand what Xiu Yu meant.

Xiu Yu replied: "Don't you think so, Your Majesty? Yu'er was still very young when the battle started, but there were rumors outside the Great Wall." She stopped talking here.

Xuanye said, "But the rumor is that I and the Empress Dowager will soon be retreating outside Shanhaiguan and returning to the outer reaches of the pass to become emperor?"

Xiu Yu said, "No matter what they spread, my father doesn't believe it, and neither do I. And Wu Sangui..." She waved her hand, "His character is truly terrible. How could the Shaman God allow such a man to achieve great things?"

Xuanye was amused by Xiu Yu: "Your idea is quite unique."

"You don't believe it?" Xiu Yu raised her head slightly, looked Xuanye in the eye, and said, "Everything in this world has its destiny. Since the Qing Dynasty was able to rule the Central Plains, its luck naturally didn't disappear overnight. Similarly, Wu Sangui rebelled against the Ming Dynasty and then the Qing Dynasty. How could such a person be the ruler of the world? I am a shaman god, and I can't stand it."

"That makes sense." Xuanye nodded, and then looked at the map again: "In one year at most, Wu Sangui will be defeated, and I will win! By then..." His eyes looked towards the southeast corner.

Xiu Yu also looked over and looked at the small island.