So he chose a few girls from good families and with good looks.

He was still watching Sherry, thinking that she would throw a tantrum at him again.

As it turned out, Sherry didn't even ask about it.

Shunzhi felt both relieved and troubled.

Five years passed in this way.

During this period, Shunzhi had two more daughters and a son, all of whom died young.

Emperor Shunzhi was both distressed and helpless!

For the past few years, he has been handling government affairs with the Crown Prince. He just didn’t want a Mongolian Crown Prince, but he had no choice. Crown Prince Zhengxi was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, had a photographic memory, was physically strong, and had a deep mind!

Emperor Shunzhi was filled with pride when he saw the Crown Prince.

His health had long since deteriorated due to depression, and he was only being carefully cared for by the imperial physicians.

Even the Empress Dowager was unaware of his health condition.

But Sherry knew that, after all, she studied pills every day, so she was practically a doctor herself.

Emperor Shunzhi even harbored murderous intentions towards her and the Empress Dowager.

Sherry is extremely sensitive about this!

Perhaps it was just a fleeting thought at the time, but his fear that his maternal clan would overthrow his Aisin Gioro dynasty was real.

He feared that after his death, the new emperor would be suppressed by the Empress Dowager, just as she had suppressed him, and would be unable to make any progress.

Whenever he thought of this, he would even begin to observe the Empress, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

In just a few years, he suddenly realized that the Empress was not close to the Empress Dowager.

No, she's not close to anyone except her son.

He suddenly remembered how the Empress had mocked him in front of the Empress Dowager a few years ago.

As for the Empress, amidst the Empress Dowager's feigned illness, she only inquired about it perfunctorily.

At least she didn't serve him as attentively as his imperial concubine.

Thinking about this, he suddenly had a strange intuition.

For the sake of her child, she would never act like her mother.

But he couldn't take the risk; he didn't want his son to live like him.

In the 24th year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign (1667), the Shunzhi Emperor began selecting candidates from the Manchu, Mongol, and Han ethnic groups.

He personally selected the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince's secondary consort.

The Crown Princess was of the Guarjia clan, and her secondary consorts were of the Tong and Hesheli clans.

Some of them entered the royal family.

Sherry only mentioned once that she would get married when she turned 16.

Shunzhi's expression was somewhat complicated.

I made a special trip to Kunning Palace under the cover of night!

Sherry's pupils dilated in shock, and she waited in the main hall, completely covered up. It wasn't that she looked down on that bit of dragon aura; she was afraid he'd find out she was being cuckolded.

I'm even more afraid that he might die in his excitement—it's a real shame he's gone before he could even clean up the court.

Could it be that this guy is selling his body so that his son can get married sooner?

Sherry's gaze towards Shunzhi was extremely subtle.

The Emperor and Empress drank tea for a long time. Shunzhi glanced at her almost imperceptibly, and finally spoke softly: "Why must the children be married at the age of 16?"

"Getting married too early is bad for the health of both adults and children!" Shirley looked at him helplessly and decided to ask the Crown Prince to rearrange the age for marriage.

“Zhengxi has a plan in mind!” Shunzhi thought she was worrying unnecessarily.

“A land of beauties, a graveyard of heroes, for example…” Sherry glanced at him again and again with a faint smile.

Shunzhi paused for a moment, then spoke gently, "You are the Empress. I can give you everything except my favor!"

Sherry: You bet! There's also a knife hanging over our heads.

"I can't hold on much longer..." Shunzhi said this with utmost sincerity.

Sherry hesitated for a moment, then turned away without saying anything.

Forget it, if I die of anger while hanging on by a thread, who will be responsible?

"What do you want to say? We don't think we've ever talked like this before!" Shunzhi looked at her still lively and cheerful appearance, his eyes full of smiles.

"No way! What if you faint from anger in Kunning Palace? Where would I go to complain?!" Xue Li wasn't falling for his trick.

Shunzhi paused for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

"You've always been like this, never hiding your laughter, anger, or scorn. I envy you so much! My whole life has been entangled with various forces! The Regent has made outstanding contributions, but even after his death, he still causes me trouble. My Empress Dowager loves me, but she is even more reluctant to give up power. In fact, she wishes that my Aisin Gioro family would be allied with the Khorchin for generations to come! As for you, I still remember how you took the opportunity to retaliate against me for bullying me. If I hadn't let it go, you would have damaged my imperial health, and I would have had many reasons to depose you!"

Sherry shook her head slightly and rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh? Did I misspoke?" Shunzhi looked at her intently.

"First, if the next generation is like this, the children born from the marriage between the Khorchin and the Qing Dynasty will be either physically weak or deformed!"

"Secondly, I will never be a fish on a chopping board! I know what I want, and I understand what I need to gain and what I need to give up! What do you say, Your Majesty?"

Sherry leaned back lazily and said something.

Shunzhi stared at her intently, then suddenly laughed, without continuing the conversation: "So, are you satisfied with the Crown Princess I chose?"

"Whether I'm satisfied or not is not important; what's important is that the Crown Prince is satisfied!" Sherry began eating the hazelnuts and other small nuts.

Shunzhi paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Bumba, you must stand up. Your mother is greedy for power. If I am gone, I am at ease with Zhengxi handling the affairs of the court, but if you cannot stand up in the harem, you will be the one who suffers!"

Emperor Shunzhi suddenly spoke in a serious tone.

Sherry looked at him in surprise: "I didn't realize that you were even human?"

Shirley didn't have time to say that.

Shunzhi stormed off in a huff, but turned back to look at her at the door.

"Do you want to tie me up again? I'm afraid I won't have another chance!"

Sherry was so provoked by him today that she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Your Majesty, what if I ruin your life?"

"Then, can't you be a little gentler?" Shunzhi stared at her intently.

In the candlelight, his eyes were blurry and indistinct, as if seen through a thick fog.

Sherry walked over gently and hugged him: "Your Majesty, you must take good care of your health!"

Shunzhi smiled and looked intently at her face.

For the first time, the two stood together so harmoniously, their eyes meeting.

The two people in the shadows seemed to be deeply in love.

Shunzhi hugged her tightly and left.

Sherry just watched.

There was no other reason; she didn't want to take any risks. Who knew if he might suddenly go crazy and take her away at the last minute?!

Afterwards, the Imperial Household Department began preparing everything for the Crown Prince's wedding.

Six months later, Jeong-hee got married.

In 1668, the 25th year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, the Shunzhi Emperor died, and Zhengxi ascended the throne.

The reign title Hongtai means grand and stable, symbolizing the prosperity and stability of the country.

Consort Zhen, of the Dong'e clan, was buried alive with the emperor. Consort Ke died of illness.

The new emperor began to consolidate his rule by issuing edicts and granting general amnesties.

The posthumous title given to the late emperor was Emperor Zhang, who embodied the mandate of heaven, established the dynasty, and achieved the ultimate in wisdom, culture, martial prowess, virtue, merit, benevolence, and filial piety.

After finishing her duties as the Dowager Consort, Shirley directly handed over the palace affairs to the Empress, and she did not go to live in Shou Kang Palace.

Instead, they went out of the palace to travel!

Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress expected it.