The match was fast approaching.

The first day was a competition of musical pieces and instruments.

The second day featured dance and puddling competitions.

The third day featured competitions in Go, poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

The fourth day featured equestrian and archery competitions.

The fifth day featured polo and martial arts competitions.

Not to mention Emperor Shunzhi, even the Empress Dowager was very interested.

Several concubines who were not good at performing arts, were physically weak, or were pregnant acted as narrators!

The Mongolian empresses shouted with great force, making everyone else extremely nervous.

Dong E spoke softly and eloquently, captivating the concubines with her words.

Even the noblewomen who came to observe couldn't help but be extremely excited!

After the competition, everyone voted by throwing flowers, and when the results were announced each day, it was either the Empress Dowager or Sherry.

It's either Sherry herself, or Sherry and Shunzhi.

There were glass trophies, gold medals, silver medals, and bronze medals.

The wife of the Minister of Revenue was busy taking notes.

"Great! The first talent competition has come to a successful conclusion!"

After Sherry finished speaking, she led everyone in a round of applause!

That woman surnamed Wang was indeed skilled in music.

To conclude, I composed a magnificent piece of music!

The name is "Yong'an".

Sydney specifically arranged for someone to record the details, clearly identifying the arranger as Wang Yuesu and the lyricist as Dong E Wanxing.

This action deeply moved everyone.

There are also those who record the game, noting down all the effusive praise from the off-field commentators.

There are also those who record the current scene through painting.

Sherry said that everyone can check it out later!

They also suggested that the Wang family compose a national anthem.

They suggested that the few people who were good at drawing should draw pictures for everyone.

So, as soon as the competition ended, everyone found something to have fun with.

Sherry was satisfied and awarded the Best Commentator Award and Best Lyricist Award to the audience.

Emperor Shunzhi came quietly and left quietly, without taking away a single cloud.

Not a single concubine remembered him.

Two Han concubines in the harem are pregnant, and Shirley continues to make arrangements as always.

Then, grassroots activities also flourished.

Sherry encouraged the Empress Dowager to leave the palace to watch the spectacle!

So, the twins were placed in the Qianqing Palace, and Shirley went out to cheer everyone on on behalf of Emperor Shunzhi!

Yes, and he even brought Ao Bai with him!

Emperor Shunzhi felt frustrated and helpless.

Ao Bai led his guards to protect Xue Li and the Empress Dowager as they left the palace.

Emperor Shunzhi diligently reviewed memorials and looked after his children.

Sherry watched the competition organized by the ministers of the Ministry of Revenue. It wasn't exactly the same as the one in the palace, but it wasn't too different.

However, events held by the public are more free and varied, with a wide variety of types.

It also lasted for quite a while, so it was quite lively for several months.

The Lunar New Year will be here again soon.

In the fourteenth year of his reign (1657), Emperor Shunzhi issued an imperial edict.

The government restricted the participation of Manchu bannermen in the imperial examinations, allocating the limited spots to Han Chinese.

This move was seen both as a means of winning people's hearts and reflecting Emperor Shunzhi's determination to deeply integrate into Chinese culture. He believed that if the Qing Dynasty wanted to achieve long-term stability, it had to rely on the Han people.

After the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, it adopted the imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty.

In the summer of the fourteenth year of the Shunzhi reign, the Qing Dynasty held the provincial examination for chieftains.

Because the imperial examinations were an important way for scholars to realize their dreams of becoming officials, the competition was extremely fierce.

More than 5,000 candidates participated in the exam, but only 206 were admitted, resulting in an extremely low acceptance rate.

Historically, the imperial examination cheating scandal also broke out in this year.

Examiners Li Zhenye and Zhang Wopu, among others, accepted bribes and used their power to provide conveniences for the candidates.

They used a method called "passing notes," where candidates would hand over notes with specific words written on them to the examiners in advance, and the examiners would use these words to admit the candidates when grading their papers.

Sherry arranged for someone to leak the information beforehand.

Those two scoundrels were beheaded and their homes confiscated.

Emperor Shunzhi was extremely busy, constantly strengthening the supervision and regulation of the imperial examinations.

Sherry vaccinated the two little ones with smallpox and fed them various pills.

The imperial harem gained a princess and a prince.

As always, Sherry promoted their ranks and conducted assessments of the wet nurses every few days.

Dong Eshi's health was deteriorating, but her spirits were surprisingly good.

He collaborated with several Han concubines on composing music and inscribing calligraphy.

It was another morale-boosting battle song, "The Flames of War Ignite Our Will, We March Forward Undeterred."

It's another beautiful melody of prayer, "Under the Dome".

It was Sherry who mentioned the national anthem, "Ode to the Great Qing Dynasty," early this morning.

There's also the song "Galloping Horse" from the equestrian competition organized by Mongolian concubines.

Not to mention the other musical scores, which blend different styles from Han, Manchu, and Mongolian.

The styles are quite different, and they sound fascinating.

Sherry arranged for it to be compiled into a book and then circulated outside the palace.

Emperor Shunzhi never felt that there was anything wrong with his beloved concubines.

The problem is with the Empress; she indulges in eating, drinking, and having fun without any sense of propriety.

Sherry ignored him!

Emperor Shunzhi himself realized that since the birth of their child, the Empress no longer tried to force herself on him.

He was somewhat unhappy.

It's his business if he's unhappy, but it's unacceptable if others dislike him.

As a result, for a few days, Emperor Shunzhi went to Kunning Palace every day.

Sherry initially ignored him.

But then I thought, isn't this a ready-made option to take care of the child?

Moreover, whether it was due to the pills or something else, Jingrong looked like "men, women, old and young" at a very young age.

Every day, his little head turns and turns, examining the world!

Jinghua was happily munching on her feet, and Xueli kindly drew a picture of it for her.

Who, besides her, would dare to record this dark history?!

She looks like her biological mother.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!