Chapter 73 Chapter 73
In the Yiku Palace, Nian was to serve the emperor in bed tonight, but before she could enter the Qianqing Palace, she was driven back by the chief eunuch Su Peisheng.
"Nara is not worthy of being the queen. She actually uses such a despicable method to compete for favor!" Nian cried with red eyes and gnashed her teeth.
"Your Majesty, the Second Young Master wrote back yesterday, urging you to be humble and respectful to the Empress, and never to disobey her."
"Oh, in Second Brother's eyes, who is more important than Nara? That vixen is already married, yet she still keeps hooking Second Brother. The Nian family is now close to the Emperor, no longer just anyone's lackeys. What on earth are you afraid of, Big Brother and Second Brother?"
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. The Nian family is the servant of His Majesty and the Empress. You must remember this."
Nanny Chen, who served the imperial concubine, was always cautious, but her face turned pale with fright at this moment.
In fact, everyone in the Nian family knew the inside story. The Nian clan has always had a close relationship with the empress's family. In fact, the Nian family is not the emperor's party, but the empress's party.
Without the Queen's secret support, the Nian family would never be what it is today.
The third young lady was young and energetic. She thought that by becoming the imperial concubine, she could suppress her master. How reckless she was.
"What do you know?" Nian didn't care.
If she could give birth to a prince for His Majesty, with the support of a powerful family, it is unknown who will become the new emperor in the future.
The queen's family members are all useless. There is not a single one who can fight on the battlefield, let alone a brave general.
Now even the Imperial Household Department is firmly controlled by the Nian family, and the Nian family’s children and disciples are spread throughout the court and the army.
The Nian family army was invincible on the battlefield and was known as a group of tigers and wolves.
The Nian family has everything they need, except a prince with Nian blood.
"Mammy, go and find out where the Emperor has been lately. I have been in the palace for several months and need to conceive a heir as soon as possible."
The old nanny lowered her head, turned around and left silently.
Nian was so angry that she didn't sleep the whole night. As soon as it was dawn, she got up and dressed up.
"Mammy, I'm going to help the Empress with her hairpin."
Although she was prevented from sleeping with the Queen last night, the rules cannot be abolished. She must at least let the Emperor see her humble attitude, so as to contrast with the domineering and narrow-minded Nara family.
Nian specially ordered people to change into plain palace clothes, put on a little makeup, and went to the Yangxin Palace to pay her respects leisurely.
Unexpectedly, he was stopped outside the red gate of the Yangxin Palace.
Nanny Chen smiled faintly and quietly handed an envelope of silver to the young eunuch outside the door of the Yangxin Palace. The two whispered for a while, and Nanny Chen lowered her head and approached the imperial concubine to answer.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty will suspend court today. The Queen stayed in bed with him last night and did not leave."
Nian gritted her teeth, the seductive woman Nara actually seduced the king into not attending the morning court.
"Doesn't the Queen Mother know?" Nian gritted her teeth.
"This...I don't know..."
Nanny Chen was worried that the imperial concubine would be reckless, so she didn't dare to tell the truth. There were no secrets in the Forbidden City, and no one could suppress the queen, including the empress dowager.
"Let's go back." Nian glared angrily at the closed red door and returned to Yiku Palace full of resentment.
In the Yangxin Palace, Chu Xian was in tears. If she had known that taking the contraceptive pills would accidentally make it easier for that man to do something shameful, she would never have taken the pills.
Now that she could no longer have children, he became increasingly furious in bed.
After the man left, Chu Xian stood up, her legs couldn't help but tremble.
"Mammy, I want to go back to Jingren Palace." Chu Xian urged in a hoarse voice.
Nanny Chun tearfully prepared the empress's naked body and choked up, saying, "Your Majesty, there was a flood in Jingren Palace last night and it needs repairs. His Majesty has ordered that the empress temporarily reside in Yangxin Palace until Jingren Palace is repaired."
Chu Xian was amused by this ridiculous excuse. "If I said I was staying at Zhongcui Palace today, would there be a fire there tonight? He might as well order the entire six palaces to be burned down."
Chu Xian was really helpless and could only curl up in the Yangxin Palace and struggle to survive.
For two consecutive days, the man did not set foot in the Yangxin Palace, but his life was still quite pleasant.
As midnight approached, the lights in the imperial study were still on, and memorials were delivered to the imperial desk like a mountain of memorials and a stream of water.
"Su Peisheng, get the pills."
The emperor raised his hand from the pile of memorials, and Su Peisheng was instantly shocked: "Your Majesty, you just took the elixir yesterday. You must not take it again, otherwise it will not benefit your body."
"Bring it here, you dog slave!"
"Wuwuwu, Your Majesty..." Su Peisheng sobbed helplessly and had no choice but to take out the pill.
After the emperor took the pill, he no longer yawned in exhaustion. Until early morning, the emperor, who had not slept all night, hurriedly changed his clothes and went to court.
Every two days, the emperor would go to the Yangxin Palace to visit the empress, without fail.
Chu Xian had severe abdominal pain that day, but she was secretly happy in her heart. That was great! She wished she had her period every day so that she wouldn't have to sleep with that man.
"Madam, hurry up and go to the Palace of Purity and tell them that I'm having my period and I'm not feeling well. I won't be able to sleep with you for three to five days."
Nanny Chun turned around and reported to Su Peisheng that the Queen had her period. During dinner, Su Peisheng specially ordered the Jingshifang to prepare the green card.
Only when the Empress has her menstrual period, the concubines in the harem have the opportunity to be summoned by the Emperor.
I don’t know which lady will sleep with me tonight, I’m so lucky.
Apart from summoning the Queen, His Majesty had no intention of entering the harem.
In the imperial study, Yinzhen was eating alone, absent-mindedly.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is having her menstrual period today and is not feeling well. She is unable to sleep with you."
After Su Peisheng finished speaking, he knelt down and raised the silver plate filled with green cards to the emperor.
"Oh, no need."
Su Peisheng was furious. Could it be that His Majesty would not even let the Queen go when she had her period?
This is not the most terrifying thing. If even the Queen is having her period and is unable to sleep with the Emperor, and the Emperor is unwilling to summon other concubines, it will be a nightmare for the entire Forbidden City.
Being favored by the emperor is the biggest curse and joke.
As expected, that night the Emperor returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to sleep.
Chu Xian was lying alone on the bed, in excruciating pain and covered in cold sweat.
When I turned around, I found that the man was lying behind me without me noticing.
Her nose felt sore and she quickly turned around and ignored him.
"Your Majesty, do you want me to take off my pants so you can see for yourself if I'm really having my period?"
"Perhaps Your Majesty wishes to fight to the death, and I, your concubine, will not be able to accompany you."
"Humph, what nonsense!"
Yinzhen was choked with anger and grabbed the sarcastic woman into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Chu Xian had severe abdominal pain and was too lazy to fight with him. She turned around and snuggled into his arms, stripping off his pajamas in a few seconds. The dog man's arms were warm, and her aching abdomen pressed against his warm abdomen. She couldn't help but humming in comfort.
In the past, whenever she had menstrual discomfort, she would always treat the dog man as a human-shaped hot pack to warm her uterus and relieve the pain, which always worked wonders.
Hiding her cheek in the dog man's warm and solid arms, Chu Xian fell asleep quickly.
For four consecutive days, Chu Xian was both looking forward to his coming and disliked his coming, but he always came on time without fail.
When he came, he didn't talk to her, but just hugged her tightly and went to bed together.
On the fifth day, Chu Xian was finally clean. The bastard had been vegan for five consecutive days, so he would not let her go.
This night was particularly difficult, so much so that Chu Xian couldn't even get up the next day. She rested on the dragon bed for a whole day before she could barely recover.
Nanny Chun and Sui Qing sighed privately, saying it was a pity that the Queen could no longer bear children. Otherwise, considering the Emperor's crazy favor towards the Queen, it would be strange that the Queen could not conceive a prince.
In the spring of the third year of Yongzheng's reign, memorials from the censors, implicating the Empress Dowager in her lack of virtue and her jealousy and dominance in the emperor's favor, were sent into the Imperial Study like snowflakes.
Chu Xian crossed her legs in the Yangxin Palace. That person cared most about his reputation and would definitely let her go.
"Your Majesty, Lord Cao sent this year's new Hepu Pearl."
"Well, tell Lord Cao to be more cautious in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Serving the emperor is not entirely without benefits. At least she relied on serving the emperor in bed to turn the tide and successfully save the Cao family. Although Uncle Cao has lost his power in the south of the Yangtze River, he has been transferred to the capital and serves as the deputy minister in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Nian family is becoming increasingly difficult to control, so she naturally needs to cultivate new forces.
Chu Xian used a special tool to pry open the Hepu Pearl, which was the size of a pigeon egg, and took out the secret letter hidden inside the pearl.
Uncle Cao and Liang Amu have been active in the court recently.
This vicious dog of the Nian family, which she personally raised, has been betraying her over the years. She cannot just sit there and wait for death.
"Your Majesty, there are no secrets in the Forbidden City. If His Majesty knew that you were meddling in government affairs..." Nanny Chun reminded in panic.
"What are you afraid of? At worst, he can just destroy me." Chu Xian didn't care and threw the secret report in front of the mirror, where the man could see it.
That list represents the new force she has cultivated. If that person sees it, he will definitely promote the officials on the list as he did before.
She traded obedience for benefits, and this was the only way for the couple to live in peace at the moment.
She didn't want to be the queen, she wanted to be promoted directly to the queen mother.
That night, the bastard continued to behave inappropriately in the Yangxin Palace. The next morning, Chu Xian sat in front of the dressing mirror and saw that the list was gone.
At this time, in the imperial study, Prince Yi Yinxiang was staring at a list of more than a dozen officials with a frown on his face.
"Fourth brother, if the officials on this list were placed in those crucial government offices, if Fourth Sister-in-law ever wanted to rebel, it would be easy for her to capture the city."
"Apart from anything else, the position of Nine-Gate Commander, responsible for the defense of Forty-Nine City, must not be given to Fourth Sister-in-law's brother, Fifth Ge. It's too risky."
"It's okay. It's my fault that your fourth sister-in-law's family has declined. If she doesn't have a strong family to rely on, she will be bullied after I die."
Yinxiang was speechless. It was so ridiculous. He was wary of the power of the empress's party in the court, and the biggest member of the empress's party was actually his fourth brother.
"Fourth brother... can..."
"No need to persuade me anymore. After I pass away, the country will belong only to your fourth sister-in-law and her son, Thirteenth Brother."
Yinzhen's eyes fell on the memorial submitted by the censors to impeach the empress, and he frowned and said, "All the censors who impeached the empress will be dismissed from their posts."
Yinxiang couldn't help but think of the secret storage box behind the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque. He had seen the name of the new emperor in the box with his own eyes.
The next new emperor has been chosen, but the fourth brother is still worried that his sister-in-law will be bullied.
How could she possibly tolerate this? The future emperor was her legitimate son, and she was the only empress dowager.
The fourth brother doted on her so much that he never had any illegitimate children and even doted on her for many years.
Even so, the fourth sister-in-law was still not satisfied. She acted like a hen crowing at dawn and tried to interfere in the government.
Yinxiang had many complaints against his fourth sister-in-law, Nara, but because of his fourth brother's favor, he suppressed his resentment in the court and helped his fourth brother suppress all voices against his fourth sister-in-law.
Who knows who will be bullied in the future. It might be Fourth Brother, who will be forced into a desperate situation by the powerful Fourth Sister-in-law.
"Thirteenth brother, from now on, no matter what, you must protect the interests of your fourth sister-in-law."
Yinxiang was apprehensive: "Fourth brother, if there is a conflict between the new emperor and Fourth Sister-in-law in the future, what should I do?"
"anyway."
Yinxiang was panicked. "Fourth brother, you are in the prime of your life, why are you so anxious to tell me all this? Have you been ill recently? You don't need to worry about the trivial matters at court. I will do my best to help you."
"I'm fine, don't worry."
"Your good health, fourth brother, is a blessing for all the people of the Qing Dynasty." Yinxiang glanced at his fourth brother secretly. In fact, as his fourth brother's right-hand man, he was not completely ignorant of the clues of his fourth brother's illness.
"Xiao Shisan, I know what you are worried about. I am fine."
Yinxiang was about to step out of the imperial study when he heard the words. He turned around with a serious expression, but he could not see his fourth brother. His fourth brother had already been buried under the mountain of memorials.
At the end of September in the third year of Yongzheng's reign, Chu Xian did not receive the good news of the deposed empress, but unexpectedly received the good news that her fourth brother Wu Ge was promoted to the governor of the Nine Gates.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty still values your brothers from your mother's side. Look, His Majesty actually gave such an important position as the Nine Gates Commander to Lord Wu Ge."
Nanny Chun's eyes were full of joy.
"Hmph, being the Nine Gates Commander is a job that confiscates property and exterminates clans. The last one was Longkodo. The Tongjia clan also had a queen. Who knows, one day, you may all be confined to the cold palace to serve this deposed queen."
As Chu Xian spoke, she stole a glance at the man who had been standing by the door for a long time. She wanted to deliberately make him angry, and it would be best if she could make him die of anger.
It would be best if he died today and she was immediately promoted to Queen Mother.
“Cough cough cough cough cough…”
The man's heart-wrenching cough was heard, and Chu Xian couldn't help but look sideways.
Since the beginning of autumn, his cough has not improved. Chu Xian frowned, stood up and brought him a cup of warm medicine.
"Why do some people who are sick come to me? Don't infect me with the disease." She stuffed the medicine into the man's hand and turned back to the inner hall.
Feeling uneasy, Chu Xian quietly called Sui Qing.
"Is the emperor in poor health recently?"
Sui Qing lowered her head, hiding the panic in her eyes: "Your Majesty caught a cold a while ago, and his five internal organs were out of balance. He has been coughing for a long time, but his body is fine."
"Well, send the medicine he takes every day to the Imperial Study on time, and also prepare an extra portion in the Yangxin Palace."
He had a bad habit of drinking half of his medicine and pouring out the other half. It must have been because no one dared to watch him take the medicine in the imperial study, which was why his cold and cough did not heal for a long time.
"Sui Qing, do you have any massage techniques for treating coughs? Please teach me."
"Your Majesty, please massage the Tanzhong acupoint in the middle of His Majesty's sternum, rubbing it in circles for half a quarter of an hour, increasing the pressure from light to heavy. This acupoint can relax the chest, reduce nausea, and relieve chest tightness and cough."
"Teach me."
While the man was taking a bath, Chu Xian concentrated on learning the massage techniques.
At night, the two of them lay on the same bed holding hands. Chu Xian reached out and took the initiative to unbutton his pajamas, but suddenly he held her hand tightly. When she turned over, she was actually restrained by him.
Seeing the lust in that man's eyes and his impatient act of tearing off her pajamas, Chu Xian's face flushed immediately.
"You..that's not what I meant."
"Queen, this is what I mean."
As she spoke, the emperor had stripped her clothes off completely.
Chu Xian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She held up his shoulders and massaged the Tanzhong point in the middle of his sternum using the technique taught by Xianrong.
His face could not be seen in the dark night. The man lay silently on the dragon couch, allowing her to massage him obediently.
"Don't try so hard. If you die, I won't remain a widow for you. I will definitely keep a hundred concubines, and they will go to your tomb every holiday to sing and dance, and make you mad."
"good."
Hearing this, Chu Xian's eyes became sore and tears fell: "Are you sick?"
"Aren't you looking forward to becoming the Queen Mother? Isn't it good as you wish?"
"Okay, great." Chu Xian hugged him tightly with tears in her eyes.
She was his closest companion, so she could naturally sense that he was seriously ill.
Chu Xian couldn't sleep the whole night, and the man beside her kept hiding outside the bedroom to cough.
At four o'clock in the morning, when the Fourth Master went to court, Chu Xian called Sui Qing and the two exchanged clothes.
After disguising herself, Chu Xian came to his room on the east side of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Su Peisheng was not on duty today and was drinking tea in his private room.
"Su Peisheng!"
The Queen's voice came to his ears. Su Peisheng raised his eyes and saw the Queen wearing a palace maid's uniform.
"Your servant Su Peisheng pays his respects to the Empress. My Queen, why have you condescended to come here? If you need anything, just call me to the Yangxin Palace."
"How is His Majesty's dragon body?" Chu Xian asked straight to the point.
"This...it means that the dragon is in good health." Su Peisheng lowered his head.
Chu Xian pulled out her hairpin and slowly walked towards Su Peisheng: "Hurry up and tell me, otherwise I will not forgive you today."
"Alas, Madam, even if you kill me, His Majesty's body will be safe. What do you want to hear from me? Please tell me clearly."
"Okay." Chu Xian pointed the hairpin at her neck. "If I get hurt here today, do you think His Majesty will execute nine or ten of your clans? I heard your mother just celebrated her sixtieth birthday last month."
"Ouch! Your Majesty, please spare me." Su Peisheng crawled tremblingly at the feet of the queen.
For both public and private reasons, and for the sake of His Majesty's health, he had no choice but to tell the Queen the truth.
"Your Majesty has been poisoned. It's erysipelas, and the imperial physicians are helpless."
"What!!" Chu Xian's eyes went dark and she almost fainted.
"Liar, you promised me that you would never touch pills again in your life, but in the end you treated me like a fool."
"You must immediately go and blow up the old Taoist priest and the alchemy furnace in the Old Summer Palace, and tell them it was my will."
"Where's the elixir? Where is the elixir? If anyone dares to give him the elixir again, I will tear him into pieces."
Chu Xian suppressed her grief and staggered towards the imperial study.
In the imperial study, the military ministers were discussing state affairs with the Emperor. Chu Xian stopped at the door of the imperial study, panting. She must not be reckless in front of outsiders. If people found out that the Fourth Master was ill, it would be a disaster.
The Fourth Master cannot get sick, so she has to take the blame. Chu Xian gritted her teeth, closed her eyes and lay on the ground pretending to be dead.
"Oh no, the Queen has fainted!" exclaimed the young eunuch.
"Call the imperial physician!"
In a moment, Chu Xian was hugged tightly by a familiar embrace.
˙She was good at pretending to be sick. Until she was sent back to the bedroom, she curled up in the Fourth Master's arms and pretended to be dead.
"Ahem... Imperial Physician, how is the Queen? Tell me quickly."
The man's hoarse voice was heard. Chu Xian opened her eyes with heartache and happened to see his haggard and sick face.
"The Queen... The Queen's body is not feeling well. I'm afraid... She needs to recuperate for a year." Ye Tianshi lied tremblingly, risking the death penalty for deceiving the emperor.
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…” Chu Xian opened her eyes weakly, pretending to be seriously ill: “Your Majesty… Your Majesty is fine, you don’t have to…”
"Xian'er, why are you so seriously ill? You are all useless. The imperial physician checks the Queen's pulse every day, but why can't he diagnose the Queen's illness? Execute them all!"
"Your Majesty, please don't, please don't... cough cough cough... please don't kill for me." In panic, Chu Xian raised her voice.
The man suddenly looked into her eyes with a sullen face and remained silent.
"Everyone go down."
After the servants left, Chu Xian sat up.
"Ulanara Chuxian, who allowed you to curse yourself!"
The emperor smashed the teacup in anger, but Chu Xian was not afraid of him and hugged his waist: "I am deceiving the emperor. If you want to kill me, then kill me. This will prevent some people who go back on their word from secretly taking the deadly elixir behind my back."
"It's better to die. You can kill me immediately, and I will pretend I don't see it."
Chu Xian hugged the Fourth Master and cried loudly. She was angry that he had no self-respect and that he was so taciturn that he didn't want to open up to her.
"Queen, you are about to become the Queen Mother. You should be happy."
Chu Xian choked up and stopped crying, rubbing her tear-stained cheeks against the dragon robe.
"Yeah, I'm so happy."
"I..." Chu Xian turned her back and burst into tears.
"Xian'er, don't worry. Before I die, I will clear all obstacles for you and the new emperor."
"I don't care. If you are safe and sound, I would rather you not be the emperor, and I don't care about being the queen."
“Cough cough cough cough…”
Yinzhen covered his chest in pain. His blood was boiling with anger and he felt uncomfortable and dizzy again.
Chu Xian was hugging the Fourth Master and crying, when suddenly the Fourth Master lost his support and fell heavily on her.
The news of the emperor's complaints still spread throughout the city.
The nine gates in and out of the capital were immediately blocked, and martial law was imposed in the Forbidden City. The military ministers headed by Prince Yi and the elders of the royal family gathered in front of the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and took down the secret storage box containing the emperor's calligraphy.
Unsurprisingly, Prince Bao Hongli was appointed Crown Prince.
The court was immediately in turmoil. To prevent any unforeseen events, all the kings and officials above the third rank were detained in the Forbidden City.
Outside the Yangxin Palace, Empress Dowager Uya and the Fourteenth and Eighth Masters were clamoring that the Queen was a hen crowing at dawn and intended to murder the emperor and commit treason.
At this critical juncture, the war in the northwest was also surging.
At this time, Tsering Khan of the Dzungar Khanate launched a large-scale invasion of the Qing border.
The Qing Dynasty was plagued by internal and external troubles, and Hongli was only an eight-year-old prince and was unable to suppress the voices in the court at all.
Although the Thirteenth Master had the intention, he was alone and unable to suppress the chaos.
Early that morning, after Chu Xian had helped the unconscious Fourth Master take his medicine, the sound of loud gongs and drums could be heard again outside the Yangxin Palace.
"Nara! The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. What are your intentions, you bitch, that you won't allow me to visit the emperor?"
"Come out immediately and let me see with my own eyes whether the emperor is still alive!"
Chu Xian held her forehead with her hand as her head ached. "Come here, please take the Queen Mother back to Ningshou Palace and change her clothes. I will be ruling from behind the curtain."
"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. The Qing Dynasty does not have the concept of ruling from behind the curtain. It is an iron rule that the harem cannot interfere in government affairs. If you step into the court today, you will definitely be criticized and everyone will be able to kill you."
Su Peisheng and his servants all prostrated themselves on the ground.
"No need to discuss further." Chu Xian placed the heavy phoenix crown on her head and slowly stepped out of the Yangxin Palace.
Walking step by step from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to the Palace of Heavenly Purity where the emperor held court every day, although it was only a hundred steps away, the steps felt heavy. Chu Xian stood nervously in front of the gate of Heavenly Purity, as a group of cabinet ministers had already blocked her outside the gate.
"Fourth sister-in-law, it is an iron rule of our ancestors that the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. Please move aside." Prince Yi Yinxiang stood at the head of the ministers with an unhappy look on his face.
"The Crown Prince is young, and His Majesty is in poor health. He has ordered me to govern from behind the scenes. If you have any questions, you can wait until His Majesty wakes up to verify them."
"Empress, the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. If you insist on having your own way, we will persevere and die in protest."
A group of iron-willed censors were filled with indignation.
"Look at what this is!" Chu Xian held up the jade pendant hidden in her palm in front of everyone.
Yinxiang raised his eyes and looked carefully, his face immediately turned pale, and he knelt down at the feet of the queen.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant Yinxiang pays homage to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor."
Prince Lian Yinsi stared at the emperor's dragon pendant in the queen's hand. Even if he was unwilling, he had to submit to the queen.
Seeing the dragon pendant as if the emperor himself had arrived, the emperor actually gave such an important artifact to the empress.
No one dared to stop the Queen from entering the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
After entering the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Chu Xian took a seat behind the screen, and all the civil and military officials in the court began to report on their affairs as usual.
Prince Lian's party was particularly active in reporting today. They thought they would see the Queen in a panic, but unexpectedly, the Queen handled government affairs with swift and decisive action, and her political views were exactly the same as the Emperor's.
Prince Lian was so angry after being reprimanded by the Queen for his negligence in the Ministry of Works that he broke out in a cold sweat and never dared to provoke the Queen again.
"Your Majesty, I have urgent military matters to report."
"King Tseren of the Dzungar Khanate has deployed his troops to Hetongpo. War is imminent. The Northwestern Frontier Army requests reinforcements."
Behind the screen, Chu Xian's heart was in her throat. When she heard the name of this place, she couldn't help but tremble with fear all over.
In this tragic Battle of Hetongpo in history, the Qing Dynasty suffered a crushing defeat and lost all its best generals. As a result, almost every household in the capital hung white banners, and funeral processions were crowded at the city gates, making it difficult to move forward.
Emperor Yongzheng was therefore criticized and reviled by later generations as a war dwarf.
After the Fourth Master ascended the throne, the biggest hidden danger was the Northwest. Over the years, the consolidation of military power in the Northwest has been slow due to many factors.
Various forces were entrenched within the Northwest Army, and they checked and balanced each other, barely able to restrain each other in the chaos.
Chu Xian had a splitting headache.
The battle of Hetongpo must not be a crushing defeat at any cost, otherwise the Fourth Master will be doomed to be infamous for eternity.
And now the most powerful force in the Northwest Army is Nian Gengyao.
This lackey that she personally raised and cultivated has become a vicious dog that has turned against its master.
Since it was the evil result she had sown, she had to solve it herself.
Even if this war ends in a disastrous defeat, someone will have to bear the eternal infamy.
Chu Xian gritted her teeth and made up her mind: "I intend to personally lead the troops to the northwest on your behalf!"
"Empress! What do you mean? The men of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty are strong and steadfast, and they are still alive. When will it be the turn of women to take up arms and fight in battle?"
The Seventh Master, Yinyou, was furious: "Your humble servant, Yunyou, is willing to lead the troops to the northwest and crush the Dzungar royal court."
"There's no need to discuss this matter further. I'm supervising the army on behalf of His Majesty. Are you trying to disobey His Majesty's order?"
The dragon pendant in the queen's hand became the biggest shackle, and the court was silent.
However, this did not mean that the court officials allowed the queen to do whatever she wanted. The court officials, led by important officials from the Grand Council, knelt in the Qianqing Palace and begged the queen to revoke her decision.
Empress Dowager Uya took advantage of the chaos to recall Little Fourteen back to the Forbidden City.
The mother and son gathered forces in the court and clamored the most fiercely.
In the Yangxin Palace, Chu Xian sat in front of the sickbed and listened to Nanny Chun report the growing opposition voices in the Qianqing Palace and the Forbidden City.
"Mobilize the Flying Guillotines and the Infantry Command Office. Seal off the city immediately. Anyone gathering to cause trouble will be killed without mercy!"
"Your Majesty, you can't do that. Most of those causing trouble are students from the Imperial College. If you kill scholars..." Su Peisheng's eyes were full of horror.
"If you can't even tell right from wrong, you're unworthy of being a scholar. Kill you!"
"Don't think I don't know. Most of the students at the Imperial College who are causing trouble are from Jiangnan. If Yinsi and his gang dare to take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble again, I will kill them too! Summon Prince Lian's wife to the palace immediately."
"Imprison Fourteen into the western warm room of the Yangxin Palace. No one is allowed to visit him."
"If the Queen Mother tries to stop me, I will chop off one of Fourteen's fingers in front of her. If she tries again, I will kill her immediately."
Su Peisheng lowered his head in fear. The Queen's violence was even worse than that of the Emperor.
He looked nervously at Sui Qing who was kneeling beside him and asked silently: Is the Queen sick again?
Sui Qing suppressed her fear and nodded slightly.
Chu Xian rubbed her aching forehead and said in a deep voice, "Immediately summon the cabinet ministers of military affairs, Yinxiang, Zhang Tingyu, Ortai, and Neqin, to come to the emperor for an audience."
The Fourth Master had instructed that in case of an emergency, only these few people could be trusted.
Yinxiang and his companions came to the Yangxin Palace filled with righteous indignation.
At this time, the queen was sitting on the dragon throne reviewing memorials, looking extremely eye-catching.
"Queen, what do you mean?"
"I am doing something happy that all of you are looking forward to." Chu Xian wrote the imperial edict on the bright yellow paper and grabbed the imperial seal.
Yinxiang was confused. He took the imperial edict and was dumbfounded when he saw its contents.
All the important military officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
"This is my explanation for this mess. Are you satisfied?"
"The Qing Dynasty has little chance of winning the Battle of Tongbo. Someone will inevitably bear the eternal infamy. Will it be the Emperor's infamy, or will it be me, the evil queen who brought disaster upon us, who will bear the eternal infamy? You've already made your own judgment, haven't you?"
"This is my sincere token of respect. I am willing to depose myself and expel myself from the world."
Yinxiang's eyes were filled with sorrow. Yes, no matter how the Grand Councillors and the Ministry of War had calculated these days, this war had almost no chance of winning.
This is why the Qing Dynasty remained inactive in the face of repeated provocations from the Dzungar Khanate.
People in the world like to attribute the chaos to the misfortunes of beautiful women. Now the Qing Dynasty needs a beautiful woman of noble status to bear the eternal infamy.
The Queen is the most suitable candidate. If the Queen fails miserably, she will bear the eternal infamy. If the Queen wins by chance, she will bear the infamy of meddling in government affairs.
The emperor will be invincible.
"I will assemble my army and march out tomorrow. Do you have any objections?"
Yinxiang turned to look at Zhang Tingyu and others, and was silent for a long time. He clenched the edict to depose the empress in his hand, and several people prostrated themselves at the feet of the empress.
After dealing with the previous dynasty, Chu Xian came to the side hall of the Yangxin Palace. At this time, Wan Ning was pacing nervously in the inner hall.
"Xian'er, what are you doing?! You can't do that. Xian'er, please don't kneel down. I can't bear it."
Wan Ning was flattered and didn't know why Xian'er was crawling at her feet.
"Wan Ning, I will be supervising the expedition to the northwest on behalf of His Majesty tomorrow. The Forbidden City and my child must be left to your care."
"Xian'er, did Yinsi bully you in the court? This is outrageous. I will fight him to the death!" Wan Ning felt guilty and held back her tears.
"With you here, he won't dare bully me, so I can only leave my children to you, and I can only entrust this Forbidden City to you."
Chu Xian leaned over and bowed to Wan Ning again.
"Wan Ning, if I die on the battlefield, please protect my three little princes and ensure their safety for the rest of their lives. If Prince Lian wants the throne, he can take it away, but please spare my children."
"The Yangxin Palace and His Majesty are under the protection of Prince Yi and his men. Please help me protect the Emperor. If absolutely necessary, please ask Prince Lian to allow him to pass away peacefully, at least leaving his body intact so that I can bury him with me."
"What nonsense are you talking about? As long as I am still breathing, if His Majesty or the princes lose a finger, I will commit suicide on the spot to apologize."
"Xian'er, do you really have to go? Can we not go? I heard from Yinsi that this battle will be lost and you will die."
Wan Ning burst into tears.
"Wan Ning, I am the most suitable candidate, you should know that."
"Xian'er..."
"I leave the young princes and the Emperor to you, Wan Ning. Allow me to bid you a proper farewell."
Wan Ning turned her back and wiped her tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I have to go back to the imperial study to review the memorials." Chu Xian slowly stood up and hurried to the imperial study anxiously.
Wan Ning wiped away her tears and looked at Aunt Gui with tearful eyes: "Bring me a set of armor."
That night, Prince Lian's wife, Guo Luoluo, was wearing armor and holding a golden sword while sitting in front of the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to guard it. On the bench beside her was the Queen's Phoenix Seal.
After the Eighth Concubine killed the servant sent by the Empress Dowager of Ningshou Palace to cause trouble on the spot, no one dared to underestimate the Eighth Concubine anymore.
The three young princes were sent to the Hall of Mental Cultivation overnight, and all the soldiers guarding the Forbidden City were replaced by the emperor's personal guards, the Blood-Guillotined Scepters.
At Prince Lian's mansion, the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince were in a panic.
"My dear brother, my dear sister-in-law is so confused. The throne is within her grasp, what on earth is she doing? Go and bring her back quickly, or else she will make a big mistake."
Yinsi raised his head in pain and drank heavily.
"Forget it, let's just sit back and watch. Even if I take over the Forbidden City, I may not be able to quell the chaos in the current situation."
"My dear brother, if you were the emperor, you would have plenty of beauties, why...why..." Lao Jiu sighed helplessly.
"But are we just going to sit there and wait? I'm really unwilling to do that." Lao Shi said regretfully.
"Let's go." Yinsi said in a hoarse voice.
As the expedition was about to begin, Chu Xian summoned Yinxiang and the three little princes to the Yangxin Palace alone.
"Thirteenth brother, from now on your fourth brother and the princes will be handed over to you." Chu Xian held the emperor's dragon pendant in front of Yinxiang.
"Big Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, kneel down and kowtow to your Thirteenth Uncle."
The little princes knelt down obediently and kowtowed before their uncle Thirteen.
"Hongli, if your Khan father dies, you will be the new emperor. From now on, you must treat your brothers and your Thirteenth Uncle well. If you disobey, heaven and earth will not tolerate it, and your ancestors will not bless you!"
"I will keep this in mind, Mother. As the crown prince, I am willing to lead the expedition to the northwest on your behalf with Khan Ama. Please do not go."
Hongli burst into tears, Hongzhou was crying like a tearful man, and even the eldest prince Honghui, who was usually calm, was crying like rain.
They knew in their hearts that the Empress Dowager might never return.
"Good boy, listen to your Thirteenth Uncle's words. From now on, you must protect your brothers and never kill each other. Do you remember this?"
"Your son, your son obeys your order." Hongli hugged his mother's knees and cried bitterly.
"Empress, it's time for you to head to the western suburbs to gather troops for battle." Su Peisheng reminded quietly outside the door.
"Okay." Chu Xian had already changed into military uniform and stepped out of the Yangxin Palace resolutely.
On the sixth day of October in the third year of Yongzheng's reign, Empress Nara assembled 100,000 soldiers in the western suburbs, supervised the army on behalf of the emperor, and marched towards the northwest.
Everyone attacked it at once, and the public opposition became increasingly intense.
Even the ancestral tombs of the queen's family in Shengjing City were burned down by angry people.
The children of the Ulanara clan didn't even dare to leave their homes. They were like rats crossing the street, and everyone was shouting and beating them.
At the end of December, 140,000 elite troops of the Eight Banners fought a bloody battle with the Dzungar Wolf Division at Hetongpo for several days.
All eleven of the Qing Dynasty's best generals were killed, and the elite Eight Banners were forced to cut their braids to show their determination and fight a bloody battle with the Dzungars to the end.
However, the queen who came to supervise the battle hid in the tent every day, and no one knew what she was doing, which caused complaints among the army.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign, which should have been the Lantern Festival, the Qing soldiers had to face an unprecedented fierce battle.
Half of the elite troops were killed and the wreckage was scattered everywhere.
"I'm not going to fight anymore. Why should I risk my life for the Demon Queen? We die on the front lines, while the Demon Queen hides in the tent, applying makeup and putting on makeup. Why?"
"Yes, yes. I saw the Demon Queen strolling through the eastern mountains at night a few days ago. She seemed to be in a good mood."
"Oh no! The Dzungars are attacking again at night!!!"
On the gentle slope not far away, a series of movable walls rose from the ground, and smoke filled the air.
But the morale of the army had been broken, and many Eight Banners soldiers threw away their weapons and armor and fled into the dense forest.
With the help of Russian muskets and Dutch red cannons, the Junggar soldiers rushed into the Qing army camp and fought like a hot knife through butter.
The young Khan was full of ambition and pride. If they could survive this night, they would have no obstacles and would be able to march straight into the Central Plains.
These past few months have been the most tormenting years of his life. The infamous queen is no mediocre person, but his greatest rival in this life.
The Empress of the Qing Dynasty used both kindness and force, and through a policy of appeasement, she broke away from the various grassland tribes that colluded with the Dzungars to resist the iron wall of the Qing Dynasty.
Through various methods such as apologies and pardons, banquets and rewards, temple construction, and the organization of flags, the accumulated grievances and disputes between the various tribes on the grassland, as well as between the grassland and the Qing Dynasty, were completely quelled.
All the kings of the grasslands were grateful for the emperor's virtue and submitted completely to the Qing Dynasty. From then on, the queen completely solved the grassland hunting border troubles that had plagued the Central Plains for a thousand years, and the people inside and outside the Great Wall were completely loyal to her.
In just over a month, the grassland and the Qing Dynasty no longer had any grudges against each other, and the connection between the grassland and Junggar was completely destroyed. Instead, the contradictions were directed externally at the Junggar Khanate and the Rakshasa Kingdom, causing the Junggar Khanate to be attacked from both sides.
Celeng was in great pain and secretly vowed that he would personally kill the demon queen as a sacrifice today.
Chu Xian rushed out of the tent, armored in her armor. The Junggars were using tens of thousands of camels to build a mobile camel city defense line for a surprise attack! This was the "cart-fort tactic" that was popular on the European battlefields at that time, and it was invincible.
Countless camels formed a moving defense line that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The Junggar enemies hid behind the mobile defense line and fought a bloody battle with the Qing cavalry using the artillery and muskets provided by the Russians.
The Qing army had never seen such a strange scene before, and soon their morale was thrown into chaos.
In order to hold the position at this time, they could only concentrate their forces and attack one point, aiming all their artillery at a section of the moving camel city, quickly tearing a gap, and then concentrating their forces to attack the gap fiercely, but they suffered heavy casualties.
"Xianrong, bring that sharp weapon over here and kill!"
During these days, Chu Xian was hiding in the tent not because she was helpless, but because she was developing an evil killing weapon that was banned from use in international law in later generations - white phosphorus incendiary bomb.
The Qing Dynasty's red cannons and thrown fireballs were simply unable to ignite the mobile defense line built of wet felt.
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