Sumala looked at his master, who seemed to have something on his mind, and moved his mouth but didn't say a word.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh at Su Ma's expression: "Indeed, she doesn't have the brains. She takes after her father, so simple-minded! It's fortunate that she's simple-minded, otherwise, how unbearable would it be for her in this deep palace?"
Sumala nodded: "With you protecting her, of course the Empress can live a simple and carefree life!"
The Empress Dowager suddenly chuckled softly, her eyes filled with melancholy: "In the end, people can only rely on themselves! Back then, no matter how much my aunt protected me, in the end, didn't I still rely on myself?"
Sumala seemed to remember something, her expression a mixture of complexity and nostalgia.
He still helped the Empress Dowager back to her bedchamber step by step.
On the way back to the palace, Shirley arranged for someone to deliver a message to Shunzhi, saying that she had something to discuss.
Emperor Shunzhi arrived with an arrogant expression, accompanied by his virtuous concubine, Dong E.
Sherry looked at them calmly.
If I had to say something, it would be that this couple isn't as good-looking as her and her little Meiren.
Sherry kept a blank face and then gave her suggestion.
Emperor Shunzhi was a little confused.
"What did you say?"
"It means that the Emperor has to contribute to the birth rate!" Sherry said, even she herself was getting bored.
Shunzhi suddenly chuckled.
Sherry sneered, "To put it simply, don't hog the spotlight! You might end up making enemies instead of forming an alliance!"
Sherry looked at him with disdain in her eyes.
Consort Xian wanted to say something, but was glared at coldly by Xue Li.
Normally, Shirley wouldn't bother with her, but now that the Emperor and Empress were speaking, it was none of her business to point fingers.
"Ha! The Empress is as vulgar as ever!" Shunzhi didn't know whether he was angry at her glaring at his beloved concubine or at the disdainful look on Xue Li's face.
"Unlike the Emperor, who has been unable to assume personal rule for so long!" Shirley took a sip of tea, her movements leisurely and content.
Shunzhi looked at her, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Sherry casually arranged for someone to serve the meal, resting her chin on her hand as she sized up the frail and delicate Dong E Shi.
Shunzhi hurriedly pulled her behind him, as if she were a raging flood or a ferocious beast.
"Speaking of which, I think Consort Xian is very much to my liking, and she is certainly worthy of being called Imperial Noble Consort."
"Your Majesty is too shallow. If you've found true love, you should make her Empress! Or, should I make room for you?"
Sherry looked at him with a half-smile, and Shunzhi immediately got annoyed at that expression. He really did get annoyed, with the image of the little horsewhip still swirling in his mind.
He was somewhat surprised and puzzled.
Sherry noticed the hidden happiness on Dong Eshi's lips.
"I truly believed that Consort Xian was as serene and unassuming as a chrysanthemum! Indeed, if she were truly indifferent to fame and fortune, why would she have committed adultery—"
"Empress, how dare you!" Shunzhi was furious and hurriedly interrupted.
"What, you're afraid of being talked about even though you haven't even covered your shame properly? There's no point in saying more when we're not on the same page, Your Majesty, please!"
Sherry ignored them and went straight to the dining room for her meal.
Shunzhi was stunned for a moment, then sat down with great fanfare.
Lady Dong'e waited expectantly to the side, but Xue Li didn't offer her a seat. Shunzhi didn't know if he forgot or was too busy arguing with Xue Li.
The emperor and empress ate with great relish.
The pear's meal was not affected at all. There were honey-glazed chicken wings, braised eggplant, sour soup mutton, black pepper beef ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables and dumpling soup, as well as fruit salad and taro ball milk tea, all of which were the pear's favorites.
Shunzhi may have started out of spite, but he couldn't resist taking a couple of bites. He found it increasingly delicious and ate without even lifting his head.
Lady Dong'e stood there for a full hour.
After having her meal, Shirley took her child for a walk.
Emperor Shunzhi then remembered his beloved concubine and arranged for someone to send her back to Chengqian Palace.
Shunzhi watched as Xue Li teased the little one, the fair and tender little dumpling giggling.
Looking at the baby's toothless smile, Shunzhi felt his heart soften for some reason.
"Then Your Majesty, arrange for them to leave the palace. Give each of them a dowry; that would be respectable!"
"Your Majesty is truly righteous!" Shirley smiled.
Shunzhi took the baby, smelled the milky scent on him, and ignored Xue Li.
After all, it was she who had just made him so angry that he jumped up and down.
He wouldn't have spoken to her if the meal hadn't been somewhat to his liking.
I only learned today that his empress, apart from being a bit rude and having a bad temper, is otherwise quite nice.
The meal wasn't like his dozens of dishes, but everything was delicious.
Unlike some of the Mongol empresses and concubines, she was not covered in gold jewelry.
He probably didn't know that many exquisite pieces of jewelry, kingfisher feather ornaments, evenly sized pearl crowns, white jade headdresses, and ruby headdresses were more valuable than gold.
Of course, Sherry wouldn't tell him that she was pleasing herself.
She dresses up beautifully every day, and her mood is always bright and cheerful.
Guo Ren opened jewelry shops, soap shops, milk tea shops, pastry shops, restaurants, wool yarn shops, and horses in various places.
They also trained some people, some of whom were beggars and others were skilled craftsmen.
In the afternoon, Naren had already done a round of counting and then summoned the various palace mistresses to Kunning Palace.
In the end, all the Mongolian concubines returned to Mongolia with a dowry.
More than half of the Manchu concubines left, leaving mostly Han concubines.
Their family education emphasized that a woman should obey her husband after marriage and her son after his death.
Sydney arranged a second plan: to hold a matchmaking event so that the meritorious soldiers could get to know each other.
Of course, if you don't want to work in Sydney, you can help her open a shop or start a business, or you can work in the palace.
That's how we arranged things for so many people.
The entire harem was much emptied, leaving behind 60% of the Han women.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased, but the selection of the ladies had already been completed, and any further selections would have to wait two more years.
Unsurprisingly, several Mongolian tribes presented Shirley with lavish gifts.
The next step was for Wu Keshan to be in charge of friendly exchanges.
Shunzhi's suggestion that time seemed to be just to annoy Sherry.
Dong E was still a virtuous concubine.
She did subtly flaunt her affection for Shirley.
After all, no matter how much she was favored, her reputation was still tarnished.
Dorgon reprimanded Shunzhi again because of that incident, which infuriated Shunzhi.
The power that was within their grasp has been lost.
Even though Emperor Shunzhi was furious, he could only secretly dote on Consort Dong'e; at least he dared not put her in the spotlight openly.
Because Sherry used the pretense of being the eldest son of the legitimate wife to release some people out of the palace.
Emperor Shunzhi seized the opportunity to encourage his court officials to take personal control of the government.
After all, he was the right age, handled political affairs promptly, and had a prince.
Dorgon chuckled.
"His Majesty is only twenty years old and has only one son, and young children are prone to dying young!"
After all, smallpox had been a nightmare for the Manchus ever since they entered the Central Plains.
Seeing that success was imminent, Shunzhi did not want to delay any longer.
That's just unbelievable.
When Dorgon first tried to take power, he refused, citing Dorgon's lack of talent and mediocre martial arts skills.
When Dorgon wanted to assume personal rule for the second time, Dorgon refused, citing Dorgon's lack of offspring and inability to handle state affairs.
He had finally done well these past few years, but then a story about the emperor's romantic affairs spread like wildfire, and he couldn't wait any longer.
What emperor ever did something like him?
The following day at the grand court assembly, Shunzhi dropped a bombshell.
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