While the Manchu Qing dynasty prohibited Han Chinese from learning cultural knowledge and burned books, it also labeled science and technology books as Western ones, and at the same time forced a small number of scholars to study the Four Books and Five Classics.
The Qing Dynasty's literary inquisitions and oppressive rule made many people afraid to read and write, fearing that it would bring trouble upon them.
In addition, the living standards of ordinary people in the Qing Dynasty were relatively low. They had not yet solved the problem of food and clothing, and they also lacked the conditions and motivation to learn to read and write.
This is also why the Qing Dynasty began its decline and why peasant uprisings occurred repeatedly.
Sydney has already arranged for her trusted confidants to start mining and manufacturing weapons.
After Emperor Qianlong fainted and woke up, he was paralyzed with a crooked mouth.
After a long period of treatment, the mother and child were positioned one to the left and the other to the right.
They actually make a good match!
However, for the sake of national stability, the court officials still proposed that the crown prince ascend the throne.
No doubt about it!
After all, the crown prince is the legitimate son, a Manchu, and of the right age.
Shirley first took the Crown Prince to see Emperor Qianlong, who blinked and agreed to let the Crown Prince ascend the throne.
Therefore, in the winter of the thirtieth year of Qianlong's reign (1765), the Imperial Household Department began preparations for the new emperor's ascension to the throne.
In the spring of the first year of Zechang (1766), Yongqi ascended the throne.
The late Emperor is honored as the Retired Emperor, the Empress Dowager as the Grand Empress Dowager, and Shirley is honored as the Empress Dowager!
The draft begins!
The court officials were also making preparations in full swing!
Sherry pulled Yongqi aside to discuss their plans regarding the foreigners.
Of course, Emperor Qianlong was still worried and wanted to ask about everything.
If you agree, blink your eyes; if you disagree, struggle fiercely!
Shirley found him annoying and sent him and the Empress Dowager to the Yuanmingyuan to recuperate.
The imperial concubines naturally followed along.
However, Consort Yu's son, Yongqi, suddenly fell ill and passed away in mid-April.
Yongqi was a kind and loyal person, and he was saddened for some time because of his brother.
Sherry looked at him and had a bad feeling!
She also frankly stated that once the opium was disposed of, she couldn't be bothered to care anymore.
Yongqi never suspected anything, after all, some court officials would always presumptuously whisper a few words in his ear from time to time.
Yongqi simply believed in her, and in everyone else!
Or rather, he is a good person himself, and sees everyone else as a good person.
History describes him as having "pure and simple nature, and an extraordinary character."
To put it simply, he is exceptionally gifted, possesses a pure and innocent heart, and is a person of genuine feelings.
It is also the rarest kind in the royal family.
He survived entirely because of his kindness, prudence, and indifference to worldly affairs.
Because the original owner had spent many years copying scriptures and chanting Buddhist prayers, he also had a deep understanding of Buddhism.
This is completely different from the ambition for power held by members of the royal family.
It seems almost superfluous!
However, Shirley is more afraid that someone like him will suffer in love.
Eight princesses were selected for the palace in this imperial concubine selection, one of whom became the empress, a woman surnamed Liu.
Sherry chose him; he's a descendant of Liu Tongxun's family, and they have a good family tradition!
This move displeased some of the older Manchu officials.
Yongqi did have some concerns about the princesses of the Niohuru clan.
Heshen was rejected by Sherry, and he represented the Niohuru clan.
He is capable of managing a business well, and the marriage alliance is, at best, just icing on the cake.
But what if Heshen's ambitions grow ever larger? And what if he ignores all advice?
Yongqi is no match for him!
After Sherry finished speaking, Yongqi nodded in agreement.
Sherry looked at him and felt she was being pretentious.
If a child is obedient, you might worry that he is too obedient.
What I feared most came to pass.
Sherry thought she could finally rest, but instead she ended up watching her son's concubines vying for his favor every day.
However, he was kind and gentle, which made his concubines indulge him like they were performing in a play every day.
Unless it's something life-threatening, he only gives it a gentle nudge!
Shirley knew then that she was determined to be this wicked mother-in-law!
She painstakingly cultivated people, but with eyes everywhere in the harem, she knew everything.
After Xiaobaihua caused trouble again, Shirley immediately arranged for someone to hold her down and beat her up!
Yongqi arrived quite quickly!
The palace maid beside him read out Xiaobaihua's actions one by one, and Xiaobaihua felt guilty. He looked at Xiaobaihua's pitiful appearance and insisted on protecting her!
Sherry didn't say anything at the time, but just watched him smile meaningfully...
That night, Yongqi came to apologize to her!
"Your son is guilty of angering Your Majesty the Empress. I beg Your Majesty the Empress to punish me!" Yongqi knelt down as soon as he entered the room.
"What crime have you committed?" Sherry asked languidly, her posture remaining unchanged as she leaned against the couch.
“My son shouldn’t have protected Daijia!” Yongqi said, his head bowed, his expression unchanged.
"Ha, you might as well know nothing!" Shirley looked at his face, her anger rising. "You're unfair. What if the other concubines are wronged? You've let her ambition grow so much. She's a man-eating flower pretending to be an innocent flower, and you actually believed her!"
"My son will definitely discipline her properly!"
To Sherry, these words were like farts. He was the true master of the harem, and if he couldn't be fair in everything, it was only a matter of time before the harem descended into chaos.
The inner palace was closely connected with the outer court!
"Oh? What about them? Are your rules inflexible?" Sherry walked step by step in front of him.
“…There is an Empress! The Empress is very virtuous!” Yongqi’s mouth moved slightly as he added a sentence.
"You let her slap the Empress's face, and you still have the nerve to mention the Empress?" It was true, this was the first time in a long time that she had the urge to hit her son.
"Son, be careful next time!" Yongqi said seriously.
"Are you really unaware of what she did?" Sherry asked, simply curious.
"..." Yongqi's mouth moved for a long time but he didn't say anything.
"Your mercy towards her is cruelty to everyone! I don't blame you for being deceived in your feelings, but the harem is in chaos because of your injustice, and you'll suffer the consequences! Moreover, most importantly, if you continue to be so clueless in the affairs of the court, you'll be the second person to go down in history!"
By the end, Sherry's eyes were filled with coldness!
They began to send people to cause trouble in the West on one hand, and to mine and manufacture weapons on the other.
Some of them also started factories!
She originally intended to give all of this to him so she could go out and have some fun!
I don't know if it was because the bond between mother and child weakened halfway through the journey, or if the magnetic field was simply not right.
At this moment, Sherry looks down on every single member of the Aisin Gioro family, young and old!
Including this son!
He always reminded her of Consort Wan's "good eldest son" from the previous dynasty.
Moreover, it seems that the styles of the successors of each declining dynasty are quite similar!
They are good at maintaining the status quo, but lack the iron will to fight back.
Sherry didn't want to think about it anymore and went back to rest!
Continue to observe!
The emperor also turned a blind eye to that innocent girl, and fearing that Xue Li would continue to punish her without restraint, she also became more discreet!
The beating Shirley received did make the concubines behave much better.
However, uprisings were frequent in the previous dynasty!
The emperor maintained the previous emperor's strategy, and then gradually made changes.
Unfortunately, those court officials relied on their seniority and were difficult to command.
The emperor did put some thought into balancing things out in all aspects!
Of course, he was very lenient with those court officials who engaged in smuggling and corruption.
Therefore, many things only treat the symptoms, not the root cause!
Sherry watched coldly as opium once again entered the Qing Dynasty under the cover of court officials.
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