The Fourteenth Prince has been fighting abroad for more than half a year and has always had sufficient military supplies. This time, news came that he has completely wiped out the Japanese pirates around the coast of the Qing Dynasty. He is asking the Emperor for permission to annihilate them in one fell swoop and directly attack the Japanese islands.
Yinzhen replied with only one word: "Approved".
Upon hearing this wonderful news, Changning was so happy that he wanted to eat two more bowls of rice.
Changning has been so busy with the female official system lately that she hasn't had a break in a long time. At night, she lingered in Yinzhen's arms and refused to move.
Yinzhen lovingly smoothed her hair and instructed people to prepare a more lavish dinner for her that evening.
"So, have you come up with a set of rules?"
When asked about the results, Changning was still very happy: "Of course, we will issue an edict tomorrow to have all the palaces and departments take stock of their personnel, keeping only those who are entitled to their quotas and removing the rest. Those who have embezzled and abused their power will be dealt with regardless of their background. It's time to settle the mess that has been plaguing the Imperial Household Department for so many years."
As Yinzhen watched Changning grow more and more like his former self, full of vigor and ambition, he couldn't help but nod to himself. The Empress not only needed to have the confidence of coming from a prominent family, but also a long-term vision and a will that was not afraid of wind and snow, in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
He originally thought that Yao Xian loved to eat and play and was a bit spoiled. Even if she couldn't shoulder the responsibility, it didn't matter. He could always protect her and not let the storms disturb her.
But Yao Xian was never a parasitic vine; she was thorny and full of brambles.
Even with her outstanding temperament, like a jade hairpin flower, she still retained her pride.
She was his virtuous wife, the mother of the entire Qing Dynasty, and by no means merely his woman.
Changning then went on to explain his plans.
"Female officials belong to the management level, and those who are capable are selected from among the palace maids. Some of the nannies and palace maids have long been familiar with their duties and have some power, so they are promoted together."
In May, an edict was issued to select women from among the common people who were literate, healthy, good-looking, or had other outstanding talents.
The remaining women, if they were officials or members of the imperial family and wished to enter the palace, could also do so.
Hearing that Changning had thought things through quite thoroughly, Yinzhen hugged her and praised her repeatedly, then coaxed her to eat some food.
"You've been so busy lately. Look at you, living in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, you seem to be getting more and more tired. Did we disturb you by talking about business up front?"
Yinzhen looked at the slight dark circles under her eyes and felt a pang of heartache. He thought that when they discussed state affairs again tomorrow, he would have to make those loud voices quiet down.
Changning drank another bowl of bamboo fungus and chicken soup and discussed with him, "No need, it's just that summer is coming soon and I don't have much of an appetite. I always feel like there are mosquitoes at night and I can't sleep well."
Yinzhen knew that she was most afraid of the heat and had a special constitution. For some reason, she was the most attractive to mosquitoes. When the two of them slept together, he didn't get a single bite, but she would get bitten seven or eight times. Yinzhen was both helpless and amused. He hurriedly ordered the Imperial Hospital to make some ointment and sachets containing insect and mosquito repellent.
Changning felt good about the sachets, and thinking of his children, who probably inherited his blood type, he noticed that every summer, if he didn't keep a close eye on them, they would get many red and swollen mosquito bites after just one trip outside. Now that he saw how effective the mosquito-repelling sachets were, he asked someone to make more and send them to the South Third Hospital.
Speaking of the Southern Three Palaces, Changning slapped his forehead: "I was just saying that there have been too many things lately, and I seem to have forgotten something. I was also saying that I should let Yierha meet with Fashan, and Hutuli and Hongyan are also thinking of leaving the palace to congratulate Duoxihun."
Yinzhen placed a piece of assorted dumplings on her plate: "What's the rush? Hutuli and Hongyan are getting old. Giving them a token and having guards accompany them out of the palace is no big deal. Even eagles on the grasslands have to endure wind and rain, let alone people like them who are going to do great things?"
As for Yierha's matter, you don't need to worry about it. It's just a meeting. Right now, the palace is in chaos. We need to purge people, deal with others, promote people, and select people. It's busy and chaotic. At this critical juncture, it's best not to cause any unnecessary trouble. Let's choose a day to meet them after everything is settled.”
Changning thought so too. There must have been some rumors circulating recently, but she had been living in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the people in the imperial court were tight-lipped, so the news was kept completely secret.
Once the imperial decree is issued tomorrow, who knows what those palace servants will do.
At this critical juncture, trouble is brewing. It's best to postpone this matter with Yierha and inform Consort Mao as soon as possible.
However, she also thought that those people in the Imperial Household Department who were to be purged might be desperate and resort to any means necessary. Since she was being protected in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, those people had no choice but to go after the children or Granny Zhang who was staying in the Chengqian Palace.
Changning didn't want them to get involved, so she discussed with Yinzhen that she needed to go back to Chengqian Palace to stay and keep things under control, so as to prevent those people from causing chaos and disturbing the peace of the six palaces.
Yinzhen noticed that her previously bright smile had now turned somewhat cold.
"Since entering the palace, I haven't shown my power for a long time. I want to see which stubborn fools dare to come and challenge me."
Changning knew that governing the inner palace required a balance of leniency and severity. In the year or so since she entered the palace, she had been much more lenient, since no one, from top to bottom, dared to disobey her.
Perhaps it was because they entered through the Qing Dynasty's main gate, possessing family connections, offspring, and favor. In other words, what they feared was what was attached to them as individuals, not themselves.
This is a good opportunity to let them see whether Fucha Changning is someone to be trifled with.
Yinzhen understood her meaning and naturally wouldn't stop her, but he was somewhat worried. In the end, he still let Zhang Qilin stay by her side to serve her.
"Zhang Qilin is a man of the Emperor's court. Why would you send me there?" Changning asked knowingly, but she felt it was completely unnecessary. Didn't Yinzhen know her own fighting strength?
Yinzhen knew, of course, that she was incredibly fierce; a woman from Northeast China, like a tiger, who could rival her?
But he couldn't help wanting to add another layer of protection for her, even though he went to Chengqian Palace every night and Su Peisheng had quite a few people protecting Chengqian Palace both openly and secretly.
He laughed and said, "Let him serve you for a while, and then call him back. It's not that I'm reluctant to part with him, but you have Zhao Fuhai there, and it's not good to let them fight amongst themselves, otherwise it will only hurt your men."
Changning pursed her lips, but in the end, she didn't refuse.
The large entourage escorted the Emperor and Empress back to Chengqian Palace.
Zhang Qilin followed behind with his back bent, and when he came out, he saw Zhao Fuhai with a forced smile.
He was still taken aback, and rolled his eyes at him: "Hey Lao Zhao, we've known each other for eight or nine years now. You used to be so respectful to me, but now you're all tense up!"
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