In the Summer Palace in the suburbs of Beijing, lotus flowers bloomed and rippled.
Qianlong was moved by the scene and couldn't help but recite,
You hold my heart
You hold my heart
Since the day I saw you
You hold my heart
You already have someone
You may be lucky
my unfortunate
The blade of time cuts down my faults unceremoniously
Hopeless, growing in darkness, regardless of season
Where are the nutrients?
Cultivate your heart
The material and immaterial starry sky is bright
Everything is empty and rich
Forget, no burden
but
cannot be forgotten
because
You hold my heart
next step
Make an artifact to tighten the rope
Let the rope hold me
Bind you and me
regardless of you and me
Melt you and me
I'm your
you are my
"Good poem, good poem. Unfortunately, not many people can understand it. This big brother must have encountered a problem in his relationship. It sounds like unrequited love. It's very bitter and touching.”A young man said loudly.
Qianlong stopped and saw a stranger standing outside the Summer Palace. He didn't expect that there would be someone who knew poetry in the suburbs. He couldn't help but ask,"Young man, who are you? You don't sound like a local from your accent. Are you from the south?”
"Yes, Jiangnan people. I'm ashamed to say this, but I haven't heard such a sincere poem from big brother for a long time.”
Qianlong was very happy and turned his painful longing into enthusiasm for those who understood him. He said,"Young man, how about we go to the restaurant in front and have a drink?”Before the young man could speak, a bodyguard stopped him. Qianlong said unhappily,"We are poetry friends. Let's go. A thousand cups of wine is little when we meet a bosom friend. You know poetry. I'm very happy to meet someone who knows poetry in the wilderness.”
"Big Brother, I'm not flattering you, but you're a cultured person. I can tell that you must have read a lot of books and poems, but if you encounter a problem that can't be solved in the books, you must know Bai Juyi's 'Song of Everlasting Sorrow' and Jiao Zhongqing's wife's 'Peacock Flies Southeast, Right?'”
"Of course, I know a thing or two. Tell me, what are the few sentences that have the most artistic conception?”
"The most touching thing about the peacock flying southeast is that I think He Qing moved high. The rock is square and thick, and can last for a thousand years. The man's vow and ruthlessness were vividly written, while the woman's deep affection was lost. I think Bai Juyi's Song of Everlasting Regret should be a song of lovebirds in the sky and branches on the ground. It will last forever, and this regret will last forever. It's the best. The love between the two of them was so deep-rooted that no one could compare to it. Sorrow and joy, words less feelings more. Your poem is also very emotional. Brother, this is our first time meeting, so I don't dare to ask too much. This woman has made you so worried. There must be a love story between the two of you that is difficult to part with, right?”
"Shopkeeper, bring us some wine. We want to get drunk.”
"Your Highness, it's getting late. We need to return to the city as soon as possible," Ji Xiaolan said.”
"No, you guys go play somewhere else. Don't come over unless I call you.”
"Big brother, I am a down-and-out scholar. It is fortunate to meet a poet friend who has a common language. It is also a blessing in misfortune. At least we can raise our glasses and drink to our hearts 'content, drown our sorrows in wine, and forget the troubles in front of us.”
Qianlong drank a glass of wine and smiled. Did you fall out of love?"
"No, I'm not qualified to talk about women. I'm not heartbroken. I don't have a woman I like at all.”
"Why? Do you have high standards but low abilities?"
"No, I don't dare to love, I don't dare to say it out loud. I'm not as unrestrained as you. I'm a wanderer in dire straits.”
"What's your name?"
"Lu Mingjian."
"I don't know you. It's an unfamiliar name, but we'll know each other in the future. You're from the south, so what are you doing here?”Qianlong was curious.
"Big brother, I see that you are a cultured person. I am also depressed and have no friends. If you don't mind, I will acknowledge you as my big brother. Let me tell you the truth.”
"Lu Houhuang?"
"Have you heard of it?"
"I've heard of it. When I went to Su and Hang to do business, I heard others say that he had a bad reputation, was corrupt, plundered the people's wealth, and did not do proper things. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, as a father, I also felt very helpless. I had long advised him that the heavens are watching over what he does. He must be a good local official and not let down the Emperor's trust. However, he said confidently that people do this. I am an only child and only have one son. He must let me have a high starting point and take fewer detours than other children. Hangzhou Prefecture is a lucrative job and a place where it is easy to achieve results. At first, he could still plan things and be honest, but... Later on, he let things go, plundered the people's wealth, embezzled and accepted bribes. He said that it was all for him. The sky was high and the emperor was far away. He thought that everything would be fine if he gave money to those people from the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Supreme Court. He did not expect that the emperor would visit in disguise and observe the people's feelings. He was exposed.”
"Who are you giving money to?"
"He said that he is the cousin of the current Empress."
Qianlong looked at Lu Mingjian seriously and sighed."I didn't expect Lu Houhuang's son to have a different worldview from his father. He's also very ambitious and righteous. I heard that you're going to the Internal Affairs Office. Did you go to work?”
"Originally, everything was ready except for the east wind. I just needed to send some money to get it done. However, my father was exposed and demoted to Yuhang County Magistrate by the Emperor. The people in the Internal Affairs Bureau were afraid that the Emperor would investigate and no one would dare to do it after the investigation. They asked me to wait. I have been waiting in the capital for half a year. Now that I have nothing to do and my money is almost spent, I was depressed and had nowhere to go. I came to Summer Palace to take a look. However, Summer Palace is an imperial garden. Ordinary people like us are not allowed to enter. He could only watch from the outside. He was lucky enough to hear his eldest brother recite poetry. It was elegant and touching. He did not come in vain.”
"Is it interesting for you to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs?”
" The Internal Affairs Bureau manages a lot of things, knows a lot of people, and trains myself. In the future, I also hope to work in the lower levels and be a local official. I hope to make a difference and turn around the bad influence of my father. It's best if I go to Hangzhou to work and be a good official in the Qing Dynasty. I don't want to let down my youth.”
"Why didn't you take the imperial examination? It was a fair and equal competition, and civilians also had the opportunity to work in government agencies.”
" To be honest with you, I've already taken the exam twice, but I didn't do well in my studies and failed repeatedly. That's why my father wanted to spend money to send me, this disappointing son, to the Internal Affairs Bureau for training. Then, I was sent to the local government to take power. It's over now. My wishful thinking has been messed up. Actually, I don't think much of what my father has done. I think the imperial examination is the fairest competition. It can allow civilians to enter the upper class through fair competition and serve the country.”
"You don't have to go to the Internal Affairs Office. You can go to the Supreme Court to work. The Supreme Court was better than the Internal Affairs Bureau. They would go down to patrol, observe the people's feelings, and report to the upper echelons. They would investigate openly and secretly, and punish every corrupt official they caught. They would kill one as an example to scare those little brats, which would serve as a deterrent effect. They would force them not to cross the legal and political red lines. They would not stretch their hands out, or they would be caught if they stretched their hands out. They would make them tense up. If an official did not seek justice for the people, they would go home and plant sweet potatoes. You are the special liaison officer and are directly responsible to me. Just like Lord Bao, you hold the imperial sword and have the right to act first before reporting.”
Lu Mingjian smiled." Big Brother must have drunk too much. You must be joking with me. Do you think that you are the current emperor and that a word from you will be effective?"”
"What if I were the current emperor?"
"Then you are my sun. I will sing a song to praise my sun.”Lu Mingjian had no qualms, and the alcohol emboldened him. He really started singing loudly…
my sun
My sun is you
you are my sun
have your
I can't see the sun and moon
You are my sun and moon
with me
Dark and dawn
That song from abroad
my sun
Changing words is a must
Words do not convey the meaning
Can't represent my heart
Dark days
think you
have your
Cold and helpless years
have your
think you
My life has endless light and heat
my sun
thank you
met you
Long live my sun
The empress looked around at the imperial consort and the other concubines and said,""Today, we have gathered everyone here for an expanded meeting. We women in the harem can't just sit around and do nothing. We have to dress up all day and wait for the emperor's visit. We have to live a fulfilling and meaningful life and do something meaningful. I heard from people from the West that there is a women's liberation movement there. Many women go out to work, do charity and volunteer work. "In the future, we will hold a weekly meeting. Everyone, who is above the regular rank, will have to report their work from the previous week and their plans for the next week. It will be an iron discipline and rule. Even if there is no work to report, they will have to eat, drink, pee, and sleep every day. They will talk quietly to pass time and exchange ideas. Starting next week. Is there anything else you need to report?”
No one made a sound.
Wulanala continued," I'm still the Empress. I'll hit the bell every day I'm a monk. There are rumors saying that I'm done for and that the Emperor is going to be deposed. There are also people who have ulterior motives and want the world to be in chaos. I'm telling you clearly that I'm still the Empress today and I have to carry out my duties. I will do my duty and not let down the empress dowager's trust in me. The harem cannot be chaotic, and there cannot be no one in charge. The secretary in the office will draft a meeting summary and then issue a document. The various palaces will strictly follow the requirements. The meeting is dismissed, Imperial Noble Consort Su will stay behind."
The imperial consorts and concubines had all left.
Concubine Su looked at the Empress and did not speak. To be honest, the Empress was still somewhat dignified. Usually, she was capable and capable, never sloppy, and swift and decisive. The women in the harem were somewhat afraid of her, and Concubine Su was also somewhat afraid of her.
Wulanala motioned for the servant girl to close the door, then asked Concubine Su in a low voice,"Have you thought about it?"
"I've thought about it. I was about to report to the Empress. You've called for an expanded meeting of the middle level and above in the harem at the last minute. There are too many people, and I still have to take the lead in preparing the report materials. I haven't had the time to report to you alone.”
"It's not an impromptu expansion of the meeting. In the future, it will become a routine. The middle-level and above will report their work, and I will arrange the work for the next week.”
"I wholeheartedly support the Empress 'decision. There were many women in the harem, and many women meant many things. Three women were a show. He had to control them and strengthen them. He had to start from the basics and discipline. If he did not follow the rules, he would not be able to do anything.”
"Why?"
"Cheers."
"My head can be broken and blood can flow, even if I go up a mountain of knives or into a sea of fire, I will not hesitate. I am with Empress Ding, so wherever you point, I will hit. I am your soldier, and you are my commander.”
"Since that's the case, let's take action. The harem is a battlefield where no smoke can be seen. It's not like the real knives and guns in front of us. It's a bloody mess. It's a terrible sight.”
"I understand. Please give the order to march, Empress.”
"Your weapon is not a knife or a spear, but your tongue.”
"Tongue?"
"Yes, tongue."
"My tongue can also be used as a weapon? Can you participate in the battle?"
"Your mission is to think of a way to spread the news by hook or crook.”
"What news?"
"Wei Jiashi had an affair with Ouyang Changfeng of the Royal Guards and made the Emperor a cuckold.”
"The Empress is having an affair with Ouyang Changfeng?"
"That's true."
"I don't know Ouyang Changfeng. If the emperor finds out that it's fake, then he'll be sentenced to death.”
"Are you afraid? How could the emperor find out? Everyone was talking about this matter, including the people who delivered the water, cooked, and washed the clothes. How could he investigate? I know that the source is very important. We have to do it flawlessly. It doesn't matter if you don't know Ouyang Changfeng. I'll be in charge of making the arrangements. The details determine success or failure. Let me enlighten you to seriously spread these details…"
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