Chapter 43: Li Zhongtang Wants to Be a Matchmaker

  Just as Zhang Peilun was visiting Li Hongzhang to discuss countermeasures, Cixi also happened to issue an order summoning Ye Zhiqi.

  Ye Zhiqi, dressed neatly, entered the Yiheyuan after which he was taught several times by a eunuch about the etiquette of meeting and other things to pay attention to. After that, Ye Zhiqi was made to quietly wait in a side hall for his summons.

  After waiting for a while, which was about two hours, just when Ye Zhi Kui was getting impatient, the eunuch who led the way came to announce that he would be received. As the saying goes, "Yan Wang is easy to see, but small ghosts are difficult to entangle." When Ye Zhi Kui saw the serious expression of the leading eunuch, he walked slowly and quietly handed him some silver coins. The eunuch's face indeed looked much better, not only did he tell Ye Zhi Kui that the old Buddha was in a good mood today, but also quickened his pace unconsciously.

  Before long, Ye Zhi Kui arrived at the gate of Ren Shou Hall. In front of the gate, in the courtyard, a qilin was crouching on a stone pedestal. After passing through the courtyard and arriving at the main hall gate, the eunuch who led the way loudly announced his presence. When there was a response from inside to let Ye Zhi Kui enter, the eunarch opened the door and made a welcoming gesture, but he himself stood aside and did not go in.

  After Ye Zhiwei entered alone, he saw that the Renshou Hall was filled with a faint mist and fragrance, and it turned out that a censer in the shape of a tripod was lit inside, burning incense. In the center of the main hall of Renshou Hall, a large golden plaque "Shou Xie Ren Fu" was hung high, and Cixi sat on a golden throne below, with Little Li standing beside her, pouring tea for her. The entire hall, except for the two of them, had no one else.

  Ye Zhiwei took a few steps forward, and reluctantly performed the ritual of three kneels and nine bows. He then knelt down, remaining in that position until Cixi waved her hand, at which point Xiao Lizi told him to get up.

  After Ye Ziku got up, he saw Cixi's joy and anger were not visible on her face. Then he heard her say in a calm tone: "Ye Ziku, do you know your crime?"

  Ye Zhi Kui had no choice, regardless of what crime he was accused of, and could only kneel down again, pretending to be flustered as he replied: "Your humble servant Ye Zhi Kui knows his guilt!" In fact, he really didn't know what crime Empress Dowager Cixi would charge him with, it was just a tactic of mixing kindness and intimidation.

  Cixi's expression changed and she said: "On the twenty-seventh of this month, did you have an affair with a virtuous woman?"

  "The convict deserves death! The convict should not have been swayed by lust."

  Cixi pressed step by step: "The night before last, did you send a batch of silver to the residence of Prince Qing?"

  Ye Zhui wiped away a cold sweat, his voice even more panicked and trembling all over, replied: "Your subject Ye Zhui deserves to die ten thousand times!" This year's Oscar for Best Actor is none other than him.

  Cixi let out a loud shout, grabbed the teacup from Xiaolizi's hand and threw it at Ye Zhikui, saying: "Ye Zhikui, you really have a big nerve, daring to bribe the court officials! Don't you fear that I will chop off your dog head?" Meanwhile, Xiaolizi was busy flattering Cixi on the side, and if there were an award for Best Actress, it would definitely go to Cixi.

  Ye Zhi Kui lowered his head, a glimmer of cold light flashing in the bottom of his eyes, while he repeatedly begged for mercy with one side of his mouth and knocked his head loudly on the other, showing no backbone at all, greedy for life and afraid of death.

  Cixi remained silent, waiting until Ye Ziku's forehead was bleeding before speaking: "Alright, I see you have some talent. This time, I'll let you off lightly. If there's a next time, don't blame me for not being lenient."

  Yeh's chief hastily knocked his head to thank him, repeatedly claiming that he was loyal and could be verified by the sun and moon. Cixi slowed down and continued: "Yesterday, Li Hongzhang and Weng Tonghe both submitted a memorial to recommend you to imitate the German military system and training methods, and train a new army. Do you have any ideas?"

  The official hastily replied: "I only wish to serve Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, whatever Your Majesty wants me to do, I will do it!"

  Cixi nodded in satisfaction and said, "You are very loyal, you should understand that this set of clothes was given to you by whom, be faithful to me and do things for me, I will not forget you, you may withdraw!"

  Ye Zhi Kui thanked and slowly backed down, his back already wet with a large patch of sweat. Although he knew Cixi was acting, he couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't suddenly go crazy and really have him killed. Who would he reason with then? As he reached the door, he found that Little Li had also followed him out.

  Before Ye Zhiwei could speak, Li Lianying said: "It's scary, it's been a long time since I've seen the Old Buddha get so angry. Ye Daren, it seems that the Empress Dowager values you highly, otherwise she wouldn't have let you off so easily despite all the things you did wrong."

  Ye Zhi Kui's face turned pale with a frightened expression, and he hastily said: "The kindness of the old Buddha I, Ye Zhi Kui, will never forget for the rest of my life. I can only repay it with my meager strength in this lifetime." But in his heart, he was thinking that it wasn't that he wouldn't retaliate, just that the time hadn't come yet.

  Ye Zhui then handed over more than 100,000 taels of silver tickets to Li Lianying and said: "I, Ye Zhui, will not forget the kindness of the Grand Master either. In the future, please ask the Grand Master to speak well in front of the Old Buddha."

  Li Lianying stuffed the silver ticket into her bosom, seeing Ye Zhi Kui's understanding, and reminded him: "Our family sees that you are so capable at a young age, I'm sure your day of success is not far away. Just remind you of one thing, don't get too close to the high-ranking officials in the imperial court."

  Li Lianying's words were unclear, and Ye Ziku didn't understand for a moment. He said thank you to the Duke for reminding him, but later when he learned that Li Hongzhang was going to enter the Military Machinery Bureau, he suddenly realized.

  With these tens of thousands of taels of silver, Li Lianying sent Ye Zhi Kui to the gate of Ren Shou Hall, making Ye Zhi Kui exclaim that this toll was also quite expensive, and in just a few dozen meters, he spent tens of thousands, which was unbearable.

  Ye Zhi Kui returned to the Ye Mansion without even resting, and then saw an article in the Beijing Gazette. After thinking for a moment, he felt that it was still necessary for him to go to Xianliang Temple to see Li Hongzhang, so he brought a gift to visit him.

  Li Hongzhang had just announced at the gatehouse when Ye Zhiwei was invited in. After passing through several archways, Ye entered the main hall and saw Li Hongzhang chatting with two men, one over fifty years old and the other around thirty. It turned out that Li Hongzhang's family had guests, and upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Among them was someone he actually knew, and their connection was not shallow.

  Li Hongzhang saw Ye Zhiwei enter and said warmly, "From Yun, you've come at just the right time. Just now, several of us were discussing you. I suppose you haven't met these two yet? Let me introduce them to you."

  Ye Zhiqi hastily made a bow to Li Hongzhang before standing aside waiting for the introduction. Li Hongzhang nodded in approval and then introduced: "This is Sheng Xuanhuai, my trusted aide in foreign affairs, and his fifth younger brother Sheng Xinghua, who also went to Korea last time. I don't know if you have met before."

  Ye Zhiqi paid a junior's respects to Sheng Xuanhuai, who was still admired by Ye for his achievements in defeating Hu Xueyan, developing industry and ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution with his order to nationalize the railways, which led to the downfall of the Qing Dynasty. If there were a Forbes rich list at the end of the Qing Dynasty, Sheng Xuanhuai would undoubtedly be on it.

  Ye Zhi Kui's gaze shifted again to the young Sheng Xing Huai, who was the scholar that had spoken of Ye Zhi Kui's eight trigrams at the banquet in the Korean palace. It was indeed a case of "enemies meeting on a narrow road", for he had not been able to wait for him back then, and yet they were meeting again under such circumstances today.

  Sheng Xinghuai, who had been rambling on about trivial matters, felt uneasy when he saw the master, and Ye Zhikui couldn't help but smile secretly. He quickly winked at him and joked: "Brother, we really have a good fate, I didn't expect to meet again after crossing the East Sea."

  Li Hongzhang, seeing that they knew each other, did not make any further introductions and went straight to the point: "Zhen, you are now one of the rising stars of my Beiyang faction, while Xingui is an old-timer in Beiyang. You should take on more responsibilities. As for me, I will soon be entering the imperial court's central military affairs department, and taking over my position as Beiyang Minister will be Wang Wenshao, who is currently the Governor of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. He has some connections with me and is quite capable."

  Ye Zhihui replied: "As a young man from Beiyang, I have always looked up to the old master, and no matter what orders he gives, I will follow them even if it means death."

  Li Hongzhang was extremely satisfied with his answer and continued: "Just now, I was chatting with Xingui about you. I remember that you haven't married yet. A big man should establish a family and career. Now that you have made great achievements, this important matter in life can't be delayed. Xingui has several good daughters, but I need to act as a matchmaker for you?" Although Li Hongzhang's tone was questioning, he didn't let Ye Zhiyuan respond, but instead looked at Sheng Xuanhuai.

  Sheng Xuanhuai smiled and nodded at Ye Zhiwei, seemingly extremely satisfied with him. "With the Prime Minister as a matchmaker, how can I not agree?" He then continued to smile and said: "My family has an eligible daughter, but I don't know what kind of intentions you have."

  Ye Zhi Kui's face turned red as he replied: "There are still elders at home, I am not the master."

  Li Hongzhang stroked his beard and smiled, saying: "With me as the matchmaker, are you still afraid that your uncle Xu Qing won't agree? This matter is settled then. Another day, you can send the betrothal gifts to Xing Juan's home."

  Ye Zhikui was at a loss, neither daring to agree nor refuse Li Hongzhang. In his heart, he thought: "This is the first time I've met this person, what if she's an arrogant and rude young lady? I'd better go back and investigate before making any decisions." The few people chatted for a while longer, and Ye Zhikui saw that Li Hongzhang was still concerned about him, seemingly without any grudges, only then did he put his mind at ease.