Chapter 9: Empress Dowager Cixi

  Xiao Fu Zi helped me straighten my clothes and pull up my sleeves, then said: "The two masters are quite good at serving the master, looking at how neatly they clean up, they've even taken away all the work from us servants! And they're also very handsome, the most beautiful woman Xiao Fu Zi has ever seen. Master really has a good eye for beauty! Much better than Yehe Nara's daughter, the one from the Gui Xiang family! Long live the master, you must make up your mind carefully! Whatever you do, don't bring that girl in, she'll be nothing but trouble, and once she's here, you can forget about having any peace!"

  I smiled and didn't say anything, but I had already made up my mind: Am I stupid? Would I get a spy by my side? She may be as beautiful as an angel and as charming as a peach blossom, but I wouldn't dare to mess with her!

  Is she as beautiful as a heavenly goddess, or as lovely as a peach blossom? Are there any women more beautiful than my two little wives? With these two wives of mine, they were already the most beautiful among humans, and after this period of three repairs, they would be ranked in the top one or two on the beauty list even in that original world! What about in this era? No, this era also has beauties, isn't there a Zhen Fei? She is the epitome of gentle, beautiful, and virtuous! Ah, according to reason, this time's selection of relatives should be her chance to shine! Ha, today I can finally see the beauty Zhen Fei!

  Damn it, how can I forget even death when thinking of a beauty? What virtue!

  Following Xiaofuzi, we made seven turns and eight twists before arriving at the entrance of Kun Ning Palace. Xiaofuzi retreated to the back, I knew that I was about to meet Cixi, to see this woman who brought disaster to the country and its people! My heart was so tense that my breath almost couldn't catch up, fearing that I would reveal any flaws, and walking on the road with extra caution.

  As soon as I entered the hall, I saw a very beautiful noblewoman sitting high on the main seat, holding a one-meter-long pipe in her mouth and puffing out clouds of smoke. Several small maids stood by with spittoons, hand warmers, water cups, and towels.

  I knew it was definitely the Empress Dowager Cixi! I forced myself to calm down my wildly beating heart, took a few quick steps and knelt before her: "Your son pays his respects to the Holy Mother of the Emperor, long live, long live, forever long live!"

  Damn it, everyone has always called the Empress Dowager Qianrou, but now I have to call her Wanrou, which is too overbearing! If she's Wanrou, where does that leave Guangxu? Isn't this just yin dominating yang? One day it's male superiority and female inferiority, why can't they also promote female superiority and male inferiority? Here I am kowtowing, but in my heart, I'm cursing more and more fiercely!

  Cixi smiled and said: "Get up quickly, the emperor's complexion is not bad today, did he take some tonic? He hasn't attended court for two days, and even if there's nothing important, he doesn't come to keep me company! I'm getting stranger and stranger, feeling lonely all by myself, always looking forward to my son coming over to sit with me! We agreed that from now on, when you have nothing to do, you'll come to see me, and the concubine loves your innocent and clever little face!"

  Damn it, so naive and cute, still young and innocent, all the words used for little girls are applied to me, what does that mean? It means I'm a three-year-old kid who will never grow up, so you can control me for the rest of your life!

  But I dare not say this, after all, I still have to sit firmly on my own butt! My mouth says: "I didn't take any medicine, just got up early and moved around a bit as the old lady said! These days I've been busy studying the imperial examination and some local gazettes, couldn't come over, but also learned a lot! The child thinks that soon it will be time to personally govern the country, must grasp more of our Qing dynasty's situation, to make the most of my strengths, control the weaknesses of the barbarians, and share the worries of Mother!"

  The Empress Dowager hastily said: "Good, good, it should be like this. The more you move around, the better you'll eat and your body will get better! As for handling state affairs, there's no need to rush so much. Isn't there still me? How can I not take care of my child?! Come over here and sit with me! Let me take a look! Oh, you're getting more spirited by the day, hmm, you're starting to look like a real man!"

  This woman, why does she bring out both titles every time she speaks, as if I don't know my relationship with her! Guangxu is the son of her sister, after the previous emperor passed away and there was no one to inherit, he was adopted. So Cixi is both his aunt and his empress dowager. The way she speaks is not a speech disorder, I think it's either to let me know that she is my closest relative or to remind me that it was she who helped me ascend to the throne! In short, she is trying every means to knock me into submission, making me obediently stay under her wing!

  I leaned in closer to her, and was immediately hit with a pungent smell of tobacco that almost made my head spin! I had heard before that Manchu women loved smoking pipes, but today I truly experienced it firsthand!

  Cixi took a few quick puffs, then handed her large pipe to a palace maid, picked up the cup of water and rinsed her mouth, spat out the water into the spittoon, wiped her mouth and hands with a handkerchief, and then pulled my hand over and placed it on her leg. As she played with it, she said: "The New Year is just around the corner, and the Emperor is already seventeen years old; he should get married and have children soon. The Empress Dowager has been worried about this for several days now. Today, we will select a few beautiful and virtuous women for the Emperor to marry. I wonder what you think?"

  It wasn't until then that I let out a gentle sigh of relief. Well, it seems that this Guangxu can still be used!

  Cixi was dressed in finery, her figure accentuated by the perfect cut of her clothes, making her look like a ravishing beauty in her thirties! This old woman looked nothing like she was over fifty years old. Not only did she have a full head of jet-black hair, but her face didn't have a single wrinkle or sagging skin, and her complexion was smooth and delicate, almost translucent. With her straight nose, small mouth, curved eyebrows, and bright, dark eyes, she still looked stunningly beautiful, absolutely captivating! No wonder she couldn't keep her feminine virtues intact, keeping several paramours by her side, even when caught red-handed by Empress Dowager Ci'an, she remained obstinate, for she had the capital to be so!

  I know that in order to consolidate the position of Yehe Nara family in the imperial court, she has made up her mind to marry her niece to Guangxu. If I say I disagree now, I will definitely infuriate her and she will take revenge crazily. It's uncertain whether I can leave this place unscathed today!

  "I hastened to say: 'Everything depends on the Empress Dowager's decision. The Empress Dowager is wise and kind, with a broad and benevolent heart. I believe that the Empress Dowager will certainly choose a gentle and virtuous wife for me!'"

  Cixi said with a smile: "Good, good! Mother likes obedient children! Don't worry, mother will definitely choose some beautiful and virtuous women for you! Ah, your hand is still quite warm, isn't it still not too cold outside?"

  I said: "It was quite cold in the morning, but now that the sun is out, it's still pretty warm. The kids are wearing these and didn't feel a bit cold at all. Just walking over here, they were even sweating!"

  Cixi stretched out her hand to flip through the clothes I was wearing, and after finishing, she said angrily: "This child, why don't you wear more? What if you get frostbite? Didn't I give you that sable cloak? Why aren't you wearing it on your body? That thing is windproof when worn on the body! Is it too heavy for you? Come and bring me that new Russian sea otter fur coat, that thing is light and soft, and it's just right for the emperor to wear!"

  I hastily said: "I'm not cold, that sable fur coat is actually very good, warm and beautiful! I'm afraid to let that thing wrap my body too warmly, can't stand the wind in the future, and can't be our Manchu Batulu!"

  Cixi burst out laughing, just like a child: "The emperor is really good at talking, it's all about wearing warm clothes to avoid getting sick, who says that wearing cold clothes can prevent illness? Listen to your aunt, from now on, wear warmer clothes! Your mother wants you to be a good emperor, not just a Batu'ru! It's easy to find a Batu'ru, but it's hard to find a good emperor, one in a billion! Remember, your mother hopes you will be a great Qing dynasty emperor!"

  I nodded: "Remember, child, you must become an emperor who opens up the borders of the Qing dynasty and makes all four directions come to pay homage to the great Qing!" This is not something I said to appease the old witch, but my heartfelt words at this moment!

  Cixi burst out laughing: "That's not necessary, just don't let those Western barbarians come and stir up trouble! Our ancestors were far-sighted and implemented the maritime ban. But then some people said something about learning from the strengths of the barbarians. This is really good, they've invited foreign devils into their homes, causing a big fuss, giving people headaches!"

  I cursed in my heart: "From your ancestors to you, it's all a bunch of bastards. If it weren't for the maritime ban, China wouldn't have been made so poor and weak by you!"

  Just then, a palace maid brought over a tray with a silver fur coat on it. I had seen this kind of thing in a Russian store in Heihe City, the northernmost city in that world, and it cost 40,000 to 50,000 yuan. I didn't expect to see one here now. It's really beautiful, but I won't accept it. The old man is trying to buy people's hearts with this little trick, who knows what evil intentions he has!

  Cixi said: "Come on, attend to the Emperor and help him put on this big coat!"

  I hastily said: "Mother, you'd better keep this coat, I'm young and don't need it!"

  Cixi's face fell at once: "So you're saying I'm old?"

  I quickly said: "No, no, no, it's not like that. The child only needs one of those things, and the Empress Dowager is the most important person in the world. Good things should be left for the Empress Dowager to enjoy!"

  Cixi let out a snort and laughed again: "This child, he's quite the talker! Fine, you can have it, I have more. Besides, this garment is a bit too big for me, it doesn't fit well. Come, try it on!"

  I knew that if I refused again, there would be trouble. Hurriedly kneeling down and knocking his head on the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

  Cixi's gaze was extraordinary, and the several young maids were all made to be charming and flirtatious. With their enticing body fragrance making people dizzy, and their soft little hands continuously stripping and dressing in a playful manner, my usually obedient other self suddenly stood up, causing the small cotton pants to bulge out greatly, leaving the several young maids with flushed faces and racing hearts, giggling nonstop.

  At first, Empress Dowager Cixi didn't notice the change in me. Later, seeing several little maids giggling strangely, she paid attention to this side. After taking a look at my awkward appearance, she also laughed and walked over to pinch that thing of mine, saying: "Wow, it's not small, and the standard is not low either! It seems that the young emperor has really grown up and knows how to like beautiful women now! Are you thinking of taking all these little maids into your palace? Don't rush, after a couple of days, Mother will first arrange two consorts to accompany you. If you want to keep one or two, our family can also be lively!"

  Damn it, this thing is ruining my life! Now you're showing off your head, isn't that just making people treat me like a stud horse?! It's really embarrassing! I'm also surprised, ever since I merged with the two little wives to practice San Xiu Gong Fa, my body has changed more and more. Firstly, my body is getting better and better, and I don't need to sleep as much anymore. With just 3-4 hours of rest every day, my spirit is extremely vigorous! My memory is also incredibly good, it's like I have a photographic memory! Secondly, I'm getting younger and younger, and that thing is getting stronger and stronger. Every day, the two of them are exhausted to the point of collapse before I can ejaculate, but San Xiu requires the essence of yin and yang**, if I don't ejaculate, I won't be able to achieve my cultivation goals. It's gotten to the point where they keep scolding me, saying I'm doing it on purpose! Am I really that bad?!

  The old lady saw that I had finished dressing and said, "Young master, come and support your mother, accompany your aunt to the garden for a walk! Being cooped up in this house all the time will make one's bones soft! Now that the sun is out, let's go outside and get some exercise, and clear our minds!"

  She called me over there, I had no choice but to pretend to smile and walk out with her, especially "familiarly" supporting her.

  As she walked in the garden, everyone followed far behind her. Cixi said slowly and softly: "The emperor is a descendant of Aixinjueluo, he should take over the family business entrusted by his ancestors! After the New Year, the child will be 17 years old, it's time for him to take charge of state affairs, and I'm tired too, I need to rest!"

  I don't know what kind of medicine she is selling, but I hurriedly said: "The child is still young and has not experienced enough. Now he is in charge of the government, fearing that it will hinder the development of the Qing Dynasty, and also fearing that some old ministers will not obey!"

  It's just who listens, and it's also a humble word, not the real intention. I still appreciate my own Tai Chi boxing being smooth and old-fashioned, and Cixi patted her hand and said: "The emperor really said it right, now it is indeed this problem! Yesterday, several old ministers wrote to their mother saying that Gong Wang and his party have not yet died, and they are still thinking of controlling the government; The bandits have not been cleaned up, and they want to rise again in the east. They worry that the child is too young, lacks courage, and is afraid of not being able to deal with Gong Wang and the bandits. They want their mother to help them for a few more years. These people just know how to worry blindly, why don't they consider their mother's body? Wanting to exhaust their mother to death? Their mother replied to them yesterday, saying that my emperor is wise and intelligent, with a grand air, and can bear the heavy responsibility!

  Damn it, Tai Chi is much smoother than mine, it's almost at a master level!

  I hastily said: "The Empress Dowager is overpraising me, I still hope the Empress Dowager will guide me again!"

  This is just a polite phrase, but unexpectedly Cixi immediately took over and said: "I couldn't sleep last night, thinking back and forth, even if the emperor is wise, it's impossible to understand everything as soon as he takes office. There must be someone to support him, lead him on the way, and cultivate children step by step. Can't be too eager for quick success! So, I have decided to bring you up for a few more years!"

  Damn it! She's already got the upper hand as soon as I made a move!