A lively banquet lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon, when hundreds of officials and more than 200 Jinshi left the Forbidden City. Tomorrow, Lu Runxiang, Tan Zongjun, and Li Guolou will parade through the streets to pay homage to their mentor Li Hongzao.
Li Guolou will have a wedding reception tomorrow night. With so many things to do, he wants to go home to celebrate but can't refuse Tan Zongjun's warm invitation. He plans to go to Fengze Garden for a drink with a group of Jinshi. Looking at the majestic Forbidden City behind him, Li Guolou
With a lot of emotions, the center of power finally opened a door for him. With the title of "Editor of the Hanlin Academy", a seventh-grade official, he could pretend to be a teacher wherever he went in the future, and the days when he would be filled with talents all over the world were just around the corner.
The square to the west was filled with the official sedans and carriages of hundreds of officials, and there was also a long queue of sedans and carriages coming to pick up the Jinshi. Li Guolou searched for it and finally saw Zhen Yuhuan's carriage.
"Uncle Dumb, thank you for your hard work. Let's go to Fengze Garden first." Li Guolou said hello to Uncle Dumb, the groom, and opened the car door.
Chen Xiangfang and Zhen Yuhuan were sitting in the carriage. When they saw Li Guolou, Chen Xiangfang said anxiously: "How are you doing, little building?"
Li Guolou said proudly: "I'm going to Fengze Garden to drink a celebratory drink. From now on, you will call me Tanhualang." After speaking, Li Guolou excitedly kissed Chen Xiangfang's cheek and hugged Zhen Yu in his arms.
, the three of them huddled together for a while, and the carriage headed straight for Fengze Garden.
Zhen Yuhuan's eyes glowed with gold, and she said excitedly: "That's great, great! I knew my small building was the best. What did Prince Gong say?"
Li Guolou said with a smile: "You didn't say anything? The Qionglin banquet was just a show of words, and my uncle didn't say anything. There were too many people. My dear, what do you want to say to Prince Gong?" As he spoke, Li Guolou said
One hand had already reached into Zhen Yuhuan's underwear, deftly untied the slip knot on the back of her bellyband, and kneaded her plump breasts. But her mouth was kissing Chen Xiangfang, and one person controlled two grandmothers. This move Li Guo
Driving the building is easy and familiar.
Zhen Yuhuan twisted her waist comfortably and said in a sweet voice: "Xiaolou, don't give me any heavy gifts yet, just think about it. I'm going to check out Guiziliu's tone. Maybe he also wants to invest in our "Come In to the Bank".
Although Guiziliu didn't say it clearly and never did business with others, he had his own copper mine business. But you are different. Guiziliu is very interested in the bank you founded. This time he specifically asked me about my activities in Tianjin. You know
?”
Li Guolou asked: "Does Guiziliu know that Li Jingyi holds 10% of our bank's shares?"
Zhen Yuhuan smiled and said: "It goes without saying that there is nothing in the world that can be hidden from Guiziliu. He is not as easy to deceive as the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces, and the Qingping Society is not run by my family. 嘤;;;;; Xiaolou,
You're so bad, I'm so emotional."
Li Guolou calmed down. Fengze Garden was too close and he couldn't mess around. He stretched out his hand, hugged Zhen Yuhuan, kissed her mouth again, and said: "Baby, wait for me to come home. I will love you tonight."
, I asked the driver to pick me up at about half past seven.
If Guizi Liu is willing to take the bait, it will be no problem for us to earn ten million taels of silver next year. Anyway, I have never thought about living alone, but you have to be on guard against Gui Zi Liu and make him understand that if he starts his own bank, we can
I can't compete with him."
Zhen Yuhuan smiled and nodded. She is such a shrewd person. How could she tell all the secrets of her family without seeing the rabbit or letting the eagle fly? Chen Xiangfang said softly: "Xiaolou, I want to hug you too. Grandma Qi, you can finish your enjoyment."
Let me."
Chen Xiangfang sat in Li Guolou's arms and asked ecstatically: "Grandma Qi, what percentage of shares do you think the Sixth Japanese Association wants? If you continue to increase shares like this, won't I become working for someone else?"
Zhen Yuhuan was also a little worried and said: "Xiaolou, even if Guiziliu is not greedy, he still wants at least 15% of the equity. I think it is like what the grandma said, we are getting smaller and smaller, and in the end there is no meat to eat.
I can drink soup now.”
Li Guolou replied: "You are absolutely right. Sooner or later, the bank will be nationalized. We are the first in history to have a few bites of fat at the beginning. Later, it will become a national asset. Our family can hold 10% of the shares.
We have to offer high incense to Emperor Tongzhi, and we may not even get 5%. We are now annexing bank accounts, banks,
The reason is the same when the National Bank annexes us in the future. When we make money, we still have to invest in industry. This is what the country wants us to do. Just like the investment in Yadong Textile Factory, that is fundamental. So I
Don’t be greedy, just like it’s enough for me to have nine of you grandmas, no matter how beautiful the woman is, I won’t even look at her.”
When the carriage arrived at Fengze Garden, Chen Xiangfang said: "Xiaolou, you have to get up early tomorrow, so don't drink too much."
Li Guolou waved goodbye and said, "Don't party at home, we have a wedding reception tomorrow, so go to bed early and be energetic."
The carriage turned around and headed towards Dengcao Hutong. Zhen Yuhuan leaned on Chen Xiangfang's arms and said, "The small building is finally successful. Grandma, you have to work hard. Don't let Mayuko alone be beautiful. Give birth to a son as soon as possible."
Chen Xiangfang nodded and said: "I know that when we go to church tomorrow morning, God will give me a son. I am not greedy. One son is enough. He must be as smart and sensible as his sister."
Zhen Yuhuan touched her belly and said, "I also hope to give birth to a boy."
Chen Xiangfang glanced at her and joked: "Grandma Qi, don't be like Guizi Liu's son, who only causes trouble and hangs around in romantic places all day long."
"Ah, you also know this." Zhen Yuhuan sat up and looked at Chen Xiangfang in surprise. Prince Gong Yixin's eldest son Zai Cheng is a playboy, but this kind of thing is a national secret. Even if Zai Cheng goes to romantic places, it is
Use a pseudonym so that outsiders cannot know it.
"Hmph!" Chen Xiangfang said proudly: "Grandma Qi, you need to know what I do. The Empress Dowager Cixi is Lafayette, so she is easy to fool. I am Miss Fang from the Tianzi Gang. Isn't there any news on this road? Let's talk about you.
But let’s talk about it, can a playboy like Zaicheng keep his mouth tight?”
"Oh;;;;;;that's true. From now on, I will introduce you to a few friends and let them help. Your affairs will be easy to handle, and no one on the road will cause trouble for you."
"What about the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Chen Xiangfang already knew that there was a group of spies in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Although Tianzihao did not unify the underworld in the capital, accepting protection money from the underworld would always be known to the spies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"Don't worry, grandma, hasn't Xiaolou already started to make friends with the eunuch? He will take care of everything and make sure everything is done. Even the Empress Dowager Cixi wants to drink our foot-washing water." Zhen Yuhuan smiled evilly, as if she saw Guiziliu drinking Cixi.
The Queen Mother's foot-washing water. She got rid of her obsession with Prince Gong Yixin and threw herself into the arms of Li Guolou wholeheartedly.
"Well;;;;;;" Chen Xiangfang glanced at Zhen Yuhuan with a look of approval on her face. This is her "little sister" and everyone must obey her orders. She will take the seat of the eldest grandma, and the other grandmas can only pat her on the back.
Damn it.
Night covers the earth. In the Chuxiu Palace of the Forbidden City, the Empress Dowager Cixi takes a bath in a steamy bathroom. The bath inside is 4.55 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and 1.4 meters deep. The pool is made of ten huge processed stones intersecting with seams.
Mosaic
There is a reservoir adjacent to it. When bathing, warm water pours into the reservoir from the cracks in the stones. When it is full, a gate on the south wall is opened, and the water flows into the bath through the hidden groove. The design of this bath can be described as exquisite and unique
, especially when Cixi took a bath, she showed this style.
Cixi sat on a very wide, low chair with four legs to take a bath. There was a dragon hanging on each leg of the chair. The water for Cixi was filled with two bucket-shaped three-foot-long wooden trays inlaid with silver.
The upper body is washed in one, and the lower body is washed in one, never mixed. There is a wooden shelf next to it, where towels for bathing are placed. There are always a hundred of them. Each towel is embroidered with yellow silk
Each stack of threaded golden dragons has a different posture: some are raising their heads, some are looking back at the moon, some are playing with beads, and some are spraying water. The water in the bathtub should always be kept clean. After soaking the towel, take it out and never use it again.
You are not allowed to fill the basin with water. You throw away one towel after use. Even though you use dozens of towels after washing your upper body, the water is still clear. The water in the bathtub changes with time.
Scoop out some and add it in at any time to maintain a certain water temperature. The four palace maids who bathed Cixi did so quickly, orderly and silently. First, they gently and repeatedly wiped Cixi's chest, back, armpits, and arms, so that
The pores are opened and the body is relaxed. After applying the soap, use a wet towel to wipe off the soap foam on the body to avoid drying the skin. Then use a clean white
Dip pure silk cotton into perfume, and pat it evenly and lightly on the body, chest, bone seams, and spinal grooves. These places are prone to accumulation of soap foam, which can easily make the skin itchy. You must pay special attention to it. Finally, wash your face with water again and soak your hands.
Rather than bathing, it is better to apply heat, especially on Cixi’s forehead and cheeks, which can dissolve the traces of forehead wrinkles.
"Is this palace good-looking?" Cixi made a coquettish voice, as if she had returned to her eighteen-year-old age. Her face was slightly wider, her skin was smooth and smooth, she was of Mongolian descent, and her figure still remained as delicate as a girl. She could only think of it.
It was only because of Prince Gong's kindness to her that she regained her shy demeanor as a young girl.
"Your Majesty, you are as beautiful as a fairy!" the four maids replied uniformly, with looks of approval on their faces.
"Well;;;;;;it's so much easier for Master Liu!" Cixi said proudly.
Cixi did not wear clothes but wrapped her whole body in a silk and satin quilt embroidered with nine golden dragons. Then the maid called two eunuchs to come in. The eunuchs Li Lianying and Xiao Dezhang carried them on their shoulders and headed towards the palace.
Her beloved Prince Gong, Yi Xin, was waiting there. From the day they entered the palace, this was how the concubines in the palace served the emperor.
Because several concubines and maids in the Ming Dynasty used ropes to hang Emperor Jiajing to death (it failed, the rope was tied with a tight knot, and Emperor Jiajing was not hanged.) Therefore, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty learned a lesson, and women must be naked before they can sleep with them.
The emperor, every queen, and his beloved concubines were carried into the emperor's palace by two eunuchs. In Chuxiu Palace, the emperor was replaced by Prince Gong Yixin.
Empress Dowager Ci'an knew from the beginning that Prince Gong Yixin and Empress Dowager Cixi were having a secret affair. However, in order to regain the power of the two palaces, Empress Dowager Ci'an agreed with Empress Dowager Cixi's actions and never said a word. Turn a blind eye and pretend it never happened.
Wine was the vanguard. Yi Xin took advantage of the alcohol and took medicine, which made the Empress Dowager Cixi very miserable. The two hugged each other and talked to each other. Many important matters in the court were resolved on their bed. .
The Qing Dynasty was able to eliminate the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Nian Army, and regain its second spring because Empress Dowager Cixi obeyed Prince Gong Yixin, and all the power in the court was in Yixin's hands.
While talking, she couldn't help but talk about the lover's private conversation to today's imperial examination. Yi Xin hugged Ci Xi and said: "Xing'er, Chun'er is so funny. She made a digression about Xiang Yu and Napoleon. I think even his teacher Li Hongzao I was so angry that my beard stood straight up."
Cixi casually took a wet towel from the silver plate on the bedside table and wiped the sweat from Yixin's body. This was the only man in the world worthy of her service. She sighed slightly: "Sixth Master, don't you see? Chun'er is not young. If you are sensible and want to perish together, you can't learn from someone who has failed. A man who is only a teenager has no idea how high the sky is and how high he is. If he wants to mess with the family wealth that we have worked so hard to accumulate, how can I rest assured that he can be in charge of the affairs of the country alone? Woolen cloth?"
"Oh;;;;;;" Yi Xin thought about the test questions asked by Tongzhi Emperor Zaichun, and Cixi saw it thoroughly. Sure enough, a question contained evil intentions. Who should be imitated? To imitate "Xiang Yu" or "Napoleon". Just want to be a hero without considering the consequences.
"Well, Xing'er, what you said makes sense. If you don't do this, it will cause serious problems. Chun'er, if you are willing to listen to a few words from me, hurry up and I will go to the study to talk to him and let him know the importance of preserving one's talents and cultivating strategies. .I don’t know which teacher taught it, so how could you have such an idea?”
Cixi put the towel back on the silver plate, turned around and hugged Yixin again, and said, "Well, I think so too. Mr. Liu, I have to take care of my family's affairs all by myself."
Yixin smiled and said: "For you, I have shouldered all my sins, not even talking about brotherhood. Isn't it just for you, Myolie?"
"Hey;;;;;Xing'er only has you in my heart." Cixi slipped into Yixin's arms, making people pity her like a little bird.
Yi Xin felt comfortable listening, knowing that Ci Xi was the most obedient at this time, so she cut to the topic and said with a sweet smile: "Today, the man you chose, Li Guolou, gave me eleven statements, I brought them, and there are I rejected a few of them, but some of them still touched on the current ills of our country. You can take a look at them tomorrow, and I will come back to discuss them with you the day after tomorrow. This guy is not fair, and he gave his uncle two more statements, which is really scary. I don’t even dare to tell you about Li Guolou’s propositions. After you read these eleven points and have a solid foundation, I will tell you again. You must first have an understanding of Li Guolou’s propositions. What are the thoughts of those who have studied abroad? It’s different from us.”
"Well, my lord, go to bed quickly. You have to leave early tomorrow morning. Xing'er has been tortured so much by you this time, and Mr. Liu is dead." Cixi said to go to bed early, but stretched out one hand. Go down and start teasing Yi Xin. Women are the same, they want it when they say they don’t want it!
After just one stick of incense, Yixin's ambition was revived and she started a new journey. A gasping sound could be heard in the room.
Outside the door, Li Lianying and Xiao De stood close to the door panel, eavesdropping on the sound. They winked and made obscene gestures in strange voices. This was the privilege of being close to the eunuchs. They liked to listen to their master's calls.