Chapter 113

The sunlight shone through the window lattices, scattering on the magnificent palace, but it could not dispel the extremely depressing atmosphere in the palace. Li Qingge sat on the high throne, her luxurious empress dowager dress sparkling in the light, but her face was cold as ice, and her eyes revealed unquestionable majesty.

What was even more chilling was that Emperor Qianlong, whom she had always relied on, was cowering aside at this moment, not daring to stand up and say a word for her. His eyes flickered, as if he was weighing the pros and cons, but in the end he did not have the courage to take that step.

An indescribable grief and anger surged in Li Qingge’s heart. She had thought that raising a son would provide for her in her old age, and that her son would be her strongest support. However, now it seemed that this son was not as caring as a piece of barbecued pork. Her chest rose and fell violently, as if she wanted to vent all this resentment.

Her eyes swept over the kneeling members of the Niuhulu clan. Those who had been respectful to her were now staring at her with hatred. Their eyes shone with cold light, as if they wanted to stare holes into her. Li Qingge sneered, and an uncontrollable anger surged in her heart.

“Just slap yourself until I’m satisfied.” Her voice was as cold as ice, without a trace of emotion.

After hearing this, the members of the Niuhulu clan glared at Li Qingge angrily, but no one dared to resist. They knew that this woman was no longer the queen mother who could be bullied at will. She was now the queen of the Great Yan Dynasty and held the power of life and death.

The Queen Mother’s cousin was so angry that he was shaking all over. He struggled to stand up, pointed at Li Qingge’s nose and cursed: “You traitor, you dare to be so arrogant in front of the Queen Mother! Aren’t you afraid of being punished by God?”

Li Qingge glanced at him, and a cold smile appeared on her lips: “You are so brave! You want to die, right? No problem, I will help you!” She winked, and Shi Shuyu beside her immediately drew out the Liexue Sword and swung it. With a scream of “Ah”, the Queen Mother’s cousin fell limply to the ground, without a breath.

The Queen Mother was filled with grief and indignation, and cried out, “Seventh Brother!” Her tears welled up in her eyes, and she was inconsolable. All the members of the Niuhulu clan also cried bitterly, and were extremely sad. They had never seen such a cruel and ruthless Li Qingge, and their hearts were filled with fear and despair.

Qianlong felt sorry for his mother when he saw her like this. He licked his dry lips and said, “Feng’er, that’s enough. Don’t cause any more deaths!” There was a hint of pleading and helplessness in his voice.

However, Li Qingge seemed to have not heard anything, and was as cold as a piece of ice. Her eyes revealed determination and ruthlessness, as if she wanted to pour all her hatred on these people.

The Queen Mother was furious like a volcano about to erupt. She roared, “If you have any grudge, just come after me! Why involve innocent people? I only slapped the Queen. Do you have to kill my brother? You are too cruel!” Her voice echoed in the palace, filled with grief and anger.

Li Qingge looked at the empress dowager grimly, her eyes revealing endless coldness: “You say she is innocent, so she is innocent? The queen is my biological mother, and her status is as noble as you, the empress dowager. All of you here are well versed in the laws of the Qing Dynasty. Who can tell me what crime it is to beat the empress dowager?” Her voice was as cold as ice, which made people shudder.

The people in the hall looked at each other, and no one dared to speak. They all knew what the answer to this question meant, and they also knew that Li Qingge was ruthless and cruel.

Li Qingge looked at the chief eunuch Li Yu, her eyes revealing unquestionable majesty: “Tell me, what is the crime of beating the Queen Mother?”

Li Yu didn’t dare to answer, he looked at Qianlong for help, hoping that Qianlong could help him out. However, Qianlong shook his head helplessly and signaled Li Yu to answer truthfully with his eyes.

Li Yu got the hint and said stubbornly, “Beating the queen mother is equivalent to regicide.” His voice was low and trembling, as if it was exhausting all his strength.

“Did you hear that? It’s equivalent to regicide!” Li Qingge’s voice suddenly rose a few notches. “Regicide is an unforgivable crime. The entire family must be executed and all nine clans must be exterminated. I did not let the entire Nianhulu clan be buried with him, which is already a special mercy.” Her voice echoed in the hall, full of majesty and cruelty.

The Queen Mother was so angry that her whole body was shaking. She pointed at Li Qingge’s nose and cursed: “You rebellious girl! You actually compared the Queen with yourself! That woman from the Nara clan, who has not been favored by her husband, how can she be on an equal footing with me? If I had known that today would be like this, I should have given Nara a sterilizing drug to prevent this vicious and arrogant little bitch from coming into this world!” Her voice was sharp and harsh, full of resentment and anger.

Li Qingge looked at the Queen Mother coldly, her eyes revealing endless chill and mockery: “What a pity, what a pity. You didn’t make up your mind at the beginning, and it’s too late to regret it now. But it doesn’t matter, I will teach these ignorant people a lesson for you.” She turned her head and looked at Shi Shuyu, “Let them continue to slap their faces until blood is seen!”

Shi Shuyu shouted, “What are you all still standing there for? Slap them! You are not allowed to stop until Her Majesty the Queen says so!” His voice was like thunder, shocking everyone in the hall.

The people of the Niuhulu clan were terrified when they saw their clansmen die tragically, the empress dowager had nowhere to escape, and Qianlong could not save them. They could only wave their hands and slap their faces fiercely. Snap! Snap! Snap! Men and women, old and young, were slapping their mouths, like a series of firecrackers going off in the palace. Because of the empress dowager, they enjoyed wealth and splendor, and had long been cultivated with delicate skin and tender flesh. How could they withstand such a beating? After a few slaps, their cheeks were swollen and the pain made them cry like rain.

“Keep beating! Don’t stop until you see blood!” Li Qingge said coldly. Her eyes revealed endless coldness and cruelty, as if she wanted to torture these people to death.

Several young men could not bear the pain any more, but they did not dare to stop. They could only whip and wail, “Master Buddha, help me! Master Buddha, help me…” Their voices were miserable and desperate, but they could not move Li Qingge’s heart.

The Queen Mother could no longer bear it, she jumped down from the throne, rushed to Li Qingge, and tried to pull her away. However, Qing’er hurriedly held her back and whispered: “Don’t do that, Your Majesty! You will anger her!” Qing’er’s voice was full of worry and pleading.

Qianlong also said with dry mouth: “Empress Dowager, this woman’s temper is as hot as fire, and after the bloody baptism on the battlefield, she has become as hard as steel. If you provoke her again, not only will the Nianhulu family not escape the fate of genocide, I am afraid that the Aisin-Gioro family will also be in danger. No matter how angry you are, you have to consider future generations!” His voice was full of helplessness and pleading.

The Queen Mother was horrified and stopped. She stared at Li Qingge with her old eyes, terrified to the extreme. This woman’s cruelty was far beyond her imagination. If she really went crazy, it was really possible… The Queen Mother shuddered involuntarily at the thought of the blood flowing like a river. Compared with her relatives from her mother’s family, the Queen Mother cared more about the children and grandchildren of the Aixinjueluo family. She couldn’t let her children and grandchildren suffer a catastrophe because of her impulse.

The people of the Niuhulu clan slapped their mouths desperately. Soon their faces were swollen like pig heads, and the corners of their mouths were cracked and dripping with blood. They looked so miserable. The queen mother was helpless. It felt like a needle was piercing her heart, and it hurt so much. She could only watch her people being tortured like this, but she couldn’t stop it.

Seeing the Queen Mother in such pain, Qing’er felt very sad. She rolled her eyes and said hurriedly, “Your Majesty, killing people is not right. To accumulate merit for the Queen and the twelfth prince, please spare the people of the Niuhulu family?” Her voice was full of pleading and earnestness.

Li Qingge turned her head and looked at her, then sighed deeply. There was a hint of hesitation and wavering in her eyes, but she finally made up her mind. “Forget it, stop everything.” Although her voice was cold, it carried a hint of fatigue and helplessness that was not easily detected.

After hearing this, the people of the Niuhulu clan quickly stopped their work, but they all grimaced in pain and kept crying out in pain. Their faces were covered with tears and blood, and they looked very miserable.

Li Qingge said coldly: “The death penalty can be waived, but the living punishment cannot be escaped. Send them to the southwest to mine. Without my special pardon, they are never allowed to return to Beijing.” Her voice was as cold as ice, without a trace of emotion. However, this sentence was like a death sentence, which made the people of the Niuhulu clan completely despair.

The Queen Mother was so distressed that she wanted to plead for mercy. However, Qing’er grabbed her clothes and told her to stop making a fuss. The Queen Mother had no choice but to watch her people being taken away by Shi Shuyu and the White Horse Army. Their backs gradually disappeared outside the palace, leaving only a series of heavy footsteps echoing in the palace.

“All of you step aside. I have something to say to the Queen Mother.” Li Qingge shook her sleeves at the palace servants. Her voice was cold and majestic, and no one dared to disobey.

Qing’er, Lingpin, Li Yu and others each took the palace maids and eunuchs and retreated. They knew that the storm had finally come to an end, but the shock and fear in their hearts could not dissipate for a long time.

In the huge main hall of the Cining Palace, only the Empress Dowager, Emperor Qianlong, and Li Qingge were left. Three generations of the family, each occupying one side, the atmosphere was heavy and depressing. The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto the ground, but it could not illuminate the haze in their hearts.

“Queen of Da Yan, you’ve had enough of your arrogance. Why are you still staying in my Cining Palace?” The Queen Mother’s tone was filled with deep hatred and dissatisfaction. She stared at Li Qingge.

Li Qingge walked into the Cining Palace. The sunlight shone through the delicate window lattices and sprinkled on the ground, but it did not warm the coldness in the palace at all. She was wearing a gorgeous imperial robe, the golden silk thread glittered in the sun, and her brows revealed unquestionable majesty. The queen mother sat in a high position, wearing a dark red palace dress. The years had left deep marks on her face, but her eyes were still sharp, as if they could see through people’s hearts.

“Empress Dowager, please stop pretending in front of me,” Li Qingge’s voice was cold, like the chilly winter wind, penetrating every corner of the room. “I am not the filial son you raised. If anyone makes me unhappy for a moment, I will make him suffer for the rest of his life.” There was a sneer of disdain in her eyes, which was a kind of indifference and determination that came from a deep understanding of the power struggle.

Since ancient times, filial piety has been regarded as the cornerstone of governing the country, and the empress dowager has gained power for a time. However, Li Qingge knows that once the emperor no longer follows filial piety, the empress dowager’s position will be like a castle in the air, shaky. Qianlong is about to abdicate, and the real power lies in her hands. She feels more disgust and impatience towards the empress dowager.

The Queen Mother’s face instantly turned purple and black when she heard this. Anger burned in her eyes, as if she wanted to devour everything. “When the Queen gave birth to the fifth princess, rumors spread throughout the palace, saying that this girl was doomed to die and would bring death to her relatives. Now it seems that those rumors are not groundless. Are you not going to stop until you’re pissed me off to death?” The Queen Mother’s words were filled with anger and unwillingness. Her fingers tightly clasped the armrests of the chair, as if to calm her inner anger.

Li Qingge sneered and said, “Good people don’t live long, but evil deeds last for thousands of years. Your Majesty the Queen Mother is blessed with a long life. It would be difficult for me to piss you off to death!” Her words were full of sarcasm, and every word was like a sharp blade, piercing the Queen Mother’s heart.

The Queen Mother’s face became even darker with anger, her chest rose and fell violently, and she gasped continuously, as if she would suffocate at any time. Seeing this, Qianlong hurried forward, patted the Queen Mother’s back, and comforted her: “Okay, okay, please say less.”

Li Qingge curled her lips, her face full of disdain and indifference. Her dislike for the Queen Mother had not developed overnight. This Queen Mother, the longest-lived Queen Mother in history, should have enjoyed her honor and dignity, but she was always making trouble and scheming against others. If she had not taken into account her blood relationship and her mother, she would have gotten rid of the Queen Mother long ago.

The Queen Mother took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that in this game of power, she was already at a disadvantage. “The grudge between me and the Nara clan can be written off, but you must pardon the members of the Niuhulu clan.” There was a hint of pleading in her voice, but more of helplessness.

Li Qingge’s face was gloomy and her eyes were cold: “As long as I’m here, don’t even think about causing trouble for my mother. You have no right to bargain in front of me, so just stay here honestly. When I’m no longer angry, maybe I can consider letting them come back.” Her tone was full of unquestionable majesty, as if everything was under her control.

The empress dowager grasped Li Qingge’s sleeve tightly, her voice trembling: “Niuhulu is my relative, and your relative as well. Don’t you care about family affection at all?” Tears flashed in her eyes, as if she had returned to the summer forty years ago.

Li Qingge had a blank expression on her face and spoke in a cold voice: “What’s the matter with relatives? The imperial family is the most ruthless. I only recognize my biological mother as my relative. Who is Niuhulu? Don’t you even consider whether you are worthy of her?” Her words were full of desire for power and indifference to family affection.

The Queen Mother stared at Li Qingge’s beautiful but cold face, her mind in a trance. She seemed to see the scene when the previous emperor ascended the throne, when she and her mother Uya quarreled endlessly in Yonghe Palace, like enemies. Now, this scene was repeated between Li Qingge and her, leaving her with mixed feelings.

The Queen Mother smiled bitterly: “This look, this expression, are so similar, as if they were cast in the same mold. You and the late emperor… What an injustice, what an injustice!” Her voice was full of helplessness and sadness, as if she had already seen the outcome of this power struggle.

Li Qingge looked at the Queen Mother indifferently, without a single wave of emotion in her heart. She had long been accustomed to this game of power, and had long seen through the ugliness and ruthlessness of human nature. She turned and left, her steps firm, without the slightest hesitation.

The Queen Mother stared at her back blankly, her blood boiling and her head spinning. She seemed to see the glory and desolation of her life, and the cruelty and ruthlessness in the power struggle. Finally, she could not bear the heavy burden, her eyelids fluttered, and she fainted.

Qianlong was horrified and quickly supported the empress dowager, shouting: “Where is the imperial physician? Call the imperial physician quickly!” For a moment, the Cining Palace became noisy and chaotic again.

Li Qingge had long since left this place full of fighting and conspiracy. She went straight to Kunning Palace, which was her spiritual haven.

Walking into the bedroom, a wisp of fragrance floated out from the bright yellow satin curtains. It was the scent of the best lily. Lily symbolizes a happy marriage and is the queen’s favorite flower. Whenever the queen was in a bad mood, she would smell this fragrance, as if it could make her forget the struggles and troubles in the palace for a while.

Li Qingge opened the curtain and walked in, and saw Rong Mama rolling a peeled hard-boiled egg on the queen’s face. Although the queen was not young anymore, she still paid attention to maintenance, and her skin was delicate and smooth, like silk. However, at this moment, a deep palm mark was left on her well-maintained face, and five finger marks were clearly visible, which showed how ruthless Gui Mama was.

When Li Qingge saw this scene, she felt an indescribable anger and heartache. She bit her lips, as if trying to hold back the gasps that were about to come out: “Just now in the Cining Palace, I really shouldn’t have let him go so easily…” Her voice was filled with hatred and unwillingness.

Rong Mama trembled with fear when she heard this. She knew that Li Qingge’s methods were always swift and decisive. Just by letting her off lightly, she had already cut off Mama Gui’s hand, killed the Queen Mother’s cousin, and made the Niuhulu family miserable. If she took revenge seriously, wouldn’t the Cining Palace be a river of blood?
Rong Mama rolled the egg on the queen’s face several times, but the swelling on the queen’s face did not subside. So she took out a small round box made of cloisonné enamel and prepared to apply medicine to the queen. Li Qingge saw this and said softly, “Let me do it.”

Rong Mama hesitated for a while, but still opened the box and handed it to Li Qingge. The box contained a light green translucent paste, and the fragrance of herbs filled the air. It was a top-grade ointment with a magical healing effect. Li Qingge scooped a little ointment, gently applied it on the queen’s cheek, and rubbed it slowly. Her movements were gentle and delicate, as if she was treating a precious work of art. When the swollen and painful skin encountered the cool ointment, the heat immediately subsided, and the medicinal power penetrated into the skin, and the queen immediately felt much more comfortable.

While applying the ointment, Li Qingge denounced the crimes of the Queen Mother, Concubine Ling, and Princess Hejing. Her voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if she wanted to pour out all her grievances and unwillingness. The Queen listened to her and felt a warm current in her heart. She knew that no matter what happened, Li Qingge would stand by her side, protect her, and support her.

“It’s just a slap, not a knife wound. Why are you so angry? You have already taught them a lesson.” The queen said with a smile. Her voice was gentle and firm, as if it could heal Li Qingge’s inner trauma.

Li Qingge was moved when she heard this. She looked at the queen’s gentle face and seemed to see her deepest desire and pursuit. In this palace full of struggles and conspiracies, they supported and relied on each other and faced all difficulties and challenges together.

Li Qingge looked at the queen tenderly, her eyes full of affection and respect, as if she could see through all the pain and tenacity in the queen’s heart. She opened her red lips slightly, her voice soft but with a force that could not be ignored: “You are my mother, how can those narrow-minded and calculating people compare with you? Your tolerance and wisdom are something they will never learn in their lifetime.”

The queen sat on a carved wooden chair, wearing a luxurious phoenix robe that made her look dignified and elegant. Although the years had left a faint mark on her face, it made her look more calm and indifferent. She sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: “Mother, when will you change your infatuated nature? The queen mother summoned you to the Cining Palace, which was clearly a trap for you to jump into. Why didn’t you find an excuse to push it away? If you really don’t know how to deal with it, just come to me directly, why put yourself in prison?”

Li Qingge’s words were filled with deep concern and love for the Queen. She reached out her hand and gently stroked the Queen’s slightly tired face, her movements so gentle as if she was afraid to disturb this rare tranquility.

The queen smiled slightly. That smile contained too many stories and hardships, but also revealed a kind of indifference that was detached from the world: “I didn’t expect that the queen mother would hate me so much, and would not care about her status as the queen mother and openly attack me. However, all this is in the past. With you here, what do I have to fear?”

At this time, Rong Mama came in with two cups of steaming chrysanthemum tea. Her steps were steady, and her eyes revealed her loyalty and respect for the queen. “Princess, you have said so much in the Cining Palace, you must be thirsty. Have a cup of chrysanthemum tea to moisten your throat.”

Li Qingge took the teacup, and the warm touch was transmitted to her palm through the porcelain wall, as if it also warmed her heart. She took a sip, and the fragrance and sweetness of the chrysanthemum slowly melted on the tip of her tongue, as if it could wash away all the dust and fatigue. “Fortunately, all the suffering is over. The emperor and I have agreed on the conditions, and the process of abdication is about to be completed, and only the final handover is waiting. After I complete the succession ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I will issue an edict to enthrone you as the Empress Dowager, and from now on, no one will dare to bully you.”

The queen’s smile was filled with relief and satisfaction when she heard this. She shook her head gently and said, “The titles of Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager don’t mean much to me. I just hope that our family is safe and sound, and that you and your brother can live well. I will be satisfied then.”

The mother and daughter smiled at each other, their tacit understanding and deep affection needed no further explanation. Li Qingge picked up another cup of chrysanthemum tea and carefully fed it to the queen with a spoon, her action full of care and love for her mother.

“Mother, don’t worry. I will let Yongqi enjoy the title of prince in peace and prosperity. I will also make proper arrangements for your mother’s family and will never let them suffer any grievances.”

The queen smiled and nodded, her smile full of hope and peace of mind for the future. The mother and daughter drank chrysanthemum tea quietly, enjoying this rare peace and tranquility.

However, the scene in the Cining Palace was quite different. The Queen Mother was so angry at Li Qingge’s words that she fainted. After the emergency treatment of the imperial physician, she slowly woke up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard the news that Qianlong was going to abdicate the throne. The voice suddenly became sharp, as if it could penetrate the entire palace.

“Emperor, what do you mean? To whom do you want to abdicate the throne?” The empress dowager’s voice was full of shock and anger. She looked at Qianlong in disbelief, as if she was looking at a stranger.

Qianlong stood aside, his expression firm and resolute. He answered word by word: “I will abdicate the throne to Li Qingge, and I will be promoted to the emperor.”

The Queen Mother heard this and trembled violently as if struck by lightning. Then she exploded like a firecracker: “The Emperor is in his prime. How can he easily abdicate the throne? I don’t agree!”

Qianlong was unwavering. He knew that his decision was correct and that the future of the Qing Dynasty needed Li Qingge to lead it. “I have already drafted the edict of abdication and prepared all the procedures. The abdication is inevitable. It is useless even if the Empress Dowager disagrees.”

The Queen Mother was shocked and angry. She looked at Qianlong with a look of disappointment, as if she saw through him: “Emperor, you are confused! Since ancient times, the throne has been inherited from father to son. Daughters will get married sooner or later. If you pass the throne to her, aren’t you handing over the great country to someone else?”

She glared at Qianlong, her voice filled with resentment and anger: “The Qing dynasty was created by the ancestors of the Aixinjueluo clan after risking their lives and working hard. How can you just ruin it? Even if you are really tired of the throne and want to abdicate, you should choose an heir from among the princes. How can you pass it on to the daughter of the Nara clan?”

Upon hearing this, Qianlong smiled disdainfully, his smile full of contempt and challenge for secular concepts: “We are all raised by our parents, how do you know that women can’t rule the world? Aren’t you a woman yourself, Queen Mother?”

The empress dowager was shaken when she heard this and almost fainted again. She stroked her chest and looked at Qianlong in disbelief, as if she was looking at a monster. She really couldn’t believe that her son, who had always been greedy for women, conceited and narcissistic, could say such shocking words.

How could she know that Qianlong’s transformation was due to his previous experience in the Great Yan Dynasty. On the way south, he not only witnessed with his own eyes that the people under Li Qingge’s governance were well-fed and well-off, but also witnessed the power and terror of the modern military and technology of the Great Yan Dynasty. Compared with the prosperity and heyday of the Great Yan Dynasty, the Great Qing Dynasty was already showing signs of decline.

Qianlong knew that if he wanted to avoid the tragedy of the fall of the Ming Dynasty, his only choice was to pass the throne to Li Qingge. Only by using this blood relationship could the Qing Dynasty be integrated into the Yan Dynasty, thus preserving the ancestral foundation.

Although he was somewhat confused about women and children, indulged in pleasure, ignored the lives of the people, and allowed corrupt officials to run rampant, he was still a sober and rational emperor in his bones. He knew that once the military weapons of the Great Yan were put into war, they could easily destroy the Qing Dynasty. Rather than waiting for Li Qingge to forcibly unify the north and the Aisin-Gioro royal family to be massacred, it would be better to take the initiative to give in and earn a reputation for retreating bravely and obeying the will of heaven.

Although this abdication could not preserve the name of the Qing Dynasty, and the ruling foundation of the Eight Banners nobles would also collapse, it could at least preserve the bloodline inheritance and the prosperity and wealth of the royal family. After all, Li Qingge also had Aixinjueluo blood flowing in her body. Although she hated her father, she had to respectfully call him the emperor.

Qianlong analyzed all the interests in detail to the Queen Mother, who was shocked. She never thought that the military strength of the Great Yan Dynasty was so terrifying. However, she could not accept this reality in her heart. She gritted her teeth and said, “You are the emperor, responsible for the safety of the world. How can you easily say that you will abdicate? I don’t believe that the Great Yan Dynasty has such a strong military strength, nor do I believe that Li Qingge, a rebellious girl, has such ability. She must be trying to deceive you.”

Qianlong said firmly: “I have seen with my own eyes how powerful Dayan is. How can it be false? What are you afraid of, my dear mother? Although I have abdicated, I am still the emperor. As the mother of the emperor, you will become the second grand empress dowager after Empress Xiaozhuang Wen. What’s wrong with that?”

The empress dowager could only smile bitterly in her heart. How could the Grand Empress Dowager and the Holy Mother Empress Dowager be the same? Power is in the hands of the emperor. Whoever the new emperor is close to will have a higher status. Otherwise, no matter how high the title is, it is just an empty shell. The fundamental reason why she can become the real master of the harem is that she is the biological mother of the emperor. If the emperor abdicates and Li Qingge ascends the throne, Nara will become the mother of the new emperor, and her political status will be above her. Children are biased towards their biological mother. If she and Nara have conflicts again in the future, Li Qingge will definitely side with Nara. In this case, her honor as the Grand Empress Dowager will really become a decoration.

This result was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the power-hungry empress dowager. She could not accept that the power she had worked so hard for her whole life was taken away, and she could not accept that a woman became the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. However, facing Qianlong’s determination and Dayan’s powerful strength, what could she do? She could only accept this cruel reality silently, with reluctance and helplessness in her heart.

The Queen Mother stood angrily in the magnificent Forbidden City. The sunlight shone through the carved window lattices, dappling on her gorgeous clothes embroidered with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, but it did not ease her frown at all. “Emperor, you have to think carefully,” her voice echoed in the empty hall, with unquestionable majesty, “Once you abdicate the throne to Li Qingge, according to her personality, she will definitely abolish the name of ‘Qing’ and establish the Great Yan Dynasty as the main dynasty. By then, the Great Qing Dynasty will no longer exist, and you will become the king of a fallen country, leaving a bad name in history, which will be infamous.”

Qianlong sat on the dragon throne, his eyes deep, as if he could see through the dust of time and see the changes in the future. He raised his eyebrows, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and replied: “Empress Dowager, Wu Zetian changed the Tang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty and ascended the throne to become emperor, but later she still appointed the descendants of the Li family as heirs. After the Shenlong coup, the Tang Dynasty was restored and Li Xian became emperor. He still respectfully called the abdicated Wu Zetian “Zetian the Great Saint Emperor”. The Tang people did not regard Wu Zetian as a monarch who lost the country, but instead respected her as an empress. The Qing Dynasty and the Yan Dynasty are of the same blood and share honor and disgrace. How can there be a saying of national destruction?”

The Queen Mother’s face changed slightly when she heard this. She obviously didn’t expect Qianlong to use Wu Zetian as an example. She was speechless for a moment. She was secretly annoyed, but she also understood that her son’s mind was made up and it was difficult to change it.

Seeing this, Qianlong softened his tone and continued, “Whether it is the Qing Dynasty or the Yan Dynasty, I don’t care too much. As long as the country is always in the hands of our own bloodline, it is enough.” His words revealed a kind of detached indifference, as if he did not care much about the gains and losses of the throne.

When it comes to understanding a son, no one can compare to a mother, and vice versa. How could Qianlong not know the Queen Mother’s real intention to stop him from abdicating to Li Qingge? Saying that the throne is passed down to men and not women, and that the Qing Dynasty will perish, are just excuses. What the Queen Mother really worries about is that once Li Qingge ascends the throne, power will fall into her hands, and as a mother, she does not want to see her son being suppressed by his daughter-in-law and lonely in his later years.

Qianlong felt mixed emotions. He did not want to go against his mother’s wishes, but he also knew that the trend was unstoppable. All he could do was to try his best to balance the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Empress, so that the two palaces could maintain superficial peace and not be too embarrassed.

So, Qianlong hardened his heart and said, “My Queen Mother, the situation has been decided. You have to accept it even if you don’t want to. But don’t worry, I will make it clear to the Queen and won’t embarrass you.”

Hearing this, the empress dowager trembled all over, as if struck by an invisible force, and then fainted again. Qianlong hurriedly stood up and shouted anxiously: “Imperial physician! Call the imperial physician quickly!”

……

The queen was waiting expectantly, her heart full of longing and desire for the future. The queen mother, on the other hand, was filled with resentment and resentment. She could not accept that her son, whom she had supported, was going to pass the throne to a woman, especially when this woman was her daughter-in-law.

However, no matter how dissatisfied the empress dowager was, Qianlong finally stamped the imperial seal on the imperial edict of abdication. The imperial seal was heavy and cold, as if foreshadowing the end of one period of history and the beginning of another.

Li Yu stood aside, watching Qianlong reluctantly withdraw his hand from the imperial seal, and he couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. He quickly held up the tea and said softly: “Your Majesty, the worry has been resolved, please have some tea.”

Qianlong looked at the imperial edict made of bright yellow satin with double dragons and smiled bitterly: “Although I tried my best to make amends in front of the Queen Mother and even mentioned the events of the Tang Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty was ultimately destroyed in my hands. I wonder if the monarchs who abdicated in the past felt the same way as I do?”

Li Yu lowered his head and replied, “It’s different. The previous monarchs abdicated, and that was truly giving the country away. But you abdicated to the queen of Great Yan. Although the name of the country has changed, the bloodline has not been broken, and the vast country is still in the hands of your family.”

Qianlong glared at him and scolded him with a smile: “You slave, you only know how to make me happy. Go to Kunning Palace and tell them that the abdication ceremony will be held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony tomorrow morning.”

“Yes! I’ll go right away!” Li Yu responded and left, his steps brisk and firm.

In Kunning Palace, the queen was overjoyed when she heard the news. She casually took off the spring-colored jadeite phoenix hairpin on her head and gave it to Li Yu who came to report: “This is a reward from me!”

“Thank you, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!” Li Yu was very happy. He had already started addressing her like this before Emperor Qianlong’s edict was officially issued.

The Queen smiled coquettishly and asked Rong Mama to go to the small kitchen to get the newly made dream-fulfilling sesame cakes for Li Yu. She held Li Qingge’s hand tightly, tears welling up in her eyes with excitement: “I have finally waited for this day! I have finally waited for this day!”

Empress Xiaoxian died young and became a shadow in the hearts of the women in the harem. Soon after Nara succeeded to the throne, she knew that she could not be favored by the emperor like Fucha. Her husband was unreliable and she could only rely on her children to turn things around. So the queen had always hoped that after the emperor passed away, her own son would inherit the throne and restore the glory of the family. But she didn’t expect that life was unpredictable. Before her husband was old and her son was grown up, her daughter became the new emperor first.

Li Qingge looked at the Queen’s excitement, and a warm current surged in her heart. She knew that she was about to ascend the throne, and she was not particularly surprised, but seeing the Queen so ecstatic, she was also moved. She said softly: “After today, my daughter will be the master of the land of Shenzhou, and you will become the most honorable Queen of the Great Yan Dynasty.”

“Good, good, good, my son is so great, he really brings honor to me!” The queen praised repeatedly, tears in her eyes sparkling with happiness and pride.

Rong Mama smiled at the side, tears welling up in her eyes: “After years of being a daughter-in-law, I finally became a mother-in-law. Only when a woman in the harem reaches the position of Empress Dowager (Grand Empress Dowager) can she have a stable life. The princess has become the new emperor, and you have become the Grand Empress Dowager. You are so honorable.”

The queen put away her smile and sighed with emotion: “My husband respects me, my children are filial to me, and all my hopes for many years have come true. At this point in life, what else can I pursue? Even if I die, I can still smile in my grave…”

Rong Mama interrupted her: “Pooh, pooh, pooh! How can you say that, Your Majesty? You will be blessed with great fortune and longevity. This is just the beginning. Greater wealth and glory are yet to come.”

The dream-fulfilling biscuits made in the Kunning Palace’s kitchenette were very famous and tasted delicious. Li Yulian ate several of them, his mouth full of grease, and drank a cup of tea before slowly returning to the Yangxin Palace to report.