I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

Among the several "haha beads" (reading companions), Li Xu is the oldest, already twelve years old.

Unlike Cao Yin, he was not quick-witted or outgoing. He was calm and didn't talk much, but his eyes always revealed a precocious maturity beyond his years.

Li Xu's background was quite bumpy. His ancestors were originally a prominent family surnamed Jiang in Changyi, Shandong. During the war at the end of the Ming Dynasty, Li Xu's father was captured by the Qing army and taken to Liaodong. He became a prisoner and was later adopted by Li Xiquan, a captain of the Plain White Banner. He then changed his surname to "Li" and was incorporated into the Imperial Household Department as a bondservant.

It can be said that from the moment Li Xu was born, his identity was that of a royal servant.

His fate was not in his own hands, nor even in the hands of his parents, but in the hands of his master on the dragon throne.

lackey.

A complete and utter lackey!

But it is precisely because they are lackeys that they understand the weight of the word "loyalty" even more.

In particular, Li Xu was a Han Chinese bondservant, and in front of the Manchu nobles, he was always inferior.

Once I promote such a person, he will be willing to do more than just risk his life for me.

Hong Xiguan looked at Li Xu, who was kneeling before him with his head bowed, and said bluntly:

"Li Xu, you did a good job reporting the rumors in the palace to me last time."

Li Xu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly kowtowed, saying, "This is my duty, and I dare not take credit for it."

Hong Xiguan smiled and personally stepped forward to help him up.

"You have rendered meritorious service and deserve a reward. I intend to promote you to the rank of Third-Class Imperial Guard and have you serve at the Qianqing Gate."

That's right, it's all about making empty promises! No, it's about giving people real money!

For a lackey who has lived under a strict hierarchical system since childhood, no amount of verbal reassurance can be as impactful as a real "official position"!

"boom!"

Li Xu felt as if a thunderbolt had been thrown into his head, making him dizzy and his ears ring!

Third...third-class guard?!

He... wondered if he had misheard!

Li Xu suddenly raised his head, his face filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

The Qing Dynasty's system of imperial guards was incredibly strict!

They had to be selected from the most outstanding sons of the three upper banners (the Bordered Yellow Banner, the Plain Yellow Banner, and the Plain White Banner) personally led by the emperor! Moreover, the minimum requirement was that they had to be at least eighteen years old!

Becoming an imperial bodyguard was the most glorious and promising career path in the eyes of the Eight Banners descendants!

Who does Li Xu think he is?

A Han Chinese bondservant! The son of a slave!

And he's only twelve years old!

A twelve-year-old Han Chinese bondservant is to become a third-class imperial bodyguard of the fifth rank? This is simply... a fantasy! It's utterly ridiculous!

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty!" Li Xu knelt down again with a thud, his voice trembling. "This servant...this servant would never dare! This servant is of humble birth, a Han Chinese, and young. What virtue or ability do I have to dare to assume such an important position? This...this is against the rules of our ancestors!"

Look how deeply these thoughts are imprinted!

Before even giving it to me, I've already rejected myself.

But what I want is this kind of "unconventional" effect!

Hong Xiguan's face darkened, and he slowly walked up to Li Xu, looking down at him.

"Rules? Whose rules?"

Hong Xiguan stretched out his foot and gently kicked Li Xu's shoulder with his toe.

"Remember, within this Forbidden City, I am the rule!"

"If I say you're capable, then you're capable! I'm promoting you beyond the usual ranks, who dares to object?"

That's awesome! That's fucking awesome!

I used to enjoy reading novels and seeing the protagonist say these pretentious things. I never thought I'd be saying them myself today!

Cool!

Li Xu was so shocked by this unquestionable imperial aura that he trembled all over and dared not say another word. He could only bury his head in the ground, trembling with excitement.

Hong Xiguan did this not on a whim.

He knew exactly what was going on.

Historical records show that when Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang were having a private conversation at the Qianqing Gate, the guards on duty overheard them and relayed the entire conversation to Aobai without missing a single word!

Is this still available?

What the hell is the difference between this and having your own house full of cameras? Do you have any secrets left?

Therefore, he must establish his own absolutely loyal guard force!

Many of the deeply entrenched Eight Banners guards were Aobai's confidants and old friends. Due to the constraints of the court system, he could not replace all the guards in the palace, as that would be tantamount to declaring war on the entire Eight Banners noble group.

Moreover, although Hong Xiguan was the emperor, he did not rule personally and therefore had no right to replace his guards.

Since I can't make any changes, I'll start from scratch!

At the very least, the Southern Study and Qianqing Palace, where I currently reside and move around, must be staffed with my own people!

And Li Xu was the first nail he drove in!

First, promote Li Xu exceptionally and place him in the guard system.

Then, under the pretext that "the emperor is young and needs protection from peers," they selected a few clever children from the Haha Beads to form a "Youth Guard Team."

This team is not part of the imperial staff; it is directly funded by the Emperor's private treasury!

Their birth determined that they could only rely on me!

Their wealth and glory are all tied to me.

Only in this way can I truly possess a little space and power of my own in this cage where eyes and ears are everywhere!

Hong Xiguan looked at Li Xu, who was on the ground and was so excited that he couldn't control himself, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

A brand new plan is quietly taking shape in his mind.

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

Hong Xiguan went to Cining Palace to pay his respects as was customary.

After having a refined breakfast with Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, he casually brought up his "troubles".

"Grandmother," he put down the jade chopsticks in his hand, his face showing a worry that was just right for his age, "yesterday, when I was practicing archery in the Imperial Garden, I felt that the guards around me were all... all too tall. When they glared at me, I felt a little flustered."

That's right, it's tattling! And it's tattling behind someone's back!

I can't directly say "I suspect the guards are Ao Bai's spies," that would make me seem too scheming, not like a child.

I told them they "look too fierce and scared me."

This reason not only fits my persona as an eight-year-old child, but also accurately hits Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's "protective" nerve!

He paused, then looked at Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang with an expectant gaze.

"I was thinking, could... could I pick a few clever ones from the Haha Beads, like Li Xu, and have him wear the guard's clothes and follow me around? Having someone I know will make me feel more at ease."

He disguised his true intentions—to install his cronies—as a child's naive request for security.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

Her deep phoenix eyes gazed quietly at Hong Xiguan, a complex and unfathomable light flashing within them.

What is she thinking? Does she think I'm too cunning? Or does she think my trick is too naive?

Oh no, did we mess this up?

Hong Xiguan's heart tightened, and his palms began to sweat.

However, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang remained silent for a moment before revealing a gentle smile.

"Good child, you've thought of everything." Her tone was full of approval. "It was my oversight. The people around you really should be replaced."

What? You've thought of everything?

Holy crap! She actually saw through my true intentions?!

She not only saw through me, but she even praised me?!

Hong Xiguan felt that his skill level was still too low compared to this veteran player.

"I am aware of this matter. Go back to your studies in peace. I will give you a satisfactory answer within three days."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was naturally delighted and supportive of her son's intelligence and his ability to cultivate his own power. She even felt that this child was born to be emperor, far superior to his muddle-headed older brother who only knew how to talk back to his mother!

……