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

Not long after the court session ended, Hong Xiguan returned to the Qianqing Palace.

Before he could even warm his backside on the dragon throne, Su Ma La Gu from Cining Palace arrived.

The old man, who had served Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang for most of his life, had a solemn expression, like an ancient inkstone that could not be dissolved.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

Hong Xiguan was not surprised.

He dropped such bombshells in the court, such as "changing the country's name" and "overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming." If the Empress Dowager Cining could still sit still, that would be a miracle.

"Let's go."

Hong Xiguan tightened his cloak, his expression natural.

Speechless all the way.

Upon entering the Cining Palace, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Hong Xiguan looked past the sandalwood screen inlaid with jade and saw Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sitting on the couch.

The old lady wasn't wearing any of those cumbersome headdresses today; she was dressed simply, but her old face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water, and the prayer beads in her hand were spinning wildly.

Sumalagu tactfully withdrew and closed the heavy temple door behind her.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Hong Xiguan bowed, his tone relaxed, showing no sign of realizing the trouble he had caused.

"Snapped!"

Empress Xiaozhuang smashed the teacup beside her to the ground, shards of porcelain flying everywhere, and steaming hot tea rising from the ground.

"shut up!"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang suddenly stood up, her chest heaving violently, her finger trembling as she pointed at Hong Xiguan: "You still remember I am your mother? I endured humiliation and hardship to put you on this throne and let you rule in your own right, so that you could safeguard the foundation of the Qing Dynasty! Not so that you could hand over this empire to the Han people!"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"As a Han Chinese, it is only natural for your son to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming," Hong Xiguan said.

"Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming? How could you even think of that! You're practically driving the Manchu Eight Banners to rebellion!"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was panting heavily, clearly furious.

In the eyes of this old politician, the country is just a pawnshop for personal gain. It's okay to talk about the unequal distribution of spoils, but to directly overturn the table and kick out everyone who's supposed to share the spoils is not just excessive, it's insane.

"Rebellion? That's great!"

Hong Xiguan laughed: "It would be even better if the Eight Banners rebelled. It would save me the trouble of abolishing the banner stipends. I can just drag them all out and behead them, which will also add some fertilizer to the crops in the fields."

Empress Xiaozhuang looked at the young man in front of her, her palms slightly cold.

She had never seen that look in the eyes of that young emperor.

That was an indifference born from seeing the common people as mere plants and trees, and the confidence that came from mastering absolute violence.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang slumped back onto the soft couch, as if all her energy had been drained away.

"Your Majesty, now that you've grown powerful and hold military authority, those Han generals treat you like royalty. You certainly don't need to fear a Manchu rebellion, but have you thought about your mother?"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was not afraid of the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, but rather of her own messy affairs.

"Back then, Wu Sangui, on the battlefield, smeared your lineage everywhere, saying you were...you were Hong Chengchou's son. I was so frightened that I couldn't sleep for three whole days! If you were to establish some Han dynasty now, what would the world think? They would say it confirms that you are of Han descent!"

"Do you want to ruin my reputation after all this life? Do you want me to die without even having the face to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

For this woman who spent her entire life fighting in the power struggles of the imperial harem, power could be relinquished, but the face she used to cover her shame was more important than her life.

Once the accusation of "Empress Dowager having an affair with a Han official" is firmly pinned on her, she will be the Qing Dynasty's version of Pan Jinlian, forever infamous.

Looking at the anxious old woman, Hong Xiguan felt no sympathy, but rather a desire to laugh.

"This damned feudal idol baggage! At a time like this, who cares about illegitimate children? If you win, you're the Virgin Mary; if you lose, you're a slut. But since the old lady cares about her image, then I'll create one for her."

"Don't worry, Mother."

Hong Xiguan took a step forward, his expression worthy of an Oscar: "Your subject is not only a Han Chinese, but also... has absolutely no connection with that Hong Chengchou, not even a penny."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was stunned, her mind not quite processing what was happening: "What do you mean? Didn't Wu Sangui say..."

"Wu Sangui's claims are fabricated and slanderous!"

Hong Xiguan shrugged, his face radiating righteousness: "In fact, my true identity is the eldest son of the former Ming Dynasty's Third Prince Zhu, that is, the grandson of Emperor Chongzhen."

The air froze for three seconds.

Empress Xiaozhuang's mouth gaped open, her eyes glazed over, as if she had heard news of a collision between Mars and Earth.

When did his own son become the son of Zhu San Taizi?

I don't think I've ever met that Third Prince Zhu before.

"What...what did you say?" Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang asked blankly.

"I declare, I am a descendant of the Zhu family, a legitimate member of the Ming imperial family!"

Hong Xiguan patiently explained, much like a director giving a PowerPoint presentation to investors:

"I've already written the script. Starting tomorrow, members of the Heaven and Earth Society will tell the story in teahouses, restaurants, and opera troupes all over the country. Back in the Jia Shen Incident, Crown Prince Zhu Cijiong was secretly sent out of the palace by Emperor Chongzhen and went into hiding in the capital. Later, through a series of maneuvers involving the substitution of the crown prince, and enduring humiliation, I finally became Emperor Kangxi, and the descendants of the Zhu family regained control of the world. This is called the Mandate of Heaven and the unification of the legal system! As for Hong Chengchou? He has absolutely no connection to me."

Hong Xiguan mentally gave himself a thumbs up.

"Compared to 'son of a traitor,' the revenge story of 'the orphan of the former dynasty enduring hardship for thirty years to reclaim the throne' is obviously more appealing to the box office."

What's this called?

This is called brand repositioning; top-notch public relations!

Empress Xiaozhuang felt her head buzzing, as if countless bees were flying around.

Although absurd, the logic is damnably sound.

If he was "the son of the Third Prince Zhu," then Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would not be "a harlot who had an affair with a Han official," but rather "a wise and righteous old lady who endured humiliation and raised the orphan of the previous dynasty."

and many more!

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang suddenly grasped the key point: "The Heaven and Earth Society?! Those rebels who shout 'Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming' all over the world? Why should they listen to you? Why should they help you spread your propaganda?"

"Oh, that one."

Hong Xiguan casually flicked non-existent dust off his sleeve: "I secretly subdued them several years ago. By the way, Chen Yonghua, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, is now the governor of Fujian and also my father-in-law."

"Father-in-law...?"

Empress Xiaozhuang felt like her heart was about to stop beating; the amount of information was so overwhelming that she couldn't digest it all.

Hong Xiguan smiled brightly, like a child showing off a perfect score to his parents: "Also, the Consort Tongjia who gave birth to the prince in Zhongcui Palace, whose real name is Chen Ke, is the daughter of Chen Yonghua and the young leader of the Heaven and Earth Society. When I was selecting concubines, I specially recruited her. Your grandson has pure Han blood in his veins, and he is also the descendant of me, the 'Third Prince Zhu'."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was completely stunned.

Chen Ke... that seemingly gentle and charming imperial concubine is actually the daughter of the number one rebel?