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

Beijing, inner city, secret residence.

Hong Xiguan was facing a huge bronze mirror. He stepped forward with his left foot, taking a half-foot stride, his body slightly turned to the side, his head bowed, and his hands clasped in front of him.

The entire "greeting ceremony" was performed flawlessly, without a single mistake.

"The young master is exceptionally intelligent. In just over a month, he has mastered all the daily etiquette in the palace."

The old woman teaching beside him spoke respectfully, but her expressionless face showed no genuine appreciation.

Hong Xiguan smiled slightly, a smile that was just right, with both the innocence of a child and the dignity befitting a prince.

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."

He sneered inwardly.

To hell with being gifted!

In the past month, I've developed thick calluses on my knees, and I even dream about practicing various formalities.

Which pair of chopsticks to use for eating, which posture to use for drinking tea, what to say to people, and even taking a wrong step will all be repeatedly corrected by the nanny beside you in the gentlest tone until it becomes muscle memory.

This isn't a classroom; it's more like a training ground for animals.

Hong Xiguan plays the role of "the third prince, Xuan Ye". He does not need to learn how to review memorials or how to govern the country. He only needs to learn how to live elegantly and humbly like a real prince in an environment with an extremely strict hierarchy.

Yes, humble.

Before the Manchu imperial power, even princes were slaves.

The recipients of his respects were his "Khan Ama" (Khan Father) Shunzhi and his "Emperor Grandmother" Xiaozhuang. (Manchu archives: In Manchu letters during the Kangxi era, princes addressed the emperor as "Khan Ama," while the term "Emperor Ama" only came into use in the late Qing dynasty.)

Hong Xiguan spends every day learning how to be a good and likable son and grandson.

Hong Xiguan's current identity is Aisin-Gioro Xuanye.

This realization kept him so excited for the first few days that he could hardly sleep at night.

That was Emperor Kangxi! He ascended the throne at the age of eight, took personal control of the government at fourteen, captured Oboi, quelled the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, annexed Taiwan, and drove out the Russians... Most importantly, he was emperor for sixty years, had more than seventy concubines, and fifty-five children.

To rule a vast empire for more than half a century—just thinking about it is exciting!

The opportunity to personally participate in and lead this magnificent historical period is an irresistible temptation for any history student.

However, as the initial adrenaline subsided, Hong Xiguan couldn't help but begin to have doubts.

Why would Sumalagu, or rather Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang behind her, choose her, a "Chengcheng" of unknown origin, to replace the real third prince, Xuan Ye?

That doesn't make sense!

While Xuan Ye's survival with smallpox was certainly a factor in his ascension to the throne, the more important reason was that he was the only surviving son of Emperor Shunzhi and one of the earlier in the imperial lineage.

He is the best choice from a legal perspective!

As a top-notch politician, what reason would Empress Xiaozhuang have to risk shaking the foundations of the country by playing a "substitution of the crown prince" game?

Palace intrigue?

Hong Xiguan thought of those famous women from the Shunzhi reign.

Consort Dong'e was the most favored concubine in the harem. Emperor Shunzhi almost deposed her because of her. Although her son died young, who knew that she had not left any other backup plans?

Tongjia, Xuan Ye's biological mother, was of low status and died young, but she seems to still be alive. Born into a noble family, she is truly a pure and innocent woman.

No, that's not right.

If she was merely a pawn in their game, why would Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang personally intervene and pave the way for her?

Moreover, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was quite intelligent and resourceful; those other women couldn't outmaneuver her.

Therefore, there is only one truth: to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, her own identity was of greater value than the real Xuan Ye!

What value could be more important than a legitimate grandson of the emperor, the future emperor?

Unless... he and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had a relationship that was closer than "grandparents and grandchildren," yet even more clandestine.

Suddenly, a shocking idea popped into Hong Xiguan's mind.

The child named "Chengcheng," who was the original owner of this body, was kept in a separate courtyard for ten years. Could it be that... he wasn't just some nobody at all, but rather Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's own bloodline? A secret that can't be told?

Only this explanation can account for why Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would risk such a great danger to immediately initiate this "replacement" plan after the real Emperor Xuan Ye's death.

This is not about supporting an outsider, but about allowing one's true bloodline to return to the power center of the Aisin Gioro family in a "legal" way!

If that's the case, then I, this modern soul who has usurped the throne, have become the most crucial and dangerous pawn in this earth-shattering scheme.

Hong Xiguan dared not think any further; the answer was too shocking and could shake the very foundation of the Qing Dynasty.

He shook his head, no longer worrying about whether he would change history, because the moment he appeared, the trajectory of history had already been forcibly broken.

What needs to be done now is to survive and play the role of "Xuan Ye" well.

And, figure out who you really are!

……

While Hong Xiguan was honing his "acting skills" behind closed doors, the Forbidden City was already in complete chaos.

The Emperor has been missing for five whole months!

To the outside world, the court's explanation was that "the emperor's entourage stayed at the Southern Garden to conduct hunting and military exercises," which was a routine activity for emperors in spring and autumn, and not outrageous.

But five months... this is no longer just a hunting trip, this is settling down in Nanyuan!

People across the country were filled with anxiety, and rumors and gossip spread like wildfire.

Some say that the emperor was so grief-stricken by the death of Consort Dong'e that he neglected state affairs.

Some say that the emperor imitated the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and sought immortality by practicing alchemy in Nanyuan.

Even more outrageous, some say that the emperor has secretly become a monk and gone to Mount Wutai.

......

Inside the corridor next to the Hall of Martial Valor in the Forbidden City.

This is one of the places where the ministers of the State Council meet and discuss matters on a daily basis.

Unlike the solemnity of court assemblies, this place was more like a private club, the true core of power in the Qing Dynasty.

Inside the hall, fine silver charcoal burned, making it warm as spring.

Oboi, the banner lord of the Bordered Yellow Banner and Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, paced back and forth impatiently, his thick-soled court boots creaking under his feet on the gold-brick floor.

"Five months! A full five months! We haven't even seen a glimpse of the Emperor!"

Ao Bai abruptly stopped, his piercing eyes glaring at Sony, who sat on the head seat with his eyes closed in repose: "Minister Sony! At this point, stop hiding things. Has the Emperor already left the capital and headed south?"

Sony, a veteran of four reigns and the leader of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, also looked exhausted. He casually picked up his teacup and blew on the steam: "You can't speak carelessly, Ao Zhongtang. His Majesty is in Nanyuan. This is an official decree from the palace."

"Imperial decree? What utter nonsense!" Ao Bai's fiery temper flared instantly. "My men sent a secret report from Fujian half a month ago: His Majesty... he secretly went to Xiamen to fight that brat Zheng! Is this an imperial decree? This is utter folly!"

Ao Bai was the banner lord of the Bordered Yellow Banner, and General Dasu of Annam was also a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner.

As a banner leader, Aobai had his own independent intelligence channels, a power granted to him by the Eight Banners system.

Half a month ago, a secret letter sent from Fujian by express courier, bypassing the Ministry of War and going directly to the Banner Lord's Mansion, had already been placed on Ao Bai's desk.

In the letter, Dasu reported in a fearful tone the entire process of Emperor Shunzhi's secret arrival in Xiamen and his insistence on "personally leading the expedition."

When Ao Bai saw it, he was so angry that he immediately crushed one of his beloved jade lions.

Upon hearing this, Sony let out a long sigh, a bitter look on his face: "I've also heard about this matter."

"We've tried to advise him before, but since he assumed power, he's been making absolute decisions and won't listen to the words of us old ministers. He wants to emulate the founding emperors Taizu and Taizong and achieve unparalleled feats. What can we, as his ministers, do?"

His tone was full of frustration and disappointment at the young emperor's lack of progress.

Ao Bai snorted heavily, "Nonsense! When the Taizu and Taizong personally led an expedition, they charged into battle before a vast army! But he, without informing the court or the Empress Dowager, led a small troop of guards south alone. Is this a personal expedition? This is child's play! He's treating the fate of our Great Qing Dynasty like a joke!"

"It's too late to say all this now."

Sony waved his hand: "I just hope that kid Dasu is clever enough to fight a good battle and coax the Emperor back safely, then this matter will be over."

Just then, a series of hurried and flustered footsteps came from outside the hall.

A clerk from the Ministry of War stumbled in, his face drained of color, holding aloft an urgent military report covered with sealing wax.

"Suo...Suo Zhongtang! Ao...Ao Zhongtang!" The clerk knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice trembling. "Fu...Fujian, urgent dispatch! Our army...has suffered a crushing defeat!"