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

The sky was overcast.

Lead-gray clouds hung low over the Forbidden City, making it hard to breathe.

Wohe was standing under the corridor outside the South Study.

He's in a good mood today.

Last night, he had a private conversation with his father, Fei Yanggu, in the study for a full hour.

When his father, Fei Yanggu, heard that the emperor had such "far-sightedness" and relied on him and his son so much, his usually stern face showed unprecedented excitement.

The father and son hit it off immediately!

They drafted a list overnight, consisting entirely of elite guards from the Plain Yellow Banner and Plain White Banner who were on good terms with the Fei Yanggu family, or who had long been dissatisfied with Ao Bai but had been ostracized and suppressed.

Just wait, Your Majesty!

Before long, this Qianqing Palace will be your true resting place!

Wohe was smugly thinking, already fantasizing about his merit in supporting the emperor and being promoted to a higher rank!

"Tap, tap, tap..."

A series of neat and heavy footsteps approached from afar, interrupting his thoughts.

Wokh raised his head, his brows furrowing slightly.

A group of guards dressed in the Bordered Yellow Banner armor, with unfriendly expressions, walked straight toward him.

Leading the group was none other than Ao Bai's nephew, a first-class bodyguard named Sebende!

What are they trying to do?

A bad feeling rose in Woch's heart.

Seben walked up to him, a sneer of schadenfreude on his face.

He didn't speak, but instead took out a command token stamped with the seal of the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard from his bosom.

"By order of the Regent Minister Ao Zhongtang! Imperial Guard Wohe has shown no respect for the Emperor and has misused imperial property; his crime is unforgivable! Guards! Seize him!"

"Splash!"

Several guards behind him pounced like wolves and tigers, instantly twisting Wohe's arms behind his back!

The cold shackles locked his wrists.

All of this happened too fast, too suddenly!

Woch didn't even have time to fight back!

He struggled fiercely, roaring, "I am a royal guard! What right do you have to arrest me?! What crime have I committed?!"

Seben walked up to him and slapped his face hard with the knife in a highly insulting gesture.

"On what grounds? Because you rode the imperial horse without permission, took the imperial bow and arrows without authorization, and shot deer in the imperial garden! This is a grave offense of disrespect! Is that enough?!"

Woch's mind went blank!

Skilled at riding horses?

Taking the royal bow privately?

This...this wasn't approved by the Emperor himself?!

He understood instantly!

This is revenge!

This is Ao Bai's naked revenge against himself!

"Bullshit!" Woch's eyes were bloodshot. "That was personally approved by the Emperor! Everyone present can testify to that!"

Seben's smile widened even further.

"His Majesty's permission? Who heard it? And who dares to testify?"

"take away!"

……

Inside the Southern Study.

When Hong Xiguan learned from Cao Yin that Wohe had been captured, the brush in his hand suddenly stopped.

A drop of thick ink fell onto the memorial, quickly spreading out like an ominous black lotus.

Ao Bai...

They've made their move?!

So fast?!

When he heard the charges against Wokho, Hong Hee-gwan was furious.

He was skilled at riding imperial horses and used imperial bows privately.

What a blatant distortion of the truth!

These two charges, which seem to involve "offending the imperial authority," are actually completely untenable!

The use of imperial horses and bows in the palace was subject to certain flexible regulations.

As close advisors to the emperor, imperial bodyguards occasionally received the emperor's favor and used imperial items. At most, it was a minor violation, which would result in a few words of reprimand and a few months' salary deduction, and that would be the end of it.

Moreover, on that day in the West Garden, it was I who personally gave Woch permission to use it in front of everyone!

Ao Bai actually used such an absurd reason to bypass the Imperial Household Department and the Censorate, and used the power of the Imperial Guard to arrest the Imperial Guard he had personally appointed!

This is no longer a simple matter of "beating a dog to see its owner".

That was a fucking slap right across the face of me, the "master"!

Hong Xiguan's face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

He thought for a moment.

No!

I cannot get involved in this matter!

If I were to go directly to Ao Bai to demand my release, it would be too rash and wouldn't do me any good. In fact, it might just be playing right into Ao Bai's hands!

The only solution is... to call for reinforcements!

Go find Empress Xiaozhuang!

Hong Xiguan immediately stood up and decided to use this as an excuse to go to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and file a complaint against her!

Accuse Ao Bai of abusing his power and being arrogant! He doesn't even respect the dignity of the emperor!

……

Cining Palace.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Hong Xiguan recounted the whole story, embellishing it with his own words, his tone full of an emperor's "grievances" and "anger" at being oppressed by a powerful minister.

I thought that after hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would at least offer some words of comfort, even if she didn't stand up for me, and would say that she would give Ao Bai a warning.

To everyone's surprise, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang simply fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand.

There was not a trace of emotion on that well-maintained face.

"emperor."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang spoke slowly, her voice calm and still: "You're too late in this matter."

Hong Xiguan's heart skipped a beat: "What do you mean?"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang raised her eyelids, glanced at him, her eyes deep and cold: "Just a quarter of an hour ago, news came from the Imperial Guard that Wohe has... been executed."

What?!

Hong Xiguan was struck on the head as if by a bolt of lightning!

He jumped up from his chair with a start, his face filled with disbelief!

"Dead?! How...how long has it been?!"

From the time Wohe was captured to his arrival at Cining Palace, it was only half an hour!

Ao Bai actually... executed a royal guard without proper trial or joint trial by the three judicial departments?! A son of a meritorious official?!

Is this guy fucking insane?!

How dare he?!

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang looked at his shocked and distraught appearance and simply sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, please sit down."

"I told you long ago, before you take power, don't provoke Ao Bai."

"You think he's just a brainless idiot?"

Hong Xiguan sat down weakly again, his mind a complete mess.

I... underestimated Ao Bai's ruthlessness and madness.

I thought he would follow the proper procedures, conduct an interrogation, and convict...

If things drag on for a few days, both Feiyangu and Sony will have time to intervene.

Unexpectedly... Ao Bai actually killed the man directly!

They won't give us a single chance!

Seeing his distraught appearance, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang continued, "You don't need to concern yourself with this matter anymore; I will handle it."

"Wohe's father, Feiyanggu, was a veteran of the Plain Yellow Banner. As the banner lord of the Plain Yellow Banner, Sony would not sit idly by."

"Ao Bai's actions have not only killed Wohe, nor only slapped your face, but also Sony and the entire Plain Yellow Banner!"

Hong Xiguan suddenly raised his head and instantly understood what Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang meant!

I understand!

Woch is dead, which has disrupted my plans.

However, his death became an even thicker and harder nail, driving it deep between Ao Bai and Sony!

These two largest governing groups were originally only superficially harmonious but inwardly at odds.

Now, because of Woch's death, they will break off all relations!

Hong Xiguan's mind was instantly cleared, replaced by a cold, imperial rationality.

It's a pity that one of the Woch died.

But... in the end, he was just a Manchu.

If his death can lead to infighting between Sony and Oboi, it can buy me more time and space.

Well... this deal doesn't seem like a bad one after all!

Thinking of this, Hong Xiguan slowly stood up and respectfully bowed to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

"Grandmother, your grandson... understands."

"Grandson, I will listen to you and will no longer concern myself with this matter."

Her face once again displayed that "well-behaved and sensible" expression.