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

Johann Adam Schall von Bell took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

He raised his head, looked directly into Hong Xiguan's eyes, and said in a deep voice, "This old minister humbly requests Your Majesty to issue an edict to implement the Shixian Calendar!"

The Shixian Calendar!

Upon hearing these three words, Hong Xiguan suddenly realized.

As a time traveler, he certainly knew what the "Shixian Calendar" was. It was not a "Western calendar," but an advanced calendar that combined Chinese and Western elements and was a culmination of their achievements!

By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Datong Calendar, which had been in use for over 300 years, was riddled with errors and had become unusable for guiding agricultural activities.

After much agonizing reflection, Emperor Chongzhen ordered Xu Guangqi to lead a group of Chinese and foreign astronomers to compile a completely new draft calendar, incorporating advanced Western astronomical knowledge.

Unfortunately, the Ming Dynasty fell, and this calendar, which embodied the hard work of countless people, was buried in the dust of history along with the Ming Dynasty before it could be implemented.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell was unwilling to give up. He spent half his life revising the calendar, renamed it the Shixian Calendar, and presented it to the Qing court, hoping that the new dynasty would have a new look and adopt this more accurate and scientific calendar to benefit all people.

However, he encountered Ao Bai.

Ao Bai, representing the conservative forces in Manchuria, instinctively rejected all new things. They believed that the Shixian Calendar was "foreigners' stuff" and would break the rules of their ancestors and shake the foundation of the Qing Dynasty.

As a result, this advanced calendar was shelved and Johann Adam Schall von Bell was severely suppressed.

"This old man wants to use me to fulfill his lifelong wish!"

Looking at the frail old man before him, Hong Xiguan felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

Although this old man may lack integrity, he is more of a scientist whose pursuit of truth and dedication to science transcend national borders and races.

Moreover, the Shixian Calendar was indeed a valuable tool, laying the foundation for the modern lunar calendar, which has been used ever since.

Promoting it would be a great and meritorious thing for the country and its people.

"I grant your permission!"

Hong Xiguan's voice was resolute and without the slightest hesitation.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes flashing with surprise, his lips trembling as if he could not believe his ears.

"Your Majesty...you...you really grant permission?"

"A ruler's word is law." Hong Xiguan stepped forward and helped the elderly man, who was so moved he was about to kneel, to his feet. "Teachers dedicate their lives to the country; how can I allow your hard work to go to waste? The Shixian Calendar benefits the country and its people; I will not only promote it, but I will vigorously promote it!"

With tears streaming down his face, Johann Adam Schall von Bell knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times.

"On behalf of all the people, this old minister thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Hong Xiguan helped him up and solemnly promised, "Teacher, rest assured, as long as you can make thirty flintlock pistols for me within three months and teach Zhao Chang how to use them, I guarantee that the Shixian Calendar will be promulgated throughout the land!"

"Your humble servant obeys the decree! Your humble servant will certainly do his utmost, even unto death!"

Johann Adam Schall von Bell's voice was strong and clear, as if he had instantly become ten years younger.

……

Hong Xiguan felt exceptionally cheerful after leaving the Imperial Observatory.

This trip was very fruitful.

Not only did they solve the firearms problem, but they also unexpectedly found a good teacher for Zhao Chang.

Thirty flintlock muskets, three months!

At that time, my Youth Corps will be upgraded to the "Musketeers Company"!

"Ao Bai, you like to play tough, don't you? Wait until my guns are strong enough, then we'll see who's tougher!"

Gazing at the sky above the Forbidden City, dyed red by the setting sun, Hong Xiguan's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

.....

Jingren Palace.

The hall was in a mess.

The precious blue and white porcelain vase was shattered on the ground, the fine Suzhou embroidery screen was overturned to the side, and even the red coral that Consort Tong loved most was broken into several pieces and lay forlornly on the Persian carpet.

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground, trembling, not daring to utter a sound.

"Why?! Why?!"

Tongjia sat on the soft couch with her hair disheveled, her chest heaving violently, her eyes red. She was no longer the dignified and virtuous woman she usually was; she looked exactly like a resentful woman confined to her boudoir.

Her resentment had been building for a long time.

Since Xuan Ye ascended the throne and became emperor, her life as the emperor's biological mother was not as glorious as she had imagined; instead, it became increasingly stifling.

The young emperor treated her coldly, like a stranger.

Every morning at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the young emperor would go to the Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager without fail, rain or shine, even more punctual than clocking in for work.

In the evening, they would visit again, showing concern and care, their filial piety was truly exemplary.

But what about Tongjia, her biological mother who was born in Jingren Palace?

It's common to not see each other for ten days or half a month.

Even if they come, they just sit down and leave without saying much.

What chilled Tongjia Lady even more was the form of address; the young emperor actually called her "Tong Enie".

Listen to that, is that even human-sounding?

In Manchu, "Ene" means mother. Adding a surname before it is a respectful term for an elder, conveying a sense of distance and formality.

What kind of son calls his own mother "Mama Tong"?

This clearly shows they don't treat her like their own mother!

What Tongjia found most unbearable was her official status!

The emperor has been on the throne for almost two years! A full two years!

It wasn't until last month that she was reluctantly honored as "Empress Dowager Cihe," placing her on equal footing with her stepmother, Borjigit (Empress Xiaohuizhang), who had never given birth.

Why should I?!

It was clearly my belly that gave birth to the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, so why should I be compared to that barren hen?

Tongjia became increasingly angry and felt that something was wrong.

A wise child is better than his mother.

Her Xuan Ye, although not particularly clingy when he was a child, was definitely not the cold and aloof person he is now.

That look, that tone of voice, that deliberate sense of distance...

He's not her son at all!

A terrible thought lingered in Tongjia's mind for a long time, refusing to leave.

Who exactly is sitting on the dragon throne?

Where did my Xuan Ye go?

Was she switched by that old witch (Empress Xiaozhuang)?!

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Tongjia grabbed the last intact teacup and smashed it hard towards the door.

The palace maids and eunuchs, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, scrambled out of the palace filled with resentment and madness.

……

at the same time.

Qianqing Palace.

Hong Xiguan was sprawled out on the imperial couch, eating a plate of Sachima without any regard for his image.

"Oh my god, has that old woman gone crazy again?"

Listening to the report from the young eunuch Zhao Chang, Hong Xiguan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

I said, Sister Tong, please calm down. Our relationship is just a fake mother-son relationship to begin with. Why do you have to make it so tense?

Hong Xiguan had a real headache dealing with this nominal biological mother.

I'm a fake!

Every time I went to Jingren Palace, I felt like I was covered in hair when Tongjia looked at me with that scrutinizing gaze.

The feeling was like that of a thief being stared at by the victim of their stolen goods.

I'm so embarrassed!

Therefore, Hong Xiguan would avoid going to the bar if he could, and if he really couldn't avoid it, he would just go through the motions.

As for the form of address...

To make him call a strange woman "Mother"? And so intimately?

Sorry, I can't do that!

Calling her "Tong Enie" is already the biggest concession she can make. It's both polite and keeps her distance—how wonderful!

As for an honorific title, we'll give you "Empress Dowager," that's already generous enough. What more could you want? Do you really think you're Empress Wu Zetian?

Moreover, this was the will of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang!

It was obvious that the biological mother was jealous of the stepmother, and she was delaying granting her any official title. (Historically, it's quite strange that Emperor Kangxi only bestowed the title of Empress Dowager upon his birth mother, Consort Tong, nearly two years after his ascension to the throne, and the Empress Dowager died not long after!)

Hong Xiguan pursed his lips, stuffed the last piece of Sachima into his mouth, and mumbled:

"Let her make a scene. Anyway, everything in Jingren Palace belongs to the Imperial Household Department. If she breaks something, we can just replace it with something else. As long as she doesn't come out and bite someone, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."

His mind is currently focused on how to deal with that old scoundrel Ao Bai; he has no time to play palace intrigue with a resentful woman in the deep palace.

"but……"

Hong Xiguan chewed on his snack, his brows furrowing slightly.

"This old woman is making such a scene, could she be being used by someone with ulterior motives? Like... that old bastard who's been keeping an eye on me?"

……