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

Back at the Qianqing Palace, Hong Xiguan took off his terribly heavy court robes and changed into lighter everyday clothes.

Before he could even catch his breath, people arrived from the Cining Palace.

"The Empress Dowager invites the Emperor to come over for a talk."

Hong Xiguan knew perfectly well what was going on.

This is a "post-battle debriefing meeting".

Inside the Cining Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang held Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and her eyes, which had seen through the rise and fall of three dynasties, were now calmly watching Hong Xiguan.

"Xuan Ye, you did very well in court today."

The old lady's voice was steady: "Especially that last decree, which left the four regents to continue to assist in government affairs, was not only my wish, but also for the sake of the Qing Dynasty."

Hong Xiguan nodded obediently, looking as if "Grandmother is right".

But in his heart, he had already calculated the score clearly.

This is the legendary "soft landing".

That old bastard Ao Bai now holds military power and has cronies all over the court. If he were to be dismissed today, that old fellow would definitely go berserk on the spot, and might even pull out a big knife from his crotch and start hacking people.

Keeping him around, giving him the prestige of "assisting in governance," is like preserving an office and title for a senior executive who is about to be laid off.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled faintly: "Do you think that now that you've taken over the reins of power, you should hold all the power?"

"Your grandson wouldn't dare."

"It's not that I don't dare, but that I don't want to." Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang put down her prayer beads and said earnestly, "You have to eat one bite at a time, and kill one person at a time. Ao Bai is a big tree with deep roots. If you want to uproot him, you have to prune his branches and dig out his rotten roots first. Once he's all alone, you can give him a gentle push..."

The old lady made a "push" gesture, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

Old ginger is spicier; this must be the legendary "boiling frog" tactic.

Hong Xiguan silently gave the old lady a thumbs up.

"Alright, now that we've finished discussing state affairs, let's talk about family matters."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang changed the subject and pulled a list out of her sleeve.

"Now that I've taken charge, it's time to fulfill my promise to Sony."

Hong Xiguan raised an eyebrow.

Here it comes: the political spoils-dividing ceremony.

"By imperial decree, Sony, having served three emperors with unwavering loyalty and devotion to the country, is hereby promoted to First-Class Duke, a hereditary title."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang paused, her gaze softening slightly, but behind that softness lay an unyielding will.

"Also, it's time for our Aisin Gioro family to have a happy occasion. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has already chosen the wedding date."

Hong Xiguan's heart skipped a beat.

Although I was mentally prepared, when the day actually came, I still felt a little... tortured.

My body is only twelve years old! Getting married already? In modern times, I'd weld the doors of the civil affairs bureau shut and call the police.

But he also knew that it was beyond his control.

This is a political deal.

Sony, that old fox, led the charge in the court, forcing Ao Bai to back down, even at the cost of offending the entire Manchurian elite circle. What was he after?

Isn't it all about making his granddaughter the empress?

This is Sony's "listing bell-ringing" moment. If Hung Hei-kwun dares to go back on his word, Sony will switch sides in no time and become sworn brothers with Ao Bai.

"Grandson... obeys the decree."

Hong Xiguan nodded obediently in agreement.

Alright, for the sake of the country, I will reluctantly sacrifice my beauty.

……

However, the marriage did not go as smoothly as expected.

The day after the imperial edict was issued, Ao Bai was bombed.

He smashed three antique vases and kicked over two tables at home, and then launched into a tirade of abuse at his visiting confidants.

"Damn it! Absolutely bastard!"

Ao Bai's face turned bright red, and the veins on his neck bulged like earthworms.

"That old bastard Sony, does he even deserve to be empress?! His granddaughter doesn't even deserve to be empress?!"

The news quickly reached the palace.

"Ao Zhongtang said in private that Hesheli was nothing more than 'the daughter of a Manchu servant' and was not worthy of being the empress."

In the Southern Study, Cao Yin reported with trepidation.

"He also said... if the Emperor really dares to make Gabula's (Soni's eldest son's) daughter Empress, he... he will definitely use force!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Xiguan was not angry at all; instead, he was amused.

Hey, the Zaun players are online?

Ao Bai picked a pretty tricky point to criticize.

Historically, the Hesheli clan, to which Sony belonged, was part of the Hada tribe of the Haixi Jurchens. When Nurhaci unified the Jurchens, the four Haixi tribes were the conquered.

In the eyes of the "old Manchus" who valued lineage, the Jianzhou Jurchens were the legitimate ones, while the Haixi Jurchens were "servants" who had surrendered.

As a member of the Niohuru clan, Ao Bai was a legitimate descendant of Jianzhou Yuanxun, and naturally looked down on Sony, a "descendant of a surrendered general".

This is like a long-term employee discriminating against a new employee who was acquired through a merger. Even though everyone is now working in the same company, the hierarchy of contempt will always exist.

But, with knives and guns?

Hong Xiguan played with the jade ruyi in his hand, his eyes filled with amusement.

It's one thing to spam the world chat with insults, but to actually threaten a GM? Ao Zhongtang, you've really chosen the wrong path!

……

Just when everyone thought that Sony would have a head-to-head "real-life PK" with Ao Bai.

This old fox taught everyone a lesson about what "high-level player operations" really mean.

Sony neither argued with Ao Bai in the imperial court nor came to the emperor in tears to complain.

One night, he secretly sent someone to Ao Bai's residence.

Nobody knows what happened that night.

All that is known is that when Ao Bai went to court the next day, he suddenly calmed down, which was like a powder keg.

When the Minister of Rites tremblingly presented the wedding arrangements and cautiously glanced at Ao Bai...

Ao Bai merely snorted coldly, turned his head to the side, and actually... tacitly approved!

Hong Xiguan sat on the dragon throne, watching this scene with perfect clarity.

This is definitely a dirty backroom deal!

Sony must have reached some kind of agreement with Ao Bai.

The content is obvious without even having to guess:

"Brother, just let my granddaughter be empress. As long as this is done, I'll retire immediately, go home and take care of my grandson. From now on, you can do whatever you want in the court, I won't interfere."

For Sony, he was old and nearing death; power is something you can't take with you when you die.

But he needs to leave a way out for his family.

The Empress's phoenix crown is the life-saving charm for the Suo family for the next fifty years!

For Ao Bai, Sony, the chief minister, was always the biggest obstacle to his consolidation of power.

Although making that "servant's daughter" empress is disgusting, if it can get rid of Sony completely and make Ao Bai the de facto "number one"...

This deal doesn't seem like a bad one.

Indeed, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

Hong Xiguan looked at the two old men with ulterior motives below the stage and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

You two have certainly made a good deal, using my wedding as a bargaining chip.

Alright, since you've all made the arrangements, then I'll cooperate and play along with this charade.

……

A few days later, Sony indeed wrote a letter requesting to retire.

The reason is quite valid: I am old and sick, my eyesight and hearing are failing, and I really can't do it anymore.

Hong Xiguan symbolically tried to persuade him to stay three times (the standard procedure of bowing and declining three times), and then "reluctantly" approved.

Sony packed up his bags and, at the height of his power, turned and left, departing with remarkably swift and decisive action.

Watching Sony walk out of the Qianqing Gate with his hunched back, Hong Xiguan couldn't help but admire him.

This is the real MVP!

Selling all shares at the peak of the stock market and cashing out, then leaving with retirement funds and dividends—this level of operational awareness far surpasses that of Ao Bai, that reckless brute who only knew how to charge blindly.

With Sony's retirement, the balance of power in the court was broken.

Ebilun was a fence-sitter, and Suksaha was isolated.

Ao Bai finally became the true second-in-command, above all others, in the Forbidden City.

Or rather, sometimes he doesn't even care about that "one person".

……