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

Hong Xiguan took a deep breath, suppressing all the tension, fear, and damned curiosity in his chest into his dantian.

When he looked up again, his face showed only the perfect expression of a ten-year-old child, a mixture of obedience and restraint.

Act! Act like your life depends on it! Today, the Oscar-winning actor will be surnamed Hong!

Led by Sumalagu, he followed her step by step into the palace that he had only ever seen in movies and TV shows.

Inside the hall, the underground heating was burning brightly, making it warm as spring.

The air was filled with a faint, extremely pleasant sandalwood scent.

A woman dressed in a royal blue dress sat regally on a throne covered with a bright yellow cushion, her phoenix eyes gazing quietly at him.

The woman was about forty-eight or forty-nine years old. Time had etched a few faint lines at the corners of her eyes, but instead of diminishing her beauty, it had added a unique charm to her.

Her features were as exquisite as those of a lady in a famous painting, and her skin was fair and delicate in the candlelight, faintly revealing the unparalleled beauty of the "most beautiful woman in Manchuria and Mongolia" in her prime.

Good heavens, look at that appearance, age, and demeanor! If Prime Minister Cao were here, he would be incredibly excited.

...Ahem, stop! What are you thinking! This is a woman who could kill you!

Hong Xiguan suddenly slammed on the brakes.

What is even more captivating than her beauty is the profound and dignified demeanor that Empress Xiaozhuang possessed, a demeanor tempered by the passage of time.

She simply sat there quietly, as if she were the center of the entire palace, and even the entire Forbidden City.

The moment Hong Xiguan's eyes met hers, his heart seemed to skip a beat.

This is the legendary woman who served three emperors and stood firm amidst the turbulent political struggles of the early Qing Dynasty! A powerful female protagonist character that later female-oriented novels dared not portray!

Hong Xiguan dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately stepped forward, performing a standard princely greeting to the Empress Dowager with meticulous care.

"Your grandson, Xuan Ye, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a speedy recovery."

The voice was clear and steady, and the manners were impeccable.

Learn by doing, apply what you've learned immediately! These past few months of training haven't been for nothing!

Empress Xiaozhuang, seated on her throne, flashed a barely perceptible hint of approval in her eyes.

"Good child, get up quickly."

The voice was much gentler than expected. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang stood up, stepped down from her throne, came to Hong Xiguan, and reached out to help him up.

The moment that well-maintained hand touched Hong Xiguan's arm, Hong Xiguan clearly felt that her fingertips were trembling slightly.

She's shaking! She's shaking! What's going on? Why is she so excited to see me? Could it be...?

"Let the Empress Dowager... take a good look at you."

In Xiaozhuang's eyes, there was an extremely complex light, a mixture of relief, excitement, and a hint of maternal tenderness that was almost overflowing from the depths of her eyes.

She reached out her hand, her movements as gentle as if she were touching a rare treasure, with a touch of affection and tenderness, and stroked Hong Xiguan's cheek.

Hong Xiguan froze!

Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Something's not right! Something's totally wrong!

What grandmother looks at her grandson with that kind of gaze?

That look, that movement, that trembling... This is clearly a scene of a long-lost son reuniting with his family!

Could it be that my outrageous guess that he was "Empress Xiaozhuang's illegitimate son" is actually true?!

The mother is Empress Xiaozhuang? Then who is the father? The regent Dorgon?

According to calculations, Hong Xiguan's body was born in the same year Dorgon died.

A terrifying thought exploded in his mind, sending chills down his spine and making his hands and feet go cold.

After Dorgon's death, he was posthumously honored as Emperor Yi by the Shunzhi Emperor, with the temple name Chengzong. However, only two months later, the Shunzhi Emperor ordered that Dorgon's title be stripped, his grave be exhumed and his corpse whipped, his family property be confiscated by the government, and his confidants be punished.

If Emperor Shunzhi found out that he had a child with his own mother, wouldn't he be furious?

Hong Xiguan dared not move, much less ask any questions.

She simply lowered her head, like a truly flattered yet somewhat shy ten-year-old child, letting that slightly cool hand linger on her face.

Stay calm! Stay calm! Hong Xiguan, you better stay calm! Right now you're just an eight-year-old naive fool, you don't know anything! The more you know, the faster you'll die!

He knew very well that the woman in front of him was not only a kind "Grandmother," but also a top politician who could laugh and ruthlessly kill someone.

In her presence, any attempt to be clever could lead to one's death.

Adhering to etiquette and avoiding unnecessary words were his only rules for survival at that moment.

"Yes, yes...it's just like it, so much like it..."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang murmured to herself, seemingly lost in some distant memory, then realized her lapse in composure and slowly withdrew her hand.

She sat back on her throne, gazing at Hong Xiguan with the same look she had when admiring her most outstanding work.

"From this day forward, you are the third prince, Xuan Ye."

"Grandson...I know," Hong Xiguan replied in a low voice, which was not loud but very clear.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, seemingly surprised by his calmness.

"Oh?" she asked with interest. "Don't you have even the slightest doubt? Why were you chosen to play the role of 'Xuan Ye'?"

It's here! It's here! The legendary high-pressure interview is here!

This is a fucking death question!

To say I have no doubts? That's a lie, who would believe that? It would make me look stupid.

Saying I have doubts? Asking why? It makes me seem tactless; curiosity killed the cat!

Hong Xiguan knew this problem; it was a matter of life and death.

He remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and met Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's scrutiny with a clear and honest gaze.

"Your Majesty, I... have a question."

I'll admit it first, to show that I'm intelligent and not stupid.

Hong Xiguan did not lie, because lying would be meaningless in front of such a shrewd person.

"However," he changed the subject, his tone revealing a wisdom and composure beyond his years, "my grandson doesn't ask."

"Why don't you ask?" Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang pressed, leaning forward slightly, clearly intrigued.

Hong Xiguan lowered his eyes, his posture becoming even more respectful, and answered clearly:

"Because I know that when my grandmother wants me to know, she will tell me. If she doesn't, it means the time is not right. If I know, it will not help but add to my worries. I am foolish. I only need to remember one thing: to follow my grandmother's arrangements and be a good 'Xuan Ye'. That will be enough."

perfect!

This is a textbook example of shifting blame and expressing loyalty!

The subtext is: I may be curious, but I know my limits. I'll do whatever you ask, and I definitely won't cause you any trouble. I'm your most useful tool, your most useful weapon! Wherever you point, I'll go!

These words were absolutely flawless!

He acknowledged his doubts, demonstrating honesty, and also stated his position of "not asking what shouldn't be asked," showcasing his political wisdom in knowing the rules and how to advance and retreat.

Finally, he made no attempt to conceal his absolute obedience to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's eyes instantly blazed with intense and irrepressible admiration and affection!

clever!

That's so clever!

I was initially worried that this child, who grew up outside the palace, might be a bit wild and unruly, or a reckless young man who couldn't see the bigger picture.

Unexpectedly, this child possessed such a keen and insightful mind. This intelligence and composure far surpassed those of his peers, and even surpassed many of the self-righteous fools in the imperial court!

As expected of him... as expected of my son!

This intelligence, this forbearance, is so much like him...

A surge of intense pride welled up in Empress Xiaozhuang's heart.

Looking at the boy in front of her, whose features vaguely resembled a certain figure, she became more and more satisfied and fond of him.