Chapter One, the worries at the end of the book mislead the city

The Emperor's handwriting has improved even more. A bright pink flag outfit, a delicate cry, and a young girl of about ten years old swiftly entered.

Yanshu! Kangxi set down his pen and walked towards her

Amidst these beautifully adorned young ladies, he made a decision for himself and for the Qing Dynasty.

"Your Majesty," Yanshu said, tears streaming down her face, "No, we do not want this."

"Gege, it has all passed." The one who walked in quietly, dressed in the same brown robe for decades, was Su Malagu. Her respectful expression and attentive concern, along with that unique form of address, had remained unchanged for decades. She took out a handkerchief to gently wipe the beads of sweat from Xiaozhuang's forehead

Another young woman, dressed in a scarlet satin flag costume and adorned with a red plum blossom made of coral beads strung with gold thread, is Borjigit Ulan, the daughter of his biological mother, Empress Ren Xian, and also a Mongolian princess connected by blood to the Empress Dowager. In terms of noble status, she should be the one chosen

In terms of familial affection, one should choose her

This child has truly had a hard time. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang clasped her hands together and bowed in reverence, then immediately rose and walked towards the outer chamber. Su Malagu hurried a few steps to support her: "The Emperor understands your heart best and will naturally not let you down."

Kangxi's expression darkened: "What nonsense are you talking about? Just now, Second Brother and Changning caused a ruckus, and we can let that go. You rarely come here, and yet you choose to bring this up right away"

He was almost seeing all the candidates for the selection for the first time. However, he clearly knew each of them, their names, and the meanings behind those names

Kangxi wore a stern expression, leaning against the couch without speaking, reflecting on the scene of the selection of candidates in the Empress Dowager Renshian's palace. So many young ladies were waiting for his summons. They entered in groups of five, bowing their heads and greeting him one by one in front of him

The one referred to by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang is none other than the current Emperor, the young sovereign Kangxi, who is merely twelve years old. At this moment, he is practicing calligraphy in the Eastern Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace

I am afraid of causing him distress. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang held tightly onto the hand of Su Malagu, standing in the corridor gazing into the distance. The palaces ahead were resplendent with gold and adorned with flowing tassels, tall and imposing, exuding an unparalleled solemnity, yet lacking a certain warmth

Kangxi did not respond; after a long while, he finally whispered, "Was the Emperor Father not mistaken at that time?"

The great river flows eastward, washing away countless historical figures. To the west of the old fortress, it is said: the Red Cliffs of Zhou Lang from the Three Kingdoms. Jagged rocks pierce the sky, and the roaring waves crash against the shore, stirring up a thousand piles of snow. The landscape is picturesque, and how many heroes emerged in that moment.

In addition, there are many more people, such as the Nala clan, the Guo Luo Luo clan, the Zhang Jia clan

At this moment, the imperial edict following the decree should have been issued

In the small Buddhist hall of the West Palace of Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang held a prayer bead, her eyes slightly closed as she quietly recited the Kṣitigarbha Sutra. Today was clearly a good day, yet she found herself reminiscing about many past events. In the previous moment, it seemed as if the late Emperor Fulin had just been born; after the "washing of the hair" ceremony, that bright little forehead evoked both pity and affection. But how had it come to pass that in the blink of an eye, he had turned into a sorrowful young man lying on the dragon bed in the eastern warm pavilion of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, reduced to nothing but bones? One moment, it felt as if she were savoring the Three Pure Teas and the Nine-Nine Fruit Box presented during her own birthday celebration, and the next, she was wide-eyed witnessing the deaths of Uyun Zhu, the Emperor, Concubine Zhen, Concubine Jing, the mother of the Third Prince, and the Empress Dowager, as the palace was suffocated under the weight of successive funerals.

The one wearing a light blue qipao, with skin more delicate than snow, is Tongjia Shijin Zhen, the person closest to him, who should be referred to as his cousin. She is the niece of his biological mother, Empress Cihe.

There is also one person, who, due to illness, has not been seen in person, yet is already renowned in the capital for her talent and beauty, known as "Dongzhu." She is the daughter of Ebilun, whom everyone desires, and the adopted daughter of Aobai, Niuhulu Dongzhu. Among the four ministers, she alone influences two of them, and she also carries the noble blood of the Aisin Gioro family. If we consider the expectations of the public, she should be the one chosen

On the eighth day of the eighth month in the fourth year of the Kangxi reign, the atmosphere in the palace was filled with joy and harmony. Since the passing of the late emperor, the palace seemed to have been immersed in a white sorrow. This sadness began to envelop the magnificent and solemn Forbidden City from the fifteenth year of the Shunzhi reign. First, the fourth prince, who was regarded as the "first son" by Emperor Shunzhi, passed away prematurely. Then, the imperial concubine Uyun Zhu, who bore the weight of emotional debts and was both praised and criticized yet uniquely favored by the emperor, fell ill and died, triggering a cataclysmic upheaval in the Qing Empire. Ultimately, the young emperor Shunzhi, only twenty-three years old, departed this world with irreparable regrets and unfulfilled ambitions.

You still dare to say... if you continue to speak, tomorrow I shall bestow two beautiful maidens upon Geng Juzhong. " Kangxi's face darkened as he crumpled the written words on the table into a ball

Kangxi's sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed as he stared blankly at the wisps of light smoke rising from the nearby glazed eight-treasure incense burner, momentarily lost in thought

"How is it ahead?" asked Xiaozhuang, her gaze piercing as she fixed her eyes on her.

Yan Shu performed her greetings and then sat in the warm pavilion, simultaneously admiring Kangxi's calligraphy while enjoying the fruits from the platter. "It seems I have come at an inopportune time, interrupting His Majesty's refined mood. If I were to continue writing, it would be: 'Recalling the past, when Gong Jin was young, and Xiao Qiao had just married, with his heroic demeanor and elegant attire, feather fan and silk cap'...

As the princess wishes. Su Malagu values words as if they were gold

The great river flows eastward... Yan Shu picked up the crumpled piece of paper that Kangxi had crumpled together, gently unfolding and smoothing it out. "I remember that the calligraphy presented during the imperial consort selection was this very piece. Most other candidates showcased their skills with embroidery, which were merely mundane objects. Only the Empress Dowager wrote this, hoping that someone would understand her, rather than being judged solely by her makeup and attire. What a pity... That year, unfortunately, the Emperor did not see it, and the two of them missed their chance due to a twist of fate, wasting so many years." "Only the Empress Dowager wrote this, hoping that someone would understand her, rather than being judged solely by her makeup and attire. What a pity... That year, unfortunately, the Emperor did not see it, and the two of them missed their chance due to a twist of fate, wasting so many years."

However, at a young age, she was already married. In November of the second year of the Kangxi reign, she married Geng Juzhong, the grandson of the King of Jingnan. Due to her young age, she often resided in the palace even after the wedding ceremony was completed

Later, when Emperor Shunzhi realized that his love for her extended beyond just her writing, it was already too late. This passionate and extraordinary love, though beautiful and tragic, could not be accepted by the world. The outcome was the fulfillment of their love, but it cost both of them their youth and lives

The hall was extremely quiet, and everyone seemed to be very tense

"Your Majesty, are you truly certain this time?" Yan Shu gazed blankly into Kangxi's eyes, "I am so afraid, so afraid that we will end up like the Empress and the Emperor, making one wrong step after another, bound by shackles for a lifetime, never to be freed."

The one who appears to be very gentle and serene, the "Four Complete Maiden," Hesheli Yunfang, the granddaughter of the Prime Minister Sony, has been appointed as the Empress

Kangxi fixed his gaze on Yanshu, whose delicate face resembled a pear blossom, and whose eyes, like autumn waters, were always shrouded in an inescapable sorrow. This naturally led him to think of the woman he both hated and respected, the one who caused the six palaces to be devoid of love, the one who prevented his own mother from ever smiling in her lifetime

Kangxi's lips twitched slightly, revealing a hint of a smile: "Rest assured"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's complexion was pale, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on her forehead

What Yan Shu referred to was the affair between Emperor Shunzhi of the previous dynasty and Concubine Dong E. A unique flower nurtured from the fusion of a Manchu noble father and a talented Han woman from Jiangnan, the elegant and extraordinary Wuyun Zhu was eliminated from the selection due to an accident. By the time Emperor Shunzhi fell in love with her calligraphy and practiced it daily, she had already become someone else's Fuchin

"Yan Shu pays her respects to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live long and prosper." Yan Shu displayed a faint smile on her face, gracefully performed a curtsy while tossing her handkerchief, and concluded with, "May Your Majesty be greatly pleased."

"Alright, alright, Your Majesty, Yan Shu was wrong." Yan Shu retracted her smile, "I know you are feeling unwell, which is why I came to keep you company. If you are truly angry, wouldn't that be my fault?"

Yan Shu was originally the second daughter of Prince Anqin, Yue Le. Years ago, due to the early death of the Fourth Prince, born to the Imperial Noble Consort Dong E, Emperor Shunzhi summoned her into the palace to be raised by the Imperial Noble Consort, allowing her to express her grief. Although her life as a princess lasted less than two years, she was showered with immense affection, which also led to much resentment. After the deaths of the Imperial Noble Consort and Emperor Shunzhi, although she was cared for by the Empress Dowager, her life remained quite difficult. Fortunately, she still received attention from Kangxi and Fuquan. Although her life as a princess lasted less than two years, she was showered with immense affection, which also led to much resentment. After the deaths of the Imperial Noble Consort and Emperor Shunzhi, although she was cared for by the Empress Dowager, her life remained quite difficult. Fortunately, she still received attention from Kangxi and Fuquan