Chapter 114: The Treacherous Minister and the Unfilial Son

  The poor little dog was still waiting for Yang Feng to come to the door, completely unaware that he had already been sold by this unscrupulous merchant. Under the escort of the loyal and righteous men of the Imperial Guard, he returned triumphantly to his residence in the Nurturing Heart Palace, but Cixi never appeared. This was seen as a sign of her admitting defeat by Guizi Liu and Weng Tonghe, so while waiting for Yang Feng, these guys enthusiastically studied how to deal with Cixi.

  Because they felt that the overall situation had been settled, many people came to share in the joy of victory this time. Almost all of the emperor's trusted followers were present, such as Weng Tonghe's student Wen Tingshi, Zhenfei's two cousins Zhirui and Zhijun, and Hubu Shilang Changlin - not one of these iron-clad supporters was missing. In fact, there were very few people around her. Cixi was a highly successful politician, and her governing principle was leniency, of course only towards officials. As long as they closely followed her footsteps, she didn't mind some minor transgressions. Things like embezzlement, bribery, selling official positions, bullying men and cheating women, or even acting arbitrarily in local areas - none of these bothered her. Therefore, a group of heroes were cooked to death by her method of boiling frogs in warm water, without ever having any other thoughts.

  This governance principle was naturally welcomed by officials, who wouldn't like a master who allows them to make easy money? So at this time, the officials' support for her was sincere, as for the common people, they didn't count for anything. What's called the ruling class and the ruled class? A leader only needs to appease the ruling class, and it's already a great favor if the ruled class is fed enough not to starve. In this situation, a young emperor with some new ideas would naturally be unwelcome, and there were only a few people around him who were playing with wealth and power for their own ambition.

  According to Weng Tonghe's intention, it would be better to give her an old lady three feet of white silk or a cup of poisonous wine, and let her follow the Xianfeng Emperor with dignity. As for Zhenfei, she hoped that a fire would break out in the Changchun Palace, and then she would take a camera to reminisce about it. However, Gui Zi Liu strongly disagreed with these two crazy ideas. In his opinion, sending the Empress Dowager to the Yiheyuan was enough, and then he would surround the garden with trusted personnel from Yang Feng's department. He would say that the Empress Dowager had fallen ill and no one could disturb her without the Emperor's permission. This way, after a year or so, all of her trusted followers outside would be cleared out, and then the Emperor could continue to show filial piety and let her live out her days in peace.

  "Old Six. I didn't expect you to be the best for our family after all!" Just as he was saying this, he suddenly heard a familiar voice outside the door. Guangxu was so scared that he buried his head in Master Weng's arms, and everyone else turned pale. Weng Tonghe quickly signaled with his eyes for Xiaogou to calm down. What are you still afraid of now? Isn't her arrival just right? Bring out your true dragon spirit!

  Guangxu thought so too. With an army of 10,000 outside the city, what was he afraid of? He gritted his teeth, lifted his head, and then opened his mouth wide in surprise.

  Behind the Empress Dowager, who was supported by Li Lianying as she walked in, followed a team of soldiers wearing green Western-style military uniforms. The gleaming bayonets were dizzying to look at. In front of this team stood an official wearing a Daoist robe and a military officer wearing the same style uniform, but without a queue.

  Actually, many of Yang Feng's subordinates had already cut their queues by then, especially those who had moved their families abroad. Although Yang Feng did not require it, this thing was inconvenient to fight after all. Li Yuncong, as Yang Feng's confidant, naturally followed the boss's footsteps, not only cutting his queue but also getting a flat inch haircut.

  "Are you going to keep talking? Look at how you bunch of treacherous officials are still trying to deal with me, a group of dogs. In vain have I treated you with kindness all these years, it's really 'in times of trouble, one sees the heart of man'. If not for this incident, I would still not see your wolfish and treacherous hearts!" Cixi angrily shouted.

  The clear-headed Ghost Six and Weng Tonghe had already understood what was going on. Since Yuan Shikai stood respectfully behind the Empress Dowager, it meant that they had both been sold out by Yang Feng. The two exchanged a bitter smile, then hung their heads in shame and stood up.

  Zhen Fei and her small circle were still not awake, especially young people like Wen Ting Shi and Zhi Jun who did not know the cruelty of human hearts. Of course, they may have known but did not want to admit it in their hearts. They all knew Yuan Shikai, after all, he was a descendant of a famous family, although he had studied for many years and still didn't pass the imperial examination, he was not the same kind as these scholars, but at least they were acquainted.

  "Yuan Weiting, the Emperor is here and you still don't come forward to pay your respects?" Zhen Fei's older brother, Zhi Jun, shouted sternly. Gui Zi Liu let out a sigh, probably lamenting that being with this group of people was indeed likely to lower one's IQ.

  "You treacherous dog, you still want to burn me to death? Today I will burn you to death first. Yuan Ai, take down all these rebellious and treacherous officials." Cixi coldly shouted.

  "Your humble servant obeys the order!" Yuan Shikai said, and then hastily stepped forward to bypass Ghost Six, and said to Weng Tonghe: "Lord Weng, I apologize."

  "Governor Yuan, you are quite calculating!" Weng Tonghe said with a bitter smile, his face ashen.

  "Each other!" Yuan Shikai laughed and said, the two soldiers behind him quickly tied up Weng Tonghe. At this time, Guangxu was already stunned, his lips trembling as he watched the scene unfold. The loyal Wen Tingshi and others beside him were still trying to rush forward to beat the traitor, but unfortunately, they were soon knocked to the ground by the butt of a gun. These rebellious officials were then tied up one by one like pigs by the rough soldiers. In the end, only Guangxu, Zhenfei, and Guizi Liu were left in the Nourishing Heart Palace.

  "Laoliu, you go home and rest!" Cixi said with a sigh as she looked at her younger uncle.

  "The Empress Dowager, Weng Tonghe and others spoke recklessly, their crime is unforgivable. However, this crime that I speak of is not the intention of His Majesty. I hope Your Imperial Majesty will investigate clearly." Guizi Liu said, his meaning was clear: Weng Tonghe and others wanting to kill you is just their suggestion, but the Emperor has not expressed his attitude yet. You cannot use this as a reason to punish, let alone depose the Emperor. As for summoning Yang Feng's troops into the capital, this is something that His Majesty has the right to do, and you have no reason to take action against it.

  Cixi smiled faintly, why would she want to abolish the emperor? It's better to keep him and be happy.

  "Lao Liu, go back and rest, don't interfere with court affairs anymore." She said with a wave of her hand.

  At this time, Li Yuncong held a stack of imperial edicts and walked over to whisper: "Old Buddha, shouldn't we hurry up and ask the Emperor to use his seal? You also know that the war situation at the front is tense, and the soldiers are still waiting to continue going back to fight the enemy."

  Cixi nodded expressionlessly, and the two men hastily ran to Guangxu's side without even bothering to pay their respects. They placed a thick stack of pre-written imperial edicts in front of him. Yuan Shikai smiled and said: "Please trouble Your Majesty to sign on top."

  "You traitors, corrupt officials, shameless scoundrels!" One look at the top document promoting Yang Feng to first-class duke and governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and the little dog finally erupted, stretching out his hand to tear up the imperial edicts. As a result, Li Yuncong quickly pressed down on him, and then Guangxu grabbed his jade seal and smashed it at Yuan Shikai. Old Yuan's reaction was also very quick, grabbing it in his hand, and then Li Yuncong pressed down on Guangxu, taking his hand and putting the jade seal in it, and then pressing down.

  "Empress Dowager, Old Buddha, this is the treacherous subject you've raised!" Guangxu shouted in grief and indignation as he struggled.

  Cixi watched the scene with an expressionless face. Qiuzi Liu's face was gloomy, and he just wanted to speak, but after glancing at the soldiers' malicious gazes beside him, he wisely shut his mouth. On the other hand, Zhenfei showed extreme bravery at this time, scolding and rushing forward to try to pull away Yuan Shikai. Old Yuan, who was busy covering the jade seal, kicked her aside with a foot in great annoyance.

  At this time, Cixi said: "Drag out that little fox spirit for me!"

  Li Lianying hastily beckoned with one hand, and several eunuchs immediately stepped forward, then dragged Zhen Fei by the hair to Cixi's presence amidst her mournful cries.

  "Do you know what it's like to be burned alive? Go and try it yourself!" Cixi shouted with a ferocious face, Li Lianying gave a wink, those eunuchs immediately dragged her out, soon from a relatively isolated house not far away, flames burst out, then the miserable cries of Zhenfei came.

  At this time, Guangxu was like a madman, and Yuan Shikai had to call two more soldiers. The four of them pressed him down before he calmed down. Meanwhile, the poor little dog watched the flames outside and listened to Zhenfei's increasingly faint cries for help, mechanically stamping the imperial seal on the edicts filled with Yang Feng's official titles.

  Guizi Liu could no longer bear it, and turned to Empress Dowager Cixi saying: "Your Majesty, if you tolerate these treacherous officials' arrogance, how will we face our ancestors in the future?"

  "The cannon is set up outside the city, what can a mere woman like me do? And who brought this treacherous minister here anyway? I'm afraid our ancestors will not blame me for this," said Empress Dowager Cixi with a cold smile.

  The devil is speechless now, this is what you call "reaping what you sow"!

  Yuan Shikai and others finally finished the jade seal, contentedly holding a large stack of sacred edicts as they walked back. They smiled and thanked Empress Dowager Cixi, but did not leave until Li Lianying brought out the 7 million taels of silver notes. Only then did they hastily thank her again and, with a wave of their hand, left with their soldiers. As for what happened afterwards, it had nothing to do with them; the imperial court was settled, and now they had to hurry back to deal with the Japanese - after all, that was a huge business worth tens of millions of taels.

  Just as Yang Fusheng was leading the army back to Tianjin, satisfied and content, and then boarding a ship to continue on to fight Japan, Cixi also began a massacre in Beijing. Except for Weng Tonghe who was given a cup of poisoned wine to drink and died, all other members of the Emperor's party were beheaded. Guangxu was imprisoned in Yingtai as he had been three years prior, and it is said that from then on his main pleasure in life was drawing circles and cursing Yang Fusheng and Yuan Shikai.