You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 90: I'll leave the promotion opportunity to my dad~
Prince Jingjin, Nikan, who was accompanying the emperor, could no longer contain himself.

He stood up.

"Imperial Censor Jiang, when do you plan to release these people?"

"Your Highness, it can be done today."

Nikan was stunned, feeling as if he had punched a pile of cotton.

Jiang Qingyun didn't look at him, and said in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, these are all bannermen who have completed their reformation. Please issue an edict to release them and send them home. However, I would like them to return to the prison once a month for half a day of re-education within the next year."

"Why?"

"Strengthen loyalty."

Shunzhi nodded, thinking that the system of regularly returning to prison to report was absolutely right.

Everyone remained stunned upon learning that they could go home.

Helpless, the jailer led them in shouting "Unite our will, defend the Qing Dynasty!" before pushing and shoving them out of the prison.

After these 500-plus zombie-like people entered the inner city, they quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers, with countless people wondering what had happened to them.
……

Emperor Shunzhi remained in high spirits and stood on the terrace, gazing at the southern part of the city.

"How should I reward you? Should I appoint you as the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, or as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Justice?"

"I do not wish to receive a reward."

"Then what do you want?"

“My father has violated the law and has been demoted from the capital to serve as the garrison commander of Tongzhou in Zhili. As his son, I cannot bear it. I wish to leave this favor to my father.”

Emperor Shunzhi had not yet spoken.

Several councilors and ministers rushed to speak.

“Imperial Censor Jiang is right, this is filial piety.”

"Moreover, Imperial Censor Jiang is young. It is already an anomaly that he was appointed as a fourth-rank official at the age of 18. If he is promoted again suddenly, it may not be good for his future development."

"Yes, Your Majesty. As the ancients said, 'A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; a mound that rises above the bank will be eroded by the current; and a person who excels above others will be criticized by the masses.'"

A group of people rushed to advise and try to dissuade Shunzhi from his idea.

He appeared to be a rational and objective person, but in reality, he had only one purpose—to prevent Jiang Qingyun from being promoted.

Jiang Zemin has already stirred up unrest in the court and the country since he was only appointed as the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. If he were to become the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, he might as well just merge the entire city of Beijing into the You'anmen Prison.

……

Emperor Shunzhi's unusual calm today is probably due to his recent deposition of the empress.

"By imperial decree, Jiang Zhongcheng is appointed as the General of Tongzhou Garrison of the Zhili Green Standard Army."

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

A group of people breathed a sigh of relief and shouted "Long live the leader!"

Little did they know, this was exactly what Jiang Qingyun wanted, something he couldn't have desired.

For a tree to grow tall, it needs a well-developed root system and a thick trunk. Otherwise, if it grows too tall, it is more likely to be broken by strong winds.

In officialdom, the fourth rank is a significant hurdle.

The struggles ahead will be ten or a hundred times more brutal, so it's better to stay put for now, develop quietly, and establish a dense network of roots.

The Green Standard Army's official ranks have always been lower than those of the Eight Banners system; a second-rank general is even lower than a fourth-rank banner officer.

……

Seeing that Shunzhi was preparing to return to the palace, Jiang Qingyun suddenly took two steps forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something else to say."

"But it doesn't matter."

Jiang Qingyun looked around, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Emperor Shunzhi waved his hand to dismiss those around him.

“My dear minister, you may speak now.”

"Your subject requests to concurrently serve as the Director of the Ceremonial Affairs Bureau of the Thirteen Offices."

"What did you say? What do you want to do?" Shunzhi was stunned and stared suspiciously at Jiang Qingyun, who had a sincere expression on his face.

"The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is in charge of court music and dance. I wish to share Your Majesty's burdens by establishing a women's song and dance troupe in the capital." Emperor Shunzhi remained silent.

So Jiang Qingyun continued speaking.

"This is my idea: first, select beautiful young women from the Eight Banners and bondservant families; then, invite excellent tutors from Jiangnan; finally, establish a training hall near the Forbidden City, where they will train diligently every day. When His Majesty has free time, he can go and enjoy some singing and dancing to relax. The Forbidden City has strict rules, and the palace maids are always trembling with fear of making mistakes; His Majesty may be tired of that too."

Emperor Shunzhi breathed a sigh of relief: "I grant your permission."

"Your Majesty, please grant us the funds needed to construct the venues."

"Go and find the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works."

"According to the order."

……

When returning to the Forbidden City~
Emperor Shunzhi was in an exceptionally good mood. After six years on the throne and one year ruling in his own right, he had finally achieved his long-cherished goal.

Everyone says that an emperor's word is law, but he was a truly stifled emperor.

He'd had enough of living a life of hiding his abilities and biding his time.

In Shunzhi's eyes, Jiang Qingyun was a hundred times more pleasing to the eye than those princes and dukes. It was just that he didn't yet have the power to abolish the Council of Princes and Ministers; he would abolish it sooner or later.

The emperor must have absolute authority and make all decisions.

Even Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang could not interfere with imperial power.

Jiang Qingyun was in a good mood, having achieved three goals today.

First, seize power on behalf of the father.

Second, the working group can continue to exist, and we have an extra sword in our hands called "correcting the Eight Banners descendants". We may not use the sword, but we cannot be without it.

Third, the relationship between the ruler and his subjects went a step further, transitioning from public affairs to private matters.

Archimedes once said: "Give me a private matter, and I can lift up the whole family of the leader."

……

On that day, the eunuchs from Qianqing Palace arrived.

"Congratulations, Imperial Censor Jiang, you've been promoted again. His Majesty has appointed you as the Director of the Ceremonial Affairs Bureau of the Thirteen Offices. This is your pass for entering and leaving the Forbidden City at any time."

"Thank you, Third Eunuch."

Jiang Qingyun handed over a gold leaf without making a sound.

The two were already quite familiar with each other, but no matter how familiar they were, it was never wrong to be overly polite.

"Third Uncle, where is your hometown?"

"I was an orphan when I was young, and was later adopted by an orphanage in the capital. I managed to survive there. When I was 12, I entered the palace and became a eunuch."

“Eunuchs are no good, but at least they have three feet of cotton clothing and two full meals. After I was cut in the Imperial Household Department, my master brought me a big bowl of rice and said, ‘San Gouzi, stop howling and eat. Once you’re full, it won’t hurt anymore.’ That bowl was bigger than my face, so I buried my head and ate and ate, bleeding as I ate. Hey, I have to say, it really didn’t hurt anymore.”

The third eunuch was so engrossed in his memories that he couldn't pull himself out.

Jiang Qingyun sighed deeply, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

The person in front of me is actually San Gouzi, the most promising orphan mentioned by the "orphanage manager couple"!

Out of caution, he did not immediately acknowledge the relationship. Acknowledging kinship carried risks; he might gain a friend or an enemy, and the consequences were unpredictable.

San Gouzi had suffered since childhood, and then he had his manhood cut off.

A harsh upbringing, coupled with physical disabilities, may well lead to psychological disabilities as well.

Judging from his appearance, he seemed like an honest and simple person. But could an orphan who rose through the ranks of eunuchs to become the head eunuch of the eighth rank really be an honest and simple person?
……

Jiang Qingyun deliberately asked:
"Third Eunuch, you are now the head eunuch of the Forbidden City, aren't you?"

"No, no, we are just a nobody. Chief Eunuch Wu Liangfu is the head of the eunuchs in the Forbidden City. He is in charge of most of the affairs of the Thirteen Offices. You are also serving as a physician in the Directorate of Rites, so you will inevitably have to deal with Chief Eunuch Wu in the future."

"Is Manager Wu easy to get along with?"

The third eunuch smiled wryly and shook his head.

Before leaving~
He whispered, "Manager Wu loves silver the most, he has a huge appetite. I heard he has a house in Qianliang Hutong specifically for storing silver."

Jiang Qingyun smiled and did not press the matter further.

(End of this chapter)