The Empress of the Qing Dynasty is from the Northeast

When Hong Yan and his friends came back in the evening, they all looked like they had gained a lot.

They followed Duoxihun to the market, bought a lot of food and small items, tried sugar paintings, bought mutton biscuits, picked out two vases for their father and mother, and went to an old parade ground.

The old school field was a little remote, and it was snowing outside, so the road was a little difficult to walk on, but the children were all having a lot of fun.

Duo Xihui also called him his good brother, Chen Zhihuai.

Hutuli was somewhat excited to see him and told him about how the two of them hunted wild boar that day, which shocked Duosihun.

"Okay, Chen Zhihuai, you actually carried me to the hunting ground!"

Hong Yan and Hong Zhao carefully looked at the young man in front of them, who was a few years older but looked very dignified and elegant.

There is no other reason, it's just that Chen Zhihuai was born too handsome, just like the fair-faced scholars in his mother's storybooks and the pretty boys who could be seduced by vixens.

It is hard to imagine that such a person could actually smash a wild boar to pieces by force.

It’s true that people cannot be judged by their appearance.

Hong Zhao opened his mouth wide. He originally thought that the brother who killed the wild boar should be very burly, like those tall and strong Mongolians with beards he had seen before.

However, he still couldn't believe it when he looked at the young man in front of him with bright eyebrows and rosy face.

"Brother, have you been practicing martial arts since you were a child?" Hong Yan was very polite.

Chen Zhihuai knew their identities and didn't dare to be arrogant. He quickly bowed and saluted: "Brother, I dare not. I have hired a Mongolian master and a swordsmanship master since I was a child."

So that's how it is. Hong Yan nodded, his eyes full of admiration: "No need to be polite. You have such a high level of martial arts attainment at your age, which really makes us ashamed."

Duo Xihui put his right hand around Hongyan's neck and said in a careless manner, "Hongyan, stop showing off your knowledge. Chen Zhihuai is very capable, both civil and military! I think he should be called Chen Bin."

After he finished speaking, he was still very proud and introduced them to Chen Zhihuai: "This is the Second Princess Hutuli from the Fourth Prince's Mansion, the Third Prince Hongyan, and the Fourth Prince Hongzhao. You can just call them by their names. Don't be so polite when you go out to play. They are all my cousins."

The few of them greeted each other, and then walked excitedly towards the old training ground.

Hong Zhao was most curious: "Is it really so fun there?"

Duo Xihui nodded: "Yes, there is a place for training soldiers in there! It's just run-down and can't be used now. It's all deserted. But it can catch birds. I also brought a slingshot!"

Hutuli became excited: "This is good! This is good! Catch a few, they said they would roast them over fire and they would taste really good!"

Hong Zhao couldn't help but laugh and said, "Sister, you don't know how to cook. Last time I wanted to make noodles for my mother, the one you made was so mad at the salt seller."

Hutuli twisted his ear, causing Hongzhao to grimace in pain.

"I can't do it, can't you?"

"Ouch, ouch, it hurts! Brother! Brother, save me!"

Hong Yan saw the injustice and quickly pleaded with Hutuli: "Sister, sister, please let him go. Fei Yang'a's ears are big. If you pull them, they will get bigger."

Hutuli curled his lips and then let go.

Chen Zhihuai smiled secretly when he saw this, and that smile was as if the snow on the Tianshan Mountains had melted. However, Hutuli glared at him, and he immediately coughed a few times to cover up his embarrassment.

Duo Xihun was still explaining to him: "It's okay, Hutuli is a nice person, she just has a bad temper, but that's not a big deal, she is very reasonable, a good girl." After saying that, he gave him a thumbs up.

Chen Zhihuai nodded in support, and Hongzhao also hurried to flatter his sister.

"My sister is even better. She is gifted and can shoot wild boars. She is also kind and beautiful. She can do needlework and write poetry."

"Alright, alright, stop flattering me. Are we almost there?"

Duo Xihui looked at the road and said, "We are almost there. There is only a bend ahead."

The boys rushed forward like monkeys returning to the mountains and soon arrived at the destination.

This old parade ground looks very old. The huge foundation and the stone pillars that have experienced a lot of wind, frost, rain and snow must be hundreds of years old. However, through its vague appearance, one can still vaguely see the scenery of the past.

Several children were stunned.

The snow was not heavy, and the drifting snowflakes seemed to cast a halo over this dilapidated, decaying training ground, which had experienced infinite glory, was the site of wanton fighting but was now restrained.

It's like a big dream.

They walked in slowly to take a look at the overall picture and details of the old parade ground.

The Fourth Beile's Mansion has a training ground, but it is not even half as big as this one. It was used for horse racing, martial arts training, and archery training, while this one is used for training soldiers and the military.

Hong Yan walked over the steps covered with weeds, touched the broken and cracked stone pillars, and stood on the high platform looking down, as if the whole city was in his sight. Even the sky seemed to be more distant, and the snowflakes were flying everywhere, but they didn't feel cold when they fell on his body, but only had a more solemn and murderous feeling.

“I want to be a general.”

Hong Zhao climbed up at some point and, imitating his brother's appearance, looked out from the platform, as if he too was filled with boundless pride.

"The general has the most freedom. He leads his soldiers and his army, and can go wherever he wants and kill whomever he wants."

Listening to his brother's childish words, Hong Zhao touched his little head.

Hong Zhao felt that he was broad-minded, but he was different. Hong Yan felt infinitely sad.

History changes and the world is unpredictable.

All the palaces have turned to dust.

The people are prosperous and suffer.

If they die, the people will suffer.

Hongyan thought that he wanted to see the Qing Dynasty's rule lasting for thousands of years, as splendid as a painting, and he also wanted to see the hard struggles of the lower-class people, their weak yet tenacious lives.

Just like Grandpa Feng who sells sugar paintings.

He has no children.

His son joined the army and died in the war against the Dzungars. His daughter became another man's concubine and within two years, two bodies were carried out.

His old wife also became seriously ill two years ago and died.

He is the only one left in the family, living a lonely but tenacious life.

Day after day, year after year, I sell sugar paintings.

Maybe one day, he will be gone too.

The Feng family’s sugar paintings are gone too.

But there are always others selling sugar paintings.

Not everyone may still remember him. When they do, they’ll just say, “Old Feng, he passed away two years ago.”

Hong Yan looked at the dilapidated old parade ground and saw a pile of bones. He saw the rich living in luxury and feasting, and the frozen corpses on the roadside.

Chen Zhihuai also came up and sighed.

"Under the three mountains of yellow dust and clear water, a thousand years have passed like a galloping horse. History is the succession of rise and fall. Hongyan, there is no need to be too sad."

He patted Hongyan on the shoulder and said casually: "The Manchus conquered the world on horseback, and now civil governance is in vogue. I wonder if you can compare with me?"

Hong Yan came out of his own thoughts and turned to look at him.

"Compared to what?"

"Let's compete in bird hunting."

Chen Zhihuai pointed towards a place not far away. A few birds flew overhead, making the old training ground look even more desolate.