The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

"Good, good, good! It's truly commendable that you have such ambition!" Empress Dowager Cixi nodded in satisfaction. She immediately shifted the topic to the gifts.

"I heard you brought back some novelties as tribute. What are they? Stand up and tell me!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!" Shen Lian thought to himself, "Finally, I can get up!"

Shen Lian got up from the ground and realized that there were quite a few people in the hall. The old witch Cixi leaned against her throne. Li Lianying stood beside her, and several palace maids stood on either side of her. Four or five eunuchs and several guards with swords at their sides stood on both sides of the hall, watching him menacingly.

Shen Lian didn't dare to look any longer and turned to Eunuch Deng, saying, "Then please have them bring the things in!"

Soon, four eunuchs entered carrying boxes and stood in a row. Before Shen Lian could make a move, two guards stepped forward, opened the boxes, and carefully inspected them. Finding nothing amiss, they bowed and stood aside.

Shen Lian then carefully demonstrated and explained each item, and Empress Dowager Cixi was very satisfied with them. She was especially pleased with the floral water, and even had a palace maid try some on the spot.

"Very well! I will accept your filial piety. Since you are so devoted to serving your country, the court cannot disappoint your loyalty. Little Li!"

"Your servant is here!" Li Lianying hurriedly bowed and replied.

"Go and tell the Ministry of Personnel that Shen Lian is a talented individual who has returned from studying abroad. The court should give him an important position and fill any vacancies there!"

"twitter!"

"I'm tired! You may all kneel and take your leave!" Empress Dowager Cixi waved her hand.

Shen Lian hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, then backed out of the hall.

Standing outside the hall, Shen Lian realized his vest was soaked with sweat. Although he looked down on Empress Dowager Cixi, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous in front of her. He realized he hadn't seen enough grand occasions.

Just as Shen Lian was inwardly cursing himself for being spineless, Li Lianying came out.

"Congratulations, Lord Shen!"

"Everything is thanks to your help, sir. I am deeply grateful for your great kindness!" Shen Lian bowed respectfully.

"Hahaha!" Li Lianying laughed triumphantly twice; "Let's go! Lord Shen, I'm going to the Ministry of Personnel to deliver the Empress Dowager's edict. I'll see you out while I'm at it!"

"Please go first, Steward Li!"

Li Lianying walked ahead without ceremony, with Shen Lian trailing half a step behind. The two walked out of the Summer Palace...

"Go back and wait! Your appointment should be issued in a few months," Li Lianying instructed before parting.

"Thank you, Eunuch! It just so happens that a batch of cigarettes I made is about to be sent to the capital. I'll have someone send a few boxes to your residence then!"

"Then thank you for your kindness, Lord Shen!" Li Lianying nodded with a smile.

"Hey, what's a few packs of cigarettes? Just let me know if you need anything, Steward Li! I'll take my leave now!"

Watching Shen Lian's carriage drive away, Li Lianying stroked his chin and nodded in satisfaction.

"Young Master, how did things go? Did you see the Empress Dowager?" Shen Xiaohu asked curiously from inside the carriage.

"Yes! You saw him?" Shen Lian nodded.

"Young master, isn't the Empress Dowager as beautiful as an angel and as dignified and majestic as a fairy?"

"Why are you asking this? Is it something you should be asking?" Shen Lian scolded Shen Xiaohu. It's best to keep a low profile now that they're in the capital. Don't cause any trouble.

Leaving aside how Shen Lian waited for news at home, Prince Qing Yikuang was also racking his brains to get the 150,000 taels of silver as soon as possible.

That day, he summoned He Degang, an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, to his residence to discuss this matter. He Degang was someone he had personally promoted and was considered one of his confidants.

“Your Highness, it’s not difficult to make this happen!” After listening to Prince Qing’s account, He Degang quickly came up with an idea.

"After Yuan Xiangcheng took control of Shandong, he vigorously trained his new army in preparation for suppressing the Boxers. Isn't he currently having a falling out with Wang Huaide, the governor of Taiwu? The two of them are currently submitting memorials impeaching each other!"

“The bandits are causing a ruckus right now, and the discord between the governor and the prefect will definitely affect the war effort at the front. Yuan Xiangcheng is highly regarded by the Empress Dowager, so it’s reasonable for the court to replace the prefect in order to support his efforts to suppress the bandits!” He Degang said righteously, stroking his beard.

"And coincidentally, Lin Daoyuan, the prefect of Anlutu-Chuzhou in Huizhou, has just submitted a memorial requesting resignation due to old age and illness. There hasn't been a successor yet! It would be perfect to transfer Wang Huaide there."

"To be transferred from Shandong, a place rife with bandits, to Huizhou, such a wealthy and stable place... Wang Huaide must be incredibly grateful to the Prince!" He Degang felt a pang of pain in his heart as he said this. He wanted to go to such a good place too! Unfortunately, he didn't have enough money. Sigh!

"Your Highness, this is a win-win-win situation!" He Degang said proudly.

"How can you achieve four things at once? Tell me quickly," Yikuang hurriedly pressed. He was just an empty-handed prince who only seized power by flattering Empress Dowager Cixi. He really didn't know the intricacies of officialdom.

"Your Highness! Firstly, Your Highness has arranged for your own people in Taiwulin Road. Secondly, Wang Huaide will surely be grateful for Your Highness's great kindness and will certainly repay you with generous gifts!"

"Third, we've done Yuan Xiangcheng a favor. He'll surely reciprocate. Fourth, the Empress Dowager will definitely praise the Prince for his competence and will trust him even more in the future." The more He Degang spoke, the more brilliant he felt his plan was, and he couldn't help but blush with excitement.

"Excellent! Hahaha, with Yi Cai's help, I am truly like a fish in water!" Yi Kuang laughed heartily upon hearing this, secretly calculating how much benefit Wang Huaide and Yuan Xiangcheng would give him!

“But Your Highness, let’s not get too excited yet. There’s still an important problem that needs to be solved, otherwise we’ll have a hard time proceeding!” He Degang said after Yikuang had finished laughing.

"Didn't you just say it was a win-win-win situation? Is there any other problem?"

"Your Highness, I just forgot that Shen Lian is a newly appointed candidate for the position. His qualifications are too shallow. If we rashly assign him to this substantive post, I'm afraid it will attract a lot of criticism!"

"Hmph, I can arrange whomever I want, and who dares to stop me!" Yi Kuang roared.

“Your Highness, Weng Tonghe and his gang of upright officials are keeping an eye on us! If they find out, they’ll definitely cause trouble. Officialdom has always valued seniority, and now that one of them has come out, who knows how many people are watching. We’d better be careful, or things will get out of hand!” He Degang advised.

If it weren't for his lack of connections in court, preventing him from getting promoted, he wouldn't want to serve this greedy fool. What else could he do besides taking money? Sigh!

Thinking of the swarms of corrupt censors in the court, Yikuang frowned. If things escalated and the Empress Dowager found out he had sold official positions, he would be finished.

Damn it, if all else fails, why not just sell this job to someone else? Whose money isn't money? Yi Kuang thought to himself.

But where could he find someone who could come up with 150,000 taels of silver in such a short time? He also really liked the pearl that Shen Lian had given him, and he was extremely reluctant to return it.