The Romantic Journey Through Time: Huanzhu is Also Romantic 32

Chapter 148 Selection of Imperial Envoy (Part 3)

"You say the Emperor will choose a member of the Fu family as Imperial Envoy?" Hearing Ertai's words and seeing his serious expression, as if he were confident, Fu Lun looked at him with surprise.

"Father, you've been a court official for over twenty years, haven't you? Don't you understand our master?" Ertai asked with a smile, his gaze towards Fu Lun carrying a deeper meaning.

"You mean...?" Fu Lun understood the meaning in Ertai's gaze and nodded thoughtfully.

"Father, whatever you think of is what it is," Ertai replied with a smile.

Generally speaking, from ancient times to the present, officials speak in cryptic and ambiguous ways, only revealing a fraction of their thoughts. However, this is not the case between father and son; they usually speak frankly and directly. But now, in the court, with many people around, Ertai and his father Fu Lun spoke as cryptically as possible.

Having served as a courtier under the shrewd and powerful Qianlong for over twenty years, Fu Lun possessed considerable political wisdom and naturally understood Ertai's meaning. Ertai meant that, in order to balance the power of the two factions, Qianlong would naturally choose a neutral third party to serve as the imperial envoy, and the Fu family was precisely that neutral party, having been loyal to the Qing emperors since their ancestors.

Throughout ancient dynasties, the conflict between the power of the prime minister and the emperor was ever-present, but from the Qing Dynasty onwards, imperial power had always been superior to that of the prime minister, and there had never been a situation where the emperor's power was usurped. Qianlong, who was always eager to seize power and was naturally shrewd and intelligent, mastered the art of imperial rule to perfection.

For example, Liu Yong was an honest and upright official, while Heshen was a corrupt official and a courtier. Emperor Qianlong was fully aware of their actions. According to the common understanding, corrupt officials should be executed, and honest officials should be promoted. But why did the emperor, knowing who was greedy and who was honest, employ both?

This was actually for the sake of balance. Whether honest or corrupt, once you reach a high position, even the head of the Nine Ministers, you need followers to spread your political orders and influence. Otherwise, your decrees would be distorted before even leaving the government offices. These followers are your cronies, and you are their leader, thus forming a faction. In this way, if all the officials listen to you, who will listen to the emperor's orders? Wouldn't the court and the country become the officials' empire?

Therefore, the emperor both used and guarded against the important ministers in the court, fearing that the power of the prime minister would overshadow the imperial power and make him truly "isolated". The so-called "use" means that the emperor would give important positions to one faction while also giving important positions to the other. The so-called "guard" means that the emperor would act as a mediator from above, maintaining a balance between the two factions and keeping them in check. If one faction suddenly became stronger than the other, the emperor would lean towards the weaker faction to restore the balance. In this way, the imperial power was thoroughly consolidated. The officials below, regardless of whose side they were, could only follow their leader and listen to the emperor. In the end, they became dependent on the emperor for their existence, and the imperial power reached its supreme and unshakeable peak.

As a high-ranking official, it was impossible for Fu Lun to be unaware of the emperor's political maneuvering. However, what shocked Fu Lun immensely was that Ertai, at only eighteen years old, could so clearly understand the intricacies of the relationship between high-ranking officials and the emperor. Fu Lun himself, at Ertai's age, was completely clueless, not even grasping the most basic dynamics of officialdom!

How could Ertai understand it so thoroughly? Could it be... the legendary political genius? Fu Lun felt a surge of pride; the Fu family had produced such a rising political star as Ertai, a testament to their promising future!

Thinking this, Fu Lun's gaze towards Er Tai became extremely appreciative, and his heart began to tip in Er Tai's favor. Although Fu Lun had previously preferred Er Kang over Er Tai and had intended to pass the title to him, seeing Er Tai's sudden rise and emergence as a rising political star in the Qianlong era, he had to reconsider for the sake of the Fu family's future. Er

Tai, of course, also noticed the change in his father's eyes and was also very excited. Fu Lun had served in the court for two or three decades and had a group of loyal confidants under his command, many of whom held high positions. If he could take over all of them, it would be a considerable fortune.

"Gentlemen, the time has come. Please enter the hall." As Er Tai was lost in thought, the eunuch in charge entered with a whisk and spoke in a high-pitched voice to the officials in the court room.

Upon hearing the eunuch's arrival to deliver the imperial decree, the officials' smiles vanished, their expressions turning serious. They then formed two pairs, one for civil officials and one for military officials, and proceeded in procession towards the Qianqing Palace. Because Ertai's rank was relatively low among these officials, he stood at the very back of the military ranks. Fulun, a first-class duke, was fifth among the civil officials. Ahead of him were a prince, a duke of the second rank, two beile (princes of the third rank), and behind him were Liu Yong and Heshen, two Grand Councilors.

Soon, the officials entered the hall and, according to the principle of "civil officials before military officials" and their rank, formed four lines beneath the dragon throne. Then, when the chief eunuch, Eunuch Xi, announced in a high-pitched voice, "His Majesty has arrived," everyone slapped their sleeves, prostrated themselves, and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Then the Emperor, seated high on his dragon throne, looked down upon his officials and said loudly, "Rise, my beloved ministers." The officials replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty," and rose, rolling up their sleeves before standing respectfully with their hands at their sides.

"I called you up today because I wish to discuss the Red Lotus Rebellion with you all. What do you think should be done with these thousands of rebels?" After everyone rose, Qianlong took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, but his eyes flashed with a sharp light as he swept over each official.

Seeing Qianlong's piercing gaze, most of the officials seemed somewhat afraid and hastily looked away, while some lowered their heads as if they had done something wrong.

"What, is no one willing to offer me a suggestion?" After scanning the officials and seeing that none were willing to answer, Qianlong felt slightly displeased, and his tone became somewhat harsh.

In truth, the officials in court weren't unwilling to speak; rather, they were used to it. They knew Qianlong's temperament well—he disliked officials meddling or interfering. Moreover, the capture of the Red Lotus Rebellion was a matter for the Nine Gates Commander's camp. Since Fu Lun hadn't spoken, these officials, though wanting to, couldn't easily do so. After all, it wasn't their business, and speaking out might offend Qianlong, incurring his displeasure. So, it was better to remain silent.

This situation reminded Ertai of the official maxim of Zhang Tingyu, a veteran of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns: "Ten thousand words are not as good as one silence." This was a profound saying he had gleaned from twenty years of serving as a high-ranking official during a peaceful era.

However, among the court officials, Heshen was the most adept at discerning Qianlong's intentions. Seeing the silence among the officials and the somewhat awkward atmosphere, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant believes that these rebels of the Red Lotus Sect are utterly despicable. Only beheading them can appease public anger."

"Haha, finally someone speaks up! Very well," Qianlong said, putting down his teacup with a slightly sarcastic tone. His gaze then swept over the officials, causing them to quickly lower their heads. He then looked at Heshen and smiled, "Minister He, do you mean to behead these rebels one by one?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Heshen replied, cupping his hands again. "Only in this way can we make an example of them and deter others from plotting rebellion."

"Hmm." Qianlong neither confirmed nor denied Lord He's meaning, and then asked, "Do any of your other ministers have different opinions?"

"Your Majesty, I agree with Lord He's view. It would be an insult to the imperial authority not to execute these troublemakers who only know how to create chaos and disrupt the stability of our Great Qing."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I also agree with Lord He's point of view."

"I agree..."

As soon as Lord He spoke, his staunch supporters chimed in, agreeing with his views, and all looked at Qianlong, awaiting his instructions.

"Do any other ministers have different opinions?" Qianlong took a sip of tea, and seeing that everyone was still silent, he called out, "Minister Fu, these rebels were captured by your Nine Gates soldiers. What is your opinion on this?"

Upon hearing Qianlong's call, Fu Lun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I think what Lord He said is absolutely right. Throughout history, no dynasty has shown mercy to rebels."

"Oh." Qianlong remained noncommittal, then looked at Liu Yong and asked, "Minister Liu, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that the ringleaders of these rebels should be executed, while the accomplices, perhaps instigated, do not understand Your Majesty's benevolent rule. Therefore, I believe they should be treated differently. Those who are willing to surrender to our Great Qing can be allowed to repent and be incorporated into the Green Standard Army, while those who remain obstinate, I agree with Lord He's opinion, should be killed!" Liu Yong replied, cupping his hands.

"Heh, interesting. Today's court session was quite a picture of harmonious officials," Qianlong chuckled sarcastically, picking up his teacup and tracing the rim with the lid. Through the rising steam, he glanced at Heshen and Liu Yong with amusement, his thoughts unknown.

"Heh, Your Majesty, it is precisely because of the harmony between the emperor and his ministers, the unity of purpose, and the mutual respect and love among officials that we have the flourishing atmosphere of the Qianlong era," Heshen said, having discerned the sarcasm in Qianlong's words, but quickly silenced him with a flattering remark.

"Your Majesty is wise!" After Heshen finished speaking, everyone chorused their praise, bowing to Qianlong.

"Alright, let's not discuss wisdom or not. Let's return to the previous question. Ertai, do you have a different opinion?" Qianlong waved his hand, stopping the flattery, then set down his teacup and addressed Ertai by name.

Logically, Emperor Qianlong should address Ertai as "Minister Fu," but since Fu Lun already existed in the court, using that title would inevitably cause confusion. Furthermore, Ertai had once been Emperor Qianlong's personal bodyguard, and the emperor was accustomed to calling him by his name, so it wouldn't be appropriate to change it.

"Your subject is here." Hearing Qianlong call his name, Ertai strode forward, stood in the middle of the group, and knelt, cupping his hands in greeting.

"You've done a great service in capturing the Red Lotus Rebellion this time. As for how to deal with these rebels, I presume you already have a plan?" Qianlong asked casually. The ministers all turned to look at Ertai, their expressions varied.

Ertai took in the expressions of the ministers and then said ambiguously, "Your Majesty, I believe that what Minister He, Minister Liu, and the other ministers said makes sense."

"Heh, you manage to avoid offending anyone. Then analyze what they've said makes sense," Qianlong chuckled, pressing for an answer.

"Your Majesty," Ertai replied, "I believe that the Red Lotus Rebellion should be beheaded as a warning to the world. I agree with Lord He's opinion on this point." Hearing Qianlong's question, Ertai inwardly groaned. This was his first time attending court, and he had been promoted to the rank of a second-grade official, a promotion that was unusually high. He only wanted to keep a low profile and avoid being too conspicuous, lest he inadvertently offend other ministers and become their enemy.

But since Qianlong had asked, Ertai had no choice but to answer. He could only play the good guy, saying tactful things so as not to offend anyone, while simultaneously using the opportunity to express his own views and make his voice heard, ensuring that these veteran ministers wouldn't underestimate him.

So he continued, "As for what Lord Liu said, I also think it makes a lot of sense. As Lord Liu said, quite a few of these Red Lotus Sect rebels have been misled by others and have mistakenly boarded the pirate ship. As long as Your Majesty shows them kindness and influence, I think they will abandon their evil ways and serve our dynasty."

After a pause, seeing that several ministers in the court were secretly nodding, Ertai continued, saying something that shocked and angered everyone, "As for Han Yun, the ringleader of the Red Lotus Sect rebels, I think he should not be killed, but should be spared!"

"What..."

"You..."

Upon hearing Ertai's words, the expressions of the ministers in the court changed immediately. They all said that Ertai's words were utterly absurd and treasonous. Moreover, the ringleader Han Yun's plot to kidnap the Empress Dowager was an unforgivable crime, yet Ertai insisted on keeping him alive. How could this not enrage everyone?

However, out of consideration for Fu Lun, the court officials did not condemn him excessively, but instead criticized him for being "young and inexperienced," "womanly," and "talking nonsense." As Ertai's father, Fu Lun could not openly plead for Ertai, but could only cast worried and concerned glances at him, while also signaling with his eyes that he should stop talking.

Ertai naturally saw Fu Lun's concerned gaze, but confidently returned Fu Lun's smile. Because when he had just spoken, his eyes had never left Qianlong's face. Seeing that Qianlong did not show any displeasure because of his words, but rather a hint of curiosity, he quickly explained.

"Your Majesty, Your Excellencies," Ertai said, "the reason I suggested keeping the ringleader Han Yun is because you are unaware of his identity. He is the younger brother of Yi Zhen, the leader of the Red Lotus Sect."

"What? Han Yun is the younger brother of the Red Lotus Sect leader?" Upon hearing Ertai's report, everyone from Emperor Qianlong to the ministers immediately paled

. Those ministers who had criticized Ertai obediently shut their mouths, daring not to say anything more. Every minister who stood before Emperor Qianlong in court was exceptionally intelligent; they all understood the meaning behind Ertai's next words: to keep Han Yun to lure out the Red Lotus Sect leader. The poor ministers who had just criticized Ertai had to swallow back their rebuttals after Ertai revealed Han Yun's identity, their faces flushed red.

Fu Lun, who had been worried sick about Ertai, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He then turned and bowed to Qianlong, saying, "Your Majesty, if Ertai's claim about Han Yun's relationship with the leader of the Red Lotus Sect is true, then I believe Han Yun should indeed be spared. Of course, whether to spare him or kill him is a decision for Your Majesty to make."

"What do you all think?" Qianlong asked, still hesitant.

"We respectfully request Your Majesty's decision," the ministers replied in unison, bowing as if following a set pattern.

"Atu, you are the Minister of War. You will investigate Han Yun's identity. Report back immediately after you have ascertained it, and then we will decide whether to spare or kill him!" Qianlong, unsure of his own options, instructed Atu to investigate Han Yun's identity before making a decision.

"Your Majesty obeys," Atu replied loudly, bowing.

"Ertai, rise." Qianlong waved his hand, signaling Ertai to stand up. Ertai said "Thank you, Your Majesty," and stood up, returning to the back of the ranks with his head bowed.

Just as he returned to his position, Qianlong, seated high on the dragon throne, spoke again, "The Shandong case has been shrouded in mystery for a long time, remaining unresolved. I trust Ertai. Now, all my ministers, let us discuss with you who should be appointed as Imperial Envoy to reinvestigate in Shandong and quell the rebellion of the Heaven and Earth Society."

Chapter 149: The Imperial Envoy's Selection Finalized.

Hearing Qianlong ask the ministers for a suitable candidate for Imperial Envoy, Ertai's expression sharpened. He thought to himself, "The main event is here. This is a classic case of using a brick to attract jade."

Whether in modern or ancient politics, when disagreements arise on major issues, a couple of insignificant matters are often brought up first to ease the tension. These minor matters are usually unrelated to individual interests, so no one argues, and the atmosphere becomes more harmonious. Then, discussing the major issues that cannot be agreed upon becomes less awkward.

Ordinary people often view politics with the misconception that officials belonging to different factions will inevitably clash over everything, big or small, always finding fault with each other. They believe that whatever the other side deems right, they consider wrong. This is a grave error. There's an old saying in officialdom: there are no permanent friends or enemies. Whether someone is friend or foe depends on the situation. As long as it doesn't involve personal gain, things will be amicable. But once interests are involved, it becomes a fight to the death.

As the saying goes, "People die for wealth, birds die for food!"

Just like when Emperor Qianlong raised the issue of the Red Lotus Rebellion, Liu Yong, who has always been at odds with Emperor He and whose opinions have consistently differed from those of He Long, agreed with He Long's views on a certain point. This is because the matter does not concern their respective interests, so there is no need to argue. However, the matter of selecting the imperial envoy will probably not be as peaceful as it was just now.

As expected, no sooner had Qianlong finished speaking than Heshen and his faction made their move. It was Fu Chang'an, Fukang'an's half-brother and a staunch confidant of Heshen, who spoke first. He said, "Your Majesty, I believe the position of Imperial Commissioner is best suited for Heshen, for two reasons. First, Heshen is the Minister of Revenue and, in his earlier years, the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department. He is extremely familiar with accounts, and since the accounts in Shandong are unclear, it is most appropriate for him to supervise and investigate them. Second, Heshen is a former Imperial Guard, highly skilled in martial arts, and has been well-versed in military strategy since childhood. It is also extremely suitable for him to go to Shandong to supervise the suppression of the Heaven and Earth Society rebellion."

Fu Chang'an spoke eloquently, both advocating for Heshen's appointment and taking the opportunity to praise Heshen in front of Qianlong and the assembled officials.

After hearing his words, Emperor Qianlong hadn't yet spoken, but Lord He waved his hand modestly and said, "Lord Fu, you flatter me too much. We're all working for the Emperor, how could we not do our best, right? Haha." His words were polite, but his face couldn't hide his smug smile.

Who in the world doesn't love to be praised? Especially in front of the Emperor. However, Lord He's humble demeanor was necessary; otherwise, if he accepted the praise so readily, it would be too pretentious, and the Emperor wouldn't feel comfortable hearing it.

However, He Yu's good mood didn't last long before he was greatly annoyed by the words of another minister. This minister said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Liu Yong is more suitable to be the imperial envoy than Minister He Yu. There are two reasons for this. First, Minister Liu is upright, incorruptible, and self-disciplined, able to resist corruption and never be tainted, thus better able to thoroughly investigate the Shandong corruption case. Second, Minister Liu has served as a prefect and governor, and is far more familiar with local affairs than Minister He Yu. Therefore, I believe that sending Minister Liu to investigate Shandong is the most appropriate."

Although this minister's words were veiled, they pointed out the reason why the previous two imperial envoys sent by Emperor Qianlong had returned empty-handed: the first two envoys were not honest enough and had privately accepted bribes from Shandong officials. Having taken their money, they couldn't expose their shortcomings.

This also subtly conveyed that Lord Liu Yong was an honest official, certain of his integrity and dedication to serving the court, and would never accept bribes or engage in favoritism or corruption. This made him superior to Lord He, who was widely known to be a corrupt official.

"Your Majesty," said another staunch supporter of Heshen, "I believe Lord Liu is unsuitable. After all, Lord Liu only governs local affairs, and since entering the court, he has only supervised the Ministry of Works, managing matters such as dike construction and garden maintenance. He has never served in the army or led troops. Moreover, Lord Liu is a civil official, unlike Lord He, who is skilled in both civil and military affairs. How can he possibly quell the Heaven

and Earth Society rebellion?" No sooner had the minister finished speaking than another of Heshen's staunch supporters stepped forward to refute his statement. "Lord He has never led troops either," another of Liu Yong's supporters countered. "How can you say that Lord He can definitely lead troops to quell the rebellion?"

“Although Lord He has never led troops, he is proficient in archery, horsemanship, and horsemanship. In addition, Lord He has been well-versed in military strategy since childhood. If he is ordered to supervise the army in Shandong, he will surely be able to quell

the rebellion in one fell swoop.” Fu Chang’an once again stated his point of view, refuting Liu’s faction. “It is true that Lord He was born into the Imperial Guard, but leading troops in battle relies on strategy and tactics. It is not possible to quell a rebellion by one person alone. Furthermore, the duty of an imperial envoy is to supervise the army. As the name suggests, it is to supervise and monitor the army and convey the Emperor’s benevolence and decrees to the local areas. It is not necessary to personally go to the battlefield and lead the troops. What use is physical strength?” Liu Fang did not back down.

"You're just a smooth talker, twisting His Majesty's will! An imperial envoy is sent to inspect the realm on behalf of the Emperor. If a mere scholar like Lord Liu is sent and fails to quell the rebellion, wouldn't that be a great loss of face for His Majesty? What would become

of our dynasty's prestige?" The first minister supporting Liu Yong retorted, even going so far as to accuse the minister of 'deceiving the Emperor' of this.

"You…" The minister of 'peace' was instantly enraged, his face turning red, his body trembling. He pointed a trembling finger at the other minister, speechless, unable to find a rebuttal.

"Hmph." The man from Liu's faction snorted, turning away and ignoring him, leaving the minister of 'peace' seething with rage.

However, with one minister 'fallen,' the He faction had no shortage of scapegoats. Another minister immediately stepped forward to argue for Minister He, listing several reasons, including classical texts, to demonstrate why Minister He was more suitable than Minister Liu for the imperial envoy. No

sooner had he finished speaking than another minister from the Liu faction stepped forward, refuting the previous minister's viewpoint and also listing several reasons, clearly explaining why Minister Liu was more suitable than Minister He.

For a time, the court was bustling with activity, a lively debate resembling a market stall. Throughout this process, regardless of whether the ministers opposed or supported the position, Minister He and Minister Liu remained silent, their faces expressionless, only occasionally glancing at the inscrutable and unfathomable Emperor Qianlong, who sat high on the dragon throne.

They both knew that no matter how fiercely their respective factions argued, the final decision rested with Emperor Qianlong.

However, Qianlong made no comment, ignoring the frequent glances directed at him by Heshen and Liu Yong. Instead, he would occasionally glance at the silent Fu Lun, but only for a fleeting moment before looking away.

"I think Lord He is more suitable..."

"That's not right, I think Lord Liu is more suitable than Lord He..."

The supporters of Liu and He argued incessantly, their faces flushed and spittle flying. At first, they were somewhat polite and courteous, but as the argument progressed, they unconsciously started using profanities, sounding like shrewish women cursing in the street. Some even rolled up their sleeves, looking ready to fight to the death.

"Enough! What's all this arguing about?" Emperor Qianlong, seated high on his dragon throne, frowned as he watched his ministers arguing wildly, their behavior escalating. His face hardened with anger, and he roared, "Look at you all! You've turned my imperial palace into a marketplace! Where is the decorum of a minister? You're nothing but a bunch of shrewish women! Shrewish women!!!"

His tone grew increasingly harsh as he finished speaking, causing the ministers, who had been arguing fiercely, to tremble with fear, breaking out in a cold sweat. They hastily knelt and prostrated themselves, pleading, "We are guilty! We deserve to die!"

"Hmph, good that you know your guilt!" Qianlong slammed his fan heavily on the dragon throne, his face stern. "Alright, get up! If you dare to roar in court again, each of you will receive twenty strokes of the cane!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The ministers hurriedly expressed their gratitude, then trembled as they returned to their positions, heads bowed, wiping the cold sweat from their brows, not daring to utter another word.

"Hmph, court adjourned!" Qianlong said angrily, then stood up and strode towards the side gate of the Qianqing Palace, still seething with rage.

"Court adjourned...!" The Grand Eunuch Xi, expressionless, stared ahead and shouted shrilly. The ministers hurriedly knelt down, shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

...

After the court adjourned, Ertai went to see the Empress Dowager. He had already learned from Erkang that Qianlong was reviewing memorials in the Southern Study and would not pay his respects to the Empress Dowager for two hours. So, he took this opportunity to go to the Empress Dowager and reveal his desire to become an imperial envoy, of course, also using his charm to win her over.

Although the Empress Dowager was reluctant to let Ertai leave her, she quickly reconsidered. She reasoned that a good man should aspire to great things, and since she had become Ertai's woman, she naturally hoped he would achieve success. His appointment as an imperial envoy to Jinan was a perfect opportunity for him to make

another great contribution. After much deliberation, the Empress Dowager agreed to plead for him before Emperor Qianlong. Overjoyed at the Empress Dowager's agreement, Ertai once again pinned her down, allowing her to fully enjoy his pleasure.

Afterwards, Ertai, anticipating Qianlong's imminent arrival, took his leave of Cining Palace. He had intended to comfort the Empress, but upon learning of Rong Momo's death, the Empress was in a terrible mood, having locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone. Feeling guilty that Rong Momo's death was inextricably linked to him, and fearing the Empress's wrath, he returned directly to the Fu family.

...

Shortly after Ertai left Cining Palace, Qianlong entered and knelt to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Rise, what brings you here today?" the Empress Dowager asked with a smile.

Qianlong said "Thank you, Mother," and sat down in the chair to the Empress Dowager's right, casually adding, "I've been busy these past few days and haven't had a chance to visit you. I hope you won't mind."

"Don't mention it," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. "We're all family. Besides, Your Majesty, you've been busy with state affairs and haven't had time to visit me. How could I blame you?" she replied. She then instructed a maid to bring tea, and soon a maid brought a steaming cup of tea, placing it respectfully on the table beside Qianlong.

"Your Majesty, please try this. It's pre-rain Longjing tea, specially given to me by Ertai," the Empress Dowager said casually to Qianlong after the maid had left.

"Oh, pre-rain Longjing tea, then I must try it." Qianlong smiled, picked up the teacup, gently blew on it, took a small sip, and praised, "The taste is fragrant and pleasant, truly excellent tea. Ertai is indeed very filial."

"Yes, the Fu family has been loyal to our imperial family since our ancestors. Grand Secretary Fu Lun is your trusted advisor, and Erkang and Ertai are quite accomplished, especially Ertai. He even saved me last time, and I have always been grateful for that."

"Yes, yes, Mother is absolutely right. Ertai saved you, which is a great contribution to the country, but I have already repaid that favor for you, so you don't need to worry about it too much."

"Hmm." Hearing Qianlong say this, the Empress Dowager nodded, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then placed the teacup on the table, asking casually, "Emperor, I heard there's been a great disturbance in Shandong recently, is that true?"

"Ah... Mother, you've heard about it too?" Qianlong asked with a smile.

"Yes, I've heard that the people are dissatisfied with the government and have risen up in unrest. It seems that remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society are also involved, is that right?"

"I've been troubled by this matter these past few days," Qianlong sighed.

"Then you might as well speak up. Although it is a Qing dynasty rule that the empress dowager should not interfere in politics, such a serious matter has occurred, and I am worried about you."

"Your son is unfilial, causing you, Mother, to worry about your son." Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Qianlong quickly bowed and apologized.

"Alright, alright, we're all family, no need for such formalities." The Empress Dowager waved her hand, then pretended to be half-knowledgeable and asked, "Emperor, I heard that the first two imperial envoys sent out returned empty-handed, without finding a single thing, is that right?"

"Yes." Qianlong nodded, then asked with interest, "Mother, you live deep within the palace, where did you hear about these things?"

"Hehe, do I need anyone else to tell me? With such a big incident in Shandong, it would be difficult for me not to know." The Empress Dowager naturally wouldn't say that she heard about it from Ertai, so she casually laughed it off.

Emperor Qianlong had only asked casually, and after hearing the Empress Dowager's explanation, he didn't press the matter further. He replied, "Since you already know, Mother, I won't hide it from you anymore. Actually, I didn't intend to hide it from you at all; I just didn't want you to worry about me, haha."

"Oh, you're getting more and more distant with your mother as you grow older," the Empress Dowager sighed unhappily, giving Qianlong a sidelong glance.

"Mother, what are you saying? How could I be distant with you? It's just that the matter in Shandong is both a big and a small matter. I'm not worried about those petty thieves from the Heaven and Earth Society; they can't cause any real trouble. What I'm truly worried about is that the officialdom in Shandong is corrupt at its core. If there's a thorough investigation, it will inevitably cause another major upheaval," Qianlong said worriedly.

Born into an official family, the Empress Dowager was deeply influenced by her family from a young age, developing a strong political sense and a broad perspective. She understood why Emperor Qianlong was so worried. After all, the court was composed of the emperor and officials at all levels, and the emperor relied on these officials to govern and manage the country. If the Shandong corruption case were thoroughly investigated, it would inevitably implicate a large number of officials, and even ministers in the court would be affected. As the saying goes, "pulling one hair affects the whole body." It's easy to kill or dismiss officials, but where would one find so many officials to fill the vacancies?

And could one guarantee that the newly appointed officials would not be corrupt, extort money, or exploit the people?

"Your Majesty, the Shandong case cannot be delayed any longer. A capable and shrewd imperial envoy must be dispatched to Jinan immediately to investigate, otherwise it will inevitably lead to disaster and affect the surrounding areas." At this point, the Empress Dowager's expression became serious. She was no longer just concerned for Ertai, but more so for the Qing Dynasty. After all, she was a member of the Qing imperial family and knew the principle that 'without the skin, where will the hair attach?'

"Alas, your son is also troubled by the selection of the imperial envoy, which is why we have delayed in making a decision," Qianlong said, frowning.

"Does Your Majesty have a suitable candidate in mind?" the Empress Dowager asked immediately.

“First is Heshen, second is Liu Yong. But Mother, as you know, these two have always been at odds. I’ve always tried to mediate. But if we send Heshen, Liu Yong will definitely object. If we send Liu Yong, Heshen won’t be happy either. As for the other ministers, they are either too old and frail, or they are not up to the task. I don’t trust the others either. So… it’s hard to decide.” Qianlong poured out his heart to the Empress Dowager.

After listening, the Empress Dowager nodded, looking thoughtful. After a while, she smiled and said to Qianlong, “Since Your Majesty is unsure who to send, I have a suitable candidate here.”

“Oh? Who is it?” Qianlong asked anxiously when he heard that the Empress Dowager had a suitable candidate. The Shandong matter had been delayed again and again, and Qianlong was more worried than anyone else. After all, this empire was his.

"Ertai." The Empress Dowager spoke only of Ertai's name, without explaining her reasons for recommending him.

"Ertai?" Upon hearing this, Qianlong frowned, his mind racing, his left hand tapping the table occasionally as he pondered.

The Empress Dowager remained unhurried, quietly sipping her tea and awaiting Qianlong's decision. Suddenly, Qianlong's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed happily, "Mother, I originally intended to send Fulun to Jinan, but after your reminder, I think Ertai is more suitable, haha."

Chapter 150 Lady Ji and Miss Ji

"Oh? I was just mentioning it casually. What, does the Emperor also think Ertai is suitable?" The Empress Dowager hadn't expected Qianlong to agree to her suggestion so easily, and she couldn't help but feel curious. She wasn't naive enough to think that Qianlong had only agreed hastily to save face for her; Qianlong was someone she had personally raised, and he had been shrewd and clever since childhood.

"Hehe, Mother, if you hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have thought of Ertai." Qianlong took a sip of pre-rain Longjing tea, then smiled and explained to the Empress Dowager, "Mother, Ertai has been by my side as a bodyguard since he was fifteen. I trust and rely on him completely. The Shandong case has been unresolved for so long, largely because the two imperial envoys I sent before were bribed by officials at all levels in Shandong. After returning to the palace, they naturally sang praises of the Shandong officials, saying that the accusations made by Censor Zhang Jinghong were completely fabricated, and even forced me to exile Zhang Jinghong to the army."

"Hmm, what the Emperor says makes sense." The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "Ertai is indeed trustworthy. His Fu family is extremely loyal to our Qing Dynasty. Take Ertai's grandfather, for example; he followed the Holy Ancestor in the campaign against Galdan and even took an arrow for the Holy Ancestor."

"Mother is right. I admire the Fu family's loyalty and believe that Ertai will tell me the truth when he goes to Jinan. Furthermore, Ertai is only eighteen years old, not yet nineteen. My appointment of him as imperial envoy will inevitably make officials at all levels in Shandong think that I am just sending Ertai to go through the motions. Just think, how can an eighteen-year-old lad investigate cases and what can he find out? In this way, it will lower their guard and expose their hidden problems."

Qianlong paused, then took a sip of tea and continued, "Furthermore, it is precisely because Ertai is still young and inexperienced that he has not yet been infected by the murky ways of officialdom. Moreover, Ertai does not understand the rules and regulations of officialdom, so he will inevitably not play by the rules. This will disrupt the Shandong officials' methods and plans for dealing with the imperial envoy, causing them to reveal their true colors while they are busy dealing with him. As the saying goes, 'A blind man can beat a master.'"

"Furthermore, based on my understanding of Ertai's character, the obsequious flattery and courtesan-like tactics used by lower-ranking officials to curry favor with the imperial envoy may not work on him. Moreover, Ertai is new to officialdom and has no relatives, friends, or protégés to rely on. He doesn't need to be so cautious in his actions and can act more freely. In this respect, Fulun cannot compare to him."

Qianlong spoke confidently, but he made a most serious and fatal mistake: the Ertai he knew had become a completely different person, one who had traveled from the modern city, full of cunning and scheming. Coupled with his innate advantage of foresight, even the arrogant Qianlong might not be able to control him in the future.

"Hmm, Your Majesty's words make sense. After your analysis, Ertai is indeed quite suitable as the imperial envoy. However, Your Majesty, from what you've said, you're only sending Ertai to stir up trouble in Shandong's officialdom, forcing the Shandong officials to reveal their true colors. So, who do you intend to send to pull the net in the end?" The Empress Dowager, having grown up in an official family, possessed a political acumen far beyond that of ordinary women. She immediately grasped the crucial point from Qianlong's words: Ertai, the imperial envoy, was merely a scout, his purpose only to mislead the Shandong officials, while the most crucial person would be the one to pull the net in the end.

"I will go personally," Qianlong said with a smile, taking a sip of tea.

"You will go personally, Your Majesty? Under what pretext?" the Empress Dowager countered, implying that if the Emperor went to Shandong, the Shandong officials would certainly be on guard and restrained, so how could Ertai still stir up trouble in Shandong's officialdom? Therefore, the Empress Dowager asked Qianlong if he had a reasonable excuse to make the Shandong officials less vigilant.

"Hehe, Mother, this excuse is on your person." Qianlong said with a meaningful smile.

"Oh? On my person?" the Empress Dowager asked curiously.

"Indeed, in three months it will be your birthday, Mother. I plan to accompany you to Jiangnan to see the scenery and give you a grand birthday celebration. In the past, we always went to Jiangnan by dragon boat, which was quite boring. This time we will change to traveling by land so that we can experience the local customs and culture along the way. What do you think, Mother?" Qianlong explained with a smile.

"Hehe, what a brilliant excuse." Upon hearing about going to Jiangnan, the Empress Dowager beamed with joy, even joking with Qianlong, "But you've included your mother in your scheme, haha."

"Haha, Mother, look at what you're saying. Isn't this all to ensure you have a happy birthday celebration..."

"Hehe, I know you're doing this for my own good. I understand. Alright, it's getting late, so I won't keep you any longer." The Empress Dowager picked up her teacup but didn't drink, a Qing Dynasty custom of 'serving tea to see off guests.'

"Then Mother, please take good care of yourself. I'll take my leave..." Qianlong tugged at the hem of his dragon robe with his right hand, kneeling to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

...

After returning to the Fu family, Ertai locked himself in his room, dismissed the servants, and began practicing the Hidden Shadow Technique and the Hidden Blade Fist. The room was filled with shadowy fists and flickering shadows, and the sounds of 'poof poof' emanated from within his body.

Originally, when Ertai's martial arts reached the late stage of the Martial Empress realm, the sound of his internal energy being released was similar to the cracking of bones. However, after reaching the peak of the late stage, the sound of his internal energy being released became the soft "poof" sound of an infant exhaling through its flat mouth. This sound was extremely faint, and even in a completely silent environment, it was difficult for ordinary people to hear.

Moreover, when combined with the Hidden Concealment Technique, which made his body semi-transparent, the energy of the Hidden Blade Fist would inevitably be pushed to its limit, killing without anyone noticing!

However, practicing martial arts is not something that can be done overnight. Ertai practiced for several hours, but he had only just begun to understand the basics and had mastered a few techniques. Even so, he was still exhausted and covered in sweat, his body aching.

Feeling that the smell on his body was unpleasant, Ertai stopped his fist strikes, then went into the bathroom and took a nice, cool shower. He immediately felt much better. Afterward, he put on his clothes, opened the door, and left the room.

Stepping outside, Ertai saw that the sun was only around three or four in the afternoon, still early. He summoned Fulu and, along with four or five servants, went for a stroll in the streets. Since his transmigration, he had been serving as a guard for Consort Ling and the Empress Dowager, rarely venturing out into the streets and having never seen the world.

Therefore, he dressed in plain clothes, wearing a young master's hat, carrying a folding fan, and, with Fulu and his four or five servants, went for a leisurely stroll.

"Fulu, which street in the capital is the most lively?" Ertai asked with a smile.

"Replying to Second Master, the south city is lively, there are many theaters there," Fulu said with a half-bow and a grin.

"Theatrical theaters?" Ertai was speechless for a moment. What was the point of theaters? He remembered how annoying it was to listen to operas in his previous life, with their slurring and grating sounds.

"What? Second Master, you don't like listening to opera?" Seeing Ertai frown, Fulu asked suspiciously, puzzled. He remembered that Second Master used to love listening to opera, so why had he changed his taste in just a few months?

Or perhaps, Second Master was getting old and had taken a liking to brothels? Thinking this, he tentatively asked in a low voice, "Second Master, the Eight Great Hutongs are quite lively."

"Pah!" Ertai laughed and scolded, "What do you take me for? Would I go to such a place?" Ertai was usually in the palace, by the side of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine, so he was naturally restrained and serious (except for his indecent behavior in bed, of course). However, now that he had taken off his official robes and returned home, he, who had greatly admired young masters in his previous life, let out a spoiled brat's mouth.

Moreover, when he said, "I would go to places like that," his eyebrows twitched incessantly, revealing an extremely lewd expression, which made Fulu and the others chuckle wickedly, repeatedly flattering him, "Of course you're not that kind of person, sir. Why would I go to places like that? Hehe." But in their hearts, they added, "I'm the one who runs places like that."

"That makes more sense." Ertai smiled and patted Fulu's shoulder, then took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, all one hundred taels, handed them to Fulu, and said with a smile, "I'm not stingy. I know you guys like this kind of thing. Now go accompany me for a stroll, and you can have some fun tonight."

"Thank you, Second Master. Then I won't stand on ceremony." Fu Lu and the others happily accepted the silver notes, thanking him profusely. Actually, before transmigrating, Er Tai was quite generous, but he was always short of money, so he couldn't be generous even if he wanted to. After transmigrating and becoming the second young master of the Fu family, he had no shortage of money. In his business jargon, he said, "I'm dirt poor now, I just have a little bit of money!" Therefore, he was very generous to his own people.

Besides, in a money-driven society, if you don't have money, it's a pipe dream to win a woman's heart with your personal charm alone. There's a saying, "A thousand pounds of loyalty is not as good as four ounces of breasts." In other words, for your subordinates, only by giving them money and letting them play with women can you make them follow you wholeheartedly.

"Second Master, where shall we go shopping?" Fu Lu put away the silver notes Er Tai gave him and asked Er Tai with a smile.

"How about we go to the South City? We could listen to some opera," Ertai suggested after a moment's thought. He remembered watching TV in his previous life, and how going to the opera was a favorite pastime of high-ranking officials in the Qing Dynasty—it had become a trend and a fashion. Now that he had transmigrated, he might as well enjoy the pleasures of folk operas.

"Alright, whatever you say, Second Master. But the South City is quite far from here. How about we hire a sedan chair for you?" Fulu asked Ertai.

"What's the point of a sedan chair for a grown man? Riding a horse is much more stylish," Ertai said with a flourish, flicking open his folding fan and waving it in front of his chest. He looked incredibly dashing, and several young maids passing by the Fu family mansion blushed and kept giving him flirtatious glances. He was getting a lot of attention!

"Alright, Second Master, please wait here. I'll go fetch the horses for you." Fu Lu agreed with a smile, then took two servants and returned to the Fu residence. Soon they returned with six horses, and Er Tai and the others mounted and set off towards the south city, covered in dust.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Er Tai arrived at the south city. Shops lined both sides of the road, and numerous small stalls were set up against the walls between the shops, their vendors loudly hawking their wares. The streets were bustling with people, men and women, a lively scene indeed.

Although Er Tai had seen similar scenes on television in his previous life, he had never experienced them firsthand. Intrigued, he dismounted and walked, frequently stopping at the stalls to curiously examine the ancient artifacts. He thought to himself, "If I brought these things back to the modern world, I could make a fortune! These are genuine goods!"

However, after shopping for a while, he got a little tired. Men don't like shopping, and shopping for a while is more tiring than working ten days a week. So he chose a theater called "Changchun Garden" and walked in with measured steps.

As soon as they entered, a waiter with a white cloth draped over his shoulder greeted them with a beaming smile, saying ingratiatingly, "Gentlemen, please come in. Would you like a private room or...?"

Ertai was about to say he would just find a seat in the main hall when another waiter, also smiling, walked towards him. However, the waiter passed right past Ertai without even glancing at him, then turned to the two women with a smile ten times more ingratiating than the one who had smiled at Ertai, saying, "Madam Ji, Miss Ji, you've arrived! Please come in, please come in. Your seats are reserved for you."

Chapter 151 Two Beauties in Trouble

"Yes, thank you for your trouble," the beautiful woman addressed as 'Madam Ji' by the waiter said with a smile, while simultaneously taking out a tael of silver from her sleeve and handing it to the waiter.

Having received the money, the waiter's smile grew even brighter. He fawned over Madam Ji, Miss Ji, and their two maids, leading the four to a prime spot in the center of the hall, directly opposite the stage. This was the best seat in the entire venue, reserved for regular customers.

And even regular customers weren't enough; they had to be from families with considerable influence. It was said that Changchun Garden was a famous opera troupe in the southern city, producing many renowned actors. Even Emperor Qianlong would sometimes visit incognito to watch performances there. Therefore, the family that could secure such a prime seat wouldn't be an ordinary household.

However, Ertai wasn't particularly concerned with their identities. He was instead very interested in Madam Ji's appearance, especially her captivating smile at the waiter and the lingering fragrance she left behind as she passed him. These sights instantly ignited Ertai's lust, making him incredibly aroused.

His eyes were burning with desire as he followed Madam Ji's graceful figure from behind—the beautiful curves, the elegant lines of her body, her long, beautiful legs, her round, pert buttocks, her alluring gait, the swaying waves of her hips—everything about her was so captivating that Ertai's throat felt hot and dry.

"Master, are you alright?" Seeing Ertai staring intently at Madam Ji, he couldn't help but whisper a reminder.

"Huh? What did you say?" Ertai, lost in his own fantasies, snapped out of his reverie at the waiter's question, quickly suppressing his smile, wiping the drool from his mouth, and asking the waiter what he wanted to know. "

Nothing... nothing, Master. Would you like a private room or the main hall?" the waiter asked impatiently. He was quite annoyed; if the person he was serving had come in a little later, or if Madam Ji had come in a little earlier, he could have pocketed that tael of silver as a reward.

"I want any of the seats around Madam Ji, any one of them," Ertai said lecherously.

"Sir, as you can see, all those seats are taken. I'm not in a good position," the waiter said, looking troubled. He saw Ertai's fine clothes and the five burly servants behind him; he was clearly not someone to be trifled with. But even opera troupes have their rules, and there's always a first-come, first-served principle.

"That's alright. Take a look at this..." Ertai pulled a shiny silver coin from his sleeve, weighing at least ten taels. The waiter's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he couldn't stop drooling.

"This..." The waiter greedily reached for the coin, but hesitated. After all, Ertai had already arrived first; asking him to change seats wouldn't be very fair. If the troupe leader found out, he'd be fired.

Seeing that the waiter wanted the money but hesitated, Ertai immediately took out another fifty-tael silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it to the waiter, saying, "Here's ten taels of silver for you, and give the fifty taels to that table of guests. Just tell them I want their seat."

With that, Ertai pointed to the seat to the right of Madam Ji's table and handed the two silver ingots to the waiter. The waiter happily accepted the silver, bowing and scraping obsequiously to Ertai, then scurried off to negotiate with the guests at that table.

The people at that table were roughly dressed, clearly ordinary people. At first, they were reluctant, but upon seeing the gleaming fifty-tael silver ingot, their faces lit up with smiles, and they hurriedly took the silver, standing up to make way for the seat.

Seeing that the other table had made way, the waiter returned to Ertai's side as if seeking credit and reward, smiling and gesturing for Ertai to sit down. Ertai smiled and praised him for his efficient work, then rewarded him with ten taels of silver. From then on, the waiter treated Ertai like his own father, overjoyed, and said, "Cuiyu, you little slut, you always complain that I can't afford to support you. Tonight, I'll go and poke your chrysanthemum bud!"

Money makes things easy, and Ertai easily dealt with the other table of spectators. He then followed the waiter to their seats. Halfway there, Ertai suddenly asked, "Waiter, whose wife is that Madam Ji?" "

Replying to you, sir, she is the wife of Ji Xiaolan, the big opium piper. She often comes to our opera troupe to support us," the waiter explained with a smile.

"Oh, Lady Ji's wife." Ertai smiled and sat down in the main seat, stealing glances at Lady Ji while inwardly marveling at her. He never expected that Ji Xiaolan, this little fat man, would have such a beautiful first wife. It was truly a blessing he had accumulated over several lifetimes.

As Ertai pondered, he searched his memory for information about Ji Xiaolan's first wife. Suddenly, he recalled that Ji Xiaolan had mentioned her in his work, *Notes from the Thatched Cottage of Close Observation*. Her maiden name was Ma, and she was a lady of high social standing, a perfect match for Ji Xiaolan. Their marriage was arranged by their parents, and their relationship was uneventful and undisturbed. This was evident from the fact that Ji Xiaolan wrote only about twenty words about his wife, Madam Ma, in his hundreds of thousands of words of writing.

After Ertai sat down, Fulu also took a seat on the bench diagonally in front of Ertai to his right, while the other servants stood behind Ertai with their hands behind their backs, constantly glancing warily around their surroundings. Fu Lu, a shrewd and perceptive man, noticed Er Tai's frequent glances at the middle-aged woman at the nearby table. He smiled and asked, "Second Master, you... eh..."

As he spoke, he repeatedly raised an eyebrow at the woman, his eyes revealing a knowing look only a man could understand.

"You're quite the clever one, hehe." Er Tai chuckled, lightly tapping Fu Lu's head with a lewd laugh, acknowledging Fu Lu's words.

"Then... Second Master, shall I make the introductions for you, so you can get to know her?" Fu Lu's smile deepened, and he even stood up, making a move to greet Madam Ji on Er Tai's behalf.

"Forget it, if you go like that... you'll scare her to death. Besides, she's the wife of Lord Ji Xiaolan, and she and your second master are officials in the same court. If she misunderstands our intentions and it gets back to Lord Ji, it won't look good, will it?" Ertai chuckled and patted Fulu's arm, signaling him to sit down and calm down.

"Hehe, second master, although Madam Ji is quite beautiful and still has her charm, you are still a rising star in the Qing Dynasty's political arena, a second-rank deputy commander of the Plain Yellow Banner. She's just the wife of a lowly fifth-rank official. It's her good fortune that you've taken a liking to her." Fulu said rather indignantly. In his eyes, Ertai was the best master in the world. As long as Ertai took a liking to a woman, Fulu would do anything to get her for him, regardless of whether she was Ji Xiaolan or not.

"Hehe, you can't say that. When dealing with beautiful women, especially those with a womanly charm, you have to savor them slowly to appreciate their beauty. If you rush in like that, you'll ruin the whole atmosphere." Ertai, adopting the air of an experienced person, began to lecture Fulu.

"Alright, Second Master, I won't argue with you. Anyway, I just don't understand your ways. If it were a woman I fancied, I would have already rushed over." Fulu said somewhat unconvinced.

"That's why you're a commoner." Ertai said with a laugh.

"Well, it depends on who you're comparing me to. Compared to you, Second Master, I'm just a boor. Compared to them, I'm a refined person." Fulu pointed to the servants of the Fu family guarding Ertai's back and said to Ertai. Because he was always quite kind to his own people and didn't act like a young master, the servants were never reserved in front of him and their words were rather 'unrestrained'.

"Hahaha, you, you..." Ertai was amused by Fulu and burst into laughter. His laughter startled Madam Ji and Miss Ji at the next table. The two glanced at Ertai and, after seeing his handsome features and refined demeanor, couldn't help but wonder. Logically speaking, a young master with such looks should be well-mannered and mindful of his image in public. How could he be so unrestrained and boisterous, laughing loudly without any regard for others? It was truly incomprehensible!

When they looked at him, Ertai also turned his gaze to Madam Ji and Miss Ji, and stopped laughing loudly, instead giving the two beauties a polite smile. The two beauties smiled back at Ertai with slightly flushed faces, and then looked away.

However, while the two women turned their gazes away, Ertai's eyes continued to follow them, his gaze lingering on their beautiful figures. What particularly annoyed him was that, as a master appraiser of lecherousness, he had only noticed Madam Ji and completely overlooked Miss Ji—a truly egregious sin!

Now, this Miss Ji was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, with fair cheeks tinged with rosy pink, skin like jade, eyebrows like willow leaves, lips like orchids, and eyes like stars. Her exquisite oval face, adorned with two delicate dimples, revealed with a gentle smile—truly captivating.

The mother and daughter looked remarkably alike, a pair of stunningly beautiful mother and daughter, yet each possessed a distinct charm. The mother exuded mature elegance, while the daughter was lively and spirited. Wherever they sat, they were a breathtaking sight.

"So beautiful!"

Ertai was increasingly captivated by the sight, feeling an irresistible urge to look away. He couldn't help but exclaim in praise.

However, his praise was so spontaneous that he overlooked the volume, his voice a little too loud. The mother and daughter beside him heard him and instinctively glanced over, only to see Ertai's infatuated gaze fixed on them. Their faces flushed instantly, a feeling of disgust rising within them.

Miss Ji whispered to her mother, "Mother, look at that man, he keeps staring at us. How frivolous!"

"Hmm, he is indeed handsome and refined, but who would have thought he's such a scoundrel?" Madam Ji replied with displeasure and disdain.

"Hmph, if he looks at us again, I'll have my father gouge out his eyes!" Miss Ji pouted her beautiful red lips, speaking with a huff.

"Forget it, let's just watch our show and ignore him," Madam Ji gently patted the woman's hand, comforting her.

"Hmph, he got off easy this time!" Miss Ji seemed still angry, giving Ertai a fierce glare with her captivating eyes.

Because of the seven-colored wolf energy within him, Ertai's hearing was much more acute than ordinary people. Although the mother and daughter were speaking in hushed tones, Ertai still heard them. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, thinking to himself that he still couldn't control his eyes and that his behavior just now was far too reckless. Therefore, he wanted to apologize to the mother and daughter.

Unexpectedly, before he could even apologize, Miss Ji glared at him fiercely, raising her small pink fist threateningly. With a stern face, she waved her fist at him, as if to say, "Look again and I'll beat you up!"

But a beauty is a beauty; even in anger, she was so beautiful and charming. Her face, flushed and rosy with anger, was even more captivating than usual, making Ertai's heart itch with desire, wishing he could kiss her alluring face.

"Mother, look, he's still looking, and with that...that kind of look!" Seeing Ertai's lustful gaze, Miss Ji immediately wriggled her fragrant body slightly, wrapping her small, delicate hands around Madam Ji's arm, gently shaking it as she complained.

"What a spoilsport today! I was just hoping to enjoy a good opera, and instead I encountered such a lecherous scoundrel. Mei'er, let's go!" Madam Ji glanced at Ertai unhappily, then stood up and gracefully turned to leave.

"Hmph, what a spoilsport!" Miss Ji also stood up, glaring at Ertai as she turned to leave. She then followed Madam Ji towards the theater entrance.

Seeing them leave, Ertai felt incredibly annoyed, inwardly scolding himself for losing control. Now they were gone, and who knew when he'd see them again? Was he going to miss the show?

Just as he was considering whether to follow, four or five people suddenly surged into the theater entrance, surrounding a slick-haired, nonchalant young man. Upon seeing Madam Ji and Miss Ji, his eyes lit up. He swaggered over to the two women, first feigning a greeting to Madam Ji, then sizing up Miss Ji with a gaze a hundred times more lecherous than Ertai's, saying in a very frivolous tone, "Mei'er, what a coincidence! We meet again. Don't you think this is fate? Hahaha."

"Hahaha," his men laughed along.

Chapter 152 Pretending to be a pig to eat a beautiful woman (Part 1)

Ertai despised nothing more than these纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats) who, relying on their fathers' power, acted lawlessly and recklessly. Ertai's lewd gaze at Madam Ji and her daughter was already disgusting enough, but that damned young master even used flirtatious language to seduce the two beauties—truly utterly lewd.

"Hmph, don't call me Mei'er. The sight of you disgusts me. Who has any connection with you? Don't flatter yourself." Upon seeing the newcomer, Ji Mei frowned in disgust, speaking with disdain.

"Heh, this little girl is quite fiery, but I like it, haha, a wild horse is more exciting to ride." The纨绔 young master laughed lewdly, his henchmen joining in the jeering.

"Hey, Miss Ji, you're putting on quite the airs. Our Master De's name is known to everyone in Beijing. It's your good fortune that he's taken a liking to you, yet you're acting all high and mighty."

"That's right, Master De doesn't mind that you're already betrothed to someone else, which is already a huge favor. You'd better not be ungrateful, or you'll really anger Master De, and you'll regret it!"

"Hehe, I advise you to obediently go back and be Master De's eighth concubine. We'll have the wedding ceremony today, hahaha." "Haha

, Master De, didn't you even hire a matchmaker? I'll hire a sedan chair to pick up the bride right away, hahaha."

"You, you all..." Hearing the insults, Ji Mei was so angry that she trembled, her face flushed red, and her fingers trembled as she pointed at 'Master De' and his men, but she was too angry to say a word.

"Oh, your Eighth Young Mistress is still angry, hahaha, but a beauty is a beauty, even when she's angry she's so beautiful, it really makes my heart flutter." Seeing Ji Mei's anger, Master De teased in a frivolous and reckless manner.

"Haha, Master De, our Eighth Young Mistress is angry, aren't you going to coax her, coax her..."

"Yes, Master De, if you don't coax her, if you take her home, she'll throw a tantrum, hahaha."

"Master De, go for it, the brothers support you, hahaha."

His men cheered and egged him on, pushing Master De towards Ji Mei. Seeing Master De's grinning and shameless rush towards her, Ji Mei immediately dodged in disgust, causing Master De to miss.

"Oh, Mei'er, you're shy now, you're hiding, let's see how long you can hide, hehe." Master De's face showed a lewd smile, and he once again opened his arms and pounced on Ji Mei's body.

Seeing that Ji Mei had nowhere to avoid being pounced on by Master De, Ertai was about to rush forward when Madam Ji stepped in front of her daughter, her face icy as she said to Master De, "Young Master De, my daughter is already betrothed. I hope you will be merciful and stop bothering her."

Madam Ji's face changed color, but her words were extremely polite, clearly showing that she was also wary of Master De's power. However, her slightly trembling body still showed how angry she was.

"Hehe, Madam Ji, mother-in-law, are you jealous that I'm going to marry your daughter? Hahaha, don't worry, I can marry you after I marry your daughter first, brothers, what do you say?" Master De's words became increasingly lewd, openly flirting with the woman and daughter of a high-ranking official in public, and even declaring that he would marry both mother and daughter.

“Young Master De, I advise you not to be so presumptuous. This is the capital city, under the emperor's nose, and I am the wife of a high-ranking official. I cannot tolerate your foul language.” Madam Ji’s tone grew increasingly cold, clearly showing her anger.

“Tch, I know you are the wife of a high-ranking official, but I only like wives of high-ranking officials. I don’t even look at ordinary women. How about, Mother-in-law, I marry you first, then your daughter, hahaha.” Master De’s words became increasingly vulgar as he teased, even reaching out to touch Madam Ji’s fair and beautiful face.

“You’re being insolent!” Madam Ji was completely enraged by Master De’s actions this time. She raised her delicate hand and slapped away his dirty hand, huffing and puffing.

But a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman; even when she's angry, she's still incredibly charming. Far from being annoyed, Master De became even more brazen in his verbal teasing of Madam Ji and Ji Mei, repeatedly calling them "Mother-in-law," causing Madam Ji to tremble with embarrassment, her face flushed red as she pointed at Master De, speechless with rage.

"Fu Lu, who is that person?" Er Tai, who had been watching the situation closely, was already burning with anger, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and he glared at Fu Lu, who was equally indignant behind him.

"Reporting to Second Master, this young man is named Jia De. He is the nephew of Minister Jia of the Ministry of Personnel. His father is Jia Lin, who works in the Ministry of Revenue and is considered a confidant of Minister Heshen. Relying on Minister Heshen's protection, the Jia family has always been extremely arrogant." Fu Lu recounted Jia De's background as if it were his own family history, showing that he was quite knowledgeable about the famous officials in Beijing. In fact, it's no wonder that Fu Lu knew so much about powerful and influential families. Beijing is a place where dragons and tigers hide, and none of the servants who have risen through the ranks in these grand mansions are simple characters.

"Hmm, no wonder he's so arrogant. Knowing that the other party is Minister Ji Xiaolan's wife and woman, he still dared to speak so arrogantly. So that's the root of his problem." Ertai said through gritted teeth in anger.

Seeing Ertai's expression, which suggested he was extremely disgusted with Jia De and wanted to interfere, Fulu excitedly rubbed his hands together, glancing mockingly at Jia De who was flirting with Madam Ji and Ji Mei. He then asked Ertai, "Second Master, do you want to teach that bastard a lesson? That's wonderful! I've disliked him for a long time. Just say the word, and I'll cripple him immediately."

"Hehe, why do you hate him so much?" Ertai, who had been furious, laughed upon hearing Fulu's words and asked curiously.

"I wouldn't say I hate him, I just can't stand his smug attitude. He really thinks he's some kind of rich young master, without even knowing his own worth. Others may fear the Jia family, but our Fu family doesn't." Fulu explained with a smile.

"Well said! Who has the Fu family ever been afraid of?" Ertai, always eager for a good show, was now a second-rank deputy commander with the backing of the Empress Dowager, Consort Ling, and the Fu family. He didn't take Jia De seriously at all. So he patted Fu Lu on the shoulder and laughed, "Watch my moves later."

"You'd better watch out, Second Master," Fu Lu said with a sinister smile, as if he wouldn't be worthy of the world if he didn't cripple Jia De's manhood.

Meanwhile, Jia De was completely unaware that Ertai had already set his sights on him. He was still shamelessly flirting with Madam Ji and Ji Mei, his men surrounding the two women to prevent their escape.

"Master De, we've got you surrounded. Now it's up to you, hahaha," his men said with lewd grins.

"What do you want to see? In broad daylight, under the clear sky, aren't you...aren't you afraid of retribution?" Madam Ji nervously watched Jia De, who was eyeing her and her daughter with a predatory grin, approaching. She spread her arms to shield her daughter behind her, while two maids, who wanted to come to her rescue, were firmly blocked by Jia De's

men, who took the opportunity to grope her. "Heh, retribution? I've never been afraid of retribution since I was born. Besides, my father is the Vice Minister of Revenue, a second-rank official, and my uncle is the Minister of Personnel, a first-rank official. Who can bring retribution upon me? As for your Ji the Pipe, pshaw, a mere fifth-rank Imperial Censor, not even worthy to carry my shoes!" Jia De said mockingly, spitting hard on the ground.

"You...you dare to publicly humiliate an official of the court? Aren't you afraid of being beheaded?" Madam Ji shouted while tightly protecting her daughter, trying to intimidate Jia De.

However, spoiled brats like Jia De, accustomed to relying on their fathers' power, were completely unafraid of Madam Ji's threats. He even spat disdainfully, laughing and cursing, "Bah! Didn't I just say that Ji Xiaolan, that big-smoked opium pipe, isn't even worthy to carry my shoes? Besides, your Ji Xiaolan offended the Emperor; he'll only ever be a fifth-rank official. If you and your daughter come with me, I might take pity on you and beg my father; he might even get a promotion. But if you don't comply, hmph..."

Jia De raised his hand, making a beheading gesture.

"Alas, a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken," Ertai couldn't help but sigh inwardly upon hearing Jia De's words. He thought of Ji Xiaolan, once a first-rank Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet and the chief compiler of the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), who, simply for inadvertently offending the Emperor, was demoted to a fifth-rank Imperial Censor, and even his wife and daughter suffered humiliation at the hands of others.

"Is there no law in this world? Jia De, I advise you not to be so lawless!" A sense of powerlessness suddenly rose in Madam Ji's heart. She thought to herself, what sins has the Ji family committed? A high-ranking official of the first rank has been demoted to the fifth rank, and she and her daughter have been implicated in such humiliation and disgrace.

In fact, society is just like that. Many times, strength is king, and there are not many reasonable arguments. However, while Jia De could forcibly take Ji Mei, who was betrothed but not yet married, he did not dare to actually take Madam Ji as a concubine. That would be going too far. But this did not rule out the possibility that Jia De harbored the idea of taking advantage of the beautiful Madam Ji. Sometimes, powerful and wealthy playboys are most prone to lust when they see a beautiful woman, and they do not care about the punishment afterward. With the unbridled encouragement of his subordinates, they would become even more hot-headed.

With a lewd grin, Jia De walked up to Madam Ji and immediately reached out to grab her delicate hand. The onlookers, who had already noticed this, stood by, too afraid to breathe or intervene, watching with pity as the mother and daughter were surrounded by a group of lecherous men.

"Mother..." Ji Mei, protected behind Madam Ji, trembled as she saw Jia De rushing towards her, calling out to her mother with worry.

"Mei'er, don't be afraid. I don't think he'll really do anything..." Madam Ji comforted her daughter, but her words betrayed a desolate despair.

"Heh heh, dare not? Who says I dare not? Is there anything in this world that I, Jia De, dare not do?" Hearing Madam Ji's words of comfort, Jia De became even more arrogant, his lewd smile deepening as he lunged at Madam Ji.

"Stop!" Just as he was about to pounce on Madam Ji and pull her into his arms, a strong voice suddenly rang out, followed by a gleaming pebble that flashed like lightning and shot towards Jade's cheek.

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The Romantic Journey Through Time: Huanzhu is Also Romantic 32

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