A few months later, the Cining Palace and Kunning Palace were calm and the Empress Dowager had never summoned the Empress Dowager again. Except for a few polite greetings to her during her daily greetings, the Empress did not mention a single word about that day. It seemed that the day had never existed, and they never knew the true relationship between the Emperor and Prince Duan Chong.

During this period, a third-class guard who was only fifteen or sixteen years old was transferred to Qianlong. His face was full of ambiguousness, and he could tell that he was a fledgling boy. If he had been able to become a guard in front of the imperial court in previous years, he could have been considered an outstanding figure among the younger generation and worthy of being a high-profile person. But now with Prince Duan Chong in front of him, this young guard is indifferent to everyone and seems to be extremely obscene.

Therefore, he had been transferred for more than two months, and Qianlong did not notice his existence.

On this day, Qianlong was resting in a pavilion in the imperial garden to enjoy the scenery. Two sets of tea cups and dozens of exquisite refreshments were placed on the stone table beside him. Obviously, this scenery was to be appreciated with people, but the people he was waiting for were still on the road and he was not seeing it for a long time.

Qianlong narrowed his eyes slightly, leaned down leisurely on the back of the chair, waiting patiently. Sitting alone for a while, he waved his hand and asked the servants behind him to pour him tea and drink a cup of himself first to kill time.

It is already early summer in the imperial garden. The sun is extremely bright. Spring flowers have faded and summer flowers are blooming. There are many colors everywhere, birds are singing and fragrance, and the prosperous scenes are all the same. Even the mood is as bright as the sunshine of this summer.

Qianlong turned his head and looked at the beautiful scenery outside the pavilion, raised his glass and sipped it, remembering the person on his heart, and suddenly his whole body became hot and he raised a gentle smile.

"Report to the emperor, Yunnan urgently submitted a copy, and the sixth prince of Myanmar's crime escaped." A guard rushed to him, interrupted his leisure, and whispered in a hurry. He knelt down and presented a copy with both hands.

Qianlong frowned, put down the teacup, took the fold and checked it. After reading it at a glance, he smashed it heavily on the table and angrily shouted: "Who is the fault of the tiger rhinoceros out of the trunk and the turtle jade being destroyed in the trunk?"

The kneeling guard was furious when he saw Long Yan, and did not dare to answer, so he buried his head lower.

"That is the one who keeps the rules cannot refute his reproach."

Just as everyone was trembling and silent, a guard standing behind Qianlong suddenly answered. The guard's voice was like pearls and jade falling to the ground, and like a clear spring flowing by, clear and crisp, melodious and melodious, making people feel at ease when they hear it, and no matter how much anger is, it will be extinguished.

Qianlong calmed down his anger on his face, squinted his eyes and looked at the guards behind him, and ordered: "Who answered just now? Come on."

A thin and petite boy stood up neatly, bowed gracefully, and knelt at his feet with his head down.

Qianlong saw his rituals and movements, and felt that the aura of this man made him feel inexplicably familiar and inexplicably repelled.

"You just answered? I miss you a third-class imperial guard and have read the "Analects of Confucius"? Have you studied at home?" Qianlong liked young people who were knowledgeable and loved to read, so he asked himself the key points of his attention.

The guard nodded and replied in a clear and beautiful voice: "Your Majesty, I am a student of the Xian'an Palace Official School before."

It seems that he is really knowledgeable. He thought to himself that Qianlong stared at his lowered head, thought about taking the school exam, and spoke with interest, "It turns out that he is a student of Xian'an Palace Official School. Then I will take the exam. Let's talk about the meaning of the chapter "Ji's family will attack Zhuanyu".

The guard thought briefly and replied calmly, "I value education and moral cultivation, and to cultivate literary virtue to embrace people. If I don't get up, all of them will fall apart. Disaster will cause a wall of bleakness. The saints will then see the views of the saints. However, the times have changed. In today's world, there are many stubborn and unrealized people in the distance. If they only use education and moral cultivation, they will not show their power. If they do, they will become more likely to be the heart of the concubine. In this way, in the country and capital, the first priority should be to cultivate cultural virtue to convince people. If those who are far away come, those who come will be calm, and those who come will be added with power to prevent the gradual. Otherwise, it will be truly 'the tiger is out of hindrance and the turtle and jade is destroyed in the box'."

His voice was moderate, his speech was neither fast nor slow. After talking, Qianlong's mouth smiled and nodded frequently. After he finished speaking, his mood was no longer as angry as he had just now, and he was extremely happy.

"Okay! Good explanation! What's your name? Which family's son?" Qianlong asked with a smile.

"When the emperor, the slave is named Niu Hulu? Shanbao. My father is the third-class light chariot commander Niu Hulu? Changbao. He passed away when the slave was nine years old." The guard replied cautiously.

The three words "Niuhulu" touched a nerve in Qianlong, making him suddenly put away the smile on his face, staring at the young man whose face was unpredictable, and he didn't say anything for a long time. If the young man dared to look up and look at his expression, he would be shocked by his cold eyes as dark as the abyss.

"Raise your head and let me see." After a while of silence, Qianlong gave the order in a flat tone.

Shanbao clenched his fists and said in his heart: It's here! Take a deep breath, slowly raise your head, and slightly raise your jaw so that the emperor can see his face more clearly.

I saw the boy's lips were red and his teeth were white, his face was like a jade crown, especially his pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed to be affectionate and ruthless, which added a bit of gorgeousness to his appearance. As his eyes circulated, he could easily attract the soul and make people addicted. In addition, his cold temperament and knowledge were full of knowledge, he was really perfect and could not find any problem.

Qianlong narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the extremely gorgeous boy in front of him. He didn't say anything for a long time. There was no expression on his handsome face, which made people unable to touch it.

Shanbao looked at the emperor's expression without any trace, and he couldn't tell what he was thinking. He couldn't help but feel unconsciously. His raised jaw dropped unconsciously, and his pair of peach blossom eyes were half-retained, covering the constantly changing eyes in his eyes.

After a moment, Qianlong suddenly spoke again, his tone no longer as gentle as before, with a few traces of mocking and coldness, "Niu Hulu, the same surname as the Empress Dowager? It took some effort for her mother to find you and recommend you to me, right?"

Shanbao's face was full of panic for the first time, and he bit his lip, and he didn't know how to answer this question. The shock and ominous feeling in his heart became even worse.

Looking at the emperor in front of him, there was no sign of being fascinated by his appearance? I am afraid that the words the Empress Dowager said when she secretly summoned him were not convinced. But now, he has no way out. He still has a younger brother to take care of. If he cannot stand up, what capital will he have to compete for title with his stepmother's son? What capital will he have to let his younger brother live a good life? What capital will he have to revitalize his family?

Thinking of this, he calmed down, looked straight at the emperor boldly, and slowly spoke, "Go back to the emperor, I don't know what the emperor is saying."

"Haha..." After glanced at his calm expression, Qianlong chuckled and praised: "I am very brave and I am not good at dealing with it. However, I don't care whether you understand it or not. In the future, don't appear in front of me again, let's go."

It was just an innocent child who was exploited, so why bother with him? Qianlong just waved his hand and sent him back without further punishment.

Shanbao gritted his teeth: Never appear by the emperor? What is this? This means that he cannot be an official in Beijing for the fourth rank or above, and he will be promoted to the fourth rank, and he must attend during the dynasty meeting. The title inherited by his family from generation to generation is a third rank. The emperor's simple words denied his qualification to inherit the title. If he just left like this, his life would be over.

The boy's face showed a bit of pain and a little stubbornness, but he still stubbornly maintained the calm expression on his face, quietly getting up and preparing to retreat.

"Slowly, leave me behind." A relaxing voice suddenly sounded, stopping Shanbao from leaving.

When Qianlong heard the person talking, his eyebrows and eyes stretched out, and a gentle smile immediately appeared on his tight face, not disobeying his behavior that was openly contrary to his sacred will.

"You are here, sit down and take a break. Wu Shu is here, why don't you pour tea for the prince?" He reached out and called the young man who had been watching next to him for a long time. The emperor's attitude was extremely friendly, even with a bit of attentiveness.

Only when facing Prince Duan Chong would the emperor show such a generous and kind expression! The guards around him thought to each other, and called out to Shanbao, who was stopped by the prince, turned back to stand and glanced at Shanbao, and said intimately: If this kid is favored by the prince today, he may still have the possibility of turning over.

Shanbao turned around and slowly walked to the side of the prince who was almost the same age as him, and saluted respectfully.

Very satisfied with his calmness, Ke Shan raised his lips and was interested in witnessing the first meeting between the famous monarch and his ministers. Although he has come and history has changed a little, it is only a matter of time that he will appear. He feels quite subtle in his heart to be able to experience and witness these historical moments personally.

When the prince was stared at the eyes of the bright cold star, Shanbao was a little nervous, even more nervous than when dealing with the emperor. A young man who was one year younger than him, but with such a suffocating power, was it really that the Empress Dowager said, who was relying on Israel to serve people? Before he met the prince, he was half-believing and half-doubted. When he saw the prince's real person, he did not believe it at all.

Seeing that Keshan was so concerned about Shanbao, Qianlong felt quite uncomfortable, and spoke in a deep voice, interrupting his scrutiny, "The prince called Niu Hulu Guard, is there anything he told?"

Ke Shan turned his head and glanced at him. Seeing his face dark and sour tone, he smiled and waved his hand and said, "It's okay. I just feel that Niuhulu's guard is rare, so it's a pity to be sent off like this."

Shanbao's heart was shocked, and he suddenly looked up at the smiling prince, with hope rising in his eyes.

The guards around him looked at the prince's gentle expression and envied Niu Hulu Shanbao. This kid really got the prince's green eyes and would be blessed in the future! Who doesn't know that the prince is the best at knowing people? All the people he promoted are excellent, and no one is not valued by the court.

Obviously, Shanbao thought of this, and after hope, a little joy appeared in his eyes.

Qianlong's eyes became darker, "What does the prince mean? Do you want to recruit him?" With the appearance of this young man, it would be a disaster to put him beside Keshan. He would not agree this time no matter what!

Keshan glanced at Qianlong, who was jealous, and smiled secretly in his heart. His expression became more pleasant. He raised his jaw towards Shanbao and spoke in a warm voice, "Your eyes are like a wolf, forbearing, stubborn, strong, and with some ambitions. I like it very much!"

When the prince said this, "like", Qianlong's face became darker, and his eyes looked at Shanbao obviously became unkind.

No matter how the man beside him changed his face, Keshan continued to speak, "A person with such a look will never be a mediocre person! And your performance just now confirms your knowledge. Such a person is not needed by the court, it is the loss of the court. Therefore, I want to recommend you to Prince Chun to listen to him, are you willing?"

Go to the side of the crown prince? Did you hear that right? Shanbao was a little dull and didn't know what to react for a while.

Go to Twelve? Well, you can accept it! Qianlong's face relaxed very obviously.

"What? You don't want to?" Seeing that Shan Baojiu didn't answer, Ke Shan asked with a chuckling.

"No, no, no, I am very willing! I am flattered by your favor, and I am a little unresponsive." Shanbao waved his hand slightly red on his cheeks and explained.

"Okay, as long as you are willing. In the future, you will work hard to repay the court. But remember two points - be careful of anger and greed. Okay, you can retreat."

Shanbao said he was leaving as he said, thinking about the prince's last four words of warning, his steps were a little erratic.

"Keshan seems to be particularly interested in this Niuhulu?" Seeing that Keshan was particularly concerned about the boy, Qianlong asked a question with some taste.

"Haha, this boy will definitely not be simple in the future, you will know then." Keshan smiled mysteriously.

"Oh? Just based on that little school entrance exam and his eyes, I'm so arbitrary!" Qianlong smiled disapprovingly, poured tea for him and handed it to him.

Keshan took it, gestured his fingertips to Qianlong's deep eyes, and said word by word: "Don't you believe it? Then let's wait and see what?"

Qianlong held the fingers that were gesturing his eyes and smiled, "Okay, wait and see!"

Ke Shan lowered his eyes and thought of the legendary love between Qianlong and the monarch and ministers, and he suddenly realized that he followed the laughter, and his laughter was very comfortable.

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postscript

Decades later, this guard named Niu Hulu Shanbao was indeed powerful in the court and the country. However, compared with his mentor, Prince Duan Chong, his achievements were still slightly inferior.

In front of Prince Duan Chong, who was one year younger than him, he called himself a "student" and was good at protecting the guards. Later, He | - He Zhongtang said bluntly that he did not have any pressure. People in the world said that "the young are better than the blue than the blue", but the students supported by Prince Duan Chong all secretly said: To surpass his mentor, we will only wait for the next generation.

Prince Duan Chong used his own strength to organize the largest bank in the Qing Dynasty, the "Guangtong" bank. Later, he applied for the "Commercial Bureau" and the "Marine Bureau" under the name of the Ministry of Revenue, focusing on developing the business of the Qing Dynasty, greatly improving the social status of merchants and having a high prestige among the merchants of the Qing Dynasty. The money bank he opened also became the only choice for merchants to save money, gathering one-third of the country's money to form a navy, reorganize the army, and purchase weapons, so that the Qing army would dominate both by land and at sea.

One person collected one-third of the country's financial resources, which was just as rich as a country. Some Yangzhou salt merchants were dissatisfied and fought with the prince. The prince just smiled and ignored it. Afterwards, he vigorously acquired saline-alkali land in Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Shanxi and other places, developed salt fields and improved the salt production process. For a time, the salt production increased significantly, and the situation of salt as precious as gold was gone forever. As a result, the Yangzhou salt merchants went bankrupt and their business was unsustainable. It also benefited the people and praised them. It also caused the court to directly withdrew two institutions, "The Office of the Lianghuai Salt Inspection Office" and "The Lianghuai Du transferred to the Salt Transportation Office". The salt transportation management agencies frequently produced corrupt officials, and officials in the court were demoted from their own grades and had to sharpen their heads and transferred to the salt transportation agency. The strange situation of transferring jobs to the salt transportation agency became history for a while.

A person's influence can shake the court and change the operating mechanism of the court. The prince's power has reached the peak of power that he can reach, and it will reach the emperor further up. As everyone is waiting to see how the emperor will deal with the powerful prince, the prince's actions are once again jaw-dropping.

On the day when Emperor Qianlong abdicated to Emperor Jiaqing, he took the initiative to hand over the management rights of the "Guangtong" money shop, donated all his wealth to the court, and resigned from many important positions. He only took a few idle servants and leisurely became an idle prince, which made the people who were waiting to see him fall regret. He sighed that Prince Duan Chong was well versed in the way of being an official and was as insightful as a political situation.

If the prince's supreme enlightenment in political affairs is beyond reach, he also adheres to himself in his private life, and has always adhered to the word "single". Since his wife died early, he has stopped women and has never had any descendants to inherit the title of prince. He is not close to other tribes of Chatri. He is really a real and lonely person.

His restraint in private life, indifference from his descendants, and active alienation from his clan members were talked about by others. He said frankly: It is precisely because the princes strictly adhered to the word "single" inside and outside the court, and never used their power to seek personal gain and strengthen their own clan, which allowed the emperors of his father, Prince Duan, to believe in it and use it heavily until the power of the court and the people were over.

When the news came that the new king, Emperor Jiaqing, adopted the sons of Prince Duan Chong, and issued an order to grant the title of Prince Duan Chong as the title of "hereditary Wang's title". In the hearts of the world, people suddenly realized the emperor's ability to plot, and sighed for the prince's forbearance. After working hard for half a lifetime, the hereditary Wang's title, who had been around for a long time, returned to the hands of the Aisin Gioro family. It was really a wedding dress for others. However, as long as they could save their lives and not be suspicious of the emperor, they ended up with a different body and head like their father, Prince Duan, and all kinds of forbearance and sacrifice were worth it.

After showing off for half a lifetime, he was idle for half a lifetime. The political career of Duan Chong’s prince’s conflicts has become a topic of relish for future generations.

――This article is completed
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