Chapter 31 8. Li Lianying wants to be the country's uncle

Emperor Guangxu came to visit Cixi according to the order, and he didn't want to be "received" by a charming woman... Emperor Guangxu held the beautiful woman in his arms and promised repeatedly: "I will accept you as my concubine!" But he didn't want this woman to be... … The tenth day of October in 1894 was the 60th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi.On her fiftieth birthday, during the Sino-French War, the situation was grim, and she could not celebrate properly.Therefore, she has long planned to hold a "Daqing" on her 60th birthday.She appointed Prince Li Shiduo as the general office of the "Longevity Celebration" a year in advance, and she searched everywhere for the people's anointing and actively made preparations.Although Prince Li was the nominal chief executive, all the ideas came from Li Lianying, the darling of the Empress Dowager Cixi, because the Empress Dowager Cixi had ordered the ministries to be under the command of Li Lianying during the Longevity Festival.The arrangement and deployment of the entire Longevity Festival was also designed and supervised by Li Lianying.Li Lianying also wanted to take the opportunity of the Longevity Festival to show off his talents, and take the opportunity to extort money and fill his own pockets.

However, just as Li Lianying was preparing with great fanfare for the 60th birthday of the Empress Dowager Cixi, one day she suddenly found that the Empress Dowager Cixi was staring at a telegram in a daze.Sensitive intuition told Li Lianying: something must have happened again! Yes, something big happened.The telegram was sent by Li Hongzhang from Tianjin, which briefly stated that the Japanese army attacked the Qing army in Yashan, and Emperor Guangxu had officially declared war on Japan on behalf of the Qing government!The war between China and Japan was first caused by the Korean Incident.In the spring of this year, the Yicha Xuejue uprising occurred in North Korea, and Hong Qixun, the envoy who suppressed them, was defeated.The rulers of North Korea panicked, so they asked Yuan Shikai, the general commercial office of the Qing government in North Korea, to convey to Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang, asking China to be famous for aid and suppress the uprising. The Qing government ordered Li Hongzhang to handle the Korean incident with full power.Li Hongzhang then ordered Ye Zhichao, the admiral of Zhili and the general of the Huai army, and Nie Shicheng, the commander-in-chief of Taiyuan, to lead the fourth battalion of the Huai army to North Korea. They all arrived in North Korea on the ninth day of May.

Since the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan has grown rapidly in power, and at this time it has directed its aggression against China and Korea.At the same time that China sent troops to North Korea, the Japanese cabinet also decided to send troops to North Korea, and Li Hongzhang was notified by the Japanese consul in Tianjin. "The Japanese government has decided to send troops to North Korea in order to protect the Japanese nationals in North Korea's treaty ports." The Japanese consul said to Li Hongzhang. "China sent troops to North Korea to suppress bandits. They did not enter Seoul or treaty ports. There was no need for the Japanese government to send troops to North Korea." Li Hongzhang said.

"The soldiers have been dispatched," said the Japanese consul. "If it is just to protect the businessmen, the Japanese government must not send more troops. Moreover, the North Korean government has not invited you, and your soldiers cannot enter the interior of North Korea. Otherwise, there may be conflicts between Chinese and Japanese troops." Li Hongzhang warned. However, the policy of Japan’s invasion of Korea and China has been set, and the generals will be dispatched before China dispatches troops. Two days before the Chinese troops arrived at Asan, Japanese Minister Keisuke Oshima led 400 soldiers from the navy and army into Seoul. The brigade marched one after another, and by May 12, the total number of troops entering the court had reached more than 8,000.During this period, the Qing government and the Korean government negotiated with Japan many times, but it didn't work.Li Hongzhang had no choice but to send Ding Ruchang to lead several warships to Incheon to help the army.

Deliberately determined to provoke a war between China and Japan, Japan brazenly attacked the British Merchant Line Gaosheng, a troop transport ship sent by China to Korea, near the main island on June 23, killing 871 Chinese officers and soldiers. On the 27th of the month, the Japanese army attacked the Asan Qing army again. Nie Shi fled in success or failure, and Ye Zhichao fled to Pyongyang. The news of the Japanese army attacking the Gaosheng troop carrier and the Asan Qing army spread to the country, and the people were indignant, demanding that the Japanese army be hit hard.The ministers of the DPRK and China also wrote to Emperor Guangxu one after another, demanding to declare war on Japan.Regardless of the objections of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Emperor Guangxu resolutely and formally declared war on Japan on July 1.Japan also declared war on China on the same day.

The Empress Dowager Cixi took Li Hongzhang's telegram, and she couldn't help but sighed and said: "Could it be that my life is so hard that I didn't live my 50th life because of the Sino-French war, and my 60th life will not be better because of the war?" "What kind of war is Lafayette talking about?" Li Lianying asked Empress Dowager Cixi. "China and Japan declared war at the same time the day before yesterday." Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help but have red eyes. "Didn't Lafayette always oppose China and Japan going to war?" Li Lianying was taken aback. He had also heard that China and Japan were having a dispute in Korea before, but he didn't expect the war to happen so quickly.But in any case, the Empress Dowager Cixi's longevity celebration had to continue.

"Japan is too abominable. It actually attacked our army in Asan. This caused a lot of grievances among the people, and the demand for a war of resistance is getting louder. No matter how much you oppose it, it will be useless." "We have to find a way to stop the situation from getting worse. Galeries Lafayette's 50th celebration has passed so bleakly. If the 60th celebration doesn't go well, it will be too sad." Li Lianying said , couldn't help but shed two tears. "At this point, what else can we think about?" "When a war breaks out, who will be responsible?"

"Li Hongzhang is the Minister of the Navy and Army, so of course Li Hongzhang is in charge." "Lafayette has such great kindness to Li Zhongtang, Li Zhongtang will not disobey Lafayette's instructions, right?" "Follow my instructions, of course. This cable is for my opinion." "If Li Zhongtang had been asked to give in first, Japan probably wouldn't be so unreasonably aggressive, right?" "I don't think so." "Furthermore, Li Zhongtang belongs to Lafayette, and it is the emperor's credit to win the battle; but once the battle is lost, it is Lafayette's power that is consumed, and it is also Lafayette who is damaged in name. I wonder if Lafayette has thought about this? "

"It makes sense. According to you, Li Hongzhang should first compromise with Japan to avoid further expansion of the situation, right?" "The slave just goes to the end, and Lafayette will take the specific big ideas. However, the slave always feels that avoiding a war with Japan is not only the blessing of Lafayette's 600,000-year life, but also the blessing of all people in the world!" "Let me think about it again." The Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help frowning her brows as she said, thinking about what Li Lianying said is not unreasonable: I can't live a good life in my fifty years, and if I don't live a good life in my sixty years, It makes people feel really bad, how many sixtieth years can there be in life?Besides, Emperor Guangxu did not rely on the military strength of Li Hongzhang, Minister of the Navy and Army, but Li Hongzhang belonged to him.If the battle is won, it will be Emperor Guangxu who improves his prestige, but his own prestige will be greatly damaged. This will not be a good thing for him in the future court struggles; It must be Li Hongzhang's military strength. For himself, he will undoubtedly lose a lot of political capital. The only feasible way is to let Li Hongzhang try to find a compromise with Japan to avoid further intensification of the situation, even if he agrees to some humiliating conditions. I don't hesitate.Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Cixi shouted: "Come here, call Li Hongzhang, try to compromise with Japan and preserve our strength."

Then he turned around and said to Li Lianying who was standing by, "The preparations for the 60th birthday will continue as usual!" "Yes, I obey the order!" Li Lianying happily agreed, and couldn't help bursting with elation: As long as the Longevity Festival is going on as usual, I can take the opportunity to make a lot of money. The local governors, senior officials of the state capitals, and officials at all levels of the imperial court heard that the 60th birthday celebration of the Empress Dowager Cixi was going on as usual. Huanxin sent various birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager Cixi in a vain manner, trying to win the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi in order to get promoted in the future.

However, there was a Mr. Wang in the Ministry of Officials who wanted to give a decent gift on the 60th birthday of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but after much deliberation, he couldn't figure out what to give; he went to several Chinese companies and couldn't find a suitable gift. .One day, he came to the Jardine Firm opened by a British businessman aimlessly, and casually browsed the various gifts on the container. Suddenly, a western chime clock caught his attention.This clock is extremely delicately made, and there is an exquisite Western attic on the clock, which is made of gold and precious stones.Mr. Wang was watching intently, when suddenly the music of "Dingling Dangling" sounded from the clock, which turned out to be the clock.A small door in the attic opened automatically, and a little robot with yellow hair, a high nose, blue eyes, a top hat and a suit jumped out of it.The little robot knelt down on both knees, and slowly unfolded a banner held high in both hands, with the words "Longevity without Borders" written on it. After reporting the time, the little robot automatically rolled up the banner and returned to the attic.It's really ingenious. "That's great!" Mr. Wang couldn't help shouting after seeing it. "Sir, do you want to buy it?" A British employee in the firm heard the shout and asked Mr. Wang in blunt Chinese. "Yes. How much does this chime clock cost?" Lord Wang asked. "One hundred thousand taels of silver." The employee replied. "Ah, so expensive!" Mr. Wang couldn't help gasping when he heard this. "It's not expensive, sir." The employee still explained to him in blunt Chinese, "This is a birthday gift specially invited by our boss for your Empress Dowager's 60th birthday, and only this one was made. Take a look , This attic is made of gold, and all the gems are inlaid on it. And this robot is also made of gold, and with this blessing of longevity, your empress dowager will definitely like it very much. If you are an official As a birthday gift to the Empress Dowager, he will definitely be promoted." It seems that this employee is quite familiar with Chinese officialdom. These few words can be regarded as speaking of Mr. Wang's heart. Isn't it just to seek promotion by making a birthday gift for Empress Dowager Cixi?If you can really win the favor of the queen mother and further promote yourself, it is worth spending one hundred thousand taels of silver. Mr. Wang was about to tell his employees that he was going to buy it, but then he thought, if the Empress Dowager Cixi didn't like it, wouldn't the one hundred thousand taels of silver be wasted?Alas, it would be nice to find out whether the Empress Dowager Cixi likes it or not, but who should I ask?Mr. Wang rolled his eyes, and then thought of it, he thought of Li Lianying. "Li Lianying is a big celebrity in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi, you must be right to inquire about him!" Lord Wang said to himself. "But if our empress dowager doesn't like it, wouldn't my money be wasted?" Lord Wang said to the employee pretending to be embarrassed. "I can assure you that your Empress Dowager will definitely like it." The employee tried his best to facilitate the deal, and tried to dispel Mr. Wang's worries. "I can't say for sure." Master Wang said, "How about this, I will give you five hundred taels of silver first, and you let me take the clock back first and ask others, if our empress dowager likes it, I will come back Pay you; if you don't like it, I'll give it back to you, and I don't want five hundred taels of silver. What do you think?" "This—" the employee was embarrassed, "what if you don't come back?" "You can rest assured. I work in the Ministry of Officials. This is my photo. If you have anything to do in the future, you can find me according to what is written on the photo." Mr. Wang said and handed over his photo. "It's out of my hands," said the employee. "Let me discuss it with our boss first." After the employee finished speaking, he went inside, and after a while, he came out and said to Mr. Wang: "Just do as you say." After Mr. Wang came out of Jardine Firm with the chiming clock in his arms, he ran straight to Li Lianying's residence. When he saw Li Lianying, he said excitedly, "My lord, if I give this chiming clock as a gift to Lafayette , will Lafayette like it?" Li Lianying didn't answer his question, instead she asked, "Where did you buy it?" "Jardine House." "how much did you spend?" "The price is 100,000 taels. But I'm afraid Lafayette won't like it, so I spent five hundred taels of silver to hold it out first, and let the manager have a look over it to see if Lafayette likes it. If I don't like it, I can still give it away. It returns." After Li Lianying saw it, he liked it from the bottom of his heart. He wanted to say that Lafayette would also like it, but he stopped talking, and frowned, thinking about it, the opportunity to make a fortune came again.So he pretended to be very concerned, looked left and right, examined it again, then shook his head and said to Mr. Wang: "This little thing is quite cute. But Mr. Wang, have you ever thought about it?" , What if the robot fails? It’s okay to jump out of the word Wanshou, but once it only jumps out three characters, it will fail, isn’t it like Wanshou Wu? As soon as the blame is settled, Mr. Wang, don't say that you can't save Dai Hualing, even if you are afraid that your life will be in danger! This is a matter of life and death, so please ask Mr. Wang to think carefully." "Yeah, why didn't I think of this!" Mr. Wang couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat when he heard this, and he was grateful to Li Lianying, "It's better that Mr. Manager is thoughtful, otherwise, my little life might be wasted for nothing. go in." Mr. Wang had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky, paid five hundred taels of silver for nothing, and returned the western chime clock to Jardine House.But the news had spread. Although this clock was exquisitely made and beautiful in shape, who would dare to buy it like this.Until the Wanshou Festival was approaching, this chiming clock was placed on the counter of Jardine House, and no one cared about it.The owner of Jardine House thought he could make a fortune with this chime clock, but he didn't expect such a twist, and he was so anxious that it was useless. One day before the Longevity Festival, Li Lianying called Li Sanshun and whispered to him in this way, Li Sanshun nodded in understanding and left after accepting the order.Since Li Guihe was questioned and beheaded for causing trouble and murder, Li Sanshun has been favored by Li Lianying more and more. Li Sanshun left Li Lianying's residence and went straight to Yihe Commercial Bank.When I arrived at the firm, I saw the dusty western chime clock on the counter.Li Sanshun said to the employees of the firm: "I want to buy two such chime clocks." "Sorry, sir, we only have one," the employee replied. "Why is there only one, but I need two." Li Sanxiang said regretfully. "Our company only produced this one. It was originally produced for those who gave gifts to your Empress Dowager on her 60th birthday, but they were afraid of the machine malfunctioning and dared not buy it. But where could it be malfunctioning?" Mr. You see——. As the employee spoke, he fiddled with the chime clock, which immediately made a "dingling, clanging" sound, and the robot displayed the four characters "longevity without boundaries". "Our empress dowager is very moody." Li Sanshun said, "No wonder others dare not buy it. If it really fails and the word "longevity" appears, it will be a wonder that the person who gave the gift was not beheaded. Alas, if two Tomorrow is my father and mother's birthday, I want to give them one each. In this way, I can only give one. Anyway, I don't have to worry about the machine malfunctioning, and I don't have to worry about it. Worried about killing my head. Tell me a price!" "We originally sold 100,000 taels, but you have already reached this level, so you can give 50,000 taels." The employee replied. "Fifty thousand taels is too expensive. I only want to give five thousand taels of silver." "Five thousand taels? Sir, that's not even enough for our capital." The employee said with a wry smile, "You can just pay ten thousand taels of silver, our capital still costs eight thousand taels." "Okay, you don't sell it," Li Sanshun said with a sneer, "after the Longevity Festival, you won't even be able to sell it for a thousand taels of silver. Just wait and see." After Li Sanshun finished speaking, he turned around and wanted to leave. "Sir, please wait a moment." The employee stopped him, "Our boss has told us that as long as we can keep the money, it's fine. If you want to buy it, you can take it at least 8,000 taels of silver. If it is lower, I can't make the decision." ." "Eight thousand taels, let's go to eight thousand taels." Li Sanshun said with a very reluctant look.In fact, Li Lianying also told him that it would be fine if he could buy it for 20,000 to 30,000 taels.In fact, when Li Sanshun was leaving just now, he just made a gesture to show the employees that even if the employees didn't call him, he would come back by himself. Li Sanshun bought back the chime clock with 8,000 taels of silver, came back to Li Lianying, and told Li Lianying enthusiastically how he bought the chime clock.Li Lianying patted Li Sanshun on the shoulder and shouted happily: "Well done, well done! I will reward you with 10,000 taels of silver when things are done." "The little one is just serving the master." Li Sanshun said flatteringly, "I don't expect to get so much reward." "Hey, Sanshun," Li Lianying said, "you don't have to be polite, I will reward you if I say reward you." After buying back the chiming clock, Li Lianying asked the craftsman to remove the banner from the robot's hand, and changed the four characters "Longevity Without Borders" into longevity characters in four different fonts: Wang, Liu, Ou and Yan.In this way, even if the robot fails, only the Chinese characters for longevity will be written on the banners, so there is no need to worry about forbidden words like "Wan Shou Wu". Besides, Mr. Wang, since he returned the chiming clock to Jardine He Commercial Bank, he has never been able to find a better gift than the chiming clock. It seems that the Longevity Festival is coming soon. Just when he was so anxious that he was at a loss, Li Lianying sent someone to look for him, saying that he had got a gift for him, and if he gave it to Lafayette, it would surely win the favor of Lafayette. Upon hearing this, Master Wang came to Li Lianying's residence full of joy.Li Lianying took out the modified chime clock, squinted and asked Mr. Wang, "Mr. Wang, do you think this gift can win the favor of Lafayette?" "Isn't this the chime clock from before?" Lord Wang said dejectedly when he saw it, "If it fails, won't it be the same?" "Lord Wang, look at this again." Li Lianying said, fiddled with the chime clock casually, and immediately made a musical sound of "dingling dingling".With the opening of the small door of the attic, a small robot jumped out, but after slowly unfolding the banner in his hand, what appeared was not the four characters "Longevity without Borders", but four strong and elegant longevity characters in different fonts. "Good! Good! Well thought out! Well thought out!" Mr. Wang couldn't help stretching out his thumb when he saw it, but he couldn't help but think in his heart: Li Lianying is a cunning old fox, is he doing this just for my sake? ?No, he must have other plans.Could it be——Master Wang stopped thinking about it, and asked anxiously, "How much does this chime clock cost now?" "The price of the self-ringing clock at Jardine House is 100,000, and the modification fee is 50,000. Just give me 150,000 silver." Li Lianying thought for a while and said. When Mr. Wang heard this, he complained endlessly.Since I refused to buy this Zizhong, no one dared to buy it again. I heard that the price was reduced in the trading company: Isn't it just changing a few words after refitting, and it cost 50,000 taels of silver?Isn't this obviously cheating yourself?He just wanted to shake it all out, but then he thought again: Li Lianying is not someone to provoke, if he doesn't have a decent gift for Empress Dowager Cixi, he will really say no in front of Empress Dowager Cixi Come on, wouldn't that ruin your own affairs?Besides, he used to buy it for one hundred thousand taels of silver, but now he only spent fifty thousand taels more, and what he earned was not his own, but also part of the business.Thinking of this, he concealed his true feelings and said happily, "It's worth it! It's worth it! One hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver is worth it!" "Of course it's worth it." Li Lianying knew that what Mr. Wang said was against his will, but she still said it deliberately. Li Lianying casually played tricks like this, and hundreds of thousands of taels of silver fell into her own pocket.Of course, he didn't forget Li Sanshun, and really gave him 10,000 taels of silver as a reward. In a blink of an eye, the longevity period is approaching, and Li Lianying ordered thousands of laborers to build various forms of dragon sheds, scripture altars, archways, and theaters on the road less than forty miles from the Xihua Gate of the Forbidden City to the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace. and light grids.Lanterns include the first-class lanterns, Hehe Erxian lanterns, Sanyang Kaitai lanterns, Four Seasons Peace lanterns, Five Sons Winning Champion lanterns, Liuliu Dashun lanterns, Seven Star Beidou lanterns, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea lanterns, and even musicians wearing five-color clothes. Each holds a five-color lamp, on which are written the words "Fortune is like the East China Sea", "Shoubi Nanshan", "Longevity without borders", "Auspicious Ruyi", "Fushou Ankang" and so on.Li Lianying also used colored paper to paste a huge temple in the Summer Palace, and inside it was a paper image of "a boy worshiping Guanyin", in order to win the favor of "Lafayette". On the first day of October, the birthday celebration ceremony begins in the temple.Li Lianying immediately ordered 3,000 lamas to go to the altar devoutly and chant the scriptures of Haishousheng.More than 60 points have been set up from the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace.The drums and music rang together, and all the monks in red cassocks chanted together, making people feel as if they were in a fairyland. In order to show her achievements, Li Lianying invited Empress Dowager Cixi to visit various arrangements from the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace.The Empress Dowager Cixi was full of praise after watching it, especially after watching the "boy worshiping Guanyin" in the temple, she was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth from ear to ear. "Lafayette, you old man, take a closer look at who is this Guanyin Bodhisattva?" Li Lianying asked the Empress Dowager Cixi without losing the opportunity. "I can't tell who it looks like." Empress Dowager Cixi looked left and right, and said deliberately.In fact, when Li Lianying asked her, she already knew what Li Lianying was going to say. "My servant thinks she looks like your Lafayette." Li Lianying said. "How do you look like me?" "Guanyin Bodhisattva has lived for thousands of years and is still as young and beautiful as Lafayette. Who can be like Lafayette?" "You, little Lizi, you're talking nice things to me again." "That's the way it is. Lafayette, who do you think this boy looks like?" "I look like the fool you were when you first entered the palace." "Lafayette is right." Li Lianying hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, "The boy worships Guanyin, wishing the Lafayette good fortune like the East China Sea and longevity as long as Nanshan. This boy has served Guanyin Bodhisattva for decades, and the slave should also serve Lafayette Decades." "Get up," said Empress Dowager Cixi, "I see you, your lips have been smeared all your life, and your words make people feel sweet. I'm already sixty this year, and I might— " "My servant forbid Lafayette to say those unlucky words." Li Lianying got up from the ground and said in a commanding tone. "You shouldn't say that on such a happy day." Empress Dowager Cixi didn't care that Li Lianying spoke to her in that tone. While the two were talking, suddenly a young eunuch hurriedly ran over to report to the Empress Dowager Cixi, "Li Zhongtang came from Tianjin to report something important to Lafayette." When the Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Lianying heard this, they couldn't help "thumping" in their hearts: This narrow-minded ghost, who came here at this time, did he bring some bad news? Li Lianying was afraid that Li Hongzhang, who was ignorant of current affairs, would say something bad and disturb the mood of the Empress Dowager Cixi, so she said to the Empress Dowager Cixi: "Li Zhongtang probably won't have any serious matters, let the servants go see him first." .” As he spoke, he turned and wanted to leave.He wanted to say hello to Li Hongzhang first, and he must not say anything unlucky, even if he said everything after the Longevity Festival. "Wait!" said the Empress Dowager Cixi. She had suspected that Li Lianying was hiding something from her on the issue of the Sino-Japanese War these days. I can also understand Li Lianying's painstaking efforts to let her have a happy Longevity Day, so I don't blame Li Lianying. She said to the little eunuch who was standing by, "Let Li Zhongtang come and see me." Not long after the little eunuch left, he heard Li Hongzhang's footsteps gradually approaching from far away.When Li Hongzhang saw the Empress Dowager Cixi, he bowed his head and said: "My humble minister, Li Hongzhang, pays respects to the Lafayette. Lafayette is not a big deal—" Li Hongzhang suddenly saw Li Lianying anxiously winking at the side, and he suddenly stopped. Dare to stop and say. The Empress Dowager Cixi listened expressionlessly, and when she heard Li Hongzhang paused, she looked at Li Hongzhang. Seeing that Li Hongzhang was looking at Li Lianying, she knew that Li Lianying was making some small movements, so she turned her head and looked at Li Hongzhang calmly. When Li Lianying touched Li Lianying, Li Lianying was taken aback, and quickly pretended to look away as if nothing had happened, but the empress dowager Cixi had noticed all his winking movements. "Li Lianying!" Empress Dowager Cixi shouted. "The slave is here." Li Lianying hurried forward and said. "what are you doing?" "The slave did nothing." "Stand there and be honest." Empress Dowager Cixi then said, "Li Hongzhang, why don't you say anything?" "Old...Buddha, humble minister—" Li Hongzhang had a fine layer of cold sweat on his head, not knowing what to do. "Say it!" Empress Dowager Cixi urged again. "yes!" Under the repeated urging of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Li Hongzhang told the Empress Dowager what he wanted to report.Sure enough, it was the news of China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War.After China and Japan declared war at the same time, the compromise did not stop the Japanese aggressors from attacking.After attacking the Qing army in Asan, the Japanese army attacked the Qing army in Pyongyang with more than 7,800 troops in September, while the total number of Qing troops guarding Pyongyang was only 2,900.Zuo Baogui, the commander-in-chief, saw that the enemy was in a critical situation, so he personally went to the Xuanwu Gate to command the battle.In the fierce battle, Zuo Baobao was shot twice first, but he was still in command of the fort.Suddenly a shell exploded in front of Zuo Baogui, and a shell fragment shot into Zuo Baogui's chest, and Zuo Baogui was killed immediately.After the sacrifice of Zuo Baogui, Emperor Guangxu personally wrote the "Imperial Sacrifice": "Fang Dang turned to the battle without precedent, and the army gathered; why did the general star sink before he left the army?" .” expresses great condolences. After the sacrifice of Zuo Baogui, Ye Zhichao, the commander of the Qing army, was greedy for life and afraid of death, and actually made the decision to retreat to Pyongyang. However, he was ambushed by the Japanese army during the retreat, and more than 2,000 Qing troops were killed, injured or captured. After the Battle of Pyongyang, the Japanese fleet and the Beiyang Fleet had a naval battle in the Yellow Sea. The Beiyang Fleet lost four ships, Chaoyong, Yangwei, Zhiyuan, and Jingyuan, and suffered great losses.In the fierce naval battle in the Yellow Sea, Deng Shichang, the leader of the Zhiyuan fleet, performed the most heroically.After the flagship Dingyuan was injured, in order to protect the flagship, Deng Shichang resolutely commanded the Zhiyuan to chase the Japanese ship fiercely.At this time, the Japanese ship Yoshino was right in front of Zhiyuan. Seeing Yoshino's rampant behavior, Deng Shichang was already filled with righteous indignation, so he ordered the Zhiyuan ship to hit Yoshino with full power, hoping to destroy the enemy ship.The fearless heroic act of the officers and men of the Zhiyuan Ship frightened Yoshino into a panic, and the crew jumped into the water to escape.But when he was about to catch up, he was attacked by an enemy torpedo, and Deng Shichang and the entire ship sank with the ship.After Deng Shichang fell into the sea, his pet dog came to him and held his arm to prevent him from sinking. Deng Shichang drank it away, but the pet dog held his hair again.Deng Shichang vowed to live and die with the Zhiyuan ship, and resolutely pushed his pet dog into the water with all his strength, and he himself was also submerged in the waves. He wrote a heroic hymn for the Chinese nation! After the Battle of the Yellow Sea, Japan attacked the northeast of the Qing Dynasty's hometown.Dandong fell, Dalian was occupied, and now Lushunkou is about to fall again. After hearing Li Hongzhang's narration, Empress Dowager Cixi broke out in a cold sweat. I no longer have the heart to appreciate those arrangements.She sighed and said, "Oh! My life is really miserable. A full life of sixty is not as good as a full life of fifty. Now my hometown is almost occupied, and it is really going from bad to worse! " In the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the news of China's successive defeats spread across the country like a cold wind.People all over the country are full of enthusiasm and righteous indignation, how can they have the heart to celebrate this longevity ceremony.The Empress Dowager Cixi could only lament the bad fate. Under the anger of the crowd, she was forced to issue an edict that "all longevity celebrations will be held in the palace." The fences, etc. were immediately removed.Li Lianying painstakingly arranged these things with people's fat and people's ointment, but they ended hastily before they could be used. Empress Dowager Cixi said a long time ago that when she returns to politics, she will have a good time with Li Lianying.Now that the Summer Palace has been repaired and the emperor has taken over the government, although the emperor still goes to the Summer Palace every morning to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager Cixi and report some important events, it is much more relaxed after all, and it is just as she said that it is time to be happy and happy. up. One day, the Empress Dowager Cixi said to Li Lianying enthusiastically, "Little Li, how about we go to Longevity Hill today?" "Okay! It's rare that Lafayette is in such high spirits today. Since the Longevity Day, the servant has never seen Lafayette so happy." Li Lianying replied straightforwardly. "Don't mention that matter, that matter troubled me too badly, and I feel sad when I mention it." After hearing this, Empress Dowager Cixi said with an unhappy face. "Please forgive me, Lafayette. The servant shouldn't bring up that matter. If it makes Lafayette angry, the servant should hit him!" Li Lianying said, and she wanted to slap her own mouth. "Forget it, you're not to blame for this!" Empress Dowager Cixi hastily persuaded him. "Thank you, Lafayette, for not hitting me." Li Lianying said, "I'll get someone to prepare the sedan chair." "No need," said Empress Dowager Cixi, "you won't be able to appreciate any scenery in a sedan chair, so it's better to walk around by yourself." "Since Lafayette wants to walk, let's go." Li Lianying said thoughtfully, "However, Lafayette needs to wear more clothes." "I don't need you to remind me." The Empress Dowager Cixi said, still feeling very happy in her heart. So Empress Dowager Cixi was accompanied by Li Lianying and a dozen court ladies and eunuchs, and a group of people walked up the mountain along the stone steps at the foot of Longevity Mountain.Although she walked very slowly, Cixi was still panting slightly from exhaustion, and a thin layer of hot sweat broke out on her head. "Lafayette, sit down and rest for a while!" Li Lianying said, "I see that you are so tired, you won't be so tired if you want to sit in a warm sedan chair." "It's nothing." The Empress Dowager Cixi said, but she regretted not following Li Lianying's advice. Suddenly, a breeze blew over, "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!" Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help shivering several times. "Lafayette, don't catch a cold, let's go back!" Li Lianying suggested. "Let's go back." Empress Dowager Cixi was also a little worried about catching a cold, so she followed Li Lianying's words. After the Empress Dowager Cixi went back, she only felt chills on her body, and fell ill at night with a persistent fever.Li Lianying was so anxious that she hurriedly sent the little eunuch to the imperial doctor to treat the Empress Dowager Cixi. After a while, the imperial doctor came over in a hurry, pressed the empress dowager Cixi's pulse, and said to her, "It's nothing, just a little cold, just a cold. I'll give you a prescription, take the medicine, take it and lie down." Just rest in bed for two days and you'll be fine." After finishing speaking, the imperial doctor prescribed a prescription and withdrew.When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard that there was no major obstacle, she felt a little relieved. As the saying goes: Illness comes like a mountain, and it goes like a fluke. In addition, the Empress Dowager Cixi is also a little older. Although she only has a cold, she has been lying in bed for four or five days before she can walk around a little. On this day, Empress Dowager Cixi felt that her condition was almost recovered, so she asked Li Lianying to help her to take a walk outside to get some fresh air.Although her illness was cured, her body was still a little weak. Li Lianying supported the Empress Dowager Cixi and walked towards the door, and said to her: "Lafayette, it's all my fault that I didn't insist on letting your old man go up the mountain in a warm sedan chair, which caused such a big scene. matter." "Little Li, how can I blame you." The Empress Dowager Cixi comforted Li Lianying instead, "It's because I don't sit in the warm sedan chair. I want to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the mountain, but I didn't expect to ignore my body. Alas, like At my age, I might be recruited by the King of Hell any day." Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help letting out a long sigh when she remembered that she had caught a cold and fell ill for four or five days. "The slaves don't allow the Lafayette to say those unlucky things. The Lafayette is still in good health." Li Lianying said, but her heart couldn't help thumping. Now the Long Live Lord is in charge, and the Lafayette lives in the Summer Palace. She is still highly valued by Lafayette, but she is already in her sixties after all, maybe one day she will not be able to come back to the West Paradise one day, his beloved, wouldn't she become an orphan who lost her milk?People say: People have no long-term concerns, but they must have near-term worries. It seems that I have to carefully plan for myself.After the death of Lafayette, the most powerful person is the Long Live Lord. It seems that he must hold this big tree tightly to feel a little safe.But I have always been against the Long Live Lord, and even bullied the Long Live Lord, so that the Long Live Lord has never had a good impression of me, and after meeting him, he always has a bad look at me. It seems that he wants to hug Daddy Trees are not easy.Thinking of this, Li Lianying couldn't help but said to herself bitterly: "Li Lianying, Li Lianying, you are too ignorant of the current affairs: you used to only know that you were only favored for a while, but you actually bullied the Long Live Lord. Now it's good, Long live God is in charge, Lafayette is old, and I am almost a helpless boat that drifts with the waves and is blown by the wind and waves. But even so, I have to grasp the big tree of Long live God, It won't work if you catch other little people, and you won't be able to protect yourself at all. But how can you catch them?" Li Lianying couldn't help but fell into deep thought. "老佛爷，该用药了！"一声甜甜的叫声打断了李莲英的沉思。 李莲英抬头一看，见是自己的妹妹李二姐，忽然灵机一动，禁不住喜上眉梢，心中暗暗地想到：何不找个机会向老佛爷讨个情，把自己的妹妹选为嫔妃，将来自己不但有个依靠，还可以弄个国舅爷做做。如果自己的愿望能够实现，那时的威风将更甚过现在。再说，凭妹妹的这花容月貌，体态丰姿，万岁爷肯定会一见钟情的。 这李二姐何以能进宫得以服侍慈禧太后，这其中还有一段小小的插曲。 前面已经说过，李莲英弟兄五人，早年一家过着穷困潦倒的生活。就是在李莲英进宫以后很长一段时间里日子还是不够宽裕。自从李莲英获得慈禧太后宠爱，荣升高位之后，便不断有大把大把的银子被运回家中，从此，他家才过上了享不尽的荣华、受不尽的富贵生活。他的二老双亲心满意足享上清福，身子也就越活越壮实。不想曹氏在四十多岁上又连连生了两个千金小姐，大的取名云儿，小的取名秀儿。这两朵姊妹花天姿聪明，长得俊俏可爱，成了父母的掌上明珠。云儿长到十六岁时，在北京出嫁，嫁与肖家何杨宅。 却说这秀儿，知书识礼，十二三岁便初道文墨，到了年方二八已经出脱得花容月貌，具有国色之姿。此时李莲英父亲已经去世，因此秀儿更受到母亲的庞受，再加上人们的恭维，养成了她娇怪、狡黠的性格。她自认为美貌绝伦，一心要找一个比大姐更为荣耀的公子。开初求婚者踏破门槛，但秀儿挑来挑去，也没挑出一个中意的。以致后来弄得无人敢攀，门庭冷落下来。 颐和园峻工以后，李莲英有一次到府上，谈到颐和园建筑如何高大巍峨，金碧辉辉；昆湖水如何清澈见底，鱼虾成群，以及自己如何和老佛爷在园里尽情地嬉笑欢乐，说得一旁的秀儿不住地伸舌头，挤眼睛，止不住心头痒痒后，便轻轻地问李莲英道："二哥，颐和园里风景那么美好，你何不找个时间带我进去看一看呢？" "好啊，我以后找个时间向老佛爷说一声，我想带进去一个小女子，老佛爷不会不同意的。"李莲英爽快地答道，继而又开玩笑似地对秀儿说道，"妹妹长得这么漂亮，说不定哪一天被万岁爷撞见看中了，不放你出来，我看到时候你怎么办？ 这么多提亲的妹妹都看不上眼，是不是心里在一直想着万岁爷啊？ " "二哥你真坏，瞎说什么呀！"秀儿一听羞红了脸，走上前去，一边捶着李莲英的胸脯一边撒娇似地故意说道，"万岁爷他算老几，小妹我还对他看不上眼呢。" "好，好，小妹既然看不上万岁爷，那就嫁个万万岁爷好了！"李莲英一边躲闪着，一边笑着继续说道。 虽然李莲英说的是一句玩笑话，但还是在秀儿的心中引起了不大不小的一场波折，虽然她在嘴上说着看不上皇上。 "如果真能被万岁爷看中了，虽不指望做皇后，封个嫔妃什么的，也不枉来这世一上遭。"秀儿在心中暗暗地想道。 李莲英回到颐和园以后，果真找个机会向慈禧太后说道： "老佛爷，奴才有一胞妹，在家闲着无事，央我带她来园中溜溜，借机散散心。奴才恐怕老佛爷不同意，便没有带她来。不知——" "你有个胞妹，你怎么没有对我说过？她今年多大了？"慈禧一听很有兴趣地问李莲英道。 "胞妹今年年方二八，长得聪明伶俐的。老佛爷见了一定会喜欢的。"李莲英趁机赶忙说道。 "哎呀，那你怎么不把她带过来玩玩呢？十六岁，还不过是个小孩子吗，怕什么呢？你抽空找个时间把她带过来，让我也见见她。"慈禧太后说道。 "谢老佛爷恩典。奴才遵旨，一定找个时间把她带过来让老佛爷看看。"李莲英赶忙跪下磕了一个头道。 次日清晨，李莲英就把秀儿带到颐和园乐寿堂。李莲英让秀儿在外面等着。自己先进去向慈禧太后叩头请安，然后说道："奴才遵旨已把胞妹带过来，现在正在堂外听候老佛爷的旨意。" "那你还不把她快带进来！"慈禧太后听了满心欢喜地说道。 李莲英出去不久，就见秀儿移动三寸金莲缓缓走进门来，手扶膝盖右腿向后一弯，行了一个请安礼，然后说道："老佛爷吉祥如意，小女子拜见老佛爷！" "免礼平身！"慈禧太后对秀儿说道。 秀儿这才微微地抬起头来，迎着慈禧太后的目光看过去，不禁暗暗地想道："人家都说老佛爷威严可怕，我看老佛爷倒还挺温柔可亲的。" 慈禧太后见了秀儿，也不禁暗暗地吃了一惊。只见秀儿长得如花似玉，明眸皓齿的，身穿红色牡丹花上衣，上面绣着鸳鸯戏水，腰扎的也是粉红色的凤尾裙，举止温柔大方，袅娜如春风杨柳，婷婷似出水芙蓉，很是惹人喜爱。她的这身衣服，是李莲英专门帮助挑选打扮的，因为他知道慈禧太后最喜欢红色的。"好一个漂亮的姑娘！"慈禧太后忍不住称赞道，并脱下自己手腕上的一副手镯亲手为秀儿戴在手腕上。 李莲英兄妹二人见此不但有些受宠若惊，而且有些感到意外，唬得二人慌忙一齐跪下对慈禧太后磕头谢恩。 "姑娘，你叫什么名字？"慈禧太后有些喜色地说道，"你看我糊涂的，只顾看，竟连你叫什么名字都忘记问了。" "秀儿。"秀儿轻轻地答道。 "秀儿，多秀气的名字啊：和你人一样秀气。"慈禧太后夸赞道，"你对你哥哥说不是想在园里玩玩吗，正好天也暖和了，我也想玩玩，你就陪我一起玩吧。" "小女子很愿意陪老佛爷一起玩。"秀儿正求之不得呢，一听要她陪着一起玩忙不迭地答道。 此后十多天，秀儿便陪着慈禧太后游山玩水。秀儿寸步不离地随侍在慈禧太后左右。她思想敏捷，手脚勤快，而且善于察言观色，投其所好，所以很得慈禧太后的好感，以至慈禧太后一会见不到她，便"秀儿、秀儿"地叫个不停。 倏忽间，十几天不知不觉就过去了。这天，李莲英找到秀儿，忽然对她说道："二妹，你来园中已经十好几天了，该玩的地方已经玩了，也该回去了，免得母亲在家里为你担心着急。" 秀儿这些天正陪着慈禧太后玩得高兴，一听说李莲英让她走，立即现出一脸不高兴的样子，但也无话可说。 "二妹，哥哥知道你正和老佛爷玩得高兴，不想走，但久居园中，也决非长久之计呀！"李莲英安慰秀儿道。 于是兄妹俩便一块去见慈禧太后，两个脸上都现出一种不高兴的样子，秀儿眼里还闪着泪花。 "你们兄妹俩今天是怎么了，都显得那么不高兴？"慈禧太后着急地问道，"怎么了，秀儿，是不是你哥哥欺负你了？" "启禀老佛爷，"李莲英先向慈禧太后跪下说道，"奴才想二妹来园中已经十多天了，也该回去了，免得让母亲在家担忧。" 秀儿在旁边听了，眼泪像断了线的珠儿似的，不断地滚落下来。 "怎么了，刚来到十几天，就吵着回去。小李子，是不是你出的主意？"慈禧太后说完，又对秀儿说道，"秀儿你为什么哭呢？" 秀儿听了，竟哽哽咽咽地哭出声来了，伤心得连慈禧太后的问话都无法回答。 "回老佛爷的话，"还是李莲英代秀儿回答了，"二妹想起这十几天，老佛爷待她恩重如山，现在马上就要分别了，因此想起来不免伤心落泪，回家的打算，是奴才出的主意，奴才并没有什么别的意思，只是怕老母亲在家着急。如果老佛爷想让二妹再留几天的话，就让她陪老佛爷玩几天好了，奴才派人去告诉老母亲一声，以免她老人家在家里担忧。" 这十几天来，慈禧太后也对秀儿产生了很深的感情，又见秀儿哭得像泪人一般，便动感情地问她道："秀儿，你是不是不想回去？" 秀儿听了，使劲地点了点头。 慈禧太后见了，心里不禁怦然一动；这姑娘心灵手巧的，又善解人意，对自己照顾得体贴入微；再说自己手下也正需要一个得心应手的人侍候，自己何不问问她是否愿意留下来侍候自己呢？想到这儿，便问秀儿道："秀儿，既然你不想回去，你就留下来陪我怎么样？再说我手下也少一个人侍候。" 秀儿当时正处于手足无措之时，听慈禧太后要让她留下来侍候她，对她来说简直是一个天大的惊喜。因此，她不等李莲英回答，便自作主张跪下来向慈禧太后道："谢老佛爷，奴才愿留下来，奴才愿意侍俸老佛爷一辈子。"秀儿反应还挺快的，转瞬之间就把自己的称呼变了。 慈禧太后的这种举动也有点出乎李莲英的意料之外，但他马上就反应了过来，心想：这样也好，把二妹留在园中侍俸老佛爷，说不是什么时候就有了出人头地的机会。于是他赶忙也跪下来向慈禧太后谢恩道："谢老佛爷。二妹能留下来侍俸老佛爷，实在是二妹天大的福气啊！奴才马上派人向老母亲报喜去！" "慢着！"慈禧太后说道，"我箱里有一件珍贵的狐皮大衣，你拿出来送给你的母亲吧！" "送那么珍贵的东西，怕有点不合适吧。"李莲英故作姿态地说道。 "那算啥呀，我让你送你就送吧。"慈禧太后不在乎地说道。 "那奴才就恭敬不如从命了。"李莲英欣然说道。 从此，秀儿便侍俸在了慈禧太后身边。因她很会讨喜欢，被慈禧太后爱抚地称作"大姑娘"，宫里人都称她为"秀二姐。" 和李莲英兄妹二人一唱一合，作尽对慈禧太后奉承讨好之能事。 再说李二姐来到老佛爷的身边，甜甜地叫了一声："老佛爷，该用药了！" "老佛爷，二妹把药熬好了，回去用药吧。"李莲英也说道。 慈禧太后转身看着李二姐，爱抚地说道："大姑娘，这些天多亏了你呀，又是熬药，又是侍俸的，看你的身子又瘦了一圈，眼睛也红了。" "侍候老佛爷是奴才的本分，那是应该的，就是累死了奴才也毫无怨言。"李二姐讨好地说道。 慈禧太后在李莲英和李二姐的精心服侍下，身体慢慢地好了起来。 再说光绪皇帝在慈禧太后的威逼下选了她内侄女为皇后后，任凭她打扮得如何娇艳，光绪皇帝却总是不喜欢她，从不宣诏，而总是宣诏自己喜欢的瑾妃和珍妃，其中尤其是珍妃。慈禧太后在六十大寿前，对各级官吏大肆加官进爵，瑾嫔和珍嫔也被晋升为瑾妃和珍妃。隆裕娘娘对此总感到有些酸风醋气不自在，因此不时地在她的姑姑慈禧太后耳朵里吹风，说了不少瑾、珍王妃的坏话。这不，隆裕皇后又在慈禧太后面前说起了瑾妃和珍妃的坏话。 "老佛爷，我也不知道为什么瑾、珍二妃竟有那么大的吸引力，以至皇上一日不见她们就茶饭不思？"隆裕皇后说道。 隆裕虽然没说光绪皇帝不喜欢自己，但慈禧太后一听就听得出来，光绪皇帝不喜欢她，并且她也知道，光绪皇帝也确实不喜欢她，于是便安慰她道："别急嘛，皇上最终是会喜欢你的，因为你毕竟是皇后啊！" 隆裕一听，慈禧太后还是说了好多遍的那句话：别急，别急，自己怎么能够不急呢？已经几年了，皇上还是不喜欢自己，这最终到底是会到什么时候呢？于是她话锋一转，说道： "老佛爷，您知道皇上对日宣战是谁的主意吗，以致老佛爷不能好好地过六十大寿？" "谁的主意？"慈禧太后一听就来气了，不禁恨恨地说道，"我要是知道了，我要让他一辈子不得好过！" 隆裕皇后一听高兴了，看来这一着棋是走对了。隆裕走上前来，趴在慈禧太后耳朵边上轻轻地说道："是瑾妃和珍妃，尤其是珍妃，在皇上因为老佛爷的六十大寿在对日宣战问题上犹豫不决的时候，在皇上耳边吹了不少风，最后终于使皇上对日宣了战。" "好啊，当时我就怀疑，肯定有人在皇上耳边吹了风，没想到是她们两个。"慈禧太后一听咬牙切齿地说道，"这两个狐媚子，处处和我作对，看我不教训教训她们。" 第二天早晨，在光绪皇帝向慈禧太后请安的时候，慈禧太后怒气冲冲地问道："皇帝，对日宣战是谁的主意？" 光绪皇帝一听，吓得顿时慌了手脚，结结巴巴地说道： "是孩儿自己的主意。" "真是你自己的主意？" "真是孩儿自己的主意。" "你别装了！你说，是不是瑾妃和珍妃那两个狐媚子教唆的？""千真万确是孩儿自己的主意，不关她们二人的事。" "你别说了，我全知道！瑾、珍二妃干预外政，立即降为贵人，另外再羁禁三个月不许诏幸。" 光绪皇帝不敢反抗，唯唯诺诺地答道："是，孩儿知道了。" 说完便赶忙起身离去。 慈禧太后虽然出了一口气，但仍有些忧心忡忡。她烦恼的是作为自己的内侄女的皇后，光绪皇帝不喜欢；而光绪皇帝喜欢的瑾、珍二妃又和自己不一心。她想：如果能立一个皇帝喜欢，又值得自己信赖的女子作妃子才合乎心愿。 慈禧太后的这一心意，早已被站在一旁的李莲英猜个一清二楚。他这几个也正为没有机会向慈禧太后表露自己的心迹郁郁不乐，见此情景，不禁眉开眼笑地想道："自己何不趁这个机会，想个办法让老佛爷跟万岁爷说一声，把自己的妹妹立为妃子呢？" 于是李莲英找到妹妹，把自己的心事说与她知道。李二姐早就盼望着这一天，只是自己不好意思向哥哥说明，这次见哥向自己提起，遂面红耳赤地说道："全仗哥为小妹一力作主！" "怎么向老佛爷提起呢，"李莲英说道，"我们总得想个办法才行。" 李二姐只是羞红着脸，不好意思开口。 "你看这样行不行？"李莲英说着，凑到李二姐耳朵边，如此这般地耳语一番，李二姐会心地点了点头。 第二天，李莲英故意当着慈禧太后的面对李二姐说道： "二妹呀，家里又有人给你提亲了，我看你还是回家去看一看吧。" "我不去，我宁可一辈子也不嫁人。"李二姐断然答道。 "大姑娘，为何到了芳龄不愿婚配？"慈禧太后听了李二姐的话，不禁奇怪地问道。 "老佛爷是一国之尊，玉体安泰是全国百姓的福分，我要侍俸老佛爷一辈子，哪管得了自己的终身……"李二姐粉面羞红道。 "好懂事的姑娘，我可不能耽误你的青春。"慈禧太后听了李二姐的话，心里甜甜的。但忽然又想起了令她头疼的皇上的事。她想：如果把李二姐给皇上做了妃子，一来对他可以有所约束，二来自己也可以多个耳目，岂不两全其美？想到这儿，她便看了看李莲英，李莲英也正在看她。于是她便示意二姐退下，又和李莲英窃窃私语了一番。真是和李莲英不谋而合！只见李莲英连连点头，兴奋地说道："老佛爷真是深谋远虑呀，皇上也会为此感激您的！" 慈禧太后和李莲英想好计策后，便命太监传命紫禁城，召见光绪皇帝。当时光绪正为心爱的瑾、珍二妃降为贵人，羁禁三个月而难过，听得慈禧太后召见的懿旨，不知又发生了什么事，便惴惴不安地赶到颐和园。 光绪皇帝来到乐寿堂，四顾无人，于是便推门而入，还是不见一个人影。光绪皇帝正在疑惑，忽然看见从内室中走出一位妙龄女子，见了光绪皇帝纳头便拜道："小女子拜见皇上！" "起来吧，"光绪皇帝说道，"你先说，皇太后到哪里去了？" "谢皇上！"李二姐甜甜地说了一声，便站起身来，直视着光绪皇帝。 光绪皇帝这才仔细地看了看李二姐，只见他不看则已，一看顿时愣在那儿了：只见眼前这女子，面如满月，眉如墨黛，口如樱桃，腮似桃花，一笑还露出一对甜甜的酒窝；小小的金莲，纤纤的腰姿，袅娜婷婷，丹唇一动千情传，秋波一转百媚生。光绪皇帝看着看着，不禁心猿意马：这么漂亮的姑娘，我今儿才算见了。如果我能把她纳为嫔妃，常侍在我的身边那该多好啊！ 李二姐见光绪皇帝呆呆地望着自己，禁不住心中一阵狂喜：看来万岁爷对自己有些意思了，但自己不能松懈，还要再努把力。于是她进一步对光绪皇帝说道："老佛爷和众人都去戏楼听戏了，说待会儿再跟万岁爷叙谈，因此特命小女子来陪陪万岁爷。万岁爷渴了吧，小女子给万岁爷倒杯香茶来！" 说完，扭转腰枝，走到御厨上拿起玉杯，从壶中倒了一杯不冷不烫的香茶，双手捧着递到光绪皇帝面前。光绪皇帝只觉一阵香气扑面而来，他下意识地接过玉杯，不是送到嘴边，而是又放到了桌上。光绪皇帝不由自主地拉住了李二姐纤纤的手指，李二姐浑身一震，稍一迟疑，便一下扑进了光绪皇帝的怀里。光绪皇帝紧紧地把李二姐搂在怀里，随后四片滚烫的嘴唇便紧紧地绞合在了一起。 长时间一段热吻之后，光绪皇帝才松开了紧搂着李二姐的双手，摸着李二姐的樱桃小口问道："告诉我，你是谁家女子？" 李二姐只是甜甜地笑着，并不回答光绪皇帝的回话。 光绪皇帝越看李二姐越是可爱，便又紧紧地搂着她，狂吻了一阵。 "你不说也罢了，不管你是哪家女子，我都要启禀老佛爷封你为妃子，怎么样？"光绪皇帝又轻轻地问李二姐道。 "谢万岁爷，这实在是对奴婢的莫大恩惠！"李二姐说着，便想从光绪胳膊里挣脱出来磕头谢恩。 "不用了，"光绪皇帝说道，"能这样看着你我便心满意足了。" "今日好多名角登台献技，万岁爷何不也去乐一乐？"李二姐说道。 "你不知道，我从小就不爱听戏凑热闹。再说国事家事绞起来，整天弄得我焦头烂额的，也无心看戏。"光绪皇帝轻轻地对她说道，"你先出去向皇太后禀报一声，就说我在此恭候。" "好吧，万岁爷在此等候一会，奴婢去去就来。"说完两人依依不舍地分了手。 李二姐出了乐寿堂，便直往戏楼奔去。想起自己马上就要做妃子了，心里不由得一阵阵心花怒放，脚步似乎也轻了许多。 "二妹！"李二姐正低着头走路，忽然一个人叫住了她，原来是哥哥李莲英。原来李莲英正陪