Chapter 32 2. Confining Yingtai (1)

Guangxu slapped Li Lianying in the face, but Li Lianying wanted to make Guangxu unable to eat... Long before Tan Sitong visited Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai had already received a telegram from Rong Lu asking him to go back, so Yuan Shikai decided to return to Tianjin today. After arriving in Tianjin, Yuan Shikai did not go to his camp in Xiaozhan, but went straight to the Beiyang minister's office where Rong Lu was.After arriving at the Yamen, Yuan Shikai handed in his post, and after a while, an officer came out to pass him in. When Yuan Shikai walked into the yamen, he seemed to feel that this yamen would belong to him in the near future, and he couldn't help being happy for a while.But how can I tell Rong Lu later?Yuan Shikai has not yet made up his mind.When he arrived at the door of Ronglu's residence, a small servant had already drawn up the curtain for him, waiting for him to enter.Yuan Shikai went in and saw three people sitting inside: Rong Lu, Xu Yingku, and Huaitabu.Yuan Shikai hurriedly greeted Rong Lu, and also saluted Xu Yingku and Huaitabu by the way.

"Did you see my telegram on the third day of August? Why did you come back now?" Rong Lu asked Yuan Shikai furiously as soon as they met, seeming to imply reproach. But Yuan Shikai didn't hear it that way. Yuan Shikai knew that it was Rong Lu who was asking him what he did in the capital.Is it a truthful answer?Or lie?Since Rong Lu was able to ask this question, it seems that he should have heard about my behavior. If I lie, he will know, and the favor I have gained from him will be lost. Let me answer truthfully!Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai said: "Back to Commander, the Emperor received me in the capital, so I have only rushed back now, and hope that Commander will learn from me."

"Oh, I haven't congratulated you yet! I have already seen the emperor's edict on the first day of August." Rong Lu said with an imperceptible smile on his face. Yuan Shikai knew that what Rong Lu was talking about was the edict that commended Yuan Shikai for his hard work and conscientiousness in school training, and instructed Yuan Shikai to specialize in military training affairs, and to perform all the matters that should be done at any time.When Rong Lu mentioned this edict, he knew that Rong Lu was a little dissatisfied with him. "Return to Commander-in-Chief, I will always be your loyal subordinate, that is just the emperor's kindness, I will never dare to do this."

Rong Lu felt relieved when he heard this, and said that you, Yuan Shikai, are not so bold yet.However, Rong Lu still didn't know what the emperor had talked with Yuan Shikai. In fact, Rong Lu summoned Yuan Shikai back to ask about Yuan Shikai's situation, but Rong Lu was too embarrassed to ask Yuan Shikai directly, so Rong Lu decided to play hard to catch. He said to Huai and Xu: "I heard that Lafayette has had a lot of trouble with the emperor recently, and I also heard that the emperor wants to harm Lafayette. You two are in the capital. Have you heard of these things?"

After Rong Lu finished speaking, he quickly winked at Huai and Xu. Huaitabu and Xu Yingku knew that it was Rong Lu and asked them to agree, but they had never heard of the emperor trying to harm Lafayette. Lu told them to say yes, so they said yes. "The two of us have definitely heard about it in the capital, and it's a serious incident, but we just don't know if it's true or not, but it's always good to take precautions before they happen. Lafayette should have dealt with them earlier." "You don't have to worry about this, I have my own way to protect Lafayette." Rong Lu leaned back on the grand master's chair after speaking.

As the saying goes, "The speaker has no intention, but the listener has the heart." The conversation made up by Rong Lu, Xu Yingku, and Huaitabu sounded like a thunderbolt to Yuan Shikai.Yuan Shikai murmured in his heart: Could it be that they already knew about my conversation with Mr. Tan? Is this impossible?I was the only one with Master Tan that night!Could it be Mr. Tan who told me the secret!This is absolutely impossible.But what do they mean?Are you trying to test my loyalty?Yuan Shikai felt that it was time to tell the whole story. "Back to the commander, I have something important to report." After speaking, he looked at the guards around him.

Rong Lu felt happy for a while, the fish took the bait automatically!He saw Yuan Shikai's eyes and knew that Yuan Shikai didn't want the guards to know, so he dismissed all the guards and said: "Master Xu and Master Huai, do you need to avoid them?" "I see that Master Xu and Master Huai are also loyal to Lafayette, so there is no need to avoid it!" "Well, there are only four of us left now, so you can say whatever you want!" Yuan Shikai first took out the imperial edict from Emperor Guangxu asking him to kill Rong Lu from his arms and handed it to Rong Lu. "Marshal, please take a look at this first." Yuan Shikai stared at Rong Lu's face as he handed it, as if he wanted to see something from Rong Lu's face.

Rong Lu took the imperial edict steadily, but he was not the first to read it. He knew what Yuan Shikai meant by staring at him, and wanted to see his inner activities from his face.He handed the oracle to the two adults Xu and Huai on the right side of the seat, and looked at them casually at the same time.Xu Yingku and Huaitabu hurriedly unfolded the oracle to read, but the two of them didn't want to read it, they couldn't help being shocked and their faces turned ashen.All these honors and luxuries were in his eyes. From Yuan Shikai's attention to him and the expressions of Huai and Xu, he speculated that it might be unfavorable to himself or Lafayette, so he said to Xu Yingku and Huaitabu:

"What's the fuss about, pass it to me." Rong Lu said to Xu and Huai as if nothing had happened. "Lord Rong, this is the emperor's wish..." Xu Yingkui wanted to say something, but he realized that Rong Lu had waved his hand at him, signaling him not to continue, so he closed his mouth. Rong Lu took the oracle from Xu Yingku and Huaitabu, and casually looked at the contents of the oracle without any expression on his face.In fact, Rong Lu couldn't help trembling in his heart, but after all, he is a veteran who has been in the officialdom for decades. He is very aware of Yuan Shikai's mentality of looking down on procrastination, so he pretended to be calm and suppressed the fear in his heart.However, Yuan Shikai didn't know this. He was surprised to see that Rong Lu didn't show any fear, and what was even more surprising was that Rong Lu said to him at this time, "You can do it now while the guards are away. "

"Marshal, I definitely don't dare to be humble, and I definitely don't mean that." Yuan Shikai quickly knelt on the ground and said. "The emperor treats you so well, why do you still betray them?" This is a very difficult question to answer, but you will never be allowed to think about it.However, at last Yuan Shikai was smart, and he quickly said: "The emperor is not good to me. He is actually trying to win me over and drag me away from you. Thinking that Mr. Xu and Mr. Huai were loyal to Lafayette, for the sake of the country, they were actually dismissed by the emperor. Isn't that true? Is it the fault of the emperor? The emperor acted perversely, and wanted to drag me there as their own burial person. For the emperor's perverse act, I believe that Lafayette and the commander-in-chief have long been dissatisfied with it. I didn't act rashly. The reason why the humble official accepted the emperor's secret edict is actually limited to the title of monarch and minister! I hope the commander-in-chief will learn from you."

This remark greatly benefited Huaitabu, Xu Yingkui and Ronglu who were sitting on it.Xu Yingkui and Huaitabu were happy that some people praised them as heroes of Weiguo; but what Rong Lu paid attention to was that you, Yuan Shikai, and I learned quite well. After listening to Yuan Shikai's words, Rong Lu knew very well that Yuan Shikai would never dare to do those things. That is to say, Yuan Shikai came to him today to inform him, which was actually tantamount to turning the chip to him.However, Rong Lu now has a desire to know who wrote this secret edict. "Do you know whose idea this edict is?" "I don't know the humble official, this secret edict was handed over to me by Mr. Tan when he came to my residence on the night of the third day of August. Moreover, when the emperor met me on the first, second, and third day of the eighth month, he didn't talk about it. content." Rong Lu knew that he couldn't get anything out of asking, so he turned his head to look at Xu Yingku and Waitabu and said: "My lords, what advice do you have?" Xu Yingkui and Huaitabu looked at each other and said, "Lord Rong, we think that you should go to the Summer Palace to report to Lafayette as soon as possible, and see how Lafayette will deal with it." "Okay, it's settled like this! I will go to Beijing immediately tonight to go to Lafayette. You and Wei Ting will bring more than a thousand people to the capital to wait for orders tomorrow morning." Rong Lu immediately took a few entourages and boarded the train that had been prepared to go to the Forbidden City after finishing his orders. By the time Ronglu arrived in Beijing, it was already midnight.Rong Lu didn't stop, and rushed to the Summer Palace immediately after getting off the train. Empress Dowager Cixi was in a very good mood because she watched a play today and played several games of chess against Li Lianying.Under such circumstances, the Empress Dowager Cixi was always willing to go to bed early, so when Rong Lu arrived at the Summer Palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi had already slept peacefully for a long time. Rong Lu handed in the post, and the little eunuch who guarded the door didn't dare to neglect, and immediately went in to report, who would dare to offend the celebrities in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi?When the little eunuch rushed to Cixi's bedroom, he saw that Cixi was already asleep, so he rushed to Li Lianying's residence not far away, and woke Li Lianying up. "Director Li, Master Rong begged to see Lafayette, but the slave found that Lafayette had already fallen asleep, so he came here specially to see how the master would deal with it." "Tell him to come in." Li Lianying said as she got dressed and rushed to the door to meet Rong Lu. "My lord, Lafayette has slept peacefully for a long time!" Rong Lu said while handing Li Lianying a gift list, which was the first thing Rong Lu saw Li Lianying every time he entered the palace.Because of this, the relationship between Li Lianying and Rong Lu is also quite close. "Yes, Lafayette is in a good mood today, so she went to bed early, I don't know what is the business of Mr. Rong entering the palace late at night?" "My lord, can I talk to you later? Can you wake up Lafayette now and say that I have something urgent to see, and I must see you tonight." "Okay then. Just wait, I'll call right away." Li Lianying said as she walked towards the Empress Dowager Cixi's bedroom.But to Li Lianying's surprise, when he walked to Lafayette's room, Empress Dowager Cixi had already got up, which made Li Lianying quite panicked. "Lafayette, why don't you sleep well. No one disturbs you, my servant!" "I had a nightmare. I dreamed that someone was trying to kill me, so I woke up. When I woke up, I heard your footsteps, so I got up." The Empress Dowager Cixi answered Li Lianying's words and said: "Lian Ying, what happened?" "Lafayette, Lord Rong came to Beijing late at night to say something important. The footsteps just now belonged to us. Lord Rong hopes to see Lafayette now." "Then pass him in!" Under the leadership of Li Lianying, Rong Lu came to the bedroom of Empress Dowager Cixi, and first greeted Empress Dowager Cixi. "Rong Lu, why did you come to Beijing in the middle of the night to seem so secretive, you have to see me at this time." "Lafayette, please look at this." He said and handed the secret edict of Emperor Guangxu that Yuan Shikai gave him to Li Lianying, and Li Lianying then handed it to Empress Dowager Cixi. After Cixi read the secret edict by the light, she couldn't help being furious, and she stretched her face long, which looked especially terrifying under the flickering light.Seeing this image, Rong Lu, who was kneeling below, couldn't help but shudder, with cold sweat breaking out on his back. "Rong Lu, who gave you this secret edict?" "Yuan Shikai gave it to the servants after he returned to Tianjin." Then Rong Lu narrated how Yuan Shikai presented the secret edict and how he showed his loyalty.The Empress Dowager Cixi kept nodding her head. "Yuan Shikai still has a conscience, but why didn't he come and report to me directly? Instead, he ran to Tianjin to find you, proving that Yuan Shikai wanted to see how you behaved?If you show fear, he takes advantage of it; if you show calm, he takes advantage of it.Hmph, this Yuan Shikai, I think, is also harboring evil intentions, this person must be guarded against. " What the Empress Dowager Cixi said shocked Rong Lu and Li Lianying who were nearby.Lafayette's analysis is so emotional and reasonable, which is exactly the same as Rong Lu's original analysis, which is what surprised Rong Lu.But Li Lianying was shocked: It seems that Lafayette doesn't trust me very much as a brother who is in charge. Isn't it disappointing that I won't get any benefits if I tell the secret? "Back to Lafayette, I don't think Yuan Shikai is too bad. At any rate, he deserves to be a whistleblower!" Rong Lu interceded for Yuan Shikai. "Besides, the slave thinks that Lafayette does not reward those who are loyal to Lafayette, and I am afraid that it will chill other people." Li Lianying continued Ronglu's words. After hearing what the two said, the Empress Dowager Cixi didn't say yes or no, but said: "Let's talk." "Lafayette, the servant thinks that since the emperor is being rude to Lafayette now, Lafayette should take measures. The servant thinks that Lafayette might as well listen to the government behind the curtain again." Rong Lu kowtowed to Empress Dowager Cixi as he said. "The servant thinks what Master Rong said is right. Lafayette, at this moment, you can no longer hesitate." Li Lianying chimed in from the side.As far as Li Lianying is concerned, he has long been dissatisfied with the reform. He has spoken ill of Emperor Guangxu and the reform to Lafayette more than once. Empress Dowager Cixi didn't show any excitement, after listening to what Rong and Li said, she said softly: "The emperor is too unreasonable. He actually wants to treat me like this. I think it's time for me to endure it." "Lafayette, I think the emperor is devoid of conscience for doing this. If it weren't for the kindness of Lafayette, would the emperor be able to sit in this position today? Now that he is the emperor, he wants to be ungrateful again. I will frame you, Lafayette." Get up. Your majesty is simply outrageous!" Li Lianying said pretendingly angrily. When the Empress Dowager Cixi stared at Li Lianying while he was speaking, she kept looking at the sandalwood table by the window.Li Lianying understood what Lafayette meant. After he finished speaking, he walked to the table and saw a memorial on it. Li Lianying picked it up and handed it to the Empress Dowager Cixi. "Rong Lu, take a look at this memorial." Empress Dowager Cixi said and handed it to Rong Lu. Rong Lu took it over and looked at it roughly, and knew that it was Yang Chongyi, the official who participated in the downfall of Wen Tingshi during the reform period. He was Li Hongzhang's in-laws and joined forces with Zhang Zhongxin.In fact, Rong Lu knew it even if he didn't look at it, because the two had asked Rong Lu for his opinion before going up this fold.Now that Lafayette has handed him this booklet, it proves that Lafayette has this heart. "Lafayette, the servant thinks that the memorials submitted by Yang and Zhang are suitable for the current situation. The emperor has made a mess of the country and the people are in dire straits. Do you, Lafayette, have the heart to let the country fall into the hands of these people who have no talent for governing the country? Lafayette I was wise and ruled the country well, and now only you can turn things around. Lafayette, this slave once again asks you to come out and teach politics, otherwise the country will be hopeless, and the nation will be hopeless." Rong Lu couldn't help crying after he finished speaking, as if he was afraid of Empress Dowager Cixi It's like the queen mother doesn't come out to train politics. "Okay, okay, don't cry, I'm here to train politics." "Lafayette, this is the happiness of the country! The slave represents the entire court officials to thank you." Rong Lu kowtowed a few more times after finishing speaking. "Lafayette, what do you think the emperor will do?" Li Lianying felt that this question should be asked, so he asked the Empress Dowager Cixi cautiously. "Well,..., tomorrow you take someone to bring him to Yingtai? Just put him there." "Lafayette, do you need to draft an imperial edict? If necessary, I will go back and draft it." Rong Lu asked for instructions. The Empress Dowager Cixi thought for a while and said, "Okay, then go back and discuss it with Prince Qing before making a plan." The Empress Dowager Cixi paused for a while, as if thinking of something, "Have you come to Beijing this time to lead the army? I'm afraid There will not be enough guards in the palace tomorrow." "Go back to Lafayette, I have ordered Yuan Shikai to bring a thousand troops to the capital tomorrow morning." "That's it. You go down first, and bring me the imperial edict when you go to court tomorrow morning. You can be busy with this matter!" "Yes, Lafayette." Rong Lu greeted Empress Dowager Cixi and left the Summer Palace, and went directly to King Qing's residence. In the Forbidden City, Emperor Guangxu did not fall asleep well.He thought that the current situation was becoming more and more unfavorable, and the empress dowager's attitude towards him was becoming more and more distant. Emperor Guangxu felt at a loss for a while, as if a night walker in the dark did not know where to go next. Thinking about these questions, Emperor Guangxu tossed and turned on the bed, and didn't feel sleepy until the second watch.Just when he was about to fall asleep, he seemed to feel that someone by the window was passing something inside. He wanted to call out but he didn't, because the person had turned away.Guangxu wanted to hear which direction the man was walking from, but to his disappointment, the man didn't seem to have passed through the garden.Emperor Guangxu turned over and got up, found a piece of clothing to put on, and went to the window to see what it was handed in.He saw through the faint light outside the window that it was a piece of paper, a thin piece of paper.He brought the paper to the bed and lit the candle.By candlelight, Emperor Guangxu saw the words on it clearly: "Yuan Shikai has betrayed you, you run away quickly!" Seeing this, Emperor Guangxu almost fainted.Since Yuan Shikai was summoned on the third day of August, Emperor Guangxu had been anxiously waiting for Yuan Shikai's news, but he did not expect this news.Emperor Guangxu didn't want to believe his eyes, so he took a closer look, but he still saw those words.Guangxu wanted to find out who gave the news, so he turned the piece of paper over and found that it said "Please believe what I said, as for who I am, you don't have to ask. You don't have to look for it, I am a A person whose home is all over the world." Only then did Emperor Guangxu believe that Yuan Shikai had betrayed him, betrayed him completely.Emperor Guangxu couldn't help being sad for a while, sad for himself, for the country, and for Kang Youwei and others.I reformed for more than a hundred days, but in the end I ended up like this.Emperor Guangxu couldn't help crying when he thought of this. Suddenly, he thought of Concubine Zhen, his only confidant, the only person who could understand him.Emperor Guangxu felt that he should go to see Concubine Zhen, and there was an intuition telling him: He might never see her again in his life, if he didn't go now.Emperor Guangxu didn't hesitate anymore, he put on his clothes, took the piece of paper, went out and walked towards Jingren Palace. Walking on the road, Emperor Guangxu couldn't help feeling a slight chill, and he wrapped his clothes tightly.Looking at the high walls on both sides of the road, he felt a sense of depression, a strong sense of depression. He seemed to feel that Empress Dowager Cixi's triumphant laughter was emanating from the wall, and two hands were slowly reaching out from the wall, trying to jam him to death.Emperor Guangxu was so frightened that he ran quickly, but the ferocious face of Empress Dowager Cixi and those two hands still hovered in his mind, and he could not leave for a long time.He seemed to feel that he was caught by Empress Dowager Cixi and was about to be thrown into Kunming Lake, while Concubine Zhen was thrown into the cold palace because she was also caught.The more Emperor Guangxu thought about it, the more afraid he became, and the more afraid he became, the more he thought about it. After finally arriving at Jingren Palace, the maids waiting by the door were very incomprehensible when they saw the emperor trespassing into Jingren Palace at night.While she was hesitating, Emperor Guangxu had already walked in the door.She was also embarrassed to go in, it was normal for the Emperor Ye Xing and his concubine to be there, she couldn't control it.So she had to stand outside in a daze, not daring to go in unless the emperor or concubine Zhen summoned her. Guangxu walked gently to Concubine Zhen's bedside, and seeing Concubine Zhen's sleeping face was so delicate and lovely, he couldn't help reaching out and stroking Concubine Zhen's face.Guangxu touched Concubine Zhen's face, as if he had touched Concubine Zhen's tender heart for him.Thinking of the happy time he and Concubine Zhen spent together: Concubine Zhen helped him with government affairs, Concubine Zhen made him happy, Emperor Guangxu felt sore in his heart.Thinking about tomorrow again, maybe tonight I will say goodbye to my beloved one, maybe I won’t see each other for the rest of my life, the tears I held back finally flowed out.Amidst the tears, Guangxu seemed to feel that Concubine Zhen was smiling shyly at him, burying her head in his arms to act like a baby, and... When Emperor Guangxu sat there crying alone, a pair of slender hands stretched out to wipe away the tears on his face.Guangxu held Concubine Zhen's hand eagerly, as if he was afraid that Concubine Zhen would fly away from him right now. "Zhen'er, you're awake." Guangxu said with some sobs. "Your Majesty, why didn't you wake up Zhen'er when you came? It made Zhen'er only wake up now, and it was only when I heard you crying beside my pillow. Your Majesty, why are you crying? What happened? "Zhenfei asked with concern. Emperor Guangxu handed the note to Concubine Zhen weakly.Concubine Zhen took the note and looked at it hastily, and understood what happened.She wanted to scold Yuan Shikai, but she didn't scold him out loud after all, because she knew that now was not the time to scold Yuan Shikai, but the time to persuade the emperor to make up his mind. "Your Majesty, Zhen'er, please leave this place quickly! If you keep the green hills, you don't have to worry about running out of firewood. As long as the emperor can escape from this place of right and wrong now, and go to a far away place to establish a small court, Zhen'er will be satisfied Yes. Only in this way can you save your life and ensure that the reform will continue. Your Majesty, you are the king of the people. You should consider for the people of the Li people. Now the people are in dire straits and do not have enough food and clothing. These are Lafayette’s subordinates. The gang of corrupt officials in China made it like this. If the emperor surrenders his power to these people, I really don’t know how bad the country will be and how miserable the people will be.” Zhenfei finished speaking With a mournful sigh. "Jane, I can't bear you! You know, Jane, you are the only person who can make me happy and happy. Without you, I really don't know what my life will be like, I don't know How should I live in pain. I left my parents since I was a child, and no one paid attention to me in the palace, except Master Weng and Kou Liancai. At that time, my life was lacking in fun. Only after you entered the palace, I really I feel what happiness is. It is a pity that Master Weng left me not long ago, and now only you and Kou Liancai are left. Although Kou Liancai is loyal to me, you are the only one who can share my worries and happiness for me. Zhener , really, you told me to leave you, this is absolutely impossible for me, I would rather not leave, nor can I leave you, if we want to die we will die together, if we want to live we will live together, I will never leave you and let you suffer alone ." "Your Majesty, you..." Concubine Zhen didn't have the courage to continue, she hugged Emperor Guangxu excitedly.But she was sober, she realized that now is not the time to be lingering, but now is the time to persuade the emperor to run for his life.She resolutely let go of Guangxu's hugging her hand. "Your Majesty, you can't do this. You have to leave this place in order to make a comeback in the future. Zhen'er said that the country needs you now, and the reform needs you. You can't just give up on the reform, right? A hundred days of hard work turned into nothing, isn't it? Don't you feel heartbroken? Zhen'er's death is not a pity, but the emperor must not die. You must live bravely. If you want to live, you must escape from the capital. Your majesty, you run away now! I'm afraid there is still time. If you don't If you run away, I'm afraid you won't have time." Concubine Zhen hurriedly persuaded Emperor Guangxu, but Emperor Guangxu was indifferent. Just at this time, another piece of paper was handed in through the window. Concubine Zhen picked it up and saw by the candlelight that it read: "Your Majesty, first of all, I am sorry that I listened to the conversation between you two. However, Caomin, I think Concubine Zhen is quite right. You are the ruler of a country, and you have to think about the country. You should not be a slave to your feelings. Your Majesty, if If you think it is necessary, Caomin will send Concubine Zhen to your side after you escape to ensure that the two of you are reunited. Your Majesty, Caomin will advise you one last thing, run away! It is best to escape through Shenwumen, Caomin will help you Make all the preparations. Early August and May night." Concubine Zhen saw that it was handed over to Emperor Guangxu. Guangxu glanced at it and said to the window: "My friend, thank you for your kindness, but I must never run away, and I must never lose to Zhen'er, friend, please go, I will not go." Guangxu smiled sadly at Concubine Zhen after finishing speaking With a smile, this smile almost broke Concubine Zhen's heart.Concubine Zhen smiled bitterly at the emperor, but she didn't want to laugh, she just wanted to cry. "Zhen'er, I'm afraid the two of us will never see each other again. Lafayette is cruel. He doesn't know how to deal with me or you. It seems that we have to resign ourselves to fate. Hey, I don't know if Kang Nanhai is gone. No." On the same day that Emperor Guangxu summoned Yuan Shikai, he ordered Lin Xu, one of the "Four Ministers of Military Aircraft", to bring out a "secret edict" to Kang Youwei, asking him to go to Shanghai to run an official newspaper. Say. "Your Majesty, Zhen'er doesn't want to last forever, but just wants to be happy with you. Your Majesty, if Lafayette separates us in the future, Zhen'er will not forget you, and Zhen'er will cherish you in her heart forever until one day I leave you forever. " "Jane!" "emperor!" Emperor Guangxu couldn't help crying bitterly holding Concubine Zhen, and the tears that Concubine Zhen held back also flowed down at this moment. The two hugged each other and looked at each other's teary eyes, as if this was a farewell. Just as Emperor Guangxu and Concubine Zhen cried, a group of torches was moving from the Summer Palace to the Forbidden City.On the sedan chair in the middle of the procession, sat the Empress Dowager Cixi with fierce eyes. In front of her walked the chief executive Li Lianying, with a look of triumphant horseshoes, and behind him walked the second chief executive, Cui Yugui, with a proud face.At the back of the procession was Chongli, the infantry commander who was woken up last night after Rong Lu entered Beijing and told him to rush to the Summer Palace immediately; thus Chongli followed Empress Dowager Cixi to the Forbidden City.After the procession marched into the Forbidden City, Empress Dowager Cixi turned her head and said to Chongli: "You find me the Minister of Military Aircraft, and I will call Daqi today." Chongli was ordered to leave. "Lianying, where is the emperor at the moment?" Empress Dowager Cixi poked her head out and asked coldly. "Go back to Lafayette, the emperor is probably in Jingren Palace right now." "Okay then, let's go directly to Jingren Palace and see what that little thief is doing with that bitch." When the Empress Dowager Cixi and her party arrived at Jingren Palace, the sky was almost bright.When Emperor Guangxu and Concubine Zhen were crying relative to each other in the back room, they heard loud footsteps outside and knew that it was Empress Dowager Cixi who had come.The two immediately wiped away their tears, adjusted their clothes and went to the door to meet the Empress Dowager Cixi. "Dear father, my child greets you." "Lafayette, concubine Zhen sends you greetings." The Empress Dowager Cixi ignored Emperor Guangxu and Concubine Zhen, went straight into the room and found a seat above. "Lianying, search for me!" "Cha!" Li Lianying agreed loudly, and with a wave of her hand, a group of eunuchs had already come forward to rummage through the boxes. As for what to rummage, I had already explained it.After a while, a group of people turned over a lot of memorials, and the Empress Dowager Cixi ordered them to be bundled and brought to the palace for viewing. Empress Dowager Cixi turned her head to look at Emperor Guangxu and Concubine Zhen who were kneeling on the ground. She pointed at them and said sharply: "It's really a weasel giving a New Year greeting to a chicken - uneasy and kind, but fortunately God has eyes and didn't let me die." Emperor Guangxu knew quite well what the Empress Dowager Cixi was talking about, but he decided to pretend to be deaf and dumb, and would not mention it until the Empress Dowager Cixi asked him. "Go back to my father, I don't know what you mean by that." "What do you mean, haha!" Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help sneering, "You want to kill Rong Lu, don't you?" "Yes." Emperor Guangxu knew that it was not appropriate to deny it, so he had to answer truthfully. "Do you think that you want to kill Rong Lu just because of your two blows, and then encircle the Summer Palace? Idiot, let me tell you, you don't have that ability yet. Just because of your little favors to Yuan Shikai, you want to pull him over to oppose me , you are wrong, very wrong. Silly boy, it is a pity that Yuan Shikai did not lead troops to kill Rong Lu, let alone lead troops to surround the Summer Palace. He informed me." Throw it to Emperor Guangxu.Emperor Guangxu didn't even look at it, but just lowered his head. "Why do you want to murder me?" Empress Dowager Cixi pointed to Emperor Guangxu again and said, "Who thought of this idea for you?" This question is already difficult to answer, not to mention that the Empress Dowager Cixi asked Emperor Guangxu at this time, and Guangxu couldn't answer it.It doesn't matter if Guangxu doesn't answer, Empress Dowager Cixi believes that she has a way to make Emperor Guangxu speak out. "Is it the idea of ​​you bastard?" Empress Dowager Cixi pointed at Concubine Zhen in an indisputable tone. "Dear father, that was definitely not Zhen'er's idea." Seeing that the Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to implicate his beloved, Emperor Guangxu rushed to take over the conversation. "Who is that?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked sternly. "Yes, yes...," Emperor Guangxu was unwilling to say it. "Who is it?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked impatiently, "It's Kang Youwei, isn't it?" "Hmm." Emperor Guangxu said weakly. "Okay! Okay! Then let me ask you, where is Kang Youwei now?" the Empress Dowager Cixi asked angrily. "Go back to Lafayette, I heard that Kang Youwei has escaped from the capital." Li Lianying bowed her head aside and replied that he got the news from the little eunuch who was placed next to the emperor. "Why did you tell me now?" Empress Dowager Cixi said to Li Lianying in a slightly reproachful tone. "Back to Lafayette, it's not that the slaves don't report, but I just heard someone tell me about it." Li Lianying replied from the side. At this time, Chongli came in from the outside and reported to the Empress Dowager Cixi that the Minister of Military Aircraft and all the courtiers had finished preparations, and only waited for her to shout.The Empress Dowager Cixi promised to go, but before that, she had to deal with the two kneeling on the ground.She winked at Li Lianying and said: "Take the emperor to Yingtai and send someone to serve me well." "Cha!", Li Lianying agreed loudly.Then he walked up to Emperor Guangxu and said to Guangxu: "Your Majesty, please get on the sedan chair and follow me." He then led the way. Emperor Guangxu turned his head to look at the beautiful face of Concubine Zhen beside him, how much he wanted to be with her, but he couldn't because he had already been "served".Emperor Guangxu knew the deep meaning of this service very well. He knew clearly that he might really never see Concubine Zhen again, and Concubine Zhen also knew very well that she might not see the emperor either, so she also turned to look at Emperor Guangxu.As soon as their eyes met, tears couldn't help but flow down. Concubine Zhen said to Emperor Guangxu: "Your Majesty, go, you must take good care of yourself." "You too!" Guangxu said to Concubine Zhen. "Enough! Enough! Your Majesty, let's go!" Li Lianying said, dragging Emperor Guangxu up and walking outside.I don't know if the Empress Dowager Cixi deliberately teased Emperor Guangxu or what, the moment Emperor Guangxu stepped out of the threshold, the Empress Dowager Cixi who had been sullen and silent said: "Cui Yugui!" "The slave is here." Cui Yugui hurried to the Empress Dowager Cixi. "Put that slut to death and throw her into Kunming Lake, so that she won't confuse the emperor with her fancy dress in the future." "Cha!" Cui Yugui replied quietly.But this sound sounded like thunder to Emperor Guangxu, and he almost fainted. He quickly broke free from Li Lianying's hand and ran in, knelt down in front of Empress Dowager Cixi and said: "Baby begging father, you must not execute Zhen'er! Zhen'er did not participate in the reform, nor did she give me any advice. If my father really wants to punish her, he will execute me. The only hope for the baby is to kiss her." Daddy can let Zhen'er go." After Guangxu finished speaking, he kowtowed to the Empress Dowager Cixi "boom, boom", until blood came out of his forehead. The Empress Dowager Cixi completely ignored Emperor Guangxu's plea and turned a blind eye to the blood on Guangxu's head. She snorted twice coldly and said to Guangxu in a contemptuous tone. "Nud Bodhisattva can't protect himself when crossing the river, and he is still pleading for others. Silly boy, think about yourself first!" Knowing that the situation was irreversible, Emperor Guangxu couldn't help but give up all thoughts, and because of the bleeding on his head, he couldn't help but fainted. If it wasn't for the concubine Zhen to support him, he would have to fall to the ground. "Lianying, come in and get the emperor to Yingtai, and ask the imperial doctor to make adjustments." Li Lianying agreed and walked back, wanting to support the emperor and went to Yingtai.Just at this time, someone shouted outside: "The eldest princess is here!" The Empress Dowager Cixi who was sitting at the top couldn't help being startled, how did she know the news? While the Empress Dowager Cixi was wondering, the eldest princess had already walked in.This eldest princess is none other than the eldest daughter of Prince Gong. She was widowed in her early years and has been widowed until now. After she became a widow, the Empress Dowager Cixi once mentioned to her about finding a husband again, but she refused all of them. In order to prevent the Empress Dowager Cixi from mentioning this matter in the future, she destroyed her own face, and she was not particular about it.However, Empress Dowager Cixi liked her as a niece very much, so she took the eldest princess as her own daughter, and named her Princess Gulun according to the example of the imperial daughter from the middle palace, and she was named "Rongqing".Because the eldest princess dared to speak freely in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the Empress Dowager Cixi was also somewhat afraid of the eldest princess.Every time someone presents her with novelty and brightly colored clothes, the Empress Dowager Cixi always tells her around: "Don't let the eldest princess know about it!" It will inevitably surprise the Empress Dowager Cixi. "Daughter pays homage to Lafayette!" "Get up!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said to the eldest princess with a pleasant face. "Lafayette, my daughter is here today to ask you for mercy." The eldest princess did not stand up, she still knelt and said: "Pleading for someone is worth the trip." The eldest princess looked at Concubine Zhen and said, "It's for Zhen'er." "Pleading for this bitch, no! She conspired with the emperor to murder me, and persuaded the emperor to send troops to surround the Summer Palace. Do you think I can spare her?" "Lafayette, please listen to my son. Guan Zhong shot Duke Huan of Qi, that is, each is his own master. If Zhen'er really helped the emperor, then he is also his own master? Can Duke Huan of Qi spare Guan Zhong and let him be his own master? Prime Minister, can't you, Lafayette, spare Zhen'er's life? Besides, there is no sufficient evidence that Zhen'er has ever helped the emperor, and my daughter asks Lafayette to learn from her." The words of the eldest princess seemed to be a bit of sophistry, but the Empress Dowager Cixi was never angry, and only the eldest princess dared to say such things in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Others would not dare to say such things in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi. 李莲英向来知道大公主在老佛爷面前的地位，如今见大公主一席话并没有使老佛爷发怒，说明老佛爷还是有些心动了，至少老佛爷要给大公主这个面子，既然这样我何不给老佛爷找个台阶下呢？李莲英想到这儿就说： "老佛爷，奴才看大公主说得也是，你就饶了珍妃一命吧！" 李莲英表面上是在替珍妃说情，实际上是在替老佛爷说话，这一点慈禧太后自己当然清楚。 慈禧太后沉吟了一下对大公主说："就看你对珍妃喜欢的份上，饶她一条命，但她也不能再这样过活下去，她必须受到处罚，就将她打入冷宫，月薪供应一切全免。" 大公主还想说些什么，也许是想替皇上求情，但慈禧太后对她挥了挥手，她知道说什么也没用了，也只得退到一边去。 在慈禧太后刚才的话刚说到一半时，光绪帝就已经醒了，他听到老佛爷决定饶珍妃一条命，心里不免一阵激动，感激地看了大公主一眼，又朝着慈禧太后磕了几个头，直磕得地板上血迹斑斑。珍妃也跟着磕了几个头，不过这全是大公主示意她做的，她自己其实并不愿磕头，她早已将生死置之度外，只是由于大公主替她求了情，她不得不顾及大公主的情谊，她这才磕了头。 "行了，你们表演得差不多了，你们该到我给你们安排的地方去了。"慈禧太后厉声对跪在地上的光绪、珍妃二人说，说完冷冷笑了两声。慈禧太后一说完，李莲英和崔玉贵就各自架着光绪帝与珍妃上了轿，前往囚禁二人的住所。 瀛台是在南海，它算是一个小岛，但又不全是。瀛台三面临水，只有一面有桥可通，这地方如果有空来坐一坐倒是个挺好的去处，但要真在这儿住下来，却又不见得有多好。站在这儿，能够看见北海，却只能看见故宫里屋顶的金瓦。瀛台周围藉叶成片，微风习习，倒颇有些凉爽，特别是在这样的早上。 "皇上，你就在这儿住着吧！从今以后，这就是你的住所了，你就给我好好呆着吧！别给我添麻烦。"李莲英说完冷冷地笑了两声，"皇上，恕我不能亲自陪你了，我让他们陪你在这儿玩。"说着指着他带来的十六个太监。 李莲英看了看这十六个人，又看了看垂头丧气的皇帝说： "你们在这儿好好给我照顾皇上，不能让皇上从这个地方跑丢了，任何事情不能让皇上代劳。记住了，如果你们不能好好照顾皇上，或者让皇上不能在此好好养伤，小心你们自己的脑袋。" "是，我们一定不负大总管期望！"十六人一齐躬身答道。 李莲英对此很是满意，他回过头又"叮嘱"了光绪帝一番，然后才心满意足地离开了瀛台。 光绪帝看着留下来陪他的十六个太监，一个个面目可憎，形容可怖，而且对他也很是不尊敬，不是违抗他的命令，就是对他横眉怒目，这令光绪帝很是悲哀。 光绪帝眺望北海，开始怀疑自己的软弱，也开始思念被打入冷宫的珍妃。光绪帝想起自己对慈禧太后逆来顺受，就仅仅因为变法，到头来却落得个幽禁瀛台的下场。他开始怨自己的时运不济，恨慈禧太后的狠心，不禁凄然泪下。 李莲英这时走了进来，对着正在黯然伤神的光绪帝说道： "传懿旨，着皇帝即刻到勤政殿。" 光绪跪下接过旨，又在李莲英及四名太监的陪同下出了瀛台，径直走向勤政殿。这儿距勤政殿也不远，一会儿功夫一行六人就到了。 光绪走进勤政殿一看，不禁浑身一颤。只见慈禧太后满脸杀气地坐在前方，御案右侧跪着以庆王为首的军机大臣以及荣禄和朝臣。光绪赶紧走到御案左侧跪了下来。 "儿叩见亲爸爸。" 慈禧坐在上方还是紧绷着脸没有吭声，忽然慈禧太后说道："谁是宗令？" 专管皇族玉碟、爵禄等事务的衙门，叫做"宗人府"；堂官称为"宗令"，下有左右两"宗正"。宗令向例派亲王充任；此时的宗令是世铎。慈禧太后当然知道这一点，她明知故问，无非就是想炫耀一下自己的权势而已。 世铎一无所能，不过最大的长处是善于恭顺，他听得这一问，赶紧磕了一个头说："老佛爷圣明，奴才在。" "传家法！" 此言一出，四座皆惊！太后要杖责皇帝，这是清朝开国以来还未有过的事啊，也是从没有想过、听过的怪事。于是右侧东面一行居首的庆亲王奕劻，西面一行居首的文华殿大学士，不约而同地跪在地上磕头，一时间只听得"咚咚"磕头声，皇帝这时也不由得跪了下来。 慈禧太后虽然怒气冲冲，但也不能不给群臣面子，因而她说道： "看在各位的面下，我就饶了皇帝这一回。不过，皇帝的大逆不道还是要让各位大臣明白。"慈禧太后说完转过脸对荣禄说，"你都跟他们说了皇帝给袁世凯密诏的那回事儿吗？" "说了，现在大家都知道了。"荣禄答道。