Bao Ting was stunned. Before he could speak again, several servants of Cheng'en Palace pushed him out of the living room without any explanation. The servants of Baoting who were repairing outside the hall didn't know what happened. They were all stunned when they saw their master being pushed out. Before they could react, they were also kicked out by the servants of Cheng'en Palace. Four strong servants of Cheng'en Palace set up Baoting, carried him to the gate, and threw him in the middle of the street under the stunned gazes of passers-by. Baoting's body flew up and fell heavily to the ground with a "bang", stirring up a large amount of dust and causing people around him to exclaim. Bao Ting was thrown so hard that his eyes were black and he almost lost his breath. He struggled to get up, but his body refused to obey him. It was not until several servants came to him that they helped him up. Baoting was about to curse, but suddenly he found that he was surrounded by crowds of people watching. Everyone looked at him with surprised eyes, so he couldn't help but shut his mouth. An unprecedented sense of humiliation hit his heart. Baoting looked at the closed door of Cheng'en Palace, and his internal organs felt as if they were on fire for a moment. As a member of the clan, today's experience is the only one that he will remember the most in his life. Baoting wanted to scold Chongqi, but when the words came to his mouth, they eventually turned into a sneer. "I don't have the same experience as you old men! Let's wait and see!" Bao Ting resisted the pain all over his body and stood up with a sneer with the help of his servant. "I will definitely repay you for what happened today!" After saying this, Bao Ting was helped into the sedan by his servant. Perhaps the servant's hand touched the painful spot where he fell. As soon as he entered the sedan, he let out a low groan of pain, which attracted a low groan from the onlookers. laughter. Baoting returned home and first asked the doctor to come and check on his injuries. The doctor examined him carefully, and after being told that there were only minor bruises, Bao Ting felt relieved. After taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Bao Ting couldn't wait to come to the study and began to draft the memorial. And about the same time. In Duke Cheng'en's palace, Chongqi, who was full of anger, was also writing a memorial. Garden Mingyuan, a spring of heaven and earth, Heyunzhai. At this time, the pond is full of lotus flowers. Some of them have already bloomed, but most of them are still in bud, making the lotus leaves look even more lovely. Green lotus leaves stand in the water, and crystal water drops are rolling on some lotus leaves. The eyes are full of green, and it seems to be connected to the sky in the distance. The color of the lotus leaves is so beautiful, and the ones nearby are green and green. The ones farther away are dark green, with some new leaves that are a little bright yellow in the middle. When the breeze blows, the lotus leaves tumble, like a sea of ??lotus leaves. Fields of lotus leaves. The layers rise and fall with the wind. Against the background of the lotus leaves, the lotus flowers stand tall and graceful in various poses and smiles. She is so shy that she wants to speak; the tender pistil is full of pearls, and the fragrance is bursting, refreshing! Some petals have all unfolded, revealing small tender yellow lotus pods; some have only opened two or three petals, like a shy girl who dares to show her face. Some are still buds, like a pair of hands tightly joined together. Some petals have withered and fallen, floating on the water. The lotus exudes a fresh and elegant fragrance, attracting colorful butterflies to fly and play among them, which is pleasing to the eye. It was right after the rain, and the sunlight cast onto the surface of the pool, reflecting waves of light, like a colorful ink painting unfolding. The lotus flowers and lotus leaves in the pond look like countless sails hanging on the blue waves from a distance, which is really beautiful. The lotus flowers in the pond, with their green leaves, are light and beautiful. A few lively small fish swam under the lotus leaves, fearing to break the quiet scene. The dragonfly flies over, as if telling the joy of flying in the early morning. The little fish swam slowly, seeming to tell me about the good dream I had last night. And the lovely little rain and dew are like the stars in the blue sky, and like the little pearls in the blue sea. The lotus in the water is so beautiful and moving, the purple is elegant and romantic, the yellow is warm and elegant, the pink is lively and cute, and the white is pure and flawless, making the scenery of Heyunzhai like a fairyland. "Jing'er, pass the silk thread over here." Behind the momentarily moving silk strands is the pretty face of Huifei Fucha Lanxuan. The five-color silk threads woven with gold and silver slipped through her white and tender fingers, shining with dazzling colors on the plain white sleeves, as if to reflect this bright color into her pupils. The owner of the pupils - the elegant and dignified Queen Arut looked at the baby brocade quilt in front of her, and seemed to be attracted by the exquisite dragon, phoenix and lotus patterns on it. "My sister is really good at her craftsmanshipI am ashamed of myself" Arut Baoyin said softly. "Sister, please don't say that, it's embarrassing." Concubine Hui smiled, her eyes falling on the Queen's swollen belly, "Sister, I have seen those silk handkerchiefs embroidered by my sister, but my clumsy skills are not comparable to those of my sister. This time my sister showed off her shame in front of her sister, just to express her feelings. ""Thanks to my sister accompanying me these days, otherwise, I really don't know how I would have lived these days" Queen Arut said softly, shedding tears. When Concubine Hui saw the Empress crying, she knew that she was thinking of her husband, Emperor Tongzhi, who had passed away for many days. She quickly stopped what she was doing and came to the Empress' side to comfort her softly. "Sister, you must not be sad all the time. There are still many days to come" Concubine Hui took the queen's hand and said softly, "If you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the child in your belly, right? " "What my sister said is, look at me. As she spoke, tears came out, which made her worried" Queen Arut realized that she had lost her temper, and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, smiling. , "Come, let me and my sister embroider together" Seeing that the queen wanted to embroider with her, Concubine Hui nodded happily. The queen took the needle and thread from the hands of the palace maid, and together with Concubine Hui, they embroidered the dragon and phoenix pattern on the baby's brocade quilt. . "My sister is better at embroidering. Like the phoenix eyes, I always can't embroider them well and I'm not energetic. My sister made these phoenix eyes sparkling in just a few strokes. It's really wonderful." Concubine Hui looked at what the queen had embroidered. The head of the phoenix couldn't help but admire, "I can't figure out what the phoenix eyes look like" "Haha, just think about what Lord Xifo's eyes look like, and you'll know what these phoenix eyes look like." The queen chuckled. Concubine Hui recalled the look in Empress Dowager Cixi¡¯s eyes and couldn¡¯t help but nodded in surprise. The two of them were talking and embroidering patterns while the palace maids were helping, preparing things that would be useful for the baby who would be born in the future. Heyunzhai was filled with warm and cheerful air for a while. At this moment, a young eunuch quickly came to the gate of the garden and said a few words to the eunuch guarding the door. The eunuch guarding the door immediately came to the door of Heyunzhai and reported in a low voice: "Master Hui. I'm here with a message from my father-in-law." Concubine Hui was stunned, stopped the needlework in her hand, and turned her head to look out the window. , saw the little eunuch standing next to the lotus pond. This little eunuch is one of her closest confidants. If she needs to be notified of anything at home, he usually does it. Although the little eunuch lowered his head. She didn't look anywhere (because this was the place where the Queen was preparing to give birth, and the news that the Queen was about to give birth was strictly confidential), but Concubine Hui could still feel that he looked very nervous, as if something big had happened. "Sister, please wait a moment. Sister, please excuse me for a moment." Concubine Hui put down the needle and thread in her hand, stood up and said. The queen didn't notice anything strange. She just smiled and nodded, but the work in her hands did not stop. Concubine Hui got up and left the house and came to the corridor. Seeing Concubine Hui appear, the little eunuch immediately rushed up to greet Concubine Hui. After paying tribute to Concubine Hui, the little eunuch came to Concubine Hui and whispered something in her ear. The little eunuch has just finished his first sentence. Concubine Hui's expression changed immediately, but she quickly forced herself to return to normal. She did not speak, but quietly listened to the little eunuch's story. And as the little eunuch narrated, although Concubine Hui's expression did not change any more, her hands tightened on the brocade handkerchief. Her knuckles even lost their color due to the excessive force. Not long after, the little eunuch finished delivering the message and bowed to leave. Concubine Hui calmly turned around and returned to the house. "What did you say? How is everything at home?" The queen did not notice anything strange about Concubine Hui. When she came back, she picked up her needle and thread again and asked casually with a smile. "These are just words of concern. Everything is fine at home." Concubine Hui said with a smile, "No, I haven't gone back to see you in many days. I miss you a little at home. I just wanted to send you a message. By the way. "Since the imperial court announced that Queen Arut had a "miscarriage", Concubine Hui, who was responsible for "taking care of" Queen Arut, has not left the place called "He Yun Zhai" in "Heaven and Earth Family Spring" for a long time. After hearing Concubine Hui¡¯s answer, the Queen didn¡¯t pay too much attention. The two continued as before, joking and doing embroidery work. Although the Queen didn't pay attention, several of Concubine Hui's personal maids all felt that Concubine Hui seemed to have something on her mind. Sure enough, after accompanying the queen to embroider all the patterns on the baby brocade quilt, Concubine Hui said goodbye to the queen, and then took several eunuchs and maids with her and hurried to the "Dayazhai" where the Empress Dowager Cixi lived. "Why did Concubine Hui come here at this time?" Empress Dowager Cixi was a little surprised when she saw Concubine Hui appear at this time. She thought there was something wrong with the Queen, and immediately asked, "How is the Queen doing?" Listen When the Empress Dowager Cixi was asked, Empress Dowager Ci'an, who happened to be visiting the Empress Dowager Cixi, also showed concern on her face. "Returning to the emperor's mother, sister?Everything is fine there, I was embroidering flowers with Laner just now. Concubine Hui replied, but her eye circles gradually turned red. "The child is about to be born. You two should also pay attention to rest. You can leave these tasks to Jing'er and the others." " Empress Dowager Cixi saw a haggard look on Concubine Hui's eyebrows, and felt pity in her heart. She said softly, "Don't let others give birth to a child, but then you will be exhausted. " "yes! Concubine Hui is also very tired these days. We haven¡¯t seen her for just a few days. No matter how I look at her, she seems a little thinner. "Empress Dowager Ci'an also said. The words of love and compassion from the two empress dowagers touched Concubine Hui's sadness. She looked at the two empress dowagers, and tears instantly burst into her eyes. "Eh? Concubine Hui, what are you doing? " Empress Dowager Cixi was surprised when she saw Concubine Hui burst into tears. It was also the first time for Empress Dowager Ci'an to see Concubine Hui like this. She seemed to be greatly wronged, and she was also surprised. Concubine Hui shed tears, slowly Kneeling down. "Lan'er, today I came to say goodbye to the two empresses" Concubine Hui cried and kowtowed. "What did you say?" Farewell? "The Empress Dowager Cixi panicked a little when she said this sentence, and immediately asked, "Where are you going? " "Lan'er is going to follow Emperor Daxing" Concubine Hui cried. Hearing Concubine Hui's words, Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an were both startled and stood up in unison. " Lan'er, youwhat did you say? "The Empress Dowager Cixi seemed like she couldn't believe her ears, so she asked again. "Lan'er I will go with Emperor Daxing now so that no one will talk about Lan'er behind her back and embarrass the emperor" Concubine Hui choked and kowtowed again. Seeing that Concubine Hui was speaking solemnly and filled with grief and anger, Empress Dowager Cixi realized that she was not joking. "Lan Shuang said. Son, what is going on? Why did you suddenly have this idea? "The Empress Dowager Cixi asked in a deep voice. Concubine Hui heard the Empress Dowager Cixi's question. She cried even harder. "Lan'er, did you just say that someone was talking about you behind your back? " Empress Dowager Ci'an was keenly aware that there seemed to be a hidden meaning in Concubine Hui's words just now, and immediately asked. "Lan'er has an unjust injustice! Please ask the two empresses to make the decision! Concubine Hui cried loudly. "What is going on?" Please explain it to me clearly! "The Empress Dowager Cixi was a little anxious, "Hurry! " "Lan'er would like to ask the two empresses, has Lan'er done anything unruly to women since she entered the palace? " Concubine Hui did not answer directly, but asked back in tears. "Who said you don't follow the rules of a woman? "The Empress Dowager Cixi's face turned ashen for a moment after hearing her question. "Empress, Lan'er would like to ask, apart from that time when she accompanied Emperor Daxing to summon foreign ministers, has Lan'er ever seen Lin Yizhe again? Concubine Hui still didn't answer. She still cried and asked. "Lin Yizhe?" Someone got him involved with you? "The Empress Dowager Cixi thought of the discount on Wang Qingqi's book that had made her unable to swallow, and her face gradually became angry. "Empress, Lan'er met Lin Yizhe with her sister that day, and listened to a few words he said about The words of filial piety in the Western Kingdom make me feel something in my heart. He cried bitterly and repented to the emperor's mother, and never saw him again. Butsomeone actually said that it was Lin Yizhe who cast soul-catching magic on his sister and Lan'er, and even went to Lan'er's house to make irresponsible remarks" Concubine Hui cried. At this time, although she was crying intermittently He said. But the meaning was very clear, and the reason for the matter was explained clearly in a few words. "Who is so bold? "The Empress Dowager Cixi understood immediately and asked sternly. "It's the editor of the Hanlin Academy" Concubine Hui cried, "He ran to Lan'er's house and said that Lin Yizhe used the soul-catching magic on Lan'er and wanted to kill her. Lan'er's father went to Zhezi to impeach Lin Yizhe and said all kinds of crazy and perverse things, fearing that he would taint the ears of the two empresses" Empress Dowager Cixi had completely understood at this time, and her hands and feet were so angry that her hands and feet were cold for a while. " Humph Lin Yizhe used the soul-obsessing magic on you and the queen Did Bao Ting want to say, I was also affected by the soul-obsessing magic that day? ! ¡± .#£¤%¡¡¡ª*))*¡ª%£¤#.%¡ª Although the Taiwan incident finally came to an end with Japan¡¯s withdrawal, due to China¡¯s hasty deployment, it failed to form effective countermeasures against Japan and was Not only did they extort 500,000 taels of "pension", they were also forced to admit that Japan's dispatch of troops to Taiwan was a "righteous act to protect the people." A blow to the head. Prince Gong, the "Guiziliu" who was in charge of the Prime Minister's Office for Foreign Affairs, felt deeply about the importance of coastal defense. Soon after the Taiwan incident subsided, he reported to the Emperor Tongzhi and the empress dowagers of the two palaces in the name of the Prime Minister's Office.? Put forward six suggestions: "train troops, simplify weapons, build ships, raise wages, employ people, and last for a long time", which attracted the attention of the empress dowagers of the two palaces. In November 1874, they issued an edict in the name of Emperor Tongzhi, asking the ministers of the Northern and Southern Oceans and the coastal The governors and generals of Binjiang provinces brainstormed and put forward practical and detailed suggestions on the six suggestions put forward by the Prime Minister's Yamen. This is known as the first major coastal defense discussion in history. The specific list of ministers of the Southern and Northern Oceans and governors and generals of the coastal provinces is as follows: Governor-General of Zhili Province Li Hongzhang, Minister of Imperial Envoy in charge of Taiwan Coastal Defense and Foreign Affairs Shen Baozhen, Governor-General of Liangjiang Li Zongxi, General Du Xing'a of Shengjing, Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang Li Henian, Governor-General of Huguang Li Hanzhang, Governor Yinghan of Guangdong and Guangxi, Governor Zhang Zhaodong of Guangdong, Governor Wen Bin of Water Transport, Governor Ding Baozhen of Shandong, Governor Wu Yuanbing of Jiangsu, Governor Yulu of Anhui, Governor Yang Changrui of Zhejiang, Governor Liu Kunyi of Jiangxi, Governor Wang Kaitai of Fujian, and Governor Wang Wenshao of Hunan, a total of fifteen people were drafted. Ding Richang, the former Jiangsu governor of the "Ocean Navy Charter", was recuperating in his hometown of Guangdong at this time, so he also obtained the right to submit a memorial (the memorial was handed over by Zhang Zhaodong). Although Zuo Zongtang, who was the governor of Gansu and Shaanxi at that time, no longer served along the Yangtze River, However, because he also belonged to the Westernization faction and was an advocate of the Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau, the imperial court also sent him a copy of the memorial from the Prime Minister's Yamen to seek Zuo Zongtang's opinions. And it was precisely this solicitation that led to an extraneous issue - 1874 to 1875 was a time period when the Qing Empire's domestic and foreign-related events were relatively concentrated. The Taiwan Peony Society incident led to a sudden tightening of the situation on the southeastern coast; The relationship between the Magali case and the United Kingdom was at loggerheads. Faced with the British threat of force, the Qing government, which had almost mobilized troops for Taiwan and Japan, finally chose to settle the matter. The Japanese were given a "pension" of 500,000 taels of silver, but the British were not so easy to fool: in addition to compensating for losses and punishing the officials and people involved, Guo Songtao was sent as an imperial envoy to the British to "apologize" on behalf of the emperor.