At this time, it can almost be concluded that the time for the Qing army to move south should be when the rainy season comes in May, then there will be two months left, and the new army of Yinglong Army will definitely be able to initially form combat effectiveness, and when the time comes, it will be able to really form an army when it takes turns to see the last blood on the battlefield.

Zhu Cihong was actually a little glad in his heart, fortunately, the Qing army did not plan to go south in March, otherwise the new army of the Ying Long Army had just completed its basic training and had not yet formed its initial combat effectiveness, and it would be dangerous to deal with the hundreds of thousands of Manchu troops.

The weather in the third lunar month has gradually warmed up, but Zhu Cihong is used to handling political affairs in the Qianqing Palace, and he is too lazy to move back to the imperial study.

Outside the main hall of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Cihong had just finished handling political affairs and came out for a walk, followed by Zhao Dequan and several other eunuchs.

There was still a little cool spring breeze blowing on his face, Zhu Cihong suddenly felt comfortable, he didn't plan to think about anything, he did everything he could, just wait for the arrival of the big war with peace of mind, and enjoy this last period of peace.

Walking to the stone steps on the west side of the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Cihong suddenly sat down, closed his eyes and enjoyed the spring breeze.

"Your Majesty, the stone steps are dirty, let the slave and maid help you wipe them." Zhao Dequan said in shock.

Zhu Cihong continued to close his eyes and said softly: "You dead eunuch, it's best not to spoil my fun." He continued to enjoy the comfort of the spring breeze.

Zhao Dequan smiled awkwardly and hurriedly stepped aside to wait.

Zhu Cihong sat for half an hour before standing up, and the eunuch Zhao Dequan hurriedly came up to help Zhu Cihong gently pat off the dust on the dragon robe.

"Your Majesty, this place is very close to the side hall, do you want to take a look somewhere, there are things that the emperor is interested in." Seeing the side hall not far away, Zhao Dequan, the chief eunuch, suddenly had a flattering look in his heart, and said with a smile, a little mysterious.

"Oh? I haven't been there, what can I be interested in, you dead eunuch, what kind of mystery are you doing, forget it, then I'll go and see. Zhu Cihong is really interested, anyway, now he has nothing to do, just go and see what Zhao Dequan, the dead eunuch, is doing, and he is still pretending to be mysterious.

Zhao Dequan led the way in front with a smile on his face.

Side hall.

Dong Xiaowan was wearing a light cyan dress, quietly painting on a piece of rice paper, exuding a quiet and elegant temperament all over her body, beautiful and moving.

"Miss, it's so boring here, when will these people let us out." The little maid Qiao'er complained on the side.

"What's boring, I think it's good." Dong Xiaowan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she replied lightly. In this place, although she was not allowed to leave this side hall, it was also rare to be calm, no one harassed her, and she did not feel any grievances.

"Miss doesn't like to go out herself, so of course she doesn't feel bored." Qiao'er muttered quietly. Although this hall is not very luxurious, she will get tired of staying in it every day, anyway, she just feels bored to death, when will she and the young lady be able to get out of this palace.

"Is that so?" Dong Xiaowan was slightly stunned, and a trace of desolation flashed in her eyes.

In fact, it's not that she doesn't like to go out, but she can't go out at all. Originally, she thought that after she redeemed herself and walked out of the Red Mansion with the help of her good sister Liu Ruyi, she would be free and free, and she didn't have to live the kind of life of serving people with laughter, but she was wrong, after she left the Red Mansion, she was just a helpless little woman, but she was born beautiful, and the fame accumulated when she was an Oiran, many former sons and brothers were inquiring about her whereabouts, so that she could live in seclusion in Xiaozhulou, and she was terrified every time she went out, and she had to cover her face with a veil, for fear of being recognized.

In that half a year, she actually only went out three times, but these three times made her recognized by a few sons, and she was just molested, if it wasn't for the appearance of Hong Gonghong, she would probably have been snatched back by those sons and brothers to become their playthings.

Maybe that's her life. Dong Xiaowan thought self-deprecatingly.

Dong Xiaowan knew that this was the palace, she could live here for two months, except that she couldn't go out, she almost responded to her needs, she didn't have to worry about food and clothing, she vaguely knew in her heart who got her in, except for the owner of this palace, she couldn't think of anyone who had this right. In the past two months, Dong Xiaowan has already accepted her fate, because she knows very well that in fact, even if she leaves the Red Mansion, it is impossible for her to gain real freedom, and she will inevitably become someone else's plaything in the end. is like the one who took the liberty and pestered her for two years, and his purpose was just to marry her home to be his eighth concubine.

Dong Xiaowan laughed mockingly, little concubine! Yes, she Dong Xiaowan is also worthy of being someone else's concubine! She thought that if when she was recognized by those sons and brothers that day, the red lady did not show up and saved her, but rushed over to save her first, she would probably have agreed to be his eighth concubine at that time.

Thinking of this, Dong Xiaowan's heart was jerked, and her breathing was not smooth, and then she was relieved, since they all became other people's playthings, so for her, what difference does it make if she is where, at least this palace, she has lived here for two months and no one has come to disturb her, which can be regarded as completing half of the peaceful and free life she yearns for, but I don't know how long this peace will last.

When Zhao Dequan took Zhu Cihong to this side hall.

Several palace maids and eunuchs waiting here were taken aback when they saw that it was Gonggong Zhao and the emperor, and they wanted to kneel down and salute the mountain and shout long live, but Zhao Dequan stepped forward in time to stop them, did not let these palace maids and eunuchs make a sound, and waved them all back.

"Zhao Dequan, what are you doing?" Zhu Cihong frowned and asked.

"Your Majesty, you will know when you go in, and the slave will definitely surprise you to the emperor." Zhao Dequan smiled flatteringly, making it very mysterious.

Since Zhang Kuishan brought Dong Xiaowan into the palace last time, saying that it was a woman that the emperor was interested in, Zhao Dequan saw Dong Xiaowan's beauty, and he was extremely dedicated at that time, firmly believing that the emperor must have seen this woman at some point, and became interested in this woman, if it weren't for the emperor who has been busy with political affairs for the past two months, he would have wanted to dedicate this surprise to the emperor.

Zhao Dequan secretly came here a few days ago to see, the beauty has been born for two months, it seems to be more beautiful, although it is unlikely to be comparable to the peerless queen mother, but at least there is also the beauty of the queen mother, half a point more beautiful than the concubine, the emperor will definitely like it.

Zhao Dequan didn't think there was anything wrong with helping the emperor collect beauties, the emperor was the lord of the world, but he had been on the throne for almost a year, and now there are only two hostesses in the harem, too few, but the emperor doesn't like draft girls very much, how can he reproduce heirs in the future, he Zhao Gonggong has to work hard.

"Your Majesty, please!" Zhao Dequan lightly led Zhu Cihong in.

...