Li Lianying took Wang Chenhao to Wanshou Mountain to see Cixi, and asked Wang Chenhao to wait there when he arrived at Paiyun Palace, while he went up the mountain first to report to Cixi first.

Li Lianying is a sleek person, from a historical point of view, he is a master who is good at monopoly, he is Cixi's henchman, and he must not offend Guangxu, he is well versed in the rules of self-protection, and he is invincible for decades.

Although Li Lianying spied on Wang Chenhao, it was not simple, but he would not tell the Empress Dowager Cixi as it was, since he had received Wang Chenhao's silver, some words should not be said.

No one would be so stupid as to get along with the God of Wealth, Wang Chenhao generously gave away 5,000 taels of silver, but it gave Li Lianying a good impression of boldness, and he would not go to tell him about right and wrong.

This Li Lianying's words are naturally quite important. Especially Cixi was suspicious, and having Li Lianying, a close minister, give her a preventive shot first, which can be regarded as a great favor for Wang Chenhao.

Li Lianying went to see Cixi and obviously wanted to talk for a while, and only Wang Chenhao stayed there alone in the huge Paiyun Palace, which seemed a little deserted.

This Paiyun Temple was originally built by Qianlong for the 60th birthday of his mother, the Great Reward Grace Longevity Temple, which was looted and burned down by the British and French forces in the Second Opium War, and was renamed Paiyun Hall when Cixi rebuilt.

The word "Paiyun" is taken from Guo Pu's poem: "Immortal Paiyun Mountain, one-shouldered gold and silver platform". Paiyun Hall is in the center of the building in front of Wanshou Mountain, and it is also the most spectacular building complex in the Summer Palace, showing the royal style.

Wang Chenhao waited for about half an hour to be summoned by the Empress Dowager Cixi, and with a beautiful female official leading the way, Wang Chenhao came to the west gate of the first loft of the Buddha Xiang Pavilion and stopped again to wait for the order.

The female officer went in to report, and soon heard the edict of Xuan Zhaoyi: "Xuan Beiyang Naval Division Admiral Senate First Class Baron Wang Chenhao is here!" ”

The sound came from the triple building, and then passed through the second and first attics, and it was transmitted five or six times one after another before reaching Wang Chenhao.

Wang Chenhao sorted out his nervous mood, and then picked up his official robe and walked up the stairs quickly. When he turned to the east gate of the triple building, Wang Chenhao took a deep breath again, self-controlled, sorted out his nervous mood, recalled Zhang Peilun's warning, and then bowed his head and walked in with quick steps.

After walking in, Wang Chenhao raised his eyes and quickly missed the situation in the cabinet, and found the Empress Dowager Cixi first. I saw an old lady sitting on the top of a futon in front of me with a rich face and a serene bearing.

Next to her stood Li Lianying, no need to ask her to be Cixi.

As soon as Wang Chenhao came in, Cixi's eyes never left him. At this time, Wang Chenhao's gaze touched her eyes, and for some reason, Wang Chenhao became even more nervous.

Taking a deep breath again, Wang Chenhao calmed down his nervous mood, remembered the rules of the palace and didn't dare to go any further, so he only stopped within a few steps of the door.

Wang Chenhao snapped his horseshoe sleeves twice, lifted his robe and knelt on the ground and bowed.

This prostration is not the kowtow that is shown on television. Because Wang Chenhao is a second-class member and has Buddhist beads hanging on his body, he doesn't have to knock his head to the ground, he only needs the Buddha beads to touch the ground to represent kowtowing. The higher the official position, the longer the string of Buddha beads, like Li Hongzhang's level, after kneeling, the Buddha beads directly touched the ground, and even bending down was saved.

I saw Wang Chenhao pressing his hands on the ground, lowering his head and shouting loudly: "Minister Wang Chenhao, knock on the Holy Mother and Queen Mother Lafayette, Lafayette Immortal Blessing Eternal Life and Tianqi!" ”

All right! Wang Chenhao not only learned Wei Xiaobao's money-throwing skills, but also took out Wei Xiaobao's super sycophancy skills at this moment.

There was a sudden silence in the room, and no one made a sound. Wang Chenhao didn't dare to raise his head again, and secretly begged that it wasn't a sycophant that slapped the horse's leg.

Cixi was stopped by Wang Chenhao's flattering words of "Immortal blessing and eternal longevity and Tianqi", she has controlled the Qing Kingdom for so many years, and it is the first time she has heard someone flatter her like this.

Undoubtedly, Cixi Buddha wants someone to call her Lafayette, and in her bones she hopes that Xianfu will live forever and be in harmony.

Li Lianying was also stunned for a while, he knew Cixi's thoughts, and secretly praised Wang Chenhao's sycophant.

Sure enough, Cixi's calm face showed a rare smile and said, "Raise your head and let the mourning family see our young talent from the Great Qing Kingdom!" ”

"Huh!" Wang Chenhao responded, knowing that Cixi liked to give people a face when she met people for the first time, and how many points she could score this time depended on her own creation, so he immediately changed his smile and raised his head.

The Empress Dowager Cixi carefully examined Wang Chenhao's face, and when she saw that Wang Chenhao's heart was a little hairy, she smiled and nodded, and said, "At first glance, he is a loyal and honest person, get up!" ”

Wang Chenhao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, this Cixi's first impression was very important, and now that he has successfully passed the test, he will be able to have less trouble in the future.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager Lafayette!" Wang Chenhao hurriedly got up, rolled up his horseshoe sleeves and stood respectfully.

Cixi nodded slightly, and then asked unhurriedly: "Senator Wang is upright and newly married Yan'er, why don't you accompany your wife and concubine more at home?" ”

There is a wife, and there is a temporary shortage of beautiful concubines, Wang Chenhao flashed a thought in his lightning, and hurriedly replied: "Wechen dreamed of coming back to see the capital of the motherland, and this time it happened that Lord Li returned to Beijing to do business, and Wechen took a ride to Yanjing to visit." ”

Wang Chenhao suddenly thought that Cixi knew the whereabouts of him, Li Hongzhang and others well, and with Cixi's surname, he would not talk nonsense and ask useless questions. So he hurriedly made up a sentence, and then diverted Cixi's attention, and said: "Speaking of which, how much do you want to thank the Queen Mother for her marriage?" Weichen's wife was able to put on a phoenix crown and get married, she didn't know how happy she was, and she was worried about Lafayette's good every day! ”

In the ancient feudal society, the phoenix crown is not only luxurious but also a symbol of noble status, which can only be worn by a very small number of women with a commandment, and ordinary women do not have this blessing. In ancient times, men got married early, and their original wives generally obtained the imperial court title after their husbands became officials, and there were even fewer women who really wore phoenix crowns and xia veils to worship in the court.

Li Youyi became a relative after obtaining the second grade, so she was naturally very happy to get married wearing a phoenix crown, Wang Chenhao really patted Cixi's fart, but it made her convinced.

Cixi smiled and said: "Lord Wang is due to the imperial court, and the mourning family will not treat the heroes badly, but let the Wang Li family fall in love!" ”

"The Queen Mother is serious!" Wang Chenhao smiled and said: "Weichen and his wife have never forgotten the marriage of the Queen Mother, and they can't wait to squeeze out every second to pray to the gods and bless the Queen Mother's immortal blessing to enjoy eternal life and Tianqi!" ”

Wang Chenhao complimented Cixi like this on his lips, but in his heart he was in the opposite tone, wishing that this old witch would hang up quickly.

Cixi naturally didn't know Wang Chenhao's true thoughts, and at this moment, she actually laughed out loud, and a row of folds suddenly appeared at the corner of her eyes, squeezing out a large piece of thick fat powder.

After a while, Cixi regained her composure, and scolded Wang Chenhao with a smile: "You little cub is full of honey, even the mourning family is laughed at by you, presumably that Wang Li family was also coaxed by you like this!" ”

When Wang Chenhao saw Cixi scolding him, his heart jerked up, and cold sweat oozed slightly from his forehead. glanced at Cixi secretly, and saw that she didn't mean to be really angry, and then saw that Li Lianying was just smiling at him, and he was relieved.

Accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger, Wang Chenhao secretly begged himself not to talk more, moderation is the best plan, if it is exaggerated, you must know the truth that things must be reversed.

"Wechen is terrified! Wechen lost his words! Wang Chenhao accused again and again, and suddenly became honest.

Cixi didn't mean to blame, the purpose of her calling Wang Chenhao was just to find out the bottom of it, and now she has some bottom in her heart through Li Lianying's reply and her personal appearance and inquiry.

Cixi is very busy, and every day there are constant big and small affairs, and it is rare to be able to squeeze out half an hour to meet Wang Chenhao.

At this moment, Cixi didn't see anything anti-bone or anything like that from Wang Chenhao for the time being, so she didn't have the heart to test it anymore.

Soon, Cixi restrained her smile and said: "Li Hongzhang is the pillar of our Great Qing Kingdom, Wang Chenhao, as his son-in-law, you must learn more from him, and in the future, our Great Qing Kingdom will have to rely on you young people to support it!" ”

"Huh!" Wang Chenhao hurriedly bowed down and replied, he couldn't be more respectful. "Weichen respectfully obeys the instructions of the Queen Mother, bows to the best, and swears to serve (eliminate) the court!"

Cixi nodded in satisfaction, then closed her eyes and twisted the beads.

Li Lianying said at this time: "The Queen Mother Lafayette is tired!" Lord Wang, hurry up and kneel down! ”

"That's it?" Wang Chenhao paused for a moment, and saw Li Lianying nodding at him, so he hurriedly knelt down, and then withdrew from the door.

Out of the Buddha Xiang Pavilion, Wang Chenhao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, a big stone in his heart was considered to be on the ground, and the first time he talked to the supreme power holder of the Great Qing Kingdom, there seemed to be nothing to disclose.

"Lord Wang, stay here!"

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. Wang Chenhao turned around and looked, but it was Li Lianying who followed. So he asked, "Manager Li, who are you?" ”

Li Lianying smiled all over her face, praised Wang Chenhao and said: "Congratulations to Lord Wang, the Queen Mother is very happy today, and specially ordered our family to inform Lord Wang, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month tomorrow, Lafayette will put up lanterns here to make Lantern Festival, and specially reward Lord Wang and Mrs. Wang to visit the Summer Palace together for a day!" ”

Wang Chenhao secretly said in his heart that this is not good, it is a good thing to visit the Summer Palace, but being too close to Cixi and the people around her always makes him feel unsafe.

But Cixi rewarded it, Wang Chenhao had to accept it, and suddenly put on a surprised smile and said: "Thank you so much to the Queen Mother Lafayette!" ”

Wang Chenhao said that he was about to kneel down to the north to thank him, and planned to act for Li Lianying, but Li Lianying stopped him and said with a smile: "It is enough for Lord Wang to have filial piety to Lafayette in his heart!" ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Chenhao nodded again and again.

Li Lianying talked to Wang Chenhao for a while, and then went back to serve Cixi. However, Li Lianying accepted a huge bribe from Wang Chenhao, so she naturally expressed something, so she ordered a little eunuch to go to the imperial horse prison to bring a BMW to send Wang Chenhao out.

Riding a horse in the Summer Palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi seemed to be really happy. It's just that Wang Chenhao couldn't help but smile bitterly, he hadn't ridden a horse since he was so big.