Cixi's way of chasing stars was much simpler and cruder. She directly asked Yang Xiaolou to take the troupe to Xiyuan to sing operas.
Tan Xinpei happened to be interested in training him, and focused on the various small details that need to be paid attention to when singing for the Queen Mother. After all, it is not an ordinary stage.
Fortunately, Tan Xinpei has rich experience. Under his guidance, Yang Xiaolou's performance was very successful.
Cixi was in a good mood. She pointed to a table of pastries such as Bingxin melon seeds and said to Yang Xiaolou: "These pastries are for you, take them back."
Although Yang Xiaolou had already learned from Tan Xinpei about Cixi's rules of rewarding people before the performance, he was confused when he saw that Cixi actually wanted to reward himself with a plate of melon seeds. Didn't everyone talk about the palace's jewels, fine clothes and fine food? How could he even be so grand? The Queen Mother eats melon seeds!
Yang Xiaolou is also a newborn calf and is not afraid of tigers. He bravely said: "Thank you, Old Buddha. I dare not accept these precious things. Please... give me some more gifts..."
"Oh? What do you want?" Cixi asked.
Yang Xiaolou said: "Lao Buddha has great blessings all over the world. I wonder if you can give me a message?"
He actually asked the Queen Mother for words! Yang Xiaolou really doesn’t know how much education our Holy Mother, Empress Dowager and Lao Buddha has. He just thinks that asking for words from others is a sign of respect.
Cixi was also very happy. Anyway, ministers usually came to ask for her calligraphy. Even Weng Tonghe, one of the four great calligraphers in the late Qing Dynasty, two emperors and a veteran of three dynasties, praised her calligraphy.
After hearing so much flattery, even Lafayette himself believed it.
"Little plum, bring up the pen, ink, paper and inkstone."
Cixi raised her pen and wrote the word "福" in one big stroke.
Zai Zhen was right in front of him, and when he saw that something was wrong, Lafayette actually wrote the word "show" next to the word "衣".
Yang Xiaolou also saw the problem at a glance. Oh no!
If this word is taken back, people will definitely talk about it. If it is laughed at, Cixi, a person with such a good face, will not behead him.
But if he didn't take it back, wouldn't he immediately lose his dignity?
Yang Xiaolou was suddenly in a dilemma, sweat was dripping from his forehead, and he didn't know whether to answer or not.
The atmosphere became tense instantly.
Cixi actually saw that she had made a mistake in writing, but she was embarrassed to admit her mistake.
Fortunately, Li Lianying next to him had a quick mind and said with a smile: "Lafayette is a bit more blessed than anyone else in the world!"
Li Lianying is indeed smart enough to be the chief eunuch.
Yang Xiaolou is also a smart man. He immediately followed Li Lianying's words and said: "Lao Buddha has many blessings. He is a blessing that surpasses ten thousand people. How dare a slave take it!"
Cixi immediately went down the steps and said, "Okay, I will reward you another day."
Tan Xinpei, who was behind the stage, was so frightened just now, but luckily he overcame the danger. Turning around, he scolded Yang Xiaolou: "Tell me, what's wrong with begging? You have to go to the Queen Mother to ask for words! You should just beg to die next time!"
Yang Xiaolou looked aggrieved: "I didn't expect that the Queen Mother would spell the word "Fu" wrongly."
Yes, who would have thought! Even primary school Chinese teachers can’t stand it!
In the evening, Zai Zhen called Li Yu and came to the bar again. Also with him was Prince Chun Zai Feng, Pu Yi's biological father.
"Brother Beizi, why did Yaxing ask me to drink with you today?" Zaifeng asked.
Zai Zhen said: "Prince Chun, I just want to ask you about going abroad."
Prince Chun Zaifeng had just been on a diplomatic mission to Germany last year. It was the first time in the history of the Qing Dynasty that a royal prince was sent as an ambassador. However, the matter was not very glorious. He was to apologize to Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Because the first article of the "Xinchou Treaty" signed last year stipulated "the execution of Minister Baron Ke, the imperial envoy of Great Germany", "Prince Chun Zaifeng, as the first-class envoy, went to the Emperor of Great Germany. , represents the regret of the Qing Emperor and the country."
The so-called "regret" refers to the murder of Klinger, the German Minister to China. Speaking of which, this was also an important excuse for the Eight-Power Allied Forces to invade China, so it was naturally placed in the first place. It shows that the great powers are actually seeking justice, not the hypocrisy of the 450 million taels of silver behind them.
How magnificent!
But a weak country has no diplomacy, so that’s what others say.
Germany was quite arrogant and rude at the time, and the etiquette requirements for the mission led by Zaifeng were as follows: the Kaiser sat down in the White Hall, and the prince bowed three times; other counselors and attachés were required to "kowtow in accordance with the ceremony of a Chinese minister to the emperor." In other words, the German emperor was received while seated. Prince Chun Zaifeng, the special envoy of the Qing government, had to bow three times, and other attendants had to kneel and kowtow as they did when meeting the Qing emperor.
In the diplomatic meeting at that time, no one knelt down. It was absolutely a shame and a great humiliation. If other countries followed suit in the future and asked Qing envoys to kneel down, it would be the end of the world!
After Cixi found out about it, she started to argue. They had already said that if you hit someone, you don't want to slap someone in the face, so why did you start denying face again?
So annoying!
You won’t do anything that harms my face!
Zaifeng had already arrived at the border between Germany and Switzerland. He was caught in the middle and didn't know what to do. The Kaiser even refused to meet him for a time.
Fortunately, other countries later intervened to mediate, and everyone bowed. However, during the entire meeting in Potsdam, the Kaiser remained seated and never stood up.
But Zaifeng felt that this was enough to "preserve the overall situation and not damage the national system."
Later, Britain, France and other countries knew that the Prince of the Qing Dynasty was away and wanted to invite him to visit. Zaifeng also wanted to travel around the country, but the Kaiser sternly refused, saying that he "violated the purpose of being dedicated and sincere."
Yes, even this right is not given. The Kaiser can only apologize to me sincerely!
Zaifeng had no choice but to return home hastily.
Ten years later, Germany found out that Zaifeng, who had come to apologize, had become the regent. In fact, it was extremely regretful. Of course, people were not afraid of the Qing Dynasty, but they were ridiculed by neighboring countries such as Britain and France for not knowing diplomatic etiquette.
Puyi was not born yet, and Zaifeng's status was not that high.
In short, last year's mission to Germany was humiliating, but this time Zai Zhen was different. It was the Qing Dynasty who took the initiative to congratulate the King of England, and there was no issue of being inferior in status.
The bar owner Guo Weiwei brought whiskey and distilled water and mixed the drinks for several people.
Familiar recipe, familiar taste.
After a few glasses of wine, Zaifeng told Zai Zhen about his "humiliating experience" in Germany.
Zaifeng said: "Brother Beizi, you don't know that their military power is too great, and those machines that I can't name are also too powerful."
Germany has always attached great importance to the military, and Zaifeng was quite shocked.
"Prince Chun, do you think I will also be treated humiliatingly?" Zai Zhen asked.
"No, no, no! You would never do that. You are going to celebrate, not to attend a funeral like me!" Zaifeng poured another glass of whiskey into his stomach, pointed at Li Yu and said, "By the way, you can take him with you."
Li Yu was surprised: "Me?"
