She felt no psychological pressure flattering like this. In these brief thirty minutes, Lin Yuchan gradually realized her mental limitations. Cixi of 1864 was quite different from the ignorant, vicious, power-grabbing old woman portrayed in later films and TV dramas.

She was also just thirty years old with only one young son. Having just successfully seized power, she faced a situation of young ruler and doubtful nation—not yet the all-powerful “Old Buddha” with supreme authority. Her foundation was unstable, requiring reliance on the still-living Empress Dowager Ci’an and numerous imperial relatives and regent princes. Therefore, she had to maintain a humble, benevolent posture and employ worthy talents to successfully rule from behind the curtain.

She hadn’t received a systematic formal education, yet was pushed by circumstances to the empire’s highest ruling position. Secluded deep in the palace, never having witnessed Western ships and cannons’ might, she could still support nationwide Westernization amid the conservative atmosphere of Manchu officials, injecting vitality into this dying nation and laying initial industrial foundations for the later Republic.

Judging by these achievements alone, she was a great woman.

As for later embezzling military funds to build gardens, strangling reformists, declaring war on the world…

People change. Those wielding power are especially so. Perhaps Cixi never truly understood “Westernization’s” meaning. Everything she did was to consolidate power. Now Westernization helped her, so she promoted it. Decades later, when she felt the Boxer movement could help her, she’d switch camps and support the Boxers…

At least now, her interests aligned with those of many Westernization officials.

And with that small widow from Guangzhou, settled in Shanghai, who used every clever strategy to develop national industry and commerce with Western technology and experience—Mrs. Su Lin.

Cixi and the female merchant’s question-and-answer exchange was heard clearly by the old men behind the screen, each wearing colorful expressions. All were seasoned political operators—how could they not hear Cixi’s implications?

Yu Sheng wanted to speak but hesitated. Others winked at him, meaning it was just a small common woman—the Empress Dowager was making idle conversation, not to be taken seriously.

Cixi clapped her hands, having the tea and cake cleared away.

“Good. A woman achieving such great enterprise delights me greatly. Simply put, Rong Hong is buying machinery overseas. After purchase, whatever translation, maintenance, or parts are needed, since he says you understand, I’ll entrust it all to you. I see this girl is quite proper and sensible, certainly won’t cause trouble… mm, and she has imperial recognition now, so going won’t disgrace the court.”

Lin Yuchan felt a bubble in her heart growing larger, carrying her skyward, while also like a sandstorm falling from heaven, burying her entire being in warm brightness.

“I dare not! Certainly won’t!” she called out. “I can do it!”

With Cixi’s words, Boya would become one of the Westernization Movement’s official suppliers!

Cixi nodded at her, her mouth corners forming a rare encouraging smile.

Behind the screen, Yu Sheng could bear no more and stood with several old men.

“Empress Dowager,” Yu Sheng’s cheeks puffed angrily, “entrusting court affairs to an ignorant woman—will you truly do this?”

Cixi: “Didn’t Lord Yu just say machinery factory matters benefit little? I figured they’re not worth employing pillars of state for.”

Yu Sheng: “…”

Cixi had silenced the Grand Secretary, showing satisfied amusement.

“Oh, time for nail care.”

Several palace maids brought a lacquered wooden box and basin of fragrant medicinal water, kowtowed, then removed the Empress Dowager’s gold-inlaid jade and tortoiseshell nail guards, cradling those carefully maintained two-inch nails and using box tools for meticulous care.

Another palace maid offered a water pipe. Cixi took a puff and leaned back.

The Empress Dowager began leisurely nail care, clearly meaning: all of you be quiet, I’m resting.

The several fuming old scholars behind paced in circles, faces red with anger.

Wenxiang and several Westernization faction members secretly rejoiced, quietly observing Lin Yuchan outside and whispering.

Cixi had Lin Yuchan come closer: “Do Westerners use nail polish? If there’s good quality, send some to the palace too.”

Lin Yuchan agreed, seeing Yu Sheng’s furious but restrained face behind the screen, feeling somewhat uneasy.

She hesitated momentarily but didn’t speak. The Empress Dowager hadn’t dismissed her—she couldn’t leave.

Today, Cixi had sung in harmony with her, thoroughly suppressing those stubborn conservative old men. Satisfying as it was, now she was getting carried away.

Best if Mr. Wenxiang quickly intervened to redirect the conversation and get her out…

Suddenly, with a crash, Yu Sheng finally couldn’t bear it, pushed back his chair, and strode out from behind the screen. Lin Yuchan couldn’t stand up in time—his boots stepped past her eyes, kicking sand in her face.

“Empress Dowager,” Yu Sheng could endure no more, bowing to report, “Your Majesty has been exhausted from recent governance. Some matters require careful consideration. So many things—though all small matters, they can’t all be dumped on one woman! The empire is vast, lacking no talent. If you insist on proceeding, please choose capable court ministers, not…”

He glared maliciously at that trouble-making little widow. Passable looks, eyes sparkling with shrewdness—indeed, could charm many learned men into following her orders. Such great ambition too, wanting to grab business, curry favor with all sides, proudly showing her face, following the court in Westernization…

Just like the current Empress Dowager.

Of course, this last thought he only dared think, not showing it on his face, instead burying his head lower.

He remembered yesterday’s household chaos. He, Yu Sheng, a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar, had raised an unworthy son who loved everything foreign, even claiming to fancy some modern female merchant. In rage, he’d dragged his old bones to grab a stick and chase that rebellious son around the courtyard.

Now it seemed this was her. Seducing his son Baoliang—if not for the Empress Dowager’s presence, Yu Sheng would call for people to beat this shameless woman out with clubs.

While Yu Sheng gathered internal energy, Cixi exhaled smoke and smiled coldly.

“Is Lord Yu volunteering himself?—Fine, I’ll assign these tasks to you. Did you remember all those foreign goods I wanted? Plus, American machinery and foreign orphanage reorganization—don’t you have students everywhere? Handle everything—bungle one item and I’ll hold you accountable!”

Yu Sheng stood dumbfounded, his cheeks quivering with rage.

He was a renowned Neo-Confucian minister, a three-dynasty elder, an imperial tutor, Grand Secretary, commanding respect in both political and academic circles, secretly obstructing the Westernization faction repeatedly. But his literary minister subordinates all had sky-high Neo-Confucian cultivation, could discuss Confucianism for three days and nights, could explain all universal principles, but none knew how to handle Westernization.

Now the Empress Dowager deliberately made things difficult, asking if he’d take over those matters involving foreigners…

Wasn’t this mocking him?

But being mature and steady, he didn’t flip the table, calmly saying: “This servant has no one skilled in such matters, dare not rashly guarantee. However, letting this female assume such responsibility is improper. She may have some small ability, learned foreign tricks from foreigners, but ultimately isn’t from the righteous path…”

Pausing, suddenly remembering the Empress Dowager and little widow had just sung together about “women being in charge”—criticizing the widow equaled criticizing the Empress Dowager—he quickly changed course.

“She’s ultimately different from Your Majesty!” Yu Sheng raised his head, not looking directly at the Han widow beside him, as if discussing flowers or grass. “Take one point—she’s too young, will eventually remarry. This business, this enterprise, will eventually not be hers! Now she can serve you, but later? The court can do Westernization, but even trivial matters can’t depend on a woman who isn’t even a household head!”

His words rang forcefully. Cixi suddenly straightened, several nail-care palace maids were abruptly thrown off, tools scattered everywhere as they quickly knelt apologizing.

“This enterprise will eventually not be hers.” This indirect criticism left Cixi unable to respond.

Dare she say the Qing empire belonged to her Yehenara clan?

It would eventually return to the Aisin Gioro hands.

Wenxiang and several other ministers fearfully emerged from behind the screen. Wenxiang glanced apologetically at Lin Yuchan.

Originally just meant to be atmosphere enhancement, she’d unexpectedly become a raft between the Empress Dowager and important ministers. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be too frightened. With him present, surely no one would be convicted today.

Lin Yuchan didn’t lose composure, just felt stifled, seeing Yu Sheng silence Cixi. She restrained herself repeatedly, finally interjecting: “This woman has no remarriage plans. My enterprise won’t change hands. I hope Your Majesty trusts me.”

“Silence!” Yu Sheng roared quietly. “Did anyone ask you to speak?”

Cixi’s expression shifted, but she said nothing, neither blaming anyone.

Yu Sheng had struck at the heart. If she continued protecting this little widow, wouldn’t she sell herself out, saying I plan to monopolize the Qing empire forever?

In this silence, with no one speaking, three or four others finally found opportunity to mediate—one “Your Majesty, calm down,” another “Lord Yu spoke heavily”—ineffectively smoothing things over.

“Lord Yu is right,” Cixi finally yielded. “No matter how capable women are, they can only manage temporarily. This enterprise will eventually pass to her son. I still have this common sense—no need for Lord Yu’s reminder.”

Seeing the Empress Dowager yield, Yu Sheng immediately seized the opportunity, smiling: “This servant speaks clumsily, can’t talk properly, offended Your Majesty—please don’t take it to heart.”

While speaking softly, his gaze inadvertently glanced in Lin Yuchan’s direction. That look still carried hatred, chilling her completely.

After exchanging pleasantries with Yu Sheng, Cixi turned to ask Lin Yuchan: “Do you have heirs to inherit the enterprise?”

Lin Yuchan shook her head.

“Why not remarry?”

Lin Yuchan immediately said: “Determined to maintain chastity…”

Not only did Cixi laugh, but several old men behind couldn’t help but chuckle.

Such words might fool ignorant common people, but she’d been conducting business openly for years, meeting more men in a day than ordinary women in a lifetime. Such women talking about chastity and virtue—should they award her a commemorative arch?

“Women should have a backbone.” Cixi called her forward, speaking earnestly: “Our Qing is Manchu territory. Your Han people’s empty ceremonies—I prefer not to interfere. But Mr. Wen told me your background. You’ve been widowed since childhood, body pure, though your former husband’s family was convicted, though unrelated to you, it remains a stain. If you want to choose a new husband, that’s acceptable. Best to have a son, train him well, and inherit the enterprise you’ve built—a future support. Understand?”

Lin Yuchan listened in bewilderment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The motherly Empress Dowager was apparently like ordinary neighborhood sisters, enjoying matchmaking…

But she dared not treat this casually. This was personally dispensed life advice from the reigning Empress Dowager—however stale, she had to pinch her nose and drink it.

Before she could think how to answer, sudden clapping sounds came from outside the walls.

Yu Sheng raised his head, eyes gleaming, interrupting this boring family chat.

“Your Majesty, allow this servant to speak presumptuously,” he said, straightening coldly. Yesterday, hearing Your Majesty would summon a merchant woman, this servant felt something suspicious. How much ability could a woman have to gain your favor and ascend to heaven in one step? Unless someone was pulling strings… Therefore, this servant secretly investigated, discovering this widow collaborates with foreign countries, colludes with court officials, and privately conducts treasonous acts…”

His words struck like thunder. Cixi, Wenxiang, and palace maids and eunuchs all changed expression.

Lin Yuchan felt she was dreaming, blurting out: “Lord Yu must have evidence when speaking! Knowing some foreigners isn’t criminal, right? Dare you say you’ve never exchanged words with foreigners in your lifetime?…”

“I truly have never spoken a word to red-haired foreign barbarians in my life.” Yu Sheng smiled coldly, turning to call outside: “Open the door.”

The warm pavilion door opened, revealing several massive burned columns outside.

A servant-like man knelt outside, dragging a wooden tray.

Manager An quickly ran over, took a brocade bag from the tray, untied it, extracted several papers, held them overhead, and presented them to Cixi.

The warm pavilion door slowly closed—one room of wealth, golden brilliance.

Cixi glanced at the papers, mouth corners turning down, face clouding over.

“Arrest her!”

Lin Yuchan was held down by several strong palace maids, with no time to think carefully, screaming: “Injustice!”

The paper was thrown to the ground by Cixi, several lines written:

“Letter received. Bank drafts to be presented at year’s end. As instructed, two hundred taels of silver paid to bearer.”

The paper bore a dragon flag wave pattern supporting J and M letters—the emblem of Jardine Matheson & Co., flaunted throughout the concessions.

Like a thousand gongs and drums buzzing in her ears, Lin Yuchan felt numbness in her skull. She didn’t hear what others said, only felt each harsh syllable like knives cutting holes in her temples, draining all logic and reason.

The last time she’d been this thoroughly confused, she had discovered she had an opium-addicted father who wanted to sell her.

Too absurd…

“Your Majesty’s clear judgment,” Yu Sheng announced with triumphant smile, “this is what this servant sent people to find this morning at the chapel lodging where this woman stayed. Additionally, two hundred taels of silver were hidden in her clothes chest…”

In that moment, his expression was fierce like a leopard gripping prey.

Cixi said quietly: “Actually daring to break into foreigners’ chapel…”

Yu Sheng quickly knelt, explaining: “This servant thought of the Qing empire, couldn’t let parasites and traitors hollow out ancestral inheritance. Your Majesty, rest assured—those foreign missionaries knew the purpose of this servant’s men and dared not obstruct or protest.”

Cixi nodded: “Wenxiang, you look.”

Wenxiang had been waiting nearby, picked up the note, read it once, face ashen, and collapsed to his knees.

The note’s meaning was obvious. Wenxiang used his Westernization convenience to collude with foreign firms, selling Qing interests through this intermediary small widow.

In return, the foreign firm deposited silver in his account. These two hundred taels were the middleman’s fee.

“This servant didn’t…”

“This is a frame-up!” Lin Yuchan gasped and shouted. “Foreign firm letterhead can be obtained with some effort! Lord Yu, can your people describe the room’s arrangement? Where’s the washbasin, where’s the clothes chest, which direction is the duty roster posted on the wall… You’re a noble person who knows reason—don’t be deceived by petty people…”

Her struggle wasn’t graceful. With no time to think of eloquent defenses, she felt all her cleverness had been used saving the cake situation earlier. Now her mind was nearly blank, unprecedented emptiness overwhelming her.

Cixi looked at her, eyes no longer holding previous appreciation and affection, replaced by cold disgust.

“I thought you were genuinely an honest businesswoman. You be quiet. I don’t want to hear your sophistry.”

Then, looking at Wenxiang, she smiled coldly with narrowed eyes.

“Mr. Wen, well done. Performing this double act right under my nose? Think this orphan and widow is easy to fool?”

Wenxiang kowtowed repeatedly: “This servant dares not! This servant’s loyalty to the Qing and Your Majesty is unwavering! This servant has been in Beijing—how could I communicate with Shanghai foreign merchants and firms? Whoever framed this servant, or whatever misunderstanding exists, this servant requests Your Majesty investigate thoroughly…”

No matter how he repeated himself, with “irrefutable evidence” present, Cixi remained unmoved.

Wenxiang’s face was ashen, becoming a withered little old man. Yu Sheng stood beside him, hanging pear-like jowls like a victorious general.

Lin Yuchan was held down by palace maids, her whole body twisted, her mind also twisted into chaos, like drowning in a void, unable to distinguish up from down. Her brain rapidly rewound from entering the Old Summer Palace, bizarre scenes like confused TV dramas jumping chaotically in her mind, crashing against her temples with buzzing pain.

Now wasn’t the time to sort out the big picture. But she had to understand exactly whom she’d offended.

Right… conservatives and Westernization faction were already incompatible. Yu Sheng probably planned to trap Wenxiang long ago. But Wenxiang was cautious, rarely accepting bribes, giving no handle to grasp.

Her small widow’s random entry provided opportunity to drag her down too…

The Empress Dowager’s whimsical summons yesterday—with Yu Sheng’s status, he could certainly know in advance. Wenxiang’s residence lacked even bodyguards—monitoring her visits to Wen’s residence wasn’t difficult. Then, just wait for this small widow to meet the Empress Dowager, fully demonstrate herself, and at her most triumphant moment, Yu Sheng would produce evidence, catching them both off-guard…

But… with Cixi’s intelligence, she must see that this evidence wasn’t solid. Why did she unhesitatingly side with Yu Sheng?

Was it the so-called carrot and stick, balancing forces… right, many Westernization faction ministers profited from power. Cixi probably wanted to knock them down a peg…

“Enough, Mr. Wen.” After watching Wenxiang weep and bang his head on the ground protesting innocence, Cixi waved dismissively: “Let’s have the Zongli Yamen investigate first. Also, have your students and colleagues come explain to me tomorrow.”

Wenxiang’s worry diminished slightly, eyes showing surprised relief.

The Zongli Yamen was his department. Being referred to the Zongli Yamen rather than formal charges already indicated, Cixi wouldn’t pursue it deeply—just fine some salary, suspend duties briefly.

But…

“Your Majesty, this servant truly didn’t…”

Cixi glanced at him.

Wenxiang fell silent.

The Empress Dowager’s attitude was clear. With ready-made evidence presented, she wanted to use the opportunity to knock down the Westernization faction—don’t get too proud, don’t go too far.

Today accompanying the Empress Dowager’s garden tour, in just one hour, being alternately pulled and trampled by the Empress Dowager, Wenxiang’s emotions had been like a roller coaster. He dared not argue further, sighed, and kowtowed: “This servant admits fault.”

Cixi smiled: “I know you were misled by treacherous people. I don’t blame you. Don’t repeat this. You were momentarily confused—use your brain in future work. As for this one who delivered messages for you…”

Lin Yuchan felt Cixi’s gaze pierce through, her heart rapidly sinking.

Wenxiang admitted guilt but threw her overboard!

Of course, a first-rank official well-versed in political wisdom, when arbitrarily knocked by the Empress Dowager, bowing and backing down was the wisest approach. Though Wenxiang was kind, she couldn’t expect him to sacrifice his career for a small girl he’d met once.

She had to save herself. Couldn’t worry about Wenxiang. Once Cixi uttered the word “kill,” she’d be finished—more definitive than “dirt on cake.”

“Your Majesty,” Lin Yuchan desperately interrupted Cixi again, “Mr. Wen’s close foreign contacts are true, but Mr. Wen isn’t selling out the country—rather, he’s been buying off foreigners, making them serve Qing interests. Many foreign firms…”

In urgent haste she couldn’t fabricate any decent story, simply skipped ahead: “This matter involves much, causes are complex, many people involved. Mr. Wen isn’t the only one implicated. This woman is just a small figure, doesn’t know specific details…”

Cixi said coldly: “Oh?”

Indeed, this aroused some curiosity.

Yu Sheng anxiously: “Your Majesty, regardless of Wenxiang’s motives, private dealings with foreigners is criminal…”

Cixi: “Take her away first. Interrogate slowly. I want to see exactly how many things you old men have done behind the Emperor’s back.”

Shanghai Port. Yixing Pier No. 3.

Su Minguan held a letter delivered from thousands of miles away, mouth corners involuntarily rising.

Several long pages, paper surface even stained with lamp oil, obviously written during sleepless midnight hours. Between the lines, spirits soared, that jumping smile seeming to leap from the paper.

He also had good news for her. Those foreign shipping firms in price wars showed signs of retreat. At least the noose around Chinese shipping companies’ necks showed no signs of tightening further.

With breathing room, he could slowly resume production, gradually recovering the foundation’s damaged vitality.

A clerk brought the latest steamship schedule. “Water Sprite” from Tianjin would dock precisely at noon today. Inside pages printed first-class passenger lists for convenient pickup by friends and family.

Missionary Miss Aldersey’s name was prominently listed.

Su Minguan calmly completed his last pending matter, then grabbed pastries and rushed out.