Look far ahead (part 2)

  "This is just one of them." The crowd was stunned, and there were more?

  "In today's world, the Emperor is indeed a rare ruler of the ages," she thought back to when she also called herself a member of the "44 Party" like many other netizens who admired Qing dynasty costumes. "But even if it's the Emperor, his vision may not necessarily be able to see the entire world... This world is not just limited to the strong and prosperous Qing dynasty, on the other side of the ocean, there are many powerful countries, their territories vast, their navies dominating the seas, plundering gold and land from other countries everywhere. I'm worried that one day they will invade the Qing dynasty."

  Actually, there are signs to be found. Like when the Dutch occupied Macau years ago, and like how the emperor has been driving out missionaries in recent years, it's not without reason. On one hand, the missionaries' behavior is problematic and causes chaos. On the other hand, they are also spies, and I suppose a lot of Qing dynasty information has already been transmitted back to their own countries.

  Ama and her brothers didn't know why foreigners were eyeing our great Qing dynasty like tigers, did you? You don't know that in the eyes of foreigners, our great Qing is full of gold everywhere. A ship of ordinary porcelain and tea from our great Qing can be exchanged for a shipload of silver, gold, and precious stones when transported overseas... Tell me, aren't they envious? Why do those missionaries rush to come to our great Qing and refuse to leave after arriving? It's because our great Qing is like a piece of fat meat in their eyes, and even if they just smell the aroma, they are reluctant to leave.

  Moreover, the Qing dynasty under Kangxi, Yongzheng and even Qianlong could still maintain its dignity as a great nation. But what about after them? She didn't want to leave a mess for her future son either.

  At the end of Kangxi's reign, there were over 300,000 missionaries in various provinces of Qing China, with more than 300 churches. They were accused of embezzling local funds to build churches and corrupting public morals by allowing men and women to mix together, which drew the attention of Yongzheng Emperor and ultimately led to his decree to expel Western missionaries nationwide. After Yongzheng issued the edict, missionaries in Beijing petitioned for a delay in the expulsion order. In response, in July 1727, the emperor met with missionaries such as Bai Daming, Dai Jinxian, and Lei Xiangsi at the Yuanmingyuan Garden and delivered a lengthy speech.

  It surprised them that Yunzhu, a woman who rarely went out of the house, also knew these things. Especially Fu Heng, he was very clear that many of the things Yunzhu knew were actually told to her by him after he had inquired about them, only he hadn't realized that she thought so deeply and sharply about how many Western countries had already stepped out of their borders to develop outwardly.

  "Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Britain, France... these countries are actually approaching the Qing Dynasty. They formed what is called the East India Company, selling opium to other countries. Once people take it, they become addicted and feel like they're in a dreamlike state. It's like a vampire that can destroy a person's health and corrupt their spirit over time. People will even risk losing everything just to get their fix... They use these things to plunder the gold and silver of other countries, expanding their own nation and navy, dominating the oceans."

  Alas, the Qing dynasty still has not many people who can realize that even if they have realized it, they are not prepared with effective measures. It is useless to just prevent them from entering. When their cannons can be fired on ships, when their firearms can fire continuously, when opium becomes a necessity for the people of the Qing... Do you think the Qing can resist? Are there still soldiers who can ride horses and shoot arrows?

  Deafening!

  Fu Guangcheng and others heard her describe it this way, and they all took a cold breath. Although they felt that she was being a bit alarmist, they couldn't help but be shocked in their hearts. If foreign guns were really advanced to that point, the Qing dynasty would indeed have difficulty resisting. Even though the Qing had also established a gun camp, the emperor did not pay much attention to it.

  "Where did you know all this?" Li Rongbao seemed to recognize his legitimate daughter for the first time, and he had always known that she was clever, but he didn't expect her vision to be so sharp and her heart to be so broad-minded. While others were still fighting for power in the imperial court, she had already set her sights on the entire world.

  Yunzhu smiled and said with a bit of playfulness, "You all know I like to read books, sometimes I go out and chat with the priests in the church, but most of what I know comes from Chunhua telling me... If we're going to let them build churches and spread their teachings in our great Qing dynasty, shouldn't we understand them clearly? I asked them many questions about their country and what they've seen at sea, and made some educated guesses..."

  Fu Guangcheng and Fu Qing looked at each other, this younger sister is too formidable, her thoughts are so sharp that they inspire awe. The gentle and elegant maiden who had been seen as a lily in the boudoir suddenly had an intimidating aura of majesty.

  Everyone was silent, Yunzhu's words had a huge impact on them. Their sister married into the royal family, originally they just wanted to be their sister's support and arm, not to rely on the imperial relatives' identity to show off, since they decided to keep a low profile, then they would continue the humble style of the Fuca family in the past, only the Eight Banners and the Navy... These were really giving them headaches, couldn't they just say something? The idea of loyalty to the monarch and love for the country made it impossible for them to sit back and do nothing. What to say? How to say it?

  Perhaps sending a family member to sea is indeed a good idea, after all, seeing is believing. Li Rongbao walked back and forth in the house several times, saying: "This matter will be decided after I discuss it with my second brother."

  Cloud pearl shallow smile, eyes slightly dazed. For this day, she prepared for ten years.

  Fu Wen saw her dazed expression and couldn't help but gently stroke her head, "Don't worry about these things, you just live happily and don't think about it again, okay?" At the age of 14 or 15, she had to worry about her family and country endlessly... Wisdom is bound to be hurt. He only hoped that she could live a carefree life.

  Yunzhu's eyes were slightly moist, and she rubbed her head against her brother's large hand, saying: "Brother, if possible, I would rather not marry for a lifetime..." Appropriate weakness and dependence are necessary, as women who are too strong and wise in this era will make people wary. The Fucha family is going to be her greatest reliance in the future.

  "Nonsense, how can you possibly not get married for a lifetime? Don't worry."

  They looked at her with pity, no matter how clever she was, she was still a gentle and delicate young girl who needed their protection. Li Rongbao and the others saw that she looked like a little daughter, and they all sighed in their hearts, hoping that Fourth Brother would cherish Yunzhu well.

  "What?! You're saying that the Emperor has arranged for me to marry Ma Qi's niece, Fucha Yunzhu?!" Fulinga grasped Ping's hand in astonishment, "It's actually her?"

  Ping An held onto her master, "Yes, this is the news that Xiao Zhu just received, it's definitely true."

  Fuling calmed down and thought that Hua'er might become the legitimate wife of the master, she had been paying attention to, Fucha Yunzhu was indeed very good, with excellent needlework and amazing riding and shooting skills, more importantly, she could also compose poetry and was skilled in cooking - this was the information collected by her family, a person with such a gentle temperament was fine, but if she were clever and cunning inside, her own future days would not be easy.

  Two people shared the same surname Fu Cha, let alone the legitimate daughter-in-law who had yet to enter the house, even thinking about it herself made her feel uncomfortable.

  Suddenly, she remembered that the day before the selection, she had sent lotus seed paste to the study, and he seemed to be asking her if her family was familiar with Marzi Da. At that time, she didn't pay much attention, but now that she thought about it, it was indeed suspicious. Why would a brother like Marzi Da take an interest in her? If he wanted to make connections with foreign ministers, he wouldn't need to go to the trouble of asking her, a small gege, if she knew Fuca Yunzhu or not.

  Thinking of this, Fuling's heart felt both sour and bitter. This Di Fu Jin hadn't even entered the house yet and had already been favored by Master, and once she entered the house, she would surely be pampered. Adding to that, Di Fu Jin's status and her family's backing, what was there for her to fight for?! She had tried every means to get pregnant before Di Fu Jin entered the house, but now there wasn't even a sign of it...

  "Auntie, what to do?" She murmured to herself and poured out her thoughts to Ping Auntie, "Having served Master for so long, I know he likes those with talent and a gentle disposition the most. That Fu Cha Yunzhu is so good, once she enters the house, will I have any way to live?"

  The old lady thought for a moment and came up with an idea: "Master, don't worry. I've heard that Li Rongbao is a man of noble character, who has a good way of educating his children. When the first wife was selecting concubines, her gentle and magnanimous nature was well-known to all. As long as you sincerely get along with her after she enters the household, I'm sure she won't make things difficult for you. Besides, even if she becomes the first wife of the fourth prince, it's impossible for her to monopolize him alone. In the future, there will be other concubines and princesses entering the household, won't there? She'll also need help. If she's intelligent, she'll understand that having more helpers means more power, and she'll agree to your requests. As long as you give birth to another prince in the future, you'll have a lifelong reliance, what else is there to ask for?"

  Yes, anyway, no matter how hard I struggle, it's impossible to become the legitimate empress, so why not just follow behind the legitimate empress and walk in her footsteps? As long as I give birth to a child, get close to the legitimate empress, and even raise my child on her lap, maybe there will be an opportunity to ascend to the throne in the future. Thinking about it this way, having the same surname is actually an advantage?

  "Auntie, fortunately you're here, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do."

  "The old slave is not for the master, but for whom? As long as the master is well, the old slave will be fine." Ping Ya said with comfort, Fuling Ah was raised by her own hands, just like her own child, how could she not do her best?

  "It's infuriating that Hua Shi has recently received a lot of favor and Father's visits to my chambers have become less frequent, yet I still haven't conceived a child... Just thinking about how Hua Shi plotted and successfully rose to power under her nose made Fuling Ah seethe with anger. This was truly the greatest humiliation for her. Fortunately, she had discovered it in time and taken action, slightly relieving her resentment; otherwise, this grievance would have been bottled up for a lifetime."

  ……