The Great Qing Imperial Palace.
After arriving at the Imperial Palace, Dorgon passed through unimpeded and headed straight for the inner palace.
At this moment, all the officials had gathered at the Heqin Prince's Mansion. The Little Emperor Xuanye, only thirteen years old, had not held court either and was reading in the Imperial Study.
When he heard that Dorgon had entered the palace, the Little Emperor's face filled with awe and panic, and he hurried over to greet him.
"Grandfather, what brings you to the palace today?" Xuanye asked respectfully.
Dorgon was the uncle of Xuanye's father, the Shunzhi Emperor Fulin, placing him two generations above Xuanye.
Moreover, this imperial grandfather had wielded power as regent for years, long since planting a seed of awe in the young Xuanye's heart. Thus, before Dorgon, Xuanye did not dare put on any imperial airs whatsoever.
Dorgon glanced at the Little Emperor, but he was in no mood to pay him any attention just then. He merely said indifferently, "I have some business in the palace. If Your Majesty has nothing to do, spend more time reading, so you can take personal control of the government as soon as possible."
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather," Xuanye said respectfully.
Dorgon nodded and continued deeper into the palace.
Only after Dorgon had vanished completely from sight did Xuanye breathe a sigh of relief and slowly straighten up. Then he instinctively wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead and said:
"Xiaobao, what do you think Grandfather came to the palace for?"
The young eunuch beside him hurried forward, his eyes darting as he said quietly, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Four-Party Allied Forces are attacking the Capital, and all the ministers have gone to see the Regent Prince. Perhaps the Regent