My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 133 Hongli completely defeats the Eighth Prince!

The Eighth Prince never expected the Tenth Prince to change his mind at the last minute.

This prompted the eighth prince to glance at Hongli at that moment.

He subconsciously suspected that it was Hongli who persuaded Yun.

It couldn't be Yongzheng and the thirteenth prince!
Because Yun didn't have a good relationship with these two people, but Hongli's act of repaying Yun's debts made Yun feel much more favorably toward Hongli.

When Hongli saw that the Eighth Prince was looking at him, he remained solemn and straightened his cuffs.

Manduhu, Baotai, Sunu, and others who were on Lao Ba's side were also shocked, and at the same time looked at Lao Ba with a bewildered expression.

The unexpected happened so fast that they were momentarily at a loss.

Lao Ba calmed himself down.

He knew that he hadn't completely lost yet. Lao Shi's sudden departure was just an attempt to withdraw from this matter, not a sign that he wouldn't stand by his side on other issues.

Yongzheng then spoke up, saying, "Since my tenth brother is unwilling to go to pay homage to the Living Buddha, I will send someone else. I intend to send my twelfth and seventeenth brothers to pay homage to the Living Buddha and to pacify the Mongols. What do you think?"

“The twelfth brother is a prince, and the seventeenth brother is also a prince. The twelfth brother was raised by Sumalagu. Sending two princes when the tenth brother is not going is enough to give the Living Buddha and the Mongol tribes face.”

"Your Majesty, I believe this action is entirely appropriate."

At this moment, the thirteenth prince, Yunxiang, stepped forward and spoke.

Yongzheng nodded, and then looked at the eighth prince: "What do you think, Eighth Brother?"

The eighth prince took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject also thinks this is excellent."

He knew he had no choice but to agree.

After all, Lao Shi was unwilling to go, so it didn't matter to him who went.

If he still disagrees and says that the twelfth and seventeenth princes are not qualified, then Yongzheng will send Prince Lian instead.

But he himself was unwilling to leave Beijing.

That would be too risky.

Because once he leaves the capital, the situation in the capital will become even more out of his control.

Therefore, Lao Ba chose to concede defeat in the matter of who should be sent to pay homage to the Living Buddha.

The eighth and thirteenth princes agreed, and the other princes and ministers naturally had no objections. Seeing this, Yongzheng said, "Then let the twelfth and seventeenth princes go."

Thus, the Eighth Prince had no choice but to move on to the second topic, and at this point he said, "Fourth Brother, we have another matter to discuss at the Council of Princes and Ministers."

"what's up?"

Emperor Yongzheng had a serious expression.

The eighth prince cupped his hands and said, "It is about Hongshi being granted a title!"

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's lips twitched slightly.

At this moment, Hongli glanced at the banner leaders.

He noticed that many banner leaders were looking at Yongzheng with serious expressions.

Clearly, these banner lords were very curious as to why Emperor Yongzheng was so stingy in bestowing a title upon his eldest son, even having the Eighth Prince petition the emperor through the Council of Princes and Ministers to grant the title to his eldest son.

If this gets out, people will think that the father is not as kind and loving as the uncle!
But Emperor Yongzheng did have his own considerations.

He hoped to make Hongshi realize his mistakes by putting pressure on him.

At the same time, Yongzheng also wanted to show that his treatment of prestigious positions was not based on kinship or distance, but solely on talent and virtue.

To be more specific, you can only have something if the emperor is willing to give it to you; if he is not willing to give it to you, you cannot have it even if you are qualified.

Now, the Eighth Prince is going to take the initiative to help Hongshi obtain a title at the Council of Princes and Ministers, which can be considered an attack on imperial power.

The important thing is not whether Hongshi should receive a title, but whether the imperial power should yield to the Eight Banners nobles.

Extrapolating from Hongshi's case, the question becomes whether the eldest son of a Manchu noble family can unconditionally inherit a title.

This is similar to how Emperor Yongzheng previously allowed the sixteenth prince, Yunlu, to inherit the title of Prince Zhuang, instead of allowing the branch of Prince Zhuang's younger brother to inherit it. He used imperial power to interfere in the inheritance of titles among the imperial clan and nobles, thus taking the lead in encroaching on the rights and interests of the Eight Banners nobles. Now, the eighth prince and others are also starting to use this matter to launch a counterattack against imperial power.

“Fourth Brother is now the Emperor, and Hongshi is the de facto eldest son of the Emperor. He is also married. He should be granted a title no matter what.”

"If a person of great talent is not used in a proper position, how can the world be at peace?"

"Therefore, your humble servants believe that Hongshi should be granted a title."

At this point, Lao Ba began to explain his reasons.

Emperor Yongzheng, enraged, laughed instead: "Hongshi has a good uncle!"

"Fourth Brother misunderstands. I treat all my nephews equally, including Hongli who is present today, and Hongxi who is not here. However, Hongshi should indeed not be without a title now."

"Fourth Brother is a wise and discerning ruler; he should be able to understand his younger brother's good intentions."

After speaking, Lao Ba cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression resolute, calm, and composed.

Yongzheng raised his cold face, looked at the Eighth Prince and the others, and said in an unquestionable manner:
"Hongshi is frivolous and careless, with a crooked mind. He likes to curry favor with the powerful and influential, and he enjoys sowing discord and making false accusations. His unruly and arrogant nature is no less than that of Hongchang!"

“I have not followed the example of the late emperor and have confined this wicked son to his room, which is already too lenient and undisciplined, and goes against the way of a strict father. How can I return his title and encourage his arrogance?”

“Your Majesty, I believe you are right. Hongshi still needs to grow. For example, this January, when things happened outside Donghua Gate, Hongli dared to stand up and advise the elders of the imperial clan, showing a heart for harmonizing the princes and nobles. Hongshi was also present at the time, but he did not reconcile the hearts of the princes and nobles. It is clear that he still lacks responsibility.” “Your Majesty’s decision not to confer a title upon him first, hoping that he will come to his senses, is a manifestation of your benevolence!”

The thirteenth prince then expressed his opinion.

The sixteenth brother added, "Hongshi has loyalty and filial piety, but he has been bewitched by villains since childhood and has become greedy and materialistic. As a result, he is superficial and happy to pursue empty fame. Fourth brother's decision not to grant him a title is undoubtedly the right medicine. He hopes that he can do things with sincerity and be honest in order to obtain a title."

Yongzheng nodded.

"But I don't think Hongshi has these shortcomings. On the contrary, I think he is generous and magnanimous, serves his lord with sincerity, knows his limits, knows when to advance and retreat, and is polite and respectful. As for the last time he failed to speak up for your thirteenth brother like Hongli did and persuade the third brother, it was only because he saw that Hongli had already come out to persuade him and did not want to compete with his own brothers."

"This is the virtue of humility of a wise person!"

Lao Ba seriously affirmed Hong Shi.

Upon hearing this, Hongli couldn't help but sneer; he simply didn't believe that Hongshi would truly think that way.

Manduhu chimed in, "In my memory, Hongshi doesn't have any of the shortcomings mentioned. On the contrary, I think he is kind and respectful to his elders. He is a good child who is kind, filial and prudent!"

"Although he was not born to the Emperor's principal wife, he was born to the former concubine, now Consort Qi. It would be unreasonable not to grant him a title!"

“That makes perfect sense. Hongshi is already quite old, and he is the eldest son of the emperor. Those younger than him have all been granted titles. If he is not granted a title, then the established rites are meaningless!”

"If we were to say that Hongshi has any shortcomings, many of the late emperor's grandsons who are far inferior to him have been granted titles. It's not like the emperor is only willing to treat his nephews well but not his own sons."

Bao Tai then joined in the conversation.

boom!
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up, looking at Baotai:

"Are you implying that I am deliberately mistreating my eldest son?"

"Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, understands this himself!"

Bao Tai retorted without holding back.

Yongzheng's breathing became heavier, and then he sneered: "It seems that the arrogant people that the late emperor indulged were not just Orondai, but quite a few, and many of them are even here at Qianqing Gate today!"

"If Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, truly believes that I, your humble brother, am as rebellious as Orondai, then you may issue an edict right now to execute me as well!"

Bao Tai simply knelt down, took off his official hat, and kowtowed on the ground in response.

"Don't think I wouldn't dare!"

"Your act of watching plays and making merry during the national mourning period has already been reported to me!"

Yongzheng pointed at Baotai and angrily rebuked him.

Hongli sat in the back, sighing inwardly, thinking that Yongzheng had not been able to control his temper after all, and had personally confronted Baotai directly.

Hongli had to admit that Yongzheng's words made sense. Baotai, the nephew who was favored by Kangxi and even Yongzheng's cousin who was required by Kangxi to call him "Khan Ama" and treat him as his own father, had also been spoiled by Kangxi and developed a lot of arrogance, making him feel that it was okay to talk back to the emperor.

In fact, Baotai did think so. Back then, when he was fighting for the throne for the eighth prince, he had joined Ma Qi in criticizing Kangxi. In terms of arrogance, he was no less than the ninth and fourteenth princes.

In Hongli's view, Baotai's childhood experiences may have made him subconsciously never feel that he was Kangxi's nephew, but truly regarded himself as Kangxi's son, as well as the brother of Yongzheng, the Eighth Prince, and others.

Sunu then joined in to help Baotai and the Eighth Prince: "Your Majesty, putting aside all of Hongshi's shortcomings, if we really say he doesn't deserve a title, then aren't you yourself at fault?!"

Sunu's words made Yongzheng's face tighten even more, and his eyes became even colder as he looked at Sunu: "So, you're saying that if I don't grant Hongshi a title, I'm not even worthy to be the emperor?"

"I did not!"

Sunu replied.

"Sunu, how dare you!"

At this moment, the sixteenth prince couldn't help but stand up, glaring angrily at Sunu, clenching his fists tightly, as if he intended to beat Sunu at the council of princes and ministers.

Fortunately, the thirteenth brother reached out and pulled the sixteenth brother back, preventing the sixteenth brother's impulsiveness from giving the middle party a bad impression of his sixteenth brother and making them feel that their sixteenth brother was impulsive and easily angered.

Sunu just chuckled coldly. He wasn't afraid of the sixteenth prince hitting him. If the sixteenth prince did hit him, he would simply say at the Council of Princes and Ministers that the sixteenth prince was not worthy of inheriting the title of Prince Zhuang.

The Eighth Prince knew that to get Yongzheng to make concessions and compromises, it wasn't enough for Manduhu, Baotai, and Sunu to stand on his side; he also needed the Third and Fifth Princes to stand on his side.

At this moment, the eighth brother took the initiative to cup his hands and said, "Fourth brother, please calm down. Although my cousin Sunu's words were inappropriate, the matter of Hongshi being granted a title is indeed the opinion of most of our ministers and councilors. It can be said to be the consensus of our Eight Banners nobles. Not only us, but also my third and fifth brothers think so."

"is it?"

Yongzheng smiled coldly and looked at his third and fifth sons.

At this moment, the eighth brother also looked at the third and fifth brothers.

The Eighth Prince was already quite excited about this, and he was waiting for the Third Prince to express his support for him, so as to give Yongzheng a big surprise.

Then, he could see Yongzheng's angry yet helpless and frustrated expression.

Although the tenth brother has now left, which is equivalent to forfeiting, as long as the third and fifth brothers stand on his side, he still has a chance to win!
The third son then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Of all the relatives in the world, none is closer than father and son. The Emperor understands Hongshi best. If the Emperor doesn’t grant him a title, no one can object. Even if the Emperor is forced to grant Hongshi a title today, Hongshi himself should not go against his father’s wishes to accept the title! Otherwise, what kind of person would he be?”

The third brother's words shocked the eighth brother.

Yongzheng, however, was much calmer, as if he had expected it, and calmly looked at his fifth brother: "Where is Fifth Brother?"

"Third Brother is right! The relationships between ruler and subject, father and son, must not be disordered."

The fifth brother smiled and said.

(End of this chapter)