My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 138 The Imperial Concubine Snatches Hongli

At this moment, a eunuch suddenly came to deliver an imperial edict from Emperor Yongzheng, ordering Hongli to enter the palace and pay homage at Changchun Palace.

Hongli had no choice but to have Haitang quickly help him change his clothes.

Haitang agreed, her hands and feet never stopping, but when Hongli finished changing, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, her face turning red.

"Want to eat?"

Hongli took out the rose dew he had obtained the night before and waved it in front of Haitang.

Haitang pursed her lips and nodded; naturally, she couldn't say she didn't want to eat.

Taking advantage of the moment, Hongli hugged her and whispered in her ear, "When I get back, we'll eat together secretly! Hide this well!"

Haitang nodded.

Hongli then left with a wicked smile.

Haitang's heart pounded wildly from then on. She had a feeling that tonight, Fourth Master's affair with her was not as simple as secretly eating rose syrup together!
To Hongli's surprise, Yongzheng sent him to Changchun Palace.

He had no choice but to go to Changchun Palace.

Actually, it was Consort Nian who wanted to see him.

Because Consort Nian whispered in Yongzheng's ear, saying that Fu Hui had always wanted to see her fourth brother and play with him.

In addition, Fu Hui was very cooperative. Perhaps it was because he had heard his mother talking about Hongli for so long that he subconsciously felt that his fourth brother was a very good older brother.

Thus, Yongzheng could not resist the pillow talk, nor could he resist Fu Hui's soft and sweet voice, which kept telling him every day that she wanted to see her fourth brother. So he issued an edict to summon Hongli to Changchun Palace.

As soon as Hongli arrived at the main hall of Changchun Palace, Consort Nian teased Fu Hui, who was in Yongzheng's arms, and said with a smile, "Our beloved fourth brother has arrived! Isn't our Fu Hui very happy!"

Thinking about it all the time?

Hongli asked himself, he hadn't spent much time with Fu Hui, let alone met her. He couldn't say that Fu Hui was particularly fond of him.

Besides, a three- or four-year-old boy is at the age where he is very attached to his mother, so how could he be close to others?
If so, it can only be due to the influence of one's mother.

Because children at this age don't have a strong sense of self yet, they're not at the age where even dogs would dislike them. Basically, they're so obedient that they'll be close to whoever the adults tell them to be.

Hongli quickly understood why Consort Nian was acting as if Fu Hui liked him very much. It was simply based on political considerations; she hoped that she could have a better relationship with Fu Hui in the future.

In this way, whether it's becoming emperor himself or bringing blessings to the future, having the real opportunity to become emperor is a good thing.

After all, the main ethnic group in the Qing Dynasty had a small population, and even among the bannermen, the number of Manchus was not large.

Therefore, if an emperor wanted to rule a vast multi-ethnic empire, he could not do without the mutual support of his royal brothers.

As for the princes of the imperial clan who did not hold real power as emperors, they could not simply raise an army to rebel because they held great power, because they understood that doing so would be counterproductive.

When Emperor Kangxi conquered the country, he relied on his brothers and nephews as generals to command troops. Similarly, Emperor Yongzheng's reforms today cannot be separated from the support of Prince Yi and others.

At this moment, Hongli also smiled at Fu Hui.

He knew that Emperor Yongzheng certainly hoped his sons would live in harmony with each other.

Moreover, Emperor Yongzheng did indeed love Fu Hui very much.

After Consort Nian passed away, Emperor Yongzheng personally raised Consort Fu Hui in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Historically, Yinzhi angered Emperor Yongzheng by showing joy at Fu Hui's funeral, and was punished for "heinous crimes".

This shows how much Emperor Yongzheng cared about Fuhui.

Therefore, at this time, Hongli also took the initiative to show goodwill to Fuhui.

Hongli was also aware that the more friendly he was to Fu Hui, the more advantageous it would be for him.

After all, Fu Hui died young in the sixth year of Yongzheng's reign due to her weak health, even though she was being raised by Yongzheng himself after the death of Consort Nian.

Fu Hui smiled at Hongli and even extended her hand to him.

Upon seeing this, Consort Nian beamed with delight and asked, "Does our Fu Hui want Fourth Brother to hold her?"

"Ok!"

Fu Hui obediently responded.

Hongli, feigning interest, looked at Yongzheng and asked, "Father, can I?"

Yongzheng, however, took the initiative to put Fu Hui down: "Go!"

Fu Hui then ran happily towards Hongli.

"Fourth brother!"

Hongli smiled and picked up Fu Hui.

After Hongli picked up Fu Hui, he gently pinched her cheek and said with a smile, "You're so cute!"

Consort Nian smiled gently at this and looked at Emperor Yongzheng: "Your Majesty, I told you, our Fu Hui likes her fourth brother!"

Emperor Yongzheng was overjoyed and nodded in satisfaction.

He was satisfied not only that Fu Hui was willing to be close to Hongli, but also that Hongli did not show any wariness or resentment towards Fu Hui because Fu Hui was now favored by him and her maternal family had a powerful background, and therefore could not feel brotherly affection towards Fu Hui.

Even though Yongzheng knew that Hongli might be putting on a show for him, it was still a good thing for him if Hongli, who was only thirteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning), could have such shrewdness.

of course!

Emperor Yongzheng was also pleased to see that Hongli, who was only thirteen years old, was expressing his love for his younger brother out of genuine goodwill, and that he had a generous, honest and truly benevolent heart.

Because both of these are better than being both stupid and wicked.

"Fourth Brother played with Fu Hui."

Fu Hui then extended an invitation to Hongli.

Hongli agreed and put Fu Hui on the ground, letting him lead him outside the palace.

Hongli had interacted with children in his previous life and knew how to play with them. He also knew that children were curious and that with proper guidance, a blade of grass, an insect, or a pebble could make them happy for half a day.

So, Hongli then had a great time playing with Fu Hui, making her giggle nonstop.

When Hongli was about to leave to pay his respects to the Empress and Consort Xi, Fu Hui was very reluctant to let him go and clung to his clothes tightly.

"Fourth Brother has to go pay his respects. How about I come to see you again another time?"

"not good!"

Emperor Yongzheng then became stern about this.

Although he loved his son, he was also a strict father and would not allow his son to be willful, no matter how young he was.

Seeing this, Consort Nian could no longer allow her son to act willfully. She immediately came over, forcefully pulled Fu Hui's hand away, and asked with a smile, "Our Fu Hui likes Fourth Brother very much, doesn't he?"

Fu Hui nodded with a pout, then looked at Hongli: "Fourth Brother, don't go!" Hongli smiled and glanced back at Yongzheng.

He knew that this child probably rarely played with boys of similar age, so even though Hongli only played with him for a short while, he would feel reluctant to let him go.

After all, the eunuchs and palace maids in the harem were bound by etiquette and could not get too close to him.

"Fourth Brother is going to pay his respects, and you should do the same later. It's a matter of etiquette and custom, and you can't skip it!"

Consort Nian then looked at Fu Hui seriously and said, "Do you know?!"

Fu Hui had no choice but to nod.

Then, Consort Nian, carrying Fu Hui, walked up to Emperor Yongzheng and said, "Fourth Brother will come again in the future. If you don't believe me, ask your father."

Yongzheng smiled and nodded.

Consort Nian beamed with joy and even bowed slightly, saying, "Your Majesty, we, the Eighth Prince, thank you for your grace!"

"no!"

Hongli sighed inwardly, thinking that he would have to visit Fu Hui more often in the future.

Meanwhile, the Nian family had already been incorporated into the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner.

Furthermore, Nian Gengyao was favored by Emperor Yongzheng and was considered the most important person in history to be trusted.

For example, Emperor Yongzheng wrote in his imperial edict to Nian Gengyao: "If I have ever wronged you in this life, there has never been anyone as unfaithful as me since the beginning of time. If any of my rewards and punishments have any effect on winning people over, and if I treat people like dogs and horses, then I myself will become the master of dogs and horses!"

Therefore, under the circumstances of her family being extremely favored, Consort Nian had both the thought that she would be valued even more by Emperor Yongzheng as the future crown prince, and the thought that her family would incur the jealousy of Emperor Hongli.

As for the latter's idea, it was naturally based on the possibility that Yongzheng still intended to make Hongli the crown prince.

However, according to Consort Nian's understanding of Emperor Yongzheng, both of these possibilities were possible.

Because all of this may depend on how long Yongzheng can live, and also on whether his elder brother Nian Gengyao can hold onto this favor.

However, based on her understanding of her brother, Consort Nian felt that the latter was more likely, since there had been instances of her brother contacting the Ninth Prince without her consent.

Therefore, she knew that she could not take Hongli for granted, nor could she disregard him or use this opportunity to slander him to Emperor Yongzheng. Instead, she should try to make Hongli feel more favorably toward the Nian family, especially his son.

When Hongli left Changchun Palace, Consort Nian instructed Fu Hui, "Say 'respectfully seeing off Fourth Brother,' so that he knows you are sensible and polite!"

"Respectfully seeing off Fourth Brother!"

Fu Hui replied in her childish voice.

Consort Nian happily picked up Fu Hui and exclaimed, "What a good child of yours, Mother!"

Yongzheng smiled and affectionately pinched Fu Hui's nose: "He's also Father's good child!"

"Your Majesty, you must promise our Eighth Prince that you will summon the Fourth Prince more often. Look at him, he's still staring at the Fourth Prince's back."

"it is good!"

Hongli arrived at Yongshou Palace and greeted the Empress, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Why are you so late today? Are you not feeling well?"

The Queen asked.

Hongli knew that the Empress was deliberately waiting for him to say that he had gone to Changchun Palace, so he took the initiative to answer, "Father sent word to me to go to Changchun Palace first, which caused me a little delay and made Mother worry."

When Hongli saw that the Empress's expression had changed, he knew that this matter had still displeased her.

Although the empress will become the empress dowager no matter who becomes emperor, the empress is now more affectionate towards Hongli, so she is still dissatisfied with Lady Nian pulling Hongli towards her Nian family and making Hongli closer to the Nian family in the future.

However, Hongli did not say much.

This is, after all, a conflict between the Empress and Consort Nian.

Conflicts among the concubines in the imperial harem are always unavoidable and often occur inexplicably.

For example, back then, Consort De harbored even more resentment towards Yongzheng's adoptive mother because she doted on him too much.

"They even want to take my excellent adopted son!"

Even though the Empress was composed and steady, she couldn't help but mutter this after Hongli left.

When Hongli came to pay his respects to his birth mother, Consort Xi, and told her about what had happened to her the previous year, he found that Consort Xi was not displeased, but rather very happy: "It is rare that Consort Dun values ​​you so much, and Fu Hui likes you so much too."

"Yes, Consort Dun also asked the Khan to allow me to see Fu Hui more often, and the Khan agreed."

Therefore, Hongli said one more thing to Consort Xi.

"In that case, you don't need to rush to come to me anymore. You can spend more time with the Empress. It's okay to stay a little less at Mother's place. But you still need to show the Empress your filial piety and make her happy."

Consort Xi then smiled and gave Hongli some instructions.

"Yes, Mother! Thank you for your understanding."

Hongli didn't treat his birth mother with any formality.

However, he didn't expect it to turn out this way.

The emperor only needed to manage his time among his concubines.

Even a prince like him needs to manage his time among his concubines.

Consort Xi did not mind that Hongli was being fought over by the Empress and Consort Dun. She believed that she would have plenty of time to spend alone with her son in the future.

After Hongli finished his lessons, Yongzheng summoned him again.

This was mainly because his interaction with Fu Hui today still deeply moved Yongzheng.

"Greetings to Father."

After meeting Yongzheng in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Hongli first performed the "thousand" ritual.

"Get up."

Yongzheng did not look up, only replying with this question, while continuing to review the memorials and asking him, "What have you been doing lately?"

"Lately, besides reading, I've been spending time at Uncle Thirteen's place."

Hongli knew that Yongzheng liked his sons to be close to the thirteenth prince the most, so he replied with this sentence, and of course, he did just that.

Yongzheng looked up at him and asked, "Why do you rarely come here to Father's place? Didn't I give you a pass to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation directly?"

Hongli was taken aback upon hearing this.

He had reduced the frequency of his visits to Yongzheng because he was afraid of disturbing the happy time he spent with his youngest son. However, he did not expect that his actions would still displease Yongzheng.

(End of this chapter)