My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 141 Imperial Decree to Instruct the Eighth Prince
"Hongshi, you go first."

After asking, Yongzheng first named Hongshi.

Hongshi was usually good at playing tricks, but when Yongzheng asked him to try to demonstrate the power tactics of a ruler from the perspective of the one in power, he lacked confidence and did not know how to answer.

After racking his brains for a moment, Hongshi said, "In my humble opinion, we should instruct my eighth uncle to resist the new policies. He is dissatisfied with the new policies, appears virtuous on the surface but is actually harboring evil intentions. He is a great villain who appears to be loyal."

Yongzheng waved his hand: "There are many who are dissatisfied with the new policies and harbor evil intentions! I don't need to issue an edict to reprimand your eighth uncle, a prince of the imperial family, for this. You can simply ignore him."

Yongzheng then looked at Hongli: "Hongli, tell me."

"Whoo!"

"In my humble opinion, Eighth Uncle should understand that what the Emperor and Father give him belongs to him, and what the Emperor and Father do not give him, he cannot accept!"

"It is even more unacceptable to demand it through coercion, or to demand it by slandering members of the imperial family or manipulating people's hearts."

Hongli understood that an emperor like Yongzheng valued whether the rules were followed, not whether a person was good or bad. No matter how much criticism Yongzheng leveled against the Eighth Prince for his character and private morality, it was less effective than saying that he had violated imperial authority.

Therefore, Hongli did not say that he was going to reprimand the Eighth Prince for being hypocritical and cunning. He only suggested that he should admonish the Eighth Prince by reprimanding him for breaking the rules. If he continued to go too far, they would no longer be brothers.

Yongzheng did not express his opinion directly, but looked at Hongzhou and said, "Hongzhou, you say something too."

"Your subject believes that Fourth Brother is right!"

Hongzhou replied with this sentence without thinking.

Yongzheng: "..."

Hongzhou chuckled awkwardly: "Father, don't be angry. If I weren't so confused, I wouldn't be pretending to be. I really think what Fourth Brother said is better."

"Well, it's good that you answered that way!"

Yongzheng simply sighed and patted Hongzhou on the shoulder.

At this moment, Yongzheng handed Hongshi an imperial edict that he had prepared in advance to instruct his eighth uncle: "This is the edict instructing your eighth uncle. Take it to Prince Lian's residence immediately and proclaim it to your eighth uncle."

"Whoo!"

Hongshi took the imperial edict and, after leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, couldn't help but glance at its contents.

Upon seeing this, Hongshi couldn't help but tilt his head, close his eyes, and grit his teeth: "His fourth brother got it right again!"

Hongshi immediately went to the Prince Lian's residence after speaking.

Upon hearing of the imperial decree, the Eighth Prince had already ordered an incense table to be set up and the central gate to be opened. He and his wife, along with others, knelt before the incense table.

Hongshi also walked in through the middle door with a heavy expression.

Although Hongshi had already planned to keep his distance from his eighth uncle, upon seeing the eighth uncle and his wife, especially the unfriendly look in the wife's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to be rude. Instead, he smiled and said:
"Uncle, don't worry too much. I'm just here to instruct you on imperial orders. I'm not here to do anything else."

"So it seems they're not in a hurry to take our heads."

The Eighth Prince's wife spoke first, letting out a cold laugh.

Hongshi smiled and said, "Auntie Ba is joking. Father Khan has always been a man of great loyalty and righteousness, so naturally he would not treat Uncle Ba without kindness and righteousness."

"Alright, Hongshi, announce the decree."

Lao Ba interrupted Hong Shi.

He was afraid that Hongshi would take the initiative again, and he was even more afraid that his Eighth Prince's wife would become more and more outrageous because Hongshi did not know how to restrain her with words, and that if Yongzheng heard it, he would say that he could not even control a woman, so he immediately interrupted.

"Ok!"

Hongshi had no choice but to become serious and solemn, unfold the imperial edict, and read aloud:
"Prince Lian, Yunsi, is a womanizer who spoils his wife and disrespects his ancestors; he is careless, disrespectful, arrogant, and rebellious..."

After Hongshi finished reading, the Eighth Prince's wife was already breathing rapidly, her face as cold as frost: "Since he accuses us of disrespecting our emperor and father and committing treason, why doesn't he just issue an edict to order our deaths! He also says that our Eighth Prince indulges my immoral behavior, why doesn't he just issue an edict to have the Eighth Prince divorce me!"

The Eighth Prince remained calm and instructed his wife, "Stop talking! Although Fourth Brother's words were a bit harsh, my petition could indeed be interpreted as coercing the Emperor and Father. The only thing I can do is apologize!"

The Eighth Prince's wife gritted her teeth, her eyes brimming with tears, thinking to herself, "Truly, history is written by the victors and the vanquished by the vanquished. How is it an offense against the emperor's authority to petition for my family to inherit the rightful title? Can't people even ask for what they deserve?"

The eighth prince simply extended both hands: "Your subject accepts the decree!"

"Uncle, Aunt, your nephew has finished reading the decree. You may rise now."

Hongshi then smiled and extended his hands.

The Eighth Prince and his wife stood up.

However, the Eighth Prince's wife remained ashen-faced as ever, while the Eighth Prince himself was all smiles, showing no resentment: "Hongshi, you've worked hard too, come in and have some tea."

"No!"

Hongshi bowed and declined, saying, "I'm still waiting to go back and report to the emperor."

The eighth prince smiled and said, "Perfect timing! I'll go to the palace with you. I need to apologize and express my gratitude to your father."

Hongshi didn't expect that Lao Ba wouldn't be angry and would say such a thing.

Hongshi naturally couldn't stop the Eighth Prince from apologizing and expressing his gratitude, so he could only force a smile and walk into the palace with the Eighth Prince.

“Hongshi, you’re distancing yourself from your Eighth Uncle now, but he won’t blame you.”

"Because, your Eighth Uncle really let you down. He failed to win you a title before, and you might have even been suspected by your Khan."

"So, it's right for you to distance yourself from Uncle Ba. Not to mention distancing yourself, even if you took the initiative to request permission to reprimand Uncle Ba, or even ransack his house and send him to prison, Uncle Ba would understand and feel better about it."

On the way back to the palace with Hongshi, the eighth prince took the initiative to speak to Hongshi.

Old Eight's words deeply moved Hongshi. No matter how much he wanted to avoid harm, he could not ignore Old Eight's warm, generous, and self-reproachful words.

Hongshi's heart softened, and he smiled and said:
"Uncle, please don't say that. I know you meant well and that you angered Father Khan because of me. I'm not someone who can't tell right from wrong."

"But things have not gone as planned. For my own sake and for Uncle Ba's sake, I have no choice but to do this! I am much happier that Uncle Ba does not blame me for being distant."

"You did the right thing!"

"Not only should you distance yourself from Uncle Ba, but you should also push everything onto him. Ideally, you should say that Uncle Ba instigated and coerced you into doing this."

"That way, at least your father won't dislike you too much."

Old Eight started talking with a smile.

Hongshi looked at Lao Ba with surprise: "Eighth Uncle!"

Old Eight smiled with his hands behind his back: "You don't need to look at your Uncle Eight like that. Uncle Eight should pay for the sins he has committed."

……

……

"Don't look at me like that. I sent you to Changchun Palace to bring your eighth brother here. Although it was Consort Dun's idea, I was also willing for her to do so."

"You can't be afraid to play with your eighth brother just because he's weak!" "If I'm truly disappointed in you, it has absolutely nothing to do with your eighth brother."

"I am telling the truth!"

"Just as my disappointment in your eighth uncle was never because he instigated your third brother, but because he instigated your third brother to deny everything about me in the future, and even to make your third brother the nominal party leader now, thus undermining my authority!"

At the same time, in the Palace of Mental Cultivation.

When Yongzheng saw that Hongli looked troubled because he had asked him to go to Changchun Palace to bring Fu Hui to see him, he said a few words to Hongli.

Hongli smiled awkwardly, "Father did see through me after all."

"Since Father has made his point so clear, I will go and hug my eighth brother. It's quite fun to play with such a cute little brother sometimes."

Hongli replied.

Then he saw Yongzheng open the box and put a pill into his mouth.

He couldn't help but ask, "Father, what kind of medicine are you taking?"

"Guiling Collection".

After saying this, Yongzheng asked, "What, do you think I'm following in the footsteps of Emperor Shizong of Ming and also taking elixirs to seek immortality?"

"Your subject did not think that way. Your subject was only concerned about your health and worried that you might be feeling unwell lately. After all, the twenty-six provinces of the Qing Dynasty are all on your shoulders."

"Besides, Emperor Shizong of Ming didn't necessarily take elixirs in pursuit of immortality. Otherwise, how could he have become one of the two longest-reigning emperors in the Ming Dynasty by taking elixirs?"

Hongli began to speak with a smile.

"Glib tongue!"

"But you are at least sensible, unlike those courtiers who make wild guesses about your father, saying that he takes elixirs for indulgence or to seek immortality."

After saying this with a smile, Yongzheng waved his hand and said, "Go and bring your eighth brother here quickly!"

"Whoo!"

But just as Hongli agreed, Su Peisheng walked over:

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince has come to report the imperial decree. Also, Prince Lian is kneeling outside the Inner Right Gate, saying he has come to plead guilty and express his gratitude!"

Hongli was slightly taken aback after hearing this.

He hadn't expected that Prince Lian would come to apologize and express his gratitude so quickly.

Hongli didn't say much, but left Yangxin Hall and went to Changchun Palace.

……

……

"Our fourth brother has come to take Fu Hui to see Khan. Is Fu Hui happy?"

After Hongli explained his purpose, Consort Nian teased Fu Hui and asked her about her.

"happy!"

Fu Hui nodded and stretched out her two chubby little hands toward Hongli.

So, Hongli smiled and picked up Fu Hui, then went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Consort Nian naturally followed along.

"Fourth Prince, if Nian Yirou does anything wrong while by your side, please forgive her. If there is any need to reprimand or punish her, please do so without being too indulgent. Our Nianjia family will be grateful for your kindness."

Consort Nian also took the opportunity of being alone with Hongli to mention Nian Yirou, and said with a smile, "This is also what her father asked me to convey."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, Yi Rou is very well-behaved, which shows the good family tradition of your household."

clap clap!

As Hongli replied, he snapped his fingers at Fu Hui, making Fu Hui want to imitate him. She pinched her little finger again and again, but she could never quite get it right.

When Consort Nian heard Hongli say this, she simply smiled and said, "That's good!"

Not long after, Hongli arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Consort Nian and Fu Hui.

When he, Consort Nian, and Fu Hui arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they saw Prince Lian still kneeling at the inner right gate.

It was May, the heat was intense, and the earth was bathed in golden light.

Old Eight was sweating profusely, and even the ground under the court beads was soaked.

Hongli hadn't expected that Yongzheng would make the Eighth Prince kneel.

However, he and Consort Nian tacitly kept quiet.

Hongli even pointed to a small bird inside the Yangxin Gate for Fu Hui to see in order to divert Fu Hui's attention and prevent him from noticing the scene of the Eighth Prince kneeling and waiting.

When Hongli entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Fu Hui and Consort Nian, Hongshi had already left by imperial decree.

Therefore, at present, only Emperor Yongzheng himself is in the main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When Hongli came to Yongzheng's side, he saw that Yongzheng was wearing a Hanfu with wide sleeves, a round collar, and embroidered dragons. Yongzheng pointed to two sets of Hanfu on the rack and said to Hongli and Fuhui, "You should change into them too."

Hongli had no choice but to obey, and had the eunuchs around Yongzheng help him change into Hanfu, while Xiao Fuhui was helped into Hanfu by Consort Nian.

Hongli discovered that his Hanfu was the same as Xiao Fuhui's, both being a red, round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe.

"Announce Lang Shining!"

While Hongli was quite surprised, Yongzheng called out again.

Not long after, Hongli saw a white man walk in.

Hongli had heard of Giuseppe Castiglione.

To Hongli's surprise, Giuseppe Castiglione brought his painting tools with him.

"emperor!"

Lang Shining bowed as he entered.

Yongzheng then pulled Hongli to his side, picked up little Fu Hui, and said with a smile, "Let's paint!"

"Whoo!"

Hongli was dumbfounded. He thought to himself that it was one thing for Yongzheng to like wearing Hanfu, but he also liked to have his son wear Hanfu and have someone paint a picture of him as a memento. If this were done in the common people, wouldn't his entire family be exterminated?
The biggest traitor in the Qing Dynasty was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation!

But Hongli noticed that Yongzheng seemed to be enjoying this state, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was some deeper meaning behind Yongzheng's actions.
Hongli had to admit that Yongzheng was so engrossed in cosplay that he had probably forgotten about the Eighth Prince kneeling outside!
(End of this chapter)