My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 142 The Prince Yong's Residence
"I deliberately made your eighth uncle kneel for so long!"

After Consort Nian left with Fu Hui, Yongzheng said something to Hongli, as if he had already guessed that Hongli was wondering why he had made the Eighth Prince kneel outside all this time.

"What your eighth uncle lacks most right now is reverence for etiquette and law!"

"They only think that for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, they can disregard me, their sovereign and father, without realizing that I am first and foremost the sovereign and father of all the people under heaven, and only secondly the head of the Aisin Gioro family!"

"Therefore, I need to make him kneel for a longer time, and kneel until he is more lucid. Just because I call him Eighth Brother and you call him Eighth Uncle, he won't really become a subject."

Yongzheng then emphasized it again.

Hongli nodded.

He understood that Yongzheng was using the Eighth Prince as a living textbook to teach him how to be an emperor and how to discipline the princes and nobles.

However, at the same time, Hongli had to admit that the Qing Dynasty, which was in the process of transitioning from a slave society to a feudal society, was manifested in its internal rulers. Emperor Yongzheng, for example, began to hope that his brothers and nephews would have the duty of subjects.

However, some of his brothers and nephews still habitually lived in the era of joint rule by banner chiefs and khans.

of course!

Some argue that describing Chinese society after the Qin Dynasty as a feudal society is inaccurate, and that the more accurate terms are scholar-official regime and tribal regime.

In short, the current situation has led to Hongli addressing his father, Emperor Yongzheng, as "Khan Ama" while also hearing the princes and nobles of the imperial clan call Emperor Yongzheng "Your Majesty." Even those who address Yongzheng as "Fourth Brother" will use the four characters "Your Majesty Fourth Brother."

"Go inside and wait. I need to see your eighth uncle later."

"Listen to what I would like your eighth uncle to do."

Yongzheng pointed to his sleeping quarters.

"Whoo!"

Hongli responded and went into the inner room.

"Summon Prince Lian!"

Before long, the Eighth Prince was led to Yongzheng by Su Peisheng.

"Your Majesty, I, your humble brother, pay my respects to Your Majesty, Fourth Brother!"

After seeing Yongzheng, the Eighth Prince knelt down again.

This time, Yongzheng did not show any polite brotherly courtesy to the Eighth Prince. Instead, he sat solemnly in his chair and looked at him, saying, "I heard that you have come to apologize and express your gratitude?"

"Indeed, my younger brother coveted and stole, and was utterly disloyal. He was a great villain and had come to plead guilty. However, thanks to the great kindness of His Majesty, I was not sentenced to death, but only given a reprimand. Therefore, I have come to express my gratitude."

Lao Ba answered sincerely.

Yongzheng chuckled coldly: "Is this your true feeling, or just empty words?"

"Your Majesty, I am of the utmost sincerity!"

"Your Majesty's fourth brother's admonition has made me realize that I should not harbor any thoughts of betraying the will of the Emperor and Father, and I should not abandon the Emperor and Father under the guise of loyalty only to the Qing Dynasty!"

“The wisdom of the sovereign and father has always illuminated the world, and it is impossible for him to be wrong. However, because I am unwilling to lose the power to control the world, I have harbored a rebellious heart to control the sovereign and father in the name of the Qing Dynasty.”

"For example, I should not have convened the Council of Princes and Ministers to try to manipulate the monarch, nor should I have used the new policy of returning the fire tax to the public to demand that the descendants of Prince An inherit the title in order to coerce the monarch into agreeing."

"My brother's crime is grave!"

"I am a traitor to the rites and morals!"

Lao Ba answered sincerely.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng stood up, helped the Eighth Prince to his feet, and then pressed him back into a chair.

"Eighth brother, you must understand my good intentions and truly know how to practice the concept of governing the country with rites, instead of just talking about promoting rites and music education while doing the same things as before entering the pass, only willing to be a master and not a servant!"

The eighth prince sat down obediently, only sitting on one side of his buttocks, and said with a smirk, "Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, is right. I haven't changed yet, so I did something foolish. Even if I admire Hongshi, it's because I want to manipulate the court through Hongshi. I don't genuinely believe that Hongshi can be the ruler of the world. I can be called the most hypocritical and treacherous person in the world!"

"Stop talking about this."

Yongzheng waved his hand and looked at the Eighth Prince: "I only hope that you, Eighth Brother, will serve the emperor with sincerity in the future and not deceive me or even yourself. You actually know better than I, your father, whether Hongshi is worthy of praise or not."

"Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, is right!"

"Your Majesty, I have decided to sincerely repent, so I dare to speak frankly to Your Majesty!"

At this point, Lao Ba knelt down and prostrated himself on the ground.

"From a public perspective, I believe that the only prince who can be relied upon by His Majesty and who will be supported by the people in the future is Hongli!"

Hearing this, Hongli, who was inside, couldn't help but peek at the Eighth Prince.

But because Lao Ba was facing the carpet, he couldn't see Lao Ba's expression.

At this moment, Yongzheng helped the Eighth Prince up again and said meaningfully, "I am very pleased that you can speak frankly in front of me."

"To be honest, I currently admire Hongli the most."

"Therefore, Eighth Brother, I hope you can pull yourself together, truly forget the grudges of the past, and not concern yourself with Hongshi. Even if he asks you for advice, do not agree! Instead, you should work together with me and the Thirteenth Prince to help Hongli!"

"Also, you must keep a close eye on your wife and prevent her from causing trouble for you."

"Among my brothers, you are the most talented and have the most experience in governing."

"Therefore, I hope you will not disappoint me and can truly remain loyal and obedient at all times."

Hongli could tell that Yongzheng was speaking from the heart to the Eighth Prince.

But to Hongli's surprise, Yongzheng directly asked the Eighth Prince to side with him and become his henchman. This was almost equivalent to telling the Eighth Prince the answer to how to choose the right side, and it was just a matter of explicitly asking the Eighth Prince to do his job well.

how to say?

In the arena of power, the biggest fear is choosing the wrong side.

Now, Yongzheng, the one who holds the highest power, directly tells the Eighth Prince which side to choose, without the Eighth Prince having to rack his brains to guess. This can be described as being a true brother.

In Hongli's view, this was precisely why the Qing emperors needed the support of the imperial family and princes.

Otherwise, in any other dynasty, the Eighth Prince would have been dead long ago for what he did, and the emperor would never have given him this opportunity.

Emperor Hongli was also very moved by this.

Because Emperor Yongzheng really went to great lengths for him, trying his best to get all the princes and nobles of the imperial clan to follow him.

This made Hongli think that perhaps Yongzheng was also afraid that he might suddenly die one day, so that he could quickly unify the entire ruling class when he suddenly left?
The Eighth Prince knelt down again, deeply grateful: "Your Majesty, I understand. I will obey your decree and pave the way for Hongli's future. I will also manage my wife and her entire family at home. I will not trouble Your Majesty any further!" "I will be very pleased if you do this."

Yongzheng helped the Eighth Prince up again, and holding his hand, he said with a smile, "Hongli will be very happy, and this is good for Hongwang and for the Qing Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, is right!"

Hongli only came out after the Eighth Prince left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After Hongli came out, he took the initiative to bow deeply to Yongzheng and said, "Thank you, Father, for your concern for your son!"

Yongzheng raised his hand, smiled slightly, and said, "I am giving your eighth uncle one last chance. If he still does not repent and acts one way in public and another way in private, I will have no choice but to be completely ruthless."

Hongli stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to understand. Father always plays his cards openly, and his skill is so profound that it seems effortless. This is perhaps the most brilliant approach. If Eighth Uncle insists on not taking this path, then even a god cannot save him."

"I am pleased that you can see this."

"Furthermore, your mention of the allowance for maintaining integrity and your insights on how to discipline your eighth uncle have indeed made me realize your exceptional intelligence."

"This makes me even more convinced that the late emperor did indeed choose me because of you."

Yongzheng said with a smile.

Hongli immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Father, please don't say that. If you do, your son will become arrogant!"

"Besides, Father, you yourself are wise and intelligent enough. It's not because of your son that Khanma Fa chose you; it's clearly because you are the one who should represent the world!"

Emperor Yongzheng was very pleased with what Hongli said, and suddenly made up his mind: "Su Peisheng, summon Zhang Tingyu!"

Hongli did not know why Yongzheng had suddenly summoned Zhang Tingyu.

Not long after, Zhang Tingyu arrived.

At this moment, Yongzheng instructed: "Hengchen, draft an edict to bestow the former Prince Yong's Mansion upon the fourth prince, Prince Hongli, and order the Imperial Household Department to be converted into a Prince's Mansion!"

Hongli was surprised.

The Prince Yong's Mansion was the Emperor's former residence when he was still a prince. What did it mean that it was bestowed upon him? It meant that he was also the future ruler of the world!
Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but raise his eyes, then cupped his hands and said, "Yes, sir!"

In any case, what made Hongli happy was that in this life, he would finally not have to hold his wedding in the cramped Qianxi Second Palace, that is, the Prince's Palace.

"Your son thanks Father for his grace!"

Hongli immediately expressed his deep gratitude, while still feeling deeply moved.

"Get up. You are much luckier than me. When I got married, I could only stay in the Prince's Residence. You will be able to have your wedding in the spacious Prince's Mansion."

Emperor Yongzheng also said this with a smile.

……

……

Why are you making such a sad face again?

That day at dusk, when Li saw Hongshi come to pay his respects, her face turned very unpleasant, so she asked him a question.

Hongshi replied, "Father Khan bestowed the Yong Prince's Mansion upon Hongli!"

He was completely dejected, his teeth chattering and jaw trembling.

Then, Hongshi took the initiative to complain, saying, "I have a family, and we are still living in the Prince's residence, while he has his own mansion, which is the former Yong Prince's Mansion!"

"It seems that Father Khan truly favors Hongli!"

After saying that, Hongshi slumped back a few steps.

"Everyone in the world has seen it long ago; only fools and those who refuse to admit it can't see it."

Li glanced at him and said.

Hongshi gave a helpless, bitter smile: "Since Mother says so, then I really have no hope."

"You shouldn't have had any hope in the first place!"

Li gave Hongshi no illusions and spoke the truth, adding, "It's just that your eighth uncle and the others made you feel hopeful."

"Listen to your mother, don't think about those things now. Go and show goodwill to Hongli and improve your relationship. This will be good for your future."

Li also gave instructions to Hongshi.

Hongshi pointed at himself and looked at Li Shi: "Me, go and curry favor with him? I'm the older brother, he's the younger brother!"

"What brother or buddy? Is saving face really that important?"

"The Empress and Consort Dun are of high status, aren't they? When it was time for others to show them goodwill, they didn't hesitate at all!"

"You can't only be humble in front of people older than you, but you like to act high and mighty in front of people younger than you."

Li looked at Hongshi helplessly and said.

Hongshi couldn't accept the suggestion that he should try to please Hongli and flatter him, so he simply paid his respects to Lady Li and returned to his residence.

The next day, Hongshi took the initiative to come to Prince Lian's residence.

He still hoped that his eighth uncle could give him some advice. Even though his eighth uncle had also suffered a great defeat, he believed that his eighth uncle would not advise him to flatter Hongli.

But Lao Ba refused to see Hong Shi.

This resulted in Hongshi being turned away.

Hongshi returned to the palace even more dejected, muttering to himself, "Even my Eighth Uncle doesn't want to see me anymore."

"Third Brother!"

On his return, Hongli had a direct confrontation with Hongshi, who was returning to the palace dejected.

Upon seeing this, Hongshi forced a stiff smile at Hongli because of Li's words: "Fourth brother, congratulations! You will be living back in the place where you grew up from childhood."

"This is all thanks to Khan Ammaron."

Hongli smiled and replied, then made an excuse to return to his residence, Qianxi No. 2.

As soon as Hongli returned, Li Yu greeted him, pointing to the courtyard full of uncollected gift boxes and saying with a smile:
"My lord, these are all congratulatory gifts from princes and ministers. They say they are congratulating you on being granted your own residence, and they are worried that your new residence will not be furnished enough, so they sent some gifts. Some are from Prince Zhuang, some from Prince Jian, and some from Prince Ping..."

(End of this chapter)