My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 149 I simply admire Hongli!
"I, Li Wei, merely paid my respects to the Fourth Master, and yet I was promoted to Governor of Jiangsu!"

"This Fourth Master really gave me a pleasant surprise!"

Soon, the other ministers that Hongli had mentioned to Yongzheng also received imperial edicts announcing their promotions.

Li Wei received the imperial edict and, after receiving it, first presented his nameplate to the palace to express his gratitude. He also learned from Yongzheng that it was Hongli who had recommended him.

This naturally moved Li Wei to tears.

Not long after leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he went to the Qianxi Second Palace and delivered a letter.

He wanted to meet with Hongli before leaving the capital to properly thank his benefactor.

More importantly, this benefactor is so young, has such a promising future, and loves to recommend virtuous and capable people.

Therefore, Li Wei wished he could get closer to this young and thriving tree.

Since Yongzheng had already made it clear that Hongli was his benefactor, it was only natural for him to pay homage to Hongli.

And at the same time.

Many princes, ministers, gentry, and wealthy merchants in the court and the countryside learned of this news through official decrees and were greatly shocked.

Qian Mingshi, a representative of the Jiangnan gentry, was dumbfounded: "These people all seem to have curried favor with the Fourth Prince, but it's not enough for them all to be promoted. Are the officials in this country selected by the emperor, by the year, or even by the Fourth Prince?"

After learning about these events, Su Ben, the General Manager of Rehe and Deputy Commander of the Plain Blue Banner of Mongolia, stomped his feet and slapped his face in regret: "How could I not go with him that night when I saw Fahai going to pay his respects to the Fourth Master because of Nian Gengyao's power? If I had gone, I might have lost my title of Deputy Commander!"

Hongshi also learned about this.

"Uncle Eighth!"

Therefore, Hongshi could no longer sit still, and when he saw that Prince Lian, the eighth prince, was leaving the palace after the Southern Study was closed, he took the initiative to stop him.

Old Eight frowned and said, "Hongshi, why are you here to see me again? Didn't I remind you that your Eighth Uncle is now an unlucky person? You won't benefit from seeing me!"

"Uncle, I have no other choice."

"Many officials who were close to Hongli in the past, or even those who had just shown goodwill to Hongli, have suddenly been promoted to important positions, which has made my mind very confused."

"What do you think Father means by this? Is it almost an open collaboration with Hongli to cultivate his own faction?"

Hongshi touched his chest and replied.

The eighth brother sighed and patted Hongshi on the shoulder: "This is where you fall short of Hongli. You are always so impatient and restless. Look at Hongli. Even though Nian Gengyao is not close to him, he never seems angry. He is still polite to Nian Gengyao on the surface. You should learn from his composure!"

"What Uncle Ba is right, but the more I think about the possibility that Hongli has already been secretly made the crown prince, the more uncertain I feel."

Hongshi replied.

Eighth Uncle nodded: "Eighth Uncle can understand your current state of mind. Back then, when Eighth Uncle felt that the hope of winning the throne was slim, wasn't he in the same state of mind?"

Speaking of it.

The eighth brother sighed again: "Alright, let me be frank with you. Your father has already made it clear that he wants me to support Hongli and not associate with you. So, every time I speak to you now, I am going against your father's will."

Upon hearing this, Hongshi's eyes widened, and he was momentarily lost in thought.

Simultaneously.

Hongshi gritted his teeth and knelt down directly to the Eighth Uncle: "Eighth Uncle, please accept my bow!"

"What are you doing! You're the third prince now, for goodness' sake!"

Lao Ba immediately helped Hong Shi up.

Hongshi said with a solemn expression, "Only now do I realize how much trouble it is that Uncle Ba is still paying attention to me and covering for me! I am not an ungrateful person. This great bow to Uncle Ba is my way of expressing my respect."

"Although Uncle Ba is not my biological father, he is better than a biological father to me!"

Upon hearing Hongshi's words, Lao Ba trembled violently and his expression immediately changed: "If you don't want your eighth uncle to die a violent death, then you should stop talking now!"

Hongshi was also stunned to see the Eighth Prince so angry for the first time.

"Yes, nephew will not speak to a second person."

After a while, Hongshi finally replied honestly with this sentence.

The Eighth Prince took a deep breath and said to Hongshi, "Hongshi, you must remember my words and stay calm! Although your Eighth Uncle is still willing to support you, the more he does so, the more he will keep his distance from you in the future, and even act as if he has become estranged from you, so that your father will be at ease."

"Therefore, when you speak to me in official matters in the future, do not call me Eighth Uncle, but address me by my official title!"

Lao Ba said this.

Hongshi asked, "Then, Eighth Uncle, what is the Emperor's true intention behind the sudden replacement of the governors of Liangjiang and Fujian-Zhejiang?"

"Didn't I say that when discussing official matters, we should use official titles?"

Old Eight said with a stern face.

"Ok."

Hongshi then asked, "What about private matters?"

"Don't ask about my private matters!"

Old Eight flicked his sleeves and replied, "I'll say it again, you need to stay calm. Uncle Eight not contacting you is the greatest support you can give!"

"Eight, Prince Lian, why do you think Father Khan suddenly replaced the officials in Liangjiang and Fujian-Zhejiang?"

Hongshi asked.

"Because the southerners who are dissatisfied with the new policy are too impatient! Don't get involved, it won't do you any good!"

Lao Ba said this and left.

When the Eighth Prince's wife saw that he had returned with a long face, she asked, "Did Yongzheng upset you again?"

The Eighth Prince couldn't help but glance at his wife: "Wife! He is the Emperor, and also the Fourth Prince. No matter what, you cannot address him by his reign title."

"Anyway, he already hates me to the bone and probably intends to kill me. Why should I give him face?"

The Eighth Prince's wife snorted.

The Eighth Prince looked at his wife and said, "That's giving me face, isn't it? No matter how he treats me, I can't lose the sense of propriety that a younger brother should have!"

"Alright, alright, I know you're virtuous!" "Tell me, was it him? Did the Emperor upset you?"

After the Eighth Prince's wife nodded in agreement, she began to ask about the Eighth Prince.

After shaking his head, Lao Ba said, "It's Hongshi!"

"Hongshi?"

"Yeah, he actually said that I'm more like his real father, that's absolutely outrageous!"

"Now that I think about it, given Hongli's magnanimity and wisdom, he wouldn't have harmed me. On the contrary, it's Hongshi who might have unintentionally killed me! It's chilling to even think about!"

Lao Ba said with deep emotion.

The Eighth Prince's wife couldn't help but sneer, "You still love praising Hongli so much. This will make Hongwang and the others jealous of Hongli too!"

"I genuinely admire him!"

The Eighth Prince looked at his wife and emphasized it again.

"Even though his fourth brother favored him and protected him so much, he remained calm and humble, without showing any arrogance. Even when Nian Gengyao treated him coldly, he was able to keep his anger in check and retaliate silently."

"This prince is extraordinary? Let me tell you, extraordinary!"

"To be honest, if I were the fourth brother, I would also choose Hongli! It's just a pity that I'm not the fourth brother!"

Old Eight sighed again as he spoke.

……

……

Hongli received not only an invitation from Li Wei requesting an audience, but also invitations from other officials such as Ortai.

Hongli even discovered that there were invitations from officials who had never shown him any goodwill or had never even met him.

Hongli wasn't particularly surprised; he simply picked through the letters but didn't intend to meet with them all.

Of course, he still plans to make time to meet with Li Wei and Ortai.

However, he was in no hurry to see them.

In the Qing Dynasty, officials in the capital did not have to take up their posts immediately after receiving their appointment letters. They would usually meet with their benefactors and relatives in the capital before officially leaving to take up their posts.

The next day.

Hongli deliberately slept a little longer before getting up, instead of having to pay his respects before the morning lessons as he used to.

But it's not too late.

When he got up, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

After changing clothes, washing up, and having a meal, he officially went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to prepare for his apprenticeship in government affairs.

"This servant greets Fourth Master."

When Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard Marseille met Hongli at the Qianqing Gate, he was even more attentive than before. Although Hongli did not recommend him this time, Marseille knew that the Fourth Prince was now even more untouchable.

Hongli smiled slightly: "Never mind!"

After expressing his gratitude, Marseille immediately stood up and flattered Hongli, saying, "This servant recently acquired a painting by Qiu Shizhou. It was given to me by my servants as payment for a debt. However, this servant is a rough man and does not know how to appreciate paintings. I thought that Your Highness would appreciate paintings, so I thought of presenting it to Your Highness for your appraisal. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to accept it? This servant has had someone examine it, and it is an authentic work!"

Hongli knew that Marseille must have inquired about him from elsewhere and mistakenly thought that he was fond of collecting paintings, which was why he took this opportunity to present him with a painting.

Out of respect for Yongzheng, Hongli couldn't refuse the wishes of this old fourth prince's faction, so he agreed: "Alright, I'll accept it. It's kind of you to show your sincerity."

"It is my blessing that Fourth Master can accept my things!"

Marseille was overjoyed.

Hongli simply nodded and smiled before entering the Yangxin Gate.

As soon as Hongli entered Yangxin Gate, Su Peisheng bowed to him even more respectfully than before: "This servant greets Fourth Master."

"Never mind, Eunuch Su, you're too kind."

After Hongli said this with a smile, Su Peisheng stood up and said to Hongli, "His Majesty has already decreed that the East Warm Pavilion will be the place where you, Fourth Prince, learn about politics in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. There will be eunuch Zhang Qilin and maid Ma Jiayunhui serving you. If you have any business, Fourth Prince, just ask them to do it."

"understand!"

Hongli nodded.

His men were not allowed to enter the temple.

After all, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was the emperor's residence, and only those eunuchs and maids who could enter it were people whom Emperor Yongzheng trusted very much.

Since Emperor Yongzheng was still discussing state affairs with the Prime Minister and other ministers in the Southern Study, Hongli followed Su Peisheng to the East Warm Pavilion first.

As soon as Hongli arrived at the East Warm Pavilion, Zhang Qilin and Ma Jiayunhui knelt down and said, "Greetings to Fourth Master."

"Get up."

After speaking, Hongli nodded to the two men and, as was customary, rewarded them with silver for serving him for the first time.

He had to be polite to even the servants in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so that Yongzheng would know that he had never become arrogant.

Both of them thanked the emperor and grew increasingly fond of Hongli, the fourth prince, believing that working for this promising prince would only bring them a bright future as well.

So, the two of them were particularly diligent in serving tea and running errands from then on.

Hongli then entered the East Warm Pavilion, and before taking his seat, he glanced at the main room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, which was only separated from the East Warm Pavilion by a door.

That was the main room where Emperor Yongzheng usually reviewed memorials to the emperor, and the memorials were piled up like mountains in the room.

Presumably because Emperor Yongzheng was about to return, a young eunuch went over and lit the candlesticks in the main room, instantly illuminating the entire room.

But Hongli felt that what was being illuminated was not just the house, but the entire world.

And he, in the future, will walk through this door and take control of the entire world from there.

(End of this chapter)