My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 168 Call Me Father!
Shortly after Emperor Yongzheng received Hongli's (Emperor Hongli's) greetings, Consort Nian passed away at the Yuanmingyuan Garden.

This saddened Emperor Yongzheng greatly.

Therefore, upon receiving this news, Emperor Hongli had no choice but to cut short his inspection of the military settlements and return to the capital.

Although Consort Nian was neither his biological mother nor his adoptive mother, he still had to return according to state etiquette.

However, on his way back to the capital, Hongli learned of the news that Nian Gengyao had been ordered to commit suicide.

No one knows whether Nian Gengyao's death was caused by the accidental factor of Consort Nian's sudden death.

However, Consort Nian had always been in poor health, which gradually worsened after giving birth to Fu Pei prematurely, so her passing is not surprising.

At the same time that Nian Gengyao was ordered to commit suicide, Nian Fu was also ordered by Emperor Yongzheng to be executed immediately, on the grounds that his crimes were no less than his father's. Nian Gengyao's other sons over the age of fifteen were also exiled.

Relatively speaking, Nianzhu had a better ending.

As for Nian Gengyao's other young children, Emperor Yongzheng ordered that Nian Xialing raise them, because Nian Xialing still retained the title of First-Class Duke, and Nian Xiyao was not punished because of his inherently honest and kind nature.

When Nian Gengyao was ordered to commit suicide, he lingered for a long time and frankly said that he should not have made that choice. He also expressed his wish to see Emperor Yongzheng one more time.

He seemed surprised that he was being ordered to commit suicide.

But Yongzheng did not see him, and Nian Gengyao committed suicide before Hongli returned to the capital.

When Hongli returned to the capital, Consort Nian's funeral had already ended, and Nian Gengyao had also been buried.

Fu Hui, the son of Consort Nian, was raised by Emperor Yongzheng personally in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

On the day Hongli entered the city, Hongzhou, who had learned of the news in advance, was very happy.

Because he had already instructed the craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop to finish the new carriage that Hongli had ordered.

Hongzhou was eager to tell Hongli the news as soon as possible.

Therefore, when he came to pay his respects to Emperor Yongzheng on this day, he specifically asked Emperor Yongzheng for permission to leave the city and welcome Hongli together with the princes and ministers.

"It is rare to find such deep brotherly affection between you; I cannot refuse."

"Take Fu Hui with you too, let him greet his fourth brother!"

"Whoo!"

Emperor Yongzheng summoned Fu Hui and gave instructions to the eunuchs who served Fu Hui.

Fu Hui then took Hong Zhou's hand, bid farewell to Yongzheng, and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Fu Hui remained silent and did not speak to Hong Zhou.

Hongzhou knew why he was silent, so he didn't say anything more, but just smiled at him and asked, "Does Fuhui also want to see Fourth Brother?"

Fu Hui nodded.

Just as Hongzhou and Fuhui were about to leave Yangxin Gate, Su Peisheng appeared there and bowed to them, saying, "Greetings to Fifth Master and Eighth Master!"

"Get up!"

After Hongzhou finished speaking, he was about to leave, but Su Peisheng stopped him: "Fifth Master, please wait."

Hongzhou stopped in his tracks and asked Fuhui to wait for him.

Fu Hui sat on the steps to the side, resting her hands on her chin and looking towards Changchun Palace.

"Recently, rumors about the Fifth Prince have reached Your Majesty's ears in the palace, so I'm taking the liberty of telling you about them in private to give you a heads-up."

Su Peisheng spoke in a low voice.

Hongzhou frowned upon hearing this and asked, "What rumor?"

"They all laugh at you for being a prince in charge of official business, saying that it is because you are obsessed with strange and ingenious skills that the master can only rely on the Fourth Prince now."

Su Peisheng bowed and said, "That's all I have to say, Fifth Master. That's enough."

Hongzhou smiled calmly and said, "It's nothing. I know everyone laughs at me, but I really am the funniest."

then.

Hongzhou cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for reminding me."

"This servant dares not accept such a great gift!"

Afterwards, Hongzhou took Fuhui's hand and left.

However, Hongzhou's face darkened as he turned to leave.

He seemed to have already guessed who was laughing at him behind his back.

Su Peisheng then returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As soon as he returned, Yongzheng asked him, "Did you tell him that you know?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have told you."

Su Peisheng replied, bowing slightly.

Yongzheng asked, "What did he say?"

Su Peisheng then relayed Hongzhou's original words to Yongzheng.

After hearing this, Yongzheng said nothing more.

When Hongli arrived in the capital, he was greeted not only by Hongzhou, but also by other princes and ministers.

Even Hongshi followed Prince Lian out of the city.

Hongshi still harbored the idea that Hongli could help him.

So, after Hongli got off the carriage, he came up first and said to Hongli with a smile, "Fourth brother!"

Because Hongzhou was holding Fuhui's hand, he couldn't walk as fast as Hongshi and was a step behind. That's why he caught up after Hongshi called out.

However, when Hongzhou arrived, remembering that Hongli was the only one who supported his work in the Imperial Workshops building carriages, he reminded Hongshi before Hongli could even think of how to respond:

“Now that you have been adopted by your eighth uncle, you should be addressed as your fourth brother, not as your younger brother.”

Hongshi was immediately embarrassed, his face turning red and then white.

He didn't expect Hongzhou to embarrass him.

It was not appropriate for Hongli to call Hongshi "Third Brother" at this time, or even to respond when Hongshi called him "Fourth Brother".

only……

He hadn't expected that Hongzhou would speak up and remind Hongshi beforehand.

Seeing this, Hongli didn't bother to coldly remind Hongshi anymore. Instead, he turned around and greeted Prince Lian and Prince Yi who were walking over: "Nephew greets Eighth Uncle and Thirteenth Uncle!"

"No need!" "Hongli, you must have had a long journey!"

Prince Lian said this with a smile.

"That's right!"

Prince Yi nodded and patted him on the shoulder: "I've missed your thirteenth uncle so much."

"I miss my two uncles too."

As Hongli spoke with a smile, he noticed that Fu Hui was silently staring at him.

Hongli first bowed to Prince Lian and Prince Yi to apologize, then walked over to Fu Hui and said, "Eighth brother, you've come too?"

Fu Hui pursed her lips and looked at Hongli: "Fourth Brother, do I really not have a mother anymore?"

After Fu Hui finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.

Seeing this, Hongzhou knew better than to greet Hongli again.

Hongshi knew he couldn't say anything more, so he took the opportunity to slip behind Prince Lian.

Hongli then knelt down and wiped Fu Hui's eyes, saying, "You do have a mother, it's just that your mother has gone to another world."

"Why does she want to go? I don't want her to go!"

Fu Hui said tearfully.

Hongli smiled slightly: "She has no choice but to go, because Consort Dun is sent by the Bodhisattva to go to another world to pray for our blessings and for the Qing Dynasty."

After speaking, Hongli waved to Li Yu.

Li Yu then brought over the crystal wishing bottle that he had ordered in advance, as instructed by Hongli.

Hongli pointed to the bottle and said to Fu Hui, "This is what your mother asked me to prepare and give to you in a dream before she passed away. It is for you to write down your thoughts or wishes and put them in the bottle whenever you miss her. She will see it and help you fulfill them."

Fu Hui looked at the crystal bottle with the deer head cap, reached out her hands to take it, and hugged it tightly to her chest.

The eighth and thirteenth brothers couldn't help but smile at each other, as if they were both reminded of the days when they were young and spent together.

Hongshi also pursed his lips.

Seeing that Fu Hui didn't say anything more, Hongli took Fu Hui's hand after bidding farewell to the princes and ministers, and they entered the palace together.

Hongzhou followed and said to Hongli, "Fourth Brother, your carriage is ready."

"Thank you for your hard work, Fifth Brother. I'll visit you when I have time."

Hongli replied with a smile.

Hongzhou smiled and glanced at Fuhui, who was holding the crystal bottle. He hadn't expected his fourth brother to be so thoughtful, preparing a gift for Fuhui in advance.

"I've also prepared a gift for you, a wooden model of a steamship that I happened to find outside, the kind you see in storybooks. I'll have someone deliver it to you later."

At this moment, Hongli also whispered a few words to Hongzhou.

Upon hearing this, Hongzhou was overjoyed and couldn't hide his smile, saying, "Thank you, Fourth Brother!"

At this time.

Fu Hui suddenly spoke up to Hongli, saying, "Fourth Brother, I've realized I have so much to say to Mother, and so many wishes to tell him, but I still can't write many characters. What should I do?"

"Then you must study writing well so that you can secretly write down the things and wishes that you only want your mother to know."

Hongli replied with a smile.

Fu Hui nodded.

When Hongshi saw Hongli, Hongzhou, and Fuhui chatting and laughing together, he suddenly felt a pang of irritation and stopped in his tracks, feeling lost and disappointed.

The eighth brother noticed this scene and came over: "Hongshi, don't overthink it. It's come to this, so just accept the status quo. Everyone dies eventually, so why care so much?"

Lao Ba then patted him on the shoulder.

Hongshi then asked the eighth brother, "Eighth Uncle, how is it that Hongli can chat and laugh with Hongzhou and Fuhui?"

"Because his brotherly love and respect are not just words! You can't learn it, so you don't need to learn it anymore."

Lao Ba said with a smile, and did not force Hongshi to call him Ama anymore.

Hongshi turned to look at the Eighth Prince: "But I'm not reconciled! Why is Father treating me like this? Although I'm not as good at expressing myself as Hongli, I have indeed been trying my best to follow the requirements of etiquette!"

"But now, not only do I make the whole world think I am the most unfilial, but I also don't have the chance to see my mother anymore. Fu Hui can't see her mother because Consort Dun has passed away, but my mother is still here!"

“Don’t blame your father, blame me. I’ve dragged you down. It’s your Uncle Ba who has wronged you.”

At this moment, Lao Ba gave a bitter laugh and said something.

Hongshi shook his head: "I am not a fool. No matter how you look at it, you can't blame Uncle Ba for this."

Just as Hongshi finished speaking, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Marseille, approached and announced: "By imperial decree, Prince Lian and his nephew Hongshi are to come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for an audience!"

After hearing this, the two had no choice but to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

With the New Year approaching, Yongzheng also returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Moreover, Hongli and Hongzhou were also in the Hall of Mental Cultivation at this time.

Fu Hui was already in the West Warm Pavilion, sitting behind a desk with a crystal bottle on it, clumsily holding a pen and writing on paper.

"Fu Hui, come here!"

After the Eighth Prince and Hongshi arrived, Yongzheng sternly called out to them.

Fu Hui shuddered and immediately slid off the chair, ran over, and looked at Yongzheng cautiously: "Father!"

At this moment, Yongzheng said to Hongshi, "Hongzhou reminded you very well today. You should address Hongli by his title, not call him your fourth brother. This is not something you should do in your current status!"

Hongli finally understood why Yongzheng had told him and Hongzhou not to leave yet; it turned out that Yongzheng already knew what had happened when he came to the capital.

He had to admit that Yongzheng's spies were truly everywhere.

Careless people are really easy to suffer at the hands of such emperors.

of course!

This is normal; throughout history, emperors who held absolute power almost always used espionage methods.

Hongshi was shocked. He clenched his fists, but finally gritted his teeth and knelt down. After pursing his lips, he replied, "Nephew was wrong!"

Yongzheng glared at Hongshi: "Furthermore, you should address Prince Lian as 'Father,' but I've heard that you're still calling him 'Eighth Uncle.' Are you continuing your disobedience and filial impiety?!"

"I want you to bow and apologize to your father right now in front of me, and call him Father!"

(End of this chapter)