My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 199 The Dog, Avenging Prince Yi!

“Your Highness, I have no time to write an article for the Capital News, especially one about my views on the land tax reform. It’s not something that can be explained in a few words.”

"Therefore, please forgive my arrogance, but I really don't have time."

When Yunxi took the initiative to invite Ma Qi, a Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony and a Grand Tutor, to write an article for the "New Daily News of the Capital," Ma Qi chose to refuse.

But then Yunxi took out a ticket from his sleeve: "Of course I won't let you write for free. One tael of silver per word, capped at three thousand taels. See if you can squeeze out the time?"

Ma Qi's facial muscles twitched slightly.

"Write!"

"This servant has always loved writing. As soon as I pick up a pen, my mind doesn't get foggy and my back doesn't ache. You know that, Your Highness."

"Besides, it's rare for Your Highness to extend such a warm invitation. If I were to refuse, I would truly be unworthy of being a human being. Even if it means staying up all night, I must write it down."

Ma Qi suddenly agreed decisively and even said a few words with a smile.

Yunxi was slightly taken aback.

He knew that Ma Qi had many sons, a total of twelve, plus nine nephews left behind by his brother Li Rongbao after his death, the youngest of whom, Fu Heng, was only five years old, and they all needed his help.

With a total of twenty-one descendants who need Ma Qi's care, not counting his grandchildren and the dowries he needs to prepare for his daughters and nieces, Ma Qi's family has always had a large budget.

But what Yunxi didn't expect was that Ma Qi would readily agree because of the money, and would no longer hold back.

Ma Qi then smiled and asked, "Your Highness just said that you would ask me to write articles every month from now on?"

Yunxi nodded: "I would like to invite you to be a special contributor to the Jingshi Xinbao. It's not just you I'm inviting, but also Longkodo and Zhang Tingyu."

"Then this servant will naturally agree!"

Ma Qi replied decisively.

"This 'Capital News' is excellent! It is beneficial to the moral education of people. Your Highness, you are doing good deeds."

Ma Qi also praised Yunxi.

The young Yunxi was still quite shy, so she just smiled and said "thank you" shyly.

Next, Yunxi invited Longkodo, Zhang Tingyu, and other important Manchu and Han officials.

……

……

"How come Ma Qi is also writing articles for the Jingshi Xinbao, praising the land tax reform as a good policy?"

"Hasn't he always been taciturn?"

"And then there are Longkodo and Zhang Tingyu. One of them is talking about the wolfish ambitions of the Russian Kingdom, and the other shamelessly claims that the banners are not under unified control. What does the lack of unified banners have to do with a Han official like him!"

Shortly after.

Many princes and ministers saw the articles by these important officials in the "Capital News".

Even the third brother was shocked because Ma Qi posted the article first.

His son, Hongsheng, also said with a face full of indignation: "These treacherous officials have all stepped forward. First, there's Ma Qi, then Longkodo and Zhang Tingyu. They are all no good!"

"The key question is, how did they agree to it? Yunxi's influence shouldn't be that great, especially since the article is quite long."

“I usually ask Ma Qi and Zhang Tingyu to write one or two essays or notes to be included in relevant collections, but I’ve never seen them so enthusiastic!”

The third brother was completely baffled by this.

Moreover, this also gave him a sense of frustration, feeling that many ministers treated him, Prince Cheng, who loved to associate with scholars, even worse than they treated Yunxi, a mere prince.

He thought the reason might be that Yunxi and Hongli were close.

Therefore, the third brother couldn't help but sigh and say, "They really do value power more!"

Speaking of it.

The third brother then asked Hongsheng, "How is your fourteenth uncle doing lately?"

"I didn't notice anything unusual. His attitude towards the 'Capital News' was just something for the students of the military academy to discuss."

Hong Sheng replied.

The third brother smiled after hearing this: "It seems that your fourteenth uncle has matured compared to before."

At this moment, Hongsheng asked the third son, "Father, could it also be the thirteenth son's idea to have Ma Qi and others supply articles for the 'Capital News'?"

The third brother nodded: "I guess so! I was almost able to persuade your fourth uncle to hand over the 'Capital News' to me or one of my people, but the thirteenth brother mentioned something about the relationship between public opinion and the enemy, which ultimately made your fourth uncle, the emperor, not agree. He even gave me a lecture."

The third brother clenched his fist as he said this: "This guy is always making things difficult for me!"

Seeing his father's gloomy face, Hongsheng also gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

The thirteenth prince was with Yongzheng at this time, holding the "Capital News" and smiling as he said to Yongzheng, "Fourth brother, the twenty-first prince is amazing. He actually got Ma Qi and others to publish articles in it. I heard that many Manchu and Han officials didn't sleep all night because of this, and many of their protégés and former officials even came to his door overnight."

Yongzheng pointed to Hongli, who was learning about politics in the East Study: "These were all Hongli's ideas. He suggested that these people be invited to write them at a high price."

The thirteenth brother laughed even more heartily: "So it turns out money paves the way."

"Yes, but it's not because of money. I guess they guessed that I had something to do with this. But, in principle, Ma Qi and Longkodo shouldn't be giving me this much face."

“Especially Ma Qi. Longkodo is concerned about the Russian Kingdom and wants to publish an article to make some money, which is understandable. But Ma Qi, I didn’t expect him to break his silence for three thousand taels of silver.”

At this moment, Yongzheng spoke with a look of surprise.

The thirteenth prince understood Yongzheng's meaning and said, "Does Fourth Brother think that he might not be able to uphold his principles as before?"

Yongzheng nodded: "I originally thought that he would also participate in the negotiations with the Russian Kingdom in the future, but now I think that I cannot let him participate, and I must not let him know my true bottom line."

After hearing this, the thirteenth prince said, "It's just that our Great Qing doesn't have a suitable Manchu to serve as a Grand Secretary yet, otherwise we should let him retire." "Let him be a Grand Secretary in name only for now."

Yongzheng said with a smile.

Hongli smiled secretly.

This convinced him that Mazi was completely unable to participate in diplomatic affairs in this life, and might not even be able to participate in any specific matters.

This is also a good thing for Hongli.

Since Ma Qi was already considered his primary wife's uncle, and thus a relative by marriage, if Ma Qi were to lose face in his later years, it would be difficult for him to face others and even harder to deal with the situation.

After Hongli finished his political training at the Yuanmingyuan, he left with his thirteenth son, who was also going to the Ministry of Revenue.

It is worth mentioning that the thirteenth prince had long ago earned the honor of riding a horse in the Yuanmingyuan.

So the two of them rode their horses side by side out of the garden.

When the thirteenth prince praised Hongli's horse, Hongli replied truthfully, "This was a gift from my fourteenth uncle years ago, and it is now my mount for coming and going here."

After hearing this, the thirteenth brother nodded: "I see. But the saddle isn't very good. I'll give you a saddle as a gift tomorrow."

"Then thank you very much, Uncle Thirteen."

Hongli happily thanked him.

The thirteenth brother looked ahead and said, "Why are you being so polite with me? After all, Fourth Brother said that when everyone else forgot about your thirteenth uncle, you were the only one who still remembered."

The two chatted and laughed as they left the Old Summer Palace.

But at that moment, the two saw Hongsheng coming out of an alley, seemingly heading towards the Old Summer Palace.

Hongsheng also saw them.

But to Hongli's surprise, Hongsheng then made a shaving gesture towards the thirteenth prince, and then with a sinister smile, slipped into the alley.

Hongli immediately wanted to spur his horse and give chase.

But at that moment, the thirteenth brother stopped him and shook his head at him:
"He is, after all, your cousin. You shouldn't act impulsively like I did back then!"

Seeing that the thirteenth prince's face had turned very ugly, Hongli still said, "But he's obviously doing this on purpose!"

Hongli remembered that the 13th Prince and the 3rd Prince had become enemies because the 3rd Prince had broken the rules by shaving his head during the mourning period for the 13th Prince's birth mother, which enraged the 13th Prince, who then beat the 3rd Prince. However, Kangxi was biased and only punished the 3rd Prince lightly, while severely punishing the 13th Prince.

That incident caused the thirteenth prince to become sworn enemies with the third prince, and even led him to lose hope in his father, Emperor Kangxi.

Now, Hongsheng's action is clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate the thirteenth prince by bringing up that incident from back then.

This also shows that the grudge between the third and thirteenth sons over this matter has been passed down to the next generation.

Hongli naturally felt indignant on behalf of the thirteenth prince, since Hongsheng's actions were indeed excessive.

Moreover, Hongsheng's act of humiliating the thirteenth brother in front of him was undoubtedly even more excessive, and it seemed that he was deliberately trying to provoke him into being accused of assaulting his cousin.

However, Hongsheng was able to take advantage of his timely evasion and afterwards deny that he had insulted his uncle, claiming that his words were unsubstantiated, and even saying that he had misunderstood and was being targeted.

But this still made Hongli angry.

While he knew he shouldn't act impulsively, letting Hongsheng act so arrogantly in front of him would only make him seem cowardly and embolden the other party.

But at this moment, the thirteenth prince's face also suddenly turned purple.

Hongli realized that the thirteenth prince was actually even angrier than he was.

After all, as a renowned hero, Uncle Thirteen has never been able to hide his anger. Now, however, he has to suppress his anger due to the lessons he learned back then, which inevitably leads to a surge of anger.

However, Uncle Thirteen's health had never been very good, and suppressing his inner fire so hard that he was on the verge of collapse.

"Uncle Thirteen!"

Emperor Hongli quickly helped him up on his horse and immediately ordered Li Yu to fetch the imperial physician.

The thirteenth prince smiled palely and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing!"

Hongli was naturally worried, so he still sent the thirteenth prince back to Jiaohui Garden. He only left after the thirteenth prince had seen the imperial physician and lay down to rest.

But instead of returning to his own Langrun Garden, he rode his horse to the Prince Dun's Mansion.

After Hongli accompanied the thirteenth prince back to Jiaohui Garden, Hongsheng came out from a courtyard and went to Yuanmingyuan to present a memorial to Emperor Yongzheng.

Upon meeting Yongzheng, Hongsheng explained his purpose: "I have come to report that a eunuch named Liu Yu, who serves my fourteenth uncle, has been running away for several days. I did not see Liu Yu at the military academy for many days, and after making some inquiries, I learned that he has already left the capital and is heading towards Fengrun."

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng frowned, and couldn't help but think of the note that had instigated the fourteenth prince to vie for the throne. Therefore, he asked Hongsheng, "Do you know why he left the capital without permission?"

Hong Sheng shook his head: "I don't know. It's just that this eunuch involves my fourteenth uncle, so I dare not report it to the emperor. I only dare to tell you, my fourth uncle, that you know."

Yongzheng nodded: "You may leave."

"Whoo!"

Hongsheng then left the Yuanmingyuan, and as he left, he secretly smiled and, when no one was around, he shaved his head again, seemingly enjoying it.

Snapped!
"You little rascal, who are you trying to fool with that act?!"

"You good-for-nothing who was born without any proper upbringing, today your tenth uncle will teach you what it means to respect and honor your parents!"

But Lao Shi suddenly walked out of an alley across the street and slapped Hong Sheng across the face. Then, not satisfied with that, he kicked him.

Hong Sheng saw stars on the spot, sat down on the ground, felt a burning pain on his face, and felt as if his intestines had been twisted.

Then, Lao Shi picked up the whip and lashed Hong Sheng's body. In just a few strokes, several bloody marks appeared on Hong Sheng's face, making his face as red as a demon.

Hongli, meanwhile, led his horse and hid in a side alley, sneering coldly.

(End of this chapter)