My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 236: Examining Cao Xueqin and Arresting the Cao Family

"Zhenxia, ​​quickly help your great-aunt up and offer her a seat before me!"

Hongli then hurriedly gave an order.

"Whoo!"

Li Zhenxia responded with a grateful look, her eyes already brimming with tears, and immediately went over to Li's side.

However, Lady Li did not dare to be impolite. She still kowtowed to express her gratitude before having Li Zhenxia help her up and sit in the first nanmu chair in front of Hongli.

Hongli did this not to give Li Zhenxia face, but to give Fu Peng face.

Because Fu Peng is the grandson of this old lady Li.

This can be considered a unique feature of the Qing Dynasty. Bondservants were both nobles and servants. At their peak, they could become empress dowagers, while at their lowest point, they would become people in the Xin Zhe Ku who did dirty and tiring work.

Since Madam Li's daughter became the primary consort of Prince Ping, Madam Li is now both a bondservant of Hongli and the maternal grandmother of Fu Peng, a prince of the imperial clan.

Whether Hongli views the Li family as slaves or nobles depends entirely on how he sees them to maximize his political interests.

It was obvious that, because of Fu Peng, he needed to give Madam Li some face.

After all, Fu Peng is now the Prince of Ping, the chieftain of fifty banners outside the pass, and also his childhood friend.

Fu Peng happened to be reporting to Hongli at that moment and witnessed this scene, which brought tears to his eyes.

"If Fourth Master treats his own maternal relatives, who are of bondservant status, with such courtesy, he will surely be even more respectful to the Prince of Ping's mansion in the future. With such a benevolent master, how could I, Fu Peng, not be willing to risk my life for him?"

Fu Peng couldn't help but think to himself.

In fact, throughout history, Emperor Qianlong has always treated his meritorious officials who served him well.

Hongli had no intention of giving up this advantage after becoming emperor.

"First, pay your respects to your maternal grandmother!"

After Fu Peng greeted him, Hongli smiled and gave Fu Peng a word of instruction.

"Whoo!"

Fu Peng was overjoyed and hurriedly obeyed Hongli's royal command, bowing to Madam Li with the respect due to a junior. Madam Li quickly returned the bow, saying that she dared not accept it.

At this moment, Cao Xueqin, who was kneeling outside the hall with his uncles and brothers, felt only sore legs and a great deal of tedious formalities.

But he didn't dare to act like a spoiled young master now, so he could only kneel obediently and listen attentively to Hongli's conversation with Fu Peng in the hall.

"Madam, please tell us the truth about how many relatives of your household are staying here, and whether you have other places to rely on."

At this point, Hongli asked about Madam Li.

Upon hearing this, Cao Xueqin couldn't help but glance in the direction of the women, feeling somewhat uneasy.

“This servant dares not lie to Fourth Master, but my elder brother’s granddaughter, Li, was raised in the Cao family before her family was raided because she was frail and sickly. I have also petitioned His Majesty for permission to keep her.”

"There is also the fourth captain and first flag captain of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, the daughter of the nephew of the Jin family, the former Hangzhou textile commissioner. She failed to be selected in the imperial concubine selection and is now staying at the Cao family's residence after traveling south with her mother. She plans to return to Hangzhou after the summer heat subsides."

Madam Li replied.

Hongli nodded, guessing that the woman surnamed Jin was probably the prototype of Xue Baochai, and the woman surnamed Li mentioned by the old lady Li earlier was probably the prototype of Lin Daiyu.

However, the latter no longer needs to participate in the talent show, because the Li family and the Cao family are now his retainers, and the women in their families can be directly arranged by him, the prince.

"Since that is the case, thanks to the grace of Khan Ammaron, who has also granted Li Shi to me as a bondservant, Li Shi's daughter can stay and work for Li Zhenxia for now."

"As for the Kim family."

As Hongli was speaking, he asked Princess Jin, "I remember you are the granddaughter of Jin Yuzhi, the former Hangzhou Textile Commissioner?"

Jin replied, "Yes, Fourth Master, the person that Old Madam Li mentioned is my cousin."

At this moment, her mother, Madam Li, kowtowed in front of the hall and said, "Fourth Master, please forgive my daughter for her heat-related illness, which has not yet healed. Please allow her to stay temporarily in the small courtyard of the Weaving Bureau to recuperate!"

"allow!"

Hongli nodded slightly, then looked at the male members of the Cao family. Since there weren't many male members in the Cao family, he continued to ask Madam Li, "In your Cao family, how many male members have passed the imperial examinations, and how many have passed the test of being able to shoot a bow with a strength of four or more?"

Madam Li said with embarrassment, "Fourth Master, not one of them has passed the imperial examination, and not one of them knows how to use a bow with a strength of four or more."

Hongli was greatly disappointed upon hearing this. He had learned to shoot an eight-strength bow from his twentieth uncle when he was thirteen, but the Cao family couldn't even meet the minimum requirement of a four-strength bow for the Eight Banners bondservants.

However, the bondservant bannermen were not the regular households of the Eight Banners, and their military requirements were not high. Yet, none of the bondservant bannermen of the Cao family prepared for the imperial examinations.

This forced Hongli to admit that it was no wonder that Nian Gengyao, a former bondservant, was able to gain Kangxi's favor by passing the imperial examination.

That's because among the Eight Banners bondservants, there were truly very few sons as ambitious as Nian Gengyao.

Hongli then asked, "And those who can write and do arithmetic?"

"Apart from my son Cao Zhaoye, who had studied some books with my late husband and learned some economic calculations, the adults all only know how to do welcoming and seeing off guests."

Madam Li replied.

Hongli looked at Cao Xueqin: "What about those who are underage?"

"My grandson Cao Zhan is quite talented in classical Chinese studies, but he is unruly by nature and does not like writing for the imperial examinations, so I'm afraid he will be difficult for Fourth Master to use," Madam Li replied with increasing shame.

"Life in Jiangnan was too comfortable."

"Summon Cao Zhan!"

After speaking, Hongli gave an instruction.

Not long after.

Cao Zhan, also known as Cao Xueqin, approached Hongli:

"This servant Cao Zhan obeys Fourth Master's orders!"

Hongli then carefully examined this later famous literary figure. He remembered that it was said that Cao Xueqin was quite generous and fond of wine, so many Manchu bannermen liked to associate with him.

Even members of the imperial family were close friends with him.

However, Cao Xueqin himself was not good at making a living and was content with poverty. Later, he became so poor that his family had to eat porridge and often had to borrow money for wine, and eventually starved to death.

Of course, Hongli was not sure whether Cao Xueqin had actually starved to death in history.

But now, Cao Xueqin has become his servant, and he needs Cao Xueqin to bring him value, which means he needs to learn more about this great writer who will be famous in later generations.

So Hongli asked him, "Do you consider yourself a useless person?"

"Your Highness, this servant feels utterly useless!"

Cao Xueqin replied without hesitation.

Madam Li looked at him with surprise.

Fu Peng also looked at his cousin with surprise.

Cao Zhaoye, who was wearing shackles, even closed his eyes.

"That was an honest answer."

Hongli laughed at this: "Then do you think that useless people in this world should die?"

Everyone was shocked.

Cao Xueqin pursed his lips: "This servant feels it's inappropriate!"

"why?"

“If those who are useless should die, then the way of the sages will not exist.”

Cao Xueqin replied.

Hongli nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "Well said!"

Snapped!
Then, Hongli closed his folding fan and pointed at Li Yu: "Give him a lucky gold ingot!"

Cao Xueqin himself laughed.

"Thank you for the reward, Fourth Master!"

Cao Zhaoye shook his head and sighed.

He didn't know why his silly nephew could still laugh at this moment.

It's as if the confiscation of his property had nothing to do with him. Doesn't he know that he will no longer be a noble young master and will be reduced to serving tea and water to others?
But he also didn't understand why his master, the Fourth Master, would suddenly reward his foolish nephew.

He suddenly felt incredibly stupid, unable to understand many things.

Then, Hongli instructed Cao Xueqin: "From now on, you will serve me in my outer study!"

"Whoo!"

"In addition, I will give you a favor: you are allowed to freely browse the books in the outer study."

Speaking of it.

Intending to see if Cao Xueqin harbored any rebellious intentions, Hongli deliberately said, "However, you are not allowed to read the books on the bottom row!"

The books on his bottom row are all novels, including a masterpiece by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng.

The imperial family and nobility did not restrict the collection of any books, and Emperor Qianlong's collection was quite extensive.

So he only said not to look through it, but didn't say what the consequences would be if he did.

He waited to see if Cao Xueqin would willingly jump into this pit.

Hongli then looked at the other male members of the Cao family and continued, "Since none of you can draw a bow with a strength of more than four, and none of you have the qualifications to pursue a career, then none of you who have committed crimes deserve my protection!"

"Capture Cao Shun!"

Hongli's face darkened, and he gave a stern order.

"Whoo!"

(End of this chapter)