My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 278 Taking Control of the Central Government and Overseeing the Nation!

After receiving permission from Emperor Yongzheng, Hongli returned to the Ministry of Rites.

At the same time, he instructed Li Yu to return to the Prince's residence and tell the Chief Secretary Yu Zhu to invite the Imperial Secretary Cha Ke to the Prince's residence for an audience.

Meanwhile, at the Qianbu Corridor where the Ministry of Rites was located, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were also discussing the matter of soliciting prostitutes that had occurred that morning.

Finally, officials from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and other government offices located there also learned of this matter.

Wei Tingzhen, the Han Minister of Rites, was deeply troubled by this.

"Is Lord Wei worried about Fourth Master?"

Wang Jing, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, once asked him about this.

Wei Tingzhen nodded.

Then he said, "I was thinking, the Ministry of Rites is not like the Court of Colonial Affairs, it's very complicated. The Fourth Prince just arrived at the Ministry of Rites and there was already the incident of him summoning prostitutes to the office. Fortunately, Changshou helped the Fourth Prince out of the predicament and prevented the rumors from getting associated with him."

"But next time, if something like this happens again, shouldn't I, the Minister of Han, be the one to help Fourth Master out of this predicament?"

Wei Tingzhen frowned even more deeply at this: "Changshou is a Manchu, so perhaps he will only be dismissed from his post. But I am a Han Chinese after all. If I really have to take the blame for Fourth Master, it will probably be more than just dismissal!"

"But Lord Wei was a third-ranked scholar in the Hanlin Academy."

"Fourth Master is a prince, and Changshou is a Manchu with military merits. Neither of them is suitable to manage affairs in this prestigious Ministry of Rites. However, the upright officials of the country may not really want Lord Wei to leave this top scholar suddenly."

"Therefore, you can rest assured."

Wang Jing once gave Wei Tingzhen an analysis.

Wei Tingzhen nodded after hearing this: "I understand. The Qingliu faction all hope that the Hanlin scholars can truly become the future prime minister, and that the court can truly govern the country with Confucianism."

"That's right, the person behind this has won this time!"

"The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Chang Shou, will undoubtedly be dismissed at least. It's hard to say whether Fourth Master, this lone pillar, can gain a foothold in the Ministry of Rites."

"After all, the Ministry of Rites is not the Court of Colonial Affairs."

As Wang Jingzeng spoke, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wei Tingzhen.

Wei Tingzhen was looking towards the Ministry of Personnel, where several officials were pointing and chuckling at the Ministry of Rites. Unaware of his expression, they simply echoed his words:
"Yes, the Ministry of Rites isn't all about fighting and killing, and the gentry who advocate for our upright character aren't as straightforward as Mongolian princes. They all appear respectful on the surface, but they're all cunning and manipulative!"

"I hope that Fourth Prince can gain a foothold in the Ministry of Rites and win the hearts of the people, and not cause another literary inquisition because of his imprisonment."

Wang Jingzeng replied with a smile.

Wei Tingzhen knew that the "literary inquisition" Wang Jing had mentioned referred to the case of Zhang Tingshu.

His furrowed brow just now, wondering whether he should also be prepared to take the blame for Hongli, was also related to this.

Through the Zhang Tingshu case, he increasingly understood that the Qing Dynasty was indeed different from the Ming Dynasty during the period of civil service politics.

The Han gentry not only said that openly resisting taxes was unsuccessful, but also that secretly reducing their tribute to powerful royal princes and nobles was equally unacceptable.

This forced him to admit that in the Qing Dynasty, because the emperor was not Han Chinese, the reliance on his own clan and relatives was always greater than that of Han Chinese dynasties, and they would not rely solely on civil officials who came from the imperial examination system.

As a Han official, to ensure the emperor's trust in Han officials, he had to demonstrate the same or even greater loyalty than Manchu officials in order to have a chance to advance further, such as entering the central government and participating in governance.

He naturally no longer cared whether the prestigious Ministry of Rites had to be staffed by members of the Hanlin Academy.

After all, he had already boarded the Ministry of Rites' carriage and become the Minister of Rites.

Wang Jingzeng understood his concerns, but he didn't say much.

At this moment, since Hongli had arrived at the Ministry of Rites, the two men and other officials from the Ministry of Rites came to greet him again and paid their respects.

"May Fourth Master be well!"

Hongli looked at the officials from the Ministry of Rites and smiled faintly: "Rise!"

Afterwards, Hongli dismounted, handed the whip to Hahazhuzi Shuangding, and went straight into the Ministry of Rites.

He understood that from the moment he stepped into the Ministry of Rites, he had to demonstrate his abilities to convince Yongzheng and the people of the world that he could enter the ruling class, become a Prince Regent, take charge of the central government, and even oversee the country!
Wei Tingzhen and the others also hurried over at this time.

"Chang Shou has been dismissed from his post, and a new Minister Man has not yet been appointed. For now, Junbi, you will be in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites."

Then, after Hongli sat down in the main hall of the Ministry of Rites, he gave Wei Tingzhen some instructions.

Wei Tingzhen quickly bowed and said, "Yes, sir!"

Wang Jingzeng and others looked as if they hadn't expected it.

At this moment, Hongli stood up, put his hands behind his back, and strolled around the Ministry of Rites, saying to the officials who had followed him:
“I know that the Ministry of Rites is a noble and prestigious place, in charge of the order of auspicious, festive, military, guest, and funeral rites, as well as the methods of schools and the imperial examinations, in order to uphold the rites of the state.”

"Therefore, many people feel that this position should only be filled by members of the Hanlin Academy, who are considered upright and honest, in order to cultivate their potential as future prime ministers." "But our Great Qing Dynasty, from the very beginning of its founding, has learned from the lessons of previous dynasties and knows that although the Ministry of Rites is a prestigious and respectable place, it is not a place where one can only live a simple and quiet life; one must also be pragmatic and strive for merit!"

"Therefore, members of the imperial family and those who have received honors for their military merits can also manage the affairs of this department, and it is not enough for only Hanlin scholars who are well-versed in etiquette and classics!"

"I've come to the Ministry of Rites to do only one thing: to get things done, to put the rites into practice, and to transform them into policies that benefit the country and its people!"

At this point in Hongli's speech, Wei Tingzhen quickly echoed him with a fawning smile, saying:
"What Fourth Master said is absolutely right. The Ministry of Rites should be headed by more capable and pragmatic officials. This would prevent all the rituals and music education from becoming empty and of no benefit to the country and its people."

Emperor Hongli clapped his hands in approval: "Excellent!"

"Junbi is a wise man!"

Emperor Hongli even praised Wei Tingzhen for this.

Wang Jingzeng, who had deliberately lagged behind Wei Tingzhen by a few steps, also stepped forward and bowed to Hongli, saying, "Since that's the case, your subject, Wang Jingzeng, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, dares to plead for Changshou!"

"Although Chang Shou admits to summoning prostitutes to the yamen, he is not an incompetent person. His Majesty's appointment of him to the Ministry of Rites is also to rectify the corrupt practices within the Ministry of Rites."

"Since ancient times, wise rulers and virtuous ministers have not been bound by trivial matters when employing people. However, I am of low rank and my words carry little weight. Therefore, I humbly request that Your Highness recommend him to His Majesty once more, so as to enhance Your Highness's reputation!"

After Wang Jing gave a sincere answer, Hongli asked, "What is your courtesy name?"

"Your Majesty, my courtesy name is Huzhan."

Wang Jingzeng replied.

Hongli nodded, then smiled and said to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, "You should all be like Hu Zhan, breaking down the barriers between Manchus and Han Chinese, and the prejudices of upright officials, and putting the country and its people first!"

"Whoo!"

Wang Jing hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject is terrified!"

Hongli then exchanged pleasantries with the officials of the Ministry of Rites, discussing matters such as hosting a banquet, selecting duty rooms, and Yongzheng's current requirements for the Ministry of Rites.

Throughout the entire meeting, Hongli made no mention of the prostitutes being summoned to the Ministry of Rites that day, nor did he show any displeasure or displeasure, acting as if nothing had happened.

Therefore, when Wei Tingzhen was leaving the office, he said to Wang Jing:

"How rare! It's rare to find someone as shrewd as Fourth Master. If I were to take the blame for him, even if I were dismissed and exiled, it might actually turn out to be a good thing in the end!"

"From what you're saying, you're really willing to take the blame for Fourth Master?"

Wang Jing once asked.

Wei Tingzhen nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Didn't you figure it out too? Fourth Master is grateful to Changshou, that's why he praised you so much!"

"It is my honor to be able to take the blame for Fourth Master!"

Hongli only put on a stern face after returning to his residence.

Yu Zhu, who had been waiting at the gate, became somewhat apprehensive upon seeing this. He hurried over and carefully served Hongli, personally leading the horse for him: "Fourth Master!"

"How dare you test me!"

"How much do you know about Wang Xi's eldest son?"

As Hongli stepped up the stairs and walked towards the mansion, he asked Yuzhu a question.

After tying up the horse, Yuzhu followed.

He knew that Hongli was asking about Wang Jingzeng, whose father, Wang Xi, had been a Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony during the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

After Hongli asked this question, Yuzhu replied, "He is at odds with my father, and he, along with Tao Lai and Zhang Tingshu, belonged to the former Third Master's faction!"

After hearing this, Hongli stopped and suddenly asked him, "Has Chuck come up yet?"

Yu Zhu nodded: "I've arrived. I'll be waiting in the outer study."

After hearing this, Hongli went to the outer study.

Then, after meeting with Chuck, Hongli asked, "Are you aware that a prostitute came to the Ministry of Rites today?"

"I don't know!"

Chuck bowed his head and replied.

"You must know this, or your whole family will die!"

Hongli suddenly flicked his sleeve, pointed at him, and shouted.

(End of this chapter)