My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 314: Emperor Yongzheng's unique way of pampering his son, making Hongli's adoptive mother a concubine!
After a moment of astonishment, Hongli pulled Hongzhou away, stopping him from continuing to beat Hongxi.

Hongxi stood up at this moment, grinned at Hongzhou for a while, and then slunk away.

Hongli did not send a gift to Hongxi.

Hongzhou naturally didn't offer any gifts, and just kept a straight face.

After Hongxi left, Hongli said to Hongzhou, "Come with me to apologize to Father Khan!"

Hongzhou was slightly taken aback.

"What, are you scared?"

"When you were hitting someone, weren't you afraid?"

Hongli asked.

Hongzhou frowned: "A little."

Then, Hongzhou added, "But I have no regrets!"

Hongli smiled faintly, then put his arm around Hongzhou's shoulder and walked towards the Yuanmingyuan.

Inside the Yuanmingyuan Garden, Emperor Yongzheng and his thirteenth son were sitting by the lake, talking to the golden sunset.

At this moment, the thirteenth prince asked Yongzheng, "Fourth brother, you're putting Hongli in a huge predicament by asking him to reform the Imperial Household Department! Everyone knows that the Imperial Household Department is not easy to reform, after all, it involves you, the emperor, many noble ladies in the harem, and all the princes and dukes in the court."

"I never expected him to improve; I only intended for him to realize the difficulty of reforming the Imperial Household Department and to understand my predicament in not vigorously reforming it."

"But I didn't expect that he would be so insightful and not so presumptuous, and that he could be said to be very perceptive! That's why he came up with the three reforms and one strengthening, and now he's even discussing with you the establishment of a national tax agency in the Ministry of Revenue."

As Yongzheng spoke, he couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced at the yellowing ginkgo trees on the opposite bank.

The thirteenth prince smiled and said, "Yes, he didn't take the usual approach of reducing redundant staff and cutting expenses. Instead, he wanted to expand the Imperial Household Department and involve its members and officials so that they could supervise and check each other. This is clearly a move he made by imitating you, which involved having censors from the outer court supervise the Imperial Household Department."

"If he can really reform the Imperial Household Department, then managing the Ministry of Revenue in the future will not be a problem."

"There's no need to worry about him not doing a good job with the money, grain, and tax policies."

"That way, if anything bad happens, he can protect me!"

After Yongzheng spoke with a smile, he glanced at the thirteenth prince.

The thirteenth son was rubbing his knees.

Why won't your leg get better?

"It won't get better. Luckily, Hongli sent some aspirin. He said that he and Hongzhou had it made with willow sap. It has a good antipyretic and analgesic effect, so walking won't feel like torture."

Yunxiang replied with a wry smile.

Yongzheng nodded.

Before long, Hongxi covered his face and came to Yongzheng first, saying that he wanted to take his leave and return to Zhengjiazhuang.

Thus, Yongzheng learned about the beating he had received from Hongzhou through Hongxi.

This greatly surprised Emperor Yongzheng: "Why did he hit you?"

Hongxi covered his face and said, "As Prince Bao said to Prince Hongzhou, it was I who forgot my bounds and tried to sow discord among the princes. Therefore, Prince Hongzhou lost his temper and hit me after hearing that."

After hearing this, Yongzheng asked Hongxi how he had sown discord.

Hongxi then told Yongzheng everything he had said to Hongli.

He knew that even if he didn't say it, Hongli would.

Therefore, he simply confessed directly to Emperor Yongzheng.

"You have indeed sown discord, instigating Hongli to use the opportunity of reforming the Imperial Household Department to target Hongzhou."

“It is indeed understandable that Hongzhou hit you.”

The thirteenth son then interjected.

Hongxi said, "Thirteenth Uncle is right!"

“Nephew has no intention of denying that he did nothing wrong. After thinking about it, he also felt that Hongli was right. He had forgotten his place and had the petty intention of sowing discord. Therefore, he felt ashamed and embarrassed. So he came to bid farewell to the Emperor and return to Zhengjiazhuang. He had no intention of filing a complaint!”

"That being said, Hongzhou's actions were indeed too arrogant and lacked the demeanor expected of a prince!"

Emperor Yongzheng began to speak with a stern face.

Then, Yongzheng instructed Su Peisheng, "Go and summon Hongli and Hongzhou!"

"Whoo!"

But not long after Su Peisheng left, he returned and reported that Hongli and Hongzhou had arrived.

Emperor Yongzheng then summoned the two men for an audience.

After the two men exchanged greetings, Yongzheng asked Hongli, "Prince Li said that Hongzhou beat him because you told him that he was trying to sow discord between you and your brother. Is this true?"

"Yes, Father Khan, this is indeed true."

Hongli answered truthfully.

Yongzheng then asked Hongzhou, "Is what your fourth brother said true?"

"it is true!"

"Your subject is willing to accept punishment and submit to the law!"

Hongzhou then kowtowed and bowed.

Yongzheng snorted: "I didn't expect you to be so arrogant, actually beating your own cousin. Even if he was wrong, couldn't you be more magnanimous? How can you win people's hearts in the future if you do this? How can I dare to give you an important position?"

Hongzhou said, "Your subject has never been one to win people's hearts, so I have never even considered how to win people's hearts."

"you!"

Yongzheng pointed at Hongzhou, then flicked his sleeve and said, "Are you trying to anger me to death?!"

Hongxi secretly raised the corners of his mouth upon seeing this.

Hongli gave Hongzhou a look of appreciation.

At this moment, even the thirteenth prince couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at Hongli. Then...

The thirteenth prince then said to Yongzheng, “Fourth brother, you are usually busy with government affairs, so you don’t have time to take care of your children. On the contrary, Hongli has been disciplining Hongzhou. Why don’t you ask Hongli what he thinks about this?”

After speaking, the thirteenth prince looked at Hongli.

Yongzheng nodded in deep agreement and said to Hongli:

“Your thirteenth uncle is right, Hongli, tell me, what do you have to say about Hongzhou?”

Hongli couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how much Yongzheng listened to his thirteenth uncle.

After thinking it over, Hongli said, "In my humble opinion, although what Fifth Brother did was indeed a bit excessive, upon closer examination, it was actually not wrong at all, and quite good!"

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's eyes widened in surprise.

Hongxi was also greatly surprised.

The thirteenth prince couldn't help but nod.

Yongzheng then asked in a cold voice, "What are you saying?"

"Father, do you think Fifth Brother's actions are more like those of Thirteenth Uncle back then, or more like those of Eighth Uncle back then?"

"If you think that your fifth brother should not be given important positions because of this, then how come you dared to give important positions to your thirteenth uncle, who was nicknamed 'Desperate Thirteenth Brother' back then, and even made him the chief councilor?"

Hongli then inquired about Yongzheng.

Yongzheng was speechless for a moment.

Hongxi opened his mouth wide.

The thirteenth prince smiled and shook his head, then gritted his teeth, stood up, and staggered to Yongzheng's side, waving his hand: "Fourth brother, I think Hongli is right. Hongzhou is a bit like me, with a daring and decisive spirit."

Yongzheng did not respond to the thirteenth prince, but instead looked at Hongxi and asked, "Hongxi, tell me, is what Hongli said right or wrong?"

"Your Majesty, that is certainly right. I am completely convinced."

“Hongli has always been wise and fair, which is beyond the reach of us brothers. That is why I wholeheartedly support him. However, sometimes I have gone too far in supporting him and have done things that I should not have done.”

Hongxi replied.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng frowned slightly and then said, "In that case, let's not mention this matter again. The faults of both sides will be offset. Hongxi, you should go back to Zhengjiazhuang first."

"Whoo!"

"My son, please retire!"

Then, Yongzheng turned to look at the thirteenth prince: "Thirteenth brother, you should go back first."

"Whoo!"

Yongzheng then pointed at Hongzhou and said, "See your father off."

Because the thirteenth prince saved Hongzhou's life when he was eight years old, Yongzheng required Hongzhou to call the thirteenth prince his father.

Although Yongzheng did this at the time with the intention of getting closer to the thirteenth prince, after Yongzheng ascended the throne, he did indeed often ask Hongzhou to treat the thirteenth prince as a father.

In short, the thirteenth prince held a truly high position during the Yongzheng era.

Not only did Emperor Yongzheng value him, but he also allowed Hongli to receive the education of the thirteenth prince and had Hongzhou directly call him father.

To be honest, if the thirteenth prince had been a little more arrogant because of this, he would have incurred the jealousy and hatred of Yongzheng's sons, and his title of Iron-Cap Prince might not have been able to be maintained even during the Qianlong era.

Fortunately, after the Crown Prince was deposed, the Thirteenth Prince's personality changed drastically. He became cautious and hardworking, so no matter how much Yongzheng bestowed upon him a higher status, he never acted recklessly.

It should be noted that even the Eighth Prince, who was concerned about his reputation, did something puzzling during the Yongzheng era: he got drunk and beat the Ninth Sixth Guard to death, which was like actively handing Yongzheng a knife.

But the thirteenth prince was the only one who didn't have that.

After the thirteenth prince, Hongxi, and Hongzhou had all left, Yongzheng spoke to Hongli, saying, "You two brothers are indeed very loving and affectionate."

“We learned all of this from our father and Uncle Thirteen.”

After Hongli answered in this way, Yongzheng's eyes lit up.

"Father, we can't openly encourage our fifth brother to be arrogant among the royal family and nobles, but wouldn't it be better to encourage him secretly?"

"And by the way, it will also allow me to be more closely united with my fifth brother!"

Upon seeing this, Hongli continued speaking, bowing respectfully and saying, "I earnestly hope that Father will grant my request!"

Yongzheng chuckled coldly: "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

"I don't dare."

“Geng raised you, so it would be in accordance with filial piety for you to draft a petition and request her to be promoted to the rank of imperial concubine.”

Yongzheng suddenly replied.

Hongli was indeed raised by Lady Geng when he was young, just as Lady Niohuru raised Hongzhou.

This was a unique rule in the Qing Dynasty; for a period of time, lower-ranking concubines were not allowed to directly raise their own children.

By doing this, Yongzheng allowed Hongli to both curry favor with Hongzhou and further demonstrate his filial piety.

Hongli immediately showed his joy: "Your son thanks Father for granting your wish!"

"Get up."

“We need to properly reform the Imperial Household Department. Otherwise, the surplus will not only fail to increase but will also cause trouble. Your thirteenth uncle has already told me that you want to set up a national tax office in the Ministry of Revenue. Setting up a national tax office is easy, but it will be far removed from the policy of non-interference that officials and gentry across the country hope for.”

Emperor Yongzheng sighed as he finished speaking, and then walked along the lake with his hands behind his back.

Hongli followed and said, “Father is a wise and virtuous ruler who is diligent and pragmatic, not a mediocre ruler who only pursues empty fame. Besides, the officials and scholars of the Eight Banners have begun to reach a consensus. In the future, when we have more resources, we will extend this to the whole country. At that time, whether officials or commoners, everyone will only acknowledge that Father is the true Yao and Shun ruler.”

After Hongli made such a promise to Yongzheng, Yongzheng smiled and said, "There's no need to talk about such distant things. It's enough that you understand me."

"But I will do my best to do so! Otherwise, I would not have been able to establish the Imperial University of Peking."

Hongli promised.

Yongzheng stood there stunned, then nodded and suddenly ordered, "Issue an imperial decree to grant Hongli 100,000 mu of superior irrigated land on the imperial estate, to be used as school land for the Imperial University in the capital!"

(End of this chapter)