My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 393: Emperor Yongzheng admits he is inferior to Emperor Qianlong after stripping Hongxi of his official status!

In the tenth month of the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, white snowflakes began to fall under the leaden sky.

A chill began to spread rapidly within the Yuanmingyuan Garden.

As Hongli exited the Qinzheng Gate, a sudden gust of north wind extinguished the anger that had risen within the gate.

These stubborn officials who used Yongzheng to deal with him forced him to show a ruthless determination.

However, he did not think that Yongzheng would be displeased by this.

Because he knew very well that Yongzheng was someone who responded to force but not to gentleness.

If he appears hesitant and indecisive, and dares not correct Yongzheng's reforms for fear of displeasing Yongzheng, then Yongzheng will be displeased instead.

Therefore, Hongli had no such concerns, nor would he regret it.

"Your Majesty, the chief Grand Councilors, E Zhongtang and Zhang Zhongtang, have presented their credentials and request an audience."

However, not long after Hongli returned to the Qingyan Palace in Kyushu, Chen Fu cautiously came to report to him.

After Yunli, Yunlu, and Fupeng voluntarily withdrew from the Grand Council, Ortai and Zhang Tingyu became the leading Grand Councilors.

Moreover, Zhang Tingyu took the initiative to request that Ortai be listed before him, arguing that Ortai's achievements were greater and that Ortai should be given more authority to decide on matters concerning the Miao people.

At present, Hongli also needed to show his attention to the Miao affairs, and he also needed to let the Eight Banners noble class know that he was superior to the civil service class, so he agreed to Zhang Tingyu's request.

However, because Zhang Tingyu was sensible and meticulous, Hongli specially promoted him to the rank of Third-Class Earl, making him an earl like Ortai, due to his diligence in royal affairs.

at the same time……

Emperor Hongli did this to encourage officials who passed the imperial examinations to work diligently and to make them understand that the emperor did not only value the Eight Banners aristocracy.

Now, Hongli naturally knew why the two of them had handed over their plaques together.

Wang Shijun was a graduate of the imperial examination system.

Xiande was born into a noble family of the Eight Banners.

Therefore, the two of them had no choice but to plead for mercy.

"I know why you have come to see me."

"But you don't need to mention this again."

"Because even the retired emperor would certainly be willing to see a few heads chopped off at this time."

"And the two of them, one a nobleman of the Eight Banners and the other a scholar-official, are a perfect match!"

"Our Great Qing is not the former Ming; the relationship between the emperor and his subjects is not merely that of emperor and subjects!"

After receiving the two men, Hongli spoke to them casually, directly stating his attitude.

"Whoo!"

The two didn't say anything more, responded, and then took their leave.

They understood the principles that Hongli was talking about.

In reality, they were just going through the motions, simply to give an explanation to the noble and bureaucratic groups of the nobility and the imperial examination officials.

This indicates that they have done their best and will continue to cooperate with the two leading Grand Councilors to work together for the Emperor.

"What a fool!"

In the Ministry of Justice prison, Wang Shijun, who was about to be executed, encountered Xiande on his way to the execution ground, and thus called out to Xiande and began to talk about him.

Xiande ignored him, keeping his head down and walking while holding onto the dark iron chain.

"You are a former bannerman, why should you incur the emperor's wrath because of a mere scholar?"

Wang Shijun continued talking to him.

"I regard the common people as worthless, so naturally my sovereign will treat me the same way. However, what I didn't expect was that His Majesty is truly indifferent to what others think of his filial piety!"

Then, Wang Shijun sighed to himself.

However, Xiande remained silent throughout.

However, it wasn't until Wang Shijun got to this point that Xiande's eyes reddened.

"cut!"

When the appointed time came, both men fell silent, and as a result, their heads fell to the ground.

When the news of the two men's executions reached Hongli, he simply nodded and said, "Understood. Tian Wenjing will still be handed over to the Ministry for deliberation and punishment. The matter of Wang Shijun will be proclaimed to all governors and viceroys throughout the country. All those who deceive the emperor and harm the people will be punished in the same way. I will not care how much merit he once had!"

Subsequently, when Hongli went to pay his respects to Yongzheng, he also told Yongzheng about this matter.

Just as Hongli had expected, Yongzheng did not show any dissatisfaction towards Hongli, but only sighed deeply: "It is inevitable! You did the right thing! Just like Nian Gengyao and Longkodo, they all change and misunderstand their sovereign."

"The son also issued an edict instructing Hongjiao, Hongjing, and Hongchun, instructing them not to exclude or attack each other."

Hongli then replied.

After hearing this, Yongzheng simply smiled, then suddenly asked, "Where is Hongxi?"

"He has not come to pay his respects to me since I abdicated the throne!"

Yongzheng then muttered something else, followed by a sigh, and said, "Fake! All fake!"

Hongli thought to himself, "Yongzheng is indeed very perceptive."

Although Hongxi always called him "Imperial Father" and showed great respect, he never saw him again after he abdicated, which saddened Yongzheng.

But Hongxi had no choice. In order not to arouse the suspicion of Hongli, who had already become the emperor, he naturally dared not come to see Yongzheng, who was already the retired emperor.

"His son has already issued an order to imprison him."

Hongli then told the truth.

Emperor Yongzheng was taken aback.

Hongli continued, “He met a sorcerer through Hongsheng and asked him how long his son’s reign would last. He even asked if the Dzungars would raise an army again and enter the capital. He also set up an accounting and ceremonial office in his residence, imitating the imperial system.”

After a long pause, Yongzheng asked, "Are you saying that he is ready to become the ruler of the world at any time?" "You could say that, or you could say that he just still has the regret of not being able to become the ruler of the world."

Hongli replied.

Yongzheng chuckled: "But you could also say that Hongxi, like many other members of the imperial family, simply refuses to accept that our fourth branch has inherited the throne! He doesn't recognize or submit to our fourth branch!"

"Cough cough!"

As Yongzheng spoke, his face grew increasingly red and flushed, and he subsequently began to cough violently.

After Hongli offered some kind words of comfort, Yongzheng calmed down and asked Hongli, "What do you plan to do?"

"Imprisonment, stripping of social status, and name change."

"The royal family will not tolerate such a disloyal person!"

"We must be both lenient and strict, treating those who submit with extraordinary kindness and striking those who do not submit with thunderous force. We cannot seek fame like the tyrant Xiang Yu!"

Hongli answered resolutely.

Therefore, Yongzheng stared intently at Hongli without looking to the side.

"Are there words on your son's face?"

Hongli couldn't help but chuckle and asked a question.

Yongzheng suddenly turned his head, pursed his lips, and said, "No!"

"I am old and frail, suffering from a host of ailments, and there are some things you cannot understand."

Then Yongzheng said this.

Seeing this, Hongli did not bother Yongzheng any further, and having understood Yongzheng's attitude, he took his leave and departed from Changchun Xianguan.

After Hongli left, Yongzheng went to see the thirteenth prince and told him about Hongxi's treacherous intentions and Xiande's manipulation of the emperor. He then suddenly blamed himself, saying, "It's all my fault. I didn't do a good job!"

After hearing this, the thirteenth brother sighed deeply, knowing that his fourth brother had begun to reflect on himself again.

“I didn’t take good care of the next generation, nor did I leave Hongli with many reliable ministers. As a result, some scoundrels have taken the place of old ministers and tried to coerce him in my name.”

As Yongzheng explained this, his brows furrowed in worry.

"Fourth Brother, why think so much? Just trust Hongli."

"No matter what, you've done enough for him."

The thirteenth prince began to persuade Yongzheng.

Emperor Yongzheng pursed his lips and nodded.

Hongli pursed his lips, looking at Hongxi kneeling on the ground.

After returning from Changchun Xianguan, he summoned Hongxi.

So, Hongxi appeared in front of him now.

After a moment of silence, Hongli spoke directly: "Cousin, you must know very well the principle that the victor is king and the loser is a bandit, so I will not say much. I will just tell you that based on your performance, I have decided to strip you of your official rank and change your name."

"Give yourself a name."

"This is the only grace I can give you right now."

As Hongli finished speaking, he leaned back and placed his hands on the armrests.

Hongxi gave a bitter laugh and said, "I am forty-two years old this year, and my hopes will be completely dashed at the age of forty-two. So please, Master, bestow upon this servant the name Forty-Two."

"can!"

Hongxi then took a deep breath: "Hongli, you're so lucky! I'm jealous of you! I was the one with the best life, I was the one!"

Hongxi clenched his teeth as he said this.

"You are a smart person, you should know the principle of being content with what you have."

Hongli responded with a single sentence.

Hongxi simply shook his head: "I can't do it, I can't be content with what I have!"

"There's nothing we can do about that!"

Hongli stood up, left the Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness, and waved for someone to take Hongxi away. He also ordered the Grand Council to draft an edict to imprison Hongxi, strip him of his status as a member of the imperial clan, change his name to Forty-Two, and give only red sashes to his descendants.

After leaving the Hall of Diligent Governance and Appreciation of the Virtuous, Hongli summoned Ortai, the chief Grand Councilor, to the Ruguhanjin Pavilion and instructed him: "If there are any memorials concerning the imperial clan, present them immediately!"

"Whoo!"

After Ortai responded, he returned to the Grand Council. The newly appointed Grand Councilor, Qingfu, hurriedly came to ask him, "What brings you here, Your Majesty?"

"Regarding matters concerning the royal family."

"We both understand what Master means. Master is now reprimanding Hongjing, Hongchun, and Prince Ning, Hongjiao, and has also dealt with forty-two others."

"Actually, the purpose is to make the royal family both fear and respect him. Now that they fear him, they should respect him; otherwise, the master would not care about the long-term stability of the country and the importance of maintaining harmony among relatives and clansmen."

"The emperor naturally hopes that ministers will take the initiative to petition for the release of members of the royal family who have been imprisoned for crimes."

"But not everyone can bear the responsibility of sowing discord between the father and son of the royal family."

Ortai said this.

Upon hearing this, Qingfu chimed in, "Yes, at this time, the master needs to make decisive decisions and cannot consult the ministers."

……

"I know that my sixteenth and seventeenth uncles resigned from their positions in the Grand Council for the same reason."

"I intend to make all the decisions myself, because only I can represent the Emperor Emeritus, but I also want to know what you are thinking."

However, the next day, when Hongli summoned Grand Councilor Ortai and others, he did say something similar.

Because Hongli himself understood that many things could not be undertaken by ministers; the emperor himself had to take responsibility.

(End of this chapter)