My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 100 The New Head of Han Officials
Hongli had no liking for Wang Yan.

In his view, these Han Chinese officials who, behind his back, stir up trouble in his name and try to put him in an embarrassing situation, should be taught a lesson.

Sooner or later, these kinds of people will get themselves into trouble.

The Second Prince Yinreng is a prime example!
Furthermore, Hongli did not want to receive Wang Tan's golden rabbit again in the deep gardens of the inner palace.

Such a person who dares to extend his reach into the inner court should not be let off lightly!

Therefore, even though Yongzheng didn't hold Wang Yan accountable because he thought he was too old, Hongli still took advantage of his misfortune and advised Yongzheng to kill Wang Yan.

"Even though Khanmafa has become the late emperor, he is still alive."

"Father should know that when I received the Golden Rabbit, Khanmafa said that Wang Yan's treasonous act was left to you to deal with in the future."

"Therefore, please ask Father to prevent a situation where he can outlive Li Shanchang."

As Hongli spoke, he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect once more.

At this moment, Yongzheng nodded heavily, having made up his mind.

"Summon Heng Chen!"

"Whoo!"

Su Peisheng responded and glanced at Hongli. Just as Hongli was about to notice him, he quickly lowered his eyelids, his heart seemingly leaping into his throat.

This fourth prince is even more terrifying than the fourth prince back then!

Not long after, Zhang Tingyu arrived at Yongzheng's place.

Yongzheng then instructed Zhang Tingyu:

"Draft an edict!"

“Wang Yan is arrogant and rebellious, forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. He openly lectures the emperor and his father in the main hall, which is extremely disrespectful. The late emperor once rebuked him for his disloyalty and for following the immoral behavior of his ancestors. Therefore, he issued an edict to reprimand him. However, he himself has not repented and has become even more outrageous, trying to sow discord between the emperor and his son.”

"I originally intended to execute this traitor by cutting him in half at the waist, but considering his advanced age, I have instead given him a cup of poisoned wine, confiscated his property, and awarded the real estate of Zhang Tingyu, the Minister of Revenue, in the capital. I have only graciously spared his family members."

After the Qing army entered the pass, most of the residential land in the capital became banner property, especially the imperial property managed by the Imperial Household Department. Therefore, many Han Chinese ministers who were favored by the emperor were given real estate in the capital.

Wang Yan was once favored by Emperor Kangxi when the Second Prince Yinreng was in favor of the emperor. As a result, Kangxi bestowed upon him a residence and other properties, and Yinreng also gifted his teacher some land.

Now, Emperor Yongzheng's sudden offer to bestow upon Zhang Tingyu a residence and property in the capital clearly indicates his intention to promote Zhang Tingyu to the position of the head of the Han Chinese officials.

Zhang Tingyu's lips twitched slightly.

Then he thanked the emperor and went to the side to draft the imperial edict, without intending to speak well of Wang Yan.

Hongli squinted, seemingly already guessing why Yongzheng knew so quickly that it was he who had proposed the secret succession.

Hongli could only sigh that Zhang Tingyu had indeed paved the way for Yongzheng.

As for Wang Yan being sentenced to death by Emperor Yongzheng, Hongli was naturally satisfied.

He just wanted that old bastard Wang Yan to be executed by Yongzheng.

This way, those ministers who want to use him as a tool and deliberately flatter him to their detriment will know not to treat him like a fool and will understand the consequences of harming him in this way.

"Hongli, take your men and deliver wine to Wang Yan. Tell him it is my order and that you are here by imperial decree."

Yongzheng gave an order at this time.

"Whoo!"

Hongli responded gratefully, accepted the order, and led several guards to the prison where Wang Yan was imprisoned.

Then, Yongzheng suddenly said to Zhang Tingyu as if deep in thought:
"What Hongli reminded me of is that I must prevent not only Wang Tan from living like Li Shanchang, but also anyone who lacks loyalty and integrity from living for long!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tingyu trembled slightly and gave a stiff smile.

The reason he smiled was to show that he agreed with Yongzheng.

Because he had long ago learned a set of rules for serving a ruler from his father, which was to be careful at all times and to make the ruler see that he was in agreement with him.

But Zhang Tingyu still felt the horror of Yongzheng's words, and at the same time, he was surprised by the ruthlessness of the Fourth Prince Hongli.

Because he didn't expect that it was Hongli who reminded him to prevent Wang Tan from living like Li Shanchang.

This made Zhang Tingyu realize how terrifying Hongli was, and he felt that he should be more careful in front of this fourth prince in the future, and not really think that he was just a sunny and kind young prince.

Meanwhile, when Hongli and Su Peisheng arrived, Wang Yan was peacefully resting with his eyes closed.

But when he saw Hongli and Zhang Tingyu arrive together, with a guard carrying a wine pot, his eyes widened in horror.

Although Fuge, the Manchu Minister of Justice, was a member of the Manchu imperial family and the commander of the Bordered White Banner Han Army, he respected Wang Yan greatly. Therefore, after Wang Yan was imprisoned, he arranged a very good cell for him.

Meanwhile, upon seeing Hongli arrive with his guards, Foge, on behalf of Wang Tan, asked Hongli with dissatisfaction, "Fourth Prince, is the Emperor going to kill the Grand Secretary?"

"I am only acting under orders, please do not ask any further questions, Grand Minister of Justice," Hongli replied.

Fogg's expression grew increasingly solemn: "Did His Majesty send you here to have you prove that you have no connection with the Grand Secretary?"

"I told you, don't ask any more questions!"

Hongli replied sharply, seemingly in a bad mood.

"Whoo!"

Foge could only respond with a soft "Zhaqian," his teeth grinding together, clearly unable to accept that Wang Yan had been given a death sentence.

"Fourth Master!"

After Hongli entered the cell, Wang Yan, pale-faced, knelt down with difficulty and cried out.

Hongli looked at Wang Yan and said, "Don't ask anything, just listen to the decree first."

So Hongli read the imperial edict aloud.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yan's face grew even paler, and he even looked at Hongli with disbelief: "Fourth Prince, did His Majesty say why he has sentenced this old minister to death?"

Hongli sighed and looked at Wang Yan with a pitying expression: "Why do you need to ask? No one knows the reason better than you."

Wang Yan collapsed to the ground.

At this moment, a guard handed over a pot of wine.

Hongli personally poured a cup for Wang Yan and handed it to him, saying, "Accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."

Wang Tan didn't reach out, but looked at Hongli's young face and said, "Fourth Master, I did all this for you!"

Hongli chuckled inwardly, but said only, "You know who you're doing this for."

Wang Yan's eyes showed shock, but she still took the wine glass with trembling hands and brought it to her lips.

He still seems unable to accept that Yongzheng would kill him.

But in the end, Wang Yan closed his eyes and drank the poisoned wine.

After seeing Wang Yan twitch a few times, Hongli checked his breathing with his own hand. Once he confirmed that Wang Yan was gone, he got up and left the cell.

After leaving the cell, Hongli breathed a sigh of relief and raised an eyebrow.

In Hongli's view, anyone who wanted to harm him deserved to suffer the same fate!

Moreover, he had no goodwill toward these Han Chinese aristocratic families who enjoyed the emperor's favor in the Ming Dynasty, did not treat the people as human beings, were unwilling to reform, and after surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, only wanted to unite with the Manchu Eight Banners nobles to continue to exploit the people.

Fogg quickly informed the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, and others about Wang Yan's death.

Yinzhi was greatly shocked and remained silent for a long time while sitting in his chair.

After a long while, Yinzhi sighed and said, "It is I who have harmed Grand Secretary Wang!"

"I never expected things to turn out this way. My father would actually kill someone!"

Hongshi, who was also there, said something incredulous.

Orondai then ran over: "Prince Lian, while I was on duty in the palace, I heard something. The Emperor bestowed a calligraphy piece upon the Fourth Prince, and then the Fourth Prince was ordered to go to the prison and execute Wang Yan!"

Yinzhi looked at Orondai: "We already know about the death sentence imposed on Wang Yan, but we didn't know that Fourth Brother also bestowed a calligraphy upon Hongli."

"Does this mean we've wasted our time?"

"Not only does the Emperor not harbor any suspicion towards the Fourth Prince, but their relationship seems to have even improved?"

Orondai looked at Yinzhi and asked.

Hongshi also looked at Yinzhi with a sour expression.

Yinzhi nodded: "I don't know if it was because Fourth Brother was too ruthless or Hongli was too shrewd that things ended up like this."

"He actually killed someone even the late emperor wouldn't kill; he truly is ruthless!"

Orondai chuckled, his dissatisfaction with Yongzheng growing ever stronger.

At this moment, Yinzhi stood up and said, "Alright, there's no use in saying all this. We underestimated Hongli after all!"

At noon that day, Hongli also reported the imperial edict to Yongzheng.

When Yongzheng learned that Wang Tan had been sentenced to death, he suddenly said to Hongli, "Even I, your father, did not expect that you, at your age, would act so decisively and strictly!"

"This is what Hammafa taught me when he was alive. He said that his son should do things this way!"

Hongli continued to attribute all of this to Kangxi's effective teaching, while also implying that his and Yongzheng's strict governance was something Kangxi wanted to see.

(End of this chapter)