My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 107 Nian Gengyao!
Before long, Orondai covered his mouth and nose, and slunk away with Arsona and the others on horseback.

He naturally dared not retaliate against Yinxi.

Yinxi was, after all, a prince and a younger brother of the emperor.

If he retaliates, even if Emperor Yongzheng wants to spare him, many princes and ministers will force Emperor Yongzheng to sentence him to death.

Of course, Orondai, whose body had been weakened by wine and women, was no match for Yinxi.

Yinxi walked back, cursing and clenching his fists.

When Yinxi returned, Yongzheng also came downstairs with a sullen face.

Upon seeing this, Hongli quickly cupped his hands and said, "Father, you should have seen it just now. It wasn't that Uncle Twenty-One was reckless; it was Orondai who was arrogant and domineering."

"Old Twenty-One should have been killed just now!"

Emperor Yongzheng only left behind this one sentence.

Hongli couldn't help but secretly raise the corners of his mouth.

Clearly, Yongzheng greatly appreciated Yinxi's behavior just now; otherwise, he wouldn't have said that.

“Father, this Orondai has no respect for you and harbors resentment towards you. It’s hard to guarantee that such a person won’t do something outrageous.”

"Now, we don't know where he's going right now. We need to send someone to follow him secretly and see if he's forming cliques or engaging in any corrupt practices!"

Hongli added another comment.

Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but glance at Hongli, thinking to himself, "This Fourth Prince is truly astute!"

Emperor Yongzheng wholeheartedly agreed and said in a deep voice, "May Guanyin protect you."

At this moment, a handsome guard stepped forward: "Your servant is here!"

"Send someone to follow them!"

"Whoo!"

Guanyinbao agreed and left the garden gate with the knife in her hand.

Hongli glanced at Guanyinbao and knew that he was a descendant of a Mongol prince and had no connection with the Manchu nobility. It was just right for Yongzheng to send him to keep an eye on Orondai.

Before long, Prince Yi's thirteenth son arrived.

The thirteenth prince came to find Yongzheng because of the defeat of the Qinghai Prince Erdeni tribe by Lobsang Danjin in early autumn.

This undoubtedly shows that Lobsang Danjin is becoming increasingly arrogant, to the point of seriously threatening the security of the northwestern border.

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng did not delay any longer and immediately returned to the palace to discuss countermeasures with the ministers in charge of general affairs overnight.

Ultimately, Yongzheng decided to try diplomacy first and then resort to force. He ordered Vice Minister Changshou to go on a mission to persuade Lobsang Danjin to cease hostilities, while simultaneously making military preparations.

The next day.

When Hongli arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation to pay his respects, Guanyinbao happened to be there to report to Yongzheng that he had been ordered to send people to follow Orondai and others.

Yongzheng then had Hongli listen along, intending to make Hongli aware of what these people were doing behind the scenes.

"They went to see the Third Prince and talked about the joint rule of the Eight Banners chieftains."

"It is also said that on the first anniversary of the late emperor's death, if the emperor sends a prince to Jingling to offer sacrifices on behalf of the emperor, and if the third prince goes, he will be asked to meet with the Ninth Prince and express his intentions to the Ninth Prince. The Ninth Prince will then be asked to endure humiliation for the third prince, submit a memorial to plead guilty, and strive for a chance to return to the capital."

After Guanyin finished speaking, Yongzheng narrowed his eyes.

It has been almost a year since Emperor Kangxi passed away.

Generally speaking.

New emperors would visit the tomb of the deceased emperor on the first anniversary of his death to pay their respects. However, sometimes, for various reasons, the new emperor would send a prince to perform the ceremony on his behalf.

Which prince was sent often indicated which prince held a special place in the current emperor's heart.

The practice of princes performing sacrificial rites also carries extraordinary political symbolism.

However, among Yongzheng's sons, only Hongshi is currently of age, so logically, if a prince were to be sent, Hongshi would be the most likely candidate.

Therefore, Orondai and Hongshi secretly plotted to seize the opportunity to visit the Ninth Prince at Jingling on the first anniversary of Kangxi's death.

At this moment, Hongli glanced at Yongzheng.

Only then did he realize that Orondai and his group were playing such a grand game with Hongshi.

But after thinking about it, Hongli didn't find it strange. People like Hongshi and Orondai, who were essentially high-ranking officials and landowners, were actually very afraid of the excessive concentration of imperial power.

This makes them feel very insecure.

They would constantly worry that their family property and even their lives would be easily taken away by the emperor.

However, Hongli knew that Yongzheng himself would definitely not accept the joint rule of the Eight Banners.

After Guanyinbao reported the incident, Yongzheng's face suddenly turned cold: "Hongshi's current situation is inextricably linked to these scoundrels!"

Then, Yongzheng called out, "Su Peisheng!" Su Peisheng immediately came in and said, "Your Majesty, please give your orders."

"Send it to Hongshi!"

"Whoo!"

After Su Peisheng withdrew, Yongzheng, still with a cold face, asked Hongli, "What do you think of the joint rule of the Eight Banners?"

"The way to chaos!"

Without a second thought, Hongli replied with those four words.

Yongzheng was somewhat surprised, but deliberately kept a straight face: "Why do you say that? My Great Qing Dynasty was founded on the joint rule of the Eight Banners, have you forgotten?"

Hongli knew that Yongzheng was deliberately testing his understanding of politics, so he answered seriously: "Establishing a dynasty can be discussed and decided together, but now we are governing the country, not conquering it!"

"Father, when you are in power, discussing it with others is just a matter of enfeoffment, which would be acknowledging that there are multiple local emperors in the land, wouldn't it?"

"This will embolden princes, ministers, gentry, and powerful figures to exploit the common people even more."

"The lessons of the Mongol Yuan dynasty are not far off. I have recently been studying history and have learned that during the great chaos at the end of the Yuan dynasty, the common people were not most dissatisfied with the incompetence of the Mongol Yuan upper class, but with the excessive exploitation by the officials. Hence, there was a popular saying at the time: 'If they are beaten three times a day, what will happen if they don't rebel?' This shows that one cannot expect the powerful and wealthy to be benevolent without the control of the court!"

After Hongli stated this, Yongzheng sighed: "Indeed, since the Qin Dynasty, there has never been a time when the empire was divided and well-governed!"

"Your insight shows that you truly care about the nation and its people."

Yongzheng's expression softened.

Hongli cupped his hands in thanks: "Father, you flatter me!"

"Don't leave yet. Go inside and wait with me. Listen to what your third brother has to say later."

At this moment, Yongzheng stood up and gave an order.

"Whoo!"

Hongli then retreated to the inner room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, sat on a round-backed chair, and began to contemplate the couplet in front of him.

The couplet reads: "Wei Province rejoices in the renewed study, receiving new blessings after six years; I am ashamed that my incompetence cannot be rectified, my heart still trembles at the old icy abyss." On the desk below the couplet are Emperor Yongzheng's seal and red brush.

This was where Emperor Yongzheng slept, and also where he reviewed memorials to the throne.

The space was small, filled with a faint fragrance. The window was small, and a sliver of light shone in, illuminating just one spot on the desk and making the three characters "Nian Gengyao" written on the memorial on the desk stand out prominently.

Hongli wondered if he would live here and work in this narrow and secluded space if he became emperor in the future.

He recalled that when Emperor Qianlong was in the palace, he also chose to live in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your son greets Your Majesty the Khan!"

Suddenly, Hongshi's voice came from outside, and Hongli also came back to his senses, listening attentively to the conversation between Yongzheng and Hongshi outside.

“What have you been doing lately?”

Yongzheng first asked Hongshi this question.

Hongshi replied, "I have been studying and learning by your side, and in my spare time I go out of the palace to buy some books, ask some learned scholars for advice, or ask some princes and nobles for advice on riding, archery and martial arts."

Yongzheng then asked, "Is that all?"

"Your subject would not dare to lie; that is all."

Hongshi then replied.

Hongli, who was inside, couldn't help but grin.

He didn't know what Hongshi was thinking, lying at this time, or failing to remain vigilant in front of Yongzheng.

But Hongli felt that Hongshi might be taking a chance and testing whether Yongzheng really knew something.

Moreover, for Hongshi, telling the truth now would mean losing all hope completely.

This was something Hongshi might find hard to bear, so he simply didn't tell the truth.

"Are you close to your eighth uncle?"

Yongzheng asked another question.

Upon hearing this, Hongli secretly sighed, realizing that Yongzheng still valued their father-son relationship; otherwise, he wouldn't have asked so directly, clearly giving Hongshi a chance to confess.

Hongshi quickly replied, "We haven't had much contact."

"Kneel down and leave."

Then, Hongli heard Yongzheng telling Hongshi to leave.

After Hongshi left, Yongzheng summoned Hongli and asked him solemnly, "What do you think of your third brother lying to me?"

“Third Brother has become too deeply involved with Eighth Uncle and the others, but I think it is not advisable to touch Eighth Uncle for the time being, as the war in the Northwest is of utmost importance.”

(End of this chapter)