My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 99 Hongli instigates Yongzheng to take drastic measures

Of course Hongli was willing!

This is mainly because he knows the right answer to this matter and is also aware that few of his brothers can compete with him for the top position.

Hongzhou, needless to say, has already taken the initiative to adopt a passive and uncompetitive attitude.

Hongshi still had some thoughts on this matter, but he lost the opportunity to act before Yongzheng.

Therefore, Hongli didn't care about the empty title of Crown Prince.

What's even more frightening is that if he becomes the crown prince ahead of time, some officials who oppose reforms might use the pretext of protecting his future as the crown prince to resist the new policies, or even deliberately remain loyal only to the crown prince and not to the emperor.

In that case, as the crown prince, he was caught in a dilemma: to protect him or not to protect him.

Now, he has no title as crown prince, and therefore no relationship of ruler and subject with those who want to drag him down.

Emperor Yongzheng could also deal with such people by accusing them of forming cliques to harm the princes.

In this way, Hongli can protect only those he is willing to protect and who are genuinely for him.

Therefore, the fact that Yongzheng is now secretly establishing an heir is something that Hongli would be happy to see.

To Hongli's surprise, Yongzheng summoned him shortly after the court session ended.

Hongli then walked towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

However, as Hongli walked toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he encountered Orondai, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, at the Qianqing Gate.

"This servant greets Fourth Master."

Orondai bowed to Hongli.

Hongli replied indifferently, "Never mind."

He had already heard that Orondai was actively advocating for the establishment of an heir apparent in court, and even suggested that he be made the heir apparent.

But Hongli knew better than anyone that Orondai was the Eighth Prince's best friend and also the person who most opposed Yongzheng's reforms in history.

Moreover, like Wang Yan, Orondai became the most domineering among the Manchu ministers because of Kangxi's excessive leniency towards him.

When Emperor Kangxi fell ill at his temporary palace, all the other princes and ministers went to visit him, but he only played and frolicked with a few guards near the palace.

Emperor Kangxi was so angry that he declared that Orondai was a man who deserved to be killed.

But in the end, Emperor Kangxi did not kill his cousin Orondai.

Historically, after Yongzheng ascended the throne, Orondai became even more arrogant and rebellious. He urinated directly in front of the Qianqing Gate and even threw the imperial edict given to him by Yongzheng on the ground to express his dissatisfaction with Yongzheng.

Therefore, Yongzheng ultimately dealt him a fatal blow.

Therefore, Hongli never got close to Orondai, lest he get himself into trouble and incur Yongzheng's displeasure.

Although Orondai was Emperor Kangxi's cousin, he was a member of the imperial family, and a member of a high-ranking imperial family at that.

Only Hongshi, who was unaware of Orondai's future fate, was still willing to contact Orondai.

After Hongli said this, Orondai stood up and asked Hongli, "I wonder if Fourth Prince has heard about Grand Secretary Wang's imprisonment?"

“I’ve never heard of it.”

Hongli replied expressionlessly, and then asked Orondai impatiently, "Why are you asking this?"

Seeing Hongli's indifference, Orondai felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly. He could only suppress his anger and said, "Fourth Prince, don't you know? Grand Secretary Wang offended His Majesty because of you! Now only you can save his life."

Why should I save him?

"Did I make him offend the Khan for my sake?"

"He's been fooling around behind my back. I don't blame him for being senile and ruining my reputation; that's being lenient!"

After saying this, Hongli left, secretly thinking to himself, "What do I do? When did it become your place, Orondai, to teach me?"

When Orondai saw that Hongli had left, he could only clench his fists, press them against his chest, and bare his teeth.

Soon.

Orondai then encountered Hongshi again in the direction of Jingyun Gate.

Hongshi asked Orondai, "What did Hongli say?"

"He did not agree to plead for Wang Yan, and even seemed to resent Wang Yan for acting behind his back."

At this point, Orondai stood in front of Hongshi with his hands on his hips and sighed:
"This fourth prince is quite something, he's even more slippery than an eel. He's remained so calm on the matter of choosing an heir, which is not at all like the demeanor of a prince who actively tries to win people's hearts!"

"So it seems that it's really too difficult for Uncle Ba to fool him."

"Perhaps starting with Hongzhou is better than directly targeting his fourth brother."

Hongshi said disappointedly.

As Hongshi was speaking, he saw Lao Ba walking over, so he quickly followed Orondai to greet him.

"Greetings to Eighth Uncle!" "This servant greets Prince Lian."

"What are you talking about?"

After helping the two men up, Lao Ba hurriedly asked a question.

Orondai then revealed his plan to instigate Hongli to stand before Yongzheng as Wang Yan.

"Nonsense!"

The Eighth Prince's expression suddenly changed. He reprimanded Orondai and questioned him, "Aren't you afraid that Hongli will directly tell Yongzheng about your visit to him?"

Orondai was stunned and speechless for a long time.

……

……

"When I came here, I saw Orondai."

When Hongli arrived at Yongzheng's place, he told Yongzheng about this unexpected situation.

Yongzheng was wearing a wide-sleeved robe in ink-wash style, with a square-topped turban, and was writing large characters on his desk.

If you didn't know better, you'd think he was from the Ming Dynasty.

Even Hongli himself was taken aback when he first arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

He thought he had traveled through time again.

However, he had long heard that Yongzheng liked to wear Hanfu and also enjoyed role-playing the leisurely life of Han literati. Even the porcelain he liked was the kind of elegant style favored by Han literati, which was completely different from the style of wealth and nobility that Qianlong liked in history.

Therefore, Hongli was not particularly surprised when he saw that the person in front of him was Yongzheng.

After Hongli recounted the story of Orondai, Yongzheng curled his lip in disdain, simply picking up his brush and admiring the large characters written on the Xuan paper, and said to Hongli:
“Among my Manchu ministers, there are only such muddle-headed and domineering people. The late emperor should have killed Orondai back then, instead of keeping him alive until now.”

After saying this, Yongzheng waved to Hongli and said, "Come here."

Hongli then walked over.

"Look at how well Father writes these characters!"

Yongzheng looked at Hongli and asked.

Emperor Hongli saw that only four Chinese characters were written on it: “明德惟馨”.

He knew that these four characters came from the Book of Documents, specifically the phrase "黍稷非馨，明德惟馨", meaning that only virtue has fragrance.

Hongli, without hesitation, exclaimed, "Well written!"

"If you like it, Father will give it to you. Have it framed and put in your study."

At this moment, Yongzheng spoke with great enthusiasm, and then gave Su Peisheng a meaningful look.

Su Peisheng understood and handed a seal to Yongzheng, then placed the inkpad box in front of him, saying, "Please, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Yongzheng personally pressed the seal into the ink and stamped it on the calligraphy.

Hongli was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Father!"

At the same time, Hongli looked on with some envy at the scene of Yongzheng stamping the seal.

He suddenly realized that the way these ancient people stamped their seals on calligraphy and paintings did look very stylish, like marking a beautiful woman with their own mark.

"I am very pleased that you were able to take the initiative to get Zhu Shi and the others to propose the secret establishment of an heir, and you even persuaded your fourteenth uncle!"

"It is clear that you are simple on the outside but clear on the inside, not blinded by fame and fortune, and have your own opinions. You know that it is best for you and your son to be of one mind at this time."

"I present you with this calligraphy as a reward for your composure this time, and also to let the outside world know that you and I, father and son, have always had a good relationship. Finally, I hope that you will uphold your virtue and aspirations, and not let down your Khan and my expectations of you!"

After Yongzheng stamped the seal with great satisfaction, he put the pen back in the pen holder, and then, with a flourish of his sleeves, he walked around the room, occasionally stopping in front of the mirror to look at himself.

Hongli, however, did not expect that Yongzheng would find out so quickly that Zhu Shi and others' advocacy for the secret establishment of an heir was at his own request.

At this moment, Hongli nodded and said, "Father, you flatter me. I made this bold proposal out of fear of the trouble caused by factions. My intention is to show that if I and all the officials in the country have any factions, they can only be Father's faction!"

Yongzheng adjusted his headscarf in front of the mirror and said, "It's good that you can think of the disaster of factions. It's just a pity that old codger Wang Yan is not as good as you. He actually wanted to use the establishment of an heir as a pretext to collude with Manchu and Han officials to stir up trouble. And your eighth uncle too!"

"So, what does Father intend to do with Wang Yan?"

Hongli then turned to look at Yongzheng.

Yongzheng turned around, looked at him, and then sighed: "When the late emperor was in power, he repeatedly provoked him, and the late emperor still tolerated him. Considering that he is also getting old, I am planning to let him retire and return to his hometown."

"But what if he can survive like Li Shanchang?"

At this point, Hongli asked Yongzheng a question in return.

Yongzheng was stunned, and a chill appeared in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)