My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 10: The Extravagance of the Qing Emperors

Hongli was slightly startled.

He didn't expect that Kangxi's spies would be so well-informed.

For this reason, Hongli did not intend to hide it and answered truthfully: "Replying to Khanmafa, my eighth uncle did suddenly let my grandson go to see him yesterday."

"What did he say to you?"

Kangxi looked at Hongli with satisfaction and asked with a smile.

Hongli replied, "He told his grandson not to be afraid when he comes to the palace. He has already informed all the servants."

Kangxi's face suddenly darkened.

But then, Kangxi regained his composure and said with a smile, "Your eighth uncle really cares about you."

"Well, I think my uncles are all very kind. My father also told me to always remember their kindness."

Hongli knew that Kangxi was a very contradictory person. Although he was very sensitive to the loss of power, he was guarding against his sons seizing power like a thief, but deep down, he also hoped that his sons would live in harmony and not kill each other.

So, Hongli said this and also said a good word for Yongzheng.

After hearing this, Kangxi did not doubt that the ten-year-old Hongli would say something against his will. He just nodded and said, "Your father was right! You are indeed a sensible and good child!"

At this time, eunuchs had already brought in cakes.

Kangxi took it personally and placed it in front of Hongli: "Eat it."

After thanking him, Hongli started eating, pretending to be very hungry.

"Slower!"

"Be careful not to choke."

Kangxi personally brought Hongli a cup of tea, and then smiled kindly at Hongli as he ate the cakes.

Hongli ate some cakes and then stopped eating.

Kangxi then asked, "Are you full?"

"No, I'm saving my stomach for Khanmafa's imperial meal."

Hongli replied.

Kangxi burst into laughter after hearing this and shook his finger at Hongli a few times: "You little brat, you are a descendant of my Aisin-Gioro family after all!"

"very good!"

"Ask the imperial kitchen how long it will take."

Kangxi gave an order to Liang Jiugong.

"Whoo!"

Not long after, all kinds of delicacies were delivered from the imperial kitchen.

Kangxi's imperial meal consisted of forty-eight dishes.

Therefore, after these dishes were laid out, Hongli felt like he was eating in a buffet restaurant.

After serving all the dishes, Kangxi said to Hongli, "Try whatever you want. There's no need to be formal. We are the only ones here, grandfather and grandson."

"Please remember what your little brother says is delicious and always keep it on hand."

Kangxi then gave Liang Jiugong some instructions.

"Whoo!"

Hongli did not reject Kangxi's love, but actually started to choose seriously.

Hongli was naturally very satisfied with the dinner.

However, the Qing Dynasty royal family's dinner was between noon and 2 pm, so after Hongli and Kangxi finished their meal, the sun was still shining brightly outside, and it was not really dusk.

Hongli accompanied Kangxi and took a walk in Changchun Garden to help digest the food.

Changchun Garden is very large, and even the area around Qingxi Book House has all kinds of beautiful scenery, including lakes and mountains.

Although it is manually stacked and excavated, it is very quiet and makes people feel relaxed.

Hongli had to admit that the emperors of the Qing Dynasty were no less enjoyable than the emperors of previous dynasties.

This kind of behavior, after returning to Jiangnan, would involve large-scale construction in Yanbei, replicating the garden features seen in Jiangnan gardens. Naturally, it would cost a huge amount of money, but there was no loyal minister like Hai Rui who dared to directly criticize the emperor for his extravagance.

Almost all civil servants chose to keep their mouths shut.

Like the luxurious gardens of the literati in the south of the Yangtze River, Changchun Garden also has pavilions, studios, halls, terraces and courtyards.

When Kangxi was strolling with Hongli among the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains, he pointed out several pavilions and introduced them, and also pointed out which nobles were currently living in these pavilions.

This made Hongli feel as if he had traveled into the world of "Dream of the Red Chamber", where every master-class person living in the garden had his own independent courtyard.

After moving into Changchun Garden, Hongli naturally had his own independent courtyard, named Guanlan Pavilion, which was chosen by Emperor Kangxi long ago.

The people who served Hongli had already gone to Guanlan Pavilion.

After telling him about several pavilions, Kangxi began to talk about his training.

"After you go back and rest for half an hour, Khanmafa will take you to practice horseback riding and archery, and then let them teach you firearms. Tomorrow morning, they will teach you other subjects. You can make your own arrangements in the evening."

"Ok!"

"Hongli, do you know why the Qing Dynasty was able to enter the Pass and conquer this world?"

As Kangxi spoke, he began to ask Hongli questions about history.

"It's because Taizu, Taizong, and Shizu were all very wise and powerful."

Hongli knew that Kangxi wanted to teach him through casual conversation, so he deliberately gave very superficial answers to satisfy Kangxi's desire to be a teacher.

Kangxi did laugh. "That's certainly one reason, but more importantly, the Han gentry need our help to suppress the rebellious refugees! Therefore, if our Qing Dynasty wants to maintain its rule forever, we must first prevent the emergence of large numbers of refugees like the Ming Dynasty, and secondly, prevent the rise of foreign heroes like Taizu and Taizong. No one else can tread the path our Qing Dynasty has taken!"

Hongli understood what Kangxi meant. It was simply that after the Manchus had gotten on the bus in this way, other ethnic minorities would no longer be allowed to get on the bus, and the car doors had to be welded shut!
Hongli could understand why the three emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong were so cruel to Mongolia, Junggar and the southwestern chieftains in history.

Hongli nodded repeatedly.

Kangxi continued to address Hongli, "So, descendants of the Aisin-Gioro family must learn Chinese, mathematics, and physics, as well as horseback riding, archery, and firearms. After all, the imperial family of the Great Qing Dynasty is expected to hold power and lead the various banners. Otherwise, we will not be able to rely on the bannermen and control the Han gentry. You will begin by learning horseback riding and archery today, and Khan Mafa will teach you personally."

Next, Hongli went to the horse farm in Changchun Garden with Kangxi.

This is where Emperor Kangxi reviewed military exercises.

Every October or November, Kangxi would review the military candidates' riding, archery, skills and bravery here, and sometimes he would also hold the ceremony of announcing the results here.

"Turichen, you come and teach Hongli!"

"Whoo!"

After Hongli followed Kangxi here, Kangxi asked Turichen, the lieutenant commander of the Zhenghuang Banner Guard, to make Hongli's bow and arrow.

"Master, please hold the bow first!"

Turichen selected a low-force bow for Hongli and handed it to him.

Hongli took it over and began to practice under Turichen's guidance.

Hongli noticed that Turichen's arms were obviously thicker than his calves, and there was a scar on his palms, which showed that he had been on the battlefield.

As far as Hongli knew, Turichen was very good at movement in a certain TV series, but in reality, he had worked as a civil servant, had been on a diplomatic mission to the Torghut tribe, and had inspected Siberia, the Ural Mountains and other regions along the way.

This is what Hongli is interested in. He hopes that in the future he can still use Turichen's advantages in investigating Siberia and the Ural Mountains.

Tulichen taught very seriously, but not harshly. He even found opportunities to praise Hongli: "You are very talented. You can become the number one Baturu of the Qing Dynasty in the future!"

Hongli smiled faintly. He deeply suspected that the other princes and grandchildren of the Turichen Sect would say the same thing.

But no matter what, Turichen's education with encouragement and praise was very useful to Hongli. At least it made him more interested in riding and shooting, and he no longer felt irritated because his arms were sore from holding the bow for a long time.

Kangxi sat down in a pavilion on the side and watched Hongli practice riding and shooting with a smile on his face.

After learning horse riding and archery and resting for a while, Hongli went back to Guanlan Pavilion to take a bath and change into some half-worn clothes.

Kangxi also came here, and after Hongli came out, he asked Liang Jiugong: "Have you made a double cover for your master with the dark blue mink coat that Luosha Kingdom presented as tribute?"

Liang Jiugong smiled and replied, "It's already done."

"Here, let your grandfather wear it. It's still a bit cold today, don't catch a cold."

Not long after Kangxi said this, Liang Jiugong brought a round-necked mink coat.

The people around Hongli helped him put it on.

Hongli soon felt warm all over, and could not help but touch the clothes that were so-called tribute from the Rakshasa Kingdom. He knew that the so-called Rakshasa Kingdom was Russia. After the Kangxi Dynasty signed a treaty with the Qing Dynasty, the two sides had maintained exchanges.

Kangxi said to Hongli, "Besides your sister Princess Shushen, you are the only one who has this dress. Please cherish it and don't let it get burned by the charcoal fire."

Hongli said "hmm".

He knew that the so-called Princess Shushen was the daughter of the deposed Crown Prince Yinreng. Because she was favored by Emperor Kangxi, she was named a princess as the emperor's granddaughter.

Moreover, after Yinreng was deposed, Kangxi was afraid that she would be wronged, so he brought her into the palace to raise her.

What Hongli also knew was that Princess Shushen was not only favored by Kangxi, but also by Yongzheng. After being raised in the palace by Kangxi, Yongzheng continued to raise her in the palace after he ascended the throne. Later, she married into the Khorchin tribe of Mongolia and lived to be over seventy years old.

And this Princess Shushen was only three years older than him.

Because Kangxi had to go back to review memorials, he told Hongli, who didn't have to study today, that if he was bored, he could go and play with Princess Shushen.

However, what Hongli did not expect was that not long after Kangxi left, he saw a well-behaved, fair-skinned girl, also wearing a large fur-lined coat of the same color as his, appear in front of him.

Haitang, who was beside Hongli, hurriedly introduced her, "She is Princess Shushen!"

(End of this chapter)