My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 15: The Greedy Kangxi

Not long after, Niuhuru and Hongzhou arrived. After paying their respects, Kangxi rewarded them with fine gifts as it was the first time he met them.

What Niu Hulu received was some silk and satin.

What Hong Zhou got was a jade pendant.

Afterwards, Kangxi let the two of them sit at the last seat behind Li.

The two of them naturally thanked him with great joy.

Especially Hong Zhou, who was still a child, did not hide his excitement at all.

However, this also made Li feel even more uncomfortable.

This made her regret not having urged Hongshi to get along well with Hongli.

At this time, the dishes were all served. Kangxi picked up the dish he thought was the most delicious and gave it to Hongli and Shushen respectively, and asked them to taste it.

Hongli and Shushen naturally said it was delicious.

It’s really delicious!
Hongli was quite shocked.

He had been in Prince Yong's Mansion for so long, but this was the first time he tasted the signature dish made by the famous chef who came with Prince Yong's wife as a dowry.

Famous Shandong dishes include Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Three Beauties Tofu, Boiled Red-Scaled Fish, Dezhou Braised Chicken, Nine-Turn Large Intestine, Stir-fried Double Crisps, Fried Oyster Roe, Four-Flavor Prawns, Braised Abalone in Its Shell, and Steamed Garlic Fish.

Every time Old Sixteen introduced something, Hongli would try it.

For a moment, he felt the pleasure on his taste buds that never stopped.

He also began to deeply appreciate the pleasure of Li Yunlong attending a banquet at Chu Yunfei's place, and he also understood why, as recorded in the Qing Veritable Records, Kangxi often went to the fourth brother's Xingyuan for banquets.

But after the banquet, Kangxi felt too full and asked the imperial physician to treat him.

The imperial physician therefore requested permission to give Kangxi moxibustion to aid digestion.

While receiving moxibustion, Kangxi could not help but smile and said to everyone: "I am just in the Fourth Prince's house. I often can't control my mouth. You don't know how to persuade me!"

"I only thought about making Khan Ama happy, and forgot to give advice. My daughter-in-law is guilty!"

Ulanara replied with a wry smile.

Kangxi waved his hand and said, "Forget it!"

Hongli laughed secretly on the side. He laughed at Kangxi for not being able to control his mouth and actually putting the blame on others.

At this time, Hongli himself couldn't help but start pressing his abdomen hard.

There's no way, this dish is really delicious.

He also couldn't control his mouth.

"In the morning, drink the dew of magnolia, and in the evening, eat the fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemum. Fourth brother, you know how to relax."

After Kangxi finished the moxibustion, Hongli, Yongzheng, Ulanara and others accompanied Kangxi for a walk in the garden to help digest the food, and they also took the opportunity to appreciate the chrysanthemums in the Prince Yong's Mansion.

Kangxi also said a sentence at this time and started talking with Yongzheng.

Hongli didn't listen carefully to what Kangxi said to everyone next. He just continued to rub his stomach seriously.

But he found that Hong Zhou was just rubbing his stomach like him.

Hongli couldn't help but smile.

Hong Zhou came over at this time and whispered to Hong Li, "Fourth brother, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to have such a delicious meal. The Shandong cuisine chef in Fujin's family is indeed well-deserved. No wonder Khan Mafa likes to come here so often."

"As for this jade pendant, it was because Fourth Brother was thinking of me that he asked Khan Mafa to give it to me as a gift."

"I will definitely remember your kindness, Fourth Brother. Whatever you ask me to do in the future, I will do it without hesitation."

Hong Zhou took out the imperial jade pendant from his sleeve and said to Hong Li while admiring it.

Hong Zhou was even afraid that Hong Li would not believe him, so he continued, "Really, Fourth Brother, in my eyes, you are my real brother!"

"I believe you. Then you should keep a close eye on me in the palace. If there is anything that is detrimental to your fourth brother, or if there is anything that happened to my princess but she doesn't want to talk about, remember to tell me."

Hongli then began to give orders.

He still admired Hong Zhou's tact. He thought that although Hong Zhou was young, he was the emperor's grandson after all. He was influenced by his family and was quite smart. He knew that he should come to the fore when he had the chance.

And he really needed more people to keep an eye on him in Prince Yong's Mansion.

After all, he knew very well who would be the one who would succeed in winning the throne in the future.

That's why he gave Hong Zhou these instructions.

Hong Zhou hummed, and whispered, "I see, Fourth Brother. I'll keep an eye on everything going on in the mansion for you. When you come back next time, I'll tell you everything I know."

"Good brother!"

"I love you for what you have done!"

Hongli patted Hongzhou on the shoulder, and Hongzhou chuckled.

Hongli and Hongzhou followed Yongzheng and others and stayed with Kangxi until Kangxi fell asleep.

However, after Kangxi fell asleep, he and Hongzhou had almost digested the food, so they stopped moving and returned to their respective princesses.

After Hongli came back, he did not go to bed immediately, but sat next to Niohuru and read a book.

Niu Hulu continued to sew on the side, and from time to time she used the needle to make the wick of the lamp bigger. At the same time, she turned around and said to Hongli, "If you feel sleepy, let Haitang take you to bed. You have to go back to the garden tomorrow morning."

Hongli said "hmm".

"The Fourth Master is here!"

But at this moment, Yongzheng suddenly came.

Niohuru was so flustered that before she could even put down her needlework, Yongzheng entered the courtyard and said, "I'm here to talk to Hongli. There's no need to be polite. Just continue doing what you need to do!"

So, Hongli went to welcome Yongzheng into his bedroom and asked, "Father, what do you want?"

"Are you used to being around your Khan Mafa?"

Yongzheng asked.

Hongli said, "I'm used to it. Khanmafa treats his son very well. But when I'm alone, I also miss my father and the people in the mansion."

Yongzheng nodded and said, "When I met Princess Shushen alone today, she said that you two siblings get along very well and that you, as her younger brother, respect her very much. I was very pleased to hear that."

Hongli just pursed his lips slightly at this.

He knew why Princess Shushen said that.

But he had to admit that Yongzheng was indeed very concerned about Princess Shushen and had even asked about how he and Princess Shushen got along.

"Hongli, you must get along well with your sister and try to keep her by your side, Khan Mafa, because she has a special status. Furthermore, there have been rumors recently that someone wants to drive her out of the palace and prevent her from staying by your side."

"Do you know why?"

When Yongzheng got to this point, he asked Hongli.

Hongli pretended to think seriously, then asked, "Is it because she is my second uncle's daughter?"

"Indeed, the fact that you can think of this proves that you have not stayed in your Khanmafa for so long in vain."

"Although your second uncle has been deposed, those who are sworn enemies of your second uncle will worry every day as long as they know that your imperial sister has not stayed with your Khan Mafa for even one more day, fearing that he will reinstate your second uncle again."

"But regardless of whether Khan Mafa will reinstate your second uncle, we cannot let them succeed! If they do, your sister will be in great danger, and it will also make it more difficult for your father and I to do anything in the future!"

"So, you must also get along well with this imperial sister, and don't provoke her to leave you, Khanmafa!"

Although Yongzheng did not explain it too clearly to Hongli, Hongli still understood what Yongzheng meant.

It was simply that Yongzheng hoped that the fact that Princess Shushen was by Kangxi's side would make people like the Eighth and Fourteenth Princes continue to focus more on suppressing the Prince's party, rather than concentrating on dealing with him.

"Don't worry, my son will remember it."

"My son will keep a close eye on this imperial sister and ensure she stays safely with Khanmafa."

Hongli made a promise.

Yongzheng smiled with relief and chose to stay with Niohuru that night.

But fortunately, Hongli had Haitang, so his sleep was not affected.

After Li returned, she called Hongshi, who did not move out to live alone in a separate house but only lived in a separate courtyard, and told him what happened today.

"You should find an opportunity to improve your relationship with Hongli."

"Who knows? You can rely on him to get you named the crown prince. After all, he is with Khan Mafa now."

Li even persuaded Hongshi for this.

Hongshi said, "It's useless. I've already offended him. I can't beg him again as his brother, right?"

Li sighed helplessly, "You are too impulsive. Once you get angry, you don't know how to hold back. If you could attend your Khan's private banquet this time, maybe your Khan would be so happy that he would let you become the crown prince."

"Okay, mother, you don't have to worry too much."

"It's just a private party. It's no big deal if I didn't go. Anyway, Khanmafa's health is not as good as before. It will only take a few years. It's better to focus on Fourteenth Uncle than on him. Even if Hongli has won his favor now, he won't be able to be arrogant for many more years."

"It's the same with Father. It doesn't matter if he doesn't like me. It's because he has no ambition to be the emperor. So don't blame others for not taking him seriously."

"As long as my Fourteenth Uncle, Eighth Uncle, and the others like me, I'll have everything when my Fourteenth Uncle ascends the throne."

"At that time, maybe Father and Hongli will have to ask me to speak well of them to Fourteenth Uncle. They will have to see how I feel!"

Hongshi spoke confidently, and it was obvious that he was determined to place his bets on the Fourteenth Prince.

(End of this chapter)