My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 19: The Crown Prince Should Look at the Emperor's Grandson
Hongli followed Kangxi into a courtyard.

Although this courtyard is not big, it is quiet and peaceful.

When he and Kangxi walked through the corridor, before reaching the second courtyard, they saw an old man rushing over with the support of many people.

When the old man saw them, he knelt down immediately.
"Your Highness Fang Bao pays homage to the Emperor!"

Kangxi raised his hand and then put it behind his back, saying with a smile, "Forget it."

Hongli was slightly stunned.

He had heard of Fang Bao.

I know that he is now not only the top scholar among the Jiangnan literati, but also the founder of the Tongcheng School in the Qing Dynasty.

In fact, this person's fame will continue to grow as the status of the Tongcheng School becomes higher and higher in the Qing Dynasty.

This also made Hongli look at him a few more times.

He saw that Fang Bao was thin, hunched over, with a sickly look on his face and lacking in righteousness.

But his pale hair was combed neatly, and his eyes were quite deep and bright. While he saluted Kangxi very respectfully, he was also stealing glances at him.

"I did not know Your Majesty was visiting my humble home. I failed to welcome you. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

After Fang Bao stood up to express his gratitude, he began to plead guilty.

Kangxi naturally pardoned him and introduced Hongli to Fang Bao.

Fang Bao naturally also paid his respects to Hongli.

When they entered the Fang family's main hall, Hongli and Kangxi sat down. Kangxi said to Fang Bao, "I went out of the city to inquire about the price of rice, so I brought Hongli with me. I came to see you and talk to you."

"I am but a humble scholar, yet Your Majesty has granted me a residence in the inner city, and now you have personally visited me. I am truly flattered."

Fang Bao still answered very respectfully.

Kangxi smiled and said, "I came to see you because you are recuperating from your illness and we haven't seen each other for a long time. I also want you to give Hongli some advice on writing."

"He is now under my personal instruction. He is fine with other subjects, but he needs your guidance on writing, as an old scholar."

After Kangxi said this, he waved to Hongli.

Hongli stood up and came to Fang Bao, bowing and saying, "I would like to ask for your guidance, Mr. Fang."

"Don't dare, don't dare."

"My prince is able to receive personal instruction from His Majesty, which shows that he is truly exceptional. I am fortunate to be able to teach you a thing or two."

Fang Bao spoke very humbly and modestly.

There is none of the arrogance that was common among the scholars and officials of the previous dynasty!

Then Fang Bao asked Hongli, "I wonder if you have ever learned how to write?"

"I wrote some when I was studying in the palace."

Hongli did write articles.

But that was what the original owner of this body had written when he was in school.

Afterwards, Fang Bao asked Hongli, "I wonder if you have any insights into current writing styles?"

Hongli knew that Fang Bao wanted to know what his views were on writing classical Chinese, so that he could know his own thoughts on Confucianism and whether he shared the same ideals as Fang Bao.

Since Fang Bao is a representative of the Han gentry, he will naturally need many friends if he wants to do things in the future.

So, Hongli said at this time: "I think that a good article should pay equal attention to the three elements of 'morality, textual research, and rhetoric'!"

During his previous life as a volunteer teacher, Hongli taught Chinese for a period of time and also studied ancient literature for a period of time.

Therefore, he knew the development history of the Tongcheng School. He knew that the Confucianism behind the Tongcheng School was the Pure Learning, which originated from the great thinker Gu Yanwu in the late Ming Dynasty, and then developed in the middle and late Qing Dynasty and disappeared in the early Republic of China.

The idea that "morality, textual research, and rhetoric" are equally important is the precise summary and derivation of the ancient prose thought advocated by Fang Bao by Yao Nai, the master of the Tongcheng School during the Qianlong period.

Therefore, Hongli put forward this proposal.

He believed that Fang Bao would agree with him, and might even be inspired, and hope that he could become emperor in the future, which would help his school of thought flourish.

Fang Bao was stunned for a moment.

Kangxi also noticed that Fang Bao's expression was not right, so he smiled and said, "If there is anything wrong, you are free to point it out. You don't have to consider my feelings. After all, everyone has their own level of knowledge and expertise!"

"Your Majesty is right, but in my humble opinion, when it comes to writing, your opinion can be considered my teacher."

"I have always advocated that writing should have moral principles and be based on facts, evidence, and reason. As my brother has summarized, it should be based on moral principles, textual research, and rhetoric."

Fang Bao spoke at this time, and what he said surprised Kangxi for a moment: "How old is he to be your teacher?"

"As Mr. Changli said, as Your Majesty quoted, there are differences in the order in which people learn the truth, and in the specialization of skills." "Furthermore, there have been many child prodigies since ancient times. Although those as gifted as you are rare nowadays, there have been many such examples throughout history."

Fang Bao replied at this time.

Kangxi nodded after hearing this, and then said to Hongli: "Hongli, please go out for a walk first. I have something to talk to Mr. Fang in private."

"Whoo!"

Hongli bowed and retreated, laughing in his heart.

He knew that if he brought up Yao Nai's views, he would impress Fang Bao and force these Han scholars to make more considerations in their political stance.

At this time, Fang Bao's thoughts were indeed still immersed in what Hongli had just said, which emphasized the importance of "morality, textual research, and rhetoric."

"There are some things that I cannot discuss with the princes, but you Han people are better to ask."

"Linggao, you don't know that ever since I saw that Yinreng was truly incompetent and had to make up my mind to depose him, I don't know how to decide on the heir position, and I worry about it every day."

"I'd like to hear your opinion."

At this time, Kangxi deliberately asked Fang Bao seriously about the issue of establishing a crown prince.

Fang Bao hurriedly stood up and knelt, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Although I have been promoted to serve under the Han Army Banner by Your Majesty, I am still a Han Chinese and cannot interfere in this matter."

"If I want you to say it, just say it!"

Kangxi said a little angrily.

Fang Bao pretended to be shocked and said, "Well, in my humble opinion, if you really can't choose from among the sons, then why not look directly at the emperor's grandson?"

"Grandson of the Emperor?"

Kangxi turned around and asked Fang Bao.

Fang Bao looked at the ants crawling towards his finger and said firmly, "Yes, Your Majesty is worried about the future of our Qing Dynasty. The future of our Qing Dynasty will not just be one generation, but generations to come. However, Your Majesty can only see the next generation and the next generation after that. And the next generation after that will certainly have outstanding talents."

"I understand."

"Please stand up."

Kangxi also stood up, paced slowly around the room, and then raised his hand to ask Fang Bao to stand up.

Then, Kangxi looked at Fang Bao and said, "Don't tell anyone that I was here."

"According to the order!"

Kangxi then left Fang's house with Hongli.

"Good boy, you've won the heart of the Han gentry with just one sentence!"

After returning to the car, Kangxi patted Hongli on the shoulder, smiled and said something, and then asked Hongli: "How did you come up with that sentence?"

"Because I've read some of their articles, I know they really are starting to immerse themselves in practical learning and no longer dare to have the same extravagant hopes as the previous dynasty, so I say this."

Hongli replied at this time.

After hearing this, Kangxi nodded, but didn't say much.

After Hongli came back, he went back to Guanlan Pavilion to rest. He was a little tired after being out for a day.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

All the princes and grandchildren entered Changchun Garden.

Hongli was also able to see Hongzhou again in Changchun Garden.

Hongshi naturally came too.

But what Hongli didn't expect was that when Hongshi saw him, he pulled him aside and asked him, "Did you beat Yinshuang, who was beside your grandmother?"

Hongli nodded in agreement.

Hongshi frowned, "She's actually Hongchun's woman! Go and apologize to Hongchun right away, don't let him down. After all, you have to look at the owner before you beat him. Otherwise, he might not let you down in the future!"

Hongli couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

He won't apologize.

If he had to apologize for dealing with a servant who defected to Hongchun, then anyone who defected to Hongchun would take him as a prince even less seriously.

He couldn't do such a cowardly thing.

Besides, Hongchun is not worth it for him to do this.

Therefore, Hongli simply said, "Don't worry about this, Third Brother. Who the hell is Yin Shuang? Is she worth me apologizing to irrelevant people because of her?"

(End of this chapter)