My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 60: Yongzheng ascends the throne and the Empress Dowager

Hongli smiled slightly at this. He did not look down on Hongzhou because of this. He even admired him quite a bit.

After learning riding and archery, Hongli had to return to Maoqin Hall to wait for Yinxiang to give him lessons.

Although Yinxiang had been hidden by Kangxi since the failure of the Crown Prince incident, he was very much favored by Kangxi in his early years.

Kangxi would always take Yinxiang with him wherever he went, because Yinxiang was a versatile talent with both literary and martial talents, and was deeply trusted by the deposed Crown Prince Yinreng.

However, after being deposed as the crown prince for the second time, Yinxiang suffered from kyphosis and his health was far worse than before, so he could no longer ride on horseback.

Therefore, he can only assist Yongzheng in handling state affairs and teach the children of the royal family by the way.

The reason why Yinxiang was a versatile person was that he was not only proficient in Manchu and Mongolian languages, but also had considerable attainments in foreign languages ​​such as English and Latin, and was more proficient in Western learning.

Historically, after the ninth prince Yinzhen was dealt with, he was in charge of foreign affairs.

Therefore, Yongzheng asked Yinxiang to teach Hongli military strategy and Manchu and Mongolian languages, as well as Western learning and other knowledge.

When Hongli arrived at Maoqin Hall, Yinxiang was already standing under the eaves outside the hall, looking at the Milky Way in the sky.

"Coming!"

Yinxiang smiled as soon as he saw Hongli.

Hongli bowed hurriedly and said, "I didn't expect Uncle Thirteen to be here already. I'm so sorry for being so late!"

"I was too lazy to go back, so I came here early. You and I are uncle and nephew, so there is no need to be so rigid about these empty formalities."

"Come in. When it comes to Manchu, Mongolian, Western studies, and mathematics, your uncle is even better. He even plans to create his own font."

After Yinxiang entered the Maoqin Hall, he did not sit down, but started chatting with Hongli.

Hongli also knew that the ninth prince Yinzhen was not only good at business, but also well-educated, especially talented in linguistics.

However, probably because Yongzheng was not confident in Lao Jiu, Yongzheng did not intend to let Lao Jiu be his teacher.

"As for the An Da I promised you, I'm still choosing for you. Once I've chosen one, please ask Fourth Brother to approve it and have him practice horseback riding and archery with you."

Then, Yinxiang talked about other things, and based on Hongli's existing knowledge of Manchu and Mongolian, he taught him how to write corresponding documents in Manchu and Mongolian and how to use military strategies.

After Hongli learned Manchu and Mongolian literature and military tactics from Yinxiang, Yinxiang took a look at the Western clock in Maoqin Hall and said:

"There's still some time before the palace gates close. How about Uncle Thirteen teach you Spanish?"

Hongli nodded and said, "I wonder, Uncle Thirteen, which Western learning do you want to teach my nephew?"

"English!"

"Once you've learned it well, you can use it to earn money from those who come to our Qing Dynasty to preach! In recent years, your thirteenth uncle and I, your ninth uncle, have both bought shares in a trading company called Nanhai and have made quite a bit of money."

Yinxiang said.

South China Sea?

Hongli couldn't help but open his mouth.

He didn't expect that Qing princes such as Yinxiang and Laojiu were already buying stocks of British companies through missionaries.

But he did not know much about modern foreign economic history, and was not sure about the origins of the British South Sea Trading Company.

Although, he knew that many large companies in later generations in the West had a long history, many of them had already begun to emerge during this period.

Hongli said to Old Thirteen, "It seems that we must learn Western learning!"

“Yes, you have to learn!”

Yinxiang wrote the English alphabet on a piece of paper and handed it to Hongli: "I will teach you the Western alphabet first."

Then, Hongli followed Yinxiang and began to recite.

After Hongli followed Yinxiang in reciting, he began to recite it himself at Yinxiang's request. Yinxiang looked at him in surprise and said, "Good for you, Hongli! Uncle Thirteen didn't expect you to be such a genius in this area. You can actually do it in one take!"

Hongli smiled.

He certainly wouldn't say that he already had a foundation in English.

After that, Hongli's life basically revolved around his studies, and he did not participate in national decision-making.

The events at court seemed to have nothing to do with him. Like other members of the imperial family, he participated in the coronation ceremony a few days later and learned that the new reign title was Yongzheng.

On the fifth day of December, he learned from the "Di Bao" that Yongzheng had made Concubine De the Empress Dowager, and gave her the title of Empress Dowager Renshou, and asked her to move to Ningshou Palace, wanting to respect her with the whole world.

"Old Fourteen is coming back, so it's better for me not to move to another palace."

But on the evening of the day when Yongzheng gave Defei the title of honor, when Hongli and the Fourth Lady came to pay their respects to her, Defei expressed her idea of ​​not moving to the palace.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Lady was also surprised. "Er Nie, what does this have to do with Fourteenth Uncle coming back? You are the Empress Dowager. You should have moved to the Ningshou Palace, which was where the Empress Dowager lived when the late Emperor was born. How can you live in the palace where ordinary concubines live? It's against etiquette!"

"What's the problem? We're just living here anyway!"

"The late emperor didn't pass the throne to the fourteenth prince, and the third, eighth, and ninth princes, who were close to him, have all accepted the status quo. If I, as his mother, were to move to another palace and become the empress dowager without any reason, would he be able to bear it?"

Defei, also known as Empress Dowager Renshou, looked at the Fourth Lady with a worried look on her face.

The Fourth Lady smiled awkwardly.

Her brain short-circuited for a moment.

The main reason is that the decision made by Concubine De was so unexpected!

She had never imagined that this would happen.

The Empress Dowager Renshou then added, "I have already sent someone to tell the Emperor about this matter. Now I am waiting for him to come and discuss it with me in the evening."

After hearing this, the Fourth Lady became even more flustered.

Hongli had been mentally prepared for this.

Therefore, Hongli spoke first and said, "Empress Dowager, you can't think like that. Fourteenth Uncle wouldn't be unhappy just because you said to move the palace. He would probably be sad because you refused to move the palace!"

The Empress Dowager Renshou looked at Hongli in confusion: "Nonsense, how could he be sad!"

"Because you've blocked his path to becoming a prince and receiving the title of Prince!"

Hongli knew that he could not change the Empress Dowager Renshou's heart, as she cared more about her youngest son.

He could only take advantage of the fact that Empress Dowager Renshou cared more about her youngest son and paint a rosy picture for her, so that she would really think about her youngest son's future instead of just caring about her youngest son's current feelings.

"You can't just worry about whether Fourteenth Uncle is happy now and whether he can accept your move to the palace now, without considering the future glory of Fourteenth Uncle and his descendants as the Iron-hat Prince."

"Even if Fourteenth Uncle doesn't understand you now, he will understand you in the future. Khan Ama and his grandson will make him understand in the future."

"Think about it. If you refuse to move the palace, Fourteenth Uncle will know now that you did it for him, but in the future he'll realize that it was you who prevented him from obtaining the title of Iron Hat King. Won't he and his descendants always resent you?"

Hongli's words and deeds were all intended to flatter Empress Dowager Renshou, saying that only if he was willing to move to the palace would Yongzheng confer the title of prince on the fourteenth prince, a title of iron-hat king.

Of course, when it comes to making promises, it’s enough to just draw them well, not to actually deliver on them.

Because he himself could not guarantee whether Yongzheng would give the Fourteenth Prince the title of Iron Hat King if he was in a good mood because Empress Dowager Renshou agreed to move the palace.

The Empress Dowager Renshou herself was unsure, so she asked Hongli, "If I move to a new palace, will your fourteenth uncle really have such an honor?"

"I don't know if you've moved the palace yet, but I know that if you hadn't been willing to do so and encouraged your Fourteenth Uncle to come back and cause a scene, then you definitely wouldn't have received this honor."

"Because even if Khan Ama is willing to give Fourteenth Uncle the title of Iron Hat King, the people of the world will not agree that an impulsive brother of the Emperor can be made a prince!"

"Now, the most important thing is your performance!"

"Your performance will determine the views of Khan Ama, your uncles, and even your grandchildren on this matter!"

The Empress Dowager Renshou understood Hongli's meaning and knew that if she did not cooperate now, Yongzheng would be unhappy, and it is very likely that Hongli, the next emperor, would also be unhappy, so she sighed and said, "Okay."

"The Emperor has arrived!"

At this time, Yongzheng's voice came from outside.

After a while, Yongzheng walked quickly to the Empress Dowager Renshou with a very bad look on his face.

Hongli, the fourth lady and others all knelt down.

Hongli only heard Yongzheng say to the Empress Dowager Renshou as soon as he entered: "Mother, by not moving the palace, aren't you intending for the world to laugh at me?"

"I've changed my mind. Let's move tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)