Chapter Two: Bounty Leaves

After hearing this, Yongzheng’s expression indeed softened considerably.

“It is rare that you still remember your Thirteenth Uncle at a time like this!”

With that, Yongzheng even patted Hongli on the shoulder, and for once, a smile appeared on his face.

For at the moment, no one was willing to bring up Yinzhen when the crown prince’s party had fallen from favor; even many of the princes avoided mentioning him altogether.

Even Yongzheng himself, in order not to arouse Kangxi’s suspicion, had to pretend in ordinary days that he had forgotten the very existence of that man.

But the more this was so, the more Yongzheng, who valued loyalty and affection, pitied Yinzhen, and the more he felt that he had failed him.

Thus, when Hongli said that he had been feeling gloomy because he missed his Thirteenth Uncle, it struck a chord with Yongzheng and instantly made him fond of Hongli.

This caused Niohuru and the people around her to breathe a great sigh of relief, all of them showing happy expressions.

“I want to learn horsemanship again from Thirteenth Uncle, and go hunting with him again.”

“Thirteenth Uncle’s riding and archery are the best, and he took the best care of us.”

Hongli added at this point.

At the moment, Hongli’s childlike face was full of innocence.

Yongzheng kept nodding.

He was clearly convinced that Hongli spoke from the heart.

To speak of it, Yongzheng had not originally planned to come see Niohuru and Hongli.

But after learning that Hongshi, regardless of his feelings, had secretly gone to the mansion of the Eighth Prince to watch a play, he no longer wished to visit his most favored consort, Lady Li, and instead decided to come see his other two sons, both older than ten.

What he had not expected was that when he first came to Hongli, he learned that Hongli, too, had been thinking of the Old Thirteenth just as he had.

Then, though he had not intended to enter the room, Yongzheng ended up going inside Niohuru and Hongli’s quarters, and even walked alongside Hongli with uncommon initiative, instructing him in a very gentle tone: “From now on, you are not allowed to climb up there again, do you understand?”

“I remember, Father.”

Hongli nodded, and to prove that he truly cared for the old Thirteenth, he took the initiative to ask Yongzheng, “Father, may I go see Thirteenth Uncle?”

Those words moved Yongzheng even more.

After sitting down, Yongzheng did not take the tea Niohuru offered him. Instead, he held Hongli’s hands in both of his own and said to him with a look of deep apology:

“Not yet. If the Emperor Grandfather should one day remember your Thirteenth Uncle, and allow him to attend the palace banquet, then you will be able to speak with your Thirteenth Uncle in the palace.”

Hongli nodded and, pretending to be disappointed, said, “I understand.”

Seeing Hongli’s disappointed face, Yongzheng’s sense of guilt grew even stronger.

Because of that, he decided to show a little more concern for Hongli, to display a father’s tenderness and keep the child from feeling too let down by him.

So Yongzheng smiled and asked Hongli, “I hear from Master Wu that your studies are quite good?”

Hongli replied modestly, “Master Wu praises me too highly; I do not deserve such praise. I only study diligently, and it is not as though I truly do everything well.”

“Bring me your schoolwork and let me have a look.”

Seeing how sensible Hongli was, Yongzheng felt increasingly pleased, and decided to properly get to know this illegitimate son who usually did not draw much of his attention.

Niohuru quickly smiled and handed over Hongli’s exercise books.

Yongzheng then truly began checking Hongli’s studies.

Although Hongli had been a mathematics teacher in his previous life, calligraphy had been his hobby, so writing brush characters was no trouble for him. In addition, he had inherited the original owner’s knowledge, so after taking over the body of the future Qianlong Emperor, he had not fallen behind in his studies in Chinese, Manchu, or Mongolian.

After reviewing Hongli’s Chinese and Manchu-Mongolian assignments, Yongzheng then examined his mathematical work.

Mathematics meant mathematics.

Because Kangxi was very fond of mathematics and had even organized scholars to compile the Precious Essence of Mathematical Studies, Yongzheng inspected Hongli’s homework with great seriousness.

Fortunately, mathematics in this era was only at a middle-school level.

The mathematics Hongli was studying at present had not even reached the highest level of middle school.

But in his previous life he had been a math teacher, and had even scored 140 on the college entrance examination.

So, naturally, his mathematics work was no difficulty at all. After returning home from school, he finished it swiftly within the time it takes to burn one stick of incense.

In fact, Yongzheng was not as strong in mathematics as Hongli, and after carefully checking for quite some time, he finally confirmed that Hongli had made no mistakes.

“You have done all of these problems correctly!”

Yongzheng said, his expression complicated as he looked at Hongli.

Then he pointed to a higher-degree equation on Hongli’s homework and asked, “But this problem—how did you solve it? Has Master Wu already taught you this one?”

“Your discerning eye is remarkable, Father. Master Wu has not taught this yet; he only asked us to puzzle it out ourselves. I was able to solve it because I came up with a new rule on my own, and then I could calculate it quickly using that rule.”

Hongli replied.

Yongzheng looked at him intently. “What rule?”

Hongli picked up a brush and spread a sheet of paper across the desk, then explained Viète’s theorem to Yongzheng in a way a man of the Qing dynasty could understand:

“This is the rule I worked out.”

Although Viète’s theorem had already appeared in Europe in the sixteenth century, it would not enter China until the nineteenth century, when the mathematician Li Shanlan wrote his work on algebra.

So when Hongli explained this theorem, Yongzheng stood there dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief. Then he said with great delight, “If the Emperor Grandfather knew of this, he would surely be pleased. This would be the most fitting tribute for the sixtieth year of his reign!”

“Do not tell anyone for now. In a few days, when you are summoned before the Son of Heaven, you can present it to your Emperor Grandfather then.”

Yongzheng instructed Hongli accordingly.

Hongli cupped his hands and said, “I remember.”

It was now the eleventh month of the fifty-ninth year of Kangxi’s reign, and the princes, beile, and ministers had already petitioned to set next year’s first month as the time for grand celebrations of Kangxi’s sixtieth year on the throne.

Thus, the court and the realm alike were preparing gifts for the coming celebration.

Yongzheng was no exception.

And during this period, he had also been worrying over how to use the occasion to please Kangxi.

Because of all this, the more Yongzheng looked at Hongli, the more he liked him.

He truly had not expected his fourth son to be a mathematical genius.

This made him, so keen and skillful in the struggle for political power, begin to place new hopes on Hongli, and it also gave him more confidence in his coming fight for the succession.

Even the displeasure he felt because his eldest son had also gone to flatter Yinsi was swept away from his heart.

“Su Peisheng!”

Yongzheng gave the order.

The eunuch Su Peisheng, who stood by his side, came forward. “What are your orders, Master?”

“Reward Prince Hongli with one hundred golden leaves, and bring me the copy of Treatise on the Algorithm of Triangles from my study to give him.”

At that, Yongzheng issued his command.

“Thank you, Father!”

“Thank you, Fourth Master!”

Hongli and Niohuru quickly expressed their gratitude.

Yongzheng raised his hand to tell them to rise, then said to Hongli, “I am rewarding you with these hundred golden leaves because I see that you are diligent in study and thought, and also dutiful and respectful. It will make it easier for you to buy more books to read in the future, not so that you may squander them recklessly. You must keep this in mind. As for that Treatise on the Algorithm of Triangles, it was compiled by your Emperor Grandfather. Since you have a natural aptitude for mathematics, take it and study it.”

“I remember, Father,” Hongli replied.

To be able to receive a hundred golden leaves, he was still quite pleased.

After all, at any time, having no money was an infuriating thing.

As for the Treatise on the Algorithm of Triangles, he rather wanted to use the book to learn exactly what Kangxi’s level in mathematics was.

Niohuru was also delighted that Hongli had won Yongzheng’s favor, and for a time she seemed to glow with renewed radiance.

Seeing her so full of vitality, and finding her somewhat more charming than usual, Yongzheng removed the openwork white jade pendant from his waist and placed it in Niohuru’s hand, saying as he held her hand, “You have looked after Hongli very well and have not let his studies fall into ruin; this has earned merit for my Fourth Prince’s residence. I have seen it all. This jade pendant is something I keep close to my person, and I shall reward it to you.”

“Thank you, Fourth Master. Caring for the prince is merely this servant’s duty; it cannot be called merit.”

Niohuru hurriedly knelt, tears filling her eyes.

Whether because he was in a good mood, or because he had not seen Niohuru for a long time, Yongzheng found her all the more pitiable now, and so he chose to spend the night there.

As a result, Hongli heard the creaking of the bed frame all night long.

But he was only ten years old, and could not yet experience the delights of such matters, so he could only lie there feigning sleep and listening in silence, before unknowingly drifting off.

The next day, when he awoke, Yongzheng had already left, and Niohuru was sitting beside him, looking at him with a beaming smile and a face full of motherly tenderness.