Chapter 26: The Yongzheng Emperor Bestows Ten Thousand Acres of Fertile Land

Chaoyang Pavilion.

After Hongli arrived with high spirits, he found Hongxi already waiting for him, accompanied by a refined young scholar.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, elder brother. It was rude of me," Hongli said, offering a cupped-hand salute to express his regret.

Hongxi reached out, firmly gripping Hongli’s arm while holding his other hand behind his back, and led him toward the upper floors. "Between us brothers, there is no need for such empty formalities," he said.

Once upstairs, Hongxi asked, "Tell me, how are the servants in that residence I gifted you? Are they taking good care of you?"

"Thanks to your kindness, elder brother, they serve me quite comfortably," Hongli replied with a smile.

Hongxi chuckled wickedly. "Wait until you are old enough to move out and live on your own; they will serve you even more comfortably then!"

Hongli understood the implication behind Hongxi’s words, but he could only pretend to be oblivious, deliberately knitting his brows.

Dropping the subject, Hongxi gestured toward the scholar beside him. "This is Wang Yiqing, the eldest son of Minister Wang. His courtesy name is Youfen, and he is currently a reader in the Hanlin Academy. He is a very close friend of mine, and I specifically wanted to introduce him to you."

"I have long heard of the Fourth Prince’s brilliance. To see you today, you are indeed exceptionally handsome and talented—truly worthy of your noble bloodline," Wang Yiqing said, bowing deeply and offering a flattering compliment.

Hongli smiled and helped him up. "Since you are a friend of my elder brother, you are a friend of mine. There is no need for such ceremony."

They entered an elegantly decorated private room. Once seated, Hongli heard the melodious sounds of strings and songs drifting in from the carved windows overlooking the street, accompanied by the sight of graceful dancers appearing before them.

Hongxi leaned in and said, "Hongli, you may not know this, but this Chaoyang Pavilion has been in Youfen’s family since the Wanli era. His ancestors were Grand Secretaries and Chief Ministers. It is only because of this that we can dine here today; for anyone else, even if they offered ten times the price, they would have to wait until next month."

Hongli nodded. Over the past few days, he had been learning about the prominent officials of the Qing Dynasty and knew that the "Minister Wang" mentioned was Wang Yan, a descendant of the Wanli era’s Chief Minister, Wang Xijue. Their family had held high office for generations, from the Ming to the Qing.

Looking around, he noticed the walls were adorned with the calligraphy of famous Ming scholars like Shen Yiguan and Ye Xianggao. Hongli couldn't help but sigh inwardly; indeed, dynastic changes had little impact on the landed gentry. Regardless of the regime, the same group of people remained in power.

Regardless, for Hongli, this trip to Chaoyang Pavilion had been worthwhile. The music and dance were mesmerizing, and the food—which he had to admit was worthy of its reputation from the Wanli to the Kangxi era—offered a distinct flavor compared to the Shandong cuisine he ate at the Prince Yong mansion.

What comforted him most while enjoying the meal was the knowledge that, although the starving refugees outside the city might never taste such delicacies, they at least had a bowl of hot porridge to sustain them, thanks to Yu Deli making up for the grain embezzled by the Shuntian Prefecture.

After their dinner, Hongli and Hongxi continued to oversee the grain distribution and porridge boiling, ensuring the relief process proceeded without error. Elderly people living outside the city noticed that the grain used for the porridge was more abundant than in previous years, and more refugees were being fed.

Yu Huapeng, the Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, noticed this while assisting in the relief efforts and wept with emotion: "The Fourth Prince is truly extraordinary!"

Emperor Kangxi had approved the reform measures proposed by the two princes. To Kangxi, while he no longer wished to stir up trouble himself, he did not forbid his descendants from doing so. Especially when it came to practical political training, he encouraged his grandsons to test new methods to deepen their experience.

Kangxi had been keeping a close eye on their progress and summoned Yu Huapeng in secret that night. "How are Hongxi and Hongli doing with the famine relief?"

Yu Huapeng bowed. "Your Majesty, both princes are working diligently and are remarkably capable. Especially the Fourth Prince—when the Shuntian Prefecture official Yu Deli tried to deceive him by presenting falsified ledgers to hide the embezzled grain, the Fourth Prince was not fooled. He calculated the discrepancy instantly and forced Yu Deli to make up the missing amount."

"Is that so?" Kangxi was delighted to hear his grandson had not been deceived. He was well aware of the corruption in the bureaucracy, so he was not angry, but rather pleased by Hongli’s keen eye.

"I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty," Yu Huapeng replied.

"Very good," Kangxi said, then paused. "However, Yu Huapeng, is there something you haven't told me?"

Yu Huapeng knelt hastily. "I dare not hide it from Your Majesty. The eldest prince did strike me, but fortunately, the Fourth Prince intervened to stop him."

"That grandson of mine, he has the same temper as his father," Kangxi sighed. He then asked, "You say the Fourth Prince was able to stop him?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Fourth Prince was able to restrain the eldest prince."

Kangxi nodded and dismissed him. Once alone, he chuckled to himself: "Hongli is actually capable of restraining Hongxi?"

***

That night, Hongli met with Emperor Yongzheng through Sui Hede.

"What is it?" Yongzheng asked.

"I have something to give to you, Father." Hongli handed over the ledger detailing the grain and money owed to the Shuntian Prefecture by various noble officials, along with the secret orders.

Yongzheng took the documents, stood up, and stared at Hongli in astonishment. "How did you obtain these?"

Hongli explained the sequence of events.

"Excellent!" Yongzheng said, clearly moved. "I am very pleased and impressed that you were able to achieve this."

"How does Father intend to use these?" Hongli asked.

"Keep them! They will be of great use in the future!" Yongzheng did not suggest destroying them, which did not surprise Hongli. He knew that Yongzheng would use this to eventually expose the rot and launch a sweeping reform.

Yongzheng looked at Hongli with newfound favor, especially when comparing him to Hongshi. His expression softened. "You must be exhausted from these past few days."

"For the sake of the Great Qing, this little effort is nothing," Hongli replied.

Yongzheng nodded solemnly. "It is good that you have such a heart." He added, "Since Hongxi gave you a residence and staff, you should not rely on him to support you. Su Peisheng, announce to the mansion that the rent from the ten thousand mu of prime irrigated farmland in Huang Village shall henceforth belong to the Fourth Prince. Once he marries, the deeds and the tenants shall be transferred to him as well!"

Hongli was slightly stunned, secretly rejoicing: "I have suddenly become a major landowner with ten thousand mu of fine fields?"