Chapter 62: Su Peisheng's Differential Treatment

After the Dowager Consort Ranshou moved palaces, on the *wuwu* day (the tenth) of the twelfth month in the sixtieth year of Kangxi, the Yongzheng Emperor issued an edict halting the tribute of local specialties from the various provinces.

The Han commoners in the capital region were all thrilled and deeply inspired.

In the back hall of the Palace of Eternal Longevity (Yongshou Palace).

Upon seeing this news through the *Di Bao* (Imperial Gazette), Hongli sighed inwardly: "This Yongzheng is truly treating himself as the Emperor of China!"

After ascending the throne, aside from the graces listed in the ascension edict, the very first additional imperial favor was bestowed upon the Han commoners of Beizhili.

After all, the commoners of Beizhili required to pay local tributes could only be of Han ethnicity.

Shortly after Hongli saw this news, the Yongzheng Emperor sent someone to summon him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxin Dian).

Thus, Hongli made his way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

According to protocol, Hongli could not enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation directly; he had to wait outside the Jixiang Gate for Su Peisheng to come and lead him over.

Before long.

Su Peisheng appeared, and the moment he saw Hongli, he immediately dropped to his knees: "This slave Su Peisheng pays his respects to the Fourth Prince!"

Hongli was somewhat startled.

Given that Su Peisheng was now, by all accounts, the premier eunuch by the Emperor's side, it stood to reason that he need not be so humble.

Even though Hongli was an imperial prince, Su Peisheng could well afford to put on airs slightly, leaning on his status as the person closest to the Emperor.

No one would truly dare to bicker with him, unless they were unafraid of him whispering venomous words into the Yongzheng Emperor's ear.

Yet Su Peisheng had indeed knelt directly before Hongli, appearing exceedingly humble with an ingratiating smile plastered across his face.

Unsure whether Su Peisheng was deliberately testing him to see if he would lose his head from arrogance, Hongli refrained from making any haughty gestures. Instead, he crouched down personally and raised Su Peisheng to his feet: "You need not stand on such ceremony, Elder."

"This slave would never dare to show a lack of respect before the Fourth Prince."

After rising, Su Peisheng replied with a flattering smile, inwardly marveling that this Fourth Prince truly possessed the maturity of an elder despite his youth. He then gestured respectfully toward the outer hall and said:

"I must ask the Fourth Prince to wait in the outer hall for a moment; His Majesty is still discussing state affairs."

Hongli nodded, thinking to himself that Su Peisheng was tight-lipped indeed, mentioning only that the Emperor was discussing affairs without disclosing with whom, let alone what was being discussed.

Yet Hongli knew Su Peisheng had not kept everything hidden, for the only ones permitted to discuss affairs in the Hall of Mental Cultivation were either Yinzhi (Prince Yi) or Yinlu.

Feeling quite pleased with this realization, Hongli nodded and casually slipped one of the exchange notes Yintang had formerly given him into the sleeve of Su Peisheng's robe: "You have worked hard serving His Imperial Father."

Su Peisheng accepted it as a matter of course, without even glancing at the denomination, and simply smiled: "Many thanks to the Fourth Prince for the reward; this is merely what this slave ought to do."

After Hongli entered the outer hall and took a seat, less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Hongshi and Hongzhou unexpectedly arrived as well.

Su Peisheng went out to greet them as before.

This time, however, Su Peisheng merely gave a slight bow with folded hands: "This slave pays his respects to the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince."

Hongshi hastily stepped ahead of Hongzhou to support Su Peisheng, secretly slipping a note into Su Peisheng's sleeve: "You are too courteous, Elder. Do you know why Imperial Father has summoned us?"

"This slave did not dare to ask; I beg the Third Prince to forgive me."

Su Peisheng returned the note, though his face remained fixed with a humble smile: "Third Prince, Fifth Prince, please wait briefly in the outer hall. His Majesty is still busy and will summon you shortly."

Hongshi gave an awkward laugh, nodded, and stuffed the note back into his sleeve.

Having already taken his seat in the outer hall and witnessing Su Peisheng's starkly different treatment of him and Hongshi, Hongli could not help the slight upward curve of his lips.

Unquestionably, a close personal eunuch to the Emperor like Su Peisheng followed his master's lead in personal preferences and aversions.

Whatever attitude the Yongzheng Emperor held toward someone, Su Peisheng would mirror.

For the higher-ranking a servant was, the more actively they would suppress their own personal will.

Thus, from Su Peisheng's varying attitudes toward different princes, he could deduce his current standing in the Yongzheng Emperor's heart and whether the Emperor's attitude toward him had shifted.

To Hongli's quiet relief, the Yongzheng Emperor evidently still held him in high regard.

Shortly thereafter, Hongshi and Hongzhou entered the outer hall.

Hongli rose to his feet.

The three exchanged greetings.

Hongli discovered that Hongshi was much more enthusiastic than before, taking the initiative to pat Hongli's shoulder as he said:

"Fourth Younger Brother, when I ran into Fifth Younger Brother on the way here, we were just saying that it would be best for us brothers to let bygones be bygones now.

After all, we are all full brothers. Besides, now that Imperial Father has newly ascended the throne, he also needs us brothers to be of one heart, assisting him together and helping share his burdens, does he not?"

Hongli nodded and smiled in response: "What the Third Brother says is true."

Hongshi then actively praised Hongli: "Earlier, when Fourth Younger Brother slapped the rules-defying servant in the Palace of Eternal Harmony on behalf of Mother, it was truly admirable—an act of pure filial piety. No doubt both Imperial Father and Mother were overjoyed because of it.

As his Third Brother, I am also very glad."

With that, Hongshi smiled at Hongzhou: "The Fifth Brother is the same, constantly paying his morning and evening respects; his filial piety is commendable."

"Third Brother flatters us!"

Hongli and Hongzhou replied.

Then, Hongshi suddenly bowed solemnly to both of them.

Hongli and Hongzhou could not help exchanging puzzled glances.

Hongshi then spoke: "In the past, due to various trivial matters, your Third Brother often neglected the two younger brothers, so much so that when you celebrated your birthdays, you rarely received gifts from me. Moreover, I often put on the airs of an elder, offering more reprimands than care to my two younger brothers. I offer my apologies here, and I hope the two younger brothers will be magnanimous and forgive me."

Hongli hurriedly returned the bow: "Third Brother must not speak thus. How could this younger brother ever harbor resentment against you? I know very well that you hold us in your heart."

"Fourth Brother is right!"

Hongzhou chimed in, returning the bow as well.

Hongshi laughed heartily and threw his arms around Hongli's and Hongzhou's shoulders: "As long as my two younger brothers do not harbor resentment, all is well."

With that, Hongshi fished two enamel-painted snuff bottles from his person and handed them to Hongli and Hongzhou: "Since that is the case, your Third Brother will present these two enamel-crafted snuff bottles, which I acquired a couple of days ago, to my two younger brothers. I earnestly hope you will accept them with a smile."

"Since these are gifts from Third Brother, I shall naturally accept them. I thank Third Brother here."

Hongli grasped the snuff bottle in his hand first and cupped his fists toward Hongshi.

Hongshi then looked at Hongzhou, who had yet to extend his hands to receive his: "And Fifth Younger Brother?"

"Fourth Brother is right!"

"Thank you, Third Brother."

Hongzhou finally shook off his look of astonishment and tucked the snuff bottle into his bosom.

Hongli could not help sighing inwardly. Hongshi had indeed learned to alter his attitude now. Even though his attempt to curry favor with the Fourth Primary Consort had failed, he was still persisting in presenting the image of a loving, affectionate older brother to him and Hongzhou.

Moreover, choosing specifically to display this in the Hall of Mental Cultivation undoubtedly meant he had truly begun putting effort into pleasing the Yongzheng Emperor.

Taking advantage of the interval before Su Peisheng came to summon them to the Emperor, Hongshi proactively smiled and chatted with Hongli and Hongzhou about some interesting anecdotes from the outer court.

Since Hongli and Hongzhou were still residing within the inner court and rarely ventured out, they naturally heard far fewer news items than Hongshi.

Hongli chimed in from time to time, striving to glean key intelligence from the anecdotes Hongshi mentioned—such as how much longer it would take for the Fourteenth Uncle to arrive in the capital.

Hongzhou, however, maintained a placid expression throughout.

Before long, Su Peisheng walked over.

Hongshi hastily cut short his banter and stood up.

Hongli and Hongzhou also rose to their feet.

"The three Princes, His Majesty commands you to enter."

Su Peisheng reported.

Hongshi hastily put on a smile and said: "Thank you for troubling yourself to lead the way, Elder."

"This slave wouldn't dare!"

Consequently.

Hongli followed Hongshi and Hongzhou into the presence of the Yongzheng Emperor.

After the three princes paid their respects, the Yongzheng Emperor bade them rise and said: "Your Fourteenth Uncle is about to arrive in the capital. Which of you is willing to go and welcome him on my behalf?"

Hongli was momentarily taken aback, and began to wonder inwardly what kind of medicine the Yongzheng Emperor was selling in his gourd.

In his memory, the Yongzheng Emperor disliked the Fourteenth Prince.

Even though the Fourteenth Prince and the Yongzheng Emperor were full brothers sharing the same father and mother, the closest of kin.

Naturally, Hongshi and Hongzhou also knew that the Yongzheng Emperor and the Fourteenth Prince had always harbored deep conflicts, primarily because the Fourteenth Prince had consistently shown dissatisfaction with the Yongzheng Emperor.

Therefore, Hongshi did not express his stance immediately, fearing that the Emperor did not actually want any of the three princes to go receive the Fourteenth Prince, and was merely testing them.

Combining this with his understanding of subsequent history, Hongli knew that while the Yongzheng Emperor had indeed suppressed the Fourteenth Prince ruthlessly, he ultimately stopped short of driving him to his death.

Furthermore, in his later years, the Yongzheng Emperor yielded to Hongli's entreaties and showed leniency toward the Fourteenth Prince. Indeed, upon his very ascension, the Qianlong Emperor restored the reputations of both the Fourteenth and Tenth Princes and later bestowed additional noble titles upon them.

According to Qianlong's own words, the Yongzheng Emperor had intended for him to do so in his twilight years, and he was merely acting in accordance with his late father's wishes.

Thus, Hongli knew that while the Yongzheng Emperor himself might wish to suppress the Fourteenth Prince, he simultaneously desired the younger generation to maintain friendly contact with him, paving the way for easing clan conflicts in the future.

Therefore, Hongli resolutely stepped forward at this moment and declared: "This son is willing to go!"