Chapter 66: Discussing Peerage Conferment

Hearing Empress Dowager Renshou's words, the Fourteenth Prince looked toward Hongli.

He had not expected that even his mother appreciated Hongli so much, believing that Hongli was the true reason why his Imperial Father had passed the throne to his Fourth Brother.

Hongli hurriedly stood up, bowed, and said earnestly, "Grandmother is joking. Your grandson was only looking out for the Fourteenth Uncle's future because, apart from you and Imperial Father, no one else is more devoted to planning for the Fourteenth Uncle's future than your grandson!"

Since Empress Dowager Renshou valued her youngest son above all else, Hongli continued to frame everything he had done as being for the benefit of the Fourteenth Prince.

"It is good that you have this kind intention," Empress Dowager Renshou replied with a smile.

People are always very willing to believe the outcomes they subjectively wish to hear.

Empress Dowager Renshou was no exception.

Since Hongli claimed he was doing it for the Fourteenth Prince, Empress Dowager Renshou instinctively wanted to believe that he was indeed doing it for the Fourteenth Prince.

Of course!

Empress Dowager Renshou was also willing to put on a public facade of believing what Hongli said.

In her view, even if Hongli's words were false, repeating such falsehoods enough times would make them indistinguishable from the truth.

As someone deeply versed in the survival rules of the imperial family, Empress Dowager Renshou understood this principle.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Renshou not only chose to believe it, but also looked at the Fourteenth Prince and said, "Since you have returned, do not stir up conflicts with your Fourth Brother. As Hongli said, only by doing this can your Fourth Brother possibly make you a Prince of the First Rank and grant you an iron-cap peerage."

"Yes, Mother, this son will not give you cause for worry!"

The Fourteenth Prince cast another astonished look at Hongli, then obediently rose, bowed to Empress Dowager Renshou, and made his promise.

Empress Dowager Renshou smiled and nodded in approval.

***

***

The South Study.

On the day following the Fourteenth Prince's return to the capital, after the Yongzheng Emperor personally hosted a family banquet for him, he proceeded to discuss the conferral of appropriate peerages for the Fourteenth Prince and other members of the imperial clan with Yinshi, Yinzixiang, and others.

"I intend to confer the title of Prince of the Second Rank upon the Fourteenth Brother."

"What are your thoughts on this?"

The Yongzheng Emperor spoke first, looking around at the gathered officials.

The imperial princes and grand secretaries looked at one another in momentary silence.

At this point, the Thirteenth Prince, Yinzixiang, deliberately spoke up first, looking at the Yongzheng Emperor: "Fourth Brother, the Fourteenth Brother is, after all, your full brother by the same mother. Considering the Empress Dowager, and the fact that his return to the capital this time has been quite obedient, wouldn't it be better to grant him the title of Prince of the First Rank?"

The Yongzheng Emperor smiled and said, "Your mindset is just like Hongli's."

"Is that so?" Yinzixiang smiled.

He knew that the Yongzheng Emperor's sudden mention of Hongli was deliberately meant for the supporters of the Fourteenth Prince to hear, showing that Hongli cared deeply for his Fourteenth Uncle.

Therefore, Yinzixiang cooperated by playing along.

The Yongzheng Emperor nodded, looked at the crowd, and said, "You all know the Fourteenth Brother's temper, so you must be wondering why he has been so well-behaved upon returning to the capital this time. The reason is that Hongli told the Empress Dowager that only if he behaved submissively would I be inclined to make the Fourteenth Brother a Prince of the First Rank."

"Since that is the case, why doesn't Fourth Brother make the Fourteenth Brother a Prince of the First Rank?"

"I imagine no one would find it unacceptable to make the Fourteenth Brother a Prince of the First Rank. Firstly, it would please the Empress Dowager, embodying the virtue of filial piety, so no one could raise any objections; secondly, it would reward his meritorious service in the Northwest and his restraint from causing trouble."

Yinzixiang actually knew the reason, but he feigned ignorance and deliberately questioned the Yongzheng Emperor.

The Yongzheng Emperor sighed and said, "How can the title of Prince of the First Rank be bestowed casually? The instruments of state are weightier than Mount Tai!"

Then, with a solemn expression, the Yongzheng Emperor looked at Yinshi: "Furthermore, I intend to make the Eighth Brother and you, the Thirteenth Brother, Princes of the First Rank first. Firstly, you are both Grand Secretaries and Princes Administrator; secondly, speaking of the merit of stabilizing the state after the passing of the late Emperor, the Eighth Brother and you, the Thirteenth Brother, are truly indispensable!"

"The Eighth Brother is of high merit and profound virtue, and is now the chief Grand Secretary and Prince Administrator, so making him a Prince of the First Rank is entirely justified. However, this younger brother has no need for it; it would be better to cede my title as a Prince of the First Rank to the Fourteenth Brother."

"That way, the Empress Dowager can be pleased, and Hongli will have an account to give before the Empress Dowager, won't he?"

Yinzixiang laughed as he said this.

The Yongzheng Emperor waved his hand: "Never mind what Hongli does. As for the Empress Dowager, she is a sensible and wise mother who won't truly fuss over whether it's a Prince of the First or Second Rank. My intention to make the Fourteenth Brother a Prince of the Second Rank is quite sufficient to set her mind at ease! More importantly, if you, the Thirteenth Brother, are not made a Prince of the First Rank, I will have no way to give an account to the people of the realm!"

What the Yongzheng Emperor meant by not being able to give an account to the people of the realm was, in reality, that it would be difficult to justify things to the Fourth Prince's faction who had long followed him, as well as the remnants of the former Crown Prince's faction.

Because the Thirteenth Brother had once been a staunch confidant of the former Crown Prince, many of the former Crown Prince's adherents only held allegiance to the Thirteenth Brother.

Moreover, the Thirteenth Brother later secretly defected to the Yongzheng Emperor, thus also belonging to the Fourth Prince's faction.

Therefore, Yinzixiang represented two distinct political camps.

If Yinzixiang were treated shabbily, people from both camps would become dissatisfied, which would subsequently cause them to become disaffected and detach themselves from the Yongzheng Emperor, thereby undermining his political foundation.

Consequently, for the sake of political stability, the Yongzheng Emperor had no choice but to grant Yinzixiang the title of Prince of the First Rank.

After all, by treating Yinzixiang generously, he could simultaneously stabilize both factions.

This was undoubtedly a highly cost-effective political transaction.

Yinzixiang also understood the underlying reasons, so after putting on a modest display, he said nothing more.

"Fourth Brother is right. The Thirteenth Brother's contributions can by no means be buried. Otherwise, to say nothing of others, the Sixteenth Brother and Hongxi would likely be displeased."

"In this younger brother's view, why not cede my Prince of the First Rank title to the Fourteenth Brother?"

"In terms of military achievements, this younger brother cannot compare to the Fourteenth Brother; even in the realm of pacifying people's hearts, I fall short of him."

Yinshi smiled as he spoke. Just as he reached this point, the Yongzheng Emperor raised a hand to interrupt him: "That won't do either. Eighth Brother, if you are not made a Prince of the First Rank, the Ninth and Tenth Brothers will be the first to voice their objections!"

"Grand Secretary Ma, wouldn't you say so?"

The Yongzheng Emperor took this opportunity to ask Ma Qi as well.

Because everyone knew that, aside from his administrative capabilities and considerable prestige among Manchu officials, Ma Qi was a staunch member of the Eighth Prince's faction in terms of political alignment.

Ma Qi did not deny it either. He simply stood up, raised his hands in a salute, and said, "What Your Majesty says is true. If the Eighth Beile is not ennobled as a prince, it will indeed be difficult to pacify hearts. However, in this humble servant's foolish opinion, could they all be ennobled as Princes of the Second Rank? That way, we needn't worry about ennobling too many Princes of the First Rank at once and drawing unwanted attention, while also somewhat reducing financial expenditures."

"Grand Secretary Ma, you are truly devoted to the public good and the state. However, the Eighth Brother and the Thirteenth Brother must be made Princes of the First Rank; otherwise, it will be difficult to distinguish between higher and lower ranks."

"For I also intend to reward the Twelfth Brother for his righteousness on that night."

The Yongzheng Emperor said with a smile.

Then, the Yongzheng Emperor looked at Longkodo: "Uncle, what are your views?"

"This servant believes that Your Majesty is wise, but doing so will put the Beile and the Fourth Imperial Son in a difficult position."

Longkodo simply stood up and replied.

Yinzixiang chimed in, "Indeed, Fourth Brother, what if the Empress Dowager asks Hongli why the Fourteenth Brother wasn't given the title of Prince of the First Rank?"

"Then he can resolve it himself!"

"He is the one who made the promise, so he can explain it himself. It will also teach him that he should not make reckless commitments about things beyond his control!"

With that, the Yongzheng Emperor looked at the assembled officials: "Let it be decided thus!"

"In accordance with the precedent of newly enthroned emperors promoting members of the imperial clan, draft an imperial edict to elevate a batch of imperial clansmen. Among them, the Eighth Brother and the Thirteenth Brother shall be ennobled as Princes of the First Rank, while the Twelfth Brother and the Fourteenth Brother shall be ennobled as Princes of the Second Rank."

"Furthermore, Hongxi shall also be ennobled as a Prince of the Second Rank. This was the past wish of the Imperial Father. We must make the spirit of the Imperial Father in heaven rejoice, and also make those who still harbor loyalty toward the Second Brother more submissive under this new reign."

"Understood!"