Chapter 51 Zhen Huan's Regain of Favor

Having been on the throne for only three years, Yongzheng had eliminated two major threats, Nian Gengyao and Longkodo, and was unusually pleased with himself.

Although he encountered some problems with continuing his lineage, he wasn't particularly lustful. Now, with his boundless ambition, these issues can be temporarily overlooked.

Without Nian Gengyao and Longkodo standing in his way, Yongzheng began to sharpen his knives and prepare to take action against the Eighth Prince.

But Lao Ba is not easy to deal with either.

Emperor Yongzheng valued his reputation and didn't want to be seen as heartless and ungrateful. Since the Eighth Prince hadn't openly shown any signs of rebellion, he couldn't directly take action. However, allowing him to live such a carefree life also displeased Yongzheng.

Thinking that Lao Jiu was willing to submit after being persuaded by Lao Shi, he intended to transfer Lao Jiu back from Xining and assign him any position to demonstrate his benevolence.

But he was also worried that if he met the eighth brother, the ninth brother would be misled and swayed.

I couldn't think of any good ideas for a while, so I couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

"Your Majesty, the three princes have arrived with their homework."

"Let them in."

Emperor Yongzheng flicked the beaded string in his hand and gave a deep order. Ever since he learned that he had no hope of having an heir, Emperor Yongzheng had paid special attention to the studies of his only three sons, and often summoned them to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to test their knowledge.

As the three walked in together, Hongshi cowered, and Hongzhou acted like a rogue. Only Hongli behaved properly, which made Yongzheng want to sigh.

Although he thought highly of Hongli, it didn't mean he could accept the poor performance of his two sons.

Hongli was like a beautiful jade; with careful carving, his brilliance would naturally emerge. Hongshi and Hongzhou, on the other hand, were like two stubborn rocks, impossible to break open no matter how hard they tried.

Both were his sons, and Yongzheng was often so frustrated by their studies that his liver ached. Upon closer examination, Hongli must have inherited his talent, while Hongshi and Hongzhou were more like their mother, which explains why they were not as gifted.

Having shirked responsibility, Yongzheng felt refreshed and was able to approach the two men's studies with a calm mind.

Seeing the expressions on Hongshi and Hongzhou's faces, Yongzheng was very displeased. What did this mean? As the eldest son, how could Hongshi have no sense of responsibility? And why did Hongzhou look like he was giving up and abandoning his duties?

Seeing this, Emperor Yongzheng got angry on the spot, and in the following homework review session, he berated the three of them severely.

Hongli was completely innocent and suffered as a result.

After sending away his two sons who had been scolded until they were pale, Yongzheng kept only Hongli.

"Just now, it was clearly a problem with Hongshi and Hongzhou's homework, but I scolded you along with them. Do you feel wronged?"

Hongli shook his head. “Parents love their children deeply and therefore hold them to high standards. I understand that Father Emperor has high expectations of me because he cares about me. Besides, my third brother, fifth brother, and I are brothers. We share joys and sorrows and should advance and retreat together. It’s not about scarcity but about inequality. I understand Father Emperor’s good intentions.”

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng nodded in satisfaction. As expected of his promising son, he was just like him—intelligent, magnanimous, and insightful.

"Good, it's good that you understand. Hongshi lacks courage, and Hongzhou is too lazy. You'll have to take better care of them in the future."

These words were almost a hint, but Hongli remained calm and composed, as if he hadn't understood anything, and replied in a gentle and polite manner: "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

"Alright, you can go back now. Your mother is frail, so if you have nothing else to do, please go and check on her for me."

With Nian Gengyao no longer an obstacle, Yongzheng felt only deep guilt and affection for Nian Shilan. Knowing that Consort Hua liked Hongli, if it weren't for his adoptive mother's imperial decree, Yongzheng might have actually registered Hongli under Nian Shilan's name.

Of course, pleasing Consort Hua was one aspect, but another was for Hongli's sake. He considered himself a loving father, and although Nian Gengyao was no longer capable, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, and the Nian family could still be of some use. If Consort Hua treated Hongli well, it wouldn't be out of the question for the Nian family to follow him.

Watching Hongli take his leave, Yongzheng's mood improved even more. Although he didn't have many children, they were still better than the Eighth Prince's only son, not to mention that his chosen successor was also quite outstanding.

In a good mood, Yongzheng wanted to go for a stroll. He took Su Peisheng for a walk in the Imperial Garden, where he saw Zhen Huan dancing gracefully under a tree.

Yongzheng stood still, twirling the prayer beads in his hand, his expression inscrutable, his eyes revealing understanding, nostalgia, and a fleeting glimmer of inspiration.

When Zhen Huan seemingly noticed his presence by chance, and gracefully walked over to greet him, Yongzheng finally smiled and personally helped her up.

"Graceful as an orchid, lithe as a dragon in flight. Consort Wan, how many more surprises do you hold that I am unaware of?"

"Your Majesty flatters me."

Zhen Huan, who had come here specifically to dance in hopes of regaining the Emperor's favor, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his praise. He must have forgiven her, right?

Emperor Yongzheng took Zhen Huan's hand and led her on a stroll through the Imperial Garden.

The news spread quickly, and everyone knew that Consort Guan had regained favor.

As expected, the Emperor stayed overnight at Suiyu Pavilion that night, and afterwards, Consort Wan was greatly favored. Apart from Suiyu Pavilion, the Emperor would occasionally visit the concubines who had children, but he couldn't get a single drop of soup from the others.

As the gifts flowed into Suiyu Pavilion, the women of the harem were filled with envy, but Zhen Huan had no words to express her bitterness. There was nothing she could do; the Emperor came to Suiyu Pavilion purely to take a nap!

At first, Zhen Huan was worried that the Emperor might still be distant from her, or that he was too tired from handling state affairs lately. But as time went on, Zhen Huan had a sudden thought and an unbelievable speculation came to her: Could it be that the Emperor is... impotent?

She only dared to think such things in her heart, never revealing them on her face. The Emperor was clearly using her as a target, and Zhen Huan lived in constant fear, afraid that one day she would displease the Emperor and be silenced.

The more urgent the situation, the more Zhen Huan wanted to prove her worth. Her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance were no longer enough; the "female Zhuge Liang" Zhen Huan gradually began to tentatively analyze court affairs for the Emperor.

Yongzheng also took it as a joke. Ever since he started treating Zhen Huan as a purely decorative version of Chun Yuan's figurine, it satisfied his longing for Chun Yuan and also shielded him from outside suspicions.

Having experienced the multiple benefits of this approach, he placed everyone in Suiyu Pavilion under his supervision, and he wasn't worried about the secrets being leaked. In a good mood, he also had the patience to listen to Zhen Huan's humble opinions.

As for the rule that women in the harem should not interfere in politics, and the gossip that cannot be spread outside the harem, how can that be considered interference in politics?

Of course, this was his thought when he was in a good mood. If one day he was in a bad mood, this would be evidence that Zhen Huan was unruly. Unfortunately, Zhen Huan thought too little about it in order to save her life.

On this day, Yongzheng casually chatted with Zhen Huan about the Eighth Prince. Of course, he put it rather tactfully, saying that he didn't want to use a fabricated charge to take down the Eighth Prince for the sake of his reputation, and only asked how to "appease" him.

Zhen Huan's mind raced, and she saw this as a good opportunity to prove her abilities. She immediately suggested, "If we're talking about appeasement, Prince Lian has already been rewarded with all the wealth and honor imaginable. But I've heard that Prince Lian only has one son, Prince Hongwang. Parents everywhere have their own children, so why doesn't Your Majesty focus your efforts on his children?"

"Hmm?" Interesting. Yongzheng glanced at Zhen Huan slightly, signaling her to continue.

"Your Majesty, why not bring Prince Hongwang into the palace and grant him the favor of studying with the princes and raising him in the palace? This would not only demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence but also appease Prince Lian, letting him know that Your Majesty still cares deeply for his children."