"You've caused trouble again?" Kangxi looked up at Hongchen.
"Grandfather, I'm innocent! Absolutely not! I swear!" Hongchen raised his hand and said.
"It's alright, your grandfather is here, your father wouldn't dare to do anything to you!"
"Long live the Emperor! I knew you were the best!" Hongchen flattered him resoundingly.
After the Crown Prince entered, he first paid his respects to Emperor Kangxi, then stood up and said to Hongchen with a cold face, "Come here!"
Hongchen hid behind Kangxi, showing only half his face: "Father, your son is very obedient!"
“Your Highness, Hongchen is still young. We must reason with him slowly. Using force is not an option!” Kangxi said.
"Father, you have no idea, today he took others to the school to compete to see who could pee the farthest, and they even peed in the mud! Wang Yan has already gone to Yuqing Palace to complain!" The Crown Prince glared fiercely at Hongchen.
"Haha, haha! It's inevitable for boys to be naughty!" Kangxi laughed heartily. "Hongchen, why are you peeing in the mud? It's so dirty!"
"I'll make you beggar's chicken!" Hongchen said, pointing to the beggar's chicken in front of Kangxi.
Upon hearing this, Kangxi felt nauseous and wanted to vomit but couldn't.
Seeing Kangxi's reaction, the Crown Prince guessed what was going on and said awkwardly, "Father, isn't it said that boys' urine is very nourishing? You can have some!"
"Why don't you go and fix it!" Kangxi roared in a powerful voice.
"He didn't give me any either!" the Crown Prince said, feeling wronged.
"Go and kneel before our ancestors!" Kangxi said, pointing at the crown prince.
"Father, are you pointing at the wrong person?" The Crown Prince pointed Kangxi's hand at Hongchen.
“That’s right, it’s you. If a son is not taught, it is the father’s fault!” Kangxi said.
The Crown Prince was speechless, caught off guard by Kangxi's words. He had done nothing wrong. So why was he the one implicated?
When Hongchen was five years old, Emperor Kangxi said mysteriously to the Crown Prince, "Baocheng, today your father has a gift for you!"
The crown prince had a vague premonition, but wasn't this too casual, a bit perfunctory?
Kangxi said directly to Liang Jiugong, "Liang Jiugong, read out the imperial edict!"
The crown prince knelt down along with the court officials.
By imperial decree: The Emperor, acting on the mandate of Heaven, decrees...
Throughout history, emperors have always prioritized reverence for Heaven and veneration of their ancestors when governing the world.
Reverence for Heaven and ancestral laws is the essence of benevolence towards those far and near, nurturing all people, sharing the benefits of the world and the hearts of all under Heaven, protecting the nation from danger and achieving order before chaos arises, working diligently day and night, never resting, for the long-term benefit of the nation, and thus approaching its goal.
Now I am fifty years old and have been on the throne for forty years. This is truly due to the silent blessings of Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples, and not to my own lack of virtue.
Now I am in my fifties, I am rich in the world, my descendants are prosperous, and the world is at peace. My blessings are abundant, and even if there are unforeseen events, I will remain calm.
Since assuming the throne, though I dare not claim to have transformed customs and brought prosperity to every household, or to have rivaled the wise and virtuous rulers of the Three Dynasties, I have striven diligently and cautiously to bring peace and prosperity to the land and happiness to the people. I have worked tirelessly day and night without ever slacking off. For decades, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to this cause, as if it were a single day. How can the word "laborious" possibly encompass this?
Previous emperors often died young, and historical accounts generally attributed this to their indulgence in wine and women. These are often the criticisms of scholars, who would find fault even with the most virtuous and perfect rulers. I, however, will now speak frankly to the emperors of the past, explaining that the cause was the overwhelming burden of affairs of state, leading to their exhaustion.
Zhuge Liang said, "I will devote myself to the cause until my dying breath." Among ministers, only Zhuge Liang could do this. If the emperor's responsibilities are too heavy to be delegated to, how can a minister compare? A minister can serve when he can serve and retire when he can retire. When he is old, he can retire from government and enjoy his children and grandchildren, living a leisurely and comfortable life.
A ruler who works diligently throughout his life without a day of rest, like Shun who was said to govern by non-action, died in Cangwu, and Yu who traveled for four years, working hard until his death in Kuaiji. These were all examples of diligent governance and constant travel, with no time for rest. How can they be said to advocate non-action and maintain a quiet and self-disciplined life?
Throughout history, no dynasty has gained power more legitimately than ours. Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong initially had no intention of seizing power. When their troops reached the capital, all the ministers said they should take it. Emperor Taizong said: "The Ming Dynasty and our dynasty have never been on good terms. It would be very easy to take it now, but I cannot bear to do so because it is the ruler of China."
Later, the rebel Li Zicheng captured Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself. His subjects flocked to welcome him, and he then quelled the rebellion, ascended the throne, and performed the proper rites before burying Chongzhen. In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han was a village head in Sishui, and Emperor Taizu of Ming was a monk in Huangjue Temple. Xiang Yu raised an army to attack Qin, but the world eventually returned to Han; at the end of Yuan, Chen Youliang and others rose up, but the world eventually returned to Ming.
Our dynasty, inheriting the legacy of our forefathers, acts in accordance with Heaven and the people, and governs the realm peacefully. This demonstrates that rebellious ministers and traitors are merely subjects of the true Lord's expulsion. All emperors have their own destiny; those destined for longevity cannot be prevented from enjoying it, and those destined for peace cannot be deprived of it. From a young age, I have studied the ancient and modern, and have a basic understanding of these principles. In my prime, I could bend a fifteen-strength bow and shoot thirteen arrows, making me adept at military affairs. Yet, I have never wantonly killed a single person. The pacification of the Three Feudatories and the sweeping of the Hanbei were all achieved through careful planning. The Ministry of Revenue's funds are only used for military campaigns and famine relief, for they are the hard-earned wealth of the common people. All imperial palaces and temporary residences are not adorned with elaborate decorations, and each costs no more than ten to twenty thousand taels of gold, less than one percent of the over three million taels spent annually on river works.
Emperor Wu of Liang was also a hero who founded an enterprise, but in his old age, he was forced by Hou Jing and suffered the disaster of the Taicheng Incident. Emperor Wen of Sui was also a founding emperor, but he could not foresee the evil of his son, Emperor Yang, and ultimately did not die a peaceful death. All of this was because he did not foresee the evil in time.
"Crown Prince Yinreng is of noble character and closely resembles me; he will surely be able to inherit the throne. He shall ascend the throne immediately, and this proclamation shall be made known throughout the realm." (Kangxi's edict of succession, with some modifications!)
None of the court officials or the princes expected that Kangxi would abdicate so easily. In fact, upon closer examination, Kangxi's previous actions were paving the way for the crown prince.
"Father, I am terrified. I beg you to rescind your decree!" The Emperor bowed his head and kowtowed.
"Don't try to refuse. Your father has already taught you everything you need to know. Your father believes you can handle it!" Kangxi forcefully placed the imperial edict into the Crown Prince's arms.
"Your subject will certainly not let you down!" the Crown Prince said firmly.
"Alright, Father Emperor, I believe you!"
Everything has settled down.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor Emeritus! Long live the Emperor Emeritus!"
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