Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Playing with the remaining heat
The reason why Qianlong restricted officials and bannermen from buying meals at the Huimin Canteen was not only because he felt they were joining in the fun, but also because he wanted to take the opportunity to ease the conflicts between bannermen and civilians.
Let the people see that he, the emperor, stands on the side of the people.
Officials and bannermen would not feel dissatisfied about this. It was just a meal and not a real benefit.
Not only did Yonglian see through Qianlong's little thoughts, but Zhang Tingyu and others also came to their senses.
Zhang Tingyu sighed. The emperor was indeed smarter than the late emperor in some aspects.
The late emperor worked diligently for thirteen years, striving to reduce the burdens of the common people and ease the conflicts between the gentry and the common people. In the end, what good was his downfall? The common people only remembered the palace secrets recorded in the "Da Yi Jue Mi Lu".
But when it comes to the current emperor, the people speak of the empress dowager, the queen and the princes in the palace with words of praise.
Everyone felt that the emperor was willing to listen to the second prince's advice, which showed that the father and son had a good relationship. The second prince was also the son of the empress, which indirectly proved that the relationship between the emperor and the empress was also very harmonious.
This time, the coffin of Empress Xiaojingxian was carried to Tai Mausoleum, and the Empress Dowager, Concubine Yu, and the Empress all went together.
Some people heard that the queen had always served the queen mother personally, and looked at the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, which was a role model for the subjects all over the world.
The Empress did indeed always serve the Empress Dowager, while Yonghuang and Yonglian followed their fifth uncle.
Qianlong originally wanted the Empress Dowager and the concubines to set off a few days later so that they could directly attend the burial ceremony of the late emperor and Empress Xiaojingxian.
The Empress Dowager insisted that she would go to Tiancun in person to receive the coffin of Empress Xiaojingxian and give her elder sister a ride.
Qianlong had no choice but to ask the Ministry of Rites to make new arrangements.
Fearing that the Empress Dowager would be unable to walk, he also brought along the imperial physician who was usually responsible for her health.
As it turned out, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yu were not afraid of walking this short distance at all. They were very energetic along the way, but Emperor Qianlong was extremely tired.
After arriving at Tai Mausoleum, according to etiquette, he should pay his respects to the coffins of the late emperor and Empress Xiaojingxian every day, and also go to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay his respects, and he could not delay the affairs of state.
The Queen Mother felt distressed when she saw her son's haggard face.
The empress was also very worried and asked the imperial chef to stew bird's nest and send it to Emperor Qianlong.
Officials requested that Emperor Qianlong hold a sacrifice ceremony every other day, but he disagreed.
It’s the last few days, and I can’t let anyone find fault with me.
Moreover, Qianlong went to the coffin of Khan Ama every day not only to perform the necessary formalities, but also because Khan Ama really had something to tell him.
After paying tribute in front of Yongzheng's coffin on the first day, Qianlong and Yonglian stayed alone, originally just to talk about the Huimin Canteen.
However, Yongzheng's spirit spoke first: "You are finally here, Yonglian. Last time, your Khan-father told me the general structure of the two-wheeled cart. I have been thinking about it recently. Can the wheels of this two-wheeled cart be woven with cork and rattan? As for the gear lever in front, it would be better to use iron."
Yonglian had never thought that the spirit of the Emperor was thinking about this, but the suggestion was very useful, so Yonglian immediately relayed it to Khan Ama. Qianlong knew nothing about such things, so he asked Yonglian to remember it and go back to tell the craftsmen of the Imperial Household Department.
Yongzheng continued, "I think a two-wheeled cart can be used for transportation, and a three-wheeled cart can be used for transporting goods. Yonglian, you are the smartest. I can describe it to you. Can you draw it?"
Yonglian:!!!
Huang Mafa is really good at drawing inferences from one example and applying it to other similar cases! He figured out the tricycle?
Yonglian wanted to say that he knew what a tricycle looked like. Isn't this a step-by-step approach?
He was really curious about the difference between the tricycle designed by Huang Mafa and the tricycles of later generations.
He happily told Qianlong about this, "Khan Ama, the Emperor must teach me how to draw a blueprint for a tricycle!"
Qianlong: “???”
Okay, it’s something Khan Ama would think about in his free time.
But he found it strange to ask someone to bring paper and pen to the coffin, so he promised Yongzheng that he would bring Yonglian again the next day.
Then he asked Yonglian to carry some paper and charcoal pencils with him.
Yonglian knew that his Khan Ama was not interested in these things, so he said, "Why don't you not go? I will go alone."
"This is against etiquette," Qianlong said, "I will go with you."
Were these two really just painting a tricycle? Qianlong expressed his doubts, wondering if Khan Ama was just looking for an excuse to spend some time alone with little Yonglian.
Khan Ama's ghost is also a ghost. Qianlong was worried about his son going there, so he had to have him, the true dragon emperor, to protect him.
The father and son would spend half an hour in front of the coffin every day, and Yongzheng and Yonglian would discuss the appearance of the tricycle.
Qianlong watched his son drawing from the side. The boy was quite talented in drawing and was very skilled in using charcoal pencils. He reminded him of those missionaries who could sketch.
Yonglian might be able to learn the realistic painting techniques that I find difficult.
When I get back, I can arrange a painting master for Yonglian to teach him some Western painting.
That Western painting style wasn't particularly impressive; it emphasized resemblance, making it a perfect introduction for a child like Yonglian. After a few more years of study, when he had a firm grasp of the art form, he could then learn literati painting, which emphasized vivid artistic conception.
Yonglian didn't know that he was about to have another lesson. He was guiding Huang Mafa step by step to design a tricycle structure similar to that of later generations.
Yongzheng did have some ideas about manufacturing machinery. After three days, Yonglian not only drew the blueprints of the tricycle, but also thought out the materials of various parts.
Some technical problems that neither the grandparents nor the grandchildren can figure out can be left to Hai Wang and his team.
Yongzheng also specifically instructed Yonglian to personally describe the requirements of the tricycle to Haiwang, saying, "Your Khan Ama doesn't understand these things. If you misrepresent them, it will be troublesome."
Yonglian nodded, "Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Qianlong: "What does your Majesty want to instruct you?"
Yonglian repeated word for word, "The Queen says you don't understand these things. If you misrepresent them, it will be troublesome."
Qianlong: “…”
"Although my son doesn't understand, he has a good memory. Unlike little Yonglian, your little fellow still hasn't memorized 'Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake'."
Yonglian: "..." Khan Ama complained again!
Yongzheng laughed heartily, "Hongli is so grown up, yet he is still so childish."
"How can the Queen say you are childish!" Yonglian said immediately.
Qianlong also laughed. Isn't this just entertaining parents with colorful clothes?
Yonglian hummed, "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake is about the scenery of the Old Summer Palace. When Khan Ama takes me to Fuhai in the Old Summer Palace to enjoy the moon, I will be able to recite it."
Qianlong: “…”
Yongzheng was amused by the father and son. When he was alive, he was busy with state affairs and had little time to enjoy the joy of family life, but after his death, he finally enjoyed it.
According to Yongzheng's last wish, the coffins of Empress Xiaojingxian and Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu were buried together with his in the underground palace.
Although Nian Gengyao was ordered to commit suicide and the Nian family fell into decline, Yongzheng's feelings for Consort Dunsu were not fake.
He had decided on this matter long ago, and even Empress Xiaojingxian knew about it, so no one objected.
But when Qianlong ascended the throne, the former Nianhulu became the empress dowager and could be buried with Yongzheng in the future.
When the Tai Mausoleum was being built, Hai Wang asked Emperor Qianlong whether he wanted to reserve a place for the empress dowager.
After discussing it, the mother and son decided not to stay.
They told the outside world that the tomb of the late emperor should be kept quiet and not disturbed easily.
But the Empress Dowager actually didn't want to continue serving the late Emperor, Empress and Imperial Noble Consort in the underworld.
Although they had no conflicts in the past, and Empress Xiaojingxian and Imperial Noble Consort Nian had never made things difficult for her, it was only after she became the Empress Dowager that she realized how good it felt not to have to serve others. She no longer had to pretend to be gentle and submissive, and she no longer had to joke and laugh with her old sisters, nor did she have to worry about being disliked by the late emperor.
Anyway, Empress Xiaohuizhang of the Shunzhi Dynasty was not buried with Emperor Shunzhi. There was a precedent, and no one could say anything if Nianhulu was not buried with Emperor Yongzheng.
Qianlong understood his mother's feelings too well, and now that he knew that Khan Ama's soul really existed, Qianlong was even more fortunate that he did not leave a place for his mother. Khan Ama did not like his mother, and what if his mother's soul was bullied in the underworld?
By then, the saying that a mother is honored by her son may not be applicable.
However, Yongzheng's ghost felt complicated when he learned that Nianhulu refused to be buried with him.
The other concubines are proud of this, so why does this woman refuse?
Just after becoming the empress dowager, have you forgotten about your late emperor?
Then he thought, he didn't even like her serving him when he was alive, so why should he ask for her to bury him with him after he died? It would be better to arrange it this way.
After the burial ceremony, Qianlong asked Yonglian to communicate with Khan Ama's soul in the underground palace, but Yonglian could not hear Yongzheng's voice.
The little guy panicked, "The Emperor clearly said that his soul will always be there."
He also wants Huang Mafa to make use of his remaining energy and design more useful things.
...Well, he just couldn't bear to leave Huang Mafa.
Qianlong took him around the entire Tai Mausoleum again. Yonglian cried and shouted "Huang Mafa", but there was no response.
In the eyes of others, this shows that the Second Prince is filial and reluctant to leave the late emperor.
The late emperor had already been buried, but the child still kept crying.
The emperor is also a good father and always stays by his son's side.
The relationship between the three generations of father and son in the royal family is really good!
Although Qianlong was wary of Khan Ama's spirit in various ways, and also guessed that his son was communicating with Khan Ama's spirit and saying bad things about him, when his son was really unable to communicate with Khan Ama's spirit, Qianlong felt empty in his heart.
Yonglian couldn't find the soul of Huang Mafa, and he hugged Khan Ama's waist and cried sadly.
Qianlong felt sorry for his son and was reluctant to leave his old father, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He was afraid that Yonglian would become dehydrated from crying like he did last time in the Lama Temple, so he picked him up and found a place to sit down. "Don't cry, let's think about where your Emperor Mafa's soul is."
As a child who grew up with a materialistic education, Yonglian had no idea about such things.
We can only hope that Khan Ama can figure it out.
Qianlong hugged his son and thought hard. After a moment, he patted Yonglian on the back twice and said, "I figured it out!"
As he spoke, he stood up and went to the place where the tablet of Emperor Yongzheng was enshrined.
Yonglian hurried to catch up with his short legs. Qianlong walked too slowly at first, so he picked up his son and quickened his pace in the second half.
Li Yu and others who followed from a distance were all full of questions as to what this father and son were up to.
Is His Majesty too sad and a little abnormal?
Li Yu thought about it and asked the eunuch to invite the Queen.
The Queen was in the Queen Mother's palace, and once the Queen knew about it, she couldn't hide it from the Queen Mother.
"This child Hongli, I thought he had let it go before." The empress dowager sighed. Hongli was not too sad in the first few months after the death of the late emperor.
Is it because you recently went to Tailing and were influenced by the atmosphere here?
And Yonglian, that child, was not raised by the late emperor himself, so how could he have such a deep bond with him? I heard that because Yonglian cried so hard, an official even made a mistake and mistook Yonglian for the late emperor's youngest son.
"Go and check on him quickly, but don't scare Yonglian." The Empress Dowager instructed the Empress. "The late emperor's spirit would be uneasy seeing him like this. If he still refuses to listen, tell him that I am worried about him and that he should mourn for me."
When the empress arrived at the place where the late emperor's tablet was placed, she met Qianlong and Yonglian coming out.
Not only did the father and son not look sad, they were even smiling.
The queen blinked her eyes. Was she dazzled?
As soon as Yonglian saw the queen coming, he ran to his mother and asked, "Mother, mother, why are you here?"
Qianlong: "Don't shout so loudly, you'll scare your Majesty."
Yonglian: "The Queen can't hear it."
Huang Mafa really couldn't hear it at this distance. They had just tested it and found that they couldn't communicate with Huang Mafa's soul if they were one meter away from the ancestral tablet.
Qianlong understood what his son meant and just smiled helplessly. However, the queen's heart skipped a beat. Her son was so rude, and the emperor was still laughing?
This is too much doting on Yonglian.
The queen's face immediately darkened, and she held back her son, who was charging at her like a cannonball. "Inside are the ancestral tablets of your royal maha and the two mamas. You must be solemn and respectful, and not behave like you did just now."
Yonglian quickly agreed. He was so happy to have found the soul of Huang Mafa that he forgot the rules for a moment.
Qianlong came over to help his son out and changed the subject: "Why is the Queen here? What does the Empress want to talk to me about?"
"Tomorrow we will return to the capital to perform the ancestral tablet enshrining ceremony. The Empress Dowager is worried that you have been working so hard these days and are exhausted. She has sent me to tell you to rest early today."
Qianlong nodded and said, "Then I will go back to rest. You take Yonglian to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
He touched his son's head and told the Queen, "Yonglian has been crying too much, his eyes are red and swollen. Ask someone to apply some compress to his eyes later."
The queen thought to herself that she felt sorry for her son at this moment. The child was so young, how could she let him cry all the time? As the Khan's father, she didn't even know how to comfort him.
This is not the right way to show filial piety!
Yonglian followed his mother to the Empress Dowager's palace and played with Hongzhou there for a while.
When the Queen Mother saw the little guy's bright smile, it was hard for her to imagine that he had just been crying and wailing around Tai Mausoleum.
This child's mood changes very quickly, but think about the late emperor and Hongli, they were both like this. The Aisin Gioro family has a long history of emotional instability.
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