Big brother is punished

  Long Yintian stayed in the side hall of Changchun Palace until it was time for dinner, and he had basically asked all the things he wanted to ask, so staying any longer would have been meaningless.

  Although he likes to watch others perform enthusiastically in front of him, watching the same play for a long time will also make him feel bored, right?

  Not far from the Changchun Palace, Longyin Tian suddenly issued an edict while walking slowly forward. After the funeral of Empress Xiaoxian, Wei Zifu was formally appointed as a constant attendant and moved into the side hall of the Yanxi Palace.

  The eunuch beside him hastily replied and turned around to hurry towards the Chong Chun Palace to deliver the imperial edict.

  The eunuchs around them still looked calm on their faces, but they had already started to make their own calculations in their hearts. After all, a palace maid from a humble background was actually promoted to be a constant attendant by the emperor in just one afternoon, which was a great honor. It's likely that Wei would fly high and become a phoenix from now on. The person favored by the emperor, even if they couldn't curry favor with them, still couldn't afford to offend them.

  Only in his heart, he was worried that Wei's family would know at a glance that they were of the same kind as Gao's family, but their means were much more cunning than Gao's. I'm afraid the harem will be restless again from now on.

  Just as Long Yihan was passing by the Imperial Garden, his exceptionally keen hearing suddenly picked up a burst of laughter. During the period of mourning for Empress Xiaoxian, there were actually people who dared to speak and laugh openly - did they want to lose their lives?

  He raised his hand to stop Gao Wuyong from going forward to ask questions, and Long Yintian walked towards the source of the sound.

  Having bypassed the not-so-tall fake hill, two young men appeared before him. Judging from their attire, they should be two A Ge, and after comparing them with Qianlong's memory, he was certain that these two were indeed Da A Ge Yong Huang and San A Ge Yong Zhen.

  Yongzhao immediately reacted and hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects: "Your son... pays his respects to the Emperor, wishing the Emperor good fortune!"

  As soon as he saw Long Yitian's icy face, his heart became nervous and uneasy, and even his voice trembled slightly.

  Yong Huang saw Yong Zhuo suddenly kneel down to ask for peace, and he also quickly came back to his senses, hurriedly turned around to ask for peace, and in the flurry didn't notice Long Yintian's facial expression.

  Yongzheng, being the eldest brother, had already come of age and established his own household. Unless summoned, he was not allowed to enter the palace privately. This time, due to the funeral of Empress Xiaoxian, he was permitted to enter the palace to offer wine and pay his respects.

  Yongzhao is currently only twelve years old and has not yet reached the age where he can leave the palace to establish his own residence, so for now he still lives in the prince's quarters within the palace. Every morning he must go on time to the imperial study to learn, and in the afternoons he practices horsemanship and archery.

  Looking at Yonghuan and Yongzhang kneeling in front of him, Long Yitian slightly furrowed his brow. These two children seemed to be quite clever, but why did they always do such unseemly things?

  The queen hasn't even been buried yet, and they're already laughing and chatting in the imperial garden. Isn't this just asking to be gossiped about and ridiculed?

  Don't underestimate those rumors, who knows one day because of these rumors, the two brothers will be completely abandoned.

  Kneeling on the ground, Yongzheng saw Long Yitian and didn't let them get up for a long time. His heart became more and more apprehensive and fearful, his face gradually turned pale. Although he still didn't understand why, there was one thing he could be sure of: Emperor Ama was angry, extremely angry.

  Yong Huang also gradually sensed that something was wrong, but he didn't dare to raise his head, so he could only secretly glance at Yong Zhang beside him. With just this one glance, he understood that today's matter had probably enraged the Emperor, and it would be difficult to end well.

  Just as Long Xuan was pondering how to deal with this matter, a eunuch rushed over and said that the Empress Dowager had issued an edict, asking the Emperor to go to Cining Palace.

  Long Hui didn't need to think about it, he knew that the edict just then must have made the Empress Dowager unhappy, so she found an opportunity to call him over and scold him.

  Turning back, he glanced at Yongheng and Yongzhang, who were kneeling on the ground. Long Yitian said in a tone that was impossible to discern his emotions: "From today onwards, you two are forbidden from leaving the mansion without my orders. Also, copy the 'Classic of Filial Piety' one hundred times for me, and reflect on what filial piety truly is."

  Long Yitian's words were like a thunderclap on a clear day to Yongheng and Yongzhen, they couldn't believe it and looked up at Long Yitian with shock and pleading eyes, several times opening their mouths but unable to speak.

  For an imperial prince, being under house arrest indefinitely is no different from being imprisoned, it's just that saying so sounds better. And the criticism of not following the way of filial piety would make them lose even the opportunity to inherit the throne. Which official would support a unfilial person becoming emperor?

  Gao Wu Yong, who was standing aside, couldn't bear it anymore and kindly reminded them: "The two brothers should quickly accept the imperial edict and express their gratitude."

  After all, the thunder and rain are all your kindness, if the two brothers do not lead the way to thank you for your kindness, in case someone puts a hat on you that disrespects the imperial edict, then the trouble will be even greater.

  Long Hui didn't have the patience to continue waiting, so without waiting for Yong Huang and Yong Zhen to receive their orders, he turned around and walked in the direction of Cining Palace. After walking a few steps, from behind him came the faint sound of the two princes receiving their orders as well as stifled sobbing.

  This made Long Yitian's footsteps pause slightly, and a hint of dissatisfaction arose in his heart. As the saying goes, "A real man doesn't shed tears easily", but these two princes were actually too weak-willed, crying at just a small setback. This shows how much Emperor Qianlong's education had failed in the past.

  It's actually unfair for Long Hui Tian to measure Yong Huang and Yong Zhuang by his own standards, because the Qing Long clan is inherently a cold, unemotional, and warlike nation that only shows slightly richer emotions when facing their direct blood relatives, which is also why there are many examples of close relatives marrying within the Qing Long clan.

  Yong Huang and Yong Zhang, although they were noble princes, were just ordinary humans after all. Human emotions are naturally much richer than those of the Qinglong tribe, and it's not inappropriate to shed tears when feeling extremely sad.

  Long Hanyan walked along the edge of the sky, pondering in his mind about the educational issues of his brothers, because in his heart, every brother was a potential successor, unless they were deemed unqualified and excluded from the list of successors. He would not give up on any one of them or any possibility.

  Because he is a perfectionist himself, no matter what it is, either don't do it or do it to the best, so it is also the case with Chu Jun's problem.

  The eldest brother, Yongheng, has already come of age and his character and personality have taken shape. Although he is not currently in charge of any important tasks, there is also very little room for him to improve in the future, so it can be basically ruled out from the list of candidates for the throne, and there is no need to waste thoughts on him.

  Because Long Yitian never even gave a glance to those he looked down on, and that included his nominal son, let the defective product fend for itself.

  Third Brother Yongzhang is only twelve years old, still in the stage of learning and growth, so there is still room for further refinement. Moreover, at the age of twelve, he is already quite knowledgeable, and his education should not be too difficult.

  Qianlong had little contact with Yongzheng from the past, and he didn't understand this biological son at all. Long Yitian didn't know if he would encounter any trouble when dealing with Yongzheng this time.

  It is the Fourth Prince Yongyan who will be nine years old this year and can start receiving orthodox imperial education in two years; while other princes are still young, it is more harmful than beneficial to come into contact with government affairs too early, they should now focus on laying a solid foundation.

  "The Emperor has arrived!"

  As the eunuch's report came, Long Yintian collected his thoughts and walked into the main hall of Cining Palace. Inside the hall, apart from two palace maids serving, there was only the Empress Dowager sitting on the main seat and a little princess wearing pink clothing, who should be Ruiqin Wang's daughter Qing'er. She was indeed a delicate and lovely little girl.

  "It's His Majesty arriving, Qing'er immediately performed a curtsy: 'Qing'er greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be auspicious.'"

  "Get up." Long Yintian said lightly, then didn't look at Qing'er again.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Qing'er seemed to have also noticed that Long Yitian didn't quite like her, so she lowered her head and stood beside the Empress Dowager, not uttering another word.

  "The son greets the empress dowager." Long Yīn paid his respects to the empress dowager as usual, although he was respectful on the surface, but in his heart, he remained indifferent.

  "The Emperor has arrived, come, come to my side and let's have a good talk, mother and son." The Empress Dowager appeared very kind and harmonious, with a perfect portrayal of maternal love and filial piety. However, Long Huan Tian was well aware that if there was nothing important, the Empress Dowager would not have hurriedly called him over to talk. Even as the most respected woman in the Tai Qing Palace, she was ultimately just an accessory to imperial power.

  The Empress Dowager, however, put on a show of being familiar and casual, pulling Long Yitian's hand and saying with deep meaning: "Your Majesty, I heard that you have appointed another palace maid today. The funeral rites for the late empress have not yet been completed, is it not somewhat inappropriate to be granting titles at this time?"

  As expected, Long Hui Tian raised a faint smile and followed the Empress Dowager's words, saying: "The son just issued an oral decree first, and will be officially appointed after the Queen's funeral."

  In his opinion, the emperor's favor towards anyone is the emperor's own business, and the empress dowager can at most ask a few questions. If she really wants to interfere, he won't be able to save face for her either, and in the end, it will be the empress dowager who loses face.

  "The Emperor has thought it through so thoroughly, I can also rest assured." The Empress Dowager gently patted Long Yitian's hand, implying that she would no longer interfere with the matter of Wei Changjin. Her next sentence was her main point: "I know that with Xiaoxian gone, your heart must not be feeling well, but the six palaces cannot be without a master, and the throne being vacant is not a good thing either. I called you here this time just to ask for your opinion."

  "Huang E Niang said that this position cannot be left vacant for long...", Long Yintian hesitated for a moment, pretending to think deeply, before continuing: "I think that Xian Gui Fei is a good candidate, not only does she understand etiquette and is dignified and kind, but also has the air of a motherly figure, and her birth is from the orthodox Eight Banners, so her status is also suitable."

  The empress dowager's smile grew even thicker upon hearing these words, it was clear that she had the same idea in mind, and since they were spoken by the emperor himself, she naturally felt even more pleased. "Your Majesty truly has good judgment, I also think so. Why don't we do this: after Empress Xiaoxian's funeral, first confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort on Ulanara, and then formally install her as empress after the mourning period for the previous empress is over?"

  Longyan understood his words and hit the Empress Dowager's mind, while the Empress Dowager also took a step back and gave him a compromising method that could both satisfy Qianlong's feelings for Xiaoxian and stabilize Wulana's position.

  Indeed a cunning old fox, with subtle hints and nuances that are quite impressive.

  The Empress Dowager's proposal was good, but Long Yitian wasn't someone who would agree to anyone's emotions, especially when it came to palace affairs. So he tactfully opened his mouth and replied: "It's still better for the Empress Mother to think things through, but if we let Ula Nara be in charge of the harem with the title of Imperial Noble Consort, I'm afraid she won't be able to intimidate the six palaces. After all, there was a precedent set by the previous emperor's empress, and it wouldn't be easy for her as the succeeding empress."

  This remark made the Empress Dowager feel surprised and puzzled. The Emperor's words meant that he did not want Ulanara to hold the title of Imperial Noble Consort for too long, which was a rare consideration for the future Empress. On the other hand, it also revealed that his feelings towards Xiaoxian were not as good as they seemed before, which made the Empress Dowager unsure of what the Emperor was thinking.

  "Empress Dowager, I think we can hold the coronation ceremony after a hundred days. This matter is settled."

  "Since the Emperor has decided, I won't say anything more." The Empress Dowager was also a sensible person and, hearing Long Yitian's tone, didn't say much about this matter either. Instead, she brought up other consorts: "If we're going to establish a new Empress, shouldn't these consorts in the palace also be promoted accordingly?"

  "This matter will be handled by Empress Dowager and Consort Xian, just inform the son at that time." Affairs in the harem have always been troublesome, Long Yitian didn't plan to intervene too much either, as long as it's not excessive, let them make a fuss, and divide the positions however they want.

  The Empress Dowager was very pleased with the Emperor's words, and with a smile, she pulled Long Yitian to eat some pastries and said some irrelevant things. She also mentioned Qing'er a few times. It wasn't until about half an hour later that she let him leave Cining Palace.

  Back at the Yangxin Hall, it was already past dinner time, but Long Hui Tian didn't feel hungry, so he just casually ate some snacks and then went to the imperial study to read the memorials.

  But this is not a big deal, but when he saw it, Long Yintian couldn't help but get angry again.

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