Compared with this TV series, the Yongzheng dynasty's portrayal of Hongzhou is more in line with history. During the Yongzheng period, Yongzheng was very satisfied with Hongzhou's son. In order to show his indisputable, he also did many absurd things, the most famous of which was a funeral.
After the Eight Ye Party failed to force the Eight Kings of Yongzheng to discuss politics, Yongzheng asked the third and Hongzhou to copy the old eight. In order to avoid this kind of errand, Hongzhou gave himself a funeral, which directly made his third son dumbfounded. The third child forced him to become a policeman. He even said that he should not go out because of the bloodshed these days.
Yongzheng knew about it and did not force him. After the funeral, he called to the palace for questioning. Hongzhou walked to the door, and first gave Li Dequan a silver ticket, asking him for help. Yongzheng boasts that he knows the art of preserving his sanity, which is better than himself. Hongzhou was surprised and said that he could never reach the level of Yongzheng in his ten lives.
Then Yongzheng asked him how he misrepresented the imperial edict. Hongzhou said it again truthfully. Yongzheng asked what Hongshi said, but he said he forgot. Finally, he cared about Yongzheng's health and said that he wanted someone to see him. Yongzheng dug several holes for Hongzhou in this passage, and Hongzhou bypassed them one by one and answered them carefully.
The same is true of Hongzhou in history books. It is clearly recorded in the Qing Draft that Hongzhou has a wonderful hobby of running his own funeral. He personally directed the funeral, sat in the middle of the yard, ordered all the family members to mourn and cry, ate tributes while drinking, and asked people to put things like the funeral in front of his couch.
Whether Yongzheng or Qianlong, the two emperors were very tolerant of Hongzhou's perversions, especially Qianlong, who gave his father's old home and possessions to Hongzhou, so he was richer than other prisoners. There is also a history book that Hongzhou was fearless because of Qianlong's preference, and once beat courtiers in front of Manchu civil servants because of a little contradiction. For this matter, Qianlong turned a blind eye and didn't blame Hongzhou. From then on, all civil and military officials dared not provoke him.
Hongzhou is indeed a clean stream among the philosophers of Yongzheng. Compared with the emperor who can't rest for a day or two a year, he and the prince are really happy. If he wants to gamble, his brother will give him money. If he makes a mistake, his brother will wipe his ass. He is the man who has the most thorough view of royal life.