The royal palaces in Beijing are basically built to the north of the Forbidden City, on both sides of Houhai to be precise.
Nowadays, Prince Gong's Mansion is the most famous, mostly because of He Shen, the most corrupt person in the Qing Dynasty.
Prince Gong's Mansion was originally built by Heshen. After his family was confiscated by Jiaqing, the mansion was given to Qianlong's youngest son, Prince Qing, so it was originally called Prince Qing's Mansion.
When Prince Qing's family name reached Yikuang, Yikuang was ordered to move out, and then the imperial court awarded the palace to Prince Gong Yi, so the well-known "Prince Gong's Mansion" came into existence.
Later, Yikuang moved into Qishan's old residence, which became the current Prince Qing's Mansion.
Prince Qing's Mansion is not far from Prince Gong's Mansion, only two streets apart. Although it is not as grand as Prince Gong's Mansion, it has at least two to three hundred rooms.
Li Yu and Ding Yuliang arrived at Prince Qing's Mansion and followed a housekeeper through the gate after the announcement.
Outside the hall, the two of them saw Yi Kuang's son Zai Zhen directing several handymen to install a huge crystal chandelier, and beside him was the translator Rui Zheng.
——This Ruizheng is not working in the yamen, but he comes to help Zai Zhen build furniture.
"My young prince, this chandelier was selected by my servant who personally arranged for someone to contact the Italian envoy. It is handmade and is a genuine Roman product!" Rui Zheng nodded and bowed behind Zai Zhen.
Zai Zhen looked at the crystal chandelier that was slowly lifted up by the servants. It was indeed magnificent, noble and luxurious.
This is worthy of the status of a prince!
Zai Zhen, like his father Yi Kuang, was very good-looking. He later became the Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the Qing Dynasty. His bust was printed on the earliest banknotes of the Qing Dynasty issued in 1906.
Zai Zhen smiled and said: "That's right! Pu Wei usually shows off to me things from their Prince Gong's Mansion. I think he definitely doesn't have this chandelier at home!"
After Yi's death, his grandson Pu Wei succeeded him, but in fact Prince Gong's lineage no longer had much say in the court.
However, Yi has been in control of the government for many years, and there are many good things in the palace. In addition, Prince Gong's palace originally belonged to Prince Qing's family. Now Zai Zhen feels a little uncomfortable when he sees Pu Wei's appearance.
Moreover, they are both about the same age, both in their early 20s, and they are very competitive.
Rui Zheng, who was next to him, said along the way: "Prince Gong's palace is full of old people, but this one is different. I have been to many embassies with the master, and none of them foreigners have such good things!"
"These three thousand taels of silver are really well spent!" Zai Zhen became more and more satisfied as he looked at it. He shouted to the handymen who were working: "Be careful, you guys. If you bump into anything, I will take care of you."
Eat the fruit!”
The servants only promised to give them three thousand taels of silver, and they would not dare to make any mistakes, otherwise ten lifetimes would not be enough to compensate them.
Li Yu looked very funny. The imperial court was now carrying such a huge debt, but these princes and nobles spent three thousand taels just for a lamp. It was a miracle that the Qing Dynasty could survive until now!
Zai Zhen moved and admired the chandelier. From the corner of his eye, he finally saw Ding Haoliang outside the hall and said quickly: "Oh! It's Mr. Xi, the chief instructor. I didn't greet him from afar. Why didn't I say hello when I came in?"
He came out quickly, and Ding Haoliang stretched out his hand and shook his hand: "I saw that the prince was fascinated by such a beautiful work of art, so I didn't disturb His Highness."
Zai Zhen said: "The chief instructor is really joking!"
"Bang bang bang!"
Rui Zheng rushed over and kowtowed three times to Ding Haoliang and said, "The student has seen the teacher!"
"What are you doing!" Ding Haoliang immediately helped Rui Zheng up, "I already told you, just shake hands or bow when you see me in the future. Please don't do this kind of gift again."
Rui Zheng was all smiles: "I am so excited to see my teacher as a junior student!"
When Rui Zheng was studying in Tongwen Hall, Ding Haoliang was still the head teacher. In fact, they were already used to handshakes and bows, but Rui Zheng saw the young prince shaking hands with Ding Haoliang and thought about how he could be on the same level as the young prince.
, so I made a big gift.
Ding Haoliang often encountered this situation and didn't pay much attention to it.
Zai Zhen welcomed Ding Hailiang into the hall, ordered him to look around at the tea, and then asked: "Mr. Xi, the chief instructor, why are you here in this humble residence today?"
Ding Haoliang pointed to Li Yu next to him: "I'm here to introduce this erudite man to the prince, who happens to be your student assistant."
Zai Zhen knew that his father was looking for a talent in Western learning to teach at home, and he also stated that he wanted a talented person who "understood the profound meaning". Such people were really hard to find, so he entrusted the former head teacher of Tong Wen Guan, Ding Weiliang, to teach.
I didn't expect him to be quite efficient.
But seeing that the young man next to him seemed younger than himself, Zai Zhen asked doubtfully: "He...is a master of Western learning?"
Ding Hailiang said: "That's right, Mr. Li Yuxiao's foundation in various Western subjects is much better than mine."
This immediately elevated Li Yu.
Zai Zhen also believed in Ding Haoliang absolutely and unconditionally. He immediately stood up and said to Li Yu: "In that case, I will have to give you more advice from you!"
Li Yu also stood up and said politely: "Young prince, your words are serious."
In fact, the question that Ding Haoliang and physics teacher Shi Deming worked out yesterday was one of the University of Pennsylvania test questions that Ding Haoliang asked his American friends to get. Originally, he was planning to select part of it as a reference for the subsequent entrance examination to the Capital University. But later it was discovered that the wrong question was sent.
Yes, these questions are all test questions for graduate students.
Ding Haoliang asked Li Yu to do it, but to his surprise, he almost got full marks! If he did it himself, he would definitely not even be able to pass.
Ding Haoliang understood that this was definitely a talent! It was a pity that his influence was very big in the Qing Dynasty, but very small in the United States. But he could be recruited into a university in the future, and he might be able to study in Europe and the United States in the future.
Now, in the palace of Prince Qing, it would be great if Prince Qing could be made to love Western learning, and then use his huge power to promote his own university and various elementary schools.
I have to say that as an American, Ding Haoliang does not have high academic quality, but he really loves education!
As for Li Yu, he naturally knew in his heart that the Qing Dynasty would be over soon, and he had no good impressions of the Qing Dynasty. He wished it would end soon. However, a gentleman can bend and stretch, so for the time being, he was reluctant to contact these princes, so as to integrate into the era more quickly.
, otherwise in such troubled times, if one is not careful, one's head will definitely be lost. If one's life cannot be saved, what other things are there to do?
Ding Haoliang briefly introduced Li Yu's situation, and then said to Zai Zhen: "With the level of brother Li Yu, it is possible to be a lecturer or even a professor at the University of Rome."
Ding Nailiang mentioned Rome specifically, intentionally or unintentionally. Naturally, it was a bit ironic that he spent three thousand taels to buy a chandelier made in Rome.
Zai Zhen didn't hear it, and just praised: "I didn't expect that Mr. Li Yu could have such a great talent. It is a great honor for me, the Qing Dynasty!"
Ding Hailiang was anxious to see Yikuang, so he asked: "Is the prince at your residence?"
Zai Zhen touched the teacup and said, "Father is having a discussion with the counselor from Russia in the inner hall. I'm almost done with it now. Why don't we go in and have a look?"
"I'm afraid this isn't appropriate," Ding Hailiang said.
"It's okay, it's not in the Yamen anyway!" Zai Zhen said casually, "General Teacher Xi, just come with me!"
Ding Haoliang had been in the Qing Dynasty for decades, and he understood the habits of these Qing ministers to some extent. The Eight-Nation Allied Forces had discussed the terms of peace negotiations with Yikuang in the palace of Prince Qing the year before.
Zai Zhen said to Rui Zheng again: "Help me stay with Mr. Li Yu. Father will be here soon."
Ruizheng immediately said: "Don't worry, little prince!"
When Zai Zhen and Ding Haoliang entered the inner hall, Rui Zheng looked back at Li Yu, but his eyes were a little strange.