A Qing Dynasty Reincarnation: Clinging to the Fourth Prince

Also known as: 《Qing Transmigration: The Days I Spent Lying Flat at the Old Summer Palace》《Huddled in a Corner for a Front-Row Seat to the Nine Princes' Succession Struggle》《The Ultimate Winner: What Did Yinzhen Get Right?》《A World of What Ifs: How Things Changed Starting with the Yongzheng Emperor》 Ye Lin was an ordinary office worker whose greatest talents were typing away and working overtime. He never expected that... One day, he would transmigrate to the Great Qing, making ten years of painstaking study a complete waste of time. o(╥﹏╥)o He wakes up right in the middle of a deadly struggle, with schemes and plots coming one after another. Luckily, the author is a doting mom, and his golden finger is powerful enough. He only meant to improve the flush toilet, but accidentally sparked a technological revolution? He only meant to show off his English, but unexpectedly paved the way for major trade? He only wanted to live happily at home with a cat and a dog, but somehow got dragged into the succession struggle? He thought he was just a bystander watching the drama unfold, but before he knew it, he had become Yinzhen's close friend and confidant. This time around, he doesn't seek fame, fortune, or official rank. He only wants to have a clear conscience. He changes many people's fates and witnesses the living, breathing Yongzheng Emperor. He has no regrets! Years later, at a press conference held by the Qing imperial court, a reporter asks Ye Lin what the Yongzheng Emperor means to him. Ye Lin smiles and looks toward the emperor. “A wise ruler whom I served all my life!” The reporter asks the Yongzheng Emperor the same question. Fourth Master looks at Ye Lin, thinks for a long while, then replies, “Zhuge Kongming once helped Liu Bei. Now Ye Ziyu has helped me!” P.S.: 1. A feel-good power fantasy. 2. Very, very slow burn, with a powerful golden finger. 3. Some historical events, plus lots of fictional worldbuilding. Don't nitpick the history. 4. A succession struggle, with a little nation-building and a focus on improving people's lives and strengthening the country. 5. I'll fix typos after the story is complete. 6. Please don't bring up or compare this to other novels. 【Disclaimer: This story does not welcome extremists, reactionaries, or brainwashed people who use anti-Qing rhetoric to flaunt fake AI-generated patriotism, while actually trying to censor and erase Chinese history! The story's stance is that all fifty-six ethnic groups are one family! Extreme ethnic supremacists and populists who believe that people of other ethnicities must harbor ill will toward us should leave!!!】 (Readers with sound values can skip this and scroll down to the content warnings.) Our sacred territory is indivisible! The history of our country is equally sacred and indivisible! Anyone who tries to undermine or divide it is a reactionary! There are two small countries, A and B, near China. In modern history, Country A was colonized and ruled by Country B for over fifty years. During that time, B suppressed A's culture and history. When the global strategic landscape shifted and B withdrew, the people of A had forgotten not only their history, but even how to sing their own traditional songs! It took many more years for A to slowly reclaim its roots. Every period of Chinese history is a precious legacy, painstakingly unearthed, studied, and verified by countless scholars. Every dynasty had its prosperous eras as well as its declines. The cycle of life and death is a natural law, and only cowards are afraid to face that head-on!!! Even a colonizing country like B could only suppress A's history, yet certain extremists have managed to make their own people hate their country's history and actively censor it. Truly astonishing!!! How ridiculous, tragic, and lamentable!!! How absurd, preposterous, and utterly ridiculous!!! History deserves respect, not malicious vilification and censorship. China's long and rich history is a treasure that many countries can only envy. It can be judged objectively, but should not be distorted or despised! Anyone clear-headed knows this: all feudal dynasties have completely vanished!!! Not a speck of their ashes remains, and they certainly can't be resurrected!!! Making outrageous claims to scare people is laughable! Today, every dynasty is simply one part of Chinese history, a precious national legacy. China is the whole, not any particular feudal dynasty! Inventing enemies from the past, stirring up hatred, and calling for violence only affects the People's Republic of China!!! Some people may not know that the fifty-six ethnic groups are one family. Countless martyrs fought to make this a reality! We still need to keep working to preserve it, both now and in the future! It's one thing to contribute nothing to China, but to wave the banner of patriotism while making divisive statements is shameless and despicable!!! The regimes of ethnic minorities are also an indivisible part of Chinese history! They are also an indivisible part of Chinese civilization!!! 【Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council: Our territory must not be divided, our country must not be thrown into chaos, our people must not be split apart, and our civilization must not be broken!!!】 The country will not allow extreme Han supremacists to sow division, spread hatred, vilify Chinese history, or censor it! Content warnings! Must read! Content warnings! Must read! 1. 【Not a romance】!!! This is an extremely niche story, 【with a historical and political focus】, somewhat like the TV dramas *Yongzheng Dynasty* and *Kangxi Dynasty*!!! It draws on historical sources and follows the broad course of recorded history. The Eighth Prince's faction may want to steer clear. If you're looking for sweet romance, women competing for a man's attention, domestic or palace intrigue, or any other kind of romance, past or present, or if you're not interested in history, don't read this! 2. The protagonist wants to 【lie flat, enjoy his freedom, and live like a retiree】. He doesn't take part in officialdom's power struggles! In his previous life, he was 【an ordinary person】. He knows nothing about the bureaucracy, isn't very shrewd, and has no desire for an official career. His limit is becoming a scholarly advisor in Yinzhen's circle. He won't become a high-ranking official or an emperor. Readers who want a highly ambitious protagonist, don't read this! 【Lying flat is the main plot】. He only gets up to things in his spare time to satisfy his own ambition and enjoy a little sense of achievement. If you want a protagonist who's an invincible, charismatic hero, unifies the world, or builds a harem, this story has none of that! 3. The setting aims for realism. The main focus is carefully piecing together the circumstances of the Nine Princes' succession struggle during the Kangxi era. 【There's little nation-building!!! No supernatural golden finger that lets him single-handedly push the world into the Industrial Revolution.】 The protagonist's golden finger consists of enhanced brain development and a little bit of luck. 【It's constrained by the objective rules of the real world】 and won't break the logic of reality. There won't be any plot about uniting Earth or conquering the universe. Think it over before diving in. 4. The style is realistic, and every NPC in this world is grounded in reality!!! 【Supporting characters and NPCs are intelligent, calculating, capable people】!!! There are no 【mindless tools】 who fall to their knees and become completely loyal just because the protagonist waves his hand! The protagonist, supporting characters, and NPCs all act and speak 【in their own self-interest】. If you have very high moral standards, expect every character to live happily ever after, or 【can't accept the darker side of human nature】, don't read this. 5. The protagonist's enhanced brain lets him remember everything he sees. His character is similar to a rather simple, kindhearted, honest 【scientist】, not a politician! When it comes to scheming and strategy, the protagonist is 【inferior to】 most NPCs. If you want to see him outsmart everyone, don't read this. 6. 【Very little melodrama】!!! The protagonist watches the Nine Princes' succession struggle, but doesn't get hurt, cough up blood, fall off a cliff, or get caught up in misunderstandings as a result. The whole point is to lie flat, enjoy life, and watch the drama unfold! 7. This is a 【mild】 feel-good story. The protagonist simply watches Yinzhen make his way to the throne. There's no cycle of repeated torment followed by face-slapping, nor endless monster fights and loot drops to level up. If you like high-intensity, heavy-duty wish fulfillment, don't read this. 8. 【No pairing】. The protagonist is 【Peter Pan】-like!!! He's a fun-loving kid at heart, free of worldly desires, never falls in love, and remains single for life!!! Don't read this if that bothers you. 9. 【Realistic】!!! NPCs have less than a one percent chance of being love-struck. If you want a tragic romance between two people besides the protagonist, with promises like “Even if the mountains crumble and heaven and earth unite, I'll never part from you,” there isn't one here. 10. 【Ninety-five percent of NPCs follow the course of real history】. If you care deeply about a particular NPC and want to see them transcend their circumstances and break free of their original fate, don't read this. 11. The protagonist was an ordinary person in both his past and present lives. 【He doesn't have powerful parents to pave the way for him】!! 【There won't be a former fiancée who breaks off their engagement only to be face-slapped】!! The protagonist has transmigrated, 【he hasn't taken control of this world】!!! The course of the world, and the lives and wills of all the NPCs in it, 【do not revolve around him】. If that bothers you, read with caution. 12. 【Updates are slow】. If you're patient and enjoy savoring a story, feel free to start reading. If you're eager to see the ending, wait until it's complete. 13. This story is 【only for readers who are on the same wavelength as the author】. 【The outline is already set】 and the plot 【won't change to satisfy readers' requests】!! Think it over before starting. If you're enjoying it, keep reading. 【If you aren't, just close the page】. Don't force yourself, and you don't need to announce it to everyone. 14. A possible sticking point concerning the protagonist's changes to history: 【In the historical record, all four of Nian's children died young】. Through an equivalent exchange arranged by the protagonist, he changes fate against the odds, and Nian has one healthy child. But in a past life, this child was born to another woman in Prince Yong's household, and also died young. Don't read this if you can't accept that premise!!! 15. This story depicts Qing history. If you can't stand the rule of the Manchu minority, don't read this. 16. 【Qing Transmigration】 depicts the Qing dynasty's 【feudal imperial society】, where the privileged class can do as they please with the law and other people's lives, and where there are masters and servants. If you want to pursue, apply, or introduce more civilized modern values into a feudal society, don't read this. For example, there's no pursuit of equality for all, absolute fairness and justice, or strong social welfare in the Qing dynasty. The ancient world is written as it was in reality. This is an account of real history, not a glorification of the past or a vision of universal harmony. The protagonist isn't a god and can't topple a feudal dynasty by himself. Even a grain of sand from the era can weigh like a mountain on his head. His first priority is simply looking after his family. Don't read this if you can't accept that. 17. Just as in the real world, what a character says depends on their audience, setting, and other factors. 【As in real life, what characters say may not match what they truly think!!!! Nor does it necessarily reflect the author's views or stance!!!】 A character's words and opinions are shaped by their personality, experiences, education, and family background. 【They do not represent the author's own beliefs】. The story takes a relaxed approach to historical research. It only traces Qing dynasty history and discusses Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist thought. Its sources include online historical documents such as *Veritable Records of the Qing Dynasties*. These sources are used as found, without investigating their authenticity or entering into debates between different schools of historical scholarship. 【The story has no connection to people or events in modern society】. Please don't make arbitrary comparisons or draw connections!!!! 18. 【This is an ensemble story】. In the real world, supporting characters and NPCs have their own things to do. 【The protagonist won't be at the center of every scene and plot point twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week】. Read with caution if that bothers you. 19. When it comes to political struggles, the story focuses on the power plays, not on whether the participants are good or bad, right or wrong, black or white, heroes or villains. Human nature is too complex to be summed up as good or evil. For instance, an official might actively promote Yongzheng's reforms and reduce taxes for the people, making him a good administrator. Yet in private, he may have poor character, sucking up to a powerful figure so shamelessly that other officials despise him. 20. Every reader has their own opinions, and the author respects that. Everyone has their own perspective. An apple is a commodity to a merchant, a subject to a painter, food to a child, a livelihood to a fruit farmer, and a specimen to a biologist. What an apple is depends on the viewer's point of view. If you want to share your thoughts, feel free to do so, or list references and a range of scholarly views for others to consult. But please don't lecture, attack, or criticize others in the comments. Let's maintain a friendly, harmonious atmosphere and avoid spreading negativity. Thank you. 21. The preparations for the later war, the war itself, and the shifting situation all take too long. If written year by year, the events would be too spread out. To speed up the story, 【the author hits fast-forward】. All the important events still happen, just more quickly. For readers who want to compare the story with historical records: Kangxi Year 55 in the story corresponds to Years 55, 56, and 57 in the historical record; Year 56 in the story corresponds to Years 58 and 59; Year 57 in the story corresponds to Years 60 and 61. 22. From the 61st year of Kangxi's reign through the Yongzheng era, 【some small changes will occur in the historical timeline depicted in the main story】. Read with caution if that bothers you. 【The actual historical events may be presented in bonus chapters】. 23. This is a labor of love, ten years in the making, written after years of studying history. It's just a novel, so please read it as a novel. Don't try to connect it to any past, present, or future debates about values, opposing camps, criticism, ideological fighting, conflict, fandoms, whitewashing, schools of thought, ethnic groups, elites, ideologies, hostility, feudalism, and so on... The complexity and depth of history and human nature can't be reduced to a single issue. The beliefs of the ancient world and the modern world also differ tremendously. A painting of an apple is just a painting of an apple. Whether viewers taste sweetness or tartness, smell the fragrance of ripe fruit or the stench of impending rot, or see a meager income or good value for money, depends on each person's perspective. The painter's task is simply to make the apple look as real as possible and portray it faithfully. People read novels to enjoy a little peace and relaxation. Life doesn't have to be a constant battle. You can relax and make room for different opinions and attitudes. Please don't speculate, provoke arguments, use the story to air grievances, criticize others, or show off your sense of superiority!!! Comments like that will be deleted. Thank you. 24. The author is neither a history expert nor a fan or hater of any dynasty or historical figure. 【The story is based on historical sources】 and 【describes events as they were】. It won't whitewash or vilify historical figures, but it does express the author's 【subjective opinions】. Everyone is complex and multifaceted, and everyone can have their own subjective opinions. The author respects different viewpoints. The aim isn't to say who was good or bad, but to depict the complexity of every historical figure: their personalities, experiences, actions, and fates. 25. There may be other content warnings I haven't thought of yet. I'll add them if I think of any. 26. This story is 【only for readers who are on the same wavelength as the author】. Everyone has different values, and different people like different things. If you're sure this is the sort of story you enjoy, come on in. If you prefer something else, go find it instead. Don't force yourself!!! No need to leave a comment if you drop the story. Thank you!!! Important: After reading all the content warnings, you may want to double them in your mind and lower your expectations before starting. Researching and writing this story takes a lot of effort. I do my best to make it feel authentic. I hope that while reading, you can put aside the everyday worries of the real world and enjoy traveling with the protagonist to another world, getting a glimpse into the thoughts and tactics of emperors and ministers, the power struggles of real history, and what the prosperous eras at the end of Kangxi's reign and start of Yongzheng's were really like... If you've read this far, you're probably more patient than most, and perhaps, like the author, you really want to learn from history and pick up a few lessons in political strategy. Great! You're amazing! Who says women can't be good at history and politics? Once you read about it, you'll understand. It's not that difficult! The author's health has been poor for a long time, so I can only guarantee three updates a week. I won't have the energy to fix typos while it's ongoing, but I'll go through the whole story and fix them after it's complete. Thank you for understanding. *Bows.* Every click and comment gives the author the motivation to keep updating! Announcement: Dear readers, this story will become a paid novel on Wednesday, August 25, with three updates totaling ten thousand words. Thank you for all your support so far, and I hope you'll continue supporting me. *Bows in gratitude!* Theme: Ordinary people can accomplish great things. Strive to grow and change your fate.