Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 21: Pilgrimage and Lecture

As everyone knows, Duke Dingguo Xu Wenbi has been the chief high priest of the Ming Dynasty for many years.

This was not his first official job.

That was the end of the Jiajing period, when his father was still alive. Xu Wenbi was in charge of the imperial guards and became a small security captain in the Forbidden City.

Soon, Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, and Duke Dingguo naturally had to give him preferential treatment.

As a result, Xu Wenbi was quickly promoted to be in charge of the military guards of the palace, and soon he was promoted to be in charge of the Right Army Commander-in-Chief, supervising the gates of the imperial city.

Up to this point, everything is normal and it is the regular official career path for the top meritorious officials of the Ming Dynasty.

It was Xu Wenbi’s first time to offer sacrifices, and it was a great honor.

Although he was not qualified to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth at that time, he was named by the emperor to pay homage to the tombs of the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty, which was an honor not available to everyone.

Xu Wenbi certainly worked hard.

If you do your job well, you will keep doing it.

So starting from the Longqing Dynasty, Xu Wenbi became a professional sacrificial offering.

On important festivals, the emperor's death anniversaries, and other special circumstances, Xu Wenbi would kowtow, burn incense, and paper at the command.

When Wanli ascended the throne, he naturally continued to use such a useful priest. Moreover, he had not yet taken power, so these matters naturally followed the old system of the previous dynasty.

What was even more frightening was that the older Duke Chengguo and others gradually grew old and died, and Xu Wenbi officially took on the responsibilities of the chief high priest.

Later, although Zhu Yijun took power, he became lazy.

Xu Wenbi still only does three things: sacrifice, sacrifice, and damn sacrifice.

In the first month of spring, summer, autumn and winter, there are five offerings a year, including sacrifices to heaven, earth, country and emperors of all dynasties, prayers for good weather and abundant water, and avoidance of drought, locust plagues, plague and floods. Xu Wenbi's figure, as diligent as a worker bee, is everywhere.

Now that the decree had reached Duke Dingguo's mansion, Xu Wenbi was almost moved to tears: "Are you not going to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth?"

The eunuch nodded and said, "Duke Dingguo will go to Cishou Temple to pay respects on behalf of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty."

Xu Wenbi's expression froze.

He was tired, really tired.

In fact, there were many meritorious officials who were sent by the emperor to perform sacrifices, and it was quite normal.

But because the emperor was lazy in his duties, the censors criticized Xu Wenbi.

What did the censor say in his "Petition to Personally Offer Sacrifice at the Suburban Temples"?

"Xu Wenbi is a nobleman, but he looks like a commoner, with a vulgar and lazy appearance, a man obsessed with wine, sex and money. When he bows, it's like he's sitting and can't bend down. When he kneels, it's like he's sleeping and can't stand up. Is he really a nobleman?"

How could such a person be allowed to perform sacrifices on behalf of the emperor? "Even if he were to walk on his knees and elbows, he would not be able to meet the will of the heavens, the earth, and the ancestors."

Yes, I don’t deserve it!
But first of all, I didn’t mess with anyone!
Do you think I am happy? Before offering sacrifices, one must fast and bathe. If your schedule is so full, why don't you let me see you indulge in alcohol and sex?

What about now? I am no longer allowed to do the exclusive work of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, but I am asked to burn incense!
What's a little different is... Xu Wenbi confirmed: "The Empress Dowager Gongdai... and His Majesty?"

The eunuch simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty's order has been delivered. Duke Dingguo just needs to make preparations. I still need to go back and report back."

Why did Xu Wenbi need to make any preparations? He was always on his way to prepare for the sacrifice.

Nowadays, there are not so many complicated procedures when going to burn incense.

Now there was only one thing that was surging in his mind: Why did they go to Cishou Temple to pay homage this time? And the object of their respect also included the Holy Mother Empress Dowager?

……

In Shen Yikuan's eyes, there are always big waves in the court, one wave higher than the other.

Good! The Queen is indeed in good health. Wang Dewan deserves to be beaten for gossiping!

But problems like the mine supervisor, tax collector, and the master workers of the three palaces and three gates are real, right?

After crying in the Taimiao that day but receiving no response from the emperor, the ministers threw their memorials and petitions into the palace one by one. As usual, they fell on deaf ears, and two oral orders were also conveyed.

First, the eldest prince had moved to Ciqing Palace. He was not used to the environment and caught a cold, so he temporarily postponed the lecture.

Secondly, the battle situation in Bozhou had entered a critical period. There were occasional signs of severe drought this summer, so the Ministry of Rites was ordered to perform suburban sacrifices according to the regulations and to send meritorious officials and relatives of the emperor to various temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, in order to pray for the country and all the people of the world.

The second one was nothing special, except that it was a little strange that this time it was not Duke Dingguo who took the lead in offering sacrifices to heaven and earth on behalf of His Majesty, but instead went to Cishou Temple to burn incense.

The first imperial decree made Shen Yikuan's scalp tingle again.

I promised you that day: If I can’t move in and start teaching within this month, come after me again!

Now the migration has taken place, but the rituals have not been held and it is not on the auspicious day set by the Ministry of Rites.

Just like when I first entered school, I was not well behaved.

Moreover, the eldest prince was "sick", so the lecture was postponed!
Shen Yi Guan began to talk to people frequently again: Stop making trouble! Stop making trouble! After all, the palace has been moved!

The eldest prince might really be ill, but it was definitely not caused by the hasty relocation of the palace or an unlucky day!

He will surely recover soon, and the next step will definitely be the lecture!
Suburban sacrifices are more important!
Shouldn’t we pray for blessings when Bozhou suppresses the rebellion? Shouldn’t we pray for rain when there is drought?
What? Another Gongdai, Your Majesty is not sincere?

Your Majesty has not been in good health, and now the weather is so hot...

While Shen Yikuan was in a state of panic, Zhu Yijun became more and more distressed.

Things are really different now. The Empress Dowager visits him every morning and evening. She asks about the results of the investigation once in the morning and once in the evening.

He also "advised" the emperor to be more diligent and take care of state affairs.

Zhu Yijun certainly knew that it was related to that incident, but he didn't even know what it was!

Preparations for the sacrifice and incense burning were still needed, and everyone was fasting and bathing.

On the afternoon of the second day of June, he was enjoying the cool air when Chen Ju came to report.

"The top scholar in Nanzhili in the 26th year of Wanli?" Zhu Yijun frowned.

Chen Ju nodded and said, "He failed the imperial examination in the 27th year. Seeing that Your Majesty was serious, I did not wait for the local authorities to report and checked first. Xu Guangqi was highly favored when he took the imperial examination, and the factory has recorded it."

"Who was the chief examiner for Nanzhili that year?"

"Jiao Hong, a native of Jiangning, was the top scholar in the 17th year of the Wanli reign. He is now the director of the Nanjing Imperial College, a fourth-rank official."

"Jiao Hong?" Zhu Yijun's eyes moved, "Has he ever been the tutor of the eldest prince?"

"Yes."

Zhu Yijun snorted lightly: "Got it, let's go on and investigate the other two."

Since his teacher was that boy's tutor, even though he had been transferred to the Nanjing Imperial College, it is clear what that boy's intention was in writing this person's name.

"What's the military situation in Bozhou?" Zhu Yijun asked again.

"The armies from all directions are surrounding and attacking Hailongtun fiercely. The rebellion will be quelled in no time."

"As soon as the victory news arrives, report it immediately."

Zhu Yijun wanted to know what the matter was as soon as possible, but also wanted to get out of it as soon as possible.

If the good news from Bozhou arrives, the emperor's prestige will naturally soar, and the ministers will probably not bother to frequently question and advise the boy about moving the palace and delaying his studies.

They will be busy rewarding people based on their merits.

So he simply took Xu Guangqi's resume in his hand and went to the Cining Palace.

"There really is such a person!"

Zhu Yijun didn't expect that when Empress Dowager Li held the resume, her hands and voice began to tremble, her face gradually turned pale, and her body swayed.

"Mother..." He was startled.

"It's a sin... It's really a sin... Quick! Bring Chang Luo... No! Bring the prince here!"

Zhu Yijun was shocked again: "Mother, what on earth is going on? The emperor hasn't issued an edict to confer a title on his son yet!"

Empress Dowager Li actually grabbed his arm and said, "I have ordered a thorough investigation! In the past year, no servant has dared to pass on any news to Jingyang Palace! How could Chang Luo predict the future? The emperor didn't know Xu Guangqi before, but Chang Luo knew his hometown clearly! Emperor, you have been favoring Zheng for many years, and you have been too mean to Chang Luo!"

As his mother's words became increasingly clear and stern, Zhu Yijun wanted to retort, but looking at his mother's frightened and tearful eyes, he was at a loss for a moment.

Fortunately, an idea finally struck Zhu Yijun, who said, "My son, I don't know what Chang Luo said. But Xu Guangqi was the first place winner of the Nanzhili Provincial Examination in the 26th year of Wanli, and he is expected to win the first place in the next year's imperial examination! His teacher was Jiao Hong, a former student of Chang Luo. He may have known about this person because he heard about him from the ministers when he entered the school."

Empress Dowager Li seemed to have heard some of it, and her eyes became doubtful again.

"Mother, what is it that you want to hide from my son?"

Zhu Yijun was frightened by the word "Crown Prince" that she blurted out.

“…Yes…Yes, there are two more…” Empress Dowager Li ignored them and turned around to kneel before the Bodhisattva, “Amitabha, Buddha, please forgive me, Bodhisattva, please forgive me…”

Listening to her fearful voice while chanting the scriptures and looking at her trembling back, Zhu Yijun gradually became furious.

Although she was strict, she was his biological mother after all.

How dare that rebellious son deceive his grandmother like this?

"Don't disturb him!" As if she could hear what he was thinking, Empress Dowager Li knelt there with her back to him and said sternly, "Let Chang Luo fast and worship Buddha first. Burn incense... and take good care of it..."

It was Zhu Yijun's turn to feel extremely angry and suppressed.

What kind of thing could have put the Empress Dowager under such pressure that she had to be kept secret from the Emperor?
(End of this chapter)