Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 3 The emperor is angry

Long after nightfall, Chen Ju was summoned to the Yiku Palace by the emperor.

Zou Yi followed behind in horror.

Chen Ju has been in the palace for more than fifty years and is now sixty years old.

The flesh on his face was sagging now, making his large white ears stand out even more.

When he knelt down in the outer room, he opened his slightly large mouth and a low, hoarse voice came out from between his black teeth: "Your servant Chen Ju wishes to ask your Majesty how he is."

"Come in and talk."

Chen Ju stood up and gave Zou Yi a look, telling him to kneel here.

After passing the small door next to the screen, Chen Ju bent down and said, "Your Majesty summoned me late at night. What do you want?"

The inner room was already the bedroom. Although Zhu Yijun did not avoid him, the fragrance was overwhelming. The Imperial Noble Consort was right beside the emperor at this time, so he should not look at her without permission.

In addition to the bed, there is also a sitting couch with cushions and a low table.

Outside the separated bed, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty sat there with an ugly face and an even uglier expression.

He was already very fat, his eyes were obviously different in size, and the corners of his mouth were a little crooked.

Now he was sitting there, leaning against the couch, with one foot resting on the couch, pressed by the other foot. If you looked closely, the pressed foot looked shorter.

Zhu Yijun was angry, and at this moment his toothache and foot pain seemed to come at the same time.

"Read Shen Yiquan's supplementary music again today."

Chen Ju was slightly stunned, and immediately replied: "I obey your order. This is what Lord Shen said."

"I believe that the marriage of the eldest son of the emperor and the enthronement of the other sons have long been the wish of the heavens, the earth and the ancestors. The emperor has made the decision from his holy heart and personally wrote down his imperial edict to order the ministers to write an edict to carry it out. I see that the emperor is the most holy and divine, with rules and regulations, to comfort the temples and the benevolent palaces, to extend the well-being of hundreds of millions of descendants, to answer the wishes of the subjects and the barbarians, and to bestow long-lasting blessings on the universe. The whole world celebrates and the people rejoice together!"

"I will meet with the Prime Minister Zhigao to draft an imperial edict and submit it. Since the Ciqing Palace has been changed to the palace of the Yuanzi, the old plaques should be changed. I will propose the names and submit them. The kings should also follow the previous edict and perform the ceremony of crowning. I will inform the relevant departments."

"Your Majesty's move is to carry forward the will of Heaven and promote the virtues of the ancestors. This is the utmost respect! To establish a good foundation for the country is the utmost benevolence! To distinguish between the elders and the young and to expand the defense of the frontier is the utmost fairness! To follow the will of the people and to bring peace to the country is the utmost grace! All the subjects will be convinced. Yesterday, I was ignorant and made a reckless statement. I am really an ant who does not know the depth of heaven and earth!"

Chen Ju entered the palace at the age of nine to study in the inner library, and was known for his studious and hardworking.

Now serving as the eunuch in charge of writing in the Imperial Household Department, he carefully memorized all the important memorials and memorials that he had reviewed.

The emperor certainly did not want to test him, as Chen Ju knew that the article was at the back.

"The ministers of the cabinet heard my oral instructions and did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. The oral instructions announced in the morning, the cabinet's memorial and Shen Yikuan's supplementary memorial were all submitted in the afternoon. What do you see from them?"

"The two ministers are diligent in state affairs and thoughtful."

"No more?" Zhu Yijun retorted in dissatisfaction.

"I am stupid and will listen to your Majesty's instructions respectfully." Chen Ju simply knelt down.

"Shen Yikuan also knows that things should be done in a certain order. He first wrote the imperial edict, then changed the old plaque of Ciqing Palace, and finally informed the ministry!"

Zhu Yijun spoke in a bad tone and was already starting to get angry.

"You have been by my side for so many years. Don't you know that what annoys me most is the ministers' nagging? I ask you!"

"The servant is here."

Zhu Yijun snorted coldly, "For matters of national importance, I want to make the decision from the Holy Spirit. Now, except for the cabinet ministers, the outside ministers do not know that I have issued an oral order. You are the one in charge of the East Factory, you must know this. Why did you make the decision on your own and let that dog servant from outside go to Jingyang Palace to report the good news?"

Outside, Zou Yi shuddered all over when he heard the words "dog slave" and felt even more regretful.

Although he had knelt down to apologize to Eunuch Chen and said the words he had prepared on the spot, if Eunuch Chen did not save his life, today would be the day he died.

At that time, Zou Yi accompanied Eunuch Chen to the cabinet to announce the decree. On the way back, he volunteered to go and announce the good news. Chen Ju just nodded ambiguously.

In the inner room, Chen Ju continued to speak calmly, "Since Your Majesty has issued a clear order, I thought it was only natural to remind Your Highness to review the etiquette to avoid mistakes during the ceremony. Now that Your Majesty has pointed it out, I know my fault. Perhaps I was too distracted by the military report from Bozhou, so I am sorry, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Zhu Yijun felt upset.

Indeed, it was a clear decree. The cabinet ministers were asked to draft the decree to perform the three ceremonies, so why would they continue to keep it a secret from the person in charge at Jingyang Palace?
But Zhu Yijun's eyes became even colder. It seemed that what his beloved concubine said was true.

The rebellion in Bozhou was indeed at a critical stage. Military intelligence was pouring in like snow, and the Imperial Household Department had to sort it out first before reporting it to the emperor.

Could this be a reason to be confused about this matter?
"I am very observant! Although I issued an oral order today, you sent that dog servant to the front of Jingyang Palace, and that rebellious son boasted in the palace that he would sweep the world. He is really rebellious!" Zhu Yijun patted the low table, "Do you know what crime he committed? Is it the crime of communicating with the inside and outside, seeking credit and supporting the emperor, and intending to force the emperor to abdicate and seize the throne?"

Zou Yi’s eyes went dark and he fell to the ground with a muffled sound.

Hearing the noise outside, Zhu Yijun felt a little better.

Chen Ju took off his three-peaked hat and touched his forehead to the carpet. "I have always only had the laws of our ancestors and the teachings of the saints in my eyes. How dare I do this? I was confused and committed a big taboo, but Your Majesty, please understand: I am already half buried in the ground. I have been working hard in the palace for more than 50 years. How could I have such a rebellious intention?"

Zhu Yijun's tone became increasingly hostile when he heard him say this: "Oh? For more than fifty years, you can be said to have many students and old friends inside and outside! Did I misunderstand you? If it weren't for your secret instigation, how could that rebellious son dare to have the intention to destroy the world?"

"I really don't know! I also thought that Your Highness's words were outrageous."

"Who taught you that? Was it the lecturer at the banquet or that guy Wang An?"

Chen Ju's heart sank.

What is this for?
Since the beginning of the year, the first lecture of this year was postponed to February and then to now.

The Cabinet submitted several memorials requesting the date and the appointment of lecturers, but these memorials were kept in reserve and not reported.

"Your Majesty, did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really say such outrageous words?" Chen Ju kowtowed, "Wang An was recommended by me. If that is true, I am also guilty!"

"Okay, I know you have a very good reputation among the foreign officials." Zhu Yijun sneered, "If that rebellious son really said that, it must have been taught by Wang An, that dog servant? You are so anxious to get rid of the foreign officials first!"

"I have recommended the wrong person, and your Majesty will punish me!" Chen Ju said in a steady tone, "In all previous lectures, the speeches were first reviewed and the process was recorded. Your Majesty, please be aware that no foreign minister would dare to be so bold. Unless Wang An does not know the importance of the matter and is too stupid to be used."

It is very rare to see eunuchs protecting foreign officials.

It is rare to see a eunuch who is neither humble nor arrogant.

"What's the military situation in Bozhou?" Zhu Yijun suddenly changed the subject.

"Your Majesty, Governor Li has issued military orders. Guizhou has three routes, Huguang has one route and two wings, and Sichuan has four routes. More than 200,000 troops are advancing to suppress the rebellion. They are unstoppable..."

Chen Ju casually explained the battle report and finally said: "Now, Liu Jing's troops have already pressed Loushan Pass. Once Loushan Pass is broken, Bozhou will have no defenses, and the bandit chieftain Yang Yinglong will have to retreat to Hailongtun. The situation will be settled! Your Majesty has chosen the right people, and the majesty of heaven is great. The whole court is loyal to the country and fights bravely!"

Zhu Yijun listened to this and just stared into his eyes.

He was too lazy to take care of many state affairs, or even deliberately ignored them, but that didn't mean he was willing to give up those great powers.

He just wanted to let those civil officials who claimed to be loyal to the emperor and the people and seek fame know that he was still the one in charge of the Ming Dynasty!

But to achieve all this without having to do anything, the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department are indispensable.

It was Tian Yi and Chen Ju who enabled him to remain firmly in control of the situation even in this situation.

Chen Ju was still capable, and Zhu Yijun did not really want to start a war, he was just taking advantage of the situation.

The Imperial Household Department should be punished, and so should the Jingyang Palace.

"That rebellious son said that the palace is overgrown with weeds and needs to be swept. I feel the same way about this." Zhu Yijun waved his hand, "Since Zou Yi is following your orders, you should fine him a hundred taels of silver and send this diligent servant to the palace to clean up. As for Wang An, that servant's crime is unforgivable, you should deal with him yourself tomorrow!"

Chen Ju felt a chill in his heart and was very sad, but he could only kneel down and kowtow: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

"I will give you another seven days to find out which slaves in the palace don't understand the laws of our ancestors. Until then, put the cabinet's report aside!"

"…I accept your order. I will take my leave."

Retreating to the outer room, Chen Ju could only sigh softly as he looked at Zou Yi who had fainted.

He's a good kid, just a little bit impetuous.

It's good to learn a lesson this time.

How can it be that simple to develop a country's capabilities?
(End of this chapter)