Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 65 The heir is very angry

How could Zhu Changluo remember Yu Jideng’s birth and death ages?

He didn't know that if nothing changed, Yu Jideng would die of illness in July of that year because of the endless disputes over the national foundation: "If the grand ceremony is not held, I, the ritual official, will not be able to rest in peace!"

Now that the national foundation has been determined at the end of June, and he is about to abdicate and ascend the throne, Yu Jiden seems to have regained his vitality in the past two months. He is in such good spirits that Shen Yikuan feels that he is very suitable for long-term cooperation with him.

In fact, Yu Jideng is also Shen Yiquan's only choice to quickly win over an ally.

His official career was a model of virtue, so Yu Jiden's drafting of such a will made Zhu Changluo more determined.

There are countless officials and gentry like this in the world who believe deep down that they are doing nothing wrong.

They pay less attention to the fact that officials and gentry are squeezing the living space of ordinary people and to the problems of the official and gentry class itself, or they do not even touch upon the root of the problem.

Zhu Changluo had no right to blame them: this was especially true for the royal family, which controlled the most wealth.

One million taels of gold and silver a year, local tributes from all over the country, silver expended by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works for royal ceremonies and the maintenance of the Forbidden Palace, and salaries for royal family members, what was the basis for that?
However, Zhu Changluo could not accept that they were simply restricting the imperial power and asking the court and royal family members to be frugal and law-abiding, as if there would be no problems in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Changluo could set an example first, but what he wanted was to treat everyone equally.

After the banquet to honor the elderly, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate stayed, and several other officials of the Censorate were also summoned.

Except for Tian Le, Zhu Changluo summoned other foreign officials in the main hall of the Ciqing Palace.

"In the past few days, there have been more than ninety memorials impeaching or requesting the dismissal of eunuchs sent abroad."

Zhu Changluo pointed to the pile of memorials on the low table next to him, "It is indeed the duty of the Ministry of Personnel to criticize current malpractices and report rumors. There is nothing wrong with many officials offering suggestions. But my father has just issued an order to withdraw the local tax collectors. The Shanhaiguan uprising killed the imperial envoy, and I did not start a big fight to investigate the major case. Instead, the ministers are so impatient to withdraw or dismiss the external officials. Wen Zongxian, isn't this a bit too much pressure on me?"

The hat that he had been worrying about for several days was finally put on him, and Wen Chun was extremely nervous.

Among so many memorials, naturally there must be people from the Censorate.

Now that the successor monarch put the words "bullying and forcing me" after "Wen Zongxian", it seems as if Wen Chun was the one who instigated the Kedao to do this.

"Your Highness, all the officials are well aware of the harm of sending eunuchs abroad, and have never stopped petitioning for them over the years. There are many petitioners right now, and they are praying for Your Highness to implement a benevolent policy. How dare we use the incident of civil unrest to bully Your Highness?"

Zhu Changluo was dissatisfied. "Even if I entered school late, I have grown up now. I know everything! Let the outsiders take care of it, so there is nothing wrong? Gao Huai deserves to die, but the Jinyiwei has already preliminarily investigated the Shanhaiguan incident! Liaodong Governor Li Zhi and Liaodong Circuit Inspector Wang Yehong were involved and secretly instigated the uprising! Wasn't it the same with the Linqing uprising last year?"

"Your Majesty..." Wen Chun's voice was a little stammering.

Zhu Changluo stood up in dissatisfaction: "I respect old ministers and would like to take them as my teachers! But do these ministers bully me because I am young and ignorant? They only know how to blame the eunuchs. I want to lay off some eunuchs and palace maids to reduce palace expenses, but they are still asking for more! Is it best for me to listen to the external ministers in everything and rule by doing nothing?"

"Your Highness..."

Wen Chun groaned inwardly because Sijun was obviously irritated and throwing a tantrum.

How serious is it to bully the successor and push his luck?
Everyone was trying to give advice, but the intensity of their advice was too strong, which stimulated the heir's insecurity.

Zhu Changluo looked at him and said, "The Jinyiwei obeys my orders. If you think that the Jinyiwei is fabricating charges to implicate the governor of Liaodong, the Censorate should investigate! Starting from Liaodong, I want to see if all the troubles in the area are caused by the sent eunuchs!"

Unlike the previous times when he humbly asked for advice on state affairs, this time the successor used courtesy before using force.

After giving a banquet to important and veteran ministers, he immediately became angry about the ministers' attempt to encroach on the imperial power.

Shortly after the people from the Censorate left the Forbidden City, Shen Yikuan, who was still worried about the impact of Yu Jiden's serious illness, could not help but stand up when he heard the news.

"Is that what your Highness said?"

"...Yes, according to the governor, His Highness is extremely angry."

Today is the Double Ninth Festival, so we still have to take a day off.

Shen Yi Guan is at home, so it is normal to visit the old elders at his home. At this moment, there are many people in the Shen family's flower hall.

After the Censor who had just come to visit the Shen family said this, someone immediately looked at Shen Yi Guan with a serious expression: "Prime Minister, this..."

"No hurry!" Shen Yiguan raised his hand to suppress it, and then asked the experience, "How will Premier Wen deal with it?"

"Of course, we will follow the order of the successor. The Shanhaiguan uprising case must be thoroughly investigated. Prime Minister, the Chief Justice means that the three judicial departments should each send one person..."

"Where is the governor of Liaodong? Are they all under investigation?" Shen Yi Guan's face changed. "No! Liaodong is an important border town. How can it suddenly fall into chaos? Everyone, I am sorry for the delay. I have to go to the palace to see you immediately!"

There was no time to worry about the seriously ill Yu Jideng. What immediately weighed on Shen Yikuan was that the heir believed that officials were encroaching on the imperial power. How could such a truth be made clear?

The banquet in Ciqing Palace was peaceful and harmonious, but he flew into a rage afterwards.

Did the report from the Embroidered Uniform Guards arrive after the banquet, or did the successor monarch already know about it and deliberately used the banquet to win a reputation for respecting the elderly?
The image of the successor emperor in Shen Yikuan's mind became increasingly vague, and he was always inexplicably put in a passive position.

Luck didn't seem to be on his side, as Yu Jiden fell seriously ill before he could even get comfortable in his cabinet chair.

"Please go back, Lord..." Tian Yi came over, "His Highness said that today is the Double Ninth Festival, and we should be filial to our elders. His Highness is in the Cining Palace. Lord has been very busy recently, and he should have a good rest."

Shen Yiguan's heart sank: "Your Highness, are you letting me rest?"

Tian Yi stared at him, then sighed: "I have something to say, please listen to it, Lord."

"...Please speak frankly, Eunuch Tian."

Outside the Meridian Gate, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department and the Chief Minister of the Cabinet stood opposite each other.

Tian Yi looked deeply into Shen Yi Guan's eyes and said slowly, "Your Majesty may not be able to speak, but your mind is clear. Your Majesty worries as much about state affairs as you do about the country. This is the first time since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that someone has abdicated due to illness. The successor has not yet ascended the throne, so shouldn't there be as few disturbances in the court and the country as possible? Your Majesty is just worrying too much. That's all I have to say, please go back."

After saying that, he turned and walked inside, leaving Shen Yi Guan with an uncertain expression.

Apart from thinking that he was overthinking the phrase "you should have a good rest", he also pointed out many more things.

Shen Yikuan actually couldn't determine the truth about the emperor's abdication due to illness.

But if the emperor, who had already issued the edict, was still clear-minded, it would be normal for him to think more about his son, even though he was not his favorite son in the past.

How could the ministers who had fought with Zhu Yijun for so many years not know that Zhu Yijun hated him?

Yes...the emperor is paralyzed due to illness, and the crown prince has been in charge of state affairs during this period.

The atmosphere, which is completely different from the past, does make people relax and think that the old times are over.

It was not until this moment that Shen Yikuan realized from Tian Yi's "frank words" that he had somewhat overlooked the shadow of the emperor who had not yet officially abdicated.

At what moment did I start to lose my composure?

The Prime Minister of the Cabinet is reflecting and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is angry.

Zhu Changluo was so angry that he lasted for ten days.

In sharp contrast to his diligence in seeking advice on state affairs in the previous period, during these five days, not a single minister was summoned, and not even a single memorial was approved to leave the palace.

The ministers were a little nervous and Shen Yi was under great pressure.

The familiar feeling is back.

What if my son Xiao Fu also becomes lazy in government affairs?
It's a bit like the feeling at the beginning of the year.

"Prime Minister, the Ministry of Personnel will push the result..." Xiao Daheng was particularly nervous.

The prince did not summon any more important officials, but the Ministry of Personnel was able to gather people together to hold a meeting.

However, the question book that could predict the results was not approved.

Shen Yiguan shook his head: "Since the result of the meeting has been reached, it is impossible to influence who has the will. After all, you are the righteous one. If something unexpected happens this time, it will be my fault. Stop, I still have to go to the cabinet to make arrangements and prepare to welcome Lord Shen and Lord Wang."

Mr. Xiao stopped on Tian Street and watched Shen Yikuan slowly walk towards Chengtian Gate.

His back looked somewhat uneasy and lonely.

Yu Jideng was seriously ill at home. Shen Yikuan asked for an audience with the heir apparent and the emperor for ten consecutive days, but was not able to do so.

To outsiders, this showed that the emperor and the successor were waiting for Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue to return to Beijing, and it was a sign that Shen Yiquan was feared.

Could it be that the first sword the successor emperor would wield after ascending the throne would be aimed at the ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor?
Shen Yikuan walked slowly on the long road from Chengtian Gate to Wumen Gate.

Tomorrow, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue will arrive in Beijing.

(End of this chapter)