Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 8: Knowing the mistake, knowing the mistake, the father is a coward and the son is a coward

Empress Dowager Li sighed deeply, looking a bit disappointed.

"In the early years, when you were still young, I had to ask about state affairs. Now that you are in power, according to the family rules of our ancestors, I should not say too much. According to my heart, I don't want to be bothered by these mundane matters. But since I have already issued an oral order to the cabinet, you should treat him as the crown prince. Why get so angry over such a small matter?"

“…The prince knows his mistake.” Zhu Yijun lowered his head.

"I still won't ask you what to do. The rules and etiquette are still there, so you can do whatever you want."

Empress Dowager Li's words made Zhu Yijun feel somewhat relieved. It seemed that the commotion today was just too big.

"And you. Family affairs are also state affairs, and they are never simple. You have come through all these years, why are you so easily angered now? There are no parents who are not right in the world. I think it is appropriate for your father to say that you are rebellious and unfilial!"

Zhu Yijun liked to hear this even more.

"...My grandson knows his mistake."

The father and son had the same posture and spoke the same words in front of Empress Dowager Li.

They knew their mistakes at the time, it was all because of the father's cowardice and the son's weakness.

In a trance, Empress Dowager Li seemed to see her young son again.

It was understandable, but in the eyes of Empress Dowager Li, even if her son delayed in appointing a crown prince, her grandson should not take the initiative to fight for it in this way.

Small cleverness cannot replace great wisdom. As long as the elders are in order and the father is in good health, won’t it be fine if we just wait?
But you really can't fall behind in your studies.

"It's good to know your mistakes and correct them. I saw you today. It seems that your previous recklessness was indeed caused by a moment of anger. Your behavior is measured and your words are appropriate. I think the slave who accompanied you in reading has indeed made contributions."

Empress Dowager Li spoke again: "After the eldest prince has completed the three ceremonies, in addition to selecting lecturers to help him study well, he must also have a good companion. What does the emperor think?"

"…The emperor's handling of yesterday and today's events was not appropriate. He should not have taken his anger out on me because of the child's rebellious words. I will follow the advice of the queen mother and spare his life. Let him continue to be a companion to my studies."

Hearing the meaning of his mother's words, Zhu Yijun had no choice but to answer because he was indeed not in the right.

But when he was in front of his mother, he had to be reasonable.

You can't really say that you want to depose the eldest and enthronize the youngest, right?
Empress Dowager Li nodded and said, "I was reciting scriptures in peace. Since I have no time to study today and three generations of grandparents and grandchildren are here, why not have dinner in the Cining Palace?"

Zhu Changluo in the Cining Palace seemed like a different person. He no longer had the aggressive attitude he had before, but just like a humble scholar.

Empress Dowager Li was no ordinary person. She had dealt with Zhang Juzheng and had climbed to her current position from a mere palace maid.

So Zhu Changluo relaxed his attitude and just treated her as his grandmother and answered her questions.

The perverse logic was actually very simple: as long as he dared to make a big deal, he would be fine as long as he had the status of the eldest prince.

What could his "loving father" really do to him?
If the commotion gets out of hand, the "Nine Lotus Bodhisattva" in the palace will appear, as will the ministers from outside the court.

Zhu Yijun was the emperor, but his power came from below.

After more than ten years of struggle for the country's foundation, the resistance of his subjects had made it impossible for the emperor to act on his own, and this was before Empress Dowager Li intervened in the situation forcefully.

She was the final straw.

Looking at his father who was fidgeting, well-behaved and respectful in front of Empress Dowager Li, Zhu Changluo felt worried.

According to Empress Dowager Li, as long as this "kind father" did not give a clear signal to depose the eldest son and enthrone the youngest son, Empress Dowager Li probably would not interfere with the emperor's authority.

This is difficult, as procrastination is Zhu Yijun's forte.

There is no reason, and even if you create one, it will still be delayed. Just keep delaying it.

In the Cining Palace, Zhu Changluo could not and did not have to act so extreme anymore.

With normal experience and normal thinking, he began to deliberately form an impression on Empress Dowager Li and Zhu Yijun: It was rare to grow up like this under that kind of treatment.

Putting aside his disobedient and unfilial behavior in the past two days, he is both elder and virtuous.

He also wanted to improve the father-son relationship with Zhu Yijun, so he flattered him frequently.

Zhu Yijun was absent-minded: If we want to drag it out and depose the eldest son and enthronize the youngest son, it seems to be a little more difficult...

……

The Queen Mother only summoned the Emperor and his grandson to "quarrel" in front of her, and Zheng Mengjing was not lucky enough to join in the fun.

She could arrange eunuchs and palace maids in Jingyang Palace, but she didn't dare to act rashly in Cining Palace.

However, the Imperial Household Department subsequently sent people to Jingyang Palace to withdraw the people guarding Wang An and conveyed the new decree of the Queen Mother and the Emperor. Zheng Mengjing knew about this.

He even let that boy stay in the Cining Palace for dinner!

Thinking about the boy he saw these two days, Zheng Mengjing was very alert. He was not an easy person to deal with!
Even though the incidents yesterday and today had made the emperor's impression of him worse, after all this, the boy really fulfilled his words: Wang An, that servant, was really saved by him.

This is the first time that the eldest prince has demonstrated his influence in the palace!
This kind of influence was even possible even when the emperor had already issued a clear order and he openly disobeyed it, and he still managed to save the life of a slave despite the emperor's wrath.

Will more people think that the position of crown prince will be his sooner or later and side with him in the future?
Zheng Mengjing couldn't think of any good solution for the moment, so she could only report the new situation to her brother.

Even if there is an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager, we can't care about it. Just tell my brother not to make a fuss about what happened today.

At night, the flower hall of Zheng Mansion was also very lively.

The host was Concubine Zheng's brother Zheng Guotai, and the guest was their uncle Zheng Chengen.

The few people sitting in the other seats were not wearing official uniforms. They looked stiff and just sat there reluctantly, looking very cautious.

"I know it's inconvenient for you to come in person, but now the matter is urgent and we must discuss it."

Zheng Guotai spoke and looked at these people with amusement.

The Zheng family is powerful, and the dispute over the country's foundation is still unresolved. Naturally, there are many opportunists among the civil officials who claim to be upright.

In the past, there was nothing wrong with saying that they echoed each other from a distance.

Even if they openly spoke for the Zheng family, they would not be able to withstand the criticism from their colleagues.

It would be possible to find the right opportunity to muddy the waters, openly stand on the side of the eldest prince, but secretly take advantage of the emperor's easily irritated temper to drag things out.

On the contrary, they have the reputation of being outspoken.

But today Zheng Guotai forced them to take the risk and go to the Zheng Mansion to discuss the matter face to face.

"I was just about to ask, the conductor played three consecutive songs and asked people to perform three salutes. What is the purpose of this?"

Although Zheng Guotai held the position of commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, this was only because of Concubine Zheng's favor that he was able to inherit the appointment despite the impeachment of many civil officials.

The person who is now in charge of the affairs of the Jinyiwei is Wang Zhizhen, the grandson of the late Minister of War Wang Chonggu, whose official title is Jinyiwei Admiral.

Zheng Guotai is the brother of Concubine Zheng, but Concubine Zheng is not the queen, so Zheng Guotai cannot be called the queen's uncle.

When addressed by their official titles, these civil officials in plain clothes were also cautious and respectful.

Zheng Guotai looked at the staff standing behind him, smiled and said, "In recent years, the court has been focusing on the battle of Bozhou. After the New Year's Day next year, the eldest prince will be twenty years old. This year will definitely be a storm. In this case, why not add some fuel? You may not know that yesterday, His Majesty has announced to the cabinet ministers, ordering the preparation of an imperial edict to hold the three ceremonies and the canonization ceremony of the princes."

"What?!" The faces of those officials in Beijing who were dressed in plain clothes changed.

"It's not the first time." Zheng Guotai laughed, "The ministers also know the seriousness of the matter. They dare not easily let the outside court know before the imperial edict comes down. Let everyone know that this time, there will be no report for at least seven days!"

Naturally, these people believed Zheng Guotai's remarks about what was happening in the palace.

After looking at each other, one of them said, "Is it time to write more books?"

The emperor has already made the decision, but everyone is still making so much noise. Isn't it possible that the situation will happen again, when the decision was postponed for a year because the ministers were always making so much noise?

"No!" The man behind Zheng Guotai spoke up, "We have suppressed the rebellion in Bozhou, and this time we have great hope of completing the task. After the rebellion is suppressed, the three armies are looking forward to rewards. The two palaces and three halls are under construction, the three armies will be rewarded according to their merits, and the expenses for the ceremonies and rituals will all fall on the shoulders of Lord Shen. There are so many things to do, and the Prime Minister is seriously ill. How can Lord Shen manage to support the situation alone? The cabinet should be strengthened!"

Everyone's heart was shocked.

As for cabinet replenishment, not to mention others, Zhao Zhigao and Shen Yikuan themselves had requested it many times.

Now that Zheng Guotai's staff and advisors have said so, are they sure?
Perhaps, under the pretext that the emperor finally allowed the appointment of a crown prince, some people really thought that the dispute over the foundation of the country would be settled. Without this big trouble, I am afraid that those who are worried about the difficulty of being a cabinet minister will be tempted.

If the battle of Bozhou is successfully completed, there will be some promotions according to the merits and rewards, and many good and bad positions will be involved.

Shen Yi Guan is the leader of the Zhejiang Party. If Concubine Zheng helps, he may be able to persuade the emperor to allow another party to join the cabinet.

It seems that Zheng Guotai's aide intended to mix the party struggle with the struggle over the foundation of the country, and to mix the expenses of the three ceremonies with the difficult financial situation.

"This is a great plan!"

Zheng Guotai's aide smiled slightly, hiding his merits and fame.

"Do you understand now?" Zheng Guotai said as if he had mastered the wisdom. "You can request additional cabinet members. As for the rest, we can wait and see!"

He was trying hard, and his sister had just let Zhu Yijun use all his strength.

At this moment, beside the pillow, Zheng Mengjing seemed to have remembered something after Cheng Huan, and knelt on the couch pitifully, took out a jade box from somewhere, holding it in his hands, and said with a sob: "Your Majesty, please take back this jade box!"

Zhu Yijun's face was filled with mixed emotions, and he felt extremely distressed: "My beloved, why do you have to do this?"

(End of this chapter)