In Qianqing Palace, after the morning court, a sutra banquet was held as usual.
Zhu Qiyu had lunch step by step, took a short nap, and began to deal with government affairs.
Yu Qian was a measured man. He sent the general's report directly to the imperial court, which showed that the emperor had no intention of blocking the matter.
Therefore, Zhu Qiyu followed the trend and asked Cheng Jing to read out the military report.
It has to be said that as soon as the news came out, the entire court was filled with joy, and officials rushed to tell each other. In just half a day, it spread throughout the capital.
Both the ministers and ordinary people in the government and the public were happy that the emperor and his father were about to return to the court.
But amid the joy, unrest is brewing again.
Cheng Jing walked in quietly, put the memorial in his hand on the imperial desk, and said.
"Your Majesty, Hu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites has entered a new ritual note."
After a brief pause, and seeing the emperor open his eyes, Cheng Jing added: "It was not sent to the cabinet, it was handed in directly."
Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu finally showed some interest on his face. He raised his hand to open the memorial and scanned it. When he saw that there was no cabinet vote, he smiled.
"He's not afraid of offending people..."
Officials of third rank and above basically have the right to directly submit memorials, which is directly related to the early dynasty system. Being able to go to court means that they can directly see the emperor, and can bypass all departments and directly submit memorials.
But in fact, not many people actually do this.
The morning court is used to discuss government affairs. Submitting memorials directly is equivalent to a sudden attack. In this situation, the courtiers are not sure what to do, and there is a high probability that they will put it on hold temporarily and delay it.
Big things are handed over directly but cannot be decided. Small things are handed over directly, which annoys the emperor. It also offends the elders in the cabinet who are responsible for drafting the votes. It is a thankless task.
However, this time the situation in this memorial from the Ministry of Rites is different.
Although the court has been quiet in the past two months, it is not without disputes. The core point surrounding it is the welcome ceremony of the Supreme Emperor.
Hu Hui is an old fox who knows everything about what he should do and what he shouldn't do. He is like a mirror in his mind.
Therefore, after receiving the instructions that day, he summoned the officials from the Ministry of Etiquette when he went back and meticulously formulated a set of extremely complicated "welcome home" etiquette.
But who would have expected that when the memorial was submitted to the cabinet, it met with opposition.
As for the reason, it is also very interesting. I feel that the ritual process is too complicated and wastes money and people. I think it is only necessary to go to Dong'anmen to welcome them. At the same time, worshiping heaven and ancestors can also be dispensed with.
This matter actually caused quarrels in the court twice.
After receiving Zhu Qiyu's instructions, Hu Bi naturally insisted on it and gave the reason of "deep brotherhood, filial piety and righteousness".
However, there are still many ministers who hold objections.
The cabinet is relatively moderate, but it only proposes that the formalities will be complicated and waste money and people.
The Hanlin Academy was more direct. They believed that such a solemn ceremony to welcome the emperor's return was too formal and inconsistent with etiquette and law.
Of course, there are more pointed opinions from officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
They did not shy away and directly accused the Ministry of Rites. This move was to embarrass the Supreme Emperor!
You must know that it is a happy event for the Supreme Emperor to return to the south, but in the final analysis, it was because of the defeat of Tumu that he was taken away. The Ming Dynasty finally took him back after a lot of hard work.
It's true that it's worth being happy about, but it's not worth showing off.
"...I admire the brotherly love between His Majesty and the Supreme Emperor. However, everything has its limit. Although the Supreme Emperor has returned south, it will not be a triumphant return. In fact, he will have to go through a lot of hardships to be reunited with his family in heaven."
"The ceremony prepared by the Ministry of Rites respectfully invites Your Majesty to lead all the ministers out to welcome the outskirts of the capital. It is so majestic that it alarms all the people. They offer sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. This is a huge and powerful gesture. This is not a courtesy to the Supreme Emperor, but actually implies humiliation. Your Majesty is aware of this and must not Be disturbed by it.”
As soon as the memorial from the Ministry of Rites came to the court for discussion, Zhu Qiyu received various memorials expressing his opposition.
Some are tactful and some are direct.
After all, there are many people in the court who dare to tell the truth.
However, Hu Hui is not someone to be trifled with. The boss has been an official for many dynasties and does not lose his temper. This does not mean that he is weak and can be bullied.
In front of the morning court, he directly refuted them one by one.
That posture didn't look like the usual sleepy state at all.
So, in the end, after all the arguing, the matter could only be put on hold for the time being. After all, it was not a matter of urgency.
But things are different now. With the return of this military report, the return date of the Supreme Emperor has been determined.
This matter cannot be delayed any longer.
Just in the morning, after reading the military newspaper, Zhu Qiyu asked the Ministry of Rites if there was any revised ceremonial notes to submit.
At that time, Hu Hui had no reaction and only said that the Ministry of Rites was still discussing.
As a result, he turned around and went to court and was sent over immediately.
Moreover, it is much more complicated than what was presented last time!
This has obviously been prepared for a long time.
However, he did not take it out in the morning or submit it to the cabinet, making his attitude clear...
I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you guys. This is what the welcome and farewell ceremony department is going to do. Do whatever you like, but hold it in if you don't accept it!
Cheng Jing stood aside with his hands down, refilling the tea cup in front of the emperor and saying.
"Your Majesty, you don't know that this memorial was sent directly to the servant by the great uncle who sent the official from the Ministry of Rites. I don't know if the official received the order, but it happened that when the servant went to the cabinet to get the memorial, he sent it directly to the servant. The slave stopped me."
"In front of all the lords of the cabinet, I directly said that this was the ceremonial note submitted by the eldest uncle, and it was to be sent directly to the emperor. At that time, the faces of several gentlemen in the cabinet were not good-looking. This time, the eldest uncle offended them. So cruel."
Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu shook his head, somewhat dumbfounded.
This old fox does take advantage of the opportunity to show off his authority, and I have to say that this person who shows off his authority is very capable.
The matter of etiquette was given to the Ministry of Rites by Zhu Qiyu, but he did not force the court to pass the matter.
There are many discerning people in the court, and welcoming the Supreme Emperor can certainly be more solemn, but if it is too solemn, the meaning will change.
Therefore, if Zhu Qiyu came forward to put pressure on this matter, there would be no problem in passing it, but rumors would always spread.
But now, Hu Hui has shouldered all these pressures.
The Ministry of Rites was busy from the beginning to the end. It was the Ministry of Rites that prepared the memorial, and it was the Ministry of Rites that argued about the court meeting. When there was a dispute, it was the Ministry of Rites that "stuffed up its energy" and jumped up the hierarchy to file the memorial.
Hu Xi's move was deliberately to lose face to the cabinet. It looked like he, an old man, couldn't keep his face and was looking for trouble.
He is giving Zhu Qiyu the steps!
After all, Hu Hui was a veteran minister of several dynasties. Even if he made such a fuss, as the emperor, as the emperor, out of the idea of not chilling the heart of the veteran minister, it was the proper meaning to go along with the flow and get the memorial copy right.
It seemed impulsive, but in fact, he not only fulfilled the emperor's instructions, but also took the opportunity to show off his authority, letting people know that he, the seemingly weak Minister of Rites, was not someone to be bullied.
At the same time, even though Zhu Qiyu, the emperor, had seen through everything, he still had to accept his favor.
This is the real political foundation!
He picked up the ink pen in his hand and marked the word "accurate" on the note. Zhu Qiyu handed the memorial to Cheng Jing and said.
"Instruct the cabinet to draft a decree and implement it."
Of course, those who deserve to be reconciled still have to be reconciled, and the cabinet needs to be appeased after it has been so blatantly humiliated.
So, after pondering for a moment, Zhu Qiyu said again.
"In addition, according to the order, it is said that the Minister of Rites, Hu Hu, has behaved disrespectfully in court and will be fined one month's salary. The ministers in the cabinet will behave respectfully and will each be rewarded with one piece of silk, two pieces of silk, and fifty taels of silver."
In the final analysis, Hu Hui just got it right, no matter what trouble he made.
In the end, Zhu Qiyu, the emperor, would come forward to help him clean up his troubles.
Cheng Jing left in a hurry and returned to the cabinet to deliver the order.
Immediately, Wynn walked in from outside, looking a little embarrassed, and leaned over.
"Your Majesty, just now Cining Palace and Jingyang Palace sent a message at the same time, asking you to come and pay your respects..."
