Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they quickly take root.
After Queen Mother Sun visited the second prince, she wanted to have an in-depth exchange of views on the current situation with Zhu Qizhen.
But Zhu Qizhen was obviously very impatient.
Empress Dowager Sun knew that she was in the wrong and could not force it, but in the end she bit the bullet and asked a relatively easy question: "Your Majesty, I heard that hundreds of officials have submitted two memorials, requesting that the emperor choose a concubine and establish a queen.
The establishment of a queen is not only a major event for the court, but also a major event for our royal family. What does my son think? "
Zhu Qizhen shook his head indifferently: "I don't think much of it. It's up to my brother to decide whether to establish a queen or not. What I say doesn't count."
Empress Dowager Sun refused to give in: "That's not what you said. The emperor had previously issued a decree to rest for a month. Major matters in the court will be discussed by the six ministers and cabinet scholars. If they cannot be decided, my son will decide.
Now hundreds of officials have written to request the establishment of a queen, but the emperor cannot make a decision, and neither can the cabinet and the six ministries. It is time for my son to stand up and express his position. "
Zhu Qizhen nodded: "Mother, I am tired. I will consider this matter properly."
Empress Dowager Sun did not agree with the conversation and had to leave in anger.
Seeing that Queen Mother Sun finally left, Zhu Qizhen also went to bed early.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter. Living in the newly built palace, Zhu Qizhen became more and more drowsy and felt a tingling in his head from time to time.
In addition, the imperial doctor ordered him to rest and not call any concubines. Therefore, Zhu Qizhen's recent sitting habits have been quite regular.
A night of silence.
On the next day, after the civil and military officials had discussed it, they started the third petition.
This is how people bully the weak and fear the strong. The emperor did not respond to the emperor twice when he submitted the letter, let alone fight back. The officials became bolder.
There were more contents in the third petition. In addition to the draft, the establishment of a queen, and the adoption of concubines, the emperor also had to live in the Forbidden City, regularly attend sutra banquets, and have normal court meetings as usual.
There are a lot of them, and each memorial contains quotations from scriptures, showing that they are worried about the emperor and the country.
Moreover, officials who were hesitant before were also mobilized this time and signed up one after another.
Therefore, the petition this time was much stronger than the previous two.
But in the afternoon, everything was still the same. These memorials traveled around the western suburbs and returned to the cabinet intact.
This time Baiguan quit his job completely.
First, Zou Qian led the officials from the Sixth Section to the door of the cabinet, asking for an explanation.
The imperial censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Hanlin Academy were all on standby, ready to support the officials of the Sixth Section at any time.
Other officials, as well as Imperial College students, are in the third echelon, waiting to add fuel to the fire.
The reason why the civil and military officials were so enthusiastic was that the emperor had fled to the western suburbs, and the officials had long complained. The absence of an emperor in the Forbidden City meant that the political center was essentially transferred.
Second, this time all the officials took charge. In all dynasties, there was no serious emperor who did not establish a queen. Everyone is well-known and confident.
The third is to test the emperor's condition so that everyone can stand in line in time. If the emperor really dies, then returning the throne to Emperor Gongrang will be very acceptable to most people.
Chen Xun and others were blocked in the cabinet, but they all had their own concerns and drank tea leisurely, waiting for the end of the day to go home.
However, not long after, a small batch of memorials came back from the western suburbs.
After reviewing this batch of memorials, Chen Xun and others fell into deep thought. These are all transcripts of normal conversation, and they all seem to be trivial matters.
But from the emperor's approval, all the old foxes noticed something unusual.
What is even more unusual is that Wang Wen, Huang Pu, Xu Youzhen and other emperor's cronies present were uncharacteristically strong in urging these memorials to be processed, and then transferred them to the Supervisor of Ceremonies for sealing.
In the evening, Zhu Qizhen was eating while listening to Chen Xiang's report on the government affairs of the court.
Zhu Qiyu specially gave his eldest brother, Emperor Gongrang, a chance to participate in political affairs. Xing'an, Chen Xiang, and Cao Jixiang were all eunuchs Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies.
The three of them now take turns to go to the Li Jian on duty every day, and then come back to report to Zhu Qizhen at night.
Chen Xiang first told the story of the third letter submitted by civil and military officials. Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "You don't need to tell me about this kind of thing anymore. I'm tired of hearing it over and over again.
I even wonder if my younger brother is deliberately inciting all the officials to submit a letter so that he can move into the Forbidden City, and then establish a queen, have a legitimate son, and completely secure the throne.
The next step is to depose the prince. "
Chen Xiang didn't agree in his heart. His prince had only been back in the capital for a month and didn't understand the situation. The emperor moved to the western suburbs because he really liked the mountains, rivers and countryside, and it was not a political show, pretending to be humble.
The most direct evidence is that the Xinqi Prince's Palace was built to be so beautiful and elegant that it cost at least three million taels in total.
Who would use three million taels of silver to show off and deceive others?
But Chen Xiang just disagreed in his heart, but he kept echoing: "Your Majesty Shengming, those civil and military officials are stupid and stupid, and they are fooled around by the emperor. I still think they are beautiful."
Now only Xing'an, Chen Xiang, and Cao Jixiang are waiting in the palace, and they don't shy away from talking about anything.
Zhu Qizhen sneered and continued to ask: "Is there anything new and interesting in today's memorial?"
"this……"
Chen Xiang looked troubled.
Zhu Qizhen asked curiously: "I ask you, just tell me quickly, do you still want to whet my appetite?"
Chen Xiang asked hesitantly: "These are all trivial matters. Don't you know whether to talk about them or not?"
"Even if you say it, I forgive you."
Chen Xiang then replied: "There are a few unusual things. First, the emperor decreed that King Qin Min's posthumous title be changed to 'Xuan', and Princess Qin Minlie's posthumous title was changed to 'Xuanci'.
And once again reprimanded King Qin Yin for his act of recognizing Deng, the second concubine of King Qin Min, his biological mother, as "Concubine Minlie" without authorization.
The emperor's original words were: There are differences between concubines and concubines, and each has its own destiny. If you kill your wife with a concubine, you will be blamed sooner or later.
At the same time, the emperor once again emphasized in the decree that no one from the emperor to the common people in the Ming Dynasty should carry out sacrifices and burials anymore. If there is any disobedience, severe punishment will not be given. "
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, he immediately threw his chopsticks on the table.
Isn't this just criticizing the mulberry tree and the huai tree in the naked eye?
King Min of Qin Zhu Cang, the second son of Taizu, was the head of the vassal vassal.
The royal concubine of King Min of Qin was Wang, the sister of Wang Baobao, the famous general of the Yuan Dynasty.
Deng, the second concubine of King Min of Qin, was the daughter of Deng Yu, King of Ninghe.
After the death of King Min of Qin, the main concubine Wang had no children and was forced to be buried by Taizu.
The second concubine, Deng, became domineering and used concubines to kill his wives, and beguiled King Min of Qin to imprison the main concubine, Wang, in the palace.
Since there was no owner in the palace, King Min of Qin had no one to watch his food and daily life, so he indulged himself and illegally punished the people in the palace.
In the end, King Qin Min was poisoned by palace guards and died an unexpected death.
The second concubine Deng was scolded by Taizu several times and hanged herself to death.
No matter how dull Zhu Qizhen is, he can still understand the implication of his brother's words: Isn't this just an allusion to his mother and the late emperor:
The late emperor only doted on his mother and queen, but hated the Hu family. In the end, Hu was deposed and imprisoned in a nunnery. The mother is killing her wife with her concubine.
Hu's experience was exactly the same as that of Wang, the first concubine of King Min of Qin, while the queen mother was similar to Deng, the second concubine of King Qin.
This scolding is too straightforward, I can see it myself, but maybe those ministers from the outer dynasty who are Jinshis can't see it?
The point is, there's no way to refute it. The younger brother was scolding the mulberry tree, and we who work on the locust tree jumped out to refute it. Wouldn't that be a self-inflicted crime, and we would take the initiative to admit that we and the mulberry tree are the same species?
Zhu Qizhen took a deep breath and continued to ask with a cold face: "What about the second thing?"
Chen Xiang hurriedly replied: "Princess Yilun wrote a letter saying that she is old and requested that you allow the Secretary to prepare a burial place. The emperor approved that the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Rites will prepare a burial place for Princess Yilun on the basis of a princess."
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, his frown deepened: Princess Yilun had already submitted a petition in the 14th year of Zhengtong, but she was rejected at that time on the grounds that it was not the old imperial system.
Now Princess Yilun has submitted a letter again, and her brother has not only got it right, but has also upgraded the burial place to the standard for a princess.
Zhu Qizhen glanced at Chen Xiang with admiration. His confidant eunuch had a really keen political sense. This may seem like a small thing, but it contains profound meaning and conveys an intriguing political signal.
My younger brother is always involved in the fight between his sons and his sons.
This Princess Yilun is no ordinary princess, she is the second daughter of Prince Yiwen.
After Emperor Jianwen came to the throne, he posthumously named Prince Yiwen Emperor Xiaokang, and his temple name was Xingzong.
After the Battle of Jingnan, Taizong succeeded to the throne and was changed back to Prince Yiwen.
So now that my brother has allowed Princess Yilun to prepare a burial site according to the princess's standards, is it possible that he is leaning towards reinstating Prince Yiwen as Emperor Xiaokang?
Zhu Qizhen shook his head. A normal person wouldn't be able to do such a thing, but the same could not be said for his ridiculous brother.
(End of chapter)
