The place where the emperor really learned knowledge was actually not a sutra banquet but a daily lecture.
The formal significance of the sutra feast is far greater than the significance of learning.
In the Wenhua Hall, an imperial desk was placed in front of the emperor's throne.
A few steps in front of the imperial case, there is a lecture.
After Zhu Houcong arrived and sat down in the Wenhua Hall, the officials of Honglu Temple first placed the handouts on the imperial case.
"Let's begin." Zhu Houcong nodded, and the praise officer began to notify others to enter the hall.
The cabinet's bachelors, the six ministers, the imperial censor of the Imperial Procuratorate, the minister of Dali Temple, the general envoy, the minister of Honglu Temple...most of the high-ranking officials of the imperial court are here.
Even Luo An, the temporary commander of the Jinyi Guards, came here.
At this moment, the chanting officer was announcing the process of the feast loudly, and everyone who participated had stood on both sides in front of the imperial case.
Yan Song and Liu Long, the living assistants, are ready to take their places. Huang Jin, the head of the internal affairs department, does not need to remember anything today.
Normally, the emperor at the banquet would just listen quietly and not get involved in any other political affairs.
If the emperor is not solemn and does not pay attention to his manners, the lecturer will immediately stop the lecture and seriously ask: "Is it disrespectful to be a king?"
In theory, the emperor only had to say one sentence during the entire feast.
That is, after the sutra banquet is over, the emperor says: "Sir, have some wine."
Then comes the feast.
So there is a reason why my cousin Houzhao doesn’t hold a sutra feast.
Sutra banquets use very complicated benefits, a solemn atmosphere, and pilgrimage-like learning content to allow the imperial power to express their respect for Confucianism and etiquette.
The signal it conveys is much more sensitive than whether you are an heir or not. This is related to whether scholars in the world will have any meat to eat by following you.
The Jingyan handouts are approved by the cabinet.
There are two lecturers, Yang Tinghe on the left is responsible for talking about the Four Books, and Shi Yue on the right is responsible for talking about history.
Beside them were the two exhibition officials, Yang Shen and Zhang Bi.
Yang Tinghe started first, and Yang Shenhui was responsible for unfolding the handouts on the desk and flattening them with a copper ruler to facilitate Yang Tinghe's use.
After Yang Tinghe finishes speaking, he and Yang Shen will return to their original positions, and Shi Yun and Zhang Bi will step forward.
After the process briefing was completed, the economic feast officially began.
From the time Zhu Houcong arrived here, to the subsequent introduction to the chamber to see the emperor, to the subsequent reading of the sutras and banquet proceedings, the entire process was quiet, with no one speaking or making any indecent sounds.
In the long process of experience, if anyone does not clean up his stomach in advance and add some atmosphere to the feast, he will basically say goodbye to Great Expectations.
The solemnity and sacredness of the sutra feast are clearly visible.
"What I'm going to talk to Your Majesty about today is the way of the sage in Chapter 27 of The Doctrine of the Mean."
The first lecturer, Yang Tinghe, stepped forward to start. Yang Shen had already opened the lecture notes for him and pressed them down.
What he said was, "The way of the saint is so great that it is vast, develops all things, is as high as the sky, is excellent and great, has three hundred etiquette, and three thousand majesty. Wait for others to follow."
Starting from one sentence, it is followed by nearly a thousand words.
Yang Tinghe always spoke in loud and standard Mandarin, speaking slowly and solemnly.
He also observed the emperor's reaction.
Naturally, Yang Tinghe was not the only one who observed the emperor with uneasiness.
Now Yan Song has very complicated feelings towards the emperor.
The emperor who was so aggressive on legal issues before was completely a respectful and studious young emperor at the Sutra banquet.
These are all fine, Yan Song just struggled and roared in his heart: Where is the official comment on daily life that we agreed on? Where is my daily lecture?
After yesterday, Yan Song was 100% convinced: His Majesty can win!
With that calmness and overall view, the emperor who showed his skills, eloquence and courage at the best opportunity of the first court meeting and then knew how to restrain himself, the future court must only be around him.
The sutra banquet has begun. When will the daily lecture begin?
"... Emperor Fu Wei uses the qualifications of a saint to spread the way of a saint and occupy the position of practicing it. He also wields the power of worshiping the heaven and the earth to praise and educate, restore the peace of the ancient times, and eliminate the heretical and late learning. It is expected that it will prosper today. I can’t wait to achieve my ultimate wish.”
It wasn't until a long time later that Yang Tinghe ended his speech here, and with a solemn salute in his heart, he returned to the left side of the lecture table.
"I would like to be taught." Zhu Houcong only said this.
Restore the peaceful scene of ancient times and get rid of the heresies other than Confucianism or the popular Neo-Confucianism today.
This is what Yang Tinghe hopes he will do when he talks about this article.
Zhu Houcong was listening, and he was just listening.
Shi Yue stepped forward, and Yang Tinghe calmed down and looked at Zhu Houcong.
Judging from today's performance at the feast, the emperor... was flawless.
Serious attitude towards learning!
He didn't cause any trouble!
Until Shi Yuan had finished speaking, Zhu Houcong still did not cause trouble.
He didn't get impatient in the middle, nor did he ask anything.
Chun Chun means being spoon-fed seriously.
"Sir, have a drink."
As these words were spoken, the banquet began, and the main part of the banquet ended here.
The emperor had already driven back to the palace. Yang Tinghe and Mao Ji looked at each other, and then exchanged glances with Liang Chu, Jiang Mian and others.
It was so calm that they were not used to it.
Outside the Wenhua Hall, beside the Zuoshun Gate, other Hanlin scholars and officials felt a little disappointed: the emperor did not promote anyone today.
Among the small circle of important officials in the court, Liang Chu smiled kindly: "Your Majesty is very eager to learn. This is a good thing."
Look, there is one more piece of evidence for the reputation of being wise.
There was another meaning in the glances he exchanged with Yang Tinghe and others: The disaster of the Sun Jing Sect seemed to have never happened. What kind of determination?
Yang Tinghe felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
The emperor's compliance with the etiquette and legal constraints of the Sutra Banquet means abiding by the etiquette system respected by the dynasty.
Could it be that, as the court meeting there said, he was very aware that he shouldered the important task of maintaining etiquette and maintaining the prosperity and wealth of everyone in this mountain, so he was not like Emperor Zhengde?
Of course, even Emperor Zhengde would not express any dissatisfaction at the Sutra Feast at the beginning. He would only target certain people afterwards, and later stopped holding the Sutra Feast at all.
Yang Tinghe's stress reaction came again.
Afraid that he would cause trouble, but also afraid that he would not cause trouble!
He, Yang Tinghe, had typed countless manuscripts today, but none of them were used. The emperor just finished the Sutra Banquet course without any surprises.
Is this the same emperor who made such absurd remarks about etiquette that day?
Or maybe it was just after the ministers surrendered to the Holy Will yesterday on the arrangements for Qian Ning and Jiang Bin to have no family assets?
You are unpredictable.
Zhu Houcong, who returned to Qianqing Palace, hummed silently in his heart, "I should do my best to cooperate with you in the performance" while changing clothes.
The bigger the leader, the more superficial occasions.
Zhu Houcong understood this.
Zhou Zhao and Yuan Zonggao both told him what the Jingyan represents.
If Zhu Houcong behaves deviantly at the Sutra banquet, it will touch upon the most essential issue of this era: Do you want to cut off the way forward for all the literati in the world who read the Four Books and Five Classics and follow the teachings of etiquette and law?
The era is such an era, and Zhu Houcong really has to rely on these people to get things done.
The breaking of knowledge monopoly and the change of thinking take decades or even centuries as a unit.
What's more, it's a good thing to learn more about their way of thinking and the basis of their knowledge from scripture feasts.
If he wanted to do anything at the sutra feast, it would not be now.
I don’t know how long it will take for Wang Shouren to come to Beijing.
The ministers who participated in the sutra feast enjoyed the banquet there: according to the rules, the banquet could also be packed back and shared with family members.
This is the disciple's offering to the "Master".
Zhu Houcong was already looking at the memorials that were backlogged yesterday and newly submitted today. When he saw Wang Qiong's petition to re-use Sun Jiao, Zhu Houcong showed a strange look on his face.
He turned around and asked, "Who have you seen visiting Wang Qiong's house these days?"
"... I will go and ask you now."
Zhang Zuo, who was asked in a hurry, suddenly became excited and confessed with a trembling voice.
Zhu Houconn didn't take it seriously: "There have been a lot of things in the past few days. You and Luo An need time to straighten out the factory. If you don't know anything, it's right to ask immediately. Check the status of the ministers in Beijing. The key point is to see who are the old ministers in Qiandi. I went to see Wang Qiong a few days ago."
Despite the cooperation of Wei Bin and Zhang Yong, it is not easy for the two newcomers Zhang Zuo and Luo An to control both the inside and outside in a short period of time.
The news from the factory guard needs to be compiled, and the relationship between the eunuch Si Li who is also in charge of the factory guard and Zhang Zuo also needs to be reconciled.
What matters will the emperor focus on? In addition to daily reports, Zhang Zuo also needs time to distinguish the key points.
The most important thing is that he needs to have a good mind and remember all other minor things that are not included in the report, in case the emperor asks him at any time.
Zhang Zuo, who had been beaten before and now received understanding, was so excited that he quickly saluted and went to do his work.
Zhu Houcong waited for him to leave and then asked: "Huang Jin, Qingping, do many people know about the dealings between my father and Sun Shangshu back then, especially the matter between me and the daughter of the Sun family?"
