Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 541 I am the only one!
In front of Fengxian Hall, the sky was overcast, with sporadic snow falling.

The most noble brothers of the Ming Empire stood facing each other.

The north wind wrapped snowflakes and fell on the shoulders of the two of them, and their clothes fluttered, but they couldn't blow away the heaviness in these words.

At this moment, Zhu Qiyu's face, which was as calm as a lake from the beginning to the end, finally showed a stern look. His words were not loud, but the coldness contained in them could not help but make people feel cold all over .

Zhu Qizhen was silent, but it was strange that his mind suddenly drifted to another place at such a tense moment.

He is very familiar with the aura of the person in front of him, because he has had it before.

He thought, in just one year, is it really possible to hone such an imperial majesty from an ordinary prince?

The thought was fleeting, Zhu Qizhen didn't go to see Zhu Qiyu, but looked up at the quaint Fengxian Hall, after a while, Fang said.

"You have done a good job, better than your elder brother. From now on, I will take care of myself in Nangong, and I will no longer ask politics. The past cannot be pursued, so why bring it up again?"

On the way back to Beijing, Zhu Qizhen thought a lot.

Including everything before, including everything after, including what he might face after returning to Beijing.

People always grow.

A year of life as a prisoner has smoothed his edges and corners. He is no longer that proud and invincible emperor. He has begun to understand all kinds of suffering in this world. Even as an emperor, there is helplessness.

When he decided to start from Xuanfu, he knew that he had lost this round.

But it doesn't matter, he admits it!

From his point of view, Zhu Qiyu was nothing more than reminding him of one thing, from the civil memorial service to the grand ceremony in central Beijing, to the interrogation in front of the Fengxian Hall today.

That is, he, the Supreme Emperor, is a sinner of the country.

The current emperor of Ming Dynasty deliberately wanted to bow his head, but he was worried that after returning to Beijing, he would interfere in government affairs and compete with him for power.

That being the case, he backed down.

Along the way, Wang Jin and Ren Li accompanied him, and they knew much more than Li Xian, Zhu Jian and others.

Because of this, Zhu Qizhen also understood how earth-shaking changes took place in Daming during the year he was away.

From the inner palace to the outer court, Li Yongchang, Jin Ying, Cao Jixiang, Mao Gui, Wang Changsui, and his confidant eunuchs were killed and exiled one by one.

Among the six ministries, the most important ministries of officials, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of War were firmly held in the hands of the emperor. Chen Yi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate also became the emperor's party. As for the cabinet and the Imperial Academy, they were replaced all over again.

Among the nobles, Jing Nan, who was loyal to him, followed the killing of Zhang Fu of the British government, and the demotion of Ningyang Bo Chen Mao. The title of the Duke of Cheng has no results until now, and the others are also zero. It's scattered and out of shape.

However, a group of generals headed by Li Xian and the border guards headed by Yang Hong and Fan Guang took the opportunity to welcome the new emperor, control the Beijing camp, and continuously invaded the power of the five-army governor's office.

The only remaining veterans in the court, such as Hu Wei and others, are also wise to protect themselves. This point can be seen just by looking at this ceremony.

Zhu Qizhen thought to himself that in the current situation, he has no hope of regaining the throne at all, so he is very open-minded.

He felt that what Zhu Qiyu wanted was for him to retreat to Nangong and stop fighting.

That being the case, he did what he wanted.

However, after hearing Zhu Qizhen's answer, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

Sure enough, no matter whether it was a civil memorial ceremony or standing in front of the ancestral tablet, my elder brother has never really felt remorse.

What he has in his heart is only himself, some are weighing the pros and cons, and some are forced to do so.

But he never had that sincere guilt.

The 20 civil servants and the danger of the overthrow of the Ancestral Temple of Sheji couldn't move his heart.

What he saw in his eyes was Wang Zhen's company for many years, Empress Qian's affectionate kindness, and even the "sincere treatment" with Boyan Timur first.

However, he couldn't hear the wailing and crying of the common people, and he couldn't see countless broken families struggling to survive.

Me, only me!
This is Zhu Qizhen, his elder brother, the former emperor of Ming Dynasty, and now the Supreme Emperor.

He is such a person!

Zhu Qiyu lowered his head, and suddenly laughed at himself.

He was wrong.

This sentence should not have been asked in the first place.

So, his face remained unchanged, with a faint smile on his face, said.

"Since this is the case, I invite the Supreme Emperor to worship the ancestors with me!"

Zhu Qiyu's original intention was to be too lazy to talk to Zhu Qizhen any more, but in the eyes of the other party, this change in expression turned into a silence after achieving his goal.

There was a trace of complexity in his eyes, Zhu Qizhen naturally understood the meaning of business in this sentence, sighed lightly, shook the snowflakes on his body, and stepped into Fengxian Hall.

The process of worshiping ancestors is tedious.

Zhu Qiyu's original intention was to hope that at least in front of the ancestors, Zhu Qizhen could realize a little bit that he was once the son of the late emperor's high hopes. Mistakes, even if there is a trace of repentance.

but……

That being the case, no matter how complicated the ceremony is, if it is not satisfactory, it is nothing more than a superficial appearance.

Burning incense, chanting scriptures, prostrating, changing clothes and leaving the temple.

The two brothers returned to their original state again.

If you don't say a word, you are like a stranger.

However, what Zhu Qiyu didn't expect was that as soon as he left the palace gate, he saw a pair of ceremonial vehicles parked far away.

Under the oiled paper umbrella supported by the palace man, the woman was wearing a thick red cloak with dark cloud patterns, standing in the distance, hesitating, looking around, with a trace of anxiety on her face.

It can be seen that the woman dressed up very delicately today, it must have taken a long time.

But even so, she couldn't hide the haggard look on her face. Seeing someone coming out of Fengxian Hall, she subconsciously wanted to move forward.

Then, as if realizing something, his expression suddenly panicked, he stopped his forward leaning body abruptly, and took two steps back.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu sighed, and after several steps away, he stopped and cupped his hands.

"I have seen the emperor's wife."

This woman is the Empress Duanjing in the harem, and also the wife of Zhu Qizhen's original wife.

I have lived my whole life and met all kinds of people, but the only one who can get Zhu Qiyu's sincere respect is his sister-in-law.

It's a pity that there are some things that he can't do anything about...

Empress Qian narrowed her eyes slightly, and finally saw clearly that the person who came was not what she thought. She didn't know whether it was disappointment or rejoicing for a moment, but the complicated mood just now was finally diluted a bit.

After hesitating for a moment, she still couldn't help asking.

"Brother Yu, where is Your Majesty? I...I know that the court still has ceremonies, and you have things to do, but..."

The so-called elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Before Zhu Qizhen insisted on conscripting himself, the relationship between Empress Qian and Zhu Qiyu was also very good.

Later, after Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne, not only him, but also Queen Wang, always respected Queen Qian very much.

So much so that in the entire harem, only her address to the brothers, as usual, has not changed in the slightest.

Even so, Empress Qian is not a person who does not know how to measure, so since Empress Wang entered the palace, she has basically never stepped out of the door of Yikun Palace.

Especially like today, it was the first time to cross most of Miyagi.

It can be seen how excited she is now.

Zhu Qiyu bowed again and said.

"Sister-in-law Huang doesn't need to explain. I understand that there is still some time before the court meeting begins. Brother Huang is currently changing clothes in the side hall. After a while..."

Before he could finish speaking, an excited voice sounded from behind Zhu Qiyu.

"Queen!"

So, Zhu Qiyu looked sideways, and saw Zhu Qizhen who had just changed into a clean robe, standing there in a daze, looking at the woman in the distance, his body trembling slightly.

Before everyone could react, Zhu Qizhen had already jumped over everyone and arrived in front of Empress Qian.

The person she missed day and night was right in front of her eyes. Empress Qian looked at Zhu Qizhen carefully, and two lines of tears flowed down her cheeks, soaking her clothes.

But immediately, she reacted, wiped her tears with her hands in a panic, then lowered her head, subconsciously going back.

"Your Majesty, my concubine...you still have things to do, so my concubine will go first..."

Before she finished speaking, her hands were held up.

As a result, all kinds of words fell into silence, and Empress Qian couldn't say a word when she was full of words.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu sighed, but after all, he didn't say much, raised his hand, called Wang Jin over, and told him to find a private room for the Supreme Emperor and Queen Duanjing to talk.

Wynn was also sent to the court to spread the message, and the court meeting started a quarter of an hour later.

Then, with a sigh, he turned and left.

Zhu Qizhen doesn't deserve this face, but Empress Qian deserves it!
Turning out of the palace gate, Zhu Qiyu was thinking about where to spend the extra quarter of an hour.

However, as soon as he raised his head, he saw Mrs. Wang wearing a thick winter coat, holding her waist with difficulty, and looking at him with a smile under the branch of Samuume.

Behind Wang's back, Shu Liang and Xing'an looked terrified and helpless, seeing the figure of the Son of Heaven, they hurried forward and said.

"My lord, my empress insists on coming here, servant girl..."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand, without taking a second look at them, he strode forward and came to Wang Shi's side, frowning slightly, but also said helplessly.

"It's such a cold day, you are inconvenient, why are you here?"

Supported by Liu Huan, Mrs. Wang smiled with crooked eyebrows and said.

"The emperor's sister-in-law wants to see the Supreme Emperor, and the concubines will naturally also come to see His Majesty."

Hearing these slightly childish words, Zhu Qiyu was both angry and funny.

But inexplicably, the melancholy that had just suddenly arisen in my heart disappeared without a trace.

…………

A quarter of an hour flies by.

On the top of the altar in front of Fengtian Hall, officials of etiquette have already been prepared, and below are all civil and military officials who have also lined up.

Fortunately, the snow gradually stopped, so that the clothes that the elders had just changed would not be covered with snow again.

Finally, with a resounding "Ascension Hall!"

The heavy and tall palace door was slowly pushed open, and the officials climbed up the steps in an orderly manner.

In the spacious Fengtian Hall, the difference is that two equally large dragon chairs are placed together on the high imperial steps.

When the ministers entered the hall and stood up, the ceremony official continued to shout.

"The Supreme Emperor is here."

So, in the midst of shouting and embracing, Zhu Qizhen stepped in from outside the hall step by step, walked past the officials, stepped on the imperial steps, and sat down on the dragon chair.

At this moment, he also changed his clothes. It was no longer the bright yellow gown robe when he entered the city, but the same black twelve chapter dragon pattern robe as Zhu Qiyu, with a large ribbon on his waist and twelve glazed crowns.

This familiar scene made the ministers who came from the orthodox era feel a little dazed for a moment.

However, everything is different after all...

After the Supreme Emperor sat down, the ritual officer shouted again.

"Holy presence!"

Then, a figure appeared outside the hall again.

Wearing a crown robe almost identical to Zhu Qizhen's, Zhu Qiyu walked into the hall step by step.

However, the difference is that he is holding a piece of jade engraved with "Fengtian Fazu" in his hand.

As he stepped into the hall, all the officials knelt down neatly on the ground without the guidance of the ceremonial officer, and even Zhu Qizhen stood up from the dragon chair and bowed slightly.

Holding the jade pendant in hand, it is as if the Taizu came in person!

Zhu Qiyu climbed up the imperial steps, sat firmly on the dragon chair, and nodded slightly to the ceremony officer beside him.

Immediately, the ceremony official shouted.

"knock!"

Then the officials kowtowed to the ground and shouted in unison.

"Your Majesty and the Supreme Emperor, I will kowtow, long live, long live, long live."

Zhu Qizhen didn't kneel, he was also the recipient.

However, Taizu Dagui was in front, so he also couldn't sit down.

Looking at the familiar Yugui in front of him, his originally calm mood became a little more emotional.

This was originally something in his hands, but now, there is no chance to hold it in his hands again...

Following the guidance of the ceremonial officer, Zhu Qiyu spoke after three kowtows and five bows by the officials.

"Flat body."

So the ministers stood up.

Zhu Qiyu also stood up, and respectfully placed Dagui in his hand on the prepared treasure case, then stepped back two steps to the side, bowed slightly, and said.

"Your Majesty, please take your seat."

At this time, Zhu Qizhen straightened up and sat down again.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Qiyu also sat down, and the eunuch Cheng Jing, the supervisor of ceremonies, stepped forward, took up a scroll of imperial decree on a yellow silk jade scroll from the treasure table, and read it.

"Fengtian carries the emperor, the edict said."

"I enshrined the legacy of the late emperor's holy body, which coincided with the decline of the country's fortune. I was good at power and fortune in a few painful tasks, and my elder brother was mistakenly trapped in the court. Thanks to the blessings of the ancestors of heaven and earth, Long He, and the entrustment of my mother and subjects, I have given you position, serve Shao Hongtu, comfort the hearts of the people, and flatter the ancestors."

"...now the eldest brother is returning to Beijing, the courtiers are having fun, and the palace is celebrating. At the beginning of my ascension, I have only told the world, the sect, and the elder brother is honored as the Supreme Emperor. The etiquette is only grand and there is no substitute for righteousness. It should be humiliated. Respectfully, although I did not repay the selfishness of resentment, my aunt fulfilled the wish of the honour, praised the grace, and extended it to the subjects, and all the lenient matters are listed below..."

"One, since the [-]th day of the eighth month in the first year of Jingtai, officials, soldiers, civilians, etc. have committed crimes..."

The edict is very long, but the elders are not in the mood to listen to it.

The content of this imperial edict was carefully written out after several deliberations by the Ministry of Rites and the cabinet. There must be no mistakes or omissions, but the content has naturally been circulated long ago.

There is no special content, just an ordinary edict of amnesty for the world.

This is what it should be, and there is nothing worthy of too much attention.

What really deserved their attention was the imperial edict written on a yellow silk jade scroll placed on the treasure table next to the Supreme Emperor.

It was written by the Supreme Emperor himself, and it was also the first official edict issued by the old man after he returned to Beijing.

This is the highlight of this court meeting!

　Regarding the etiquette of welcoming the reply, it is actually obvious to see the status of the Supreme Emperor.

　　In the Ming Shilu, Emperor Jing and his courtiers had a dispute over the etiquette of welcoming the return, and the final conclusion was.

　　Today, the Emperor Taishang drove into Dong'an Gate. I greeted him inside the gate. After kowtowing, I accompanied all civil and military officials to the inner hall of the southern city. The Emperor Taishang ascended the seat. My life, no more changes.

　　So, if Dagui is not invited, Zhu Qiyu really has to kneel...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)