Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 541 Zhu Yuanzhang and Ouyang Lun are neighbors (Please subscribe!!)

The second day of the third month in the twenty-second year of Hongwu.

After more than a month of preparation.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty abdicated, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao ascended the throne. The ceremony of succession was extremely grand, comparable to the founding ceremony of the country!
After Zhu Yuanzhang abdicated, he became the emperor emeritus, and all regulations remained the same as for the emperor. He built a palace next to the clan house, named Taile Palace, and gave the Taihe Hall to Zhu Biao to handle government affairs.

The reign title remained Hongwu, and Zhu Biao did not use a new reign title.

Zhu Biao's performance made Zhu Yuanzhang feel at ease, so except for the power of the Jinyiwei and the imperial palace guards, all other power was given to Zhu Biao.

The power transition in the Ming Dynasty seemed exceptionally smooth, which surprised everyone. There were no fights among princes, no plots by powerful officials, and no rebellions!
This makes people think that if the succession of emperors in the Ming Dynasty could be so smooth in the future, the Ming Dynasty would definitely last far longer than the previous dynasty.

Zhu Biao's reputation for virtue and benevolence had long been spread among the people. The people wholeheartedly supported the accession of Crown Prince Zhu Biao to the throne. The smooth succession of emperors reduced the unrest among the people, and the people were even more satisfied with this. The people were full of confidence in the future of the Ming Dynasty after Zhu Biao became emperor.

Not to mention the officials.

Since the reform of the morning court system, the spirit and health of officials have improved, and their energy has become inexplicably abundant. This has reflected in government affairs, with the efficiency of handling government affairs increasing. Things that used to take three days to complete can now be completed in one day!

The Ming Dynasty seemed to become full of vitality all of a sudden.

Officials are also becoming more proactive. On the one hand, they want to take advantage of this trend to make some political achievements. On the other hand, they want to perform more in front of the new emperor. If they can catch the new emperor's eye, it is not impossible for them to be promoted and reused, and even be granted titles and become prime ministers!
Lan Yu and Ouyang Lun are two living examples.

Many people want to be Lan Yu and Ouyang Lun!
Since Zhu Biao ascended the throne, he took over almost all power and responsibilities from Zhu Yuanzhang and became even busier.

His butt sat on the dragon throne in the Tai Chi Hall almost the entire day and he couldn't move at all.

Although Zhu Biao had served as regent in the past, being regent and being the emperor and handling government affairs were two completely different things.

As the regent, he only needed to deal with memorials. He would deal with those that he could, and put aside those that he couldn't deal with until Zhu Yuanzhang came back. He could also send someone to report to Zhu Yuanzhang by express horse and let Zhu Yuanzhang make the decision on some matters that were difficult to handle.

Zhu Biao could also discuss matters with the ministers in the court without any scruples.

But now that he is really the emperor, he still has to deal with memorials one by one, and things that cannot be handled still have to be dealt with, because the memorials that come to him must have an explanation, and he is the one who makes the final decision. If he cannot make a decision, then the matter will be delayed indefinitely, which is unacceptable to Zhu Biao.

It was also because of this that Zhu Biao stayed in the Taiji Hall almost every day. He would take a nap when he was sleepy and continue to handle government affairs when he woke up. Fortunately, the morning court system was changed, otherwise Zhu Biao would have died suddenly.

Under such circumstances, Zhu Biao naturally had no time to look for Ouyang Lun again.

Sometimes, Zhu Biao had just finished dealing with the government affairs at hand and was about to go to see Ouyang Lun, but as soon as he stood up from the dragon throne, his personal eunuch came to report that an official wanted to see him or that there was a new government matter.

Zhu Biao had no choice but to sit down and continue handling government affairs.

"Little Li, there are no new memorials submitted, right?"

"In reply to your Majesty, you have already dealt with all the memorials!" Little Li was the personal eunuch specially selected by Zhu Biao after he became emperor. Wang Zhong insisted on following Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Biao could not force him.

"Are there any officials outside waiting to be summoned?" Zhu Biao continued to ask.

"Your Majesty, not yet." Little Li shook his head and said distressedly: "Your Majesty, although government affairs need to be handled, you must also take care of your health! Take a rest quickly."

"Yes." Zhu Biao nodded, and then said solemnly: "My father did not pass the throne to me so that I can enjoy myself comfortably. The Ming Dynasty still has many shortcomings. I must go all out. Only in this way can I live up to my father, my brother-in-law, the civil and military officials, and the people of the Ming Dynasty!!"

"Oh, right, when I was handling government affairs, there were some things I couldn't figure out. We just happened to have time to go to the clan house."

Zhu Biao just stood up.

An eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the cabinet minister, the Duke of Korea Li Shanchang, the cabinet general, the Duke of Liang Lan Yu, and a group of officials are outside the palace asking for an audience!"

Hearing this, Zhu Biao was a little surprised. "Duke Han and Duke Liang brought officials to see me. Is there something important?"

"Quick, let them in!"

After saying this, Zhu Biao sat back on the dragon throne.

Soon, Li Shanchang and Lan Yu came in with more than a dozen officials. All of these officials were core members of the Huaixi Party, including Duke of Song Feng Sheng, Fu Youde and others.

"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Li Shanchang, Lan Yu and others bowed and paid homage to Zhu Biao in unison.

"Duke Hanguo, Duke Liangguo, so many of you have come to see me, but what big thing has happened? Tell me quickly!"

Zhu Biao asked anxiously.

Forehead.
"Your Majesty, we have nothing important to say!" Lan Yu said awkwardly.

"Huh? Nothing?" Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, "Then what are you doing?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, we are here for this purpose." Lan Yu originally wanted to say that they were here to meet Zhu Biao and reminisce about the past, so that people outside would know that their Huaixi Party was the most trusted by the new emperor.

But Li Shanchang quickly interrupted Lan Yu and continued, "Your Majesty, we are here today to congratulate you on your ascension to the throne, and to discuss state affairs with you!"

To put it bluntly, he just wanted to show his face in front of Zhu Biao.

Since Zhu Biao became emperor, he has been obsessed with handling government affairs. In addition, the morning court system changed, which resulted in that if officials wanted to see the emperor, they could only attend the morning court once every half a month. The rest of the time, they could only be summoned by the emperor or go to see him on their own initiative.

The officials of the Huaixi Party were all arrogant and had a lot of experience, so they would not take the initiative to go to Zhu Biao.

They chose to wait for Zhu Biao to summon them. However, the Huaixi Party waited for several days but was not summoned by the new emperor. Instead, those officials who took the initiative to request an audience met the new emperor before them.

Seeing that all the Huaixi Party officials would be the last to see the new emperor, they became anxious and, led by Li Shanchang and Lan Yu, ran to ask for an audience with Zhu Biao.

"Your Majesty, I have prepared a gift for you!"

An official from the Huaixi Party took out a gift box with a smile. Seeing this, other officials from the Huaixi Party also took out their gifts. It was obvious that this group of people came to give gifts!
Zhu Biao also reacted at this time and shook his head slightly, "My fellow ministers, I have only just ascended the throne and have not yet made any achievements. I appreciate your gifts, but you should take them back!"

When he was a prince in the past, it was nothing for him to accept some gifts, but now that he is the emperor, if he accepts gifts again, it will set a bad precedent. What if the officials below follow suit?
So Zhu Biao declined directly.

During the period since Zhu Biao ascended the throne, he not only felt tremendous pressure, but also felt that as an emperor, he was surrounded by all kinds of temptations.

Officials constantly try to please him.

There are also officials who keep testing his bottom line.

Giving money and gifts is just basic stuff. Some people even went a step further and gave Zhu Biao beautiful women directly. And there were all kinds of beauties, from Dongying, grassland, Liaodong, and so on.

Of course, in addition to beautiful women, various tonics are also given.

There are also all kinds of weird and strange things given away, such as things that can make you feel like you are floating in the air with just one breath!
Zhu Biao was very determined. He refused to touch these things and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the governance of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Biao's ideal was also very simple, which was to take the development of the Ming Dynasty to a higher level with the support of Zhu Yuanzhang and let the people live a better life. After all, his father Zhu Yuanzhang was watching him, really watching him.

Seeing that Zhu Biao decisively refused the gift, the Huaixi Party officials looked slightly disappointed, but still nodded obediently and put away the gift temporarily.

Li Shanchang also quickly winked at other officials, and then these Huaixi Party officials began to report their work to Zhu Biao.

After one person finishes speaking, another person takes over.

Zhu Biao was very patient. Even if some officials talked about irrelevant things, he would listen carefully and offer his suggestions from time to time.

Time passed like this, and even after the Huaixi Party officials left, officials continued to come to report, and the threshold of the Taiji Hall was almost broken.

Four words to describe it is - extremely lively!
Taile Palace.

There is a huge garden with a spectacular artificial lake.

A spacious pedestrian path was built along the artificial lake, with various varieties of flowers and trees planted on both sides of the road. The fragrance of flowers is everywhere and it is pleasing to the eye!
From time to time, small animals such as monkeys and squirrels shuttle through the woods.

Standing in the garden, it feels like being in a forest kingdom, which makes people feel refreshed both physically and mentally and is very comfortable.

The road extends to the lake and there is a pavilion.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat facing each other in the hall.

The two were drinking tea and chatting.

"This garden is so well maintained and so big!"

Queen Ma looked around, taking in the artificial lake and the beautiful scenery around her, and couldn't help but sigh.

"That's what we specifically requested." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile on his face. He was obviously very satisfied with the palace he lived in after his "retirement". "I didn't expect that the architectural skills of our Ming Dynasty have reached such a high level. This Taile Palace was repaired in less than two months!"

"The Daming is building houses and roads everywhere. Practice makes perfect. Of course, this skill will improve." Empress Ma smiled and said, "Besides, the Taiyue Palace was built by Hengda Construction and the Daming Ministry of Works. And with Ouyang watching over you, it will be difficult not to build it well."

"But Chongba, there are so many places inside and outside the palace that you didn't choose. Why did you insist on building your Taiyue Palace next to the Zongrenfu?"

"Don't tell me you just want to be neighbors with that kid Ouyang? Don't you dislike him?"

Facing Empress Ma's question, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled mysteriously, "Sister, being neighbors with Ouyang Lun is only a small reason! The more important reason is that we have to keep an eye on Ouyang Lun for Biao'er!"

Queen Ma was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "Chongba, you still don't trust Ouyang after all!"

"Trust is relative. It depends on who you are comparing with. If you ask me to choose the one I trust the most among Li Shanchang, Lan Yu and Ouyang Lun, then of course I trust Ouyang Lun the most. But if you ask me to choose between Biao'er and Ouyang Lun, then I will definitely choose my son!"

"Biao'er has just ascended the throne and has many things to do. He can't take care of Ouyang Lun for the time being, so we have to keep an eye on Ouyang Lun to prevent him from causing trouble."

In response to Zhu Yuanzhang's explanation, Empress Ma nodded slightly, "Chongba, I can understand what you said."

"However, you chose to build the Taile Palace next to the Zongrenfu. I'm afraid there are more reasons than this, right?"

"Haha, I really can't hide anything from you, sister." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, "When Ouyang Lun first served as the clan leader of the clan house, he carried out large-scale construction in the clan house and even occupied the place I gave to our Zhu family's ancestors to build an ancestral hall. Now I am here to occupy a piece of land as well, and I want to build a big ancestral hall!"

"Zhongba, you still remember this thing!" Queen Ma was also speechless.

"Of course not. In the past, I was the emperor, so there were some things I couldn't say too much or take action on, to avoid being accused of being petty and narrow-minded. But now I'm no longer the emperor, but the emperor emeritus. I don't have to care too much. I will take revenge when there is a grudge, and I will seek redress when there is a grudge!" Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly.

"." Empress Ma's face was full of black lines, but then she smiled again, "Chongba, you look like this reminds me of you when you went to Northern Zhili for a private visit."

"Besides the reasons you just mentioned, I'm afraid you have another reason for choosing to be Ouyang's neighbor?"

Facing Empress Ma's question, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled awkwardly, "I really can't hide anything from you, my sister."

"In fact, after knowing Ouyang Lun for so many years, I found that Ouyang Lun's lifestyle is the most comfortable one, which is very suitable for my life after retirement, so I have to learn from him."

"Besides, Ouyang Lun has so many good things in his house. In addition to the four great things of wine, food, tea, and fragrance, there are also all kinds of fun things. The square dance, aerobics, and badminton he brought you are all leftovers from their games."

"We live next to Ouyang Lun, so we can definitely get the upper hand!"

"I see." Queen Ma nodded, "Chongba, you are after the things of this child Ouyang. Are you going to become a thief?"

"Go away, sister, stop saying such harsh words. This is called observation and learning! How could it be a thief? Can a thief be as powerful as us?" Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily.

"Yes, yes." Queen Ma nodded with a smile.

(End of this chapter)