My father is Jiajing

On the eighth day of the ninth month in the forty-fifth year of the Jiajing reign, a thin layer of white frost covered the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City and the Western Garden, indicating the difference in the late autumn season.

At dawn, the distant eastern sky began to show a slight hint of paleness.

The eunuchs of the Forbidden City have already been carrying lanterns and shuttling back and forth between the palace walls, making final preparations for the important Double Ninth Festival ceremony tomorrow.

Inside Prince Yu’s Mansion.

Zhu Zaigui, who had gotten up early, stood in his own courtyard. He had just finished practicing a set of Xiantian Qi and was standing there breathing in and out. At dawn, the first ray of purple air rose between heaven and earth.

"Your Highness, this is the procedure booklet for tomorrow's ceremony sent by the Ministry of Rites."

Meng Chong, holding a yellow silk booklet in his hand, walked lightly behind Zhu Zaigui and reminded him in a low voice, his excitement unable to be concealed in his voice.

Zhu Zaigui let out a long breath and just stretched out his hand. Meng Chong immediately understood and respectfully handed the booklet to him.

Zhu Zaiqi was also slightly stunned when he took the booklet, "Towel, what I want is a towel!"

Meng Chong smiled awkwardly, quickly took the booklet back from Zhu Zaigui's hand, and handed him a towel respectfully.

Zhu Zaigui then wiped his face and hands with the towel, and then threw the towel into the tray beside him.

When Meng Chong saw Zhu Zaigui wipe his hands and face, he couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, don't you want to take a look?"

Zhu Zaigui chuckled and said, "What's so interesting about this? The Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites sent several copies of these things some time ago. I have memorized everything in them. There is no need to read them again."

Meng Chong gave an awkward laugh, "Your Highness is still very capable. I don't have your determination."

Zhu Zaigui glanced back at Meng Chong and said, "Don't just stand here like an idiot. Go prepare breakfast and call Er and Jun'er over."

Meng Chong bowed quickly and said, "I will go right away."

While Meng Chong was preparing these things, Zhu Zaigui also went to wash up and put on his daily scarlet uniform.

When Zhu Zaigui walked from his own courtyard to the small restaurant, Zhu Yi and Zhu Yijun had already arrived.

When the two saw Zhu Zaigui coming, they immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, father."

Zhu Zaigui looked at his two sons with a smile, "Who taught you that? Why did you change your way of addressing daddy to father?"

The introverted Zhu Yi hesitated for a moment, and the lively Zhu Yijun immediately said: "This is what our mother taught us. Our mother said that we are all grown up and should bow to our father according to the rules."

When Zhu Zaigui heard this, he knew that it was Concubine Chen who taught them.

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "You don't have to listen to your mother about this. Just call me daddy from now on. This will make you look more intimate."

After hearing what Zhu Zaigui said, Zhu Yi and Zhu Yijun couldn't help but happily hum, "Yes, Daddy!"

Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Okay, okay, sit down and eat. What did Mr. Xu teach you yesterday? Did you two bully Brother Zhong?"

The Mr. Xu that Zhu Zaigui was talking about was Xu Wei. He had now been recruited by Zhu Zaigui into the palace, specifically to teach Zhu Yi, Zhu Yijun, and Zhu Yizhong.

Zhu Yi said: "Mr. Xu is teaching us The Art of War."

Zhu Yijun said: "We didn't bully Brother Zhong."

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help laughing when he heard their simultaneous answers. Xu Wei was really interesting. He actually taught them "The Art of War".

However, Zhu Zaigui did not care about these. After all, Zhu Yi and Zhu Yijun did not have to take the imperial examinations, nor did they want to write eight-legged essays. The miscellaneous studies they learned were the most useful things for them.

Zhu Zaigui said: "Then you must study hard. When you have learned it, Dad will give you a chance to practice and experience military life in person."

Zhu Yijun was immediately excited, "Really?"

Zhu Zaiqi reached out and patted his little head, "What? Can I still lie to you? How dare you, a little bastard, question me?"

After being beaten by Zhu Zaigui, Zhu Yijun became much more obedient. Compared with Zhu Yi, he was really too active.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui disciplined him quite a lot.

Of course, Zhu Zaigui was not so serious and strict in disciplining him. After all, he was still a child. If he was disciplined too harshly, it would be terrible if he developed a rebellious mentality in the future.

After all, in Zhu Zaigui's eyes, Zhu Yijun was still his most promising son.

Although this son was so bad in the original history, it is undeniable that he was very smart.

Therefore, in order to prevent Zhu Yijun from going astray and becoming as bad as he was in history, Zhu Zaigui was relatively relaxed in disciplining him.

Unlike the extremely strict discipline of Zhang Juzheng and Empress Dowager Li in history, he was not psychologically unbalanced since childhood.

Moreover, in order for Zhu Yijun to have a correct world view and values, Zhu Zaigui often took him to the countryside outside Beijing to experience the lives and hardships of the people and understand their real needs.

Otherwise, if he really has to take charge in the future, he won't even know what the world is like, and will make judgments based on the information sent to him by his subordinates. Then, even if he is really smart and hardworking, he may not be able to see the truth from these text messages that cannot tell loyalty or treachery.

After all, even an emperor as smart as Emperor Jiajing couldn't do this, let alone people like Zhu Yijun?
Therefore, for the sake of education for future generations, Zhu Zaigui also restored certain systems from the Taizu period, giving Zhu Yi and Zhu Yijun the opportunity to go deep into the people and actually understand their sufferings and needs.

In this way, even if some ministers write some unrealistic memorials in the future to deceive and conceal something, they will be able to detect it and will not be easily deceived.

After chatting with Zhu Yi and Zhu Yijun and finishing breakfast, Zhu Zaigui took Meng Chong to Wenhua Hall again.

Now Zhu Zaigui sometimes couldn't help but feel disgusted with the Wenhua Palace!
I feel like I am still a prince no matter how big or small I am! Not only do I not enjoy life in the palace, but I also have to get up early and go to work late every day. What the hell is this for?

From this we can see how difficult it is to be a good emperor who works diligently and loves his people!

After all, people are lazy. Who doesn’t want to live a carefree and comfortable life?

Although one can feel as if one holds the power of the world in the Wenhua Hall, in order to hold on to this power, one must lose one's freedom and self.

Otherwise, many things will turn into bad things because of your own willfulness.

Therefore, the responsibility that comes with this power is sometimes so heavy that it makes people feel breathless!

An autumn breeze blew by, blowing up the fallen leaves on the ground.

Zhu Zaigui's carriage entered from Donghua Gate and went straight to Wenhua Hall.

After arriving at the Wenhua Palace, Zhu Zaigui had just sat down in his seat and had not yet remembered to rest for a moment when Meng Chong reminded him, "Your Highness, Lord Gao is here."

Zhu Zaigui said, "Oh!" and said to Meng Chong, "Please come in."

Now Gao Gong has returned to Beijing to take up the post of Second Assistant to the Cabinet, specifically in charge of the Customs Office and the Shanghai Prefecture under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council. There is no overlap in his work with that of Li Chunfang.

The reason for this arrangement is to prevent the two of them from conflicting with each other in the cabinet and affecting major policies.

After all, they both had precedents in history.

Zhu Zaigui is now using them at the same time, and he must be trying to avoid this situation from happening again in the state affairs he leads.

Gao Gong entered the Wenhua Hall and immediately bowed and saluted when he saw Zhu Zaigui in person: "Your Highness, may your Highness the Crown Prince live a thousand years!"

Zhu Zaigui raised his head in a false gesture, "Mr. Gao, please don't be polite."

While Zhu Zaigui was meeting Gao Gong, the Wanshou Palace in Xiyuan was also busy.

Emperor Jiajing has been very busy these days. In addition to his daily habit of meditation and spiritual cultivation, he also has to maintain Li Shizhen's treatment on a daily basis.

As the Double Ninth Festival approached, Emperor Jiajing was also busy with the enthronement ceremony of Zhu Zaigui.

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Honglu Temple are waiting outside for your order."

Huang Jin reported carefully to Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing opened his eyes and glanced at Huang Jin. He had been troubled by this incident for a while.

Emperor Jiajing said, "Tell them to follow the ancestral rules. I want to retreat, so let them all leave. If you really can't make up your mind, go to Wenhua Hall to find San'er. He is the crown prince, not me, so why do you ask me about everything?"

Huang Jin couldn't help but smile, then he bowed and walked out of Emperor Jiajing's residence.

After Huang Jin left, Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but look up into the void. He seemed to see his father, King Xingxian, and Prince Zhuangjing, whom he had cultivated with great effort.

Emperor Jiajing said silently: "Father, I am finally going to appoint a crown prince again. San'er is different and better than me. I feel relieved to leave the Ming Dynasty to him. And Yan'er, did you see that your brother is going to be the crown prince now? You must protect him well. He is our hope!"

Emperor Jiajing's thoughts were wandering. He was thinking about his father who had never been an emperor for a single day, and about the crown prince whom he had cultivated with great effort for more than ten years. For a moment, he could not help but feel that time had passed by so quickly.

In a blink of an eye, forty-five years had passed since he moved from Anlu to the capital.

Forty-five years is three quarters of a Jiazi year. Looking back at the past and present, there are only a few emperors who can rule for such a long time.

Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Should I also give the burden to San'er?"

Emperor Jiajing thought about it in confusion, and soon he had the answer in his mind.

"Huang Jin!"

Emperor Jiajing suddenly called out loudly and asked Huang Jin to come in again.

Huang Jin almost trotted to the front of Emperor Jiajing, "Your servant is here!"

"Go tell San'er, no, tell the prince that I will see him in Fengxian Hall after the ceremony tomorrow."

Huang Jin was slightly stunned. He didn't expect that Emperor Jiajing would issue such a strange decree.

Fengxian Hall is the sacrificial hall in the palace where portraits of previous emperors are enshrined. It is usually not open to the public.

Why did Emperor Jiajing think of meeting Zhu Zaigui here?
Huang Jin didn't expect to understand, he immediately replied: "I will go and convey the order."

Emperor Jiajing looked at Huang Jin's departing back, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes. He knew that he didn't have much time left. Although Li Shizhen had been telling him that his condition had improved a lot during this period, Emperor Jiajing knew very well how his health was.

Now he can't help but gasp for breath if he walks a short distance, which shows that the foundation of his body has been damaged.

Now, his holding of this enthronement ceremony was not only a recognition of Zhu Zaigui, but also an explanation of the Ming Dynasty.

So, he had to make a choice.

Otherwise, he won’t have the chance to speak anymore.

The next day!

September 9th is the Double Ninth Festival.

Before dawn, hundreds of civil and military officials had gathered outside the Meridian Gate.

They were arranged according to their rank, wearing court robes, holding tablets, and waiting for the palace gates to open.

There was a solemn atmosphere in the air, and occasionally one could hear officials talking in hushed voices.

At three quarters past the hour of Mao, the bell of the Meridian Gate rang, and the heavy palace gate slowly opened.

The officials straightened their clothes and entered the Forbidden City one by one. The sun gradually shone on the Jinshui River, reflecting the ripples.

In front of the Huangji Palace, the guard of honor had already lined up. The Jinyiwei, dressed in Feiyu uniforms and wearing embroidered spring swords on their waists, stood solemnly on both sides of the imperial road.

Various ritual objects were placed on the square in front of the temple, with chime bells and chime stones arranged neatly, and musicians holding various musical instruments waiting for instructions.

Zhu Zaigui, wearing a crimson gauze robe and a Yishan crown on his head, entered the Forbidden City from the Donghua Gate under the guidance of eunuchs.

His steps were steady and his face was calm, but only he knew that his hands were trembling slightly under his wide sleeves.

It can be seen that in front of such a grand scene, even Zhu Zaigui, who was used to seeing the ups and downs of life, could not help but get excited.

"His Royal Highness Prince Yu has arrived—"

Following a long shout, the officials in the square turned around and saluted.

At this time, the ceremonial officials were also singing in accordance with Zhu Zaigui's current title.

Zhu Zaigui nodded slightly and glanced at those familiar faces - Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian, all of whom were the ministers he now relied on.

Li Chunfang, the chief minister of the cabinet, held the golden book and jade treasure in his hands, took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, walked forward slowly, and bowed to Zhu Zaigui, "Your Highness, the auspicious time is approaching. Please follow me into the palace to wait for your order."

Zhu Zaigui nodded: "Thank you, Lord."

Just as Zhu Zaigui entered the Huangji Hall to await imperial orders, another grand procession appeared from the square outside the Huangji Hall!
"The emperor has arrived——"

This is the ceremonial guard of Emperor Jiajing!
After everyone sang "yes", they all knelt on the ground.

Emperor Jiajing arrived riding on a dragon chariot, wearing the long-lost vermilion dragon robe with gold thread, and a black winged crown on his head. He looked both majestic and festive, and his imperial majesty was not diminished at all!

It can be seen that the dragon robe today was also specially selected by Emperor Jiajing.

Zhu Zaigui came out of the hall and bowed respectfully to Emperor Jiajing: "Your Majesty, I, Zhu Zaigui, pay my respects to you. Long live your Majesty."

Immediately after Zhu Zaigui, all the officials also cheered in the same way.

Emperor Jiajing got off the dragon chariot and stopped in front of Zhu Zaigui. He looked at Zhu Zaigui today and a gratified smile appeared on his face: "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zaigui stood up and stood in front of Emperor Jiajing with a very upright and respectful attitude.

Emperor Jiajing raised his head and glanced at the officials who were cheering, then waved his hand and said, "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

All the officials bowed again and stood up.

Emperor Jiajing withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhu Zaigui again, "Come, follow me into the palace!"

Emperor Jiajing asked Zhu Zaigui to enter the palace together, but this was not included in the etiquette procedures formulated by the Ministry of Rites.

But there was no reminder or pointing out of anything at this moment.

Because at this moment, the ceremony of enthroning the Crown Prince has begun.

At this time, as long as there are no major problems of principle, all small accidents can be ignored.

After all, in large-scale ceremonies like these that are not held often, unexpected little problems sometimes occur, so this is not really a problem.

Inside the Huangji Hall, incense and candles were burning, and etiquette was in place.

Emperor Jiajing walked to the throne and sat down, while Zhu Zaigui stood under the red steps. Civil and military officials who were qualified to enter the hall entered according to their rank and stood on both sides as witnesses.

At this time, the ceremonial officer also announced loudly: "The ceremony of enthroning the crown prince begins—"

The musicians inside and outside the ceremony immediately played the "Song of Zhonghe", and the solemn music echoed in the hall.

At this time, the Minister of Rites came out to report, and after receiving the approval of Emperor Jiajing, he respectfully took out the important document to be read today from the incense table:

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I have inherited the great cause of my ancestors and rule over the world. I have been working day and night to look after my third son, Zai, who is naturally benevolent and filial, and has a magnanimous character. He should be made the Crown Prince and placed in the Crown Prince's seat, in order to strengthen the rule for thousands of years and win the hearts of the people."

Zhu Zaigui knelt on the ground listening to this document, feeling infinite emotion in his heart. This day has finally come!
The Minister of Rites continued to read the last sentence of the edict:
".Announce it to the whole world, and let all know. I decree this."

After the Minister of Rites finished reading, Li Chunfang, who was standing nearby, walked up to Zhu Zaigui with the golden book in his hand and said, "Your Highness, please accept the book."

Zhu Zaigui first bowed to Emperor Jiajing, then raised both hands to receive the imperial edict, and then handed the imperial edict to the ceremonial officer beside him.

After Li Chunfang, Gao Gong also came out holding the jade treasure, "Your Highness, please accept the treasure!"

Zhu Zaigui received the treasure as usual in the ceremony of receiving the imperial decree.

After all the imperial edicts and imperial treasures were collected, Zhu Zaigui bowed to Emperor Jiajing again.

Emperor Jiajing watched this scene with a hint of relief in his eyes. He slowly said, "Prince, please stand up."

Zhu Zaigui stood up and stood in front of the Danbi, looking up at Emperor Jiajing.

At this moment, Li Chunfang stepped out again and said, "The title of Crown Prince has been decided. All officials congratulate and pay respect to the Crown Prince!"

All the officials in the palace knelt down in unison and bowed three times and kowtowed nine times: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, the Crown Prince. May your Highness live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!"

The sound was like thunder, shaking the dust on the beams of the palace. Zhu Zaigui stood on the Danbi, looking at the ministers kneeling below, and for the first time truly felt the weight of the position of crown prince. This is not glory, but responsibility; not power, but responsibility!

------

I have finally gotten to this point. It wasn’t easy!

Ask for a monthly ticket to comfort you~~~(End of this chapter)