My father is Jiajing

The enthronement ceremony lasted the entire morning, and when the last procedure was completed, it was already after noon.

Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui with a little tiredness, and only after he saw all the officials pay their respects to Zhu Zaigui did he breathe a sigh of relief.

But in front of everyone, Emperor Jiajing still maintained his imperial majesty and did not let himself show the slightest sign of fatigue.

"The ceremony is over!"

After the ceremonial officer shouted "the ceremony is over", Zhu Zaigui's enthronement ceremony was officially completed.

At this time, Emperor Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon throne, could finally move around.

"Your Highness, please stay. The rest of you may leave."

Emperor Jiajing waved his hand and asked all the officials to leave, leaving Zhu Zaigui to accompany him.

All the officials bowed again: "We will take our leave!"

Then they left the Huangji Palace one after another.

Gao Gong and Li Chunfang walked at the end. When they were about to leave the hall, they both turned back at the same time to look at Zhu Zaigui who was standing in the hall, their eyes full of expectations.

They knew that from today on, the Ming Dynasty would have new hope.

After all the officials left, Zhu Zaigui went up from the Danbi beside him, walked to the side of Emperor Jiajing, and held Emperor Jiajing's arm with his hand, "Father, are you tired?"

After being supported by Zhu Zaigui, Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but smile, "How am I tired? I've been sitting for too long and I'm a little annoyed. These ministers are always making trouble, thinking about all kinds of etiquette and rules to restrain us. It seems that if we abide by the etiquette and rules they made up, the world will be at peace."

Zhu Zaigui also laughed and said, "Father's views are refreshing and really shocking."

Emperor Jiajing listened to Zhu Zaigui's laughter and couldn't help laughing again, "Really?"

Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Of course!"

Emperor Jiajing laughed again and said, "Haha, I also formulated a lot of etiquette earlier. Am I annoying too?"

Zhu Zaigui helped Emperor Jiajing get down from the dragon throne, and the two walked outside together. Then he said, "Father will definitely do something different. Father formulated new etiquette rules for the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty, to further consolidate the monarchy, and to prevent treacherous ministers from disrupting the government."

Emperor Jiajing nodded in satisfaction, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean. You must learn these things well and make good use of them in the future, understand?"

Zhu Zaiqi hummed, "I will remember my father's teachings."

Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui and said, "Come on, follow me to the Fengxian Hall to have a look."

"Yes."

Zhu Zaigui supported Emperor Jiajing, and the two of them walked slowly from the Huangji Hall to the Fengxian Hall, almost crossing half of the Forbidden City.

But along the way, Emperor Jiajing never complained of being tired.

It can be seen that along the way, Emperor Jiajing not only had amazing perseverance, but his mood was also much better than before.

Otherwise, given his physical condition, he would definitely not be able to walk such a long distance for such a long time.

By the time Zhu Zaigui and Emperor Jiajing arrived at the Fengxian Hall, Huang Jin was a few steps ahead of them and had arrived here first.

Huang Jin opened the door of Fengxian Hall early and waited there for the arrival of Zhu Zaigui and Emperor Jiajing.

After Emperor Jiajing was supported by Zhu Zaiqi and walked to the Fengtian Hall, he stopped, adjusted his slightly panting breath, and turned to look at Zhu Zaiqi, "Do you know why I brought you here?"

Zhu Zaigui looked up at the vertical plaque on the Fengxian Hall, then turned back to look at Emperor Jiajing, revealing a questioning look, "I don't know."

But in fact, Zhu Zaigui knew very well that what else could he do in Fengxian Hall at this time? Apart from paying homage to the previous emperors, he could only say some nonsense about the inheritance of the empire.

Of course, Zhu Zaigui could not appear impatient about this matter. After all, one day, his portrait might be hung in this palace. If he was impatient about this, how could he expect his successors to remember his teachings and serve the country and the people?

Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui and said, "Help me in and you will know."

Zhu Zaigui nodded, then helped Emperor Jiajing up the stairs and walked into the Fengxian Hall.

Huang Jin and others also sensibly stood guard outside the hall, and no one followed them in.

When entering the Fengxian Hall, the first thing that caught Zhu Zaigui's eyes was the imperial portraits of the current emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and the emperor Zhu Di, followed by portraits of other previous emperors.

Emperor Jiajing also looked at the portraits of previous emperors and felt deeply moved.

Logically speaking, he had no chance of inheriting the throne.

But unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. Who made his cousin Zhu Houzhao die without an heir?
Therefore, the throne was naturally transferred to him.

Now Emperor Jiajing brought his son into the Fengxian Hall. Looking at the portraits of the past emperors, which only the emperor was qualified to enter and worship, he could not help but say, "I have been blessed by heaven to inherit the throne and shoulder the responsibility of the Ming Dynasty. It has been forty-five years now. But in these forty-five years, I have seldom come here."

"I don't know what happened, but I always think of this place, so I brought you here to have a look. Come, burn a stick of incense for Emperor Taizu Gao and Emperor Chengzu Wen."

Zhu Zaigui responded with a "yes" again, and after helping Emperor Jiajing to stand steadily, he took out three tall sandalwood sticks with dragon patterns from the incense offering table, lit the incense in his hand at the eternal lamp in front of Zhu Yuanzhang's portrait, then bowed respectfully before inserting the incense into the small tripod in front of the portrait.

After Zhu Zaigui finished doing all this, he stood up and went back to support Emperor Jiajing.

After all, this is a hall for worshiping the emperors of all dynasties. There are no other decorations inside except the portraits of the emperors of all dynasties, sacrificial items, and cushions for kowtow.

Therefore, in this hall, even the emperor had no seat to sit and could only stand.

After Emperor Jiajing was supported by Zhu Zaigui again, he said to Zhu Zaigui: "Go and burn a stick of incense for your royal grandfather."

The "imperial grandfather" referred to by Emperor Jiajing was none other than his biological father "Prince Xingxian" who was forcibly elevated to the position of emperor by Emperor Jiajing.

Although later online historians always criticized that the throne of "King Xingxian" was exaggerated, it could not even be recognized.

But they overlooked an important part of ancient politics, that is "filial piety"!
Throughout the ages, no matter whether it was the emperor, princes, generals or ministers, as long as they achieved the highest position or achieved a certain level of merit and honor.

The matter of posthumously conferring honors on ancestors does not differentiate between emperors and ordinary people.

There were many ministers who, after reaching the highest position in the country, would have their three generations of ancestors posthumously conferred official titles when the emperor had nothing else to reward them with. Moreover, the titles they posthumously conferred were almost always the highest titles that the official could achieve. For example, Gao Gong in history had his three generations of ancestors posthumously conferred the title of Minister of Personnel.

But in fact, his ancestors for three generations had never held official positions for a single day.

But this does not prevent the posthumous award of this honor, nor does it prevent the world from recognizing this matter.

Therefore, after Emperor Jiajing became emperor, whether it was out of political necessity or filial piety to his parents, he posthumously conferred the title of emperor on Prince Xingxian, which was only natural! The only thing that could cause people to argue was who the Emperor Jiajing inherited the throne from.

All officials believed that Emperor Jiajing's imperial lineage should be inherited by Emperor Hongzhi, but Emperor Jiajing disagreed.

Because once he admits this, not only his father will have to be changed, but his mother will also have to be changed!

Moreover, Emperor Zhengde's biological mother was still alive at that time.

What if, by chance, he lost his mind because of the throne in front of him, and really knelt down to Emperor Hongzhi to act as his father?

Then the wife of Emperor Hongzhi, the Empress Dowager and biological mother of Emperor Zhengde, would have ten thousand reasons to interfere in state affairs. At the very least, Emperor Jiajing would have to be someone's grandson for a few years and live in fear.

In serious cases, if people dislike him, they can depose him with just a decree!

So, whether it is for one's own power or for one's own life.

Even Emperor Jiajing could not back down on the issue of recognizing his father.

He must fight, and he must fight to the end!
As long as he fights, there will be ministers who will come out to support him. As long as there are ministers supporting him, the balance of victory will sooner or later tilt towards him. Those ministers who want to control him by means of "recognizing their father" will also be afraid to do anything to him!

Therefore, Emperor Jiajing always insisted that he only recognized his biological father!
In this way, his imperial succession would not only be more stable, but also more legitimate, and no one would be able to question it.

Therefore, those people in later generations who used the cold joke that Taizong became "Chengzu" to ridicule Emperor Jiajing every day, their thoughts and words were simply as low-level as political idiots like Liu He, the Marquis of Haihun!

Moreover, even if we take a step back, with Zhu Di's political skills, in order to prove the legitimacy of his throne, he could have made it appear that he was the successor to the throne in the 35th year of Hongwu.

What's wrong with Emperor Jiajing following suit and upgrading his title to "Chengzu" so that his biological father can be enshrined in the temple?
Moreover, Zhu Di's contribution to him and the emperors after him was no different from that of a founding monarch.

By the generation of Jiajing or the next, who would dare to remove Zhu Di from the Taimiao?

They would certainly have to make up a story to keep Zhu Di in the Taimiao forever, placing him on a par with Zhu Yuanzhang, making him the eternal monarch of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, even if Emperor Jiajing did not want to do something like changing Zhu Di's temple name to "Zu", his next emperor would have to do it.

These are all political responsibilities that cannot be avoided.

As for the joke that "Taizong became Zu", it can only be listened to as amusement after dinner. If you really reach the corresponding position and the corresponding time, you would be crazy not to do so!
Zhu Zaigui gradually realized this truth after he had served as regent for a long time and truly experienced the importance of the legitimacy of power.

In the past, before he reached such a high position and held such great power, he had also joked about "Taizong becoming Zu" like those online historians.

Thinking about it now, it was really ridiculous and ignorant.

But it’s not too late to understand this truth now.

At least in terms of political awareness, Zhu Zaigui caught up.

When he arrived in front of the portrait of "King Xingxian", Zhu Zaigui looked up at the portrait of the emperor in dragon robe which was "Photoshopped" based on the original portrait of King Xingxian. He also respectfully bowed and burned incense before the portrait.

After offering this stick of incense, Emperor Jiajing said, "Go and offer another stick of incense to Emperor Xianzong."

Emperor Xianzong was Emperor Chenghua Zhu Jianshen, the grandfather of Emperor Jiajing, and the source of the legal imperial lineage that Emperor Jiajing insisted on.

Therefore, in the order of worship this time, Emperor Jiajing would naturally skip Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde first.

Zhu Zaigui went to the portrait of Emperor Chenghua Zhu Jianshen, lit a stick of incense and worshiped. He looked up at the round-faced and slightly plump statue of Zhu Jianshen, feeling infinite emotion in his heart.

Of course, what Zhu Zaigui was lamenting about was not the touching love story between Zhu Jianshen and Aunt Wan, but the outstanding contributions made by Emperor Chenghua to consolidate border defense during his reign!
If it weren't for Emperor Chenghua who turned the tide, brought order to the north and south, and put down the various disturbances that occurred in the later years of Emperor Yingzong, the Ming Dynasty might have ended after Emperor Yingzong.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui still respects this emperor who was seriously underestimated by history!

Although Zhu Zaigui cannot emulate Zhu Jianshen's feat of plucking the court, with Zhu Jianshen's feat of plucking the court, it is relatively much easier for Zhu Zaigui to manage Liaodong and develop the Northeast now.

After all, the Ming Dynasty no longer had any border threats from the north. In addition, the Jurchens in Liaodong still remembered the pain brought by Chenghua's plowing of their court. This also gave Zhu Zaigui more confidence and ability to deal with Liaodong, and re-established the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, setting up three major divisions: the Heilongjiang General, the Shenyang General and the Liaodong General to manage Liaodong.

When the proportion of Han people in these places further increases, the conditions for land reclamation will further improve.

At that time, Zhu Zaigui could take advantage of the situation to replace these three major divisions with the Heilongjiang Provincial Administration, the Shenyang Provincial Administration and the Liaodong Provincial Administration.

Nurgandusi can also complete its historical mission and become a historical term again, allowing people in later generations to remember the contributions it once made.

After paying respects to Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Jiajing was silent for a while, then said, "Please burn a stick of incense for your great-uncle and uncle as well."

Emperor Jiajing still had some humanity after all and did not forget Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde.

Zhu Zaigui responded with "yes" again and offered a stick of incense to Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde respectively.

These two emperors are also considered outliers among the emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

Because except for the two of them who had pointed faces, the rest of the Ming emperors all had square or round faces.

The reason for this difference is because of Emperor Hongzhi's mother.

The mother of Emperor Hongzhi was the daughter of a barbarian official. During the Chenghua period, Emperor Xianzong went on a campaign against the barbarians and Ji was captured. She then entered the palace and, by chance, was favored by Emperor Chenghua and gave birth to Emperor Hongzhi.

Therefore, in addition to the Han blood originally inherited from the Zhu family, the lineage of Emperor Hongzhi was also mixed with barbarian blood.

Therefore, the appearances of Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde are somewhat different from other emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

It can be said that if Emperor Zhengde had not died out, it would have taken at least a few more generations of mixed blood for the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to have a square and round face again.

But the embarrassing thing is that Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde, who had the barbarian blood of the Ji family, were so frustrated that they died out in two generations and handed over the Ming Dynasty throne to Emperor Jiajing, who had pure Han blood.

This has to be said to be a joke of fate played by history.

Otherwise, with the imperial lineage of Hongzhi and Zhengde, which was inclusive of the bloodlines of multiple ethnic groups, perhaps an advanced pattern of national unity could have emerged ahead of time.

But unfortunately, there is no "if" in history that has already happened. Now it is up to Zhu Zaigui to create and change history.

After Zhu Zaigui paid his respects to Emperor Hongzhi and Emperor Zhengde, he couldn't help but feel full of heroic spirit as he thought to himself!

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